darker_london | Nursery Bonding (Joe, Jordan)

Joe was sitting in the middle of what used to be his at home office. Soon it was going to be the nursery, though currently it was in a state of change. His computer lay dismantled on the floor until Joe could think of a new place for it. And in front of him was the crib, also in a state of disarray. And Joe was frowning at it with a screwdriver, resting useless in his hand.

Jordan made her way slowly down the hallway, using the wall for support as she was eight and a half months pregnant. She leaned against the doorframe and she smiled in at her husband. "Something wrong, darling?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I can't find the squiggle thingy." Joe said, sounding quite hollow. "The diagram shows a squiggle thingy but I think they forgot to give me one. How can I build the tiny bed without the sqiggle thingy?!"

Jordan smiled softly to herself. Joe was adorable when he was panicked. And she knew him well enough to know that it had absolutely nothing to do with sqiggle thingys or the crib at all. Joe was panicked because soon they were going to have another baby to raise. And he was still reeling from what had happened with Julian even though things had reached a wonderful equilibrium. Having your beloved son run off and get himself addicted to drugs when he'd never done so much as lie before...that wasn't something to forgot in a hurry. And Joe was imagining all the things his daughter could get herself into. "Why don't you leave the crib for now, Joseph? The baby is going to be in with us anyway for a few months. We don't need it set up until then."

"I just...want everything ready. I want it here." Joe put the screwdriver down and he turned to look at her. "Should you be sitting down, Beautiful?" He smiled at her, because that's exactly what she was. Beautiful. "Here." Joe stood and he helped her over to his desk chair which was now lonely as Joe had taken his desk apart. "I could just wheel you around in this."

Jordan laughed and she looked up at her husband with extreme fondness. "Only if I get to say 'giddyup'."

"Oh, now...see, if I remember correctly, that's how we got into the situation where we needed to build cribs with squiggly things in the first place." Joe said, grinning at her as he knelt in front of her. He let out a barking laugh as she swatted him on his shoulder. "What, it's true!"

"Just don't share that information with your brothers, you cad." Jordan winked. "Everything will be done before you know it, Joe. And everything will be just fine."

"We just...haven't done this in...a very long time." Joe took a deep breath and he leaned his head against Jordan's knee.

"Joe, the first time we did this, it was you teaching me everything. You were a father to your siblings. You were a natural. You're going to be just as amazing this time around. And everything won't be new to me, no matter how long ago I learned." She rested one hand on the swell of her pregnancy and the other she rested on Joe's head, curling her fingers in his hair. "I love you, you know?"

Joe turned his smiled up at her and he nodded. "I do know. I love you too. And this..." Joe reached up to touch her stomach, "is going to be wonderful. I know it is. I'm just...I'm nervous."

"It's not the first time a soon-to-be father has gotten a little crazy before the due date, Love." She knew he was also afraid of complications during pregnancy, as she was not 30 years old anymore. And they'd lost three children after having Julian. Joe was afraid of losing another, not to mention his wife. But Jordan had a good feeling about this. Everything was going to be fine. And it was about time. "There's not reason to lose your head over sqiggle thingys."

Joe laughed and he grinned at her. "I'll try to remember that. You're right. I can do this later. Would you like me to make you some dinner? I can serve it in bed! And we can watch...whatever the hell it is you were telling me about today when I wasn't listening..."

"Ooh, the Gilmore Girls! I got the DVDs!" Jordan laughed, because she was kidding. But she had known Joe hadn't been listening while she was talking about NYPD Blue, so she might as well have her fun.

"Oh. Fantastic."

"I think you're fantastic." She leaned forward to give him a kiss, but the attempt was unsuccessful and instead, she patted him on the head.