Early Bonds
Six months after Emily Marie Sloan had asked her father where babies came from, her sister came into the world screaming and hollering for the entire hospital to hear. Lexie had ended up having to have an emergency C-Section because the baby was in distress. Emily was with her Uncle Derek and her Aunt Meredith who was now eight months pregnant with Emily's cousin. Mark was with his wife when the baby arrived. While Lexie was getting stitched up, Mark came into the waiting room where he knew his daughter and sister in law and brother were waiting for news, any news. When Emily saw her daddy she ran into his arms and hugged him. Mark picked her up and said "You have a sister princess." Emily's face fell. She had wanted a brother so she could always be her daddy's princess. She didn't want the new baby to take over her position as the princess in the household. Meredith and Derek exchanged glances and then looked at Mark "How's Lexie?" Meredith demanded. Mark smiled. He was so relieved that his wife had flown through the emergency surgery "She did great." Mark reassured his sister in law. Mark knew that they would all want to know the baby's name "Sandrine Natalia Sloan arrived at was 5 pounds 8 ounces and 19 inches long" Mark told his sister in law and Derek. Emily looked at her daddy and said "I want Mommy." Mark sighed knowing how attached Emily was to her mother "Mommy's resting with your sister so you have to be quiet okay." Mark told his daughter. Derek and Meredith smiled and said "We have to go pick up Lucas and then we'll come back." Lucas was their first child who was a year older than Emily. Mark nodded as he carried his daughter out of the waiting room.
Before he let Emily go into Lexie's room, he looked at her and put his finger to his lips to remind her to be quiet. Emily walked quietly into her mother's hospital room and her blue-grey eyes went straight to the bassinet that was beside her mother. Her footsteps must have been louder than anyone realized because Lexie woke up and struggled to sit up in bed. Mark went to her and propped her up with a pillow so she could sit up. Mark put Sandrine in Lexie's arms and then went to get Emily who hadn't moved from her spot by the door. Mark scooped Emily up and carried her to the bed. Mark sat down on the bed beside Lexie and looked at his new daughter. Emily finally seemed to show interest in her and she looked at her tiny baby sister. Her blue-grey eyes widened as she seemed to take in her sister all at once "She's so tiny Daddy." Emily murmured in wonderment. Mark smiled as he kissed the top of Emily's head "You were that small too princess." Mark told her. Emily couldn't believe that she was ever that small. Lexie looked at Mark and whispered "She has your eyes but my hair again like Em does." Emily couldn't take her eyes off her baby sister. She reached out a hand and let baby Sandrine grab her finger. Emily thought that maybe having a baby sister wouldn't be so bad. She looked at her mother and asked "May I hold her Mommy?" Lexie looked at Mark who nodded. Lexie helped Emily hold her sister and within minutes, Emily was holding a baby the way they were supposed to be held. Just then Sandrine woke up and instead of crying she just stared into her sister's eyes "She is so pretty." Emily whispered. She bent and placed a light kiss on her sister's forehead. She whispered "I love you Sandrine." Lexie was teary eyed as she watched her oldest daughter bond with her new sister. Mark was grinning. He was so proud of his girls. Emily looked at her parents and said "I love her. But can I have a brother next time?" Mark shot Lexie a grin and Lexie simply glared at him. Mark smiled and said "Mommy and Daddy will decide that later princess. "Finally Sandrine began to cry and Lexie took the baby back into her arms and looked at Mark. Mark nodded and said "Come on Em, let's let Mommy and Sandrine sleep. now." Emily kissed her mother and then kissed her sister and said "Bye Mommy. Bye Sandrine." She took her father's hand and left her mother's room with her. Mark was going to take Emily for some ice cream and let Lexie nurse Sandrine and then get some sleep. Mark guided Emily out of the hospital and they went for the ice cream that Mark knew Emily had wanted all week.
