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jellyfishxxi · 2 years

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The Day We Brought Her Home (Baby!Freelancer AU) Part 1

Summary: Male!Darlin' and Sam save Female!Baby!Freelancer from being kidnapped and decided to raise her. Shenanigans ensue.

Tagging @ddaannee because they helped me co-write this AU and @themonotonysyndromefanpage because they requested to be tagged

Content warnings: Mentions of kidnapping, woman wanting to strangle baby freelancer tooth rotting fluff

Characters: Sam Collins, Male!Darlin', Unnamed woman, unnamed man Female!Baby! Freelancer/Aria Collins

~•|---------------|•~

A truck drove down the road between Los Angeles and Dahlia. Inside rested a wolf-shifter and his mate, a southern vampire. The truck’s radio was playing a song that Darlin’ had selected. Darlin’ was tapping one of his hands against the side of his truck as the music played.

“We’re makin’ good time. We should be back by 11, at the latest.” Sam spoke up.

Darlin’ nodded in response, his eyes trained on the road in front of him. The trip was mostly silent for another five minutes before Sam spoke up again.

“There’s a car on the side of the road.”

Darlin’ looked over and lo and behold, there was a car on the side of the road.

“Looks like they’ve got a flat tyre. And that woman next to the car, she’s got a crying baby.”

Darlin’ pulled over, getting out.

“Stay here, I'll go help them.” Darlin spoke, walking out.

He stopped when he was near enough to hear them however, as he heard the woman speaking.

“Ugh, why won’t this stupid brat stop crying?!”

She yelled, making the baby wail louder.

“The little freak probably wants her mom.” A man next to her spoke.

“Who cares, if she doesn’t shut up, I'm going to strangle her!”

Darlin’s eyes widened. He knew he had to get that baby away from her, and fast. He walked over to the pair, masking his fury under a facade of kindness.

“Hey, I noticed you guys have a flat tyre. Can I help? I can take the baby for you while you change it.” Darlin’ offered.

The woman looked at the man, before shoving the crying baby into his arms. Darlin’ softly rocked her, humming. The baby’s cries slowly turned into whimpers.

“So, what’s her name?”

The woman hesitated in replying.

“...A-Ark.”

Darlin' didn’t buy that for a second. When both the man and the woman were distracted looking for a spare tyre, Darlin’ didn’t hesitate and ran back to his truck, the baby girl still in his arms. He handed the girl to Sam and turned back to the steering wheel, starting his car and driving off.

“Uh... Darlin’?”

Darlin’ kept driving, faster than he was before. When he was sure the people from the car wouldn’t see them in the distance, he slowed down.

“Yeah?” He asked, running a hand through his thick and messy hair.

“Can I get an explanation, please? Why did you just drive off? Weren't you helpin’ them? And why do you have this woman's baby?”

Darlin’ sighed.

“I overheard them talking. They were talking about strangling her if she didn’t stop crying. My instincts were raging, God Sam, I couldn’t just leave her there!” he shouted.

Sam looked at him, placing a hand on his husband's shoulder.

“Calm down, Darlin’.” Darlin’ nodded.

“Right. Well, when I got a good look at her, I saw that she looked nothing like the baby. Doubled with the fact that she said she would strangle her if she didn’t stop crying... I think that woman kidnapped her.” Darlin’ spoke.

“But then... aren’t we doin’ the same thing? We should take her back to her parents.” Darlin’ shook his head.

“We don’t know where they live. She could live in the next city over or her parents might live in another country, and they have already left.”

Sam sighed, knowing Darlin’ had a point.

“Ok, but what about the department? They could take her in.”

Darlin’s grip tightened as his face shifted into an angry scowl.

“No way in hell are we giving her to them.”

Sam nodded, remembering that Darlin’ had a bad history with the Department.

“So... are we keepin’ her?” Sam asked. Darlin’ looked at him.

“Do you want to? I wouldn’t push you onto anything you don’t want to. We can always give her to David and his mate or Vincent and Lovely. I just... I just want her to be safe, Sam. If we or anyone else we know and trust raises her, then she will be.”

Sam looked down at the baby girl in his arms, who had drifted off to sleep. He smiled to himself and turned back to Darlin’.

“Yeah, I want to raise her as ours. I want to raise her with you, Darlin’.” Darlin’ smiled, tears dotting his eyes.

“Damnit Sam, you’re making me tear up.”

≿————- ❈ ————-≾

Once Sam and Darlin’ pulled into the driveway of their home, Sam got out with the baby.

“I’m gonna try and get some stuff for her. Clothes, diapers, you know. We can get more tomorrow, it’s just the essentials right now.” Sam nodded.

“I’ll try and think of a name while you’re out. Make sure not to forget baby formula.” Darlin’ nodded and drove off.

Sam went inside with the baby, turning the lights on.

“Right then, we need somethin’ to call you.” He spoke, sitting down on the couch.

He hummed to himself. “Anna? No, you don’t look like an Anna.”

