This Is The Time-Chapter 5
Title: This Is The Time-Chapter 5
User: bluangleyes75
Pairing: Rob and Kristen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rob and Tom get to spend quality time together while Kristen spends time with Marlowe.
Disclaimer: I don’t own then, I don’t even know them, but a girl can dream. All mistakes are mine.
Previous Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Propped against the headboard on a mountain of pillows, she huffed and adjusted her glasses. Sniffling, she plucked a tissue from the box resting against her thigh and brought it to her nose to blow. Groaning, she tossed the tissue into the trashcan, sniffled once more for good measure, and turned her attention back to the book she’d been trying to read for the past hour. Halfway through the same page she’d already attempted to read a dozen times, her mind wandered again, so she earmarked the corner and tossed it onto her nightstand. Turning her attention out the window, she stared into the night.
Absentmindedly she traced her fingers across her ever-growing stomach as she got lost in her thoughts. When she thought about how much better it felt when Rob rubbed her belly for her, she smiled and shook her head at her random musings. Stopping her self-soothing, she gathered the hem of her shirt in her hands and slid it over her belly, tucking it under her breasts. Rolling the waistband of her sweats down, she exposed her whole abdomen and turned her gaze from the window to herself. Opening her hands, she perched them on her hips and cupped her expanding body with her fingers. Gliding her hands towards her belly button, she pushed and massaged as she studied the changes. Searching for stretch marks, she found none, but was mesmerized how much she’d grown in the past couple of weeks. Tossing her head against the pillows she stilled her movements and closed her eyes.
Sitting completely motionless she took in deep breaths through her nose and blew them out slowly through her slightly parted lips. Relaxing, she melted into the pillows and contemplated napping for just a few minutes while she waited for Rob to get home, when she felt an intense fluttering in her stomach. Opening her eyes wide, she glanced down at her hands on her belly. Afraid that if she moved it might not happen again, she sat stone still and waited, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth. Once again, she felt the fluttering from the inside, but didn’t see any outward changes or feel movement under her fingers. Pressing on her stomach more firmly, she took some more deep breaths and waited. Just as she was about the give up, the fluttering struck her again. She still wasn’t able to see any movement from the outside of her stomach or feel the fluttering in her own fingers, but she was certain the sensation had to be the baby moving. Unable to control her excitement, she launched herself upright and climbed off the bed. Jumping and dancing around, she searched the bed for her phone and fumbled to get it to turn on so she could call Rob.
Mid dial, she stopped, drew her lip between her teeth and tossed the phone back on the bed. Adjusting her shirt and pants, so she was once again completely covered she wrapped her arms around her belly and walked to the balcony doors. Looking across the view of LA she thought about how excited she was and wondered if he’d be disappointed when she told him the baby was moving, but that he wouldn’t be able to feel it. She contemplated waiting to tell him until the kicks were more forceful and was trying to decide what to do, when she heard the garage door opening. Turning towards the bedroom door, she grabbed her cardigan off the end of the bed and shrugged it on as she made her way downstairs to greet him.
“Kristen?” She heard him call out from the kitchen as she heard his keys hit the counter.
“Hey Baby, I missed you,” she scurried up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, burying her face in his back.
“I missed you too…I figured you’d be asleep,” he grabbed her hands and opened her arms so he could twist around to face her.
“I wanted to wait for you.” She smiled and lifted herself onto her toes, tilting her head, signaling to him that she wanted a kiss.
Chuckling, he bent to give her what she needed as he wrapped his arms around her tightly and lifted her until her toes weren’t touching the floor anymore.
“Mmmm, I’m glad you waited for me. I needed this,” he mumbled against her mouth and moved to lift her, wrapping his hand under her bottom to support her.
“Me too, that’s why I waited,” she laughed and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling away from his kiss to attack him with random pecks across his eyelids, cheeks, and chin.
Laughing, he staggered though the kitchen with her in his arms until he found the couch and collapsed.
“You hungry? I can make you something,” she offered without stopping her crazy kisses.
“No, I’m exhausted though. Are you tired?” He asked, moving his hands to cup her face in order to stop her frantic kiss attack and look her in the eyes.
“Yeah, you wanna go to bed?” She asked, bringing her fingertips to his temples where she began to rub gentle circles.
“Oh my god, that feels so good,” he breathed as his eyes fluttered shut.
“Come on Sleepy Head, let me tuck you in,” she teased as she crawled from his lap and held her hand out to help him up. He could only nod and place his hand in hers as he extricated himself from the couch.
****
Tangled together in their bed, he gently rubbed her stomach. Wanting to see if he could feel the baby move, she scooted until her back was flush with his chest and his knees were bent along the curve of her own. She breathed in and out like she had before and made sure to hold completely still. Without having to wait very long, the fluttering bloomed in her stomach again, causing her to hold her breath. Rob’s fingers kept tickling her skin under her shirt without hesitation. Placing her hand over his, she stilled his movements and pressed his hand more firmly against her abdomen and waited while taking in deep breaths. When the sensation of butterflies taking flight in her stomach hit her again, she waited until it subsided before speaking.
“Rob?” she whispered.
“Yeah, Love,” he whispered back.
She loosened her grip on his hand and set it free, waiting to see if he said anything or changed his motions to indicate that he’d felt anything, but he resumed his striations as if nothing happened.
“I love you, Good Night…” she said, deciding to not say anything just yet.
“Love you too, night, Love.” He bent and placed a kiss against her shoulder.
****
“She’s getting big!” Tom whispered to Rob as they stood at the kitchen counter watching Kristen flitter around the stove.
“19 weeks, crazy isn’t it?” Rob whispered back.
“Did you just call me fat?” Kristen turned with wide eyes and a serious expression on her face.
“No, I would…It’s just that…Um…” Tom stuttered as he tried to find the right words.
“I can hear you, you know. Being pregnant doesn’t make me deaf,” she teased and glanced over her shoulder to look at them.
“You’re not fat,” Rob said, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her belly, “You’re perfect and you’re all…”
Cutting him off, she twisted in his grasp and waved the spoon in the air, “So help me, if you tell me I’m all baby!”
“What will you do Mama?” he heckled her as he bent to bite her earlobe.
“Kick your ass,” she laughed and tipped her neck to her shoulder to give him better access.
“You’d hurt your baby daddy?” he mumbled as he nibbled her neck and teased her skin with the tip of his tongue.
“Ugh, I think…” She whimpered as she set the spoon down and turned in his arms, seeking more contact, “What was the question again?”
“I don’t remember,” he chuckled, bending forward to kiss her exposed collarbone.
“Please, innocent eyes here,” Tom called across the kitchen and held the baby out to remind them that they weren’t alone.
Laughing, Rob and Kristen stepped apart. Tom bounced Marlowe in his arms and turned to dig through the diaper bag, “Don’t pay any attention to Uncle Rob and Aunt Kristen,” he cooed as he extracted a bottle and chuckled to himself.
****
Sitting at the table, Kristen leaned to arch her back as she pushed her plate away. Marlowe sat perched on the table snug and secure in her bouncy seat fast asleep and the boys chattered back and forth.
“Full, Love?” Rob asked and reached out to offer her his hand. She nodded and brought her glass of water to her lips with one hand while reaching out the other for him to hold.
“You guys should go grab a beer or something,” she offered as she leaned to set her glass on the table, looking between Rob and Tom.
Rob looked at her as if she’d grown a third eye and shook his head in disbelief, “Sienna would kill us if we brought the baby to a pub!”
“You can leave her with me. You two should go catch up and have guy time before you drive me crazy,” she winked and stood to start clearing the table.
“Kristen,” Tom laughed, “you don’t babysit,” he reminded her. “You’ll only hold her when Rob’s around. If I have Rob, you’ll be all alone with the baby,” he poked fun at her.
She stood and started gathering the dishes from the table. “I know where I’ll be and who’ll be with me, Smart Ass. I’m sure Marlowe and I will be fine for a little bit if you both want to get out of the house and catch up. Rob needs to do something besides sit here and fondle my belly all night. He’s starting to drive me crazy and your incessant chatter isn’t helping my nerves any. As his best friend, it’s your duty to take him out,” she stated, pointing a finger at Tom before turning to carry their stacked plates to the sink.
With the water running so she could rinse the dishes, she couldn’t hear exactly what the boys behind her were saying, but she could tell they were discussing her offer. As she bent to load the dishwasher, she felt Rob move in behind her and open his hands on her hips. When she straightened to grab another dish, he reached around her to shut the water off and pull her against his body.
“You don’t have to do this, Kris,” he said in her ear.
“The dishes? I know! I just want to get everything cleaned up now so I don’t have to worry about it later,” she shrugged and smiled.
“No, the baby. You don’t have to watch the baby. Tom and I will go downstairs and play pool or something,” he offered and massaged her hips with his firm hands, drawing a small moan from her.
“That feels so good, my hips have been bothering me all day,” she whimpered and lost her train of thought for a brief moment until the baby cried behind her and brought her back to reality. “I was serious, Baby. I don’t want to go out and you haven’t been out in forever. I’m sure Tom wouldn’t mind a break. You can really leave her here for a bit and get out, I don’t mind.”
Once again he raised an eyebrow as he studied her, but found only sincerity on her face. Turning, he glanced at Tom and shrugged.
“Kristen, if it’s too much for you, it’s really no big deal,” Tom tried one more time to give her an out.
Closing the dishwasher door, she washed her hands and dried them before turning towards the dining room table and making her way over to Tom. Plucking Marlowe from his arms, she cradled her and bent to place a gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead.
“Tell your daddy and your uncle to go have fun. That you and Auntie Kristen will have girl time,” she cooed into the baby’s ear as she swayed back and forth. Tearing her eyes away from the precious bundle she held in her arms, she looked up at Tom and smiled, “I promise I’ll take good care of her. How hard can it be?”
Tom laughed out loud and shook his head, “You have no freaking idea!”
“I’m not saying go away on vacation or even clubbing for Christ sake. Go to the bar down the road. I can call you if I need anything, but I’m sure we’ll be fine…right Beautiful?” She turned her attention back to Marlowe.
“You sure, Love?” Rob studied her with the baby in his arms and felt his heart melt slightly before she looked up at him and nodded.
“I’m sure. You both need a break, we’ll be fine. I have my cell right here and both of you are on speed dial,” she tilted her head to the kitchen counter to show them her phone.
“Okay then, I’ll make you a bottle before we leave. Want me to change her?” Tom abandoned the fight and sounded almost giddy at the prospect of escaping with his best friend.
“I can change her while you make the bottle,” she baby-talked out loud without taking her eyes off the baby.
Rob reached and pulled Marlowe out of Kristen’s arms and started towards the living room. “I’ll change her. Tom can make the bottle. You get whatever it is you’ll need, Love,” he commanded quietly.
Kristen smiled at the sight of him, so confident, with his god-daughter in his arms and turned to refresh her ice water. Tom grabbed the diaper bag and brought it to the countertop so he could extract everything he thought Kristen would need. While making her next bottle, he gave her the rundown on everything Marlowe related as she stood and watched. Grabbing the prepared bottle from his hand, she bent to kiss his cheek before she turned to head to the living room. He leaned against the counter and smiled, watching her go.
She crossed the room and sunk down onto the couch next to Rob, leaned to place a kiss on his cheek, then sat the bottle and her ice water on the coffee table in front of them.
“Hand her over, Mr. Pattinson. Tom’s ready to go and Miss Marlowe and I have a date,” she sang as she reached to take the baby from him.
“Love, you really don’t have to do this. We can stay here,” he tried one last time to convince her that she didn’t have to babysit for them as he transferred the wiggling baby from his arms to hers.
“I want to do this. I want for you to go have some fun. I promise we’ll be okay,” she said with wide eyes trying to get him to understand.
“You really want to do this?” He asked as he leaned to place a kiss on top of the baby’s head.
“I do, Babe. Please…” she begged, leaning to rest her head a top his briefly before pulling away and waiting for him to straighten and look at her.
“Okay, if this is what you want. Just promise me that if you get too tired or overwhelmed with her, you call us. We’ll just go down the road and can be back here within minutes,” he assured her and reached to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Marlowe squirmed in her arms, bringing Kristen’s attention back to the dark-haired cherub in her arms just as Tom stepped into the living room, waving her phone at her, “You need this?”
“I hope not, but set it here just in case,” she said without looking up from his daughter.
As she adjusted the baby, Rob handed her the bottle, tossed Marlowe’s blanket over them, set the remote on the arm of the couch, and bent to place a kiss on top of her head before turning to follow Tom to the garage.
The little girl scrunched up her face and whimpered as she brought her chubby fist to her mouth and rooted around. Flinging her head back and forth, she fought to get her fingers between her lips as she sucked on air. Kristen was in awe that she could go from content and sweet to frantic within seconds. Extending her pinky finger, Kristen nudged the baby’s fist away from her mouth and slipped the nipple between her lips. Marlowe latched onto the bottle and sucked furiously, her wide eyes rolling back with satisfaction as she opened her tiny clenched fist and grabbed onto Kristen’s pinky. Bringing her feet to rest on the coffee table in front of her, Kristen adjusted the baby in her arms and nestled her back into the corner of the couch. Once more comfortable, she gave the baby her rapt attention, taking in every feature and soft coo.
Marlowe drained the bottle and as she finished, her eyes slid closed, her hand let loose of its hold on Kristen’s pinky, and she released the nipple with a slight pop. Kristen removed the bottle and chuckled when the baby continued to suck air, her little tongue and cheeks still working furiously on a nonexistent nipple. Cradling her tighter against her chest, she leaned to place the bottle on the table and dropped her feet to the floor. Folding the milk-drunk baby gently, she sat her up, cupped her hand under her chubby chin, and stretched her thumb and pointer finger around the soft rolls on her neck. Leaning her forward, she caressed and patted Marlowe’s back until she burped. Almost giddy with excitement that she’d accomplished the smallest feat of getting the excess air out of the baby’s belly, Kristen bounced her feet on the floor and stifled a slight laugh. Once satisfied that all of her air bubbles had been expelled, Kristen settled back into the couch and laid the baby against her chest.
Supporting Marlowe with one hand, she gathered her hair with the other and moved it out of the way, so it wouldn’t tickle the sleeping baby. Leaning her head forward, she brushed her lips across the top of her head before resting her own against the back of the couch. Closing her eyes, she relished the feeling of the tiny warm body nuzzled against her, her sweet breath fanning across her neck, and the scent of her baby shampoo and lotion infiltrating her senses. Letting her eyes slide shut, she imagined what it would be like when she held her own baby and smiled slightly as one hand rubbed across Marlowe’s back slowly and lovingly and the other patted gently over her diaper-clad bottom. Before she drifted off to sleep, the all too familiar flutter in her belly rolled through her, stronger than it’d been over the past couple of weeks. Marlowe shifted against her and Kristen smiled, wondering if it was her baby’s movements that had prompted the shift or if it’d been sheer coincidence.
****
Stumbling through the front door, Rob snickered and huffed under the weight of his best friend. Tossing his keys on the entry table without stopping, he drug Tom through the living room and tossed him onto the couch. He bent to remove his shoes and lift his legs onto the cushions before extracting a throw from the loveseat and tossing it over his passed out and snoring best friend. Rolling his neck and arching his back, he looked around the room and noticed two empty bottles on the table and the television still on. Making his way to the kitchen he noticed the diaper bag was no longer on the counter where Tom had left it for Kristen and Marlowe’s bouncy seat was now absent from the kitchen table.
Making his way up the back stairs, he moved as quietly as possible. Tiptoeing down the hall, he saw the soft light from a bedside lamp filtering through the slightly cracked master bedroom door. Reaching the door and pushing it open gently he stilled as he took in the sight in front of him. Biting his lip, he drew in a shaky breath and blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep his tears at bay.
Kristen lay on her left side with her legs drawn up under her belly, her left arm stretched out under her head, her right arm curled around a sleeping Marlowe, who had also rolled slightly to her side to face her Auntie. The girl’s foreheads were pressed together and Marlowe’s chubby hand lay open against Kristen’s face. The baby’s cheeks were flushed and her mouth worked furiously on her pacifier for a few seconds before she stilled briefly, then resumed her sucking once more. A stack of pillows rested behind the baby and when he looked to the floor, he noticed the cushions from their bedroom couch lying next to the bed. Laughing at the fortress Kristen had built to keep Marlowe safe, he moved to the side of the bed and leaned over Kristen to place a kiss on her temple. Smoothing her hair away from her face, he smiled when she stirred slightly then settled back into sleep without fully waking.
