Nick looked down at the sleeping baby in his arms, smiling as he watched her eyes flicking open and closed with a huge yawn, which seemed much too large for such a small person. He couldn't believe he finally had his daughter, the child he'd longed for with such a passion that there was a constant image of a baby, his baby, at the front of his mind. Now, that child was here, exactly as he pictured; olive skin tone, bright blue eyes and a smattering of dark brown hair – exactly like her mother, with his eyes. He turned said mother, still lying in the hospital bed and smiled at her "thank you" he whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead and push her hair, matted with sweat, from her face.
Zoe smiled back at him, pushing herself up on the bed and holding her arms out for her baby "No, thank you" she replied, looking down at the sleeping girl in her arms. Sienna Charlotte Jordan, was almost three hours old and the most beautiful girl Zoe had ever seen. She couldn't believe she'd finally had a child, she and Nick had finally made a go of it, the third time around, after he'd returned from Michigan heart broken once again. They'd decided to try for a child, on the hope that IVF would give them a chance and having their baby. She knew it was unlikely, she was getting older and a worrying niggle at the back of her head told her she'd left it too late.
Their miracle had happened though, Zoe looked back down at the miracle in her arms. Three weeks before they were due to start IVF she'd been sick, then her period never showed. She hadn't dared hope that it was so easy, when the test she'd taken, rather… the seven she'd taken, had came back positive she'd been reluctant to share the elation. She carried the white stick in her bag, smiling every time she looked at it; when she reached twelve weeks, three days before her fortieth birthday, she told him. He'd been so happy, he'd picked her up and spun her around before he lay her on the bed gently and kissed her senseless… their own private celebration had soon followed.
Nick coughed, looking for her attention. She'd been so caught up in reminiscing that she hadn't listened to a word he'd said. "Sorry, what were you saying?" She smiled at him, rocking Sienna as she began to cry. She leant forward to kiss her daughters forehead before looking back up at her partner; not boyfriend, not husband but the father of her child. She assumed they would get married eventually, but for now they were both so wrapped up in her pregnancy and their child that they hadn't really broached the subject of marriage.
"I was saying that the consultant should be around to discharge you soon" he repeated, looking at her with a smile "Sienna will be home tonight."
Zoe smiled, wider than she could ever remember smiling "we'll be a proper family" she whispered, gazing down at her daughter in adoration.