The baby slowly opened her eyes, revealing them to be a brilliant golden yellow.

“Maybe Sunny, to match your eyes?” Sam shook his head.

“Nah, too obvious.” He hummed in thought as the baby giggled.

“Your giggles sound like music so... maybe something to do with music?” He tapped his stubbly chin in thought.

“Melody? No, that’s the first thing you’d think of. Sonata? People wouldn’t get that.” He mused.

“Carol? That sounds like an old lady's name. Oh, how about Aria?”

The baby giggled and clapped.

“You like that, little one? Well, alright then. Nice to meet you, Aria Collins.”

Aria cooed, clutching Sam’s shirt in her little hands. Sam laughed to himself, staring down at the baby with love in his steel grey eyes. The door opened, and Darlin’ walked in with two full bags of baby items.

“Yeesh, I thought you were just getting the essentials.” Sam joked.

“I did. This is diapers, clothes, baby powder, formular, a bottle and a baby blanket.” Darlin’ spoke, placing the bags on the floor.

“Anyways, does our little pup have a name?” Darlin’ sat next to Sam.

“Well, I thought to myself that her giggles kind of sounded like music. So, I thought about calling her something music related.” Sam spoke, causing Darlin’ to nod.

“So, let me introduce you to Aria Collins.” He spoke, handing her to Darlin’.

“Aria Collins, eh?” Darlin’ spoke, cradling his daughter’s head in his arms.

He smiled as Aria took his thumb in her hands.

The next morning, the three of them awoke on the couch. Aria was laying in Darlin’s arms, who was laying against Sam’s chest. Sam had an arm wrapped around both Darlin’ and Aria, assuring they wouldn’t fall off in the middle of the night.

“It’s perfect. She's our perfect little songbird.” He hummed, cuddling into Sam.

≿————- ❈ ————-≾

Darlin’s eyes fluttered open as the morning sun shone into the room. He looked down at Aria, seeing her sleeping form and smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He looked up at Sam, seeing the vampire, his vampire, slowly opening his steel-colored eyes.

“Mornin’, Darlin’.” Sam’s morning voice sent a shiver down Darlin’s spine.

A shiver he always liked feeling.

“Morning, cowboy.” Darlin’s accent was usually even more prevalent than normal in the mornings. Sam always loved to hear it. In his arms, Aria began to squirm and whine, wanting to get out of Darlin’s grip. Darlin’ looked down at her, loosening his grip just enough that Aria could move around.

Aria yawned, stretching her arms up. Darlin’ smiled down at her, watching as the golden eyes she possessed stared up at him with curiosity swirling around. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before handing her to Sam.

“I’ll go get us some breakfast. Any requests?” Sam shook his head.

“Just toast is fine.” Darlin’ nodded.

“Alright. Two slices of toast and one bottle.” Darlin’ spoke.

He walked towards the bags he had brought last night and dug through them until he pulled out the bottle and baby formula. He walked into the kitchen to get started on the morning meal, stretching his arms.

Sam moved Aria to lay on his chest, watching as the little girl grabbed a fistful of his shirt, mushing up the fabric in her tiny baby hands. Darlin’ returned a few minutes later, with a plate of toast in one hand and a bottle in the other.

“Alright, food’s here. Can you take the plate so I can feed her?” Darlin’ asked.

Sam took the plate of toast and moved Aria into Darlin’s arms. Aria looked up at him, almost like she was wondering what was happening.

“Alright, Sweetie. Do you want a bottle?” Aria’s stomach grumbled and her face began to scrunch up, like she was about to cry.

“Oh, don’t cry sweetie. Daddy has your bottle, right here.” Darlin’ spoke softly, placing the bottle in Aria’s mouth. He smiled as the scrunching disappeared as she drank the milk.

“There we go. Drink up, baby girl.” Darlin’ cooed softly.

Once Aria had finished, Darlin’ held her over his shoulder and burped her, before placing her down back in his arms.

“Alright. She's all fed.” Darlin’ spoke, grabbing a slice of toast.

He was chewing when Sam suddenly spoke up.

“Do you know when the next pack and clan meetings are?” He asked.

Darlin’ pulled up his phone calendar and looked through it.

“There’s a pack meeting tomorrow, and a clan meeting the day after.” He looked at Sam.

“Are we goin’ to introduce her then?” Sam asked.

Darlin' tapped his chin in thought. It would be easier to introduce her to both the pack and the clan during the respective meetings for each group, as she could meet everyone without any worry of staying too long at one person's home.

“Yeah, it’d be easier after all.” Darlin’ eventually said.

“But for today, I think we should just spend time with her, let her get used to us and all that.” Sam nodded.

“That being said, can you get the extra baby stuff? I think it’s my turn to bond with Aria.” Darlin’ asked.

“Yeah, I think I owe you for makin’ you do it last night anyway.” Sam replied, standing up.

“Do you want me to text you what to get?” Sam shook his head.

