The Bank of Second Chances | Zarry

Chapter 31: NICU Warrior

**3 Weeks Later**

The first week in the NICU was a whirlwind of emotions for Harry and Zayn. Every day, they watched anxiously as their tiny daughter fought to grow stronger.

Sunny's breathing improved significantly, but her struggles with feeding and weight gain were ongoing challenges. Harry and Zayn spent every possible moment by her side, encouraging her and celebrating each small victory.

By the end of the second week, Sunny had made substantial progress. Her weight had increased steadily, and she was beginning to show signs of being able to feed on her own.

The doctors were cautiously optimistic, but they knew there were still hurdles to overcome. The most significant test would be the car seat test, which would determine if Sunny could maintain her breathing and heart rate while secured in a car seat.

The previous week, she had not passed, and the disappointment had weighed heavily on Harry and Zayn.

As they entered the third week, Sunny's milestones became more frequent. Her breathing was now stable without assistance, and she had grown much more active, often squirming and making soft cooing sounds. Harry and Zayn were ecstatic. They knew that if Sunny passed the car seat test, they could finally bring her home.

On the day of the test, Harry and Zayn were a bundle of nerves. They watched as the nurse carefully placed Sunny in the car seat, securing her with gentle hands.

The test would last for 90 minutes, during which Sunny's vitals would be closely monitored. Harry held Zayn's hand tightly, both of them whispering words of encouragement to their daughter.

As the minutes ticked by, they watched the monitor with bated breath. Sunny's heart rate and oxygen levels remained stable, and she seemed comfortable in the seat.

When the nurse finally gave them the thumbs up, indicating that Sunny had passed, Harry and Zayn could hardly contain their joy. Tears of relief and happiness streamed down their faces as they hugged each other tightly.

Their baby girl was coming home.

****

The day they had been waiting for had finally arrived. Harry and Zayn prepared to bring Sunny home. They carefully dressed Sunny in her outfit, with her "NICU Warrior" onesie Harry had made for this very moment. Zayn gently placed her in the car seat. Arlo watched with wide eyes, his excitement written all over his face.

As they made their way to their SUV, Harry held Sunny's car seat securely while Zayn carried Arlo. They settled into the car, with Zayn driving, Harry in the third row next to Sunny, with Arlo safely strapped in the captain's chair in front of Sunny. Zayn drove at a painstakingly slow pace, his eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror to check on Sunny.

Arlo, who was usually content with the slower pace, started to get impatient. "Baba, go fast!"

Zayn chuckled nervously. "I know, buddy, but we need to make sure Sunny is safe so I have to drive slower, okay?"

Arlo didn't reply, he just huffed in annoyance crossing his arms and pouting.

Harry reached back to gently stroke Arlo's cheek. "It's okay, Arlo. We'll be home soon."

Not even two minutes from making it home, they were abruptly reminded of the realities of having a newborn.

Sunny, who had been peacefully sleeping, suddenly sneezed and a wet fart noise was heard. Arlo laughed at what his sister had did, but the smell that followed was unmistakable.

Harry and Zayn exchanged a glance of equal parts amusement and worry. "Well, that didn't take long," Harry muttered, laughing softly.

Once they arrived and made it inside the house, Harry and Zayn quickly set to work cleaning up the mess. They decided to give Sunny her first bath at home, a milestone they were both looking forward to. They filled a small baby bathtub with warm water and gathered the necessary supplies and got Arlo occupied with an interactive book to keep him busy for ten minutes or so.