#Ellie and Sarah are sisters

[stories-and-coffee]

Found on pinterest. The artist is @felrija on Twitter.

[kkcauseway]

Story Time~ a part of ‘life’

Summary: Sarah and you start talking about her birth and you reminisce on that time as you explain it to her. SO MUCH FLUFF! Warnings/content: tw- talks of childbirth. Fluff, so much family fluff. A/n: Short and sweet lil chapter to my ‘life’ series.

Series Masterlist I Main Masterlist

“Mama did it hurt a lot having Ellie?” She questions stroking her sister’s head.

“Yeah, it did baby, but you don’t need to worry it was worth every bit of the pain.” You stroke at her back with your free hand as she sits next to you admiring her sister as she feeds.

“Did it hurt when you had me too?” Her wide beautiful eyes stare up at you.

“Yeah baby.”

“Oh, I’m sorry”

“Don’t be sorry, just like with Ellie it was worth every second of the pain” you smile.

-

“Fuck Joel she won’t come out!” You scream throwing your head back against the pillow ending another push.

“She’s comin’ baby she really is!” He’s holding your hand stood next to you as pant heavy on the bed. Head resting close to yours so he can easily utter praise into your ear.

“Please help me, Joel!” You whimper.

“M’here baby, m’right here, you’ve got this” he kisses your forehead.

“If you don’t push harder, she’s never gonna come!” the midwife insist angrily. Forever putting you down.

“I’m trying!” You scream tears threatening release.

“Well try harder, you need to push!”

“Sorry Ma’am but she’s givin’ it everythin’ she’s got she’s been goin’ almost twenty-four fuckin’ hours she’s absolutely exhausted but doin’ amazin’! And you should be tellin’ her that instead of tellin’ her she ain’t doin’ good enough, when she quite clearly fuckin’ is!” Joel screams.

The midwife doesn’t respond, refusing to acknowledge, but you stare at him unable to speak due to pain, but your eyes tell him a thousand thank you’s and I love you’s. He smiles at you before whispering “you’ve got this. M’so proud of you, you’re doin’ so well.”

You nod, a pain takes over and you grit your teeth as you push even harder Joel’s words having given you a newfound confidence- and with that her head pops out. He really is all the strength you need; something can seem so utterly impossible, but Joel makes it possible.

“Okay we have a head keep going now she’s almost here!” The midwife ensures. And so you do, not waiting on another pain you just push, grabbing onto Joel like he’s your lifeline screaming the hospital room down. It takes two more massive pushes and then she’s out.

You gasp hard as she’s freed from your body. The pain instantly forgotten as your screaming daughter is placed to lie against your chest.

“You did it baby! She’s here!” Joel exclaims wetly.

“She’s here!” You cry back as the midwife begins rubbing a towel over her tiny screaming frame. “Oh baby Sarah you’re finally here!” you cry.

“M’so proud of you baby you did so well!” Joel praises wiping his own tears from his eyes as he stares at his girls in awe.

-

“I didn’t have a very nice midwife when I was having you though, Ellie’s was much nicer, but your daddy kept me super calm and helped me push you out. So we have daddy to thank for that” you utter reassuringly to her, and she smiles.

“Have daddy to thank for what?” His deep voice lurking somewhere behind you makes you jump, startling Ellie slightly evident as the tiny fingers on her small palms spread wide, but she’s feeding again in no time.

“Hi daddy!” Sarah exclaims turning to look at him.

“Hey baby!” He exclaims moving to sit next to you and Sarah jumps into his arms allowing him to move even closer to you and Ellie.

She wraps her hands round his neck as she looks to her dad as she replies, “Mama was telling me how it hurt when she had me and when she had Ellie.”

“Yeah, it did baby, I didn’t like watchin’ your Momma in pain like that.”

“She said that the midwife with me was mean.” She pulls a disgusted face at the statement.

“Mmm yeah Daddy didn’t like her very much and I had to keep gettin’ mad at her, because we don’t like it when people aren’t nice do we?”

Sarah shakes her head as she makes a nu uh noise. “But you kept Mama calm and then she pushed me out!”

“Oh, so you’ve been singin’ my praises?” He utters cheeky grin on his face as he looks to you.

You meet his eyes “shut up big head, but you do deserve them couldn’t have done that without you.”

“Haha big head!” Sarah giggles uncontrollably gaining Joel’s attention back on her “Mommy called you a big head!”

“Oh find that funny do yah?” He chuckles.

“Yes!” She giggles.

“Yeah, well your momma is mean” he jests playfully. “But you, little miss” he tickles her sides making her squirm in his lap before he lets go “you made us a Mommy and Daddy for the first time, no amount of pain or horrible midwives could make that a bad experience we loved every second of waitin’ for you babygirl.”

“Yep,” you agree softly, and both their gazes turn to you. “The day you were born was the best day of my life, I had wanted to be a Mommy my whole life and you made me a Mommy. I love you so much beautiful girl” you lean gently to kiss her head trying not to disturb Ellie too much in the movement. The way she continues to suckle tells you she’s absolutely fine, but Sarah has other ideas.

“Mama don’t squash Ellieeeee!” She squeals tiny palms trying their best to push you back away.

“Baby I’m not gonna squash her!” You giggle.

“I gotta protect her, no squishiiiiiingggg!”

You quickly kiss the top of her head before you sit back still laughing “yes little miss bossy boots hear you loud and clear no squishing” you salute her.

She nods her head, happy with your compliance.

You all fall into a comfortable silence of watching Ellie feed then, but it seems to bore Sarah quickly. She huffs stroking her sisters foot “is she full yet I wana play with herrrrr” her big eyes still fixated on her sister as she drinks away.

“No baby look at her she’s starvin’” Joel utters stroking her back.

“Does it hurt feeding her mama?” Which snatches your gaze away from your youngest daughter to your oldest one. She’s so curious and concerned it’s so sweet. “I don’t think I’d like a baby drinking from my boobies” she grimaces slightly looking into your eyes as she questions so innocently.

You giggle lightly “it does hurt a little sometimes baby, but it’s worth it so she grows up big and strong just like you. And I bet when you’re much older and you have babies of your own, you’ll want to feed them like this too.”

“But Daddy said I’m not allowed a boyfriend and you can’t have a baby without a boyfriend!” She states matter-of-factly, oh to be so young and innocent.

You try to feign shock at your daughter’s words, but you’ve heard Joel mention this to Sarah numerous times.

“No boyfriends until you’re thirty-five I said babygirl” he mumbles to her as she stayed fixed on playing with Ellie’s tiny foot. “So not never just not till you’re much much older.”

She nods. “Daddy?” She lets go of Ellie’s foot to turn to look at him.

He meets her eyes with a smile “yeah baby?”

“I think we should go and make mama some lunch cus she’s giving Ellie her lunch and it looks like a lot of work.”

This kid.

“I think that sounds like a lovely idea.” He utters softly.

“Okay” she hops down from his lap holding out her hand to her daddy “let’s go make some.”

He stands as he chuckles.

