What Now?

She's Here

Four hours. Four long hours of labor before your beautiful daughter came into the world. She had a full head of dark hair like her daddy, and the tiniest button nose. It looked like she had heterachromia iridis like her daddy too, with a small patch of hazel in one of her bright blue eyes.

Henry cried without shame when he got his first look at his daughter. She was still gooey and unwashed when they laid her on your belly, but you didn't care. You ran your fingers along her perfect little face as he smoothed his hand through her hair. He wasn't even the littlest bit grossed out about touching her when she was all messy still. He helped make this tiny, perfect person. He leaned up and pressed a hard kiss to your lips.

"She's perfect. You did so amazing, my love."

"She is. I couldn't have done this without you, Henry."

He smiled and kissed you again, before following the nurse over to the sink to watch while she was washed up. You laid your head back on the pillow, tired from the strains of labor. You didn't want to sleep yet. You wanted to hold her and kiss her perfect little face.

A couple minutes later, you turned your head to see Henry walking over from the sink with your daughter in his arms. He had tears on his cheeks and a smile on his face. You grabbed your phone and took pictures of him. The look of love on his face was overwhelming. When he got next to the bed, he gently laid her in your arms, and grabbed your phone from your hand so he could take pictures. You looked down at her, tears flowing and a smile so big it almost hurt. You brushed your fingers on her cheeks and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. You whispered "I love you," to her before lifting your head to look at Henry. He'd pulled up the chair and was sitting next to you, watching you look at your baby. He smiled at you, and leaned forward to kiss you again.

"I love you so much, sweetheart. You are so incredible, and we have made the most perfect little human."

"I love you too, Henry. So much."

Once the nurses had finished cleaning everything up, you scooted over on the bed so Henry could lie with you while you held her.

You fell asleep, her resting on your chest and Henry's hand on her back. He looked at you, so tired from giving birth to his daughter, and had never felt more in love.

After just watching the two of you for awhile, he gently lifted her off your chest and laid her against his. He was wearing a button up from the interview, and he opened the first few buttons so her tiny little face could rest against his chest. The feel of her on his skin made him cry. He never knew how overwhelming the love for a child could feel.

She started whimpering after a little bit. Your eyes immediately opened at the sound.

"I think she's hungry."

He gently laid her in your arms and shifted over some so you had room to get comfortable to nurse her. He tried not to stare, because it was new and he didn't want you to feel overwhelmed trying to get her to latch, but he couldn't help but find it so beautiful that you were nourishing your child with your amazing body. Everything just seemed like such a miracle.

After she was fed, he took her to the bassinet to change her. Luckily, he'd had some experience from his niece and nephews. She was already starting to fall asleep again. He tucked her in gently and pulled the bassinet next to the bed, then laid down with you again. He let you adjust until you were comfortably tucked into his side, with his arm under your head, which rested on his shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around you, holding you close. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

"I love you so much, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Henry."

The two of you fell asleep cuddled up together, with your daughter sleeping quietly next to the bed.

You were woken up a few hours later by a nurse doing vitals checks. She helped you up and into the bathroom, so she could get you taken care of. While she was doing that, Henry changed the baby again and held her close. He couldn't stop staring at her perfect little face. He was in awe of how much he loved her already.

You'd only just gotten back to the bed when there was a knock on the door. The nurse went to check, and after speaking to the people outside, she turned and told you that your parents would like to come in.

You nodded, so she opened the door.

"Hey, mom. Hey, dad."

"Hello, y/n. Hello, Henry."

He smiled and said hello, being polite despite his disappointment in how they treated you for the last several months.

"Would you like to meet your granddaughter?"

"It's a girl?"

"Yes." You were trying to not be passive aggressive, but you really wanted to tell them they'd know that if they'd responded to your calls and texts.

Henry looked at you with sadness in his eyes, understanding how you felt, then stood up so he could kiss you.

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too." He handed you the baby so your parents could see her.

They'd been there just a few minutes when there was another knock on the door. Henry's face lit up when his mom poked her head in the door.

"Mum! Dad! I didn't think you'd be here until tomorrow."

"We got your message and booked an earlier flight."

He gave them both hugs, before letting them come in.

"I can't wait to see her! It was just about the longest flight ever."

Your mom was still looking at her, but hadn't asked to hold her. His mom came right over to you and hugged you as best as she could with the baby in your arms.

"Hello, dear, it's so lovely to see you again."

You said hello back, then asked if she wanted to see her. You gently pulled the hat off her head, and his mom let out a little laugh.

"She has almost as much hair as Henry had when he was born!"

"It looks like she has his eyes too. She has the sweetest little hazel patch in her left eye."

He was standing off to the side smiling wide as he watched you interact with his parents. Your parents had stepped back a bit, watching with the littlest bit of envy at the way you were with Henry's parents.

"Do you want to hold her, mum?" Henry asked her, smiling wide.

She smiled and held out her hands. Once you'd handed her over, she pulled her close to her chest and whispered to her that she was beautiful and perfect.

"What's her name?"

The two of you had decided to not tell anyone her name before she was born. It felt like such a special secret between the two of you that wasn't about the public. It was something the two of you shared as new parents.

"Arabella Scarlett Rose Cavill."

"That's beautiful."

They stayed a little longer, but didn't want to tire you out. Your parents didn't even hold her before they left. They just smiled politely and excused themselves. Henry could see how that upset you. He came and sat next to you on the bed and just held you close.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"Their loss."