"Hush, little Baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a Mockingbird." Braelynn sings out softly as she tries to put Addison down for her nap. "And if that mockingbird don't sing. Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring."
Addison releases another cry, her eyes filled with tears, the three week old didn't sleep very well.
"Okay, you don't like that one." Braelynn sighed. She began rocking her daughter gently.
Kicking her feet slightly, Addison releases a slightly louder cry.
"Come on Addison, work with me here." Braelynn said. She was growing frustrated with her daughter.
"She can sense your emotions." Lucy says softly from the doorway.
Addison releases another cry, nuzzling Braelynn's chest.
Braelynn looked up at her mother. "I don't understand why she cries all the time. I can't do anything to help her if I don't know what's wrong."
"Sometimes a baby just cries to cry." The older woman responds with a soft smile. "Right now she might be hungry, need or diaper changed, or just really tired."
"I don't know." Braelynn muttered. She looked down at her daughter. "Please stop crying." She begged.
Addison's eyes grow wide and her lower lip pouts out as she stares up at Braelynn.
"Have you checked to see if she's hungry or needs changed?" Lucy asks softly.
Braelynn sighed. She lifted Addison up and sniffed her bottom. "She doesn't need changed and I fed her an hour ago."
Laughing softly, Lucy shakes her head. "Okay, try the rocking chair. That used to help us with you."
Braelynn sighed, she got up off her bed and went to the rocking chair.
As soon as she begins rocking, Addison's eyes flutter closed and her cries become soft whimpers.
"Shh." Braelynn whispered.
It wasn't long before Addison was completely asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling slowly.
Braelynn put her daughter in her bassinet and left the room.
"You did good." Lucy says softly, following behind her.
Braelynn turned to look at Lucy. "Did I really?"
"Yes, you didn't give up and you didn't get angry. Most first time moms don't accomplish that." Lucy responds, sending her a soft smile.
"Not what I mean." Braelynn shook her head. "If I hadn't gone to that stupid party, none of this would have happened."
Sighing, Lucy pulls Braelynn into a gentle hug. "It wasn't your fault, now stop."
"I shouldn't have gone to that party." Braelynn responded.
"I'm the one that told you that you could go." Lucy responds calmly.
"You should have stopped me." Braelynn responded before walking away.
Pain fills Lucy's chest as she realizes Braelynn is now blaming her.
Braelynn sighed and turned away.
Making her way into the kitchen, Lucy sits down beside Camila.
"What's wrong?" Camila asked looking up from her work.
"Braelynn blames me." Lucy mumbles.
"I don't think she blames you." Camila said.
The older girl shrugs. "She said I never should've let her go to that party."
"It's not your fault. She wanted to go, you couldn't stop her." Camila said.
Swallowing thickly, Lucy nods her head. "Okay."
Camila leaned over and pecked Lucy's lips.
"I love you." Lucy says softly.
"I love you too." Camila smiled softly.
Stretching slightly, Lucy releases a soft yawn.
"Go to bed." Camila said softly. "You need sleep."
Nodding, Lucy kisses Camila before getting up and leaving.
Camila watched Lucy leave before focusing her attention back on her work.
"Mama, can we talk?" Ben asks softly.
Camila looked up at her son. "What's up?" She asked softly.
"I think my girlfriend might be pregnant." Ben says slowly. "But we always used protection."
Camila's eyes widened. "Ben you're fifteen, you should not be doing it at fifteen."
Swallowing thickly, Ben takes a deep breath. "I know, but we use protection mama."
"That doesn't matter, Ben. I thought we taught you better." Camila said. "You shouldn't even know what sex is yet."
"I'm sorry." He mumbles softly.
Camila took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "You think she's pregnant?"
Nodding his head slowly, the fifteen year old takes a deep breath. "She said she's late."
"Late? That doesn't mean she's pregnant." Camila said. "And if you wore protection then she's definitely not pregnant."
"Are you sure?" Ben asks worriedly.
"Positive." Camila said.
Relaxing, Ben runs a hand through his hair. "Okay."
"So you can relax now." Camila said.
"Thank you mama." Ben says softly.
"No problem Ben, now get some sleep. You have school tomorrow." Camila smiled softly.
Nodding his head, Ben makes his way to his room.
Camila focused her attention back on her work.
Addison's loud cry catches her attention.
Sighing, Camila abandoned her work and went to the crying baby.
As soon as Addison sees Camila she releases a soft coo.
"What is it?" Camila asked softly.
Cooing again, the baby kicks her feet excitedly.
"You should be sleeping." Camila said.
Pouting, Addison kicks her feet again.
