Mac had been through many things in his life. While a Marine, and later as a detective, he had seen the entire range of human emotion. He had learned that for every ounce of depravity and evil inside the human sould, there was also a goodness and an innocence that never ceased to amaze him.
But this...this was something he had never before experienced. Staring down at the little boy in his arms, Mac found that he was at a total loss for words. The shock of dark hair on his head obviously came from his mother, with a slight curl already showing. His eyes were closed, but one of his little hands was wrapped around Mac's index finger, clinging to him even in sleep.
It had been a long labor, and Michelle lay in the bed next to him, her breathing even as she finally got the rest she needed. Glancing over at her, Mac couldn't help but smile. Even now, she was beautiful, and he once again found himself in awe that she had really chosen him. Slowly, he stood up, moving toward the door. She would be asleep for a few more hours, and Mac knew that there were some very anxious friends of his in the waiting room.
He turned the corner, and there sat the team. Stella was the first to see him, and she stood up, a big smile on her face. Mac's eyes drifted to her own swollen stomach, and he knew that she was imagining how this moment would be for her and Don when they welcomed their first child. Walking over to her, he lifted the baby just a little bit higher as they all stood up and crowded around him.
"I'd like you all to meet my son," he said proudly. "David Anthony Taylor."
"Can I hold him?" Stella asked.
"Of course."
He passed the baby to her, watching as her eyes lit up. Rocking him back and forth gently, her eyes sought out Flack's and Mac saw the unspoken message that passed between them; he and Michelle had shared similar looks throughout her pregnancy.
"He's beautiful, Mac," Don said.
The older detective nodded. "Yes he is."
8888888888888888888888888888
Michelle awoke slowly, her eyelids fluttering as she remembered that she was in the hospital. Looking around the room, her gaze rested on Mac, and she smiled. All the pain and discomfort had been worth it, to see that little baby wrapped in her husband's arms.
"Hey," she said groggily.
Mac looked up, blinding her with his smile. "Hi. How are you feeling?"
"A little sore. How's he doing?"
"He's awake. Do you want to hold him?"
Michelle nodded, and he stood up, passing the baby to her carefully. Her eyes flooded with tears as she looked at her baby's face, one hand reaching out and tracing the lines of his eyes and cheeks. David Anthony stared back up at her, his eyes a dark chocolate color. Looking over at Mac, she took his hand in hers, squeezing it tightly.
"He's amazing."
Mac leaned in, placing a loving kiss to her brow. "So are you."
She saw tears standing in the corners of his eyes, and she reached up to wipe them away. "Are you alright?"
He nodded. "I'm just happy," he said, his voice low and breaking. "It's been a long time since I thought I could have any of this."
"Me too," she whispered.
Mac kissed her gently, one hand resting on their son's head. When they pulled back, Michelle moved over and he climbed up into the bed next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head on his chest. With his arm around his wife, and his hand resting on his son, Mac closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.