This is the final chapter to this simple story of pure fluff. Thank you so much for reading and I hope this final chapter is enjoyable.
You accompany Helena to every appointment now, and swell with affection when Helena smiles at you as she informs the doctor that you are in fact her partner now. He smiles as if to say he knew it was only a matter of time. Each appointment is more exciting than the last as you're informed of Christina's growth and progress. You also attend the prenatal classes where you learn with Helena about different breathing methods and expectations for delivery.
Helena voices her concerns as you cuddle on the sofa at night, her head resting in your lap, your fingers tracing through her hair. "You'll stay with me won't you, Myka, during the delivery?"
"Of course, Helena," you assure, entwining your fingers with hers. "I'll be by your side the entire time, no matter how long it may take."
"That's what scares me. To think it can take hours to deliver, in pain all that time," she shudders and you hold her closer.
"I wish there was a way I could ensure that there will be no pain, but I can assure you that I'll be there, holding your hand, helping in whatever way I can until Christina arrives."
Helena sits up then to embrace you in a desperate hug. "Thank you for being with me, Myka," she whispers against your ear. "I don't know what I would do without you. I can't imagine going through this all alone, and until I met you, I thought I would have to do just that."
You can feel tears well in your eyes at her words and feel the desperation in her embrace, gathering her closer to you to offer any comfort you can. "I love you, Helena, and I'll always be here for you."
"I love you too," she says as she nestles into your neck.
"Now, what story do you want to read tonight?" you ask lightly. It's habit now every night for Helena to read aloud one of the many children's stories you've acquired for Christina. You and Helena enjoy revisiting the stories you both loved as children, falling in love with them all over again as you share them with Christina.
"It was Winnie the Pooh last night, so I think The Tale of Peter Rabbit should do for tonight," she says.
Pulling the book from the stack on the coffee table, you hand Helena the book and follow along the page as she reads the story aloud. The inflections in her voice as she reads the story makes you feel such affection for her and you're amazed that this woman you love is in love with you too. Unable to restrain yourself, you brush a kiss along her cheek.
Helena stops reading to smile at you, brushing a quick kiss to your lips in response before continuing with the story, this time your head resting against her shoulder as she combs her fingers through your curls.
You spend a long Saturday painting the nursery a lavender color both you and Helena decided on. Helena wanted to help paint as well, but you steadfastly refused, having read that the fumes could be detrimental to Helena's health and the baby's if she were to help. Helena was only consoled when you finally stepped out of the nursery, splattered with paint on your face, your clothes, even in your hair.
"Did any paint make it onto the wall?" she asks with a grin as she steps close to you.
"Yes," you reply affronted, grasping her hand to lead her to the open doorway of the nursery. "See there?" you gesture to the room.
"Oh, Myka," Helena gasps. "It's lovely. Christina is sure to love it too," she smiles at you.
"Yeah, it's not bad," you agree. "It will look even better once I move the furniture back in place. I hope she'll feel safe and loved in this room."
Helena's arms glide around you. "She will feel as safe and loved as you make me feel," she assures as she places a kiss to your cheek.
You pull Helena to you in a gentle hug before pulling away again. "I should probably shower now, get this paint out of my hair and off of my face," you laugh.
Helena laughs with you. "I don't know, I find you rather attractive with splashes of lavender strewn across your skin," she says stepping into you, leaving a lingering kiss against the skin of your neck that makes your breath hitch. "However, if you insist on washing it away, perhaps I can be of assistance?" she says looking up at you with darkened eyes.
You gasp for breath as Helena continues to brush heated kisses along your skin. "I think that might be a good idea," you manage to speak. "I'm pretty sure I've managed to get paint in some hard to reach places. Your assistance," you shudder as Helena licks at your ear, "will be appreciated…necessary even," you add as Helena's hands slip under your shirt, drawing patterns along your abdomen.
"In that case, we best move along," Helena husks into your ear, her eyes shining as you're left to follow her down the hall. It amazes you that she manages to make you fall more in love with her every day, every moment.
Woolly is invited to dinner one night so you can integrate yourself more into Helena's life, and because you genuinely liked meeting Woolly at the concert and want to know him better.
"You've been good for Helena, Myka. Once I met you backstage of the concert, I knew it was only a matter of time before Helena admitted she was in love with you," Woolly says, eyes dancing as you all gather around the small dinner table.
"Woolly, really," Helena rolls her eyes at him before smiling softly at you.
"No, let him speak," you interject, grinning at Helena. "I want to hear what he has to say on the matter."
"Brilliant woman," he applauds you. "Myka, I have to say first though, this chicken Parmesan is incredible, it's no wonder Helena fell in love with you. Quite frankly, I would fall in love with you as well if you weren't already taken."
"Woolly, I fell in love with Myka for so much more than her ability to cook, exceptional though it may be," Helena winks at you and you can feel the familiar flutter in your stomach at the gesture.
"Quite right, quite right," he agrees. "As I intended to say, Myka, I knew it was only a matter of time before Helena admitted she was in love with you. She talked about you incessantly, always rushing off right after rehearsals to go home to you when before your arrival, she actually spent some time with yours truly."
"I'm sorry about that, Woolly," you apologize. "I know just what you're missing not having her near. