Canvas & Keys

26. I Could Get Used To This...In A Few Years, Of Course

"Yeah, he is," he grinned. "You want to come with?"

"You have to ask?"

In the dark, quietness of the house the three of us headed for the kitchen. As I turned on the light over the stove, John sat down at the table and continued to rub Eddie's back. Just when I sat down, Eddie let out a big burp for such a little thing and spit up all over John's shoulder. I laughed so hard, I snorted.

"Gets me every time, this kid," John groaned.

"Here," I said, still laughing as I jumped up to get a towel and help him clean up. "And you're right. Every time you burp him, you get spit up on."

"I think it's just me, too," he said, readjusting him in his arms. "Never even does it on Em. Ryan, though..." This time, he was the one to snort. "Well, he does the same with him."

After being fed, burped, and changed, Eddie was now one happy, sleepy baby. He let out a huge yawn, stretching one arm out of the blanket he was wrapped in. John reached for that arm, gently grabbing his son's hand, and kissed it as he stared down at him. The next moment, Eddie was fast asleep.

"You know, being a dad really suits you," I said to John.

"Kind of crazy, but it does, doesn't it?" He looked up at me with a smile, looking extremely tired, but extremely happy. "I fell in love with Em after only a few weeks, but I fall in love with her even more every time I see Eddie with her. I can't describe how much I love him, too. From the moment she told me she was pregnant, I knew I loved him. And now that he's here..."

"You better be careful or else all of us are going to spoil him rotten," I smiled.

He shook his head, kissing Eddie's hand again, which he had wrapped around his finger. "That's going to happen no matter what. There isn't anything in the world I wouldn't do to give him whatever he wants. It's not just that, though. One look at him and I totally forget what happened the night he was born. I forget everything that's going on with us, with the book and keys, with the Order and everything they try to throw at us. I forget everything that's happening in this world right now, even though I don't want him to have to grow up with all the hate and violence.

"But he's here. And he's mine. Mine and Emmy's. It's crazy to think that together we made this tiny human being who's going to grow up to be something great."

I sighed, leaning forward with one elbow on the table, and rested my chin in my hand. "If any woman heard you talking like that, you do realize they'd be a pile of mush right now from how incredibly sweet that was, right?"

He gave me a wink and a smile. "Of course. I've been told I've got that effect on them."

"Including me in the most platonic way ever. But seriously. That was the sweetest thing I've heard you say other than your wedding vows to Emmy."

John laughed out loud, making Eddie squirm in his arms and let out a little whimper, which his daddy immediately quieted by putting his pacifier in his mouth.

"You do realize Ryan helped me write them, right, even if I wrote the majority of them?"

"Still. They were incredibly sweet. And now it's not just you and Em anymore...well, not that you two have ever really been alone since all of us are pretty much always together. But you get what I mean. You guys are a little family now."

John smiled again, looking back at Eddie. Watching them made me realize how lucky I was to have been able to grow up with them – Emmy, John, and everyone else – and have them as the best role models a girl could ask for.

After a few minutes of calming silence, John let out a yawn that rivaled Eddie's.

"Do you want me to keep an eye on him for a little while so you and Emmy can get some sleep? I don't mind. I'll bring him back up in a few hours when it's time for him to eat again."

"You sure?" he asked after yawning again. "Though I don't mind staying down here with him, I'm..."

"Your dead on your feet," I finished for him, and then held my arms out for Eddie. "I'll take him. Go upstairs, give your wife a kiss, and get some sleep. Aunt Hattie's here to take care of her tiny human."

A laugh escaped with his next yawn. "Here's your tiny human then," he said, gently placing Eddie in my arms before I cradled him to my chest. John then leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Thanks, Hattie. Love you."

"Love you, too," I smiled.

Once he left, I was the one staring down at Eddie. "What should we do now that your daddy's gone, huh, tiny human?"

He wiggled in my arms, letting out the cutest sigh I'd heard from him yet.

"Sounds good then," I smiled, trying to hold in my squeal from how adorable he was so I didn't wake him. "You just keep sleeping and I'll keep staring at you since you're just too darn cute."

I brushed my finger over his cheek.

Heard the sound of footsteps down the hallway coming toward the kitchen.

And looked up to see Beau and Flannery standing there in the doorway.