It'll probably be some time until I upload another chapter to this fic, since I have another Marissonshipping story I've been working on that I hope to be able to upload here soon. I also have my other fics to work on as well.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was a really fun to write. :)
A Little Faith
Alain made sure that the door was shut quietly behind him as he entered the house, glancing around the darkened dining room for a sign that anyone else was up. His home was dim, the sky outside dark and flecked with stars. The clock on the wall read 9:00– not too late, but much later than Alain normally came home. He hung a jacket up on a coat rack near the door, before frowning as he noticed Mairin's green sweater draped over a chair.
He picked up the sweater, glancing over it has he hung it up. Had Mairin gone out today? He had only been at work for a few hours, and if she needed something he wasn't that long of a drive away. His worry silently gnawed at him as he made his way through the house– just a small little place they had been renting out for nearly a year now. He didn't turn on any lights as he headed towards his bedroom, quietly opening the door and peering inside.
Mairin was curled up on the bed, still in her day clothes, not even under the covers. Soft breaths came from her, long red hair falling across the pillow. Alain smiled softly, entering the room and sitting down next her to. He pressed his hand to her forehead, but like earlier she didn't have a fever of any kind. But that didn't excuse the fact that she had thrown up several times in the last few days.
He hadn't wanted to go to work, but Mairin had insisted that she would be okay, and so he had taken a shorter and later shift today. While he wished he could have at least said goodnight, he was glad to see that she was resting, and he hoped that whatever bug she managed to catch would pass soon. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her head, before pushing himself to his feet.
A small hand grabbed his wrist, and he turned to see Mairin's eyes sliding open. "Where are you going?" She asked in a sleepy voice, her grasp loosening, and he slid his fingers between hers. "Isn't it late?"
He ran his thumb across the back of her hand. "I'm sorry I woke you up," He said, a flicker of guilt running through him. "Just go back to sleep, I'm just going to go get me something to eat, I had a small dinner," He laid her hand on the bed. "I'll be up soon."
Mairin let out a yawn, slowly stretching. "I'll come you," She slowly sat up, smacking her lips. "I haven't eaten much either..."
Alain opened his mouth, torn between telling her that she should just rest and the fact that she should be eating. He relaxed after a moment, since she hadn't had much of an appetite lately he decided that this was a good thing. He smiled, offering his hand and pulling her to her feet. She leaned against him for a moment, another yawn coming to her as she fumbled towards the door.
"What do you want to eat?" Alain asked, knowing that this was a better question to ask than naming off foods. She pressed her lips together for a moment, amber eyes lost in thought, and finally she shrugged.
"I dunno," She shifted. "Maybe some fruit or something...?"
It wasn't much, but Alain accepted the answer with a smile. They were soon back in the dining room, and Alain flipped on a light. Mairin stumbled towards the table, sinking down in a chair and laying her head on her arms. She had a distant look in her eyes, and Alain figured that she was more tired than she was letting on.
No words passed between them as he made dinner, Alain quite comfortable in the silence, and he didn't want to push Mairin into conversation. He didn't make anything extravagant, not wanting to test Mairin's stomach with his own meal. His eyes slipped to his wife as he began cutting up some berries, who had sat up. She was staring down at her hands, fiddling with a silver ring on her finger.
"Here you go," Alain said, setting a small bowl of diced fruit and berries in front of her. He sat on the other side of their table, a simple salad on his plate. Mairin gave him a grateful smile, spearing a slice of Pinap berry with a fork and sliding it into her mouth. He watched her for a moment, before taking a bite as well. "Did you go somewhere today?"
"Huh?" Mairin asked, looking up.
"Your sweater was out," Alain said, pointing towards the coat rack with his fork. "Just curious if you went somewhere."
"Oh," Mairin stared at it for a moment. "...No, I didn't. I was wanting some fresh air, so Bébé took me out in the garden," She stared down at her bowl. "I was only out for a few minutes though."
Alain pressed his lips together. "Hmm, maybe we should take you to a doctor. It doesn't seem serious, but this isn't just a cold."
Mairin shifted, poking at her food with a fork. "Y-yeah."
Sharp blue eyes scanned Mairin, Alain recognizing that her uneasiness was from more than just her being sick. He took another bite, thinking as he chewed. Mairin raised her head, watching him as well, a slight look of worry in her gaze. He could see the hesitation, and he silently waited for her to say something.
But she didn't speak, just lowered her gaze back to the table, fingers twitching.
Knowing that waiting would probably take all night, Alain spoke up. "Is everything okay?"
"Y-yeah!" Mairin said, jumping slightly. "I mean– well... y-yeah, everything is okay, I think..."
He frowned. "You think?"
She cringed slightly, and she shoved a fork-full of berries into her mouth. She took her time chewing, eyes darting around the room as she did so, and Alain patiently waited. After a minute she swallowed the food, setting the fork down onto the table. He took another bite of his salad, not wanting her to feel like he was pressuring her to answer. He met her gaze when she looked at him, but remained silent.
Finally Mairin took in a deep breath, and sat up. "A-alain?"
"Yes?" He replied, looking up at her.
"I... I wanted to ask you something," She said, shifting. He watched her expectantly, his wife twisting a few strands of her long hair for a moment. She then forced herself to sit up a little straighter, looking into his eyes. "I was wondering... what do you think about kids?"
Alain blinked. "...Kids?"
She gulped, before nodding. "Yeah. Kids. Like... like what do you think about the idea of having kids? ...L-like our own kids?"
He blinked again. "...Like a baby?"
Another nod. "Y-yeah."
He stared at Mairin for a moment, blinking, the question honestly being one of the last things he had been expecting her to ask. It did explain her slight hesitancy, the question not a casual one, but why would she be thinking about kids now of all times? She was watching him, a nervous edge to her gaze, so he pushed his salad to the side so she knew he was giving her his full attention.
His eyes darted around the room, and he focused them on his fork as he set it down. "I... I honestly never really thought about it before..."
"Oh," Mairin said, and she looked down at her hands. "Um... could you think about it now?"
Alain frowned. "That's a question I just don't think I could answer without some thought. A baby... that's a lot of responsibility. Something I feel should be thought over and discussed before I could just say yes or no," He hesitated, stomach twisting. "I mean, we're both still pretty young, I don't think we need to–"
He paused however when he saw her expression, eyes still wide, sweat gathering on her pale skin. She was just watching him, an almost desperate look in her gaze. Alain's heart skipped a beat, his form stiffening as he realized that this was probably more than just a question. He stared at Mairin for a moment, mouth going dry.
"W-wait," He said uncertainly, pulling back slightly. "Mairin, are you...?"
She looked away. "I– I don't know," She whispered, closing her eyes. "I haven't done a test or anything, but... but I wouldn't be surprised if I was... pregnant."
Alain stared at her.
Her eyes briefly met his unreadable ones, and she quickly looked down at the table. Alain was still trying to take in what she had just said. He leaned back in his chair, blinking. "You're pregnant?"