“We will be back soon mama with some lunch for you” she singsongs as she walks towards the bedroom door.

“Okay thankyou baby, I love you.”

“Love you too mama!” She exclaims as she walks out of the room a spring in her step.

“I love you precious girl” Joel bends and drops his lips to yours as he also strokes his daughter’s tiny head. “Thank you so much for my beautiful family” he utters pulling away to stare into your eyes.

“I love you too, thank you for being the most precious man there is.”

You giggle as you stare into each other’s eyes, completely besotted. Lost in the moment for who knows how long.

“Daddy HURRY!” The words from a distance away make Joel jump back to reality. Chuckling as he turns to make his way out of the room. “Comin’ babygirl!”

Series masterlist I Main Masterlist

[guiltyasdave]

it’s the season

part of the space sisters secret santa 2023 - for @pascalispretty, merry christmas sophie! 🫶🏻

pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

word count: ~ 1.8k

summary: Joel had promised his daughters that they would bake Christmas cookies this weekend - which turns out to be more complicated than he had anticipated. Fortunately, their new neighbor next door can help.

tags: AU! no outbreak, Joel has both of his daughters, FLUFF, hints at reader’s sad backstory but nothing specific, mentions of alcohol consumption, able-bodied reader, I think that’s it? Let me know if I missed something <3

dividers by @/saradika-graphics 🫶🏻

full masterlist here

follow @guiltyasdavenotifs and turn on notifications for fic updates

shoutout to @reddedmiller for holding my hand while writing this and convincing me that it’s not trash, i love you bby <3

It’s Sunday, one week until Christmas, and Joel Miller is beginning to lose his mind.

His daughters had been bugging him about baking Christmas cookies with them for weeks, and he wants nothing more than to make them happy, but while Joel is many things, he’s certainly not a baker.

Work has been hectic lately, which apparently led to him forgetting to buy the ingredients that the girls swear up and down they had requested several times.

He’s had to sent Sarah to ask one of their neighbors to lend them something twice now and by the looks of it, he’s gonna have to do it a third time. She groans and insists to take Ellie with her this time, complaining about how this is “sooooo embarrassing, Dad!”

You furrow your brow when your doorbell rings for the third time in half an hour, a slightly disbelieving look on your face when you open the door and once again reveal the young girl from next door standing on your porch, this time accompanied by who you think is her younger sister.

You only moved into the house a month ago and don’t really know any of your neighbors, except for the elderly couple that lives a few houses over. They had introduced themselves hours after you moved in and have tried to invite you to come to Sunday church with them several times, an invitation that you consistently decline.

You know the girls though, you often see them through your windows, constantly pestering their father, who constantly fends them off in a kind of gruffy but clearly loving manner.

The girl who had introduced herself as “Sarah” when she first came by thirty minutes ago to ask for baking powder smiles at you apologetically.

“Hi… again. I’m so sorry, do you by any chance have cinnamon as well?”

You can't help but laugh this time. “What are you guys even doing over there? I think I do, why don’t you come in while I go check?” They nod and follow you into your kitchen where you start digging through your supply of baking ingredients.

“Our Dad said he’d bake Christmas cookies with us today, but he forgot to get the groceries for it,” the other girl explains. “I’m Ellie, by the way.” You smile and tell her your name, then hand over the cinnamon to them.

“That’s very sweet of your Dad,” you remark, “I’m sure he’s trying his best.”

Ellie’s eyes fly over your neatly organized collection of ingredients and baking utensils, then her face lights up with an idea.

“Hey! You look like you’re a good baker and our Dad is really struggling to be honest. Do you want to come over and join us?”

“Ellie,” Sarah argues, “you can’t just invite people like that, I’m sure she has plans already.”

You don’t, to be fair, but you’ve never spoken to their father before, who’s rather giving the impression that he likes to keep to himself.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude…” you begin, when Sarah looks around herself and notices that you don’t have any Christmas decorations up around your house.

“Or do you not celebrate Christmas?” she asks, “You obviously don’t have to come if that’s not…”

Your heart warms at how considerate the young girl is trying to be. “No I do, I just didn’t…” you trail off, not sure how to explain that it feels pointless putting up decorations just for yourself and that you don’t want the reminders that it will be the first Christmas in your life that you’ll be spending completely alone. You shake your head and plaster a smile on your face. You do like baking and maybe this will help getting you into the spirit.

“You know what? Okay, if it’s alright with your Dad, I’ll come over and see how I can help.”

Both girls beam at you and you follow them over to their house, where you find their Dad elbows deep in a mixing bowl with dough sticking to his fingers and swearing to himself under his breath. You feel awkward and definitely like an intruder but the girls’ mouths are going a mile a minute, explaining how you had soooo many baking supplies and that you had agreed to help them.

Their Dad introduces himself as “Joel” and you feel your cheeks heating when you notice how attractive he is up close. You had already thought that when you’ve seen him from afar, but now that you’re standing in his kitchen, it really hits you. Trying to snap out of it, you take a closer look at the dough that he’s fighting with.

“This needs more flour, then it’ll be less sticky,” you mutter, suddenly feeling a bit shy, and go to add it to the mix in his bowl. He huffs a “Thanks” and you smile, still fighting the heat in your cheeks but also feeling excitement buzz through you as your hand brushes against his when you pull back.

The girls kick back into action then, throwing several recipes at you that they want to try and you do your best to coordinate it all, running back to your place for ingredients several times, accompanied by an apologetic look from Joel every time, but you honestly don’t mind. His daughters are adorable and you’re having more fun than you’ve had in months.

Sarah turns on the radio and Christmas songs sound through the kitchen. With the music in your ear and the smell of freshly baked cookies in your nose, you feel at ease, comfortable.

When all the cookies are baked and thoroughly taste tested, the girls retreat to their rooms on the upper floor, leaving you and Joel alone in the kitchen. You find that you don’t want to leave, don’t want to go back to that big empty house where it’s just you, not now that you’ve basked in the warmth of this family home right next to yours all day. And just maybe, you want to spend more time with Joel.

“I have a bottle of pretty good red wine, shall I go and bring that? Half of my kitchen’s contents are here already” you joke and Joel laughs.

“I’m sorry about that, I’m usually better prepared, but work’s been crazy these weeks and the girls insisted on baking today, so…” He scratches his neck and you smile at him.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve had a great time today. Finally got me into the holiday spirit a bit, I kinda really needed that.”

You walk over and take the wine bottle back to his place where you sit down in the living room, the Christmas tree that has been mostly decorated by the girls shining in the corner and the several strings of fairy lights that Sarah has spread all over the room glowing around you.

You feel a warmth and comfort that you haven’t felt in a long time, but also a kind of envy for this feeling of family, of how clearly this man and the two girls belong together, how their house is basically imbued with love for each other. A feeling that you’re not sure you’ve ever had, but that you suddenly find yourself desperately longing for.

“So…” Joel begins, a faint expression of uncertainty on his face. “Is it just you over there, or…?” You understand what he’s asking and nod, a wry smile playing around your lips.

