𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟒.

It had been 24 hours since Eliot came into the world, and in that brief yet monumental time, I had stumbled upon a happiness I never knew existed. Each heartbeat echoed with a love so immense, so consuming, that it felt as if my very soul was being illuminated from within. It was a love that wrapped around me like the warmest blanket, igniting a fire in my heart that I never knew I could feel. 

I had never experienced anything so fierce, so endless, as the love I felt for my family right now.

Ares had been my rock, his presence a steady anchor in this whirlwind of emotions. Together, we had spent the night in the clinic, cocooned in our little bubble of joy and tenderness. The air had been thick with the scent of fresh linens and the soft beeps of machines, but to me, it was nothing short of a sanctuary. 

Now, with the doctor finally giving us the green light to go home, excitement bubbled within me.

I sat in the armchair, patiently waiting for Ares to discharge us from the clinic. Gently, I cradled Eliot against my chest, feeling his warmth seep into my skin. The sensation of his tiny body cuddled up to me against me was magical. I stroked his little belly with my fingertips, tracing soft circles that made him coo and smile in delight. Each giggle, each soft sigh from him sent waves of joy crashing over me, and I couldn't help but smile wider.

Looking into his big, beautiful emerald-green eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of connection. They sparkled with curiosity and wonder, reflecting back all the love I poured into him. In that moment, the world outside faded into a blur. It was just us, enveloped in a cocoon of pure, unadulterated love. My heart swelled as he beamed up at me, his tiny mouth forming a perfect little O, as if he was sharing a secret only we understood.

Every gentle heartbeat, every breath, every soft movement of his fingers against my skin felt like a promise of a beautiful journey ahead. I could hardly contain the sweetness of this moment, as if time itself had slowed just for us. My heart whispered to him all the things I wanted him to know: that he was cherished beyond measure, that he was safe and loved, and that he would always have a place in our hearts that no one else could ever touch. 

This was just the beginning of our story, and I couldn't wait to see where our love would take us.