What a Perfect Fairytale

He took a deep breath, taking her in, and held her close. "I can get her, baby. You need rest, too." He said softly, still in and out of sleep. His eyes were still closed and his mind was heading back towards sleep, but he kept his focus on her as well just in case. "Rest for now, though. It'll feel like only a minutes has gone by when she does wake up again." He said, yawning a little and keeping her close. @auroraxblake

She kept her arms to herself, usually she'd be wrapping them around him. But she was in a mood, one effected by minimal sleep and the impending work she'd have to do. "But I have to," she said, her tone sharper than she anticipated, "I have to do everything. She won't go back down with a bottle so I'll have to get up and do it all over again." She'd have to get up and breastfeed Nellie, opting to do that instead of making a bottle. "Exactly, and you're fine sleeping so just let me do it," she snapped and let out an exasperated sigh. @brodyblake

closed starter for @auroraxblake

"She's so good with her," Rory said as she watched her daughter and her best friends daughter interacted. Though Florence was still so little herself, Rory was in awe of how gentle she was with baby Nellie. "I love them so much," she grinned from ear to ear at the thought of their daughters being besties. "Oh absolutely, I can see them being best friends too. And Florence would be such an amazing big sister, even if not by blood these two with be just as close." @sloanemercer

With Nellie at home with her in-laws, this was the first big event where Rory (and Brody) were out and about without their daughter. She was so happy to be able to attend her friend's big day and watch her marry the love of her life. Taking a breather, and sipping upon some seltzer as she wasn't drinking that night, she smiled at Logan as she saw the bride approach. "Hi," she smiled again and then looked at her own ring, nodding her head. "I still do. I mean we eloped so it was a little different but every day I catch myself thinking about it when I get a glimpse of it. And every morning when I wake up next to Brody, I think to myself how damn lucky I am." @loganxwheeler

Rory had been taking a stroll downtown, baby Nellie in tow in a stroller. She was taking advantage of the nice weather without having to worry about it being too hot or too rainy. Downtoqn Kismet held a special place in her heart, it behling the epicenter of the town she had called home for over two years. Everything about it she loved. Especially the art and how lively people were. Seeing a mural forming, she stepped over to it and took a look. "Hmm it looks kind of like the shoreline and the buildings put together," she asked, hoping that was the other's vision and what he was going for. "Please tell me that was what you were aiming for?" @omarxmorrison

Hearing his daughter cry, Brody woke up just as his wife said that she had Nellie. After a long day a the shop, he was exhausted and so he started dozing again quickly once Rory was gone, but he did feel her come back to bed. Rolling over, he brought her close to cuddle and kissed her shoulder. "She okay?" He asked and kept his eyes closed as he settled in the bed with her. @auroraxblake

Knowing it was a long day for Brody, Rory had tried to step up and take care of everything. She had cleaned their house, took care of the dog and daughter, and cooked dinner. She was exhausted and knew that she was only doing this since she was home. When she'd go back to work things would change, but the prospect of going back to work scared her. "Yeah she's fine," she said quietly, her mind overworking and her body exhausted. As she lay in bed she barely moved as he cuddled into her. "She should be good for another few hours before I have to get up again." @brodyblake

The joys of motherhood hadn't been like anything she had ever known. The ups and downs had all been worth it, especially with an amazing partner like she had with Brody. "Absolutely," she gave a quick nod, "I wouldn't trade it for the world." Her eyes shifted from Sam to Nellie and then back, the baby girl was bright eyed and awake, alert and taking in everything. Knowing Sam since her move to town, she had always felt a soft spot for the man even if their rendezvous was a one and done. She cared for him in a way she hadn't cared for many others, always holding a special place for him in her heart. There having been a special connection between them even if not romantic. As she watched him, she had hesitated offering for him to hold her daughter at first but quickly squashed any hesitations. As he nodded, she smiled before leaning down and picking up Nellie, gently handing her to Sam. "She's freshly fed and changed so she should be very happy and maybe even sleepy." @samxbradford

Age only mattered in some aspects of life, but she could understand why Anthony chuckled at her statement. As her brother-in-law took the bottle, Rory watched and couldn't help but smile. "Yeah," she nodded in agreement to him, before nodding again. "I do, but I'd love to try to work from home as much as I could. Like a hybrid schedule or something," she sat on a chair close by. "I don't want to leave her with some strangers you know? But I've heard your folks are close by," she wouldn't trust her own parents with her daughter. "I wouldn't dare trust my parents with her but I'd trust yours in a heartbeat." @anthonyxblake