"I think so," She whispered, her arms wrapping around her middle. "I've... I've just been feeling different for these last few weeks, I don't know how to describe it, but I didn't think much of it until I started getting sick and then–" Her words were getting faster, as if she had been keeping all this in. "–Hasn't hit yet even though it was supposed to and–"
"M-mairin," Alain said, reaching across the table. "Stop– um, breathe– you're crying–!"
"I'm not–" She paused, as if just realizing that she had tears running down her face. They had come suddenly, and the tears showed no signs of stopping. She let out a small laugh, no feeling behind it, and she wiped away the tears. Alain wrapped one hand around hers as she took in a deep breath, trying to get control over herself. "Arceus, I'm a mess..."
"You're fine..." Alain muttered, truly not thinking on what he was saying. His gaze was far off, thoughts racing through his mind. "You're fine..."
Mairin's hand squeezed his. "A-alain?" She asked hesitantly. "I... I was..." She closed her eyes. "Do you think you could answer my question now? Now that...?"
Alain's mouth was dry, staring at his wife with a look of hesitancy. It took him a moment to hide this, slowly trying to keep the mounting panic at bay. He sat up slightly, looking down at his plate for a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. He could feel her watching him, a worry filling the room as silence passed.
"A baby," Alain said softly, eyes slightly wide. He flashed her an apologetic smile, trying to calm her down. "That's... that's going to take a minute to sink in..."
That was an excuse more than anything. Because it had sunk it– and pure fear had taken a hold of his mind. He slowly worked to keep his breathing under control, rubbing Mairin's hand as he did so. After a moment he felt that he had composed himself to the point where he could speak without giving away the raw panic he was feeling, and he gathered his thoughts.
"Well, I most certainly wasn't expecting to come home to this," Alain said with an uneasy smile, though the lighthearted comment fell victim to the silence. Mairin was biting on her cheek, eyes still glued to him, waiting for a response of some kind. But Alain knew that he couldn't decide what to say quite yet, not until he knew how Mairin felt. "Mairin, what do you think about... all this?"
She hiccuped. "I– I have n-no idea of what to think."
She bit her lip, and Alain hesitated knowing he was being selfish to try to press an answer from her when she had asked first. "I mean... do you want to have a baby?"
A hand went down to her stomach. "I... I always have loved kids," She whispered, and Alain knew there was no denying that, she practically smothered her niece and nephew. "I always have thought it'd be wonderful to have a family," A distant look passed over her face, and she blinked it away. Her gaze went to the ground. "I g-guess I just wasn't ready right now, but..." She looked at him uncertainly. "But I would love to have a baby," She whispered. "And we've been married for two years now, s-so now wouldn't be a bad time... right?"
Alain closed his eyes, taking in her words. No matter the worry or hesitancy in her tone, her answer was quite clear– she wanted to have a baby. Even if it was something she hadn't been ready for, her words showed that she would have been eventually. This was all Alain needed to know, and he began to try to piece together an answer in his own mind. He never enjoyed lying, but he knew that simply some situations would turn out better when the truth wasn't given. If Mairin wanted a baby, if she felt that this was the time to start a family, then he would not say no.
But that didn't change the fact that he didn't want kids.
He flinched internally as the thought crossed his mind, the words sounding harsh even in his head. It wasn't that he despised the idea of children– it was that he had simply never had the desire to have kids. It wasn't something he dreaded, but never at any point of his life had he entertained the idea of him being a parent. Children were a wonderful thing, whether human or Pokemon he had always found babies adorable, but he had just never pictured himself having one.
But Mairin clearly had, and while she had never vocally said much, as his thoughts ran through his mind Alain seemed to remember all the little times. The way she had fawned over two year old North when her brother had married Grace, how protective and gentle she had been when she had found Kade's egg all those years ago. He watched Mairin for a moment longer, and she seemed to relax slightly now that she had spoken the thoughts she had clearly been keeping in for a long time now.
"N-now..." Alain said, voice slightly shaky. "Now wouldn't be a bad time," He whispered. They had no plans for the immediate future, and financially they were stable– they weren't ready, but now wasn't a bad time. His mouth was still dry. "If... if you really are pregnant, I think we're in an okay place..."
Mairin's eyes brightened, some of the worry in her eyes fading. "Y-you think we're ready?"
Alain's throat felt tight. "We have time to prepare."
His voice was much steadier than he felt.
Mairin let out a small laugh, a nervous edge to the titter, but her eyes shown. "Yeah, we can prepare... we'll be just fine," She looked up at Alain, a smile coming onto her face. "Parents... we might be parents."
Her excitement was enough to make him give a small smile, and the tension in the room seemed to lesson. Alain pushed himself to his feet, salad left forgotten. "Do you think you can eat anymore?"
Mairin looked down at her half eaten bowl of fruit. "...No."
He nodded, body feeling strangely disconnected as he walked around the table to her side. He helped her stand, his arms protectively embracing her as she rose. She returned the hug, tiredly leaning against him. He stared over her shoulder, at nothing in particular as his thoughts continued running through him. He closed his eyes, holding her closer.
"You need to rest," Alain said softly. "You just go back to bed, alright? I'll clean up everything."
"I can help," Mairin muttered, and he simply kissed the top of her head.
"You can," Alain muttered back. "But you can also get some rest."
She gave a tired chuckle, before pulling away from him. She looked up at him one more time, amber eyes staring up at him as he averted his gaze. He was aware of what was happening around him, but he truly didn't process anything as Mairin headed towards the hallway that lead to their bedroom. He stared at the doorway for several minutes, in a strange trance until he heard a door shut.
He blinked, taking in what had just happened.
Pregnant... Mairin might be pregnant... she probably was. A baby was going to be brought into their lives, a whole new chapter unfolding. Alain staggered back to their table, collapsing into the chair, heart hammering. His hands dug into his hair, blue eyes blankly staring down at the table.
There was no way he could be a father.
His breathing turned strained, fingers digging into his head. The fear was running through him, and he didn't know how to handle it. He had never had any experience with children– not even a younger sibling. He had no idea how to care for a helpless infant, how to provide it with what a child would need.
He didn't even have a childhood to look back on to help him.
Alain pushed himself to his feet, walking out of the dining room, limbs feeling heavy. His heart was beating heavily, eyes narrowed, but he wasn't angry. The only thing he was feeling was a raw fear, wondering just what was going to be coming into his life. He didn't doubt Mairin's ability to be a mother– but he would be nothing but a burden when it came to a child. But... but she had seemed so happy– he would only be hurting her if he expressed that his feelings were only opposite.
Alain came into focus with his surrounds as he heard the sound of something dialing– and he realized he was sitting in front of the video phone in the family room. He stared as it sent out the call, recognizing the number he had dialed without thought. Alain gulped, but made no effort to stop the call. The screen flashed as the call was answered, a familiar figure on screen.
"Hello?"
The corner of Alain's mouth twitched. "P-professor."
Professor Sycamore smiled. "Hello, Alain," The professor was in the back of the lab– Alain recognized the room right off. The professor was looking over a device of some kind, a screwdriver in his hand as he poked at a panel. "Did you leave something at the lab?"
