Love at First Sight

Our Children...

Hanji was resting on the hospital bed, breathing deeply. I held her hand tight throughout her whole birth... we didn't want to know what gender our baby was, since we wanted it as a surprise. The nurses had the baby in their hands, cuddling it.

"It's a girl..." They said. Hanji and I smiled.

"A baby girl..." Hanji says as she squeezes my hand. "Levi... we got a daughter..."

"I know..."

"Here she is..." A nurse comes by and giving Hanji the baby in a baby blue blanket. 

Hanji takes her carefully, bouncing her gently. "Oh... by the looks of it, she has my color hair..."

I leaned over, moving a piece of the blanket out of the way so I can see her face. She was right, our daughter had dark brown hair and her mother's nose. Her tiny fists were clenched together and were opening up. I hold her tiny fist in my hand, and I felt them open. Her hand wrapped around my finger and gripped tightly. I wanted to pull away, but she was too strong. I didn't want to make her cry. "She's so tiny... yet strong."

"Like you..." I wanted to make a face at Hanji, but it's true. With her, I can handle her idiotic jokes.

"She has my strength..."

"Look, Levi! Her eyes..." I quickly looked towards her eyes. They fluttered open and I saw them, brown eyes, like her mother. I sighed, she may have my strength... but nothing like me... "Levi, are you okay? Tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing... just upset that she has nothing that's similar to mine."

"What do you mean?"

"She has your physical looks... nothing... nothing like me..."

"Levi..." She takes my hand. "She's still your daughter..."

"I know... I gave way too much hope into thinking that she'll look like me."

"Here..." Hanji hands me our daughter, "Take her out on a walk."

"Wait, we never gave her a name..."

"Hmm... I was thinking... Skylor..."

"Skylor? That's beautiful... maybe her middle name will be Rose."

"Skylor Rose... heh... hey there Skylor... you're gonna be with your daddy now, okay?" She says gently as she hands me her.

I take her from Hanji hands and I started to walk slowly around the room. She was tiny... so small... and fragile... I love her anyways... She coos a bit... "Hey Skylor..."

"Levi, go walk around with her, father-daughter bonding time."

"You don't mind?"

She shakes her head, "No, I don't mind, Levi. Go ahead."

I listen to her, taking little Skylor outside of the room. She cooed so many times that it softened my heart... "Hey, lookie here... Daddy's got you, okay? You're daddy's little girl now..." Her little fingers wrapped around my finger. "You're daddy's little girl..." I had my forehead pressing gently against her forehead. "Listen here... I don't know if you can hear me, but listen closely. On this day, I promise to take care of you... and I promise that I'll forever be with you... I promise that. I'm here for you and your mother... you're my daughter... and I love you. I apologize in advance if I seem like the kind of father you hate, but deep inside, I truly do love you..."

*   *   *

Little Skylor was still asleep, 4 years old now and she was sleeping soundly in her bed. Hanji was in the kitchen, making her usual bacon and eggs, pancakes as well. I sneaked into Skylor's room, pushing her door open, gently. Her nightlight was on, so I unplugged it. Her soft snoring as I came closer towards her... so much like her mother.