The Golden Days ~ Sequel to Burning Red, One Direction

Epilogue

"She's beautiful Bria." My dad cooed as I sat in my hospital bed, holding baby Ryan. It had been three hours or so since she was born, and by now, most everyone had come to visit us. It was just before ten in the morning, but Liam had already passed out in the chair across the room, and only my parents and Liam's mum remained. It had been such a long night, but completely worth it now that I had my daughter. Ryan Elizabeth Payne was tiny, tinier than I thought was possible. She weighed 3.1kg and was 42.5 cm tall. Her brown hair was sparse on her head, and her eyes were a grayish blue at the moment, but I suspected they'd turn brown in time. She hadn't cried much, only when she was born, and with my epidural, labor wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it would be. The nurses had whisked her away soon after she was born to run necessary tests, and clean her up a bit, but I'd gotten to hold her and keep her with me for most of her life thus far.

A knock sounded at the door, and I called for them to come in.

"Mr. and Mrs. Payne," a very official looking man entered the room.

My dad shook Liam awake, and the man continued.

"My name is Walter Duncan, and on behalf of The British Match Council, I'd like to congratulate you on the on the birth of your daughter, Ryan."

"Thank you."

"As I'm sure you know, it's time to present her with her matching necklace." Mr. Duncan revealed a pink box. Opening the lid, he removed the silver chain with the half heart pendant. I shifted Ryan in my arms and let him fasten the clasp around her neck. He then handed me the box. "Keep this in a safe place. Inside is a slip of paper containing her match identification number, and care and keeping instructions of the necklace, should they be needed in the unlikely event of a problem. I wish Ryan the best of luck in finding her perfect match."

Liam rose from his chair, shook Mr. Duncan's hand and saw him back into the hallway.

Ryan was only a few hours old and already had her matching necklace. I gently took hold of her heart pendant. It was identical to mine, the only difference being the color. Hers would turn gold as soon as she found her soulmate. I hoped that she would have an easier time finding her match than I did. Her story was only beginning, and I couldn't wait to watch her grow up and see it play out.

Having a child was going to be a change for Liam and I, but we were ready, that I knew. I anxiously looked forward to the future. Our new life with our new family would be perfect, I could just feel it.

~~~~

"Welcome home, Ryan." Liam said quietly as he gently carried our daughter into her newly finished nursery, and set her in her crib. He, with the help of his mother had made the finishing touches on her room while she and I were still in the hospital. It had been three days since I had slept in my own bed, and I was thrilled to be home.

While Liam was taking a few days off of work to be with Ryan and I, Harry was covering his workouts for him. But as soon as we were settled in at home, he was headed back. It was now Harry's turn for some time off. Kelsey had gone into labor merely an hour after I had left the hospital, and baby Wesley had arrived! I was feeling much too tired to go and visit them, so I planned a day in a few weeks that we could meet up.

It seemed that life was moving so fast these past few days, but I couldn't be happier. I couldn't wait to see all that was to come, especially that of my daughter's. I wanted to watch her grow, find her soulmate, and live happily ever after, just as I had.

~The Golden Days~Over and Out~