"No, sir," Alain said, and he felt his mouth going dry again. "I... I just wanted to talk to you."
Professor Sycamore looked up, blue eyes curious. "Well, I'm all ears, I'm not planning to turn in for sometime."
Alain nodded slowly, it wasn't that late, but yet he felt exhausted. He lowered his head for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. "I... I have no idea of what I should do."
The professor heard the stress in his voice, and looked up from his work. "About what?"
Alain swallowed. "Mairin and I were talking today..." He paused, considering just what he should say. "...And she starting talking about kids," Alain muttered, feeling slightly on edge when he saw a smile pull at the corner of the professor's mouth. "She– she wants to start a family."
His words feel flat, not even describing the feelings running through him.
"That's definitely a big step," Professor Sycamore said, watching Alain. "You have been married for a few years now, and seem to be in a good position to do so," The professor raised an eyebrow. "However, there is much more to having a family than being in a good situation– is a family something you feel that you two are ready for?"
Alain's heart twisted, and he looked away. "I..."
He didn't need to say another word, Professor Sycamore simply setting his machine to the side, looking at the camera. His eyes studied Alain for a moment, gaze slipping away. "You don't think you're ready."
His tone was even, calming, making it perfectly clear that this was alright.
Alain looked down. "N-no, there's no way I'm ready to have a family," Alain whispered, and he shook his head. "I... I never even considered the idea before, I just..." He gritted his teeth. "I just never thought about having that as apart of my life."
"But clearly you're thinking about it now," Professor Sycamore said. "That's the point of talking about it, this is something you two need to think about. You said she just brought it up, this isn't something you have to figure out right this moment."
Alain said nothing.
The screen flickered, Professor Sycamore studying his expression through the video phone, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "...Unless this was more than just talking about it."
Alain's heart felt heavy. "She... she thinks she's pregnant," He glanced away. "And I know Mairin, I trust her... if she thinks she's pregnant then I know she is."
Professor Sycamore's eyes clearly showed that this news made him happy, but he kept his voice even as he spoke to Alain. "And how do you feel about this?"
"Mairin's excited," Alain whispered, still not looking at the screen. "Nervous, but she's so excited."
"I didn't ask how Mairin felt about it, Alain," Professor Sycamore said. "I asked how you felt."
His heart thumped. "...Terrified. Absolutely terrified."
"That's natural, Alain," Sycamore said. "Fatherhood is–"
"No," Alain whispered. "I'm terrified– I don't feel anything else. I'm not excited, I'm not happy– I'm scared," His vision blurred, and he looked at the professor. "I... I don't want a baby."
Professor Sycamore's gaze was gentle. "Did you tell this to Mairin?"
He pulled back. "Are you crazy?" Alain hissed. "How on earth could I tell that to her– she wants the baby! I couldn't tell her that I didn't want it, that would only hurt her," Alain took in a ragged breath. "If this is what she wants then I will support her, and I won't burden her with any feelings that might hold her back from this."
"Alain," Professor Sycamore snapped– and his tone was no longer gentle. "That is not how parenthood works. This is a commitment that you both need to make– you cannot simply keep your feelings buried!"
"What do you want me to do?" Alain snapped back. "Tell Mairin that I don't want the kid? What would that do to our relationship?"
"Alain, you need to be honest– so you can work through this together! Mairin is your wife, you are partners, equals, and you're meant to do things together!" The professor took in a deep breath. "You... you need to give yourself more than one day to think this over as well– parenthood is much more than 'yes' or 'no'."
"You have no idea what I'm feeling right now," Alain whispered.
"Yes, I do," Professor Sycamore said softly, and Alain glared at him. "A baby you didn't plan on? I know what that feels like. Knowing that it will change your relationship, and not knowing if it will be for the better? I've been there."
Alain stared at the professor.
Professor Sycamore looked away, his gaze locked behind Alain as his former student watched him. After a moment the professor took in a deep breath, his tone becoming soft once more. "I was only twenty when I learned I was going to be a father– perhaps a month away from returning to my studies in Sinnoh, with a girlfriend that was still going to college."
Alain continued staring– he was well aware that Sycamore had spent several years studying under Professor Rowan– but this was a story he hadn't heard before.
"I had no idea of what we were going to do," Professor Sycamore said, eyes distant. "I wasn't ready to be a father, let alone wanting to be one," He sighed. "I'm... I'm not saying that it will be the same with you, Alain, but this is something that should be given time," His eyes gleamed. "As time passed, my feelings changed– because this wasn't some forgien thing that would be coming into my life– this was my child. My flesh and blood," He swallowed. "I grew to love that baby."
"What happened?" Alain asked, not sure of what to expect– because he had never even heard so much as the professor even having a kid.
"...I said there was more to raising a child than being in a good situation," Professor Sycamore said softly. "But that is still a part of it," He closed his eyes. "We weren't married, we were both going to school– we were not in the situation to raise a child. I know that there are people out there that probably were in the same state as us and were able to raise a wonderful family, but that was something I personally couldn't do," The professor gave the smallest of smiles. "We gave our son up for adoption. It was the hardest thing I have ever done... but I wanted him to have the best future– and that was something I couldn't offer him."
"Professor..."
He took in a deep breath. "Alain, this is your family you are talking about– and it's up to you and Mairin to make it the best you can be. She needs to understand how you feel, and you need to understand how she feels," He shook his head. "You cannot simply guess and push everything to the side. Whether you are ready or not, this is your child, Alain."
He shook his head. "I can't do this."
"This is your child– and it's your responsibility to make sure that they have the best life they can," The professor said. "That can be in a home that you and Mairin provide– but if this is something that both of you aren't ready for, then there are many people out there that cannot have children of their own," The professor gave him a gentle smile. "But right now, Alain, the most important thing is to truly figure out how you feel, and see if there's more than this fear."
Alain's hands tightened. "You don't understand," Alain whispered. "I can't be a father."
"But you are," Professor Sycamore said.
"You can call someone a father all you want," Alain growled. "But that does not make them a dad. You can give them responsibility, but that doesn't mean they're going to accept it. A father is more than blood or signing a paper. A father is someone that's supposed to be th-there for a child!" He closed his eyes, tears stinging his face. "A father is supposed to be someone that takes care of you!"
A silence fell across the room, tears pouring down Alain's face, and he found himself shaking. He blinked, vision blurring as he sat there, another wave of fear crashing down on him. He took in a struggling breath, trying to shove the memories to the back of his mind. This wasn't about then– this was about now. Alain tried to stop his shaking, tried to make the tears stop flowing, but his body wasn't listening to him.
"...The baby isn't what's scaring you," Professor Sycamore said softly.
Alain couldn't keep back his emotions anymore– and he broke down sobbing. His shoulders hunched, form shaking as the tears came from him unrestrained. Despite the professor being right there, no one was able to hold him, so he clung to himself. The sobs shook his chest, the professor's words bitterly true.