“Yeah, it’s- it’s a bit of a long story, really, but yes, it’s just me.” The understanding is clear on his face and he doesn’t push you, sensing that you don’t want to expand on the subject and you’re grateful.

You still talk about both of your pasts, where you grew up, where you went to school, learning that Joel lost his parents when he was young, only two years after he had Sarah, how it had been just the both of them in the beginning, with the addition of his younger brother whom he speaks of with the loving kind of exasperation that only an older sibling can muster up, and how he adopted Ellie a few years later.

You finish the bottle quicker than you would like to, and when Joel walks you home and you’re both stood in front of your door, you’re drunk on more than the red wine, a happiness in your veins that warms you from within.

Joel clears his throat, his eyes trained on your face.

“Listen, I don’t want ya to feel pressured or nothin’, but would you want to come over for Christmas Eve? ‘S just me an’ the girls, nothin’ fancy, just-“ he shrugs, his hands buried in his pockets, “don’t like the thought of you alone in this house on Christmas.”

It might be embarrassing how quickly you say “yes”, but you can’t bring yourself to feel that way. A smile stretches across Joel’s face as he tells you “good night” and kisses your cheek before you step into your house and watch him walk back to his.

Christmas at the Miller household is one of the best evenings that you’ve ever had. Sarah and Ellie have gone all out on the decorations now that they have a guest, leaving twinkling lights, glitter and ornaments in every corner and on every surface, Joel makes a surprisingly good dinner, you’re playing board games with the girls that dissolve into fights between them most of the time, everyone is talking over each other and you’re all eating chocolate until you’re sick with the sugar high.

Late in the evening, with both of the girls softly snoring on the couch, tangled up in each other like two overly large kittens, Joel and you are sharing another bottle of wine. You feel so full of happiness that you feel like you might burst, a smile on your face that feels like it’s never gonna leave again.

When it’s time for you to go home, Joel stands with you and walks with you to his front door. “Thank you again, for inviting me,” you smile at him, “this was probably the best Christmas Eve that I’ve ever had.”

He nods, his gaze dancing between your eyes and your lips.

“Merry Christmas,” you murmur, butterflies erupting in your stomach. He leans in and you hesitantly do the same. Before you can overthink it, you cradle his face in your hands and pull him towards you, your lips meeting in a soft kiss.

“Merry Christmas,” he whispers against your lips.

i hope you liked this!!! merry christmas and happy holidays 🫶🏻

[incorrectoldgodsquotes]

Servants of the Inner Dark or other dark forces: I have an army. The Green: We have the Walker girls.

[seethesunny]

Ellie: I hate Joel.

Sarah: "Hate" is a strong word.

Ellie: I have strong opinions.

[boilingcowboy]

I think the millers would have really chaotic mornings cus like in the show they had a bit of a chaotic morning already now imagine if Ellie was also there like she would probably not be a morning person Sarah is the only one who's body instinctively awakes every morning like they would probably have the most chaotic mornings Sarah waking up to Joels alarm, getting ready and waking up Joel and trying to wake up Ellie too but she's not morning person so Sarah just makes breakfast instead and lets Joel wake her up but then Tommy shows up and him and Joel start talking about work and stuff and then Sarah is like "where tf is Ellie" then Tommy goes to wake her up and successfully dose so after a good 10 minutes while Joel goes to put on his work boots, drink his coffee and orange juice (Ellie gets orange juice handed to her too) then finally they all "sit down" for breakfast which translates to Ellie sometimes just sitting on the kitchen counter instead Sarah sometimes joining her but she prefers the table and Tommy standing by the fridge stealing their food like little siblings do then they all realise shit its time to go but then get held up by the neighbours before finally making it out the house

[j0elmill3r]

Hi! Headcanons you ask? I have one I’ve been sitting on: Joel, Sarah, and Ellie noticing babygirl loves thumb sucking and take her pacifier shopping? 🥺

Oh for sure!!

Joel watched you sitting on the floor and playing with your toys, but he then noted that you had started to suck your thumb. He thought it would be a one time thing - maybe you had something stuck on it.

But then, Sarah and Ellie started noticing that you were sucking on your thumb during girls' nights.

Ellie, being more of an annoying older sister, kept taking your finger out of your mouth and laughing when you were whining - Which then got Sarah's attention, and she told Ellie off for agitating you.

Sarah, being responsible, told Joel about your thumb-sucking. He knew now that this was not a one-off, so took the three of you out for the day, but the main aim to was to get you a pacifier that you would find sufficient.

You were offered many different variations of the same pacifier - Princesses, superheroes, the lot, but you ended up picking the ones that Ellie had picked out for you. Neither Sarah or Joel knew that you were particularly interested in dinosaurs, but Joel knew that it was most likely the colours that attracted you.

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[sarahspancakes]

I love making shit up so anyways let’s pretend ellie has had dreams off and on her whole life most of which include a beautiful girl with a halo of curls named sarah. ellie gets a weird feeling when she finds out joel had a daughter named sarah but she shakes the thought, there’s no way dream sarah could be joel’s sarah.. ellie continues to have dreams about sarah but she tries to tell herself that’s her sarah, dream sarah, not joel’s. BUT ellie feels like the wind got knocked out of her the day tommy came over with old pictures and sees a photo that looks exactly like dream sarah, maybe a few years younger but definitely dream sarah. joel reaches for the photos with shaky hands and let’s out a wet chuckle, “this was uh- this was sarah’s 11th birthday”

[stories-and-coffee]

The artist is @blonde_bandit69 on Twitter.

[kkcauseway]

Life

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader Summary: Just a little fic, no outbreak, Sarah doesn’t die, nor does she have a deadbeat, stupid ass mom. Cus that girl deserves so much more. Plus you get to live out the fantasy of having babies with Joel what's more to like <3 Not much smut, but it’s just a cute ass story. With a happy ending. Characters: Joel Miller, Sarah Miller, Ellie Williams, Tommy Miller, Maria Miller & You Content & warnings: Depictions of childbirth, family fluff, protective!Joel, Joel being the best Dad, no use of Y/N, no outbreak.

Read from Joel's POV I Series Masterlist I Main Masterlist

You wake with a gasp, clasping at your lower stomach, breathing heavily. You’ve been having pains on and off the past few hours before bed, but you and Joel, both put it off as Braxton-hicks, as they were really irregular. But when you try to sit up and you feel the pain travelling from front to back, it's different, you know what it means. You’ve actually been labouring all evening. It’s the middle of the night, the house dark and silent, Joel’s splayed out next to you on his stomach, his arm over your legs, but you know it’s time. Three days from your due date, there's no denying it. You know the signs and having already had Sarah, you can tell your body is ready.

The pain doesn’t last long, but it’s definitely worse than any of the others you’ve been having over the course of the day. It’s time.

Carefully you remove Joel’s arm from your legs. He stirs slightly, but not enough to wake. You bring your legs over the side of the bed, giving yourself a second, before quietly getting up. A bath is the best thing right now, a way to relax you in the beginning of labour, and there’s no need to wake Joel any earlier than necessary. He’s a worrier, and you don’t want to put him through that.

