canon au } { post-5b, of tummy time and family time

[hereditare]

Parrish: [and he is carrying dinner takeout and smiling at them because they are adorable.] Did you drop something?

Laura: Nope. We're having tummy time. [Amelia hears the other voice but can't really see her dad from this angle so she just smacks her hands against the ground because hey dude, get on her level]

Parrish: Tummy time? Is that what this is called? [he winces as Amelia does that because ow?]

Laura: [nods] A couple times a day, to help her strengthen her back and neck muscles, and get used to holding herself up.

Parrish: I take it this was in the book?

Laura: [nods] She can't really sleep on her stomach yet because she can't turn over on her own, but supervising her while she does is a good way to work her up to it.

Parrish: Alright then. Well, I brought us dinner. How much longer are you doing tummy time?

Laura: [glances at her watch] I was thinking another ten minutes or so. Want to come down and join us?

Parrish: Sure, let me just put this in the kitchen and take off my belt. [aka hide the gun]

Laura: [nods and goes back to paying attention to Amelia, distracting her with one of the toys]

Parrish: [and he will return a minute later in just his pants and undershirt, and will get on the floor with them in front of Amelia] Hey sweetheart, Daddy's home.

Amelia: [turns towards the new voice, and when it's a face she recognizes she smiles wide] Ah!

Parrish: [smiles at her] Yes, hi.

Amelia: [she can't really do much on her stomach at this age, but she will hold one hand out for the plastic keys her mom is dangling in front of her] Eh!

Parrish: Mommy's teasing you, huh. Come on, you can reach them.

Laura: [shakes the keys gently, and they're not that far out of reach so eventually Amelia curls her fingers around the red key and grins] Atta girl.

Parrish: There you go. Good girl!

Amelia: [she can't hold it very long - she's still building up strength in her fingers too, but she's pleased that they're pleased and lets go with a grin]

Laura: [lets the keys drop gently with her hand so she can pull them towards her]

Parrish: We're going to have to start thinking about childproofing this place.

Laura: We've got a little time. She's only one month old.

Parrish: Yeah, but time passes quickly.

Laura: True. But right now, she isn't going anywhere we don't take her.

Parrish: We're going to miss days like this when she's mobile.

Laura: No doubt.

Parrish: [reaches out to try and tug the keys from Amelia]

Amelia: [her grip isn't strong enough and she looks surprised as they slip away from her]

Parrish: You can't give them up that easily, baby.

Amelia: [and that gets a sad face] Eh?

Parrish: [and he will hold them back out to her]

Amelia: [one tiny hand swings forward as she tries to take hold of the keys again]

Parrish: [and he will let her grab them and take them easily]

Amelia: [and away goes the sad face because yay she has her toy]

Laura: [glances down at her watch, before shifting to get her up] Okay, babygirl. Time for a break. [and she'll scoop her up and make sure she takes the keys with her]

Parrish: [ and he will push himself up as well] I'll go set the table while you feed her?

Laura: [she nods] Sounds good. I'll see you in a bit.

Parrish: [and he will go and reheat their dinners in the microwave as he sets the table]

Laura: [and she will feed the baby and coax her down for some sleep before making her way into the kitchen, placing her in her small kitchen bassinet they have for her] Smells good.

Parrish: I reheated it myself. [grins]

Laura: [she laughs] How was work?

Parrish: Good. Worst thing I had to deal with was a drunk driver hitting the happy hour a bit early.

Laura: That's good, at least.

Parrish: I'm pretty sure Sheriff wants to keep me out of harm’s way with the baby.

Laura: I can't say I disagree with him. I prefer you not bursting into flames.

Parrish: Same here. It saves me on uniform costs.

Laura: At least the supernatural side of things is quiet for right now.

Parrish: Hopefully it stays that way.

Laura: Fingers crossed.

Parrish: But I have the whole weekend off. Do you want to go do something?

Laura: Sure. Did you have something in mind?

Parrish: We could take Amelia to the zoo?

Laura: I think she'd love that.

Parrish: We could do it just us, or if your siblings want to come along.

Laura: I don't think Cora's up for much right now, but maybe Derek and Dawn would like to come?

Parrish: That would be nice if they want to.

Laura: I'll call them later and see.

Parrish: Alright. [and they eat]

Laura: [yep, and once it's all cleaned up, they get some time to themselves, sans baby]

Parrish: [and they can go sit in the living room and snuggle]

Laura: [yep, and watch some TV and Laura might possibly pass out on him. the baby wears her out, man]

Parrish: [and he will snuggle her, just happy to hold her and have her]

Laura: [she's happy to have him too. and she will eventually rouse when Amelia wakes up for her next feeding with a sigh] I can't wait until she doesn't need to eat every few hours.

Parrish: [chuckles] Go get her and come back here with me.

Laura: [nods and goes to do just that, feeding her quickly before taking her back out to the couch while she's dozy and relaxed]

Parrish: [and he will look down at them both, wrapping his arms around them and rubbing Amelia's back gently]

Laura: [Amelia shifts a bit to the press of her father's hand, before lulling back off to sleep against her mother's elbow]

Parrish: [leans forward to kiss Laura's shoulder] This here? This is perfect

Laura: [she glances up with a smile] Yeah, it is.

Parrish: I'd be fine staying like this forever.

Laura: [nods and rests her head against her shoulder] Unfortunately she won't let it stay that way.

Parrish: Well, when we start to miss it we can always think about making another.

Laura: [she laughs] We'll see. I think between us and Cora we have enough newborns for right now.

Parrish: True. How is she doing anyway?

Laura: Physically? Well. Mentally? It's dicey. She's disappointed and panicking and I think she might be cracking under the responsibility a little.

Parrish: Sheriff told me they were giving Derek the kid though.

Laura: Yeah. But that doesn't always go well with werewolf instincts.

Parrish: Hence the conflict?

Laura: [she nods] She's doing the right thing. She knows she is. At the same time, she's giving away something that part of her wants to protect above all else. It doesn't understand that the best way to protect the baby is to give it to someone else.

Parrish: And she can still protect the child. It's not like Derek will keep her from the baby.

Laura: No. But if she gets too in over her head she may take the baby from him. She might want to keep her distance for a while.

Parrish: Yeah, that wouldn't go over well.

Laura: It's going to be complicated. But I think we'll all figure it out.

Parrish: [nods] I hope so.

Laura: Me too.

Parrish: You know we're probably going to fall asleep right here, right?

Laura: [she nods] Mmmmhmmm.

Parrish: Good thing I don't have to pee then.

Laura: We just have to make sure she stays on her back.

Parrish: We can tuck her into the spot between you and my arm if you roll a bit to your side.

Laura: [considers for a moment, before nodding] Okay.

Parrish: [and he will help her shift to a place they are both comfortable and Amelia is secure]

Laura: [and she will rest her head against his chest, just snuggling together with him]

Parrish: [family snuggle time]

Laura: [yep. good times for all]