[color="e0ac8c”]”It’s just you and me now, muffin,“[/color] adjusting Lexie’s baby turban, Elodie was holding her 5-month-old with fewer insecurities this time. Ever since she came back, she’s been trying to get some alone time with her baby but with everyone in the house that has been difficult. She’d usually spend her time in the bedroom or their backyard while Lexie was crying for her dad. That was all her fault, Elodie knew that, but it still broke her heart. Things got better with her eventually so here they were… [color="e0ac8c”]”Everyone left us,“[/color] going down the stairs, Elodie continued.”Your sisters are out partying, your brother… I have no idea where your brother is and your dad…“ That’s when she stopped, the smile she had on for her baby faltering for a second before she forced it again and headed to the living room.
There was a khaki playmat on the floor in the shape of a leaf she remembers buying with Riker not long before Lexie was born. The play gym frame with safari animals pushed to the side. Placing Lexie down on the mat, she sat in front of her, holding her little hands. [color="e0ac8c”]”You know what we should do? Weee should change your room. What do you say?“[/color] Gently moving her fingers to Lexie’s belly, tickling her, the baby started laughing. [color="e0ac8c”]”Yeah, you agree? “[/color] There was a kind of comfort in just talking to her daughter, trying to form a connection. [color="e0ac8c”]”Your pink is a liiiittle too pink,“[/color] reaching her arms up, Lexie had a small smile on her face. ”You want your rabbit? Here,“ grabbing a white rabbit, Elodie gave it to Lexie, now looking down at a little girl just playing, focusing on the big toy in her arms. Elodie gently moved her hand to her daughter’s cheek, a faint smile appearing on her lips. This was not what she wanted, what she planned to happen… by this meaning her leaving and everything that came with it.
She didn’t even feel her smile disappearing and tears forming until she actually felt on rolling down her cheek. With her baby still playing, Elodie quickly wiped away that tear, whispering. [color="e0ac8c”]”I’m sorry…“[/color] But was she the right person to apologize to? No… She was just a baby and she couldn’t understand what was happening but everyone else could and Elodie still didn’t do anything. [color="e0ac8c”]”We’ll figure it out together, I promise,“[/color] her thought being interrupted by Lexie crying all of a sudden. Meaning a few things but probably that she was hungry so Elodie tried to do the only thing she did with her other kids when they were babies. But breastfeeding never seemed harder. It wasn’t supposed to be like that, Lexie wasn’t supposed to keep crying. Walking around the house trying to feed her, she found herself in the kitchen. ”What do you want me to do?“ Keep crying and you’re gonna make your mom cry, girl. Elodie was visibly frustrated with herself, not knowing what she was doing wrong but she didn’t raise her voice. That came out as a whisper as she felt her eyes starting to water again but hearing a voice from behind her made her freeze.
So he was talking to her. It was about time… not like she was scared to make the first move. Finally looking up at him… that’s all she really did. Letting the silence fill the room, she was simply looking at him with a small frown on her lips. But the moment he turned to give her the bottle, she looked back down at Lexie. [color="e0ac8c”]”Oh,“[/color] whispering as a response to his comment about Lexie only drinking formula, Elodie avoided his eyes, bringing the bottle to Lexie. Weak smile appearing on her face as Lexie placed her small hands over hers. And it was hard trying to keep that smile on when she heard what he said next. Again, there was a small pause before she spoke up… or whispered, immediately regretting it. ”Yeah.“ Yeah?! “Yes, that’s what happens when I leave.” Should’ve just said it like that.
[color="e0ac8c”]”She should start eating solid food soon,“[/color] not knowing what to say or do, that was the first thing she managed to mumble. To whisper, more to herself as she kept her head down. Elodie’s been thinking about what she’d do when Riker finally comes around but she never figure it out. Obviously. That had to change. [color="e0ac8c”]”You hate me, I know… It’s fine.“[/color] I hate me too. Yet another whisper as she just stood in place, not having the courage to look up at him without breaking down. ”You want her now, right?“ Referring to their daughter, she asked, still holding the bottle.