It wasn't the baby he was afraid of bringing into his life– it was the mere thought of him being in their life.
He couldn't be a father– how could he take on the role when he knew nothing of what a father was suppose to be? All he knew was of cold nights and a throbbing limbs. Of fear and the bitter smell of alcohol.
"I can't," Alain whispered, trembling. "Y-you don't understand," His eyes pressed shut, heart simply hurting. "I don't want to be like him, I don't want to be like him," It was painful to swallow. "Wh-what if I'm like him?"
A pair of warm arms wrapped around him.
Startled at the sudden contact, Alain found himself going still, heart still hammering in his chest. Her warm embrace was all too familiar, holding him gently as she pressed up against him. His eyes slide open, looking down at the hands that he had so often held in his own.
"Alain," Mairin whispered, leaning against him. "You're not the only one that's afraid."
His sobs had stopped, but the tears were still coming. He turned, looking up into Mairin's gaze. He grabbed one of her hands, holding it tightly in his own. "H-how long have you...?"
"I came down to see if you were alright, but I didn't want to interrupt," Mairin said quietly, eyes flickering to the video phone. Alain said nothing, simply pulling her in close, not caring that she had probably heard most of their conversation.
"I can't do this," Alain whispered. "I can't be like him."
"The only person you're going to be is the person you want to be," Mairin said softly, leaning against him. "And I know you only strive to be better, Alain."
Her words were comforting, but yet a part of him couldn't believe her. How could he be better when he was still the same person he was yesterday? Why was she still at his side when she knew that he had been burying how he truly felt? Still he held her, wanting no one else in the moment.
"I believe I should get going," Professor Sycamore said softly, their attention returning to the phone. "If you need anything I'm only one call away," He looked over the young couple. "I know that both of you trust each other– but what I think you need is a little faith in yourself."
Alain looked away.
"Thank you, Professor," Mairin said softly.
He nodded, and a few moments later the screen flickered to black. Alain stared at where the professor had been, thoughts and emotions still welling up in him. He was still just as fearful as before, the doubt was still in his mind, and his hand tightened around Mairin's. Neither of them said a word, and he was waiting for his thumping heart to calm down. He swallowed hard, wondering how the professor could expect him to expel this doubt and replace it with faith. Nothing had changed, he was still the same person no matter what he thought of himself.
But... but he wasn't his father.
His fear he felt towards himself wasn't from what he had done– it was from what he didn't want to become. His fear wasn't a reality, and he couldn't let that hold him back. Alain's heart thumped.
"Mairin," Alain said softly, and she squeezed his hand. "I... I'm still not ready for this."
Mairin said nothing, and again he swallowed hard. Faith, the professor had said. Sometimes what he already knew wasn't enough, sometimes one had to step out farther than what they knew, trust what they didn't understand.
"But I am willing to try."
"Whoa," Mairin whispered, listening to the quiet pulses coming from the from the machine the doctor was holding. The part he was holding up to her stomach was cold against her, but she couldn't care less as she listened to the small thumps– fast and unrelenting as it thrummed along.
There was no words that could describe what she was feeling as she heard that fragile little heartbeat.
She was three months along, and while any onlooker probably wouldn't notice she was pregnant, this heartbeat showed that there was life in her. She swallowed, letting the small thumping echo in the silence of the room. It wasn't just a heartbeat– it was her baby's– her child's. A euphoria was spreading through her, limbs feeling light as she listened to the tiny beat.
"It seems you have a strong little one in there," The doctor said, and Mairin held up a hand before he could pull it away, simply wanting to listen longer.
"That's my baby," Mairin whispered, mesmerized.
Alain squeezed her hand, but said nothing.
The joy rushing through her was indescribable, and even when she could no longer hear the heartbeat it echoed in her mind. A soft smile was on her face, unwavering as she sat there, the doctor preparing for the ultrasound. Mairin's hand brushed along her stomach, the child growing in her feeling more real than ever.
She shivered as the gel was spread on her, the ultrasound machine being pressed up against her. Like for the heartbeat, it was freezing cold, but she remained still. Her eyes turned up towards the screen on the wall. A mass of black and gray could be seen as the doctor shifted it about, trying to get a clear image. Her hand remained tightly grasp in Alain's, waiting to see image of the child within her.
She took in a sharp breath as something that resembled a head appeared on screen, and the doctor paused, before shifting it once more. Mairin craned her head as much as she could without sitting up, trying to get the best view of the screen. Perhaps a minute later the doctor held still, smiling at the image up on screen.
Mairin's heart thumped, looking at the image of her child.
The head was the most clear feature of the black and gray image, the small body and the legs curving out from it. She swallowed hard, a pair of tiny arms visible, pressed against the tiny baby's chest. Hearing the heartbeat had been amazing, but looking at the image of her child for the first time was something else. Tears stung her eyes, and for a moment she forgot to breath as she looked at the image of her baby.
"There she is," Mairin whispered.
The kind doctor gave a small smile. "That we can find out at your next appointment."
Mairin gave a small nod, though she was already confident that the child within her was a girl. She kept her eyes trained on the screen, looking at the small child that was in her. One hand tightened around Alain's, the other drifting towards her waist. She swallowed hard as the doctor pulled the machine away, that smile still on her, tears running down her face.
"A-alain?" She asked in a small voice, looking towards the seat where her husband was sitting. He hadn't said anything the whole appointment, gaze straight ahead. She squeezed his hand, trying to get some form of response from her husband. He still didn't say anything, swallowing.
After a moment Alain looked towards her, blinking rapidly. There were tears lining his blue eyes, and it took him a moment to find his voice.
"That was our baby," Alain whispered.
Mairin gave a small nod, squeezing his hand again. "Yes, it was."
Alain opened his mouth, eyes still watering as he tried to speak. He swallowed after a moment, speaking softly. "She's beautiful."
"Mairin! What on earth are you doing?!"
His wife looked up at him as he bolted outside, amber eyes blinking once. She stared at him as he rushed to her side, before turning back to what she had been doing before. Mairin was kneeling down in the earth, dirt covering her arms and pants as she pulled up a weed from the ground.
"I'm weeding," Mairin replied, pushing side one of the Oran berry bushes, pulling up another weed.
Mairin was seven months pregnant– and her round stomach was more than enough to show that. She had a sunhat on to shade her from the heat as she dug through the dirt, not bothering to wear gloves, fingers digging into the earth. Perhaps it was a nice sight, his wife happily sitting out in their garden while she worked, but there was only panic in Alain's eyes as he rushed up to her.
"You're pregnant!" Alain cried.
Mairin let out a fake gasp. "What? I had no idea!" She smirked slightly, and continued to search for weeds, despite Alain laying a hand on her shoulder, trying to get her to stand up. On the other side of the garden a certain Florges was laughing, clearly enjoying the way Alain was panicking. "I don't think there's any laws against gardening while pregnant."
"You should be resting," Alain insisted, and Mairin only grinned as she pulled up yet another weed. "Not sitting in the sun, not working– what if you get overheated?" His eyes widened. "You don't even have a water bottle out here!"
