Love Will Find A Way

Part Two - Chapter Fourteen: Recovering

Nicole was assigned a private room after baby Antony’s birth so she could rest without disturbance and been allowed to change into her white paisley PJ top and trousers, so that she was more comfortable after the birth; her nightdress was also messy from the afterbirth.

Nicole had yet to let go of her son and Cristiano hadn’t left her side since the birth; Antony rested sleeping quietly in his mother’s arms while Cristiano sat next to her, arm wrapped gently around Nicole’s shoulders.

“Don’t you two look sweet,” Evelyn cooed before she took a picture of the new family, she then quickly made her way over to the couple and looked down at baby Antony; the red head was thrilled to finally meet her baby nephew.

Joseph chuckled as he followed after his wife and smiled at his sister, he was happy to see his sister happy again; he knew how much damage Cristiano had done last time and he hoped he’d never have to see it again.

“He looks more like you Cris… no denying he’s yours,” Joseph said making the footballer nod his head proudly, he ignored the last part knowing that it was a dig at what the papers had been printing the last few months; he was Antony’s father and he would was be there for him.

“Sergio’s got security checking the hospital… several paparazzi and journalists have been seen in the building,” Joseph continued as he gently ushered Evelyn out knowing that his sister was exhausted.

It had been a long labour and she deserved a break after the forty-one week pregnancy that she had endured to have her son.

Moments after the birth of their son, Cristiano had informed the world via the internet of what had taken place; he was a father now and he knew that Real Madrid would post something similar on their website to congratulate him and Nicole on the birth of their firstborn.

Nicole looked up at Cristiano who was smiling down at their son, she knew that he wanted to hold the little boy and she didn’t blame him; Antony might have been only a couple of hours old now but he was a sight that neither of them would ever lose interest in.

“Would you like to hold him?” the brunette asked tiredly knowing that Cristiano was desperate to do so; the footballer had been content with watching his girlfriend with their baby boy but this offer was too much to turn down.

Cristiano nodded and Nicole careful handed their son over to him; as soon as he was settled into Cristiano’s arms, Antony opened his dark blue eyes and looked up at his father; it would take a few weeks before his eyes settled to what would become his natural colour.

Antony cooed softly at his father, who rocked him gently back and forth; the footballer knew that he would lay down his life for the newborn and his mother, they meant the world to him and more.

***

Jacob walked quickly down the corridor of the maternity ward, a smile stretched on his face as he hurried out of sight and pulled out his phone; he was dressed as a doctor to disguise himself so that he wouldn’t be thrown out of the hospital.

“This better be good Jacob,” his editor said tiredly he smiled knowing she’d be thrilled with what he had to tell her.

He had been reporting on Cristiano and Nicole for months and now he had the exclusive that would break heads since he doubted any of the other journalists had avoiding being thrown out of the hospital.

Security had been tightened after the birth of Cristiano’s firstborn and Jacob had done everything to ensure that he wasn’t one of the ones tossed out when the security guards starting searching for people who shouldn’t be in the hospital.

“It’s a baby boy, he weighed 7Ib 11oz, he was born at half four this afternoon and they named him Antony Ronaldo,” Jacob listed the details that he had been able to get about the newborn; he had risked a lot in getting them and he hoped that the bonus was worth it.

The journalist smiled at the silence on the other end of the phone, he knew that he had done well this time and this was why he was his newspapers best reporter; he had been following this case for months and wasn’t going to mess up now.

“I haven’t seen them just yet… they’ve upped security on the floor where Nicole is resting but everything appears to be well,” he continued glancing around hoping no-one had seen him or could hear what he had said; the last thing he needed was being thrown from the hospital before he could get a picture of Antony.

“Good now see if you can get a picture of him,” his editor said before she hung up on him; she knew that if anyone could pull this off then it would be him.

Jacob frowned knowing that that was going to be difficult, he knew Cristiano hadn’t left Nicole’s side since the birth and their son was with them; any sign of him could have the footballer and his friends chucking him out of the hospital themselves.

The journalist also knew that he would have to be extra careful now since he already had a police caution for sitting outside Nicole’s home and stalking her for months; Cristiano had made it clear that if he was caught again then he’d end up with a restraining order.

***

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Dolores said making Cristiano look at her and smile, he could see the tears in her eyes and he knew that this was an emotional time for her; this was his first child and he wished his father could be here with them to celebrate.

“Your pai would be so proud of you, you’re doing what you love, you’ve met a woman who makes you happy and you love her and now you’re a pai yourself,” Dolores said quietly making Cristiano smile at her sadly as his son cuddled closer to his body heat.

He knew that he would never be able to replace his father and hoped he’d be the best father he could for his own son.

“Have you considered…?” Dolores asked nodding at a sleeping Nicole, she had hoped that her son would have married the brunette by now however with their break-up it hadn’t been possible.

Cristiano nodded his head as he carefully bounced Antony in his arms as the newborn started to get fussy again; he didn’t want to wake Nicole up before he had to.

Dolores chuckled softly as she pressed a kiss to her youngest son’s cheek before she left him alone, she knew that when the time came then he would do the right thing.

Cristiano sighed knowing that it was time to wake his girlfriend up, so that she could feed Antony while he checked over with Sergio about the journalists that were hovering about the hospital.

“Time to wake your mãe up,” the footballer said making Antony make small noises, Cristiano smiled back at his son knowing that everything he had done no longer mattered, what mattered now was the small person he held in his arms and the woman before him.