summary: your and drewâs six month old daughter is not happy when he has to leave
the morning light was soft, peeking through the curtains as your daughter stirred in her crib beside the bed. her tiny whimper was all it took before drew was sitting up, already halfway to her, like clockwork.
you blinked slowly, smiling at the sight you never got tired of â your six-month-old baby girl in drewâs arms, cooing happily, rubbing her sleepy little fists against his shoulder like it was her favorite pillow.
âgood morning, sunshine,â he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she babbled and squirmed in his arms, tugging at the collar of his t-shirt.
âsheâs such a daddyâs girl,â you murmured, still curled under the covers. âyouâve ruined her for anyone else.â
he laughed softly, settling her against his chest as he sat on the edge of the bed. ânot my fault sheâs got good taste.â
your smile faded a little as you glanced at the packed duffle bag near the door. âare you⊠still leaving today?â
drew met your eyes, the look in his softening immediately. âyeah,â he said, his voice low. âflightâs at three.â
the baby gurgled, completely content in his arms. but even at six months, she was starting to pick up on energy â and something about this morning felt⊠different.
later, while you were in the kitchen, you heard it: the first real cry. loud. angry. heartbroken.
you came in to find drew holding her tightly, rocking her, his voice cracking slightly as he tried to soothe her.
âshh, baby. i know,â he said, kissing her cheek. âi donât wanna go either.â
your heart clenched. she wasnât hungry. she wasnât tired. she was just upset. she knew.
âsheâs never cried like that before,â he said quietly, his eyes glassy. âshe knows iâm leaving.â
you crossed the room and wrapped your arms around the two of them. âweâll facetime every night. and sheâll be right here waiting for you when you get back.â
he nodded, pressing his forehead to yours, his daughter still curled in his arms, hiccuping between sobs.
the airport goodbye was harder than expected. she wouldnât let go. her tiny fists clung to his shirt like she could stop him from walking away. and for a second â you saw it â he almost didnât.
âiâll be home before you know it,â he whispered, his voice thick. âand iâll bring you something pink and sparkly, okay?â
she didnât care. she just wailed harder.
you took her gently as he kissed her cheeks one more time, whispering, âi love you so, so much,â before finally pulling away.
the facetime rang and you answered with one hand while holding your now very grumpy baby in the other. the second she saw him, her whole face lit up.
âdaaaa!â she shouted â her newest word, just for him.
you looked at drewâs face on the screen, his jaw going slack, eyes watering instantly. âdid she justâ?â
âyup,â you said, smiling as you turned the phone so he could see her better. âshe said her first word. and of course, it was you.â
she bounced in your lap, reaching for the screen like she could pull him through it.
âiâm coming home soon, baby girl,â he whispered. âyou wait for me, okay?â
she clapped, beamed at him, and then⊠immediately burst into tears again.
you sighed and shook your head. âtold you. daddyâs girl.â
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