Running his hand down her side, he stilled at her hip for a moment and leaned across her to kiss his god-daughter’s cheek as well. Pulling away from the baby, he moved his hand around to Kristen’s very prominent baby bump and rubbed gingerly. Cupping her belly, he crouched next to the side of the bed and debated getting his phone out to take a picture of the perfect scene in front of him. Just when he’d decided he couldn’t resist and definitely needed to capture the moment, he felt a nudge under his hand that was splayed across Kristen’s belly. His eyes widened in amazement and he snapped his head around to see if the movement had disturbed his sleeping wife, but she didn’t flinch. Slowly turning his gaze back to her belly he pushed down tenderly and waited until it happened again. Another nudge from her distended stomach under his hand caused him to laugh without thinking and when he quickly tried to stifle it, he snorted instead.
Kristen stirred and rolled slightly onto her back, her eyes fluttering open minutely. He turned to look at her, but remained silent and refused to move his hand. Marlowe spat out her pacifier, rolled away from Kristen and flung her tightly fisted, chubby hands above her head. She smacked her lips several times and sighed before turning her head away and settling back into sleep, her breathing deep, even, and audible over the silence in the room.
“Hi, Baby,” Kristen whispered as she gazed down at Rob.
“Hey, Love. Everything go okay?” He asked.
She nodded and just stared at him for a minute without moving. When she felt the familiar fluttering roll across her stomach under Rob’s hand, she held her breath for a minute and watched as a wide smile spread across his face.
“Did you feel that?” She asked quietly.
“Yeah, did you?” He inquired and pushed against her stomach more firmly.
She nodded again and offered him a slight smile and wink just as the sensation washed over her again, prompting her to bring her hand to cover his and move it to where she felt the movement the most. He tore his gaze from her face to their joined hands and watched until the baby moved again.
“That’s fucking amazing!” He declared and settled on his knees, getting more comfortable as she rolled until she was completely flat on her back.
She watched him intently as he brought both hands to her belly and cradled as much of it as he could between his fingers. Bringing one hand behind her head, she stroked his fingers gently as she waited and watched for the next movement. It didn’t take long for the baby to move again and she laughed when Rob’s eyes went wide and an honest-to-god giggle escaped his lips.
“She’s active isn’t she,” Kristen stated and slid her hand from on top of his to her stomach to rub gentle circles.
“Yeah, she…” he stopped mid statement and looked up at her with wide eyes.
“What?” Kristen’s look of happiness melted to one of concern. “What’s wrong?”
“You just called our baby a she?” He sounded shocked.
Blushing slightly, she shrugged and smiled weakly. “Yeah, so?” She asked, feigning nonchalance at her slip of the tongue.
“I thought you wanted a boy?” He whispered and bent to place a kiss on her rounded abdomen.
“Not like I have a choice, Babe. I’ll take whatever we get,” she chuckled softly and yawned, bringing her fingers to his head so she could run them through his hair.
Laying his face on her baby bump he nodded and closed his eyes, just as the baby moved again. “I could sit here all night,” he whispered.
“Yeah, me too, but we have company,” she tore her gaze from him and glanced at the sleeping baby next to her. “I couldn’t get her pack-n-play out of the guest room and I didn’t have the heart to leave her in there to sleep alone. Where’s Tom?”
“Passed out on the couch,” he whispered and made a move to get up from the floor.
“Seriously?” She chuckled, “Figures.”
“Yeah, I’ll get her pack-n-play. She can sleep in here,” he offered and bent to kiss her softly on the lips.
“Mmmm, kay,” she mumbled as he pulled away.
She watched him exit the bedroom and rolled to her side once more to take in the sleeping form of the baby next to her. Reaching out, she gently stroked the tip of her finger across her perfect porcelain cheek before moving to run the same finger through her downy black hair.
“Gorgeous, perfect, Baby Marlowe…Auntie Kristen loves you, Baby girl,” she whispered and closed her eyes while she waited for Rob to come back with the baby bed.
****
Once the baby had been moved into her own bed and the pillows and cushions were returned to the proper spots, Rob wrapped himself around Kristen and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck.
“Love?” He whispered against her skin.
“Hmm?” She hummed and pushed against him.
“Have you been able to feel the baby move for a while?” He inquired as he stroked her stomach.
“Yeah…a couple weeks” she stammered and twisted in his arms so she could look at him directly, “but, I didn’t want to tell you until you could feel it too.” She mumbled, their lips almost touching.
He studied her face and smiled, “It would have driven me crazy, you knew that didn’t you?”
“Mmm, hmm, you’re such a baby sometimes!” She smiled and brushed her nose back and forth against his.
“Thank you, Love,” he puckered his lips and kissed her, drawing her closer against his chest.
“For not telling you about the baby moving?” She sounded suspicious.
“Yeah, for that. And…for knowing me well enough and loving me more,” he smiled as he wrapped himself around her.
“Awe…can I get that in writing Mr. Pattinson?” she chuckled.
“Go to sleep Mrs. Pattinson before you wake up Marlowe…” he snickered, kissed the top of her head, and placed his hand on her belly, hoping to feel the baby move again.
“If she wakes up, she’s all yours! Auntie Kristen is off duty for the night. It’s Uncle Rob’s turn since he let her daddy drink too much…Just sayin’,” she teased, bringing her hands to rest beneath her chin and nudging him with her shoulder.
“Hmmm, I bet if she wakes up, Auntie Kristen will get her before I even have a chance to get out of bed,” he laughed. “Just sayin’!”
“Yeah, probably,” Kristen grinned and mumbled just before her eyes drifted shut.