"I can get some from the hose," Mairin said, and Alain blanched.
"It's been outside," Alain whispered, saying the last word as if this were the worst thing on earth. "With dirt and bug types crawling all over it– you cannot drink hose water!"
"It's hooked to the house, it's the same thing that I'm drinking inside," Mairin replied.
"But the hose has been sitting outside!"
Mairin simply laughed, and Alain stared at her in disbelief that his wife was just ignoring the clear dangers around them. It wasn't just her– there was their little baby as well! The mere thought of their little Faith getting sick made his stomach turn, and once more he grabbed Mairin's shoulder. To his relief she did stand up, breathing heavily with effort– but she only walked several steps before kneeling down once more– weeding another part of the garden.
"I just can't let the garden die because we're going to have a baby," Mairin said, clearly humored by his expression. "Bébé does most of the work anyways, and she could use some help."
"You need to rest," Alain said. "Mairin, please, what if something happened?"
His wife sighed. "Alain, what's going to happen? I'm literally only a few steps from the house if something did go wrong– I just want the chance to be outside," She pulled up another weed. "I just feel like I've been cooped up."
Alain bit his cheek. "...But do you have to strain yourself? I could take care of the garden for you..."
She laughed. "I don't think you could tell what's a weed and what's not," She pushed back a strand of hair, smiling up at him, and his heart skipped a beat. She looked exhausted, but yet she was still so beautiful, eyes lit up. "I learned my lesson when you dug up my hostas."
"But Bébé knows what is what," Alain said, gesturing to Mairin's garden. "So why don't you come and sit in the shade, and you can let that Florges do the gardening. I could get you something to drink, and you could just enjoy the view instead of working."
She adjusted her sunhat. "...Alright, but just this once," She braced herself, and Alain leaned forward to help her stand. "But I am capable of helping around the house– you and the Pokemon have been doing everything these last few months."
Alain wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in close. "We just want the best for you and Faith."
They had never even paused to consider names for their daughter– in the early months it had always been 'the baby', and once they had learned that they were having a girl (as Mairin insisted they would), they had taken to the name 'Faith' without any thought. Preparing for a new member of their family had been a journey, and every step of the way they had been depending on faith.
It was simply fitting that Faith was now who they were waiting for.
Mairin allowed Alain to lead her towards the house, where he set up a patio chair out on the grass. He only smiled as she rolled her eyes, sitting with a grunt of effort, taking off her hat. Even if she was doing her best to be independent, he knew that she didn't mind a bit of pampering. She looked out over their small yard, a hand on her belly as Alain set up a chair next to her.
"How are you feeling?" Alain asked, smiling as she reached for his hand.
"...Just tired all the time," Mairin finally said after a moment. "And my feet hurt," She flashed him a smile. "But hey, I'm pretty sure my morning sickness is gone for good."
"Knock on wood," Alain replied– last time she had said that she had woken up in the middle of the night sick. "But if your feet are still hurting why were you in the garden again?"
"I was kneeling, not standing," Mairin replied, somewhat smugly, as if this resolved everything. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes with a soft sigh. Alain watched her as she relaxed, this was much better than seeing her pushing herself with working. This is what she deserved, calmness and peace.
"You know you look too beautiful," Alain whispered, and her amber eyes opened up.
"I look like a fat and sweaty mess," She replied. "Like I'm going to pop anyday."
Alain grinned. "You have a few more months to go until you can say that," He said, and she rolled her eyes as she let them slide shut again. "And by the way, you still look too beautiful."
Alain loved the way she smiled, the way her happiness just made the sun look dim. He squeezed her hand once, and she squeezed his in reply. His gaze flickered down to her stomach, and he tried to imagine how she'd look with a small child in her arms. Only months ago the thought would have made his stomach twist– but now his heart fluttered. He had no idea what the child would look like, but now it felt so right.
"...Alain?"
"Yes?" Alain replied, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts.
"...Are we going to give Faith a middle name?" Mairin asked after a moment, frowning down at her pregnant stomach.
Alain blinked, before frowning as well. "A middle name?"
"Yeah," Mairin said, sitting up a bit.
He shrugged. "Hmm. I never thought that much of middle names to be honest, it's not really necessary."
"Oh," Mairin said, eyes drifting towards the ground.
Alain shifted uncomfortably as her face fell slightly, and he squeezed her hand again. "I mean, if you have something in mind..."
Mairin pulled her hand away, laying both onto her pregnant belly. "I, um, don't really have any ideas... My siblings just had middle names growing up and I guess... I was kinda always jealous of that," She shrugged. "We don't have to do middle names. Just promise me that whatever we do we for Faith that we'll do the same for any other kids we have."
Alain watched Mairin for a moment, her expression unreadable for most part, but he could read her amber eyes with ease. His gaze hardened at the distant look she was getting, and he sat up. "You know what? Middle names sound wonderful."
"Alain, I said we don't have to–"
"And I said that we should," Alain cut her off, crossing his arms. "You said that you wanted to do middle names, and I now agree– nothing else to discuss but choosing out a name."
Mairin stared at him for a moment, before giving a weak chuckle. "You, Alain Vide, are stubborn."
"Maybe a little," He said, reaching out to take her hand once more. Her fingers slipped between his, and he let out a small sigh. "...But do you have any name ideas in mind? Because I have nothing."
Her eyes lit up. "Well, I was thinking something like Vaya or something would be a pretty name. Or maybe Viva...? Faith Viva?" She frowned. "Doesn't really flow though..."
"You have time to think about it," Alain said. "You don't have to come up with something right now."
"'You'? As in I'm going to be the only one thinking of name ideas?" Mairin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know I'm horrible with names!" Alain said, shifting. "I'm sure Faith will be thanking you if you're the one that comes up with a middle name... why are you looking at me like that? Mairin, we both know that my naming skills are horrible– don't look at me like that!"
She crossed her arms. "You have to give me at least one name idea– not just a random name," She added when he opened his mouth. "I want you to really think on it, and give me a name you truly like."
Alain stared at her for a moment, but her glare made it quite clear that she wasn't going to change her mind. He let out a sigh, but began casting his mind about into the empty abyss of his head that was name ideas. The first thing that came to his head was Bob– which wasn't that great of a start for a middle name for his little girl. He threw it aside, trying to think of something that would satisfy Mairin– but every idea he got seemed worse than the last. He closed his eyes, wondering why he was even trying when he knew this wasn't going to work.
His eyes slid open– and he found Mairin still glaring at him.
It seemed she wanted a name idea right now. Just wonderful– how did she expect him to think of something? They both knew that they would just probably go with whatever she thought of because her ideas wouldn't make them cringe like his would. But the glare was pretty convincing, so once again he poured over his mind for girl names.
A name he truly liked...? There were only a few female names that fit that bill– the name 'Mairin' being at the top of that list. Of course he knew that Mairin would not jump at the idea of naming the baby after her. He also had grown very fond of the name 'Faith' for obvious reasons, and for obvious reasons they couldn't use it as a middle name. Alain blinked, realizing just how little females there were in his life that truly meant something. Next up with Sophie, and then there was...
