Fate || BENNIFER

A Miracle In Disguise

September 2013

Jennifer's P.O.V

A sharp cry shattered the silence of the room, and the pain and exhaustion faded away. The sound of our baby's cry filled the air, and nothing else mattered. It was a sound I had been waiting to hear for so long. I laughed weakly, and tears filled my eyes.

"Congratulations, you have a healthy girl." The doctor said as he cleared her airway.

"A girl." I repeated to myself, still in disbelief.

With gentle hands, he placed her on my chest.
Her face was pink and covered in a little blood.

My teary eyes turned into a soft cry as I eventually got to touch her for the first time. Her cry softened into a gentle whimper, as if sensing me. I stroked her back as I looked at every little feature on her face. She was small, delicate, and perfect in every way, with a head full of soft hair and tiny fingers and toes. And that's all my tears allowed me to see.

As I glanced at Ben, I saw that he too was overcome with emotion. Tears glistened in his eyes. I could see him trembling a little, but he snipped the umbilical cord with a steady hand.

"She's perfect." He whispered.

As he leaned in and our eyes met, I reached out to caress his face.

"I love you." I whispered, my voice shaky as my lower lip trembled.

His lips met mine in a gentle embrace, soft but deep. It conveyed everything that words could not. His hand brushed my cheek, wiping away a tear that had escaped from the corner of my eye, and we shared another look.

I wanted to hold onto that moment for as long as possible, to cherish the precious first moments with our baby, to etch every detail into my memory. I wanted to freeze time and make the moment last forever.

September 2014

Jennifer's P.O.V

The atmosphere was creative as Stevie's fingers gently caressed the keys of the piano. The first notes danced through the air, filling the living room with a delicate melody that seemed to hold the weight of a thousand emotions. I sat close to him, my eyes closed as the music played, and my fingers tapping lightly against the notebook in my lap.

"In the stillness of the night, a love story unfolds. Two hearts intertwined, a tale that's yet untold." I read aloud.

"I like that." Stevie nodded.

"A decade had passed, we found our way back?" I kept reading my notes.

"I would suggest you add something like 'Grace, our guiding star, you came into our lives, for us to find our way back.' Maybe for another verse." He said as he wrote it down.

"I also came up with 'You're the light in our lives, a miracle in disguise, our unexpected surprise'." A smile played on my lips as I said it out loud for the first time.

"Beautiful." He continued to play a gentle melody, the one that would accompany the lyrics we were working on.

"And the chorus would be 'With every step you take, you remind us of the past, the love that brought us here, a love that's meant to last.'" I paused. "Through the ups and downs, and all that life may bring, we'll hold you close forever, as we watch you spread your wings."

"That's perfect." A pleased expression on his face.

"This part is still sketchy." I said, a hint of doubt in my voice. "I'm not sure if I'll include it, but this is what I have. 'In a world of whispers, you appeared, a shining light when everything was unclear. You were the answer to a prayer unsaid, a precious gift, our hearts forever wed.'"

My concentration was instantly broken by the sound of giggles. Turning my gaze towards the adorable sound, I saw Ben walking in the living room with Grace in his arms. Her eyes were wide open, filled with curiosity and boundless energy.

"The birthday girl refuses to nap." Ben said with a chuckle.

He carefully handed her over to me, as I eagerly opened my arms to receive her.

"Happy birthday, baby." I said in a silly tone, as I showered her with kisses.

Grace squirmed with excitement as I embraced her, her tiny hands reaching out towards the piano. Intrigued by the instrument's melody, she stretched her fingers and clumsily pressed down on a few keys.

"We've got a future pianist right here." Stevie couldn't help but remark.

"Look what she's doing now." I said.

I carefully placed Grace on the floor, right between Ben and me, ensuring she wouldn't get hurt. She sat for just a split second, before she began her wobbly ascent. With determination, she reached out for the nearest piece of furniture, her tiny fingers gripping the edge for balance. Her face lit up with concentration as she pushed herself up, her legs trembling with the effort.

It was so exciting that we couldn't help but clap. Her joy was infectious, and she couldn't stop giggling at the sight of everyone cheering her on. But as her laughter grew louder, her balance wavered, and with a soft thud, she plopped back down onto her padded diaper.

"Has she taken her first steps yet?" Stevie asked.

"Not yet, but she's gaining confidence." I replied. "It could happen any day now."

"You can see we have already begun to baby-proof the house." Ben gestured towards the strategically placed fence at the foot of the stairs.

Grace started to crawl away, but Ben, with a quick reflex, swiftly moved towards her.

"Hey, where are you going?" He playfully asked, a chuckle escaping his lips.

He gently scooped her up into his arms, her giggles filling the room.

"Don't you want to hear mommy's new song?" Ben whispered softly to Grace. "She's writing it for you."

As if on cue, Stevie's fingers danced across the keys once again, the melody filling the room with a soothing harmony. I knew this song had to convey how loved she was, and every word had to be a true reflection of how much she had blessed our lives.