Camila sighed. She lifted the baby up and rocked her to sleep.
The baby whines softly, she didn't want to go to sleep.
"Sleep." Camila said softly.
Whining, Addison kicks her feet.
"Addison. It's nap time. You're supposed to be sleeping." Camila said.
Tears prick at the baby's eyes and she kicks her feet.
"Don't give me that face." Camila said seriously.
Addison's bottom lip trembles as she fights back tears.
"Addison, come on, sleep." Camila said. "Why do you not like sleeping? You're a baby."
Releasing a soft cry, the baby kicks her feet.
"Seriously?" Camila asked, rocking the baby.
Nuzzling Camila's chest, Addison whines again.
"Of course, you're hungry." Camila went to find Braelynn.
Braelynn was outside with Lauren, talking quietly.
Camila watched them, trying to calm her granddaughter.
Addison released a louder cry, kicking her feet.
"Shh." Camila whispered softly. She wanted to watch Lauren and Braelynn for a moment.
Braelynn smiles softly, "Thank you." She says before looking up to see Camila.
Addison releases a louder cry and nuzzles Camila's chest.
"She's hungry." Camila said softly, handing Braelynn her daughter.
Addison immediately nuzzles Braelynn's chest and whines.
Braelynn sighed. "What happened to your nap, miss Addison?" She covered herself with her towel and pulled her shirt down, allowing Addison to latch onto her.
The baby immediately relaxed as she began to nurse.
Braelynn sighed. "She's always hungry."
"She's a baby." Camila responds softly.
"Was I this hungry?" Braelynn asked.
"All of you were." Camila says softly.
"Except Marley." Lauren said.
Rolling her eyes playfully, Camila pulls Lauren close. "That's because Marley barely ate."
"She still doesn't eat." Lauren responded.
"She's starting to." The younger girl responds.
"Yeah... but pretty soon something will knock her confidence and we'll be back to square one." Lauren responded.
"I think Jake is really helping." Camila responds softly.
"I don't trust that boy." Lauren said.
Frowning, Camila looks at Lauren. "Why not?"
"I don't know. I just don't trust him. He seems like a bad boy." Lauren said.
"He's been helping our daughter a lot." Camila responds softly.
"Still doesn't mean I have to trust him." Lauren said.
Sighing, Camila nods her head. "Okay."
Lauren nodded slowly.
"I love you." Camila says softly.
"I love you too." Lauren leaned against Camila and closed her eyes.
Addison grunts from under the blanket, having lost Braelynn's nipple.
Braelynn shifted her daughter and helped her find her nipple again.
The baby relaxed as soon as she latched on, her eyes fluttering closed.
Braelynn sighed.
"You're doing really good with her." Camila comments softly.
"Everyone says that." Braelynn responded
Smiling, Camila watches her daughter. "Because it's true."
Braelynn sighed. "It doesn't feel that way."
"Trust me, we've all been there. It won't feel like it, but you are." Camila tells her softly.
"I wish I'd never gone to that stupid party. I wish I'd gone to Marley's show." Braelynn responded
Camila sighs and watches Braelynn. "Then you would never have Addie."
"Maybe that would be a good thing." Braelynn responded.
"Why are you being like this? You were so excited to have her." Camila says calmly.
"Maybe I'm just not ready." Braelynn pulled Addison away from her chest and fixed her shirt. She handed her daughter to Camila and stood up, walking away from them.
Addison releases a soft cry, her bottom lip pouting out.
Lauren opened her eyes and looked up at Camila. "She's still hungry."
"What do we do? Braelynn isn't going to feed her." Camila says softly, gently bouncing Addison.
Addison nuzzles Camila's chest and releases yet another cry.
"I don't know if she'll feed from me." Lauren said. "But I can try."
"Will you?" Camila asks softly, holding Addison out toward Lauren.
"I can try." Lauren repeated, taking Addison from Camila.
The baby releases a louder cry and nuzzles Lauren's chest.
Lauren pulled her shirt up and allowed Addison to latch onto her nipple.
Addison immediately latches on and begins to gently suck, kicking her feet.
Lauren closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"You okay?" Camila asks softly.
"It hurts." Lauren said.
Kissing Lauren's cheek, Camila sighs. "I'm sorry. I'll have to see about switching her to formula."
"It's not your fault." Lauren said. "It hurts with Daxton too."
Nodding her head, Camila sighs. "I'm going to have to talk with Lucy and Braelynn."
Lauren nodded and leaned back against Camila.
Addison slowly stopped sucking, signaling she was falling asleep.
"She's falling asleep." Lauren said, fixing her shirt.
"That's good." Camila says softly.