Cutting off ties with her family, at least her parents and other brother, had been one of the easiest things she had ever done. Leaving her old life behind in Los Angeles was easier than she had expected, and she had gained so much more since moving to Kismet. Heck she had gained a whole new family with Brody and his brothers and even parents. "Thank goodness some jobs can allow working from home, I mean I can write up an article in the office or here so it's not a big deal," Brody on the other hand, along with his brothers did have to be in person for their work. "Fingers crossed I can," she said with a smile, it growing wider as she watched her daughter in the arms of her uncle. "You Blake boys truly are amazing and I hope you guys know that," she said in earnest before adding, "I have no doubt it will, something about this town that makes things like that happen." @anthonyxblake

Their little family was her light and joy, everything about it she loved. And it was only the beginning of an amazing life she envisioned for them. She couldn't help but laugh at how swiftly he had picked her up and brought her inside, only getting a little bit wet in the process. She ran her hands over her head and flicked the water off it it playfully. "Woah!" She said as he pulled her back outside, her arms on his shoulders and claspibg her fingers together on the back of his neck. "I'll dance in the rain with you whenever and wherever," she grinned, looking up as the rain poured over them. @brodyblake

He laughed as he looked into her eyes. Both of them were soaked now as the rain poured, but he didn't care. He was doing this with the woman he loved. "I'll dance with you in the rain whenever and wherever, too, my love." He said and held her closer. "Hell, I'll dance with you whenever and wherever we are." And that was a promise. They moved softly as they danced and the rain continued. Off in the distance, lightning was striking and thunder came after. "Sounds like it's getting closer." @auroraxblake

As the rain fell, she looked up and laughed. They were both soaking wet and she held onto her husband tightly. "How'd I get so lucky?" She asked, now gazing into his deep brown eyes, reaching up to wipe some hair from his face. "Wherever you are, is home that much I know," she added before looking to where he did, her giving him a soft nod. He laid her head against his chest her eyes closing as they swayed. "I know we should go inside but I don't want to move, I just want to bottle this feeling up right here. With you." @brodyblake

"We do." He agreed with his wife. He loved everything about their family and he was happy that he got to do this with her. Rory was the love of his life and all of this was a dream come true. As he sat her down inside, he laughed and shook his hair a little. "Alright. Back outside it is." He grabbed her hand and pulled her back out the door as the rain poured harder. "This what you want, Mrs. Blake?" He asked, placing his hands at her side. "Then you may have it." @auroraxblake

Their little family was her light and joy, everything about it she loved. And it was only the beginning of an amazing life she envisioned for them. She couldn't help but laugh at how swiftly he had picked her up and brought her inside, only getting a little bit wet in the process. She ran her hands over her head and flicked the water off it it playfully. "Woah!" She said as he pulled her back outside, her arms on his shoulders and claspibg her fingers together on the back of his neck. "I'll dance in the rain with you whenever and wherever," she grinned, looking up as the rain poured over them. @brodyblake

It was like another bolt of lightning had struck through his heart and took with it all Sam had wanted. There was it. The familiar ache and he rolled his shoulders, as if he could redirect the misery, simply shrug it off and be done with the grief. As Rory spoke, eyes of a hue somewhere between blue and green settled on her with a noticeable bout of reluctance. Sam swallowed down the bitterness and mustered a lackluster half-smile. "Nellie." He repeated quietly, as if saying her name for himself. As if he had to try how it sounded as the syllables tumbled from his lips. He moved, his morbid intrigue winning in this instant he knew might haunt him for the rest of today. "Are you keeping your mommy busy?" He aimed his words, his voice sitting at a slightly higher pitch, toward the baby. Big eyes. Pacifier. Completely unmoved and yet visibly curious about the world around her. Herr innocence was impeccable and for a moment, Sam could not help but wonder which of her parents the baby resembled more. "She's sweet." The smile he'd managed grew more quiet as he spoke and the hole inside his chest grew. @auroraxblake

Rory had never grown up speaking the words, I am destined to be a mom or that she had even wanted to be one. But when she had started dating with Brody, every thought or lack there of she had had gone out the window. She knew from the very start that she would marry him and wanted to start a family with him. So the fruits of her labor was no evident in the small stroller in front of her, her hands soft upon the handle. Smiling as he repeated her daughter's nickname, her head slowly nodded in the affirmative. "That she does," she laughed and let out a snort as she did, "more than I'd like to admit honestly. Between her and our dog, I'm surprised I'm still standing." Her bright brown eyes settled upon Sam, a man she held in high regard that he had always made her smile. His friendship being a quiet one, one where the other didn't need words to convey anything. "She's the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me," she looked about her daughter, the baby comfy and wide eyed. "Would you like to hold her?" @samxbradford