Alex still couldn't believe what he had been through that day, he had given birth to a child and throughout his whole life he could never remember feeling so connected to something before. He never doubted for a second the decision he made to keep Junior despite all the prejudice against him. He knew he would keep Junior safe and love her all the way through womanhood. Keeping Junior also made Alex so happy because she meant that he could keep something, or rather someone, else.
He could hear Diana in the next room – Junior's room. He could hear her cooing and shushing the child. It was late and it had been a long day. The sun had fallen below the horizon and all that lighted Alex's room was the dim glow of his small bedside lamp. Everything felt so still. He laid content with his back on top of his bed sheets just listening. Listening to the sound of Diana's voice, humming. Cooing and humming. "Hello Junior", "Hello little one". Occasionally he would hear Junior react to her Mother's sounds with a giggle or a yawn. It felt like time had stopped and he was at peace, he didn't want to ever move. As he listened now, he heard the Mother gently caress her child whilst slowly lowering her into her cot. "Sleep tight". The click of a tender kiss sounded through the stillness as it was placed onto the cheek of the small miracle.
Alex knew Diana was now coming towards his room. He wondered whether she would take up his offer of sleeping at his. Not to sleep in the same bed or anything, although, admittedly, he wouldn't reject this proposal. But he didn't want to seem to be forcing Diana into anything she didn't want to do. She was a lovely lady with whom he was glad to be bringing up Junior, but he also knew that she was a very intelligent woman who would not let a man like him walk all over her. She was innocent but had everything under control. He didn't know what she would say or do when she got to his room. He heard her, inevitably, knock over a pile of baby bottles with her foot as she walked through the hallway. He laughed to himself quietly under his breath. "Oh, for God's sake Diana, why are you always such a klutz" she exclaimed as she frantically tried to put everything back to where it was. He loved how clumsy she could be sometimes, he found it...sweet.
She was in his doorway as he looked up from lying down. Her body propped forwards with a hand on each side of the door fame, looking at him. Just looking at him. Diana was tired, not physically, she didn't think, but emotionally. A man giving birth to her child initially made her angry but now she was in possession of a little girl she couldn't love more even if she tried. She didn't feel anger towards Alex any longer. Instead she felt an enormous amount of pride. "She's asleep" Diana hushed "She looks adorable, do come and see". She held out her hand towards Alex, he got up and walked towards her without breaking eye contact for one moment. He took her hand which felt small in his, cold but not the unpleasant freezing kind, more refreshing and clean in his grip. She squeezed it as she led him though to where Junior was sleeping.
There she laid all bundled up in her blanket completely still. As they looked upon her she was motionless but her face was still animated, glowing. Diana put one arm around Alex's waist and rested her head on his side. He held her back with his arm firmly round her shoulders. "That's ours" he whispered "We did that". Diana looked away from the child down to the floor.
She corrected him "You did that...I didn't". Alex turned and placed his second hand over Diana's other shoulder. "Diana, we did that. This is as much your achievement as it is mine". He held her between his hands firmly but still very calmly as he watched a tear drop escape from her eye and roll down her cheek. She quickly sniffed and wiped it away hoping that he wouldn't see. But he saw. He hated to see her upset, to see her crying, she was always able to bring about a good side to everything. She was such a cheerful, happy person. He wiped another tear away from her cheek but she still refused to look up at him. He then put both arms around her back and hugged her. He held her against his body solidly but softly. "This is our daughter."