Safety Net

23

Jo and Alex laid in bed, holding each other. It was three am and they had no interest in being awake, but Hazel did. She let out an uproarious cry, waking her parents up. "Ugh!" Jo groaned, rubbing her eyes. She carefully removed Alex's arm off her body, sitting on the edge of the bed. She pulled Hazel's bed over, picking her up "Shh..." She alternated between rocking and bouncing her.

To no surprise, Alex woke up. "What's going on?" He murmured "Is she okay? Or did we just get a loud baby?" He joked

"She probably hungry... or something." She unbuttoned her shirt, starting to feed her. It took a few minutes for her to latch, but she got it. She gently rubbed her back. She couldn't help but crack a smile as she watched her baby girl. All babies were cute, but nothing like Hazel.

"Do you need any help?" Alex asked, rubbing her back as he laid down. After no response, he furrowed his eyebrows. He heard a sniffle "Babe? You okay?" He sat up.

"Mhm." She wiped her tears "I just can't believe it."

"Believe what?" He sat next to her, rubbing her shoulders.

"That i'm a mother. I never thought i'd be here- in life. I never thought i'd have such an amazing child.. and she's only five hours old." She started crying harder as she spoke "And you! You're better than anything I could ever ask for. I-I love you so much."

"I love you too." He smiled, kissing her cheek. He looked down at Hazel "She is amazing. Out of all the babies i've ever met, she's the best- by far. Five hours old and she's smarter than half the guys I know." He joked, making Jo chuckle through her sniffles.

"She is, isnt she?" She smiled wider than anyone had ever seen as she watched Hazel move her fingers around, reaching for Jos hair.

Around half an hour later Hazel unlatched, ready to be changed. She let out a wail. Alex draped a baby blanket the hospital provided over Jos shoulder "Now you won't get puke on your gorgeous gown." He smirked.

Jo chuckled. She rested her on her shoulder and patted her back, making her burp. She handed her to him "Can you change her? I don't want to walk with her yet."

Alex nodded "Of course." He stood up and walked around the bed to Hazels incubator. He grabbed a diaper and some wipes before laying her down. After a few minutes she was all ready to be rocked to sleep, and Jo and Alex were ready to be asleep. "Go to sleep. I'll get her to sleep."

"Thank you." She laid down, yawning. Within minutes they were all asleep. They survived their first night as parents.