You quietly walk into the bathroom and begin running the bath. Leaning against the sink as you wait for it to fill. But before you can say or do anything, another contraction takes over you. You begin to sway your hips in an effort to help you through the pain and take deep breaths. Trying your best to remain quiet, breathing softly through it. Once it’s over you finish preparing the bath, adding in some lavender bath salts to calm you. You step in, the lifting of your leg causing a twinge in your back that makes you wince. You then settle yourself down slowly, letting out a soft moan as your stomach hits the water. It’s the best you’ve felt in a while.

About an hour passes, you’ve managed to get through the few contractions you’ve had quite well, the water really helping. You sit and think. Appreciate the life you have, the people you’re surrounded by you take a moment to think back to little ten-year-old you, who dreamt of this every day and didn’t think it was possible. We made it! And we are so happy! It brings tears to your eyes. You feel so complete, so full of love for your family, you could burst. A family of three will soon become four, that thought lingers as you breathe silently through a pain, it makes it all worth it.

You wish you could stay in that moment forever, but your fingers now look more like prunes than fingers and the water has begun going cold. Looking across the room, you can see Joel has left a fluffy towel there for you. Remembering you had told him before you went to sleep, that you were going to have a bath in the morning if you still felt the same. God that man is amazing! He really does think of everything!

As you begin to lift yourself up to get out, another contraction comes over you, much stronger than the ones you’d had previously, and it really hurts. Crippling almost. Realising you’re going to need Joel’s help you have no choice but to call for him.

“Oh Shit. Joel!” you shout.

“Joeeel!” you shout again sounding much more defeated this time, but still in agony.

“I’m coming baby!” he shouts half asleep.

The bathroom door swins open, and a naked Joel finds you on your knees in the water, gripping the side of the bath, gritting your teeth as you scream your way through the contraction.

“It’s okay shhhh, Baby breathe” Joel strokes your lower back, you can hear the worry in his voice.

When you manage to catch your breath back “Fuck Joel, that one hurt”. You say lowering yourself back onto your heels in the tub. Joel moves with you coming to squat besides the bath as he faces you.

“It’s okay, you’re doing amazin’ baby” he kisses your forehead, “is it time?”.  He says rubbing your arms as he looks into your eyes.

“I- Yeah, I’m pretty sure it is”. You whine as a tear runs down your cheek.

“Oh baby, why didn’t you wake me earlier?” he wipes the tears from your eyes before holding his hands on your cheeks.

“I’ve been okay, I didn’t wana worry you any earlier than I needed to. And this is exactly what I was afraid of, and it happened anyway. I’m sorry.”

“Baby, you should’ve woke me earlier and don’t you dare say sorry, you aint got nothin’ t’be sorry for.”

“Honestly Joel, I promise you I’ve been okay. Was no point us both been awake when there was nothing we could do, but I’m gonna need your help now with getting out please. I swear you make big babies Miller and right now, they’re pushing right down.” You half laugh.

“I got you Darlin’, c’mon” Joel stands before helping you out of the bath, grabbing the towel to wrap you up in and bringing you into his arms. Holding you tight. You stay like that in a comfortable silence for a moment. Snuggling into Joel’s chest.

“Y’know I knew second babies were faster, but this seems super-fast.” It’s muffled as you say it into his chest. He hums in response. You look up at him then “Can we go back into the bedroom? I wanna go sit on the bed; my back’s killing”.

He kisses the top of your head then “Course baby, c’mon let’s get you comfy.”

Joel walks you into the bedroom and helps you sit on the bed. He helps you to dry off and put on an oversized lounge set, he then gets up, grabs some fluffy socks out of the drawer and puts them on your feet; knowing how cold your toes get. Finally decent, you move to sit against the headboard, propped up against the pillows, resting your hand on your stomach whilst you stare at Joel. “Thank you for always being so good to me Cowboy”. You smile.

He looks at you so full of admiration and love you think he might burst, and he takes your free hand in between his; “Baby I love you so much, and the fact that I have this amazin’ life and I share it with you, and you’ve given me Sarah, now this baby too, I am so so grateful to you, I’ll do anythin’ and everythin’ for you, always.” He kisses your hand, and when he’s sure you’re comfortable (well as comfortable as you can be all things considered) he goes and grabs some clothes for himself. You struggle through another pain whilst he’s preoccupied this one bearable alone. You think just knowing Joel is near helps. His presence alone enough to calm you through the pain. The pains are getting stronger and closer together, which you know means you’re progressing as you should be, but it’s definitely progressing faster than it did with Sarah.

When Joel is dressed, you can tell he’s petrified, even if he’s trying to act like he isn’t. You know it’s hard for him especially considering he strives through life making sure you’re happy and healthy, you know this is the only situation ever, that he’s felt helpless in, and it scares him that he’s going to witness it again. He’s pacing back and forth, and so, settles on checking all the bags are packed ready to go by the door, then he finally calls Tommy.

‘Tommy, hey bud sorry it’s late, we need you to come over’-

-‘yeah, it’s time’-

He laughs

-‘Okay perfect I’ll let her know, see you soon, thanks Tommy.’

He puts his phone back in his pocket before making his way back over to you on the bed, sitting at you side. “He says they’ll be twenty minutes max, should’ve heard the squeal Maria let out.”

“Anyone would think it’s her baby! But amazing thank you” you take a deep breath, before hitting your knees with your palms “right shall we go wake up our girl, let her know her sibling wants to say hello?” You giggle at the thought; wow Sarah is going to be a big sister.

“You know what; I still can’t get over that we are doin’ this again” he smiles, then walks up to you and bends down to kiss your forehead “I love you baby”.

“I love you so much” you say before kissing his lips and then go to get up, Joel is there to help you. He really is the best husband you could ask for.

You walk or rather waddle across the hall to Sarah’s door, with your husband at your side. A hand rests softly on your lower back. He only leaves you then, in order to knock, before slowly pushing it open. Sarah is fast asleep, her nightlight highlighting her gorgeous features. She really is the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen, and no you aren’t just biased in that opinion because she’s your daughter. It’s 100% true. She begins to rouse as Joel steps a foot into the room. “Daddy?” she mumbles sleepily. Just as you go to enter, another contraction washes over you, so you hang back against the outside wall, riding it out, nodding for Joel to continue in. You bite your arm to remain silent. You don’t want to scare Sarah.

“Hey Baby girl!” it’s an excited whisper.

Sarah looks to the window and notices it’s still dark. Rubbing her eyes, she looks back to her dad. “Daddy, it’s not morning.”

“No Baby, I know, listen, me and Mama have somethin’ t’tell you.” He replies as he takes a seat on her bed.

She yawns as she sits up straighter in her bed, intrigued.

“Where is Mama, was she shouting?” the concern evident in her voice.

He strokes her head “She will be in, in a minute Baby. Now listen your new little brother or sister wants to say hello, so we need to go to the hospital, Uncle Tommy and Aunt Maria are on the way to come and stay with you, while me and Mama are gone okay.”

“The baby’s coming?”

