The nursery was finally finished.
Nicholas stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he admired the soft pastel tones of the room. A pale pink accent wall framed the white crib in the center, adorned with delicate floral bedding. Tiny clothes hung neatly in the closet, each one carefully chosen, washed, and folded by him and Y/N over the past few weeks. It was perfect.
"You really outdid yourself," Y/N murmured from behind him, her voice laced with exhaustion.
Nicholas turned, his eyes immediately softening as he took in the sight of his wife. She was radiant, even at nine months pregnant and nearly ready to pop. She wore one of his oversized shirts, her hands resting on her belly, cradling the life they had created together.
He walked over, gently cupping her face before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We both did."
She hummed in agreement, leaning into his touch. "I can't believe she's going to be here any day now."
"Any day now," he repeated, resting a hand on her belly, feeling the subtle movement beneath his palm. "Are you ready?"
Y/N let out a small laugh. "As ready as I can be to push an entire human out of my body."
Nicholas grinned. "You're going to be amazing."
Before Y/N could respond, a sharp gasp left her lips. Her hands instinctively clutched her stomach, and she bent slightly at the waist.
Nicholas' heart nearly stopped. "Y/N?"
She exhaled shakily, her grip tightening on his arm. "I—I think that was a contraction."
His eyes widened. "Like a real one? Not Braxton Hicks?"
Y/N nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. That one felt... different."
Nicholas swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Okay. Okay. We have a plan for this." He took her hands, squeezing them reassuringly. "Are they coming regularly?"
Y/N glanced at the clock on the wall. "Let's time them."
For the next hour, they tracked each contraction, and soon enough, they were coming faster, stronger, and closer together. Nicholas watched as Y/N breathed through each wave of pain, her fingers gripping his tightly.
"I think... we need to go," she finally said between breaths.
Nicholas was already on it. He grabbed the hospital bag they had packed weeks ago, helped Y/N into her shoes, and supported her as they made their way to the car.
The drive to the hospital was a blur of hurried words and deep breathing exercises. Nicholas kept one hand on the wheel and the other stretched across the console, gripping Y/N's fingers as she fought through each contraction.
By the time they arrived, the nurses wasted no time in admitting Y/N, leading her to a room where they hooked her up to monitors. Nicholas never let go of her hand.
"You're doing so well, baby," he whispered, pressing his lips to her damp forehead.
She gritted her teeth as another contraction hit. "I need this baby out of me now, Nicholas."
Nicholas chuckled despite the tension in the room. "I know, sweetheart. Soon. So soon."
The hours ticked by. Y/N went from six centimeters dilated to nine. She clutched Nicholas' hand through every contraction, her body shaking with effort. He whispered encouragement, wiped her brow, kissed her knuckles, and did everything he could to be her rock.
Finally, the doctor looked up with a smile. "It's time to push."
Nicholas felt his heart lurch. This was it.
Y/N's fingers dug into his hand as she bore down, her face contorted in pain and determination. Nicholas whispered reassurances in her ear, his own eyes burning with unshed tears as he watched the love of his life fight to bring their daughter into the world.
"You're so strong," he murmured. "So beautiful. You've got this, baby."
Minutes felt like hours, but then—
A cry.
A sharp, breathtaking, beautiful cry filled the room.
Nicholas' world stopped.
The doctor held up a tiny, wriggling baby, her cries piercing and strong. "You have a beautiful baby girl!"
Tears streamed down Y/N's face as she collapsed back against the bed, exhausted but beaming. Nicholas let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his chest tightening with emotion.
Their daughter.
"Would you like to cut the cord, Dad?" the doctor asked.
Dad.
The word hit him hard.
With shaking hands, Nicholas took the scissors and cut the cord, his heart pounding in his chest. The nurses quickly cleaned their baby girl before placing her gently in Y/N's arms.
Nicholas felt his knees go weak.
"Hi, sweet girl," Y/N whispered, her voice trembling as she cradled their daughter against her chest. "We've been waiting for you."
Nicholas sat on the edge of the bed, one arm around Y/N as he looked down at the tiny face peeking up at them. His heart swelled to a size he didn't know was possible.
"She's perfect," he breathed, tracing a delicate finger along her soft cheek. "She's so perfect."
Y/N looked up at him, her eyes shining. "Do you want to hold her?"
He hesitated, suddenly nervous. "Are you sure?"
Y/N let out a soft laugh. "She's your daughter, Nicholas."
With gentle hands, Nicholas lifted his baby girl into his arms. The moment she settled against his chest, something deep inside him shifted. He had never known a love like this.
"Hey, little one," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm your daddy."
The baby yawned, her tiny fingers curling against his shirt, and Nicholas swore his heart nearly burst.
Y/N watched him with a teary smile. "You're a natural."
Nicholas chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "I've never done anything like this before."
"And yet," Y/N whispered, "you're already the best dad in the world."
Nicholas pressed a soft kiss to his daughter's forehead before looking back at Y/N. "We made her," he said in awe.
Y/N nodded. "Yeah. We did."
As the weight of the moment settled over them, Nicholas knew—this was the greatest role of his life. Not as an actor, not as anything else, but as her father. As Y/N's partner.
A family.
Forever.
