NEWBORN NIGHTMARES
Masterlist
When Brendon usually wakes you up in the middle of the night itâs for sex, but since you pushed out a tiny being six weeks ago. When Brendon wakes you up itâs because said tiny being is crying.
âHey, baby, wake upâ He nudges softly, making you groan and roll over, âsheâs hungry, my nipples are no use to herâ
You stir, pushing yourself up, âgive herâ
Brendon passes her over once youâve unbuttoned your shirt, cooing softly as she suckles against your breast, âyou look so prettyâ
You raise an eyebrow, a sleepy groan as you stare at him staring at you. Yawing as you rub your eyes, sleep pulling you back into sleep, âm so tired, I donât know when I showered lastâ you murmur. Still rocking her slightly as she pulls off your nipple. Baby Edith opening her arms to her father as he sits back up to burp her.
Itâs usually how the nights go, waking up at twelve to feed her. Letting Brendon burp and change her while you collapse again from exhaustion.
You move in patterns, coffee, breakfast, cuddling the baby as she sits in your lap. She moves in patterns, sleeping, eating, pooping, âshe has your face when she sleepsâ Brendon murmurs from the couch, her nose is scrunched, eyebrows wiggling softly as Brendon traces over her face with his thumb, âsheâs beautifulâ
You look up from the couch, a sight you want to remember forever. Your baby girl, tucked in her dadâs arms, sound asleep. Nose scrunched. Cooing softly, âsheâs a happy babyâ
Edith is a happy baby, she likes to go on walks, but only if Brendon carries her, and you like to shower with her. Not in the weird sense, you just like having her wrapped around you while you shower. Skin to skin, although mostly itâs just you standing in warm water as you wash her.
Youâre deep in the newborn trenches, paternity leave over for Brendon. Caring for yourself and a newborn, in a house thatâs barely moved into. Dana shows up at your door, you know her. Briefly during some hospital events with Brendon, âDana! Iâm so sorry- the house is a disasterâ
She smiles, carrying bags of food and made meals, âoh honey I know! Iâm here to bring you something to eat, be your little helper. Let you rest and snuggle that babyâ
Your shoulders drop as you let her in, âreally?â You think youâre hallucinating, that sheâs a dream. A dream in jeans and a cardigan.
âReally, I know you and Shark just moved. But I got. Lasagna, chicken, enchiladas. Stuff to eat now, freezeâ She sets things down on the marble counters, slowly unpacking and placing things into the empty fridge, âhow are you doing?â
âIâm tired. I donât know the last time I showeredâ You admit, âand my boobs are soreâ
Dana laughs softly, âyou poor thing, here. You wanna put her down for a nap? I can watch her. You go shower and sleep. Or I can set you up on the couch to pump change the sheetsâ
Your lip quivers, âshe sleeps at.. one thirty usually, thereâs breast milk in the fridge. Are you sure you can watch her?â
Dana nods, âIâve raised three of em myself, if itâs okay with youâ
You bring her in for a brief hug, apologizing when you realize how bad you smell.
You shower, wash your hair. Even contemplate a face mask, you indulge. You feel like a new woman when you step out, detangling your hair, moisturizing your legs and arms. When you come out, the bed is made with new sheets; and you can hear the washer running.
Edith is asleep in her downstairs crib, Dana is pulling something out of the oven, âhey honey, good shower?â
You nod, wordless at the state of your house. Clean, partially unpacked now fully unpacked, âyeah. You. Unpacked?â
Dana nods, âI kinda winged it, âm sorry I overstepped the boxes were just gettin to me. Is everything in the right place?â
You rifle through, and you canât complain. Because itâs unpacked. And the baby is asleep, and dishes are washed. And something wonderful is cooking in the oven, âitâs. Dana thank youâ
âDonât mention it honey. I have chicken parm in the oven. I can make some pasta to go with it. Some greens. Howâs your stomach?â
You nod, âgreens would be great. If thatâs not to muchâ
She prepares a salad, âI wish I had all of this after my first. Benji was great but. Having someone cook and clean and let you feel like a human againâ
You nod, âI know we arenât super close- I appreciate it.. I donât. I have friendsâ you clarify, âthey just.. live in North Carolinaâ
She nods, âI understand.â The timer dings and she pulls the chicken parm out. Sliding a cutlet onto your plate; with some salad. And when you hum she smiles in satisfaction, âgood?â
âHeavenly, Iâm serious Dana. Brendon can cook but this is. Phenomenalâ You grin into a second bite, eyes closing in satisfaction.
Dana wipes the counter down before she leaves, and Brendon is surprised to see dinner when he comes home, you showered. Looking refreshed in a soft yellow sweatset, âyou got busyâ he comments, picking up Edith from your arms as he takes his shoes off
âI didnât. Dana didâ you grin, âshe came over, I showered, did a face mask. And she made like a ton of food and we have enough leftovers to last us until she goes into collegeâ You continue, âshe even changed the sheets. And folded the laundryâ
Youâre beaming as Brendon rubs Edithâs back, âthat sounds awesome honey, did you eat dinner yet?â
âNo, do you wanna shower? Iâll warm something up?â
Brendon nods, âperfect,â he kisses your cheek before heading upstairs:













