Tiny feet. Tiny hands. Tiny and beautiful.
That was all Danny Messer could think the first time he held his little daughter.
He was standing in a hospital room filled with balloons, cards and "it's a girl" signs. In the middle of the room stood the bed, where the mother of his child, Lindsay Messer, was currently sleeping. Danny was standing at the window looking at his daughter, who was still nameless, while slowly swaying form side to side.
"You need a name, little one," he whispered "but your mommy needs her sleep, and I can't pick a name for you on my own. That would make your mommy very mad, yes it would."
"Yes it would." came a sleepy voice from the bed. Danny slowly turned to look at his wife.
"Hey" he said as he walked towards her.
"Hey, how's she doing?" she said, as he sat on the bed.
"She's good, sleeping." he carefully laid her in Lindsay's arms and watched as she slowly stroked their daughter's cheek. "She needs a name. We can't go on calling her, apple-pie."
"When have we ever called her apple-pie? She's only a few hours old." Lindsay asked looking a Danny with raised eyebrows.
"We haven't, but I have. I couldn't just say she or you or… I don't know. Bottom line, she needs a name!" Lindsay laughed at her husband's little speech.
"I know, I know." She looked at the little girl in her arms, who had woken and was watching her parents with her big blue eyes. She raised her arm and stuck out her tongue. "She's a cutie, isn't she?" Lindsay asked as she took a hold on the little hand that were grasping the air.
"Cutie? She's more than that. She's the most gorgeous baby ever to have walked this planet… well, not walked, but entered."
"Yeah…" Lindsay sighed. "She looks like a Ruby. Don't you think?" she looked at Danny and then back at their little girl.
"Ruby? Yeah she looks like a Ruby." Danny smiled and slowly stroked the soft baby hair on the little girl's head. "What do you think little one? Are you a Ruby?" the little girl opened her mouth in what could be taken as a smile, if you really concentrated. "Okay then, Ruby, that's your name." Danny smiled and looked at Lindsay. "Ruby Messer."
"Ruby Messer, that sounds good."
"Welcome to New York, Ruby Messer." They smiled and laughed when Ruby raised both her arms. Danny and Lindsay took a hand each, and Danny kissed Lindsay's temple.