𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

meet your daughter

Welcome to the moment every man thinks he's prepared for... until he isn't.

Vicky's voice cracked through the air.

"I hate you, Matthew James Greene!"

Matt was crying. "That's fair!"

"You'll never touch me again!"

"ALSO FAIR!"

Inside the room, "Push!" the nurse called out again.

"I AM PUSHING!"

Matt held Vicky's hand, breath shallow, face soaked with tears, sweat, and a little bit of her spit. "You're doing great, babe-you're doing so great-I've never seen you more beautiful-"

"Shut up!"

"Copy that!"

"Why are you crying?!"

"Because you're beautiful and terrifying and I think I peed a little from fear!"

One final scream.

And then...

Silence.

Followed by a high-pitched, gasping cry.

Everyone froze.

The nurse smiled, lifting the tiny newborn in her arms, her wails soft but fierce.

"A girl," she whispered, eyes warm. "You've got a baby girl."

Matt blinked. Then choked.

"She's... she's real?" he whispered.

Vicky, flushed, exhausted, trembling but victorious reached out with teary eyes. "Give her to me."

As they placed the tiny bundle in her arms, the storm of labour melted into something still. Something soft. The baby's cries quieted. She nuzzled into Vicky's chest, tiny hands fisting the blanket.

And Matt...

Matt collapsed.

Straight onto the floor.

Thud.

"MATT?!" Teresa called.

"He's fine," Sonya said, checking his pulse. "Just emotionally overloaded."

Nancy laughed. "He survived pirates, storms, his hand being broken and this is what takes him out."

Vicky rolled her eyes but gently kissed her daughter's forehead. "He'll wake up. I'll yell at him again."

Outside, Brenda wiped her eyes. "She's beautiful."

Nico was staring at the baby through the window.

Bea tilted her head. "You okay?"

"I need to start practicing how to not cry." Nico whispered. "Because if ours looks even remotely like that, I'm done for."

Bea smiled. "You're already done for."

Inside, Matt finally stirred on the floor, blinking up at the ceiling, whispering hoarsely:

"...I have a daughter."

Vicky grinned tiredly. "Yeah. And she already looks disappointed in you."

Matt let out a dazed laugh and crawled up to see her, tears falling again. "She's perfect."

Vicky's expression softened. "She's ours."

And the tiny girl, red-faced, wrapped in warmth gave another little cry, like she was announcing her arrival into this chaotic, broken world.

She was here.

And she was loved.