Alain paused, and he pulled back a little, speaking quietly. "...What about the name Harper?"
"Harper?" Mairin said, blinking. "That is actually quite a pretty name–" She paused, looking at Alain. "Wait, isn't that–?"
Alain's throat felt tight, and he gave a nod to confirm Mairin's question. "It's my m-mother's name."
They both fell silent, and Alain looked away. He didn't remember much about his mother, she had passed away when he was only four years old, but what he did remember never failed to make his heart warm. He couldn't remember what she looked like, not even the color of her eyes– but he remembered her smile. That memory was the clearest he had– his mother kneeling in a bed of lilies on a summer's afternoon, a warmest smile being given to him.
"I like it," Mairin said softly.
Alain looked away. "We don't have to pick something just because–"
"Faith Harper," Mairin insisted. "I like it, and it fits," She then gave Alain a smile, squeezing his hand. "And most importantly– it truly means something, which is more than I could ever come up with."
He watched his wife for a moment, eyes shining. "Mairin, come here."
She blinked, but leaned towards him. Alain reached out, cupping his hand under her chin as he pulled her into a kiss. His eyes slid shut as their lips met, Mairin's arm grabbing his as they embraced. After a moment he pulled back, and whispered softly into her ear:
"Thank you for showing me what family means."
Mairin was pacing the room of the nursery.
Her aching feet begged her to rest, but still she nervously continued her pacing as she stared down at the phone, finger hovering over the call button. The number staring up at her was too familiar, mocking her as she tried to muster the courage to call. They had a right to know, she wanted them to know, she just had to press the button.
She couldn't do it.
Not even Alain had been a source of courage for this– he had flat out told her not to do it.
A part of her agreed with him– they didn't care– so why should she bother? She drowned out that voice though, reminding herself just who she was trying to call. It would be wrong not to tell them, and she had waited this long. The professor and Sophie knew. Justin and his family knew. It would only be right for the rest of her family to know that she was pregnant as well. And with her baby shower in a week she felt it would be wrong to put this off any longer.
Taking in a deep breath, she pressed the call button and held the phone up to her ear.
Sweat began to form along her skin as she listened to the phone dial, calling the very people she hadn't spoken to in ages. She had made a habit to always called on Christmas, but even those calls were short and meaningless, just exchanges of memorized season greetings before hanging up. She did tried to make it something more, but her attempts had always failed. It felt so strange to be contacting them in the summer, but she swallowed all of her doubt and simply let the phone ring.
Her call was answered exactly on the third ring. "Harold Floraison speaking."
Her throat tightened as she heard his voice, familiar, but yet it felt more like a distant memory. She sat there for a moment, not sure of how to reply, but she forced herself to speak up.
"H-hi Dad," Mairin whispered into the phone.
For a moment there was no response, just a stunned silence until Harold spoke again. "...Mairin...?"
She bit the inside of her cheek, realizing that he was merely guessing. That he didn't even recognize her voice. She didn't let her disappointment show though, and continued the conversation. "Yep. It's me... um– how are you doing?"
"I'm working," He replied, his voice slipping into an uninterested drone. "Is there a reason why you're calling?"
Her heart sputtered, a part of her just telling her to hang up.
"Y-yes," She said, still pacing the room nervously as she spoke. "I wanted to talk to you and M-mom. There's something I wanted to tell you guys."
"I don't see why this couldn't have waited," Her father replied, and Mairin stiffened up– these words very familiar. Again her heart struggled against her chest, use to hearing these words every time she had managed to force her parents' attention onto her. 'Waiting' was one of their favorite things to talk about– but yet never would a time come that the waiting would be over.
She didn't have a reply, nor an excuse that would work to keep his attention– she so simply blurted out the reason why she had called– not knowing what else to do.
"I'm pregnant!" Her words rushed out, almost mushing together, and she took in a sharp breath as she tried to calm herself down. "I– I mean– I mean I wanted to tell you and Mom that I'm pregnant. Y-you're going to have a grandchild," She paused as her mind turned to her brother's children. "A-another one."
"Pregnant?" Harold repeated, tone remaining the same.
"Yes, I'm going to be having a baby, a little girl," She said, feeling a bit calmer now that she had gotten her message across.
She paused, listening for what he would say. She told herself not to expect much, because that would lead to disappointment, but... but she remembered how excited her parents had been when Hope had been born, and how happy they had been when North had been brought into the family through Justin's marriage. Her parents had always seemed so happy when it came to their grandchildren, so maybe... just maybe...
"That's nice, Mairin."
Mairin's throat tightened as she heard those words, heart thumping painfully, but she forced herself to keep speaking. "I- I'm due in eight weeks... and I'm having a shower a week from now– y-you guys are invited to come."
"That's nice, Mairin," He said again.
Those three words– those three little words that had haunted her childhood. 'That's nice, Mairin.' To anyone else those words would seem so harmless, just a casual comment, but to Mairin they were the words she had always dreaded to hear, but yet what she got the most. Just used to shrug off whatever she had accomplished like it was nothing.
She had drawn a picture– That's nice, Mairin.
She had gotten a hundred on her spelling test– That's nice, Mairin.
She had a presentation in school– That's nice, Mairin.
Today was her birthday– That's nice, Mairin.
She was leaving on a journey– That's nice, Mairin.
She had gotten a job– That's nice, Mairin.
She was getting married– That's nice, Mairin.
She was going to be a mother, but as always all she got was– That's nice, Mairin.
An automatic response, handed to her as if that would satisfy her. As if they could make her believe that those words actually meant something. She had learned a long time ago that they were just mere excuses, the words hints for her to do something else and leave them alone. She should have expected this, she shouldn't have let that horrid phrase hurt her– but yet she had been hoping... hoping that perhaps this one thing would mean something more to them than just another thing to brush off. Her heart felt so heavy, it ached so much, and she hated herself for letting her build up hope.
She took in a struggling breath. "P-please Dad, don't say that," She whispered, eyes pressing shut as tears began to form. "Say anything but that. If you don't care then just say so!"
"What do you want me to say?" He asked, voice still had horrible even tone.
She felt a wave of emotion surge, and she had to fight to keep it back– to keep a burst back of what else he could have said to Mairin her entire life. She knew that her words would be wasted though, meaningless as everything else she had ever said to them. Instead she struggled with herself, wrestling to get ahold of her bitterness and force herself to speak.
"Just tell me the truth," Mairin whispered, hand tightening on the phone. "Not excuses and white lies– just tell me how you feel," Her voice cracked, and she struggled for her next words. "D-dad... please just be straight with me– do you want anything to do with me? My life? D-do you want anything to do with my child?"
Silence.
Her heart thumped, waiting for some response. There was only silence on the other line, and for a dreaded moment she was afraid that he had simply hung up, not even offering the courtesy of an answer. But then she heard him take in a deep breath, his next words still the same tone this entire conversation had been.
