Archive of Our Own ^beta

May 20th, 2027

West Siloam Springs, AR

The sky was overcast, but the air clung with a stifling heat. From the porch, Tyler gazed at the churning clouds, his instincts telling him they were in for a thunderstorm during their trip. “Mr. Owens,” came a voice from the front yard. Jacob, the teenager from the neighboring farm two miles down, stood waiting. For a few years now, Jacob and his sister had been taking care of Tyler’s farm and animals whenever he was away chasing.

Tyler descended the porch steps, nodding in acknowledgment. “Morning. I fed the animals and collected the eggs earlier, so if you could let the cows and goats graze for a bit before rounding them up, I’d appreciate it.”

Jacob adjusted his worn baseball cap. “No problem. My sister’s home from school now, so she can help out our folks while I’m here.”

“Good man,” Tyler said, pulling a few bills from his shirt pocket and handing them over.

“Thanks,” Jacob replied, his grin widening as he noticed the extra thirty. “I’ll go clean out the barn while I’m at it.”

“Tyler!” A voice from inside the house interrupted them.

“Gotta run,” Tyler called over his shoulder, heading back inside. He found TJ on his play mat, fingers in his mouth, gazing up at him with his big brown eyes. “Hey, buddy,” he murmured, giving the baby’s belly a gentle rub before moving toward the nursery.

Inside, Kate was packing what looked like far too many clothes for a baby who spent most days in just a diaper now that summer was creeping in, and spring was unusually warm. “You do know he’s not moving to your mom’s permanently, right?” Tyler teased.

“Just preparing for anything,” she said, shrugging lightly as she tucked another tiny white onesie into the suitcase. “Did you bring down the cooler from the attic?”

“All taken care of,” Tyler assured her with a smile, plucking TJ’s favorite pacifier from the top of the dresser. “And can’t forget this, or your mom’s in for a hell of a ride.”

Kate smiled, starting to zip up the suitcase. “Thanks. Can you put the milk in the cooler while I grab a quick shower?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tyler picked up the suitcase and carried it to the front door.

TJ began to fuss the moment Tyler closed the cooler. “What’s the matter, little man?” Tyler murmured, lifting the three-month-old from his playmat and cradling him against his chest. “You want Moony?” he asked softly, reaching for the familiar pacifier. They had nicknamed it ‘Moony’ during those first, bleary-eyed weeks of parenthood when sleep was more of a dream than reality. The pacifier didn’t even have a moon design—it was just plain white with a hint of yellow—but somehow, it had become ‘Moony,’ the one thing that calmed TJ in the dead of night. All the other pacifiers, those fancy ones to avoid nipple confusion, sat untouched in a kitchen drawer, replaced by the one they’d picked up at some gas station when they’d left the others at home the first time they’d gone to visit Cathy.

Tyler stepped outside, gently shushing TJ as they moved onto the porch. A distant flash of lightning lit up the horizon, and after a few moments, the low rumble of thunder followed. TJ, now quiet with Moony between his lips, gazed up at the sky while his tiny hands fumbled at Tyler’s red plaid shirt, his nails occasionally scratching Tyler’s neck.

They stood there in a stillness that only a baby could create, the world fading into the background as TJ’s breathing slowed and his small body grew heavier, drifting into sleep on Tyler’s shoulder.

Tyler turned slightly when he heard the screen door creak and then close. “Hey, you ready?” Kate asked, her voice soft as she joined them on the porch, her hair still damp from the shower and the diaper bag hanging from her shoulder.

Tyler cleared his throat. “Yeah,” he said, though the word came out hollow. He wasn’t really ready, but he said it anyway, more for Kate’s sake than his own. “You put him in the car seat. I’ll load the bags into the back.” He pressed a soft kiss to the wisps of blond peach fuzz on TJ’s head before carefully passing him to Kate.

With a sigh, Tyler gathered the bags from the house, slinging his and Kate’s backpacks over each shoulder and gripping TJ’s suitcase in his hand. He watched from the corner of his eye as Kate buckled their baby into his car seat while he tied down their luggage on the bed of the truck, her movements practiced yet gentle.

The closer they got to Sapulpa, the more Kate's urge to turn back grew. During her pregnancy last season, all she had wanted was to be out there with Tyler, chasing. But now, as she glanced at TJ in the rearview mirror—his little lip pouting, a trail of drool glistening on his chin as he slept peacefully—her enthusiasm had faded.

