"Please Mary just take a nap" I groaned. I was so tired. Mary was nearing two months old and for some reason she had been waking up more and more in the middle of the night.
Being a new mom was rough. I was barely eating, barely sleeping and barely doing anything but making sure Mary was taken care of. It was becoming super stressful, and add to that the fact that the father made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the baby or myself after I found out. It was Mary and I against the world.
As I rocked Mary in my arms attempting to get her to take a nap so I can have a breather, the doorbell rang. I reluctantly went to open the door.
"Caroline?" I asked confused seeing my friend on the other side of the door.
"Hey girl, just stopping by to see the little princess" she walked in.
"Oh, she's actually going down for a nap but I-" I started before she cut me off.
"There's always time for a visit from auntie caroline" she took the baby from my hands.
I wanted to ask if I could take a shower, make something to eat, anything at that point. Instead I settled for something simple.
"I'm going to run to the bathroom I'll be right back" I looked at her hopefully as she nodded nervously.
I ran to the bathroom as quickly as possible. When I got back it was only about ten minutes until she handed the baby back and left. Mary was more wide awake than ever and I felt like I would never be able to get her to nap after that visit.
About a half hour later the doorbell rang again. I breathed out and picked up Mary to answer the door.
"Quinn? What are you doing here?" I asked confused.
I had spent the better part of the night before with him and a few others so I was shocked to see him back so soon.
"I've been thinking since last night" he shifted nervously.
"This should be good" I mumbled to myself.
"Everyone knows he's a jerk" he started speaking as he rubbed the top of Mary's hair.
"Yeah" I breathed a laugh making bring his eyes to me.
"You deserve better, you both do. And we don't hate each other...we could get married, we should get married"
"Quinn...go home" I laughed.
"What?" He asked confused.
"Listen, I know you mean well but let's not do that to either of us. You're so sweet and you're a great friend. I don't need to get married just because of Mary. Plus you deserve to marry someone you love, that you can't wait to spend the rest of your life with and have some adorable babies yourself. You're a sweetheart for willing to jump on that grenade and I love you but I think it's best we don't get married" I lightly laughed.
"Offers always there." He laughed.
"I'll keep that in mind" I giggled pulling him into a hug before he kissed the top of both Mary's head and mine before leaving.
Throughout the afternoon, a few more people stopped by for one stupid reason or another. I was starting to get super annoyed and I just wanted to get Mary down for a nap so I could breathe for even a minute.
When I heard a soft knock on the door I threw my head back in frustration and let out a groan. Once again I picked up Mary and opened the front door to a smiling Brock. Not again.
"Oh god, what do you guys want now?" I tried closing the door but he stopped it with his hand.
"Did I do something to upset you? Because I only wanted to bring you food" he looked at me seriously.
I breathed deeply, I felt bad.
"I'm so sorry. Come in, you're so sweet" I pulled him into a hug.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you I just knew you probably haven't eaten much today since you don't eat much most days unless someone forces you" he handed me the bag.
"You're amazing, you know that?" I smiled at him.
He returned the smile moving to sit on the couch.
"Bad day?" He asked and I offered a shrug. "Here, give me the baby and go eat, shower or do whatever you need to do" he said reaching his arms out.
"You don't have to do that" I smiled at him.
"I know you, you're dying for a shower but don't want to bother anyone. You want even a minute to yourself to just take a deep breath. I cleared some time for you guys now give me the little princess, Y/N" he smiled gently taking Mary from my arms.
"I'll be quick I promise" I kissed the top of Mary's head and Brock's cheek quickly.
"Take your time, we're bff's I got this"
I ran to take a quick shower. I didn't know a shower could feel so amazing. While I was putting on clean clothes I couldn't help but think about Brock. He was truly amazing. Ever since Mary had been born he made sure we had what we needed, even if he couldn't fulfill it himself he sent someone who could.
I had grown to love the man he was, although I would never let him know that. Having a baby changed everything and even if Brock was interested in me, I would never put that kind of responsibility on him.
