Chapter Text
“It’s a girl…”
The most incredible words I have heard in my life besides the first time you ever said, “I love you”. My right hand is firmly pressed between your upper and lower leg, right in the bend of your knee, and the left is around your shoulders, with my fingers buried in your hair. There’s sweat clinging to our brows from the exertion childbirth has caused you and my own turmoil in the fact that I could do nothing to alleviate your pain.
But now it’s over, and the perfect 6 pound 5 ounce little girl with wisps of dark hair atop her head, is resting against your breast, freshly freed from your glorious body that has housed her, safe and sound, over the past nine months. I carefully rub the tension out of your leg and aid it to rest back down onto the bedding before taking up a seat beside you, resting my own head down against your shoulder so I can be almost nose to nose with my squalling infant.
“She’s so beautiful. Just like her mama…” I beam up into your tired eyes, my own gaze filled with pride and nothing but absolute adoration for you and your strength. “I’m so proud of you, mia amata. Look what you have done… look at how perfect she is…” Five little fingers curl up into a tiny fist, flexing lightly as our daughter slips into a state of calm respite. She too has worked hard to come into this world…
Tenderly, I press one finger up against the small expanse of palm I can see visible past her fingers, and feel my heart swell to take up the entirety of my chest as she opens her hand up and latches onto me. “Hello little one… mia preziosa bambina…” Elation fills me as her little body relaxes into yours, safe and comforted by the beat of your heart beneath her ear.
Skin to skin… she knows you. Knows the rhythm of your breath moving in and out of you… the sound of your sweet melodic voice humming a tender tune…
“If you have ghosts… you have everything… If you have ghosts… you have everything…” Her little fingers tighten around mine and as I feel your hand in my hair, smoothing back the dark locks tickling your bare flesh, I smile.
She knows me too…
“I’m your Papa sweet one… And I love you.”
“She loves you too, Terzo. We both do.” You whisper against my forehead as we hold one another, gazing at the miracle that our whole world is about to revolve around.
I never thought I would now love in this life until you walked into the Church and laid claim to my broken heart. You pieced me back together even when I made it hard for you, and not once did you give up on me. Day after day you poured your love, trust, and devotion into my tattered soul, and now you have given me even more…
A whole precious life that was made through our love, made from the best parts of both of us. WIth all that I am… I will keep both of you safe, loved and full of joy because the two of you are my reason for living. My sweet girls… My perfect angels, fallen from the heavens just for me.