10 years ago...

Mateo thought he must be losing his mind–– he was pacing. Relentlessly. From one end of the royal suite to the other, back and forth. Back and forth. This was behavior he typically teased Elena about, but he was restless–– overflowing with nervous energy. Everything was about to change and he had to keep moving if he hoped to keep up with it.

He was minutes–– or hours–– away from becoming a father. Ready or not, the baby was coming and he had to be ready. But who could ever be ready for such a thing? Questions raced through his mind as his pacing increased in speed and intensity. Would the baby be safe and healthy? Would Elena be safe and healthy? What if he hurt the baby by holding it wrong? What if he made a bad decision that ruined its life forever? How in the world did one change a diaper without getting sick?

These questions and more raced through his mind faster than the typical speed of thought–– each one raising the bar of panic that was slowly overwhelming the soon-to-be-father.

A soft, tired laugh froze Mateo mid-stride. Whirling around to face the bed where Elena had been resting, his eyes darted worriedly over the very pregnant form of his beloved wife.

Rushing to her side, he said, "Elena! Are you ok? Are you hurting? Is it time?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "I'm fine, amor. I couldn't help, but notice your pacing. That's usually my signature move."

Mateo grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry if I disturbed you. I'm just–"

Reaching out for his hand, she took it gently in her own and tugged, gesturing for him to join her in the bed. "Here, come sit with me. I'm a little cold and I could use your warm arms around me."

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you." Mateo looked her over nervously.

Laughing, Elena said, "You're so silly. I'm having a baby, not suffering from some terrible disease. Come on, I'd really like you to sit with me. Please?" She flashed him her best sad puppy dog look, which he was helpless to resist under any circumstances.

Smiling, Mateo did as she asked and curled up next to her, sliding one arm around her shoulders and gently resting the other hand on the swell of her abdomen.

She sighed happily and snuggled into his side, closing her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder. "So," she asked, "are you ready?"

With a laugh edging on hysteria, Mateo replied, "Can anyone truly be ready for something this huge? We're about to become parents! I'm going to be a father…" he trailed off, staring unseeingly across the room as he pondered this extraordinary fact.

Elena turned to look into his eyes, and reached over to cup his cheek. "You're right, no one can ever be truly ready for such a huge change. But listen to me, Mateo de Alva, you are going to be a wonderful father. You are kind, loving, fair, intelligent–– the list goes on. Together, we are going to raise this precious child to be all of those things and more."

"Of course you're right, Elena. It's still a little overwhelming to think about."

"So stop thinking about it," Elena said with a mischievous grin.

"How in the world do you propose I do that? I can't just turn my brain off."

"I have a few ideas," she said with a seductive smile. She gently pulled his face to hers and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Chuckling quietly he kissed her back, allowing the kiss to linger a moment before saying, "You have a one track mind, mi amor." He pressed his forehead to hers and and looked into her eyes, amusement dancing in his gaze.

She giggled. "Perhaps, but admit it. You are distracted are––" she sucked in a sharp breath, her body tensing.

"Elena! Are you––" the panic returned in full force as Mateo pulled back to fully look at his wife. "Should I get the physician? Is it time?"

Elena's eyes were scrunched shut, her teeth clenched as she groaned with pain. Mateo rubbed her back in comforting circles, trying to determine if he needed to run for help.

"Just–– contraction––" she ground out.

Mateo hated seeing her in pain. He wished there was something he could do. In all of his spell books he hadn't been able to find a single spell that would work on birthing pains. He felt so helpless as he continued rubbing her back. "How long has it been since the last one?"

She relaxed as the pain subsided, panting as she said, "Not that long. Four minutes?"

"We're getting close aren't we? Should I send for the physician?"

"He said to send for him when I feel the need to push. It could be another hour before we get there."

"Ok, if you're sure."

She grinned roguishly. "I'm sure. Now, where were we?" She reached out to grasp his collar and pulled him back to her, kissing him full on the mouth.

Chuckling at her relentlessness, Mateo obliged his wife as he returned the kiss with fervor, carefully sliding his hand up and down her side in a gentle sweeping motion. After a few moments of this, he paused–– quietly, he said, "What about you? Are you ready?"

Elena reached up to run her fingers through his hair as she looked at him and smiled. "To be a mother? I think so. Like you said, no one can be truly ready for such a big change. But–– I am excited for this change. This is going to be the most loved baby in Avalor–– between you and me, our families and the Avaloran people–– this baby will know they are loved every minute of every day."

"Do you ever worry that you'll make a wrong choice or some huge mistake that could hurt them?"

Laughing softly, she quirked an eyebrow and said, "Mateo, I'm the queen of Avalor."

"I may have heard that somewhere before," he said wryly.

