Untold Love

Chapter 8: Iris Ackerman

I was waiting in the waiting room, Hanji already gave birth to our daughter and there was something wrong with the birth. Our daughter... she never cried when she came. Hanji wanted to rest and wanted some time alone. If she died... Hanji would be heart-broken.

"Levi Ackerman?" I look up to see a nurse with a clipboard.

"Yes?"

"Please come to your wife's room. The doctor has some news for you." I sigh, they wouldn't tell me if she lived or she died.

I walked into the Hanji's room and her eyes weren't looking up. "Ah, Levi. Come, sit down." The doctor says, pointing to the chair next to Hanji.

"What happened?" I take Hanji's hand and she squeezed.

"Your daughter did survive." I hear a sigh from Hanji. I looked at her and she had a smile on her face.

"Anything was wrong?" I ask.

"No, it's weird though. Your daughter never cried, that's a first. But her vocal cords are in good shape."

"May I see her?" Hanji looks up.

"Yeah, we need to see her."

"She'll come in a moment. Are you going to name her once you have her in your hands?"

"Yes, we are." I answer.

"Well, I hope you have a beautiful life ahead of you."

A nurse walks in, pushing a cart with a little infant inside. The baby had a light pink hat on its head, perhaps it's a girl. "Here's the baby."

"Ah." The doctor reaches into the cart and picks the baby up. "The daughter has arrived." He gives the baby to Hanji and I hear her talking.

"Hiya... oh, you're so adorable. Yes you are..." She then starts make kissing noises. I had to smile, my daughter is there in her hands.

"I'll leave you alone, now. I'll come back to check on you soon." The nurse and the doctor both leave and I was left alone with Hanji and our baby.

"Hanji?"

"Yes?"

"Will you give her first name and I'll give the middle name?"

"Yeah... I think I'll name her... Iris."

"Iris? Why's that?"

"I think it goes well, a flower name that matches her father personality. Any middle name?"

"Isabel?"

"Your friend's name? Iris Isabel Ackerman... beautiful."

"Yeah, I think Isabel should be here for this moment." I smiled as Hanji started to move Iris.

"Here, hold her." She hands me Iris.

"Hold her?"

"You're her father, she needs time with you, Levi. Don't leave her abandoned. Be that father you never had."

I take Iris and carefully wrapped my arms around her. She coos and I walk slowly from Hanji into the open spot in the room. I carefully bounded Iris and her tiny hands tried to reach my face, but she gave up. Iris' eyes opened and she smiled. Her eyes were brown and bits of hair was under her little hat. I slowly pulled the hat off her head and it was dark brown, just like Hanji. She looked nothing like me, but she's my child, I don't care if she looks like me or not, I love her either way. Iris giggles and I touched her face, she squeals when my fingers touched her cheek. Her tiny fingers wrapped around my index finger and I shook my finger. "Hey Iris..." I lowered my voice and tried to speak softly. "I'm your daddy..." She squeals in glee and I tucked her close to my chest. She was a grabber, her hand pulled my hair and pulled hard. I didn't mind it, but she was laughing and giggling. Whenever I hear her laugh, it reminds me of Hanji.