“Yeah baby girl, the baby’s comin’”

“Yay, okay!” it’s an excited squeal, one that reiterates the adoration and love she has for her unborn sibling already.

With the pain gone and the sweat mopped up, so you look somewhere close to ‘half decent’, you walk into Sarah’s room.

“Mama!” she bounces in her place on the bed.

“Hi my pretty girl!”

“You okay?” Joel quickly interrupts as he turns to look at you.

“Fine, honestly” you smile.

He nods in response.

“Can you come and sit with me Mama?” Sarah taps the place on her bed next to her as she shuffles over slightly.

“Of course, baby”

You slowly sink yourself down onto the spot free next to her on the bed, with a groan. Joel moves to be sat near to her feet, so you have space to stretch out. You place an arm around Sarah and the other on your stomach.

“So, the baby is coming tonight, Mama?” she asks as she cuddles into you.

You rub her arm as “Maybe tonight, or maybe tomorrow.”

You sit in silence for a moment then. Cuddling Sarah soaking up her love; the last few moments of it being only the three of you.

Then Joel adds in as he taps her foot “Hey Sarah, last time to put your bet in, what’s it gonna be a boy or a girl?”

“It’s a sister I know it, she told me” certainty on her tongue.

“Oh yeah, and when did ‘she’ apparently tell you this?” you reply with a giggle.

“When me and her were talking one day, you know we like to talk” she says it like she can’t believe you’re asking, that you’re stupid for not knowing exactly how she knows.

“Well, we will soon see, me and Daddy think it’s a boy” you boop her nose as you laugh.

“But I don’t want a - Oh- Mama? Are you okay?”

As Sarah begins to reply to you, another pain washes over your body, causing you to yelp slightly, but you try your best to hide the pain. As to not scare Sarah. You squeeze your eyes shut as you breathe your way through it.

“Mama’s okay Baby” Joel reassures as he strokes a hand up and down your leg “this is just your baby brother or sister tryna get out”. He then adds “Breathe Mama.”

“Oh” Sarah moves slightly in your arms, so she can rub some hair out of your face and behind your ear. Kissing your check once she has done it. Sarah copies what Joel says “breathe Mama.”

Once the pain has subsided you squeeze Sarah as hard as you can, “Thank you so much for helping me through that pain, that kiss was very nice” you kiss the top of her head. Sarah then moves a hand to your belly and wriggles out of your arms, so she can move to bring her mouth to your belly. She lifts up your top to expose your belly and whispers against the skin; “don’t hurt Mama please baby sister” she kisses your tummy and adds “I can’t wait to meet you.” She really is the most beautiful six-year-old ever, the most considerate little girl.

You sit there embracing and soaking in every last second as the three musketeers, life is never going to be the same again after this. So you really do soak up every last second. Eventually there is a distant knock drawing all three of your attention’s. Joel is quick to stand up and is out of the room in the same breath.

You turn to Sarah again; “Come give me a big big hug, I’m gonna miss you soooo much.”

“I’m going to miss you too Mama, will you be gone long?” she mumbles into your chest as she hugs you tight.

“We shouldn’t be baby; I think we will be home by tomorrow night at the very latest, but I will call you so that you know okay?”

“Okay, Mama, oh and you know somethin’?”

“What’s that honey?” you stroke her hair.

“I am so happy you’re my Mama, and I’m so happy you’re baby sisters Mama too, we have the best one in the whole world” the sentimental thoughts this little girl has melt you. You’re amazed that she knows exactly what to say, and when to say it. She makes every situation good or bad 10x better.

“Oh, thank you Baby, I really love you so much. You know that?” you can’t help the tears that begin to fall down your cheeks then. You sniffle, which gains Sarah’s attention, and she looks up at you.

“Oh, I’m sorry Mama, I didn’t mean to make you sad” she reaches a hand to wipe the tears from your cheeks.

“You didn’t make me sad baby, I promise, these are happy tears, you made me really happy”. You kiss her forehead.

The bedroom door opens again, and Joel, Tommy and Maria all walk into the room. Both you and Sarah look towards them.

“Hey stinker!” Tommy shouts

“Hey Uncle Tommy, hi Maria!”

Joel notices that you’re crying and is straight to your side “You, okay?” he then reaches to Sarah’s bedside table to get you a tissue.

You take it from him with thanks “I’m fine, I promise, Sarah was being Sarah, and now I’m crying. You know how it goes”. You laugh wetly as you dab under your eyes with the tissue.

“Oh, I do.” He turns to Sarah, stroking her cheek “You’re the best aint you baby girl”. She giggles in response.

He then looks back to you “Right Baby, you ready to go?”

“Yeah” you smile and take a deep breath. “Let’s go have a baby!”

Joel holds out both his hands to you and he helps you to swing your legs back over the side of the bed. He then helps to pull you up with a groan. You take a second to catch your bearings, now you are back on your feet. Joel helps to walk you slightly to the middle of the room, so Tommy and Maria are able to position themselves on the bed by Sarah. You watch as Maria takes your position, she cuddles up to Sarah and strokes her head. You’re so happy she’s in good hands whilst you’re gone. Tommy and Maria have always been so good to Sarah.

Still holding one of Joels hands; “right Sarah, you have to be really good for Tommy and Maria okay baby- you need to make sure- ugh” you say as you place your freehand under your bump feeling a pain beginning, Joel grabs hold of you tight then- “make sure to listen to-f-fuck!” you grip onto Joel’s arm like it’s a lifeline and move back to face him.

He shushes you and offers you his other arm too, so you can hold onto him properly and sway. You push your forehead into his shoulder. You can’t help but be vocal this time, in too much pain to be able to control the moans that come out of your mouth. “Y’got this baby” Joel whispers into your hair. As the pain begins to subside you can just about hear as Tommy tells Sarah you didn’t mean the ‘no no’ word you said. Sarah just laughs in response.

When the pain is completely gone, you look Joel in the eye, he can see you’re already beginning to feel deflated. Yet he also has a cheeky half smile on his face, and you remember what you had just said. You stand up tall again and turn back to look at Sarah. “Mama is sorry for saying that baby, I didn’t mean it, be good for Tommy and Maria, listen to what they say okay? I love you.”

“Love you too Mama!” she blows you a kiss and you pretend to catch it and placing it on your heart, before blowing her one back.

As you begin to walk out of her bedroom Joel turns to look back at the three of them; “Tommy, I’ll be in touch, thank you for havin’ her. See you soon baby girl, be good, love you”!

“Love you too Daddy, make sure to look after Mama”.

“I will, I promise!”

Tommy and Maria both shout good luck and you make your way downstairs, grabbing the hospital bags that you left by the door, and then you’re on your way.

🩷🩵🩷

You’ve been at the hospital about an hour when your midwife comes into the room.

“Hi, I’m Sally your midwife, how are we both doing?”

“Good thanks, but definitely progressing much faster than I expected.”

“Well, there’s never really been a time scale for these thing, your baby must just be super eager to make an appearance! Are you okay if I check you, just to see how far along you are?”

