: : Summary : : How does life change once Alex is born. This story is a continuation of my Married Life story, and is after they return from Egypt, and what Rick and Evie must face as parents.
�Evie, are you sure you need to go?� he asked. Evelyn zipped the back of her skirt.
�Rick, it�s all right. If he gets hungry just bring him down to the museum and I�ll feed him,� she said not worried about his ability to handle things on his own. Since she had been feeling better, Evelyn had been keeping Alex with her, most of the time letting him ride in the harness she wore around her middle, which kept him content.
�Okay but what if he has one of those really messy nappys. You know the ones where it goes all the way up his back?� Rick asked. Usually if that happened, either Nanna or Evie assisted, and doing that alone had Rick worried.
�Just lay him on his stomach and undress him that way,� she said as she went to the cradle and lifted her baby out. Alex stretched grunting, and then relaxed once she was rocking him and letting him eat.
�I guess we can manage,� Rick said watching her as she fed their son. He was attracted to her more so when she nursed, loving to see her as a mother, loving to see her care for their baby. When Alex finished, Rick took him and got him to burp then cradled him against his chest.
�Well pal it looks like its going to be you and I today,� Rick said still uncertain of things on his own. Alex just slept on oblivious to what his father was saying. Once Evelyn was ready, they walked her to the door and after kissing her, and letting her give Alex a kiss, Rick watched her go, then went into the parlor.
�Now lets see if you will lay in your bed while daddy cleans this rifle,� Rick said. He was going to a gun and rifle show in a week, and the rifle he had he was hoping to sell, as he was hoping to sell most of his guns, with a select few to keep. Evie had mentioned that once Alex had gotten older keeping weapons like that in the house was too dangerous, but for now Rick wasn�t worried about that. When he put Alex in the basket bed, there was a brief moment when Rick thought he was going to stay content, but Alex let him know fairly quickly that he didn�t like laying there.
�Okay, okay,� Rick said as he held him once more. Alex was awake and continued to cry, so Rick sat down and laid his son on his lap.
�Alex,� Rick called out. After a few more times of calling his name, Rick got him to stop crying. Trying his best to find his dad, Alex starred up at him unfocused.
�I think you have us where you want us pal,� Rick said letting his son hold his index finger. Alex just watched his daddy, or in general direction of where his face was.
�Now, do you think we can work out an arrangement? I need to get these guns cleaned, and I know you can lay on your own because you do it for your Nanna all the time,� Rick said. He lifted his son up and gave him a kiss on his forehead and his nose, then placed him against his shoulder as he stood. Deciding against the basket bed, Rick managed with one hand to spread out a blanket on the floor and laid Alex on his stomach, which he didn�t like until Rick started singing to him some of the songs he sang when drunk in a kazbah. As he sung he cleaned out an old rifle, not his favorite one the legion had issued, but another one he didn�t like all that much.
�Bottle of Wine that I place to my lips, make me forget what the Legion has taught. Make me more of a man...,� he sung, grinning because his son was looking almost straight at him.
�I know pal, daddy�s songs aren�t nearly as sweet as what your mum sings to you, but we can keep this between us,� Rick said. Alex started to fuss again, so Rick sang more, and once again there was quiet.
~*~*~
When she arrived at the museum, and to her office, Evelyn found Amelia close to tears, and was now calming her down.
�Listen to me. That man has no control over who is hired here or let go. The Bembridge Scholars obviously thought you were qualified for this job, and they will keep you here. I see you got most of what I left for you to do complete, and thats a good start,� Evie said. After talking to Amelia, Evelyn went to seek out the Curator and give him a piece of her mind. It didn�t take her long to track him down, and Evie corned him
�Just who do you think you are? She didn�t have to come to this museum, she was qualified to do the curator Job in Egypt but wanted the chance to come here. If you want someone to push around then go look someplace else. I�m sure the Bembridge Scholars would love to know how you think you run this place as a dictator, and I will be the first to tell them,� she said. The little man was pushed up against the wall.
�Mrs. O�Connell, I assure you that I don�t intend to bring them here for something such as this. Please don�t worry yourself. I will make sure Amelia only has to do things in the Egyptian department,� he said. Evie turned and left him and he stormed to his office highly annoyed with her.
�One day Mrs. O�Connell you will learn who not to push me around,� he said as he settled at his desk.
~*~
As he had feared, Alex decided to make quite a mess in his nappy, and now Rick was left to change it on his own. While he got what he needed Alex was laying on the bed having a fit.
�I know pal, I know,� Rick said as he got the wash basin, a clean washcloth and a clean nappy as well as a clean gown for him to wear.
�Hey Alex lets try a song,� Rick said and began to sing another one of his bar songs as he turned Alex on his stomach. Alex cried louder, and Rick gave up on the song part, rolling the gown up and pulling it up as far as he could. Rick managed to get it off of his son, but got the mess on his head, which meant Alex would need a bath.
�I know, shh,� Rick said as he left Alex to go run water in the tub.
�Evie it would be nice if you would walk in right about now,� Rick said as he hit his head against the wall. While letting the water run, Rick got undressed, then went back to the bed and his irate son, getting him the rest of the way stripped, and managing to get sprayed in the face when he turned Alex over on his back, after cleaning off the mess.
�Just wait till your old enough to blackmail,� Rick grumbled. He wiped his face with the clean side of the washcloth then lifted Alex against him and carried him into the bathroom. Once in the water, Alex relaxed, letting his dad get him clean.
�I think next time I�m putting you in here cloths and all,� Rick said as he kissed his son�s wet head. The two of them stayed in the water for a little bit then got out.
~*~*~
It was almost four hours later when Evie returned home, and she hurried inside expecting to find her son irate for having to wait so long to be fed. When she walked in, she found everything quiet. In the Parlor, everything was as it should be, though no Rick or Alex was to be found, so she went upstairs, and in their room found a heart warming sight. On their bed dressed only in his boxers, Rick lay on his back with Alex, who was only in his nappy, resting continently on his fathers chest. On the end of the bed, was evidence of a dirty nappy, and quietly Evelyn took the soiled cloths to Alex�s room to rinse them out, amazed that Alex was asleep without having a fit for not having been fed in such a long time. When she returned to their room, Evelyn got out of her work cloths and into a soft cotton dress, then eased into bed. The slight movement on the mattress was enough to wake Rick who turned his head to face her.
�How did things go at the museum?� he asked having a difficult time staying awake. Evie turned on her side facing them, gently rubbing Alex�s back.
�I think Mr. Havez will think twice before he picks on her again,� she said. Rick nodded his head, and Evelyn smiled gently easing Alex from his arms, and placing him beside her. He grunted, smacking his lips then she placed him at her breast and he relaxed as he always did when he was nursing.
�Did you make daddy a nervous wreck?� Evie whispered. Alex didn�t respond other than to nurse, and Evie sighed content to be where she was with the two people she loved most in the world at her side.