For the past 14 weeks, they hadn’t spent more than an hour away from TJ. He still slept in their room, for God's sake. Even when they were busy working or tending to the farm, they’d carry him in a baby carrier strapped to their chests, always close, always within reach. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her mom—Cathy Carter had raised her, after all, and done a damn good job, especially after her dad passed—but it felt unnatural to be separated from TJ. The thought of not having him near, not being able to scoop him up whenever he fussed, made her heartache.

"Don't start crying on me now, Sapulpa," Tyler said, his tone light but knowing. His hand moved to hers, bringing it up to kiss the two gold bands stacked over each other on her ring finger. "We're still half an hour from your mom’s." She smiled weakly, grateful for his attempt at easing her worries, but she could tell he was putting on a brave face. Tyler was just as heartbroken as she was. Leaving TJ behind wasn’t easy for either of them, but he was trying to hold it together for her sake. Kate squeezed his hand back.

They arrived in Sapulpa just in time for dinner. TJ had slept soundly through the hour-and-a-half drive but was awake now, his big brown eyes blinking sleepily as Kate climbed out of the truck. Tyler hopped onto the bed to grab their bags while Kate opened the rear door behind the driver's seat. The moment her face appeared, TJ broke into a gummy smile, his cheeks flushed and rosy from sleep. “Did you have a good nap?” she cooed, her heart swelling at the sight of him. He was a good sleeper now, but those early weeks—when they had relied on long drives around the farm to lull him into rest—were still fresh in her mind.

Kate unbuckled him from his car seat and pulled him close. As soon as his warm little body nestled into hers, her resolve to leave him behind weakened even more. Balancing the diaper bag on her shoulder with one hand, she carried TJ around the truck just as her mom stepped out onto the porch, practically bouncing in excitement. It had only been three weeks since their last visit, but Kate knew how much TJ had grown in that time—he seemed to change overnight—and she could only imagine how her mom felt.

As Kate walked up the steps, her mom’s arms were already outstretched, eager to hold her grandson. “He can hold his head up now,” Kate said with a soft smile as she gently passed TJ over. Her mom cradled him, adjusting her hold with practiced ease, though TJ’s gaze remained fixed on Kate, those big brown eyes following her every move.

"Hey, baby," her mom cooed, shifting him slightly as she studied his face. “He’s gotten so much bigger,” she marveled, her fingers brushing over the tea-green onesie that fit him more snugly than it had just weeks ago.

“He’s a good eater,” Kate replied, a hint of pride in her voice as she gently squeezed one of the soft rolls on his pudgy thigh. Watching her mom beam down at TJ, Kate felt the bittersweet pull again—she was aching to go chasing again, but pained at the thought of leaving him behind, even if just for a little while.

Tyler sat with TJ sprawled out on his bent legs, the baby’s tiny bare feet kicking playfully against Tyler’s chest. He picked up one of those feet, its sole soft as velvet, and blew raspberries on it, earning a half-laugh, the kind that made Tyler’s heart swell with hope. He tried again, blowing another raspberry, waiting for that magical sound, but it was still just a breathy giggle. “If you laugh for the first time and Daddy misses it, he’s going to be very, very sad. Can I get a big laugh?” he cooed, his voice gentle as he gazed down at his son’s wide, curious eyes—Kate’s eyes, staring back at him.

Being soft with TJ came as naturally as breathing. No matter how many articles warned against too much baby talk, Tyler couldn’t resist it, and Kate—despite her best efforts to stay practical—had fallen into the same habit. The words just flowed out of them, tender and unguarded, like they were meant for no one but TJ.

“Baby hog,” Kate teased as she sat down next to him on the couch, her finger tracing the soft curve of TJ’s cheek. Instantly, TJ turned toward her, his whole body shifting, eyes locked on her as if she were the most fascinating thing in the world. Tyler couldn’t blame him—he felt the same way whenever Kate walked into a room.

“Does your mom need any help?” Tyler asked, leaning back slightly as Kate nestled closer, her fingers slipping playfully between the buttons of his plaid shirt.

“She’s gone to shower,” Kate replied, settling into the moment, just the three of them.

But the peace didn’t last long. The familiar sound of tires crunching on the driveway broke the quiet, cars pulling up one after the other. If not for the slim chance that TJ might be asleep, they would’ve honked, no doubt announcing their arrival with enthusiasm.

