3. "Ooh child things are gonna get easier, ooh child things will get brighter."
For 8 long days Adam and Chelsea had barely left the hospital walls, leaving their daughter's side only to eat, sleep and shower, always making sure that someone was by her side and that she was never alone. They had ignored pleas from so called family and friends to let them in, wanting to stay in their own little bubble where no one existed but them and Matilda.
"So Mom today's the day," Alison, Matilda's nurse for the day smiled as she approached the tired yet glowing Chelsea.
"I'm so excited that I could hardly sleep last night," Chelsea said, reaching out and taking her daughter hand in hers.
Over the days since her dramatic, premature entrance Matilda had been going from strength to strength, she had been gaining weight, triggering more and more breaths on the ventilator by herself until finally the pediatricians felt today was the day that she was strong enough to do it all by herself.
"The ventilator didn't trigger any of the breathing for her last night," Alison proudly informed her, working in her job she couldn't help but find pride in every single achievement of the babies she looked after.
Chelsea ran her hand across her daughter's soft, dark hair. "Hear that Baby-Girl, looks like you're finally ready to come out of the toaster and meet us properly."
"Is Dad coming in?" Alison asked.
"He went into town to pick up coffee and breakfast, seems we've both had more than we can take of hospital food," Chelsea smiled.
The nurse laughed quietly. "I hear ya."
"Er I left a few more bottles of breast milk in the fridge for her, labeled and dated," Chelsea informed the nurse, ever since she had been well enough she had been expressing her milk so that they could feed it to Matilda through the tube in her nose, in the hopes that in the not too distant future when her daughter was strong enough she would be able to breastfeed her properly.
"Hopefully in a few days if Matilda copes with being off the ventilator we can try her on the breast properly," Alison suggested.
Resting her hand on her daughter's back Chelsea smiled. "I'd like that."
"Sorry I'm late," Adam apologized as he entered the NICU, gowning up and washing his hands before heading straight for his daughter and wife.
"The doctor hasn't been around yet," Chelsea reassured him.
The nurse watched as Adam wrapped his arms lovingly around his wife's shoulder before turning his attention to his daughter. "Morning Princess, Mommy and I are really excited to see your face properly today."
"Listen the doctors won't be around for at least another hour yet so why don't you both go and enjoy your breakfast and fresh coffee whilst it's hot," Alison suggested, knowing how important it was that the parents looked after themselves as well.
"You'll call us if they come and we're not here?" Chelsea asked, needing to know that she wasn't going to miss such an important moment in her daughter's life.
The nurse nodded. "Of course," she assured them.
"Ok," Chelsea agreed, kissing her fingers and then placing them on Matilda's head before following her husband out of the NICU.
Sitting down on a bench outside the hospital Chelsea wrapped her coat tightly around herself as Adam laid out their breakfast and handed her a steaming cup of coffee.
"Mm hot java," Chelsea sighed. "Did you make sure it-"
"Decaf, yes of course," Adam smiled, as it was the same question she asked him every time.
Leaning across the table Chelsea lovingly pulled him into her for a kiss. "I knew there was a reason I married you."
"Hello Son," Victor's monotone voice greeted, ruining the moment between Adam and Chelsea.
Adam looked up at his father. "I was sort of in the middle of something."
"How are you Son?" Victor asked, ignoring Adam's obvious disdain towards him.
"Busy," Adam gruffly answered, hoping his father would get the message and go away, this morning was all about his wife and child and the last thing he wanted was his family ruining it for them.
Victor turned his attention to Chelsea. "Hello Chelsea, sorry I haven't had a chance to say it sooner but I understand congratulations are in order."
"Thank-you," Chelsea said, her eyes never leaving Adam.
"Another granddaughter, how wonderful," Victor smiled.
Looking up Adam faced his father. "What exactly is it you want? Because you and I both know that it wasn't to welcome the newest member of the Newman family with open arms, if it was you would have been here days ago."
"I wasn't sure I would be welcome, after all the last time we spoke it was hardly amicable," Victor reminded his son. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you and your family," he added.
"How very heartwarming," Adam sarcastically retorted.
Looking down at the ground Victor considered his next move before speaking. "Now obviously isn't a good time but … please give my granddaughter a kiss from me."
As Adam watched Victor walk away he turned towards his wife, the one person that could always manage to calm him down no matter what the situation. "Well as if it wasn't cold enough out here already."
"Don't let him ruin this moment for you Adam, I know your relationship with your father is complicated but you, me and Matilda that's not, it's simple and it's real and it's beautiful and don't let the past take that away from you," Chelsea said hating the effect that Victor had on Adam.
Reaching out Adam took her hand in his. "I love you so much Chelsea. So much."
"I know," Chelsea smiled. "And Matilda and I are pretty crazy about you too."
Y&R - Y&R - Y&R
As the nurse laid Matilda onto her chest Chelsea felt an overwhelming sense of love, pride and peace overcome her as she looked into her daughter's eyes, finally being able to see her face properly for the first time since her birth 8 weeks ago.
"Hello," Chelsea cried. "My beautiful baby-girl, you have no idea how long I've waited for this moment, to hold you, look into your eyes and tell you over and over again how much I love you," she whispered as Matilda's eyes fluttered shut as she fell asleep against her mother.
"Looks like someone has had a busy morning," Adam laughed through his tears.
As Adam knelt down next to his wife and daughter Chelsea took his hand and rested it on Matilda's back. "She's perfect."
"She has your nose and mouth," Adam pointed out.
"I hope her eyes stay this color, the same beautiful blue as yours," Chelsea added as Matilda's eyes fluttered open once again as if she knew they were talking about her.
Adam watched as Chelsea whispered quiet words of love to their daughter and once again the outside world and all of the problems it brought with it was forgotten.
"I can't wait till Mommy and I can take you home and show you the beautiful nursery your Mom is designing," Adam told her, his eyes never leaving his daughter as he watched her tiny chest rise and fall on it's own for the first time with no help from the ventilator.
"How long do you think it will be until she can come home?" Chelsea asked, directing her attention towards the nurse.
Alison adjusted one of Matilda's IV lines to give more space. "If she keeps going the way she is, gaining weight and getting stronger it could be as little as 3 weeks."
"Wow, I guess we need to have the interior designer get a move on with the nursery then," Adam pointed out.
Chelsea ran her hand across her daughter's back. "There's no rush, I mean she'll be in with us for a few months at least."
"Goodbye sleep hey Mom and Dad," Alison joked.
"She's worth it," Adam breathed.
Chelsea looked up at her husband. "You ready for a cuddle Dad?"
"Yes … So much yes," Adam exclaimed as the nurse brought across another chair.
Chelsea waited for Adam to sit down before carefully placing Matilda on his chest. "Say hello to your little-girl."
"Hello Matilda," Adam whispered. "I'm your Daddy."
"Look at that, she recognizes your voice," Chelsea observed as she watched Matilda's head tilt upwards, almost as if she was looking at Adam as he spoke.
Pulling his wife onto his lap as his daughter lay nestled against his chest Adam kissed Chelsea, running his free hand through her hair. "So this is what being completely content feels like?"
"This is it," Chelsea agreed as she leaned her head against Adam, her hand resting on top of his as they both sat there in their own little world just watching Matilda sleep.
