A/N; Thank you for the reviews and follows! This one is from Alicia's POV. Guategal, this one's for you!

Becoming Acquainted

It's been an hour since Will went back up to the Nicu. He's stayed longer than the previous two times today. That either means Mira's doing better, and Will's been allowed to hold her longer or something's gone wrong.

I shift in bed at the thought. I'm tempted to get out of this bed and go check on her myself. But with these oxygen tubes still in my nose and the IV in my arm I wouldn't make it very far. Even without the extra medical equipment attached I don't think I'd make it much past the elevator. I really am too weak.

Mira's all I've thought about all day. It really isn't fair to keep a child from her mother. I realize the circumstances are dictating our separation, but that doesn't make it any easier. What if something has gone wrong and I'm not there? I'm her mother I should be there. I'm going to insist they either take me up to see her or bring her down here when its time for her to eat again.

Will's been very diligent in his duty as proxy mother. The look in his eyes when he talks about her—it's a new look. He obviously loves her and she already has him wrapped around her little finger. I chuckle under my breath at the thought because he doesn't even realize it. I can already tell I'll be pinned as the mean parent because I'm fairly certain he will be incapable of saying no to her. It's adorable this side of him. It's made me fall deeper in love with him. Something I didn't think was possible

I'm glad he can be with her, but I wish I could see her and hold her. I love the first few days with a newborn. You can fumble with their little fingers and toes and it doesn't even faze them because they are so sleepy. And all of their little squeaks and sighs are like music to a mother's ears.

My eyes are growing heavy again. I hate feeling so tired and under the effects of medication. My eyes start to give way as I imagine the three of us home together. The thought of the peace and quiet of our apartment without all the interruptions from doctors or nurses sounds heavenly. I've already been reminded of the reality of sleeping in a hospital bed. It's so uncomfortable. I'm sure my back would be objecting to the bed if I weren't so highly medicated at the moment. I need to remember to send Will home for hospital survival supplies. The list will include two pillows from our bed. My expensive, very good body lotion because giving birth makes my skin extremely dry. A pair of my own socks, and he'll need to bring me decent cup of coffee every morning.

Where is he? I sigh in resignation ready to fall asleep again when the door opens. I manage to open my eyes once more and there he is with that adorable grin that hasn't disappeared from his lips all day. Not even when he was sleeping this morning. I ponder for a millisecond about getting after him for taking so long, but admittedly I'd stay for as long as I could.

He stops just inside the door and looks back out saying something to someone that I can't hear. He moves further into the room and sits on the edge of the bed next to me. He's up to something I can tell. His smile has turned to the mischievous one that appears right before he surprises me with something, or tickles me, whichever the case may be.

"I have a surprise for you!" he says leaning over placing a kiss on my lips. With just one kiss he is back in my good graces forgiven of any previous sins. The "sin" in this case being his late arrival. He could probably kiss his way out of almost anything, but I would never admit it to him.

"Really, what is it?" I ask. I expect him to pull something out of the pocket of his pants but he stands up and moves to the door.

"A visitor!" he says, signaling whoever it is to enter. I hope desperately it's the baby but I try not to get my hopes up. Maybe it's Grace and Zach. They said they'd drive up from Georgetown after classes ended today. They have spring break next week, and were planning on coming home this weekend anyway. But it's not late enough in the day for it to be them.

My tears fall freely as Will takes one end of the bassinette that I can now see being pushed through the open door. I gasp in excitement cupping my hands over my mouth. Will moves her closer but I can't make out any of her features because she's wrapped up so tightly. This is better than any surprise he's ever given me. And there have been many. If there were ever a man intent on making his wife happy, I'd have to say Will has mastered the skill. I think he's trying to make up for lost time over the years, which isn't necessary, but I'm not about to stop him.

He reaches in and lifts her out. Still smiling he leans over as I hold out my arms so the two of us can become acquainted.

"Hello little one," I say, as the tears continue to stream down my face. I pull her in close admiring every single inch of her. She's perfect in every way. My heart finally feels the comfort it's been longing for all day. I turn her so that her head is nestled just under my chin so that I can feel her breathe against my neck. I may not give her back now that we're together.

I'm struck by how small she really is. Zach and Grace were both full term. Zach weighed eight pounds, and Grace was seven and a half. They both had Peter's height at twenty one inches. Mira is quite small compared to them.

Her eyes remain shut. All the jostling from bringing her down a floor has not disturbed her sleep.

Will sits next to me as best he can with the same grin permanently painted on his lips. "She's beautiful Will. Thank you for bringing her," I say, gently pulling her back down. I fumble with the pink blanket just enough to uncover her fingers.

