Le's Soldier

Part 91

The room had finally gone quiet.

No alarms.

No rushing footsteps.

No doctors shouting.

Just the soft beeping of the monitors and the tiny noises coming from their newborn son.

Leah lay exhausted against the pillows, still pale but awake.

Lilly sat beside her, refusing to let go of her hand.

Their little boy slept in the bassinet beside them.

Leah stared at him for what felt like forever.

"I still can't believe he's ours."

Lilly smiled.

"He's very cute."

"He better be."

Lilly laughed softly.

"You nearly died bringing him into the world and you're already judging him?"

"He's got your ears."

"Oi."

Leah smiled.

"I love your ears."

"Thank you."

A tiny cry came from the bassinet.

Both women immediately looked over.

Leah tried to sit up.

"Wait."

Lilly gently stopped her.

"You're not getting up yet."

"But he's crying."

"I've got him."

Lilly stood and carefully picked up their son.

The second he was against her chest, he settled.

Leah watched with a tired smile.

"You're good at that."

"I've been practising."

"With who?"

"Ash."

Leah laughed.

"You've been practising with the dog?"

"He's needy."

"So are you."

"True."

Lilly walked back over and sat beside Leah, their baby tucked safely in her arms.

Leah reached out and gently touched his tiny cheek.

"Hi, sweetheart."

His little fingers curled around hers.

Leah's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Oh..."

Lilly looked at her.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

Leah smiled through the tears.

"I just keep thinking about what happened."

Lilly's smile disappeared.

"Don't."

"But—"

"Not right now."

Leah looked at her.

Lilly swallowed hard.

"I spent hours thinking I was going to lose you."

Her voice cracked.

"I don't want to think about it."

Leah reached for her.

"Come here."

Lilly leaned forward carefully.

Leah wrapped one arm around her.

"I'm here."

Lilly closed her eyes.

"I know."

"You saved me."

Lilly shook her head.

"No. You fought."

Leah kissed her cheek.

"We fought."

Lilly smiled.

"We did."

⸻

Later that evening, Amanda and David came into the room.

Amanda immediately walked toward the bassinet.

"Oh, look at him."

David smiled.

"Our grandson."

Leah looked proudly at them.

"He's finally here."

Amanda sat beside her.

"You gave us the biggest fright of our lives."

Leah's expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

Amanda shook her head.

"Don't apologise."

She kissed Leah's forehead.

"You're here. That's all that matters."

David looked toward Lilly.

"And you."

Lilly looked up.

"Me?"

He nodded.

"You've barely left her side."

Lilly glanced at Leah.

"Never planned to."

Leah smiled.

Amanda looked between them.

"You two are going to be incredible mums."

Lilly's eyes immediately filled.

She looked down at their son.

"I hope so."

Leah squeezed her hand.

"We will be."

⸻

That night, the room was dark except for the little night light beside the bassinet.

Leah was asleep.

Their son was asleep.

But Lilly was awake.

She sat beside the bassinet, watching her little boy breathe.

She gently placed one finger against his tiny hand.

"Your mum nearly gave me a heart attack, mate."

She whispered.

"She's stubborn."

A tiny sleepy noise came from him.

Lilly smiled.

"Yeah. You definitely got that from her."

She looked over at Leah.

Her wife.

Alive.

Their baby.

Safe.

For the first time, Lilly allowed herself to breathe.

She leaned back in the chair.

And whispered the words she'd been too terrified to say all day.

"We're a family."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Finally."

TO BE CONTINUED...