Momentous
It's quiet. Just the rustle of fabric, quiet steps on the carpet and the soothing whisper of his voice. She climbs the stairs, pushes the door open, quietly slides into the dim room. The drawn blinds shut out most of the bright glare of the winter sunlight and her eyes adjust, focus on the man.
He's relaxed in the rocking chair, its motions soundless as he sways it back and forth with the push of his toe. The baby is cradled to his chest, his large palm supporting her bottom and she's so tiny still, her little fists clenched and Kate's stomach flutters with a wave of emotion. The girl's cheek rests against his collarbone, her eyes closed and her mouth relaxed in sleep, drooling a little on his shirt. His head is tilted to her, his lips against the downy hair on top of her head, murmuring sweet nothings to his daughter.
Her eyes well, her knees buckle and she has to hold on to the door frame for a moment, finding her center. She expected to love her baby from the start, but she doesn't think she was at all prepared for how intense, how beautiful, how life-altering this actually feels. It's been a few days but she still stumbles sometimes, can't quite believe that she's here, that she's a mother, that they made this perfect, tiny human.
She takes a moment just to breathe, to take in her small, gorgeous family, this man who waited for her so that they'd get to have this one day.
She sniffs away a tear, didn't realize she'd made a sound until his eyes come up, focus on her. "You okay?"
She smiles through the curtain of tears, pushes away from the door frame and walks over to them, sinking to her knees next to the rocking chair. "Yeah."
Her hand is drawn to her baby like a magnet; she can't stop touching her, running her palm soothingly over the girl's curved back, sliding a fingertip over the tiny rim of her ear, the chubby cheek, down her button nose.
"Did you get some rest?"
She nods, caressing her daughter's hand and her little fingers flex, grab around hers, holding on tight, so tight. "Had she woken up?"
"Hm hmm," he nods, his thumb trailing over the baby's little fist and her hand, caressing them both. "A little. And I… missed her," he admits quietly.
"I missed her too." She looks up at his face, finds his eyes focused on her, so dark blue. "Both of you."
"Come here," he murmurs, flexing his right leg.
She rises, eyes his lap, not sure how to do this but he spreads his knees, digs his toes to the floor, holding the chair steady. Carefully she slides between his legs, perches on his left thigh, her legs tucked between his as she curls an arm around his back, snuggling in close.
He bands his arm around her with a deep sigh, his fingers curled into her waist, holding her tightly to him and she leans her forehead into the crook of his neck, her cheek to his collarbone where she's face to face with her beautiful little girl; her breaths coming in fast, damp puffs, fast asleep.
Safe in his arms.