"I know! And you're welcome," he says placing one arm around me and bringing his other to rest under her. For the first time in months all seems right. Here the three of sit safely together and I can't help but feel relief. I can finally allow myself to start thinking about our long term future. Something that up until now I couldn't bare to think about in case I wasn't a part of it.

"Did she eat well again?" I ask running a soft finger over her little cheeks.

"Yes, she really enjoys her food." He says proudly. "She was awake for awhile when I was talking to her."

And like the flip of a coin as soon as she hears his voice she opens her eyes. Now I'm not sure who has who wrapped around their finger. I can't help but feel a little jealousy at her reaction to him. I remind myself she will show just as much interest in me in time. In fact I know that there will come a time about eighteen months from now where she won't want to let me out of her sight. And I'll have to remind myself of my slight jealousy in this moment.

It doesn't surprise me she reacts to his voice because of all the conversations he had with her while she was still inside of me. I will never get over those conversations. Some nights he'd come home and spend more time talking to her than he would me. He was always telling her how much he loved me. He'd tell her all about how he did in court and whether or not he'd been a nice lawyer or a mean one on any given day.

Some of the most entertaining conversations he had with her were those that consisted of telling her about all of the crazy extended family members she would soon meet. Or the conversations that consisted of his one way plotting of ways the two of them would conspire against me. He'd tell her things like how on Friday nights when Mommy works late he'll let her stay up with him to watch Cinderella. I once asked how old he thought she'd be when he'd let her do this. He said four or five. Little does he know that allowing her to do such things at that age will most likely bring a temper and crankiness the next day. The likes of which he's never seen! But I love how in love he is with the idea of fatherhood. And I hope he'll get around to doing all the things he's already planned to do with her.

As I continue to look into her eyes I realize they are his eyes. This causes me to smile. Someday she'll use those eyes to lure an unsuspecting mate, just like her father did. Of course that will involve him allowing her to date. Something he has already forbidden until she graduates from law school.

I move my hand to unwrap her so I can take a peek at the rest of her tiny features. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." he says with a slight laugh and raise of the eyebrows.

"Why?" I question rolling my eyes as I continue to unwrap the tight swaddle. Not mere seconds later I'm greeted with my answer and this only causes Will to laugh harder. As soon as her limbs are exposed she starts a quiet wail. It's not very loud, but she is definitely showing disapproval of her mothers desire to see every inch of her.

"Shhhh" I say trying to calm her. "You're just fine." I lay her down on my legs so I can swaddle her back up.

"She doesn't like being unwrapped," I am informed by her amused father.

"Obviously" I state as I finish bundling her back up. Once she's suffocatingly wrapped up tight, her whimpers subside and she looks at me with disapproval before closing her eyes once more. Fabulous, I think sighing. She and I are already at odds.

"You should take a look at her hair. The nurses put a bow in it!" He says still smiling.

I innocently tug at the small knit hat on top of her head and I realize immediately this was a ploy by her father to get another chuckle at his wife's expense. This time she cries with more enthusiasm than before. He laughs again and I slap him playfully.

"She likes that even less," he states. "I think she'd still prefer to be warm and protected inside of you." He says without sarcasm this time.

I gently place the hat back on her head which calms her cries. "You can't really blame her." I say snuggling her up against my chest gently bouncing her. "She still had some time left to grow in her warm and safe environment. She's probably just feeling a bit jipped under the circumstances."

"That may be, but this Daddy is glad she's out."

Will settles next to me and I lean back settling into the niche against his shoulder. The bed is too small, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He wraps his arm around me letting it rest on the baby as I pull her in closer. Finally we're all together. I look up at him and he leans over and presses his lips to mine. When I pull away a few moments later, I can't help but notice the tiredness in his eyes.

"You should go home and get some good sleep." I say. He looks from me to the baby and then back.

"No, I'm right where I want to be. And someone will need to eat again soon!"

"I could feed her." I say protesting.

"I know, but I like doing it."

"It won't do any of us any good if we're both exhausted." I only push further because I can tell how tired he is. I also know how tired we will both be in two weeks once we're all home.

"Alicia, I almost lost both of you fifteen hours ago. I've never been so scared in my whole life. And that is really saying something considering this wasn't the first, or even second time you almost died." His admission is a reminder of how scared I was myself last night. "We are all finally safe and together. I can't leave this, not yet." He leans his head forward placing his forehead to mine. "I'm staying here with you."

"Okay," I say, bringing my hand to his chin and giving him a kiss before we turn our attention back to the baby.