Lauren nodded. "Yeah."
Addison was sound asleep, her tiny hand resting against Lauren's chest.
Lauren turned her head to look at Camila.
"I don't get why she is so tiny." Camila mumbles softly. "I mean she was born two months early, but she's smaller than even Marley was."
"She'll grow." Lauren said.
Running her finger along Addison's cheek, Camila releases a soft sigh. "I hope so."
"She will. Marley grew eventually." Lauren said.
"I wish Braelynn would interact with her more. She was so excited in the hospital and now she barely interacts with her." Camila mumbles softly.
"Maybe she realised she isn't ready to be a mom." Lauren said. "It happens sometimes. I wasn't ready for Remi."
Sighing, Camila gently takes Addison from Lauren. "A little late for her decision."
"Give her some time." Lauren said. "She's only seventeen."
Addison kicks her feet in her sleep, curling into Camila.
Camila sighed, she leaned over and kissed Lauren's cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too." Lauren responds softly.
Camila smiled softly. "Thank you for feeding her."
"Of course, can't have her starving." The older girl says softly.
Camila pulled Lauren closer.
Addison whines in her sleep and kicks her feet once more.
"Shh." Camila rocked the baby until she settled down.
The baby relaxed and remained asleep, gripping onto a strand of Camila's hair.
Lauren curled into Camila's side, resting her head on Camila's shoulder.
"We should probably go inside, I'm sure Daxton will be awake soon." Camila says softly.
"I'm comfy here." Lauren said. "Can't we just stay for a little longer."
Smiling softly, Camila nods her head. "Okay, we can stay out here for a bit."
Lauren nodded, she looked up at the clouds.
"You're so beautiful." Camila whispers in her ear.
Lauren blushed but kept her eyes on the clouds.
****
Addison began to loudly cry around two in the morning, waking everyone up.
Lauren groaned and rolled out of bed to see what all the commotion was.
The little girl was wide awake in her crib and kicking her feet.
"What's wrong?" Lauren frowned as she looked down at the baby.
As soon as she sees Lauren, Addison releases a soft coo.
"You just wanted attention. In the middle of the night?" Lauren sighed.
The baby just coos again, sending Lauren a tiny smile.
Lauren lips curled into a soft smile at the sight of the baby's smile.
Kicking her feet, Addison continues to coo to herself.
Lauren reached her hand into the crib and gently ran her index finger across the little girl's cheek.
A tiny squeal escapes the baby and she kicks her feet.
"Shh." Lauren cooed softly. "Go back to sleep."
Whining softly, the baby kicks her feet.
"You don't like that idea?" Lauren asked.
Addison coos again softly.
"I'll take that as a yes." Lauren said.
Cooing, Addison stares up at Lauren, wiggling around in her crib.
Lauren lifted Addison out of the crib. "Hungry?"
Nuzzling Lauren's chest, Addison releases another coo.
"I'll take that as a yes." Lauren carried Addison into her room and sat on the bed. She pulled her night shirt off with one hand, with great difficulty.
The baby immediately latches on to Lauren's nipple and begins nursing.
Lauren winced and closed her eyes, leaning back against the pillow.
Addison slowly falls asleep as she nurses, but anytime Lauren tries to move her she whines and starts nursing again.
Lauren let out a slow breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
"What's wrong?" Camila asks tiredly, sitting up.
Lauren opened her eyes and looked at Camila. "Nothing, go back to sleep."
"You sure?" Camila asks softly.
Lauren nodded and forced a smile. "She's just hungry."
Addison slowly relaxed and fell back asleep.
Lauren didn't dare move the baby out of fear that she'd wake up and start sucking again.
"Maybe if you move her and replace it with a pacifier?" Camila says softly.
Lauren looked at Camila. "Can you get one?" She asked, hoping Camila's plan would work.
Nodding, Camila grabs a pacifier and hands it to Lauren.
Lauren carefully shifted the baby and slipped the pacifier into her mouth before she could latch onto her nipple again.
The baby remained fast asleep, sucking on her pacifier.
Lauren released a sigh of relief and rested her head on Camila's shoulder. "Thank you."
The younger girl smiles softly. "I love you."
"I love you too." Lauren closed her eyes, holding the baby close.
"Why don't you put her in Daxton's crib with him?" Camila asks softly.
Daxton was an easy baby all he did was eat, sleep, and occasionally need changed a few times.
"Um..." Lauren sat up slightly and stood up. She made her way over to Daxton's crib and put Addison in it with him.
Addison's eyes flutter open and she releases a soft whine.
Lauren sighed heavily and looked at Camila.
"Bring her back, she can just lay between us." Camila mumbles.