"Mairin, me and your mother are getting older," He said with a sigh. "And sometimes it's hard for us to–"
"I get it," Mairin snapped, cutting him off before he could continue. She knew what he was saying, she had to read between the lines so many times before in her life that she didn't even need to guess what he was saying. "You know, Dad? A simple 'no' would have just worked instead– but I guess giving a clear answer is just something you just can't do."
"I'm a busy man, Mairin," Harold replied.
"No," Mairin whispered. "Not always. Just too busy for me," Her world started to blur, tears falling down her face– but she wasn't surprised. She had known them for too long for much to surprise her anymore. "But I understand– you guys have never wanted me in your life– so I guess there's no reason for me to keep trying."
Silence.
"I... I decided a long time ago that my children would be raised in a loving home," Mairin said quietly. "And if a moment of interest can't even be offered from you, then you're not going to be a part of their lives," She shifted. "I know that you don't care, but I just thought I should make that clear."
"I see."
She shook her head sadly. "No Dad, I'm afraid you honestly don't see. You can't see anything outside of the bubble you've created," She felt her emotions crawling just below the surface, wanting to burst out and scream, but she kept the anger and sorrow at bay. "...I guess this is goodbye."
"I suppose," He replied, tone taking on a slight edge, as if he just wanted the call to end.
"W-will you at least tell Mom everything?" Mairin whispered, knowing that it wouldn't matter, but a part of her still wanted her mother to know.
"I'll see," Her father made no attempt to hide his sigh, and she closed her eyes.
"G-goodbye Dad," She whispered, and she hesitated for a moment, wondering why she was even considering to say anything more. She knew their answer, she knew their response, and she knew that after all these years she shouldn't feel this way. But yet... this was her father, these were her parents, and somehow some part of her found these next words still as true. "I l-love you."
"Goodbye Mairin," Harold said after a moment– and the line went dead.
She held the phone to her ear for a few seconds longer, simply taking in what had just happened. She wasn't surprised in anyway– she had said those words for years and had never gotten a response from them. Only her brother had ever been the one to say those words back to her as a child, the only one who had ever cared about her growing up.
But the first time those words had felt like they had truly meant something was the first time Alain had whispered them softly to her.
Mairin didn't cry as she hung up the phone– tears were streaming down her face– but she didn't cry. She simply stared straight ahead as she slipped the device away into her pocket, realizing just what she had done. After twenty-two years of life, she had officially cut the bonds between her and her parents, ending the constant struggle to get more than a glance from them. She felt like she should be sad right now, and she was shaking, but the only sorrow she felt was the same she had all her life– wishing that she was worth something to them.
She wiped away her tears, glancing around the nursery she and Alain had spent so much time working on– making sure that everything a young child would need was in here. She ran her fingers longside a the top of the crib, swallowing hard. She had this as well growing up– she had always had every physical need met– food, clothes, a warm house and bed.
She had never been given a second glance however, she had never been spared a smile or a hug unless she had begged. She had grown up knowing that she was merely second, and the rest of her family was first. She had grown up in a cloud on loneliness that still haunted her to this day, even though she had surrounded herself with people that truly cared.
She laid a hand on her pregnant belly, gulping.
"Faith, I love you," She said aloud, voice echoing through the room. "I haven't even seen you face to face yet, but I know that I love you," Mairin took in a deep breath. "And I promise you that I will never let you even doubt that– you are part of this family– I and will make sure that you know that. I promise that you will be loved, and I promise that home will be a place that you can feel safe," She swallowed, fresh tears running down her face. "You are the most important thing in my life, and nothing will say otherwise."
Her hand drifted from her stomach to the phone in her pocket, fingers tingling. Again Mairin wiped away her tears, forcing herself to sit up straight as she tried to compose herself. She wrapped both arms around her stomach, simply letting a smile overtake her face as she felt her unborn shift within her. She spared one more glance around the nursery– then went in search of Alain.
Perhaps someone might say that today she had lost her family.
But today she was simply embracing those who had truly been her family all along.
"Alain– she's kicking!" Mairin called excitedly from the livingroom, and Alain swiftly set down his spoon, placing a lid on top of the pan he had been cooking with. He bolted from the kitchen, not wasting a moment as he hurried to his wife's side.
This was far from the first time the baby had kicked– with only weeks until the baby's due date the kicking had become almost common routine– but there was just simply something addictive about feeling their child moving about. Mairin scooted over so he could sit next to her, one hand already pressed to her stomach as she felt their unborn daughter. There was a huge smile on her face, and she turned to face Alain, moving her hand out of the way.
Alain pressed his own hand against her side, letting her guide it to where Faith's foot would be. A grin on his own spread over his face as he felt the small, sharp kick against his palm, and he looked up at Mairin as he let out a small laugh. They simply grinned at each other, the moment something that couldn't be described to anyone else. He moved his hand down as Faith kicked again, this time the baby keeping her foot pressed against Mairin.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Alain asked in a soft voice, still mesmerized by his little Faith.
"...It does hurt," Mairin said after a moment of thought. "But... it's not painful? If that makes sense? Just the thought that this is my little baby just takes away any pain there is."
Mairin nudged Alain's hand to the side, pressing her own in his place. He raised an eyebrow, but placed his hands in his lap as he let Mairin have a chance, even though she got to feel the baby at all times. He turned his attention from her belly to her face, an exhausted look in Mairin's eyes, but yet she still looked so happy. Alain's smile managed to widened, simply amazed that this beautiful woman next to him was his wife, and that within her was their child.
"You know... technically it could be any day now," Alain said. "Some babies come early."
The smallest look of worry passed over Mairin's face. "D-don't remind me..."
"What?" Alain asked, looking slightly surprised at this reaction. "Aren't you excited for the baby to come?"
"I'm excited for the baby," Mairin replied, shooing his hand away when he tried to reclaim the spot Faith was kicking. "I'm just not excited to have to push a child out of me."
"But it'll be worth it," Alain said with a smile– but yet Mairin was glaring at him.
"Easy for you to say," She snapped coolly. "You don't have to go through labor!"
Alain shifted, able to sense the dangerous waters approaching. "...We'll get through this, don't worry, Mairin."
Wrong answer.
"We'll get through this?" Mairin asked in a dangerous tone, raising an eyebrow. "Don't worry?" Despite being a whole head taller than Mairin, Alain couldn't help but pull back. "I'm going to be the one doing everything– so don't you dare say 'we'– you're just going to be standing off to the side not going through physical pain as I push a live baby out of me!"
Alain swiftly leapt to his feet. "I– um– left the heat on the stove!" He stuttered, taking a step towards the kitchen. "I should go check up on that!"
"Sure, go run off to your food," Mairin muttered, almost darkly. "But we're not done talking."
Alain had thought he had gotten use to his wife's mood swings these last few months– but it seemed that these last few weeks he'd need to be extra careful.
"Alain, wake up," Mairin hissed.
