Archive of Our Own ^beta

“I can’t believe that in another day or two, we’ll have our baby home.” Sandy said to Kerry as they stepped out into the ambulance bay and started walking over to the Jumbo Mart. “I just wish we didn’t have to wait a few more months to take him for walks in the fresh air.”

“I’ve admired your optimism about calling our walks for convenience store coffee ‘fresh air’.” Kerry said with a laugh. “It’s always so cold out here. Usually slushy and wet this time of year. The uncertainty about what kind of case is going to roll in. Then again, compared to the NICU, you have a fair point.”

“I don’t know. I guess I feel a mixture of relief and guilt that Henry isn’t as bad off as some of the other babies in there. I think this is just a way of keeping my wits about me. Otherwise I think we’d have to take turns pulling each other out of there for a break.”

Kerry knew that Sandy wasn’t wrong. She knew when she hit her limits at work, but there were still days when she had to force herself to take a break. 

This was different, though. It was her own baby, and harder to walk away from him. 

But then she remembered the positives of this whole journey. She never stopped replaying the day Sandy told her she would carry the baby and deal with desk duty because she’d realized how much Kerry wanted a child but would likely never be able to take a pregnancy to term. And since they couldn’t get married, having a small family on their own would be the next best thing. 

“Part of me still doesn’t know if we’re ready for the realities of parenthood.” Sandy said, laughing. “We’ve spent so much of the last nine months with the fun stuff, like the ultrasound photos and decorating the nursery and everything. What are we going to do when we get home with a baby?” 

“Figure it out.” Kerry replied with a smile. “I still remember that woman we met in childbirth class who was having her third or fourth, and she said we’ll always be learning. I can’t wait, though.”

“Right? I was surprised at how much I ended up enjoying pregnancy. The birth part, not as much, and definitely harder than climbing onto a roof with an axe. And more graphic. I’m not closed off to doing this again, as soon as I’ve had time to recover and work for a little while, of course.”

“Wait…you mean to tell me that despite the disagreement in the beginning, and your worries about your job and everything else, that you want to have another one before we even get used to Henry?”

Sandy slid into the booth and handed her a cup of coffee. “Obviously not that soon. But everything changed the first moment he was out and I held him. And I looked at you and saw how happy you were. You told me I did it and I did so well, but we both did it. You supported me, you helped me with all the preparations at home, and you didn’t miss a parenting or childbirth class. I don’t want to stop here.”

“How many more should we have?”

“OK fine…I guess we need to figure that out.”

She leaned back. “I also just realized. This is one of the last few times we get to be alone and have some quiet without needing to coordinate anything. Pretty soon, we have to get a babysitter for date nights. Or plan them more carefully. Oh, and then there’s day care. I know we’ve talked about all this already, but it’s feeling more real.” 

“I’m too hardened to even think about that.” Kerry said. “You balance me out well.”

“Maybe this will help.” Sandy came to the other side of the booth and kissed her on the cheek. “Small thing, I know. But I was reading this fun little article about how today is National Kiss a Ginger Day. You’re my girlfriend—wife, if we could be married—and you’re a redhead. And we have a beautiful new baby boy. I needed a quick minute to celebrate that.”

“Aw, well thank you.” Kerry blushed. “I didn’t even know a holiday like that existed.”

“Oh yeah. Well, now we can celebrate it every year. Next year, you’ll get kisses from me and Henry.” 

“Perfect. Put it on the calendar. January 12. It’ll be our first family tradition.”