"Hello, sweetheart." Nikki said to her newborn daughter.
Olivia Nicola Hodgson-Alexander was born on April 25th, 2018. She was perfect, and her parents already knew that they'd do anything in the world to protect her.
"She's beautiful." Said Jack, his eyes streaming with happy tears. "Oh Nikki, I've never been so happy."
Mum and baby were cleaned up, then Jack had the chance to hold their child for the first time.
Little Olivia had been born with Jack's eyes and Nikki's halo of golden curls. She was small for a baby, because she had been born a month early.
Thankfully, she was healthy and strong, with a good pair of lungs.
Nikki gazed at her partner and daughter, a smile on her face. She and Jack hadn't been together long when she discovered that she was expecting, but they had both been overjoyed to know that they were going to have a baby.
"Hi Olivia." Jack murmured. "Hey, I'm your Papa."
The baby girl yawned, and Nikki laughed. "I told you that first impressions count, Jack!"
"She's just tired, being born is a pretty big deal." Jack countered. As if to reply, Olivia yawned again. "See, the wee girl agrees!"
"Mmm." Responded Nikki as Jack sat next to her on the hospital bed.
He kissed her on the cheek, wrapping his free arm around her. "I love you both, and I am very proud of you. I mean you just gave birth to an actual human being!"
"I know, and it was no picnic." She responded. "I love you too."
The couple kissed, and Nikki then, with the midwife's help, breastfed Olivia for the first time.
Jack meanwhile called first Clarissa, then Thomas, to tell them the happy news, and invited them to the hospital.
Carefully, Nikki dressed her baby girl in a little purple baby grow and a little pink hat. Even thought it was April, it was cold for the time of year.
Nikki cuddled her baby close, snuggling her against her shoulder for skin to skin contact. "She's so small, Jack. Vulnerable..."
"Hey." Jack kissed his partner's forehead. "Our baby is going to be so, so safe. She's going to be loved and cared for. Nothing will harm her, Nik. Never, you understand?"
"We work to find monsters." Nikki said, her arms becoming tighter around her baby. "What if they find her?" She asked, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Shhh." He drew her close. "We just need to keep her quiet to any clients we meet. We'll get a nanny and when she starts going to nursery we'll make sure that it has very tight security."
"Yeah. I know." Nikki nodded, wiping her eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too." He replied, smiling.
"What's the crying for?" Clarissa's voice interrupted them. "Surely Olivia's not that bad?"
"Hey!" Nikki beamed. "Clarissa, meet your Goddaughter. Where's Max?"
"He's tied up at work-not literally, mores' the pity. And Thomas is just parking. I get it free. And you want me to be her Godmother?" Asked Clarissa.
"Of course, you daft ha'porth. And Max and Thomas, of course." Smiled Nikki, and placed a now sleeping Olivia in Clarissa's arms.
Thomas arrived a couple of minutes later.
"Ahh, Tommy boy!" Jack said, standing up and taking Olivia from his friend. "I have a request."
"If it's for extra paternity leave, 6 months is the absolute maximum." Responded Thomas.
"No, actually. Would you do Nikki and I the honour of being Olivia's Godfather?"
"Oh, I'd love to! Congratulations, by the way." Thomas smiled. "May I hold her?"
"Of course." Replied Jack, giving the baby to him and sitting back down next to his partner.
Nikki's pregnancy had been rough, it was peppered with a few very dangerous cases and pre-eclampsia. However, she and her family were finally out of the woods and into the clearing. Safe, happy, and completely overwhelmed with love.