User: bluangleyes75
Pairing: Rob and Kristen
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Rob and Tom get to spend quality time together while Kristen spends time with Marlowe.
Disclaimer: I don’t own then, I don’t even know them, but a girl can dream. All mistakes are mine.
Previous Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Propped against the headboard on a mountain of pillows, she huffed and adjusted her glasses. Sniffling, she plucked a tissue from the box resting against her thigh and brought it to her nose to blow. Groaning, she tossed the tissue into the trashcan, sniffled once more for good measure, and turned her attention back to the book she’d been trying to read for the past hour. Halfway through the same page she’d already attempted to read a dozen times, her mind wandered again, so she earmarked the corner and tossed it onto her nightstand. Turning her attention out the window, she stared into the night.
Absentmindedly she traced her fingers across her ever-growing stomach as she got lost in her thoughts. When she thought about how much better it felt when Rob rubbed her belly for her, she smiled and shook her head at her random musings. Stopping her self-soothing, she gathered the hem of her shirt in her hands and slid it over her belly, tucking it under her breasts. Rolling the waistband of her sweats down, she exposed her whole abdomen and turned her gaze from the window to herself. Opening her hands, she perched them on her hips and cupped her expanding body with her fingers. Gliding her hands towards her belly button, she pushed and massaged as she studied the changes. Searching for stretch marks, she found none, but was mesmerized how much she’d grown in the past couple of weeks. Tossing her head against the pillows she stilled her movements and closed her eyes.
Sitting completely motionless she took in deep breaths through her nose and blew them out slowly through her slightly parted lips. Relaxing, she melted into the pillows and contemplated napping for just a few minutes while she waited for Rob to get home, when she felt an intense fluttering in her stomach. Opening her eyes wide, she glanced down at her hands on her belly. Afraid that if she moved it might not happen again, she sat stone still and waited, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth. Once again, she felt the fluttering from the inside, but didn’t see any outward changes or feel movement under her fingers. Pressing on her stomach more firmly, she took some more deep breaths and waited. Just as she was about the give up, the fluttering struck her again. She still wasn’t able to see any movement from the outside of her stomach or feel the fluttering in her own fingers, but she was certain the sensation had to be the baby moving. Unable to control her excitement, she launched herself upright and climbed off the bed. Jumping and dancing around, she searched the bed for her phone and fumbled to get it to turn on so she could call Rob.
Mid dial, she stopped, drew her lip between her teeth and tossed the phone back on the bed. Adjusting her shirt and pants, so she was once again completely covered she wrapped her arms around her belly and walked to the balcony doors. Looking across the view of LA she thought about how excited she was and wondered if he’d be disappointed when she told him the baby was moving, but that he wouldn’t be able to feel it. She contemplated waiting to tell him until the kicks were more forceful and was trying to decide what to do, when she heard the garage door opening. Turning towards the bedroom door, she grabbed her cardigan off the end of the bed and shrugged it on as she made her way downstairs to greet him.
“Kristen?” She heard him call out from the kitchen as she heard his keys hit the counter.
“Hey Baby, I missed you,” she scurried up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, burying her face in his back.
“I missed you too…I figured you’d be asleep,” he grabbed her hands and opened her arms so he could twist around to face her.
“I wanted to wait for you.” She smiled and lifted herself onto her toes, tilting her head, signaling to him that she wanted a kiss.
Chuckling, he bent to give her what she needed as he wrapped his arms around her tightly and lifted her until her toes weren’t touching the floor anymore.
“Mmmm, I’m glad you waited for me. I needed this,” he mumbled against her mouth and moved to lift her, wrapping his hand under her bottom to support her.
“Me too, that’s why I waited,” she laughed and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling away from his kiss to attack him with random pecks across his eyelids, cheeks, and chin.
Laughing, he staggered though the kitchen with her in his arms until he found the couch and collapsed.
“You hungry? I can make you something,” she offered without stopping her crazy kisses.
“No, I’m exhausted though. Are you tired?” He asked, moving his hands to cup her face in order to stop her frantic kiss attack and look her in the eyes.
“Yeah, you wanna go to bed?” She asked, bringing her fingertips to his temples where she began to rub gentle circles.
“Oh my god, that feels so good,” he breathed as his eyes fluttered shut.
“Come on Sleepy Head, let me tuck you in,” she teased as she crawled from his lap and held her hand out to help him up. He could only nod and place his hand in hers as he extricated himself from the couch.
****
Tangled together in their bed, he gently rubbed her stomach. Wanting to see if he could feel the baby move, she scooted until her back was flush with his chest and his knees were bent along the curve of her own. She breathed in and out like she had before and made sure to hold completely still. Without having to wait very long, the fluttering bloomed in her stomach again, causing her to hold her breath. Rob’s fingers kept tickling her skin under her shirt without hesitation. Placing her hand over his, she stilled his movements and pressed his hand more firmly against her abdomen and waited while taking in deep breaths. When the sensation of butterflies taking flight in her stomach hit her again, she waited until it subsided before speaking.
“Rob?” she whispered.
“Yeah, Love,” he whispered back.
She loosened her grip on his hand and set it free, waiting to see if he said anything or changed his motions to indicate that he’d felt anything, but he resumed his striations as if nothing happened.
“I love you, Good Night…” she said, deciding to not say anything just yet.
“Love you too, night, Love.” He bent and placed a kiss against her shoulder.
****
“She’s getting big!” Tom whispered to Rob as they stood at the kitchen counter watching Kristen flitter around the stove.
“19 weeks, crazy isn’t it?” Rob whispered back.