Half an hour later, they were all settled at the table outside, the soft evening air carrying the scent of grilled food. Cathy and Tyler had taken turns at the grill, their easy conversation flowing as they prepared the meal. TJ, meanwhile, had made the rounds, being passed from lap to lap like a prized little treasure, before finally finding his way to Boone—the self-proclaimed ‘baby whisperer.’ TJ rested contentedly against Boone’s chest, his pacifier—‘Moony’—lazily perched between his lips. The baby was now snug in the mustard-yellow coat Kate’s aunt had knitted, the soft wool keeping him warm as the night air grew cooler.

Dinner was a steady flow of chatter, everyone catching up on what they’d been doing during the off-season, filling the space between bites of food and sips of iced tea. Tyler hadn’t had much to say about his own activities; his time had been mostly spent managing the farm and settling into the rhythm of parenthood. But when the conversation shifted to Kate, he couldn’t help but beam with pride, his voice lighting up as he spoke about the future Dr. Carter-Owens.

"She’s been balancing studying and wrangling this little guy like it’s nothing," Tyler said, gesturing toward TJ.

Kate rolled her eyes at the praise but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips. “It’s not as glamorous as he makes it sound,” she said, reaching across the table to steal a grilled piece of zucchini off Tyler’s plate. “But I’ll take the compliment.”

Boone chuckled, looking down at TJ, who was dozing off against him, his pacifier still bobbing slightly as he sucked in his sleep. “Well, if this little man’s any sign, you’re doing just fine. Kid’s a happy fellow and look at these cheeks.” He gently squeezed TJ’s fat baby cheeks.

Tyler glanced at his son, his heart swelling with that familiar, overwhelming love. Everything felt right in that moment—the cool night air and the warmth of family around him...

By half past eight, it was clear that TJ was ready for bed. His blinks grew slower, his gaze unfocused as sleep crept in. The rest of the family lingered at the table, content to chat, while Kate and Tyler quietly excused themselves to take TJ upstairs. Her old crib had been set up in her childhood room since the first time they visited with TJ.

They kept the lighting soft, only turning on the small lamp on Kate’s desk, trying to maintain the drowsy calm that had settled over TJ. Tyler gently stripped him down to his diaper, slipping him into the sleep sack with practiced care while Kate sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for their usual bedtime routine. As soon as TJ began nursing, his eyes fluttered shut, half-asleep but still instinctively seeking comfort. Kate took in every second, knowing this would be the last time for a few days that she would have this moment—just her and TJ, his tiny hand sprawled over her skin, his warm little body melting into hers, utterly at peace.

Tears welled up, and a couple slipped down her cheek before she could stop them. She wiped them quickly, not wanting to let them fall on TJ, but the weight of leaving him, even for a short time, was harder than she’d anticipated.

When TJ finally finished, his body fully relaxed, Tyler carefully lifted him and laid him down in the crib. For a few quiet moments, they both stood there, side by side, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he slipped into deeper sleep.

“God, I’m gonna miss him,” Tyler said softly, his voice thick with emotion. Kate wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head against his chest. Tyler pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back. “I think we’re gonna miss him more than he’ll miss us.”

Kate nodded, knowing he was right, but the truth didn’t make it any easier. "Probably," she whispered, her voice barely audible, the ache in her chest refusing to ease. They stood there a little longer, holding each other.

In the morning, parting from TJ was even harder than they had anticipated. Every moment felt too brief, and they found themselves lingering over the smallest details—the way his tiny fingers curled around Tyler’s thumb, the soft coos and gurgles he made as he woke, and the way his eyes lit up when Kate smiled at him. They soaked in every second, knowing it would have to last them through the next few days.

Kate held him close, swaying gently in the early morning light that filtered through her old bedroom window, pressing her lips to his forehead.

“Be good for Grandma, okay?” Tyler whispered later on the porch, though TJ merely blinked up at him, wide-eyed and curious.

Eventually, her mom came to collect him. Even knowing he’d be safe and loved didn’t stop the weight in Kate’s chest as she passed him over, reluctant to let go.

Finally, it was time. They loaded their bags into the truck and climbed in, the engine rumbling to life beneath them. As they pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Kansas, Kate looked back one last time, seeing her mom and TJ standing porch.

“He’s gonna be fine,” Tyler said softly, reaching over to squeeze her hand.

“I know,” Kate replied, though her voice wavered slightly. “I’m just gonna miss him so much.”

Tyler gave her a small smile, his own emotions mirroring hers. "Me too," he admitted, his eyes focused on the road ahead. As the miles stretched out before them, they were already counting down the moments until they could return.