Snorting quietly, she continued, "What I mean is, I am the queen of Avalor. I make decisions on behalf of the entire kingdom every single day. I can't afford to doubt myself, so I've learned to make my choices confidently and to be ready and willing to learn from my mistakes–– because they will happen. What's motherhood compared to that? Really, how hard could it be?"

Rolling his eyes, Mateo said, "You know, that's almost as bad as, 'what could possibly go wrong?'" Shaking his head a little, amused at Elena's flippant acceptance of this monumental change racing toward them, he kissed the top of her head.

"Ooh!" Elena exclaimed, her eyes lighting up, "You know what I could really go for right now?"

Mateo cringed, "Ugh, please. Please don't say it–– whatever it is. I don't think my stomach can handle it."

Laughing, Elena said, "You don't even know what I was going to say "

"I know, but whatever it, let's forget about it and get you a nice piece of pan dulce instead?"

Elena wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, no! I haven't been able to even think about pan dulce for almost nine months now. No, I'm thirsty–"

Scrunching his eyes shut, Mateo muttered, "Here we go again…"

" ––a nice cold glass of horchata––"

Sighing with relief, Mateo asked hopefully, "That's it? Just a glass of horchata?"

"With clam juice," she continued, "Oh! And now that you mention it, I could really go for some eggs–– over easy with extra runny yolks, topped with sliced mango, and sprinkled with chili powder."

"Of course you do," Mateo grumbled, "are you sure you want that now or should we wait until after the baby comes?"

"Now please!" she said brightly.

Sighing, Mateo slid off the bed and said, "As you wish, mi amor," and strode over to the door. Poking his head out into the hall, he called out to a passing servant, "Excuse me, the queen is hungry. Could you please ask the kitchen to send up the usual?"

Mateo grinned to himself as he watched the servant shudder before she said, "Yes, your highness. Right away!"

Mateo called out his thanks as she bustled away. As he walked back to the bed he froze as he saw Elena curled up into a fetal position, groaning in pain. Rushing over to the bed, he sat beside her and resumed rubbing her back. As she breathed through the pain, she relaxed a bit and looked up at Mateo, her eyes dimmed with pain, and gasped, "It's time."

The world seemed to slow around Mateo as he processed that simple phrase. "Time?" he said slowly.

"The baby is coming! I need you to get the physician. Now!"

"Now?" he repeated before it clicked. His eyes widened in panic as he gasped, "Now! The baby is coming. It's coming! Oh my– Elena! I need to get the physician!" He bolted from the bed, leaving her to laugh softly after him as he ran back to the hallway. He really didn't want to leave Elena's side for long, so he hurried down the hallway to Luisa and Francisco's suite and knocked frantically on their door–– hoping desperately that they were there waiting for news.

He wasn't disappointed as Luisa answered the door eagerly. "Mijo?" she said, a question in her eyes.

Mateo nodded. "It's time! She needs you–– and the physician. Can you send for him?"

Smiling widely she hugged her grandson-in-law, "That's wonderful news! Of course, mijo. Go back to her. I'll take care of everything!"

Nodding, relief flooding his features, he breathed, "Thank you!" Turning, he ran back to his room, where he found Elena breathing heavily through another bout of pain. He sat beside the bed and took her hand, anxiously searching her eyes for any sign that she wasn't doing as well as could be expected.

"Your abuela is fetching the physician, mi amor."

She smiled softly and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, amor. You've done well. Now, I just need you to stay with me."

He looked into her eyes, trying to look calmer and more courageous than he felt, as he replied, "Always."

–––––

"It's a girl!"

Those words echoed in Mateo's mind. He was a father–– to a daughter. He had a daughter–– with Elena. It was incredible.

Luisa handed the tiny bundle of blankets to Mateo, smiling with love and pride as she said, "Congratulations, mijo! You are a papi now!"

Heart thumping in his throat, he gently took his little daughter from her and cradled her carefully in his arms. Looking down, he was mesmerized by the tiny bundle of perfection that he held. He had known he would love her, but he wasn't prepared for the overwhelming swelling of his heart from that love. He didn't love Elena any less. His love hadn't been divided between them–– no–– he knew instinctively that his heart had just doubled in size and his capacity for love had, somehow, grown exponentially. He slowly wandered back to the other end of the bed, where Elena was propped up against the pillows, exhausted, but anxious to meet their new daughter.

He sat in his chair beside the bed, and, looking to his wife, said, "Would you like to meet her?"

"I've been waiting to meet her for nine months!" Elena reached out and Mateo carefully handed their daughter over to meet her mother for the first time.

Mateo smiled warmly at Elena as she gazed rapturously at the tiny, precious child in her arms, taking in her stringy hair, the dark circles under her eyes, and the sheen of sweat across her forehead–– he's never loved her more or found her to be more attractive than he did in that moment. The image before him–– his beautiful wife–– their brand new daughter–– he couldn't think of a more beautiful site in all of Avalor–– or the world.