“Did you just call me fat?” Kristen turned with wide eyes and a serious expression on her face.
“No, I would…It’s just that…Um…” Tom stuttered as he tried to find the right words.
“I can hear you, you know. Being pregnant doesn’t make me deaf,” she teased and glanced over her shoulder to look at them.
“You’re not fat,” Rob said, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her belly, “You’re perfect and you’re all…”
Cutting him off, she twisted in his grasp and waved the spoon in the air, “So help me, if you tell me I’m all baby!”
“What will you do Mama?” he heckled her as he bent to bite her earlobe.
“Kick your ass,” she laughed and tipped her neck to her shoulder to give him better access.
“You’d hurt your baby daddy?” he mumbled as he nibbled her neck and teased her skin with the tip of his tongue.
“Ugh, I think…” She whimpered as she set the spoon down and turned in his arms, seeking more contact, “What was the question again?”
“I don’t remember,” he chuckled, bending forward to kiss her exposed collarbone.
“Please, innocent eyes here,” Tom called across the kitchen and held the baby out to remind them that they weren’t alone.
Laughing, Rob and Kristen stepped apart. Tom bounced Marlowe in his arms and turned to dig through the diaper bag, “Don’t pay any attention to Uncle Rob and Aunt Kristen,” he cooed as he extracted a bottle and chuckled to himself.
****
Sitting at the table, Kristen leaned to arch her back as she pushed her plate away. Marlowe sat perched on the table snug and secure in her bouncy seat fast asleep and the boys chattered back and forth.
“Full, Love?” Rob asked and reached out to offer her his hand. She nodded and brought her glass of water to her lips with one hand while reaching out the other for him to hold.
“You guys should go grab a beer or something,” she offered as she leaned to set her glass on the table, looking between Rob and Tom.
Rob looked at her as if she’d grown a third eye and shook his head in disbelief, “Sienna would kill us if we brought the baby to a pub!”
“You can leave her with me. You two should go catch up and have guy time before you drive me crazy,” she winked and stood to start clearing the table.
“Kristen,” Tom laughed, “you don’t babysit,” he reminded her. “You’ll only hold her when Rob’s around. If I have Rob, you’ll be all alone with the baby,” he poked fun at her.
She stood and started gathering the dishes from the table. “I know where I’ll be and who’ll be with me, Smart Ass. I’m sure Marlowe and I will be fine for a little bit if you both want to get out of the house and catch up. Rob needs to do something besides sit here and fondle my belly all night. He’s starting to drive me crazy and your incessant chatter isn’t helping my nerves any. As his best friend, it’s your duty to take him out,” she stated, pointing a finger at Tom before turning to carry their stacked plates to the sink.
With the water running so she could rinse the dishes, she couldn’t hear exactly what the boys behind her were saying, but she could tell they were discussing her offer. As she bent to load the dishwasher, she felt Rob move in behind her and open his hands on her hips. When she straightened to grab another dish, he reached around her to shut the water off and pull her against his body.
“You don’t have to do this, Kris,” he said in her ear.
“The dishes? I know! I just want to get everything cleaned up now so I don’t have to worry about it later,” she shrugged and smiled.
“No, the baby. You don’t have to watch the baby. Tom and I will go downstairs and play pool or something,” he offered and massaged her hips with his firm hands, drawing a small moan from her.
“That feels so good, my hips have been bothering me all day,” she whimpered and lost her train of thought for a brief moment until the baby cried behind her and brought her back to reality. “I was serious, Baby. I don’t want to go out and you haven’t been out in forever. I’m sure Tom wouldn’t mind a break. You can really leave her here for a bit and get out, I don’t mind.”
Once again he raised an eyebrow as he studied her, but found only sincerity on her face. Turning, he glanced at Tom and shrugged.
“Kristen, if it’s too much for you, it’s really no big deal,” Tom tried one more time to give her an out.
Closing the dishwasher door, she washed her hands and dried them before turning towards the dining room table and making her way over to Tom. Plucking Marlowe from his arms, she cradled her and bent to place a gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead.
“Tell your daddy and your uncle to go have fun. That you and Auntie Kristen will have girl time,” she cooed into the baby’s ear as she swayed back and forth. Tearing her eyes away from the precious bundle she held in her arms, she looked up at Tom and smiled, “I promise I’ll take good care of her. How hard can it be?”
Tom laughed out loud and shook his head, “You have no freaking idea!”
“I’m not saying go away on vacation or even clubbing for Christ sake. Go to the bar down the road. I can call you if I need anything, but I’m sure we’ll be fine…right Beautiful?” She turned her attention back to Marlowe.
“You sure, Love?” Rob studied her with the baby in his arms and felt his heart melt slightly before she looked up at him and nodded.
“I’m sure. You both need a break, we’ll be fine. I have my cell right here and both of you are on speed dial,” she tilted her head to the kitchen counter to show them her phone.
“Okay then, I’ll make you a bottle before we leave. Want me to change her?” Tom abandoned the fight and sounded almost giddy at the prospect of escaping with his best friend.
“I can change her while you make the bottle,” she baby-talked out loud without taking her eyes off the baby.
Rob reached and pulled Marlowe out of Kristen’s arms and started towards the living room. “I’ll change her. Tom can make the bottle. You get whatever it is you’ll need, Love,” he commanded quietly.
Kristen smiled at the sight of him, so confident, with his god-daughter in his arms and turned to refresh her ice water. Tom grabbed the diaper bag and brought it to the countertop so he could extract everything he thought Kristen would need. While making her next bottle, he gave her the rundown on everything Marlowe related as she stood and watched. Grabbing the prepared bottle from his hand, she bent to kiss his cheek before she turned to head to the living room. He leaned against the counter and smiled, watching her go.
