i will hold you, and protect you...

[greatdeliverer]

What: Sam, Lou, and OPEN to visitors
Where: Sam's Apartment
When: Second week of June
Warnings: N/A, will update if needed



He honestly can't believe it. Ever since he really got to know his BB unit, he knew, he knew who it was. That this was Lou, who he thought he'd lost so long ago. If asked, he couldn't tell you how he knew it was her. DOOMs, maybe. Or just fatherly instinct. Or a mix of both.

It doesn't matter now. What matters is that she's here, in his arms. And he is never letting her go.

Comments

[greatdeliverer]

"So what you're saying is I have a couple years of no sleep ahead of me." But he looks at Lou again who's doing her best to get her foot into her mouth, and his whole world goes soft pink around the edges. Yeah, he's still do absolutely anything for her. Noise or not.

He accepts the bag and touches Lydia's shoulder briefly, awkwardly in thanks. The motion of someone not used to touching other people, but who's giving it his best shot. "Thank you. That's really nice of you."

Sam takes the bunny and brings it over to the playmat, where Lou reaches for it. He lets her have it, and she wraps all her limbs around it, like an octopus. "I'd say it's a hit.

Do you, um -- " He points at the kitchenette area. "I've got water, soda. Beer."

[wantadistraction]

"It's really not that bad," Lydia replies quickly, her features going soft as well when she switches her attention back to Lou and watches as the baby tries to get her foot into her mouth. The sight of it earns a small chuckle as well before she focuses on Sam again, noticing the slightly awkward touch and understanding it.

"Leo loves his toys too, so I thought it might be a safe bet. You're welcome." She feels a little surge of warmth when Lou accepts the bunny, holding on tightly while Sam moves towards the kitchenette.

"Soda, please." Moving to join him, she tilts her head. "How are you doing?"

[greatdeliverer]

He gets them both a cola, leaning against the counter where he can hold conversation and watch Lou at the same time.

"Settling in. Got a couple of jobs lined up. Apparently this place changes around, but I'm hoping jobs stay where they are. I'd like to save up as much as I can. Right now scavenging works pretty okay, but it might not forever.

How about you? You all settled in?"

[wantadistraction]

"For the most part, yes," Lydia nodded, holding the can in her hand though she wasn't very quick in taking a sip. She was keeping an eye on Lou as well, glancing over now and then just to see how the little one is doing.

But she does look at Sam too, offering another small smile. "I found a job at the book store. Shadow, my boyfriend, has found a few jobs too. He isn't really used to staying in one place, so he likes to stay as busy as he can."

"Where are you working?" She asks curiously, finally taking a sip of her drink.

[greatdeliverer]

"I do bike deliveries for the noodle place, and I'm gonna start as a part time waiter soon at the new bar. Jess has been -- I mean, she and Gwen are setting up a little play area in the office for Lou, if I ever can't find a sitter for the night."

He sips at his own drink, watching Lou more than he's watching Lydia, but he figures she understands. Being a mom, herself and all.

[wantadistraction]

"I could babysit some nights if you need someone," Lydia offers after a moment of thinking about it. "Shadow will be working some nights and it will be nice to have the company. As long as you're comfortable with it."

She knows how hard it can be to find and trust someone to look after your child, especially if you didn't know them. She had been lucky enough to have three adults around to help her out with Leo and so extending the offer is easy.

[greatdeliverer]

"She's got a nice little setup in Jess's office, but it'd be nice to have her be with someone, part of the time. I'd be comfortable with that." Lydia has her own kid, somewhere. She knows how to handle babies, which is reassuring, and goes a long way to help Sam trust with with Lou.

Besides, Sam feels like he has a fairly good instinct about people. He doesn't trust easily, but Lydia's done nothing to make him not trust her.

"You want to hold her?" If Lou likes her, that'll seal the deal.

[wantadistraction]

Lydia wishes there were times when she could have taken Leo to work with her but it wouldn't have been possible given that her work would have scared him. Plus she didn't want him to be exposed to dead bodies and the violence that often came with them.

Then, even though she has offered to babysit, she looks a bit surprised when he asks if she wants to hold Lou. But she doesn't hesitate to smile as she nods. "Sure, I'd love to."

[greatdeliverer]

Sam picks her up from her playmat and carefully hands her over to Lydia. The little girl fusses a moment, looking like she might cry, and Sam is practically holding his breath. But then she squirms and gets comfortable, reaching up to grab for Lydia's hair.

"She's definitely in the grab at everything stage. She gets at my hair a lot when she's against my shoulder."

[wantadistraction]

Lydia waits and watches with a small smile as Sam goes to pick Lou up, disturbing her play and bringing her over. They manage the exchange easily enough as he slides Lou into her arms and she shifts her hold, feeling a little tug at her heart at the feel of holding a baby again.

"Shhhh, it's okay, sweet girl," She murmurs, bouncing a little to help Lou get settled. Then she chuckles as Lou reaches for her hair, catching a red curl to wrap her fingers around. "Leo liked to get his hands on my hair and then stuff them into his mouth. I learned to have my hair up for the first few months of his life. Also, not to wear earrings."

[greatdeliverer]

He loves his little girl so much, and seeing her smiling and happy in Lydia's arms makes his heart ache. Makes him miss Lucy. But Lou has a good family here; already so many people want to help her out. And have helped, already.

"No earrings, got it." He smiles and tickles at the bottom of Lou's foot. "Well you passed the test. Lou looks like she likes you, which means I can definitely trust you with babysitting her once in a while."