12Authors Note: This is a quick little one shot that popped into my head after seeing the most adorable (well, to me anyway) fathers day gift idea show up on my facebook time line. Hope you enjoy.
This is set in the future, after the wedding and birth of the Jisbon baby. Yes, the toddler has a minor role in the story, and the baby talk is meant to be the way it is. Keep in mind, I don't have a child, but I've been around them all my life; and I'd imagine being Jane's kid, she'd be fairly advanced. So at eighteen months she speaks somewhat clearly, at least to me she does. Anyhow…let me know what you think!
Reviews are love, leave some!
-Krystle
Father's Day
May 10
Teresa Jane has never been any good at keeping secrets, especially from her husband. He just always seems to know what she's planning. Her first pregnancy had been unexpected, but she knew that he'd be happy. Well, hoped he would be, considering his past. He was beyond happy when she told him after the wedding.
Their daughter was born seven and a half months after they wed, weighing in at 6lbs 3oz, 19.5 inches long and a head full of dark curly hair. Laela Anne Jane is the greatest thing that Teresa has ever done. Sure, she was nervous about being a mother, but Patrick was there with her every step of the way. He knew she'd be amazing, never doubting her for a moment.
Now, eighteen months later, here she is, sitting in her doctors office in shock. She's not exactly in prime childbearing years anymore. She's shaken out of her shocked state by her doctor asking, "Teresa, would you like to do an ultrasound?"
Blinking, she looks up at her doctor. "Can we do that? It's not too soon?"
The doctor chuckles, "You won't be able to see much, but you'll be able to see the flutter of the heart, and I'd be able to tell approximately how old the fetus is."
Teresa nods, "Okay. Let's do the ultrasound."
"Would you like to call your husband?"
"Actually, no," she answers, smiling, a plan already forming. "Next month is Father's Day, and I have an idea of how I want to tell him."
"Ah," the doctor grins. "I see."
May 12
The first person she tells is Grace, only because she can't seem to get a moment of privacy to order the gift she's planned. Grace, of course, is beyond thrilled when she opens the email with the scanned ultrasound photo.
"Boss, are you really?"
Teresa rolls her eyes slightly. She's given up trying to get her friend to quit calling her 'boss'. "Yeah, really. Grace can you please order this for me? I can never seem to get a moment where he's not with me, and I don't want to use my computer at work. Not for this."
Grace sniffles, having started crying tears of joy for her long time friend. "Of course. I'll order it right away."
"Thank you!" Teresa smiles. "Please don't tell Wayne."
"Oh, Lord no," Grace chuckles. "That man can't keep a secret."
June 16
Thankfully, her morning sickness isn't bad this time around. She gets nauseous about midday, but by that time she's at work and away from her husband. She's going into her ninth week, and so far, no one has found out about her little secret.
She looks up from her work when the mail delivery stops at her desk, placing a brown box in her in basket. "Have a nice day, Agent Lisbon," the baby-faced young man says smiling at her.
"Thank you, Tim, you as well," she returns, quickly grabbing the box. It's finally here, and just in time too, since Fathers Day is that weekend. She's more excited than ever, he's finally going to know that she's pregnant.
"Lisbon? You okay?"
"Huh?" She asks, looking up to see Wiley's concerned expression.
He hands her a tissue, "you're crying. Are you okay?"
Damn hormones! "I'm fine, Jason. Just thinking about my dad, you know. Father's Day is coming up." Lies. You're just a hormonal wreck, Teresa Jane!
Jason seems to accept this answer and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, squeezes gently and returns to his work.
She leaves work early, heading home to her family. She wants to take Laela out to get a gift for her daddy. She wants the little girl to be part of the process even though she doesn't really understand the day yet.
Unlocking the door to the little cabin Patrick had renovated, she walks in and finds her husband sitting on the couch with his tea, and their daughter on her play mat.
"Ohh, Laela," Patrick gasps, "look who's home!"
Laela copies her father and gasps as well, turning her tiny body around. "Mama!"
Teresa smiles, and kneels down with her arms open. "Hi, baby! Come here!"
Laela squeals, and pushes herself up from a sitting position, running as fast as her little legs can and crashes into her mama. Teresa stands, one hand on the back of her daughters head, and the other under bottom, holding her close.
"Oh, Mama missed you so much," Teresa says, inhaling the scent of her baby.
"'Aela 'issed mama," Laela grins.
Patrick stands, walking over to his girls, "I missed Mama too."
"Really?" Teresa says, smiling up at her husband. He nods. "Laela, did mama miss daddy too?"
Laela looks up at her daddy, then back to her mama, a small finger on her chin. "Yes!"