She crossed the room and sunk down onto the couch next to Rob, leaned to place a kiss on his cheek, then sat the bottle and her ice water on the coffee table in front of them.
“Hand her over, Mr. Pattinson. Tom’s ready to go and Miss Marlowe and I have a date,” she sang as she reached to take the baby from him.
“Love, you really don’t have to do this. We can stay here,” he tried one last time to convince her that she didn’t have to babysit for them as he transferred the wiggling baby from his arms to hers.
“I want to do this. I want for you to go have some fun. I promise we’ll be okay,” she said with wide eyes trying to get him to understand.
“You really want to do this?” He asked as he leaned to place a kiss on top of the baby’s head.
“I do, Babe. Please…” she begged, leaning to rest her head a top his briefly before pulling away and waiting for him to straighten and look at her.
“Okay, if this is what you want. Just promise me that if you get too tired or overwhelmed with her, you call us. We’ll just go down the road and can be back here within minutes,” he assured her and reached to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Marlowe squirmed in her arms, bringing Kristen’s attention back to the dark-haired cherub in her arms just as Tom stepped into the living room, waving her phone at her, “You need this?”
“I hope not, but set it here just in case,” she said without looking up from his daughter.
As she adjusted the baby, Rob handed her the bottle, tossed Marlowe’s blanket over them, set the remote on the arm of the couch, and bent to place a kiss on top of her head before turning to follow Tom to the garage.
The little girl scrunched up her face and whimpered as she brought her chubby fist to her mouth and rooted around. Flinging her head back and forth, she fought to get her fingers between her lips as she sucked on air. Kristen was in awe that she could go from content and sweet to frantic within seconds. Extending her pinky finger, Kristen nudged the baby’s fist away from her mouth and slipped the nipple between her lips. Marlowe latched onto the bottle and sucked furiously, her wide eyes rolling back with satisfaction as she opened her tiny clenched fist and grabbed onto Kristen’s pinky. Bringing her feet to rest on the coffee table in front of her, Kristen adjusted the baby in her arms and nestled her back into the corner of the couch. Once more comfortable, she gave the baby her rapt attention, taking in every feature and soft coo.
Marlowe drained the bottle and as she finished, her eyes slid closed, her hand let loose of its hold on Kristen’s pinky, and she released the nipple with a slight pop. Kristen removed the bottle and chuckled when the baby continued to suck air, her little tongue and cheeks still working furiously on a nonexistent nipple. Cradling her tighter against her chest, she leaned to place the bottle on the table and dropped her feet to the floor. Folding the milk-drunk baby gently, she sat her up, cupped her hand under her chubby chin, and stretched her thumb and pointer finger around the soft rolls on her neck. Leaning her forward, she caressed and patted Marlowe’s back until she burped. Almost giddy with excitement that she’d accomplished the smallest feat of getting the excess air out of the baby’s belly, Kristen bounced her feet on the floor and stifled a slight laugh. Once satisfied that all of her air bubbles had been expelled, Kristen settled back into the couch and laid the baby against her chest.
Supporting Marlowe with one hand, she gathered her hair with the other and moved it out of the way, so it wouldn’t tickle the sleeping baby. Leaning her head forward, she brushed her lips across the top of her head before resting her own against the back of the couch. Closing her eyes, she relished the feeling of the tiny warm body nuzzled against her, her sweet breath fanning across her neck, and the scent of her baby shampoo and lotion infiltrating her senses. Letting her eyes slide shut, she imagined what it would be like when she held her own baby and smiled slightly as one hand rubbed across Marlowe’s back slowly and lovingly and the other patted gently over her diaper-clad bottom. Before she drifted off to sleep, the all too familiar flutter in her belly rolled through her, stronger than it’d been over the past couple of weeks. Marlowe shifted against her and Kristen smiled, wondering if it was her baby’s movements that had prompted the shift or if it’d been sheer coincidence.
****
Stumbling through the front door, Rob snickered and huffed under the weight of his best friend. Tossing his keys on the entry table without stopping, he drug Tom through the living room and tossed him onto the couch. He bent to remove his shoes and lift his legs onto the cushions before extracting a throw from the loveseat and tossing it over his passed out and snoring best friend. Rolling his neck and arching his back, he looked around the room and noticed two empty bottles on the table and the television still on. Making his way to the kitchen he noticed the diaper bag was no longer on the counter where Tom had left it for Kristen and Marlowe’s bouncy seat was now absent from the kitchen table.
Making his way up the back stairs, he moved as quietly as possible. Tiptoeing down the hall, he saw the soft light from a bedside lamp filtering through the slightly cracked master bedroom door. Reaching the door and pushing it open gently he stilled as he took in the sight in front of him. Biting his lip, he drew in a shaky breath and blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep his tears at bay.
Kristen lay on her left side with her legs drawn up under her belly, her left arm stretched out under her head, her right arm curled around a sleeping Marlowe, who had also rolled slightly to her side to face her Auntie. The girl’s foreheads were pressed together and Marlowe’s chubby hand lay open against Kristen’s face. The baby’s cheeks were flushed and her mouth worked furiously on her pacifier for a few seconds before she stilled briefly, then resumed her sucking once more. A stack of pillows rested behind the baby and when he looked to the floor, he noticed the cushions from their bedroom couch lying next to the bed. Laughing at the fortress Kristen had built to keep Marlowe safe, he moved to the side of the bed and leaned over Kristen to place a kiss on her temple. Smoothing her hair away from her face, he smiled when she stirred slightly then settled back into sleep without fully waking.