“I should be fine. It's just a few extra clothes and toys and stuff, right?” Darlin’ nodded.

“Then I'll see the both of you soon.” Sam spoke, leaning down to kiss Aria on the forehead before he gave one to Darlin’.

Sam left after that, leaving Darlin’ alone with their daughter. He laid back against the couch, holding Aria on his chest. Aria looked up into Darlin’s eyes and cooed, reaching up for his face. However, her stubby baby arms would only reach his chin.

“Oh? You wanna see my eyes, baby girl?” Darlin’ asked, holding Aria up at eye-level.

Aria giggled and pressed her hands to Darlin’s face. Darlin’ smiled and moved her closer, blowing a raspberry into her stomach, causing Aria to laugh as she batted her arms at her father’s face.

“Hey, don’t hit me!” Darlin’ laughed, placing Aria back on his chest.

“You’re so precious...” He whispered, softly stroking Aria’s head.

“Just like a little jewel. Our little jewel.” Darlin’ smiled, kissing Aria’s forehead.

≿————- ❈ ————-≾

A few hours had gone by. Sam came home at 10 am, at which Darlin’ gave Aria a bath and put her down in his and Sam’s room for a nap. Now, the couple was relaxing on the couch.

“When do you go back to work?” Sam asked.

“Next Monday, I believe. What about you?” Darlin’ asked.

“Next Friday. I can watch her till then.” Sam replied.

“After that, we’ll have to get a babysitter.” Darlin’ hummed in thought.

“We could ask William on Saturday?” He eventually asked.

“You don’t think he’ll spoil her too much?” Sam replied.

“Well of course he’s going to spoil her, he already spoils his progeny. He'd probably buy her a tiny island if she asked for it. Hell, they’d all spoil her.” Darlin’ spoke.

“Especially David and Asher’s mates. They're both rich, after all.” Sam spoke.

“True. Maybe we could ask David then?” Darlin’ suggested.

“Let’s just wait and see. We could ask for their help getting' the nursery ready.” Sam suggested.

Darlin’ nodded, leaning his head on Sam’s chest.

“We’ll figure it out tomorrow. For now, let’s just relax until Aria needs us.” Darlin’ hummed, his eyes slowly drooping.

Sam smiled, wrapping his arms around Darlin’ and running his fingers through Darlin’s soft hair.

“I’m glad we came back from LA when we did. We wouldn’t have met Aria otherwise.” Darlin’ spoke, his voice teetering on the edges of sleep.

“Me too. Isn’t it ironic? We went to Los Angeles to find a child, and we ended up findin’ the perfect little girl for us on the way back. I’m glad you saved her, Darlin’.”

Darlin’ mumbled something as his eyes closed. Sam smiled, pressing a kiss to his husband's forehead and repositioned himself so that he was laying down as well. He kicked the blanket that they had used the previous night up, allowing it to cover the two of them as he drifted off to sleep as well.

≿————- ❈ ————-≾

2 hours had passed. Sam was sitting on the living room floor with Aria in his lap, playing with one of her new toys. Darlin’ was in the kitchen, making the three of them lunch.

“She really likes the teddy bear.” Sam called out.

Darlin’ laughed to himself. “Of course, she does, love. She's 5 months old.” He spoke, poking his head out.

Sam laughed as he picked Aria up. “Yeah.” he spoke.

Aria reached her arms up and pressed two of her fingers into Sam’s mouth, giggling. Darlin’ came into the room with plates in one hand and a bottle in the other, setting them down next to Sam, he took Aria into his arms.

“Looks like someone’s having fun.” He joked, picking up the bottle and placing it in Aria’s mouth.

“You know, we should start buying baby foods soon. She's coming close to that age.” Sam spoke, picking up his lunch.

Darlin’ nodded in response, moving to burp Aria as soon as she was done.

“Yeah. Which means we’ll need a highchair and a bib.” Darlin’ spoke, Putting Aria down in his lap and picking up his own lunch.

“I could take David’s mate to find one. He does have one of the best eyes for design I've ever seen.” Darlin’ suggested, his mouth full.”

“Fair enough. And don’t chew with your mouth full, it’s gross, you dork.” Sam spoke, causing Darlin’ to laugh.

"Aww, does this annoy you?" Darlin' asked, his mouth full. Sam laughed.

"Darlin', that's disgustin'." He spoke. Darlin' laughed after swallowing.

"Alright, I give. What are we doing for dinner?" Darlin' asked.

"I could cook somethin'. Steak maybe?" Sam suggested.

"You know I love your cooking, so I don't care. But steak sounds good." Darlin' took another bite.

"Steak it is." Sam spoke, pulling Aria over and tickling her.

"Her giggles really are like music." Darlin' spoke.

"Yeah. They are." Sam smiled.

#redacted asmr #redacted darlin #redacted sam #redacted freelancer #male!darlin #female!freelancer #named!freelancer #wholesome shit incoming #no pain #yet #/j I wouldn't hurt baby freelancer

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