Teresa smiles, "Well, there you go."
"So does that mean I get a hello kiss?" Patrick asks.
Teresa leans in and presses her lips to his. "Hey."
"Hi," he smiles, his eyes shining. "How was your day?"
"Good, mostly paperwork."
"Oh, I'm glad I stay home now," he jokes.
"I bet you are," she smiles, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to take Laela with me, we are going to go into town for a little bit."
Patrick nods, knowing why with the special weekend coming up. "Alright, what sounds good for dinner?"
"Surprise me," she answers. "Say 'bye-bye, Daddy'!"
Laela raises her little hand and waves at Patrick. "Bye-bye, dada!"
Sunday, June 18, Father's Day
Teresa wakes up early, turning so see if Patrick is still sleeping. He sleeps a lot better these days, but sometimes, he has occasional insomnia. Thankfully, he's snoring softly beside her. She slips out of bed, turning off the baby monitor, and closes their bedroom door softly. She walks down the hallway to Laela's room, opening the door to find her daughter playing quietly in her crib.
"Good morning, Miss Laela," Teresa smiles, walking into the room.
Laela looks up from her teddy bear and smiles. "Mama 'ake!"
"I see you're awake baby," she says, Laela already standing against the rail of the crib with her arms outstretched. "Do you know what today is?" Laela shakes her head 'no', her newest trick she's learned. "Today is a day just for daddy. Let's go make him something special for breakfast. Okay?"
"Kay," the toddler agrees.
After changing Laela's diaper, and getting her dressed in a onesie that says: 'Daddy's World' and a pair of black leggings, Teresa leads her daughter to the kitchen, setting her on the counter to 'help' mix pancake batter.
When it comes time for the actual cooking part, Laela is placed in her high chair with her own bowl of snacks to tide her over. Teresa starts a kettle of water and gets Patrick's blue tea cup and saucer from the cupboard, adding first the milk, just as he likes, then the hot water and tea bag.
She hears the shuffling of Patrick's feet coming down the hall, and the squeal of excitement from their daughter when she sees her daddy. Teresa turns just in time to see Patrick lean down and scatter kisses all over Laela's cheeks, a scene that always makes her smile.
"Good morning," he smiles, walking over to Teresa, wrapping his arms low on her waist.
She circle's her arms around his neck and leans up on her tip toes to kiss him, "Good morning. Happy Father's Day."
He kisses her again, "Thank you. What's all this?"
"We made you breakfast," Teresa says, slipping from his embrace to clean Laela's hands and lift her from her seat. "Laela, do you want to show daddy what you got him?"
Laela claps, "Dada pesent!"
"Dada presents?" Patrick asks, following his family to the kitchen table. He gasps in surprise. "Did you get dada this?"
"Yes," Laela says, as Teresa sits her on the table.
He opens the card that Teresa picked out, loving that Laela got to 'sign' it (scribble in it with a color crayon). He digs into the gift bag and pulls out a frame with her foot prints in them, and a message on it: 'I love you daddy, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Love Laela'
Teresa swears she can see a tear in his eye. "Laela, give daddy hugs and kisses."
Laela reaches for Patrick, and he takes her into his arms holding her close. "I love you, my sweet princess."
Teresa wills her tears not to fall. But the sight of her husband and daughter is something she will always tear up at, pregnant or not. She watches as Laela rests her head on Patrick's shoulder, and sighs contently.
She reaches under the table and grabs her gift and places it in front of him. His eyes go wide, "You got me something too?"
"Of course I did," she smiles. "You're the father of my child, why wouldn't I get you anything?"
"Well, I don't know how you managed to sneak this one in here," he says. "You're getting good and keeping things from me Mrs. Jane."
She shrugs a shoulder, "I learned from the best." He grins, and looks at the package, trying to guess what is inside. Teresa rolls her eyes and lightly smacks his knee. "Open it," she urges.
He begins unwrapping the paper, as best as he can with one hand since he's holding Laela, and gets to the taped box. Teresa helps with the tape since he's got his hands full, he opens the flaps and she gently takes Laela from him. He pulls out the coffee mug and reads what it says.
Daddy:
This Father's Day we'll be snuggled up in mommy's belly, but next Father's Day we'll be snuggled up with you. (Mommy say's it's the best).
She's nervously biting her lip, watching as his eyes fill up with tears after reading it and turning it over in his hand to see the ultrasound photo, clearly showing two heads, four arms and four legs. Written on the ultrasound photo is 'Baby A' and 'Baby B'.
He looks over at her, his eyes shining. She nods at him, her own eyes filling with tears, again. "Happy Father's Day, Patrick. We're having twins."
Fin