I walked out of my room and stopped when I heard Brock talking to Mary. He had her sitting on his lap facing him and resting against his knees that were pulled up on the coffee table, they both looked adorable.
"That's some cute pajamas you got there, you know that? You're such a beautiful little baby, beautiful just like your mommy. You wanna know a little secret? I never told her this, but your mommy is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You're daddy's kind of a jerk but he's a stupid stupid man, he had two of the most amazing girls and he just...it doesn't matter you guys are better off without him. I'll always make sure you're taken care of, you and your beautiful mommy. But just between us, you might be just a little more beautiful" he rubbed her belly.
I wanted to cry, he was so perfect. I wanted to tell him how I felt, how much I appreciated that he had never let us down and was always there when we needed him. I wanted to tell him how much my heart swelled with love for him but instead I held back my tears and walked into the living room.
"Looks like you guys are having fun" I grabbed the food off the table.
"I told you, bff's" he chuckled lightly.
"If you have to get going I can take her. I've gotten used to eating with one hand" I laughed reaching my arms out.
"I have nothing to do the rest of the day, I told you I cleared some time for you both. I got her, enjoy your food" he pushed my hands away.
"I think...I think I'm gonna eat in bed if you want to bring her in there and join" I offered.
He smiled getting up from his seat and bringing her with. I turned on the tv as he got settled against the headboard.
"Really, thank you for all this. It's exactly what I needed"
"Anytime" he said not looking away from playing with Mary as she smiled at him.
Mary had barely learned how to smile, but it never failed the minute she saw Brock she lit up like a Christmas tree. She didn't smile for many people, but she always made sure to have a smile ready for him.
I quickly ate and got up to throw away the trash. When I got back Mary was on her belly on top of Brock's stomach and he was laid out on the bed.
"Is she asleep? I was only gone a few minutes" I giggled sitting back on the bed.
"She was tired she knocked out as soon as I laid her down" he chuckled.
"Here I can put her down, I think I need a nap myself"
"She's fine here" he rubbed her back gently "take a nap, plus I know you won't actually sleep comfortably thinking something's going to go wrong if I leave"
A smile spread on my face, he was absolutely right. He knew me so well.
"Are you sure you don't have to leave?" I looked at him seriously giving him one more chance for an out if he wanted one.
"I'm yours the rest of the day, get some sleep" he rested a hand on my leg.
I looked between him and his hand resting on my leg. Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.
"Hey" he said softly when I pulled away. "Take a nap and if you still want to do that when you wake up we-" he started before I leaned forward and caught his lips again.
"I will, only if you will" I almost whispered.
I scooted over and laid down to rest laying my head against his chest. His arm fell lazily around my shoulders and I laid one of my hands on Mary's back.
"I will" he said softly. "I always will. I just didn't want you to only want to because you're tired and stressed"
A smile grew on my face.
"I always have, and I always will" I moved my hand to half cover his hand that still rested on Mary's back.
"I admire how strong of a person you are for picking up after what he did. I hope you know you don't have to do it alone, we're all here to help you" he rubbed my back soothingly.
"Yeah that's obvious" I laughed thinking back to Quinn's visit. "You guys are amazing, are you sure you want to stay here though? You really don't have to" I said through a yawn.
"I want to, this is the best feeling in the world" he kissed the top of my head. "I love you both, you know"
"I didn't know that, but I'm glad I do now" I lifted my head up to look at him and puckered my lips to ask for another kiss which he handed out with a smile.
"Brock?" I asked through another yawn, not using the strength to even lift my head up this time.
"Yeah, hun?" He said softly bringing his hand to my hair to rub my head gently.
"We love you too" I was able to say before I fell into a deep sleep for the first time since Mary was born.
I had never felt fully comfortable sleeping no matter if she was asleep or not, I always had a panicked feeling that something would go wrong. Brock knew how I felt about it and why I was always tired, but with him being right there the whole time I knew nothing could go wrong. I felt safe with him.
I was wrong, it was never just Mary and I against the world. Hopefully it never would be.
A huge thank you to mitchyymarns and Carnivoria for giving me the little push I needed to write this! Love you girls ❤️🥰