Running his hand down her side, he stilled at her hip for a moment and leaned across her to kiss his god-daughter’s cheek as well. Pulling away from the baby, he moved his hand around to Kristen’s very prominent baby bump and rubbed gingerly. Cupping her belly, he crouched next to the side of the bed and debated getting his phone out to take a picture of the perfect scene in front of him. Just when he’d decided he couldn’t resist and definitely needed to capture the moment, he felt a nudge under his hand that was splayed across Kristen’s belly. His eyes widened in amazement and he snapped his head around to see if the movement had disturbed his sleeping wife, but she didn’t flinch. Slowly turning his gaze back to her belly he pushed down tenderly and waited until it happened again. Another nudge from her distended stomach under his hand caused him to laugh without thinking and when he quickly tried to stifle it, he snorted instead.
Kristen stirred and rolled slightly onto her back, her eyes fluttering open minutely. He turned to look at her, but remained silent and refused to move his hand. Marlowe spat out her pacifier, rolled away from Kristen and flung her tightly fisted, chubby hands above her head. She smacked her lips several times and sighed before turning her head away and settling back into sleep, her breathing deep, even, and audible over the silence in the room.
“Hi, Baby,” Kristen whispered as she gazed down at Rob.
“Hey, Love. Everything go okay?” He asked.
She nodded and just stared at him for a minute without moving. When she felt the familiar fluttering roll across her stomach under Rob’s hand, she held her breath for a minute and watched as a wide smile spread across his face.
“Did you feel that?” She asked quietly.
“Yeah, did you?” He inquired and pushed against her stomach more firmly.
She nodded again and offered him a slight smile and wink just as the sensation washed over her again, prompting her to bring her hand to cover his and move it to where she felt the movement the most. He tore his gaze from her face to their joined hands and watched until the baby moved again.
“That’s fucking amazing!” He declared and settled on his knees, getting more comfortable as she rolled until she was completely flat on her back.
She watched him intently as he brought both hands to her belly and cradled as much of it as he could between his fingers. Bringing one hand behind her head, she stroked his fingers gently as she waited and watched for the next movement. It didn’t take long for the baby to move again and she laughed when Rob’s eyes went wide and an honest-to-god giggle escaped his lips.
“She’s active isn’t she,” Kristen stated and slid her hand from on top of his to her stomach to rub gentle circles.
“Yeah, she…” he stopped mid statement and looked up at her with wide eyes.
“What?” Kristen’s look of happiness melted to one of concern. “What’s wrong?”
“You just called our baby a she?” He sounded shocked.
Blushing slightly, she shrugged and smiled weakly. “Yeah, so?” She asked, feigning nonchalance at her slip of the tongue.
“I thought you wanted a boy?” He whispered and bent to place a kiss on her rounded abdomen.
“Not like I have a choice, Babe. I’ll take whatever we get,” she chuckled softly and yawned, bringing her fingers to his head so she could run them through his hair.
Laying his face on her baby bump he nodded and closed his eyes, just as the baby moved again. “I could sit here all night,” he whispered.
“Yeah, me too, but we have company,” she tore her gaze from him and glanced at the sleeping baby next to her. “I couldn’t get her pack-n-play out of the guest room and I didn’t have the heart to leave her in there to sleep alone. Where’s Tom?”
“Passed out on the couch,” he whispered and made a move to get up from the floor.
“Seriously?” She chuckled, “Figures.”
“Yeah, I’ll get her pack-n-play. She can sleep in here,” he offered and bent to kiss her softly on the lips.
“Mmmm, kay,” she mumbled as he pulled away.
She watched him exit the bedroom and rolled to her side once more to take in the sleeping form of the baby next to her. Reaching out, she gently stroked the tip of her finger across her perfect porcelain cheek before moving to run the same finger through her downy black hair.
“Gorgeous, perfect, Baby Marlowe…Auntie Kristen loves you, Baby girl,” she whispered and closed her eyes while she waited for Rob to come back with the baby bed.
****
Once the baby had been moved into her own bed and the pillows and cushions were returned to the proper spots, Rob wrapped himself around Kristen and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck.
“Love?” He whispered against her skin.
“Hmm?” She hummed and pushed against him.
“Have you been able to feel the baby move for a while?” He inquired as he stroked her stomach.
“Yeah…a couple weeks” she stammered and twisted in his arms so she could look at him directly, “but, I didn’t want to tell you until you could feel it too.” She mumbled, their lips almost touching.
He studied her face and smiled, “It would have driven me crazy, you knew that didn’t you?”
“Mmm, hmm, you’re such a baby sometimes!” She smiled and brushed her nose back and forth against his.
“Thank you, Love,” he puckered his lips and kissed her, drawing her closer against his chest.
“For not telling you about the baby moving?” She sounded suspicious.
“Yeah, for that. And…for knowing me well enough and loving me more,” he smiled as he wrapped himself around her.
“Awe…can I get that in writing Mr. Pattinson?” she chuckled.
“Go to sleep Mrs. Pattinson before you wake up Marlowe…” he snickered, kissed the top of her head, and placed his hand on her belly, hoping to feel the baby move again.
“If she wakes up, she’s all yours! Auntie Kristen is off duty for the night. It’s Uncle Rob’s turn since he let her daddy drink too much…Just sayin’,” she teased, bringing her hands to rest beneath her chin and nudging him with her shoulder.
“Hmmm, I bet if she wakes up, Auntie Kristen will get her before I even have a chance to get out of bed,” he laughed. “Just sayin’!”
“Yeah, probably,” Kristen grinned and mumbled just before her eyes drifted shut.