Alain groaned as he felt an arm shaking him, and his eyes opened to see a dark room. He muttered something, but the arm refused to stop shaking him. He twisted, eyes sweeping the blackness of his bedroom to find his alarm clock– his body knew it was much too early to be awake. Glowing red numbers informed him that it was 3:24 in the morning, and he groaned, ready to drift back off to sleep. He heard a sharp intake of breath as he sank down into his warm bed again, and suddenly a sharp elbow was jabbed into his side. Alain let out a gasp of pain, sitting straight up.
"Ouch! Mairin– what was that for?" He hissed, holding his side in pain. Mairin let out a whimper, and he glanced at her. "...Is everything alright?"
"Alain, my water broke," She whispered, unmoving as she laid there.
Alain's eyes widened, hand fumbling for the lamp. The light flickered on, illuminating the bedroom, and he swiftly turned to face Mairin. She was laying on her back, face twisted in fear and pain, sweat forming along her face. For a moment he only stared, panic rushing through him as he tried to take in her words.
Then he threw himself out of bed, leaping to his feet as he rush around to her side of their bed. "Oh my Arceus, oh my Arceus, oh my Arceus," He muttered, stumbling as he grabbed her hand. "I– Um– oh no... Are you going into labor? Um, should I grab towels or–!"
"No, I'm just in agony for the fun of it!" Mairin spat sarcastically, teeth gritting together. "Y-yes I'm in labor!"
"Oh Xerneas, you're in labor," Alain muttered, eyes wide. "I– er– what do I do? Do you need water, or towels, um–"
"I don't care about stupid towels!" Mairin shouted. "Get me to the hospital!"
"Oh, hospital, r-right..." Alain muttered, still in a daze. "I knew that..."
"Can't you guys do something?!" Alain cried, panic in his voice, his hand tightening around Mairin's.
"Mr. Vide," One of the nurses said in a calming voice. "We need you to relax, the anesthesiologist is on her way up. Your wife is just fine, she will be getting the epidural–"
"She's in pain!" Alain cried again, cutting off the poor nurse. "You need to do something, you just can't let my Mairin sit here and–!"
"A-alain," Mairin grunted, causing her husband to fall silent. He quickly returned to her side, hating seeing her go through the pains of labor. Her eyes squeezed shut, having to hiss out her next words through the pain. "D-do me a favor?"
"Anything," Alain said, clasping her hand tighter. "What do you need?"
"I n-need you," She grunted, eyes flashing. "To shut up and let me g-give birth to this baby!"
"Y-yes Mairin," Alain said swiftly.
The last five hours had been the most stressful moments of Alain's life. For all the grief Mairin had been giving him the last few weeks, he swore he was far more stressed than she was as the labor continued into the morning. He was sure that she had even rolled her eyes a few times at him in his panic. But nothing could make him relax seeing his wife in such stress and pain.
But the very thing they had been waiting so long for at last happened.
July 21. 8:37 AM. 7.9 pounds. 19.4 inches.
But Alain didn't care about the date or the numbers– all he cared about was the little girl bundled up in the pink blanket. The time nor the weight was nothing to him, only the fact that a healthy baby had been born. That after such a stressful morning and so much struggle his wife was fine– exhausted– but smiling.
Alain didn't care if every parent said this about their child– but Faith Harper Vide was the most beautiful baby in the hospital.
"Mairin," He whispered as he held the small bundle in his arms. "Look at her."
A small tuft of black hair was on top of the newborn's head, face scrunched up as she slept in her father's arms. One hand was visible beneath the blanket, pressed up near her face in a tiny fist. Alain cooed quietly, brushing a finger against her little thumb, causing Faith to shift. His arms tightened around her, yet still gently cradling her as he held his newborn daughter. He blinked, vision blurring slightly as tears entered his eyes.
"Let me see her," Mairin said, looking absolutely exhausted, yet alert as she laid in the hospital bed. She held out her arms, and Alain reluctantly held out Faith to her, knowing that Mairin deserved to hold the little baby after what she had gone through this morning. "Hello there."
He set Faith into her arms, Mairin bringing her in close to her chest. A soft sigh came from Mairin, eyes shining as she gave her sleeping daughter a smile. Alain looked at them for a moment, the image simply beautiful. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, knowing that he had to take a picture– this was a moment he simply couldn't forget.
"Oh, look at you..." Mairin whispered, brushing her hand down Faith's face. "Aren't you absolutely amazing..."
"It's hard to believe that the two most beautiful people are in the same room," Alain said softly, eyes unable to be taken off of his newborn. Mairin nodded in agreement, her focus solely on her baby. Alain snapped another photo, and then Mairin's eyes widened.
"Alain!" She cried softly, and her tone caused him to freeze up, phone falling to the bed. "Alain– she's opening her eyes!"
His panic fled at once, but still he rushed to her side. He leaned over Mairin's shoulder, looking down at Faith as her eyelids fluttered open in the bright light. Mairin let out a soft coo of excitement as the little baby blinked up at her parents, a toothless yawn escaping her. Her eyes were a dark gray, unfocused as she blinked again, before pressing them shut once more.
Alain just stared at the little baby in awe. They had been waiting for long for this moment... but he realized that this new chapter in their life was far from over– it had just began. There were countless years ahead with this little one at their side, and a rush of excitement ran through Alain at the thought. He reached out, brushing two fingers against Faith's cheek, and she leaned her head against him.
"She's amazing," Alain whispered, voice feeling like it was about to break. "Mairin– look at her. Look at how beautiful she is."
"I know," Mairin said, and with a small smile she allowed Alain to take the baby once more. "She looks so much like you."
Alain looked slightly startled at this statement, and he glanced over the baby. She did have his dark black hair, but outside of that he saw nothing in this child that reminded her of him. All he saw was an amazing little angel, who most definitely took after her mother. Of course it was too early to know just what color her eyes would become, but he had a feeling they would darken to Mairin's gorgeous amber– the shape of her eyes was clearly Mairin's.
"No," Alain said. "She's most definitely her mother's child," Alain sat down in the chair next to Mairin's bed. He held Faith so she was facing him, the little baby nestled into his arms. "Look at that perfect little face– just like yours."
Mairin rolled her eyes, but her smile was still there.
Alain leaned down, bringing Faith in close to his face. He could feel the warm puffs of air coming from the sleeping baby, and he pressed his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes, simply savoring this amazing and weightless feeling that was running through him. He didn't know how to describe it– he couldn't put it into words– but all he knew was that this felt so right. His wife by his side, his little daughter in his arms.
He opened his eyes as he heard a small click, and he looked up to see Mairin holding his fallen phone. She smiled down at the picture she had just taken, before bringing the phone to her heart. She looked up at Alain with gleaming eyes.
"You better send me this picture," She whispered. "I want to use it as my screensaver."
Alain let out a small laugh. "Anything you want," Alain promised. "Anything for you and this little one."
A sense of completeness had come over him– it wasn't just him and Mairin in their life now, but this little one as well.
Months ago he had been so afraid, but now he knew that this was what he needed. There was no other moment in his life that could even be compared to this. No place, no person, no goal was even close to what he was feeling right now. This... this was perfection.
This was family.