Chapter Text
She couldn’t recall the last time a shower had felt so refreshing. So deeply needed, after a long, demanding day of the never-ending cycle of feeding, rocking, soothing, changing. Every day was like that , of course, how long had it been since a proper wash? Alena didn’t know. But she felt wonderful and clean now, tying the plush wrap of the robe around her waist as she stepped out of the bathroom.
The bedroom was just as it’d been left. Still, quiet, and immediately her eyes fell upon the armchair that rest at the other end . Where Copia was seated, reclined and sound, and there, resting upon his bare chest, was their sweet little angel.
Melting , Alena began to approach. She was clearly asleep, her tiny little hands curled in mini fists and chubby pink cheek pressed firmly on her daddy’s skin. His chest rose and fell steadily with breath, and had he not opened his eyes at the creak of the floor, she might’ve thought him asleep too.
Copia smiled, two fingers stroking the back of the infant. Alena planted a heavy kiss to his forehead and leaned in, voice thick with emotion near his ear, “you got her down,”
“You make it look so easy,” he laughed airily, turning just enough for Alena to reach his lips in a second kiss. “She’s a good girl, isn’t she?”
“She’s perfect.”
Not wanting to disturb Irene, Alena’s touch merely grazed her hair, a ghost of a stroke. Tears threatened to break through in that moment, the sudden gush of all the love a mother could feel became overwhelming. Even now, after two weeks, it felt unreal, like the fantasy it always had been. Like she were still dreaming, hyper aware of the contestant threat that she may wake up at any moment. Even though that moment would never come.
“How are you feeling?” Copia’s voice interrupted the stir inside her, though her emotions were evident on her face. She pressed her cheek against his forehead, eager for every bit of closeness.
“Happy,” Alena murmured, “Everything is wonderful.”
She could hear his grin, “it is, isn’t it?”
“I told you, you know,”
“Mm. Told me what?”
Another kiss to his forehead, “You’re making a perfect father.”
Copia hummed, and she could tell just how much the comment meant. Down at the baby, his gaze remained, every so often stroking her soft back with his index finger.
“I couldn’t do it without the perfect mother at my side, amore.”
Once more she blinked tears, “my love..”
“Come,” he carefully began to sit forward , “let’s get her to her crib, hm? If we’re lucky, we’ll have a good two hours alone.”
Alena stood up straight , adjusting the frame of her robe. She chuckled, “Two hours is a bit generous.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. She is a napper, isn’t she?” Irene remained in position against his chest, supported by his hand, even once standing, “-just like her Papa.”
And once in her crib, she fussed one sound but remained still and asleep, lying curled in herself like they could’ve only imagined she’d been in the womb. As they did every night, they remained by the crib side for minutes and stared, wondering how they could’ve gotten so lucky, and how the twists and turns of their lives had truly managed to lead them to this: their beautiful happy ending. A family.
A home.