Two Pink Lines

chapter 13: exhausted

After awhile, they had to leave the hospital, since James wouldn't stop crying. Joe drove them home, constantly glancing back at the baby in the backseat. Once they arrived at home, Joe took James out of his car seat, bringing him inside the house.

"What does he need?" Joe asked, looking towards Taylor.

"Maybe he wants be breastfed?" Taylor suggested. Sitting down on the couch, she let James suck on her breast.

After James seemed satisfied, Taylor handed him to Joe. "Do you want to go play games, buddy?" Joe asked, looking down at James.

Obviously James couldn't respond, but Joe took it as a yes, bringing him to the play area they had also set up for him. He set him down in the 'baby play gym' they had bought. James looked happy, reaching his arms up to touch the stuffed elephants hanging from above.

Taylor sat down next to James, making sure he didn't roll of the mat. "How am I already tired," Taylor yawned, "It hasn't even been a full day."

Joe rubbed her back, "Me too, but it'll be worth it."

Once James had gotten bored, he began to cry. Joe picked him up, setting him in his lap, "What's wrong Jam?"

He rocked him back and forth, trying to get him to stop crying. It seemed to quiet James down, and his eyes slowly started to close. "Do you want to put him in the crib?" Taylor whispered.

Joe nodded, slowly standing up, James still in his arms. Taylor followed him to James nursery, helping Joe lay him in the crib. As they walked out, Taylor glanced at the time which read '8 PM'. "I just realized we haven't eaten dinner yet," Taylor said, looking down at her stomach.

"Do you just want to warm up something? I'm pretty tired," Joe replied, yawning.

"We can warm up the frozen pizza," Taylor suggested, already moving to put it in the oven.

Joe sat down on the couch, leaning his head back. Once Taylor put the pizza in the oven, she walked over to Joe. Sitting down in his lap, she ran her hand through his hair, "Tired?"

"Yup," Joe replied simply, keeping his eyes closed.

Taylor rested her head on his chest, "Do you want to go to bed after this? And pray he doesn't wake up for a while?"

"Sounds good to me," Joe wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

She felt like she could fall asleep right then and there, but was interrupted by the oven going off. Joe gently lifted her off of his lap, "I'll get it."

Taylor nodded, slumping onto the arm of the couch. Grabbing the pizza and putting it on two plates, he sat back down next to her. He put an arm on her shoulder, gently rubbing it. "Pizza's ready love," Joe said softly.

Taylor groaned, sitting up more. She chewed slowly, trying not to fall asleep. Once Joe finished his slice, he set his plate down, watching Taylor's eyelids open and close as she tried to stay awake. "Want to just go to bed?" Joe asked.

"Yes please," Taylor said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Alright," Joe said, putting her plate on the coffee table and making a mental note to clean it up in the morning. He lifted her up bridal style, carrying her up the stairs. He laid her down on the bed, "Should I grab you your pajama's?"

"Can you just come into bed?" Taylor said, reaching her arm out for him.

"Sure," Joe laid down next to her, staring at her face in the dark. He placed a kiss on her forehead, "Love you."

"Love you too," Taylor murmured.

Just four hours later, Joe woke up to a loud cry from the baby monitor. Taylor woke up too, rubbing her eyes. "Go back to bed darling, I'll get him," Joe said, already standing up.

Taylor was to tired to object, and went right back to sleep. Joe crept over to James 's room, picking the crying baby. He patted his back, "Hey bud, it's three in the morning," Joe said softly. "Don't you want to go back to bed?"

James continued to cry. Joe panicked, and begin humming a tune, hoping it would soothe him. Luckily it did just that, and soon James was back to sleep. Making sure to be silent as he walked back to his own bedroom, he collapsed on the bed, wrapping an arm around Taylor.
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This pattern continued for the next week, and Taylor and Joe were running on a low amount of sleep. The next weekend Taylor woke up before Joe, going over to the nursery to get James and feed him breakfast.

After an hour, Joe woke up, immediately worrying when he saw Taylor wasn't in bed with him. Walking out to the kitchen he saw Taylor breastfeeding James, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey," Joe said, running his hand through his hair. "I have a meeting today, but I'll be home by lunch."

Taylor just nodded as Joe went to get changed. Once Joe came back out he gave a small wave to her, planting a kiss on James's forehead. "See you guys later."

Taylor wave back, before turning her attention back to James. By lunchtime she was already exhausted. Joe walked back in the house, finding James and Taylor playing in the playroom. Sitting down next to them, he let James roll onto his lap. "Do you want me to take care of him? You can take a quick nap," Joe offered.

"Yeah, that would be good," Taylor said, yawning. She stood up, "I'll be in the living room."

Joe nodded, picking up James. James giggled happily, pulling on Joe's finger. Joe smiled, lifting James up and bouncing him up and down. After playing for another hour, he brought James to the nursery, letting him sleep in the crib. Walking out to the living room, he saw Taylor lying on the couch, fast asleep.

Deciding to let her rest before dinner, he went to the kitchen to prepare some chicken Alfredo. Once it was done he tapped on Taylor's shoulder lightly, "Dinner's ready."

Taylor groaned, rubbing her eyes and standing up. She walked over to the kitchen counter, where a bowl of Alfredo was. Joe sat next to her, and they ate in silence, both of them exhausted.

Once she finished she put her bowl in the sink, grabbing Joe's for him as well. "Want to just go to bed?" Taylor asked, yawning.

"Sounds good to me," Joe replied, already beginning to walk towards the bedroom.

After brushing, they both collapsed on the bed. Taylor groaned, exhausted, "Can I have a kiss?"

When she didn't get a response, she opened her eyes, looking over at Joe. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was heavy, so he must've already been asleep. Taylor sighed, she loved James so much and wouldn't change anything, but she and Joe hadn't been able to had much time to themselves. They'd practically only kissed three times in the past week. Frowning she curled up in the bed, hoping to get as much sleep as possible before James woke up.

I was planning on writing more for this part butttt yeah that didn't happen. Sorry this was so short, I'm hoping I can make the next part longer.

-Livi❤️