Lauren nodded, she lifted the baby up and carried her back to the bed.
As soon as Addison was laying between them, the baby was sound asleep.
"She's such a demanding baby." Lauren whispered.
Nodding her head in agreement, Camila sighs softly. "Let's just try to get some more sleep."
Lauren nodded. She shifted onto her back and sighed heavily.
****
Three months later
"Braelynn, come get her." Camila calls out calmly as she rocks Addison who is screaming.
Braelynn huffed. "What now?" She asked. "I'm in the middle of an essay."
"You need to start taking care of your daughter. Your mother and I and Lauren have been taking care of her since you brought her home." Camila snaps out, glaring at the seventeen year old.
"I'm not ready to be a mother!" Braelynn snapped back before walking away.
Camila follows after her and grabs her arm. "You should've thought about that before deciding you would keep her. I can take you into custody for child neglect."
"Do what you want." Braelynn snapped, pulling her arm from her mother's hand and walking away again.
Anger coursed through Camila as she followed behind Braelynn. "Get out, pack your bags and get out." She growls out.
Braelynn stopped. "What?!"
"If you aren't going to step up and take care of your daughter, you can get out of my house. You will be taking her with you and you will learn that not everything will be done for you." Camila says, pushing Addison into Braelynn's arms and walking away.
"What was that all about?" Marley asked from the doorway to her room. She had heard them arguing and was curious.
Braelynn, doesn't respond, laying Addison in her crib and beginning to pack her bags.
Addison's screams grow louder.
Frowning, Marley entered Braelynn's room and picked the baby up.
Addison turns her head toward Marley's chest and begins nuzzling it.
Marley giggled slightly. "That tickles."
Opening her mouth, the baby tries to latch onto Marley's nipple through her shirt.
Marley frowned. "What are you doing?"
Whining, Addison kicks her feet and continues trying to latch onto Marley's nipple.
Marley giggled. She carried the baby out of the room and towards her mom. "Mom, what's she doing?" She asked.
Lauren's eyes widen as soon as she sees what Addison's doing. "That means she's hungry."
"That's a strange way of showing she's hungry." Marley looked up at her mom.
Shaking her head, Lauren takes Addison into her arms and sighs, unlatching her shirt and helping the baby latch onto her nipple.
Addison quickly begins sucking, her hand resting on Lauren's chest.
Marley sat down beside her mother. "Why does Braelynn not like her?"
"I don't know sweets, I wish I did." Lauren says as she gently runs her finger along Addison's cheek. "She's such a sweet baby."
Marley nodded. "Yeah." She looked down at the baby in her mother's arms. "Mama and Braelynn were fighting and now Braelynn is packing a bag."
Nodding her head, Lauren sighs. "Mama is tired of me, her, and Lucy raising Addison."
Marley frowned. "She's kicking Braelynn out." She didn't understand what was going on and it was upsetting her.
"Only for a few days, James has agreed to let her stay with him." Lauren responds softly.
"Mama seemed pretty certain that Braelynn was going to be gone forever." Marley mumbled. "With Addison."
Sighing, Lauren looks at Marley. "Mar, sometimes as a parent we have to do things we don't want for you guys to learn."
Marley stared at her mother. "But isn't there another way for her to learn?"
"Sweets, we've tried everything so far." Lauren mumbles.
Marley dropped her head. "Okay." She whispered. She still didn't understand.
Addison leans back and releases a soft whine.
Lauren lifted the baby up and patted her back softly to get her to burp.
After a few minutes, Addison releases a tiny burp before warm liquid slides down Lauren's back.
Lauren cringed as she pulled the baby away. "Yuck."
The baby whimpers softly before beginning to cry.
"Oh no." Lauren looked at Marley. "Get your mom, please?" She asked softly.
Nodding, Marley quickly gets up and goes to find Camila.
Addison kicked her feet as she continued to cry.
"Mama, Mom wants you." Marley said shyly once she found Camila in her office. "Addison was sick all down her back."
Nodding, Camila gets up and kisses Marley's forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too." Marley mumbled in response.
Making her way to Lauren's room, Camila takes the crying baby. "You should take a bath and so should she."
Lauren looked up at Camila. "Why did she have to be sick on me?" She said, disgust clear on her face.
"I think she has an upset stomach." Camila says softly, leading Lauren into the bathroom.
"I feel sick now." Lauren mumbled, feeling slightly nauseous from the smell.
Starting the bath water, Camila strips Addison. "Get in the tub." she tells Lauren.
"I feel sick now." Lauren mumbled, feeling slightly nauseous from the smell.