You nod, but are sidetracked by a very painful wave, overtaking your body once more. You sit up taller in the bed, breathing and moaning your way through the pain. Joel is rubbing your lower back, ‘counterpressure’ her remembers the midwife at Sarah’s birth called it, it doesn’t really do much, but you enjoy feeling his presence and care. Once the pain ends, Joel helps you to shift in the bed, so you’re able to get into a suitable position for the examination; offering his hand. You take it gratefully and part your legs so the midwife can get to work.

“Okay, six centimetres, coming right along, well done! Won’t be too much longer now hopefully” she snaps her gloves off.

“Oh, thank goodness” you groan.

“Now am I right in thinking it’s in your birth plan to have a water birth, if we have a room with a pool free? Is that still what you want?”

“I would Love that! I really regret not having a water birth with Sarah.”

She nods “okay, no problem, I’ll get onto the case and find out if we have a room, I’ll be back with the verdict asap, in the meantime, I’ll be right outside if you need me, okay? That red button to your right, press it if you need me, I’ll come running, literally! Especially if your water breaks okay, shout me!”

“Will do, thank you nurse.” Joel responds.

With the door shut and the midwife out of the room you turn to Joel.

“She’s nice” you smile.

“Yeah, I like her” Joel agrees.

“Hey not too much longer baby and we will be a family of four, how crazy is that!” you add excitedly.

“I can’t wait. Do you think Sarah is right about it bein’ another girl?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I know she really wants a sister, so I would love to give her one. But either way she will be the best big sister, I know that much.”

“Oh, she most definitely will, I have to agree with you there Darlin’.”

Joel moves his hand out of the grasp of yours and begins to caress your belly. Making gentle work of it, as he knows just about any pressure on it right now is painful. You let out a pleasurable moan in response. His palms tickling your belly in a really relaxing way. His baby kicking in response every so often.

“God, I really hope I can have a water birth.”

“I’m praying for you Baby”. He says as he leans down to kiss your stomach.

🩷🩵🩷

Two hours later, again, your breathing begins to speed up as another pain takes over you whilst you lie on your side in the hospital bed. You grab onto Joel’s arm as you moan with the pain. You lean into him, curling your body tight. He uses the arm you don’t have a hold of, to rub up and down your back.

“You got this baby, I’m so proud of you”.

“Ugh, it really hurts” your voice breaks and you can’t help the tears that begin to fall “I can’t do it anymore”.

“You can baby, you can. You’ve got this, you’ve done it all before with Sarah. Just think of how amazin’ life is now because you brought her safely into the world. You did that! Endured all that pain to bring her into the world, and now you’re going to do the same again with this baby. We are all so lucky to have you. You’re so strong.” He kisses your forehead as the pain begins to subside.

With the pain gone, you have the ability to sit up straighter. Joel moves out of your way so you’re able to sort yourself out, however you wish to. Rather than sitting against the pillows, you bring your legs over the side of the bed, so you can sit directly facing Joel. You hold your hands out on either side of the bed to help you stabilise. Joel then kneels in front of you, so you put your arms around his neck, in an effort to hold him closer. He’s your safe space. You pull each other into an embrace, and you rest your head on his shoulder as you cry.

“Shhh Baby, you’re okay, y’got this”.

You don’t say anything, you just continue to hug him as you shake and cry. Joel brushes his hands up and down your back. “Hey baby, look at me”. It’s a whisper into the quiet room after a few minutes of silence. You don’t move, just shake your head no into his shoulder. “Baby” he pulls away a little. “Please, look at me” this time it’s much sterner, but still drowned in concern.

You slowly lift your head up; your hair falls in front of your face as you do so. Your face red and shiny with tears. You looks exhausted and defeated. Joel brushes your hair behind your ears and smiles at you. He then wipes your wet cheeks to free them of your tears. “Hi” he smiles “see you’re so strong. So much stronger than I could ever be. I promise you, you’ve got this”.

“I don’t” you whimper.

“Baby” he laughs “you do! Look at you, you’re literally doin’ it as we speak!”

“I don’t feel strong” it comes out like a moody grunt.

“But you are, come on take a deep breath. It’s all gonna be worth it”.

You take a deep breath in before exhaling, keeping eye contact with Joel as you do. You bring a hand to your lower back with a wince.

“Can you help me up please? I wana walk for a little?”

“Course baby, whatever you need”.

Joel takes hold of both of your hands and pulls as you begin to lift yourself off the hospital bed. You then proceed to pace; breathing deeply as you rub your belly.

“You up for some music? We can dance for a bit, will that help?”. Joel asks enthusiastically.

It stops you in your tracks “Aww Joel, you cutie you still wana dance with me? Even when I look like this?” you gesture to your hospital gown.

“I always wana dance with you darlin’.”

Joel grabs his phone and puts on a random playlist of slower songs. He takes you into his arms and cuddles you close swaying with you in his arms. Stopping with each contraction that hits you, rubbing your lower back. He kisses the top of your head every so often. Mumbling into your hair how much he loves you. You continue to do this for a while, seemingly more relaxed until “Shit, wait Joel stop, I feel weird”.

He immediately stops swaying with you but continues to hold you “what do you mean?”

“I- I, it feels weird down there, I don’t know” you grab the underneath of your stomach.

“What can I do?”

You begin to stand straighter in his arms“I- I just need to move, just need t-“

You’re interrupted by a gush of water, falling from between your legs. Soaking your bare feet, and Joels boots.

“Oh shit, well that’s what that was” you laugh, but then keel over with another pain. Placing your palms onto the hospital bed as you sway and moan.

Joel pushes the red button, then is right back at your side helping you through it. The nurse is in the room within a couple of seconds.

“Hey, I was just on my way back to you guys, what’s going on?”

Joel, noticing you’re still getting over your pain, responds on behalf of you “her waters went”.

“Oh goodie! Progressing as we should and to top it off, we have a room free. We will take you there when you’re ready sweetie” she rubs your shoulder in concern.

“Oh, thank god, I would’ve cried even more if I couldn’t have a water birth”.

🩷🩵🩷

Once settled into the new room Joel helps you to strip completely, then helps you to put on a bikini top. The midwife is filling up the tub and Joel helps you in once its ready. You’re straight on the gas and air.

After an hour of contracting in the water, you’re sat against the tub, a flannel over your forehead and Joel is rubbing your shoulders. You’re focusing on breathing calmly between contractions, but the next pain that hits you is excruciating. There’s something much more primal about this scream. Despite the pains everything seems calm till the sudden urge to push overcomes your body.

You sit up taller in the bath, pulling a face as you try to move to get more comfortable, which is just impossible.

“You okay baby?” Joel asks noticing the distress on your face.

“There’s so much pressure down there I think-  I feel like- like I need to push” you take a second to get a proper feel for what it is you’re feeling. “Yeah, I do- I need to push Joel!”

Joel quickly jumps up and presses the red button and it takes all of ten seconds for Sally to return.

“How we doing?” she asks genuinely, but it’s obvious she knows the answer she’s about to get.

“I need to push” you say before a pain takes over you that has you almost screaming in pain. You turn in the tub to face Joel and put your arms over his shoulders. He hugs you close.

“You’re okay baby, you’re doing so good.”

“Okay, when this pain is over, I’m going to check you, whatever you do, do not push, okay?” Sally says in a rushed tone.

You nod into Joel’s shoulder in response. And it takes ever fibre of your being not to push. You don’t move whilst she examines you, continuing to cuddle into Joel as you try to suppress the urge to push.

“Okay it’s go time angel, baby’s head is right there I can see it.”

“Oh, thank God” it comes out like a cry.

“You hear that Baby you can push” Joel utters to you so softly, it’s almost a whisper.

“You can start pushing as soon as you’re ready angel, how do you want to do this? You happy in the position you’re in or do you want to move?”

“No, I want to stay like this” you’re determined but exhausted.

“That’s absolutely fine. Now on the next contraction, I want you to push with everything you’ve got, okay, I’m going to count to ten and I need you to push that whole ten seconds, okay? You’re no quitter, so I don’t want any giving up.”

“Yeah, okay” it’s about all you can manage response wise.

It doesn’t take long till the next contraction happens, they’re basically on top of each other by this point.

You bare down as you grip onto Joel, and you give it all you’ve got. “Good!” the midwife shouts. “Keep going that’s it, 8, 9, 10.”

You stop pushing with a gasp.

“You did so good baby” Joel whispers in your ear.

“Ready to go again?” the midwife asks, and you nod before baring down for another ten. It takes a few more pushes before the head is completely out and you’re nothing but glad that the ring of fire is long gone.

“Okay good the head is out! Well done! Take some deep breaths for me. Just a few more pushes and your beautiful baby will be here!”

“The heads out?” it’s almost a cry.

“Yes, it’s out!”.

“Can I feel?”

“Yeah, course go for it” the midwife adds. You move out of Joel’s grip slightly, bringing one of your arms back to feel the head between your legs.

“Oh, Joel, I can feel them, wow they have a lot of hair” you say as you look at him.

“Yeah? Lotta hair, just like Sarah?” Joel asks.

“Oh yeah beautiful full head of hair I can see it” the midwife adds in.

“Good, hey almost there now baby” he replies before kissing your head as you lean back into him.

With the head finally out, you know you have to push even harder for the shoulders and you’re exhausted.

“Give us a really big push on this next contraction, okay?” Sally asks.

“I can’t” you shake your head into Joel’s shoulder.

“Baby you can, what do you mean you can’t?” Joel adds.

“I can’t do it anymore, I can’t!” You cry.

“Baby, you’ve been doing so well and you’re so near the end now, hey look at me.” You lift your head from his neck to look at him. “You’re so strong you’ve got this, okay? You push, give it everything you’ve got and lets meet this baby of ours, okay?”

“Y-Yeah, okay”

“Good girl” Joel replies kissing your forehead.

The pain begins to wash over you and you push until you can’t anymore. Joel and Sally coaching you through every second of the push.

“Few more pushes and baby is out” the midwife adds.

“Good you can do this baby come on!” Joel shouts enthusiastically and that’s all you need to hear.

You scream as you bare down gripping onto Joel’s shoulders. It takes three more pushes to get the baby out. The midwife is there to catch and when the baby is finally free from your body you immediately sit back so you can take the baby from her. “It’s a girl!” the midwife announces as she places your screaming daughter in your arms.

“Another girl Joel” you cry at him, and he comes over to kiss you on the head before placing a hand on the back of his new daughters head.

“She’s so beautiful” Joel cries back.

“Sarah was right” you laugh, “she got the sister she always wanted”.

“Look at all of her hair!”

“She gets that from her daddy” you laugh.

You’re crying, Joel’s crying, the baby is crying. You all just stay like that for a minute.

“Dad do you wana cut the cord?” Sally questions Joel, bringing you both out of your new baby bliss bubble.

“Y- yeah” he replies.

You move the baby to be cradled in your arms as he cuts the clamped cord. The midwife then takes the baby and gives her to a nurse to clean her off whilst you deliver the placenta.

🩷

An hour later you’re back in the hospital bed in your own comfy pj’s as your newborn daughter sleeps against your chest. She makes little purr like noises as she does. Skin to skin is your favourite thing to do with a newborn. Joel is sat at your side and rests his palm against your daughters head.

“What should we call her?” he whispers to you.

You turn your head to the side to look at him briefly. You whisper back “I think she looks like an Ellie.”

“Ellie?” he looks to her squished, pouty face then. “S’perfect” he replies, before leaning to kiss her tiny head.

As if she hears herself being talked about, she stirs awake and lets out a little grouchy cry.

“Oh, baby Ellie, you’re hungry again huh?” You coo at her angry scrunched face. You then move, Joel quickly grabbing her from you, so that you can undress yourself ready to feed her. Joel helps to position her at your breast, and she latches almost instantly. And you quickly settle back into the feeling of feeding a baby, it’s the best bonding feeling ever.

Joel just sits back and watches you both for a moment, before getting out his camera and taking a snap of you feeding your daughter.

“Babe, stoppp I bet I look a mess”.

“You look gorgeous baby.”

This birth had been much less traumatic than Sarah’s and you were raring to go home. Thankfully you got the all clear to go which you were more than thankful for. You didn’t want to have to spend the whole night away from Sarah if unnecessary. Ellie was born six hours ago; she had fed easily and was going to the toilet normally. And so home time it was. Joel is getting Ellie ready in the car seat whilst you get out your phone. You’d promised to call Sarah when you were coming home and so you call Tommy’s phone to speak to her.

It only rings twice and surprisingly Sarah is the one to answer.

“Hi Mama!”

“Hey baby, are you okay?”

“Yeah Mama, are you coming home?”

“We are coming home!”

“So, the baby is here!”

“Yes, the baby is here, and you’ll get to meet them very soon!”

“Yay I can’t wait!”

“See you soon baby love you!”

“Love you too!”

There’s a welcome home sign on the front door, clearly made by Sarah, when you make it back home. Joel carefully helps you out of the car and then makes his way into the back to get Ellie out whose sleeping soundly. You then walk up to the front door together, Joel unlocking the door and allowing you to enter first. He enters behind you with Ellie in tow.

You walk into the living room and Sarah runs straight to you. Jumping up and down in front of you. ‘MAMA!’

“Hi beautiful girl!” you gently hug her. “You wana meet someone special?”

She nods, as she looks behind you to watch Joel walk in the door, baby carrier in tow. “Baby girl, this is Ellie, your sister” he announces excitedly.

“Sister? It’s a girl! See I told you!”

“Yeah, you were right baby, now if you go and sit nicely on the sofa, you can hold her if you want?”

“Yes, yes pleaseeee!”

Sarah runs hurriedly over to the sofa and sits nicely kicking her legs. You come to sit next to her and put an arm around her. Joel places the carrier down onto the floor and bends to carefully to unclip her to get her out. Maria and Tommy both coo from the other sofa when her tiny body is lifted out of the seat. The newborn scrunch is enough to set you off crying again and when Joel gently helps Sarah to position her arms to hold her new sister correctly, you’re a mess. Sarah’s one arm is propped against a pillow to further help her in supporting her baby sister.

