In The End (Sequel to In Real Life - Nemi)

Hold On

Our daughter looked so good when we finally got to see her in the incubator. We could touch her through holes in the side of it. Compared to some of the other babies we saw nearby, Aria was huge. Both Demi & I touched her all over, so she could feel our love coming through to her in our caresses.

"She is breathing just fine. She should be out of this incubator in the next few hours.She's a strong little girl." The nurse smiled down at us as we sat, staring into the plastic box that kept our daughter safe & healthy.

"That's great news." I replied, my arm going around Demi's waist. I kissed her head. "You'll get to hold her in your arms soon."

Demi reached up to wipe tears from her cheeks. "I can't wait." She whispered. "How can you love someone so much that you just met?" She asked in a low voice, shaking her head a little.

"Because you loved her before you met her & it just exploded once she came into this world." I murmured, leaning my head close to hers.

Demi smiled & leaned her cheek on my shoulder. We sat & watched our daughter for a while, talking, once in a while, about her future, about our future as a family. It was an amazing feeling to be able to sit & think about my future with my beautiful girls & not feel any doubts or reservations.

After a few hours, Demi & I left to go back to her room so we could eat lunch. The nurse assured us that once Aria was out of the incubator, someone would bring her up to us. We both couldn't wait for that.

While Demi & I were finishing up our lunch in her room, there was a knock on her door, then Eddie peaked his head in. "Is it safe to come in?"

Demi looked like she might cry. "Of course. Come here." Demi held her arms out to him. Eddie walked over, smiling & gave Demi the hug that they both needed. The dam was broke after that & the tears came.

"Don't cry, baby girl." Eddie said as he let go of her.

"How's mom?" Demi asked as she reached for the tissue box I held out for her.

"She's holding on, which is all we can ask for right now. It's been touch & go, but I think she's going to pull through this. She knows she has a granddaughter to spoil rotten." Eddie flashed me a look & I smiled.

"She doesn't even know she was born." Demi pouted.

"I think she knows." Eddie said, quietly.

We talked to Eddie for a bit, then we heard a knock & the door opened. A nurse came in, pushing a clear bassinet & we could see Aria was inside. Demi's face lit up like a Christmas tree & she bounced in her bed as she clapped her hands. "Oh my God. Eddie, look at your granddaughter."

Eddie & I watched, in awe, as the nurse handed Aria to Demi. The look on Demi's face was one I wouldn't ever forget. I've known her for eight years, but never in those years, had I ever seen her look like this. It was hard to describe except, for to call the look, positively blissful. Tears fell from her eyes as she stared down at our tiny daughter, the most genuine & loving smile I'd ever seen on someone's lips. I put my hand behind Demi, on the bed, so I could lean close to her & stare at the beautiful baby girl, Demi & I created. It was surreal to look at her now, looking more like a baby than an alien. I was a father. I had a daughter. Demi & I were forever linked together through this bundle of joy that Demi held in her arms.

After a little bit, Demi, finally passed Aria to Eddie, so he could hold her. I took out my camera & took a few photos of them & then I took a few close ups of Aria as she slept in Eddie's arms. Eventually, Eddie handed her to me & I seriously had to fight tears. She looked so different now. She was all one color & her hair was clean, leaving it soft & wavy. She wasn't covered in something gross & her eyes weren't puffy & squinty. She looked like my daughter. I could look at her & see a vision of what she might look like when she got older. I saw Demi snap a photo with her phone, out of the corner of my eye. I looked up at her & smiled while she took another one.

"Oh my God, my heart is melting. Hold on. Don't move!" She ordered, snapping another picture. She took a few more, telling me to kiss Aria's head & then she lowered her phone, pouting, at me. "You're a hot dad, ya know that?" She said & I gave her a shy smile.

"Thanks." Eddie chuckled, making us laugh. He looked up & smiled, sheepishly. "Oh, you meant Nick."

"You're a hot dad, too." Demi winked at him, making him blush.

"You two get in close so I can take your first family photo." Eddie said, taking Demi's phone from her. Demi & I smiled at each other as I moved closer to her. I let go of Aria with one arm, so I could put my other arm around Demi. We leaned our heads together & let Eddie snap a bunch of photos. Of course, then Demi had to edit them & make a collage.

"Get ready to be redeemed, Nick Jonas." Demi grinned at me over her phone. "I'm about to post that picture of you & Aria. I'm captioning it, 'Daddy's little girl already.' It's gonna shut down twitter!" Demi started laughing & I had to laugh with her. She was right. She posted that picture & then a picture of all of us & the internet went nuts. We had to shut off our phones at one point.

We hung out with Eddie for a bit, then Demi said she was feeling up to seeing her mom. We gave Aria to the nurses so they could take her to the nursery & we headed to Dianna's room. I heard Demi suck in her breath when she saw her mom in that bed. She was hooked up to all kinds of machines, her head was bandaged, as well, as her arm in a cast. She didn't look good at all & I was suddenly scared. I leaned down to kiss Demi, then whisper in her ear. "She's gone through a lot, so she's gonna look bad. She's stable, though, remember? Just hold on to the positive thoughts."

Demi nodded as I wheeled her up to Dianna's bed. Her voice cracked when she spoke. "Mom, it's Demi. I hope you can hear me. Your granddaughter was born. Her name is Aria Dee, named after you & Denise. She can't wait to meet you. The woman who saved us both." Demi's voice was shaking & she let out a tiny sob. I rubbed her shoulder to comfort her. "Please, Mom. Hold on, okay? You gotta keep fighting. Stay strong. That's what we always say, right?." Demi's tears came now, shaking her entire body as she held her mom's hand & pressed it against her cheek. "I love you, so much, Mommy. Please... please... I need you to hold on & not give up. I need my mom."

I almost lost it listening to Demi plead for her mother to wake up & to hang on. I wanted the same thing, more than anything. I wanted to thank her for saving my family. I wanted my daughter to know the amazing woman, who raised the incredibly strong woman who became her mother & who saved her life, not even thinking twice about her own life. Right now, Dianna was my hero & she had to live or our family would never be the same.