"I know, which is why we need to clean you and Addison off." Camila tells her softly, helping Lauren strip.
Lauren swallowed. "Thanks."
"Get in the tub," Camila tells her softly.
Lauren nodded and did as she was told. "I think Marley is slipping into her bad place again."
Passing Addison to Lauren, Camila sighs. "I think so too, but I'm hoping we can stop it before we're too late."
Lauren nodded. "We can't lose her to this."
Addison nuzzles Lauren's chest and attaches her lips to her nipple, sucking gently as milk fills her mouth.
Lauren closed her eyes and sighed. She opened them and looked at Camila. "Thank you."
"Of course." Camila tells her softly, kissing her gently before beginning to wash Lauren's back gently.
Lauren shivered slightly under Camila's touch. "This is disgusting." She mumbled.
"I know, but you handled it really well." The younger girl tells her softly.
Addison releases a soft whine as she lets go of Lauren's nipple.
"I've never been thrown up on before. It's disgusting and something I'd rather not experience again." Lauren said, she ran her index finger gently over Addison's cheek.
Cooing softly, Addison kicks her feet.
"That's because all the kids threw up on me." Camila responds softly.
Lauren let out a quiet giggle. "Didn't I throw up on you once too?"
"You did, actually you threw up on me three different times." Camila responds with a soft smile.
"Three different times? I only remember once." Lauren said. "When I was pregnant with Marley."
Camila smiles softly. "When we were younger."
"When was that?" Lauren frowned.
"First time was when we were six and we ate too much candy and the second time was in middle school at lunch." Camila tells her with a chuckle.
Addison releases a soft whine and kicks her feet as Camila runs the water over her.
"Oops." Lauren giggled. "I'm sorry."
Addison screams before giggling as Camila pours more water over her.
Lauren flinched slightly. "She's loud."
Camila nods her head and laughs softly. "She is but she's adorable."
Addison squeals as Camila picks her up and wraps her in a towel.
Lauren nodded. "Are you really making Braelynn leave?" She asked.
"No, but I figured James would keep her for a few days." Camila responds as she offers Lauren a towel.
Lauren got out of the tub and took the towel from Camila with a thankful smile. "Marley thinks you're making her leave forever."
"I'd never do that." Camila responds softly.
"You need to tell Marley that." Lauren said, wrapping herself in the towel.
Kissing, Lauren gently, Camila leads her into their room and starts dressing Addison.
Lauren pulled on some clean clothes and threw the towel in the hamper.
Addison began cooing softly as she stared up at Camila, her green eyes wide and bright.
"She has the same eyes as you." Camila said, looking up at Lauren who was brushing out her long black hair.
Lauren laughs softly, "They are the same shade as mine." She says softly, she moved over to Camila.
"Strange." Camila said, she shrugged as she looked down at Addison.
Addison squeals looking up at both of them, kicking her feet.
Lauren smiled softly, she lifted her head and looked at their son who was fast asleep. Her smile faded. "He doesn't need us as much."
"He does, but he's an easier baby to take care of." Camila responds softly, squeezing Lauren's hand.
"Why doesn't he need us as much as she does?" Lauren asked.
Shifting Addison in her arms, Camila sighs softly. "He is just a lot stronger than she is."
Addison whimpers softly, kicking her feet.
"Why doesn't he need us as much as she does?" Lauren asked.
"I don't know Lauren, I really don't." Camila responds, glancing toward their son.
Daxton's eyes flutter open and he releases a soft cry.
Lauren walked over to him and lifted him up. "Hi buddy." She said softly.
The little boy nuzzles her chest and kicks his feet.
Lauren smiled. "Hungry?" She asked. She sat down on the bed and removed her shirt.
It takes Daxton a few minutes to actually latch onto Lauren's nipple before he begins to nurse.
Lauren rubbed his back softly and smiled down at him, ignoring the pain in her breast as he sucked.
Addison begins crying softly in Camila's arms, signaling she was tired.
Camila rocked the baby girl to sleep and lay her down in the crib once she was out.
Daxton continues to nurse, tapping his hand on Lauren's chest.
Camila sat down beside Lauren on the bed and wrapped her arms around Lauren shoulders as she looked down at their son and smiled softly.
Daxton coos around Lauren's nipple as he stares up at them.
Lauren smiled down at her son and rested her head on Camila's shoulder.
By the time that he's done feeding, the little boy is all smiles and soft coos.
Lauren giggled. "Hi."
"He's so happy." Camila says softly, struggling to fight her smile.
Daxton kicks his feet and coos once more.
"I know." Lauren looked up at Camila. "He's the happiest baby we've had."
"That he is." Camila says softly.