“Hi Ellie, I’m your big sister. She’s so tiny wow” she strokes her cheek gently.

“She is huh? Joel adds “she’s gonna get so much bigger though, one day she will be as big as you.”

“She’s so beautiful” as if on cue, Ellie opens her eyes then and looks straight up to her big sister in curiosity.

“Look Sarah she recognises her big sister; she remembers your voice from all those times you spoke to her when she was in my tummy. God, you look so big holding her baby girl” you bend her head towards you gently then to kiss her.

Joel reaches into his bag and gets his camera out once more.

“Girls look up, lets get a picture of the three of you”.

You and Sarah both look up at once, you quickly wipe the now drying tears from your face and Joel takes multiple pictures.

“Right daddy I think it’s time you got in too, don’t you?” Maria asks from behind him, he quickly passes her the camera and sits the other side of Sarah, you all smile once more at the camera, and Maria also take one of the three of you looking down at Ellie as she makes her tiny little noises.

Okay now enough you lot, think it's time Uncle Tommy had a cuddle, don't you?" Tommy asks “C’mon shift, stop hoggin’ my niece!” He jokes.

You all laugh then.

This is family, this is love, this is the life you’d spent your whole life dreaming of. And here you are finally living it, and it’s so much better than you could’ve ever, ever imagined.

Read from Joel's POV I Series Masterlist I Main Masterlist

[mariatesstruther]

joel teaching tommy how to ride a bike and tommy teaching sarah how to ride a bike and sarah teaching ellie how to ride a bike and ellie teaching cousin miller how to rise a bike in the ellie/sarah modern sisters au @maddiesbooknook @liveandletcry23

[heartpascal]

ok you guys. the pressure is on. here are the current fics in the works.

option 1 = “the sun was collapsing” -> angst

option 2 = “you can cut it” -> angst / comfort-ish

option 3 = “in the warm light” -> ANGST

option 4 = “hand to your heart” -> fluff? then ANGST

(more details in tags, kinda)

[gazpachoandbooks]

Joel: *puts an arm around Sarah* this is my daughter, Sarah. She's the kindest person you'll meet, she never forgets a birthday and she smells like rainbows

Joel: *raises his other arm to reveal Ellie hanging on the hem of his shirt by her teeth* this is my other daughter, Ellie. She's going to be an astronaut and I found her in the trash

Sarah: *smiles and waves*

Ellie: *smiles and growls*

[mirananananan]

soooooo......will anyone mind if i continue the modern sarah & ellie sisters au without any context or background?

[j0elmill3r]

no outbreak au baby girl headcanons n thoughts!!

baby girl would absolutely take up sports after watching games of sarah being amazing and ruthless in soccer <3

despite being a no outbreak au i absolutely adore fics that have ellie as still joels daughter 🥹 so joel just being an absolute girl dad to three kids ... he doesn't drink caffeine, he IS the caffeine with all the energy he needs to be able to deal with 2 teenage kids and 1 toddler

ellie, sarah, and baby girl having girl nights and its just them having fun, eating junk food, and staying up late

i like to think sarah and ellie would share a room and baby girl is like... jealous because she calls it the 'big girl' room so she just vents to her stuffed animals that she wants to be big so she can share a room with ellie and sarah 😭

baby girl definitely picks up music!!

miller family beach day ft. uncle tommy and maria :)) sarah wants to play beach volleyball, ellie is begging joel for ice cream, baby girl wants to build sand castles and all three adults are given one kid assigned to care for

i absolutely ADORE your baby girl works

baby girl would absolutely take up sports after watching games of Sarah being amazing and ruthless in soccer

Oh, for sure. Joel always takes baby girl to Sarah's soccer games and you can bet that they're cheering the loudest for her. When she gets old enough, Joel puts her into those little kid soccer classes where their games aren't scored because hey, it's all about the participation, right? Sarah definitely plays soccer out in the backyard with her to get her some practice so she can show off at her baby classes (and let's just pretend that Sarah 100% doesn't let her win)

despite being a no outbreak au i absolutely adore fics that have ellie as still joels daughter 🥹 so joel just being an absolute girl dad to three kids ... he doesn't drink caffeine, he IS the caffeine with all the energy he needs to be able to deal with 2 teenage kids and 1 toddler

Joel definitely regrets being such a stallion now, Sarah being 14, Ellie being only a year behind her at 13, but baby girl being 3 at least gave him a bit of a gap. But, and a very big but, being a single dad to 3 girls? The man is smacked out his face on caffeine at every single point in the day, and the worst part? It's nothing to do with baby girl. Sarah and Ellie being at that stage with you know, periods and shit, poor Joel goes through it because baby girl's big sisters aren't gonna take their teenage hormonal rage out on their sweet baby sister.

Ellie, Sarah, and baby girl having girl nights, and its just them having fun, eating junk food and staying up late

As much as leaving baby girl alone on girls' nights fills Joel's heart with genuine fear and anxiety, he knows he needs to get out himself, so reluctantly leaves Sarah in charge. Baby girl feels like such a big girl when she gets to stay up past her bedtime and have a soda, it's not that Joel doesn't let her do those things, he just likes to let her have them as a treat. But she loves getting to stay up with her big sisters and hearing all their school gossip, even if she doesn't really understand what they're talking about.

I like to think Sarah and Ellie would share a room and baby girl is... jealous because she calls it the 'big girl' room so she just vents to the stuffed animals that she wants to be big so she can share a room with Ellie and Sarah 😭

There have been so many occasions where Joel's gone to the bathroom and heard baby girl fully ranting to the row of stuffed toys she has lined up on her bed. He's so confused because she always says she likes having her own room but now she apparently doesn't? Then he hears her mention Sarah and Ellie get to share a room and he realizes that she maybe feels a bit left out because the girls like to watch movies together sometimes. So he goes and asks the girls if they'd mind if baby girl came and slept in their room with them tonight, obviously, they don't mind, so baby girl is so happy she gets to spend time with her sisters.

baby girl definitely picks up music!!

Because she mostly spends her time with her dad, that also means she's around Joel when he decides to pick up the guitar for a while, and baby girl just watches him so intently, watching her dad's hands pluck at the strings. So Joel, noticing her fascination with the guitar, gets her one of those kids ones for her birthday and teaches her how to play a couple notes and slowly an easy song.

miller family beach day ft. uncle Tommy and maria :)) Sarah wants to play beach volleyball, Ellie is begging Joel for ice cream, baby girl wants to build sand castles and all three adults are given one kid assigned to care for.

Joel assigns himself to Ellie, Tommy to Sarah, and Maria to baby girl, since her choice of activity was the least exercise. Joel comes back from the store with a bucket and spades for her, Ellie is happy enough to sit with her ice cream and then go into the water with Joel for a while, baby girl being perfectly content to sit with Maria, who was sunbathing, and build her sandcastles.

[stories-and-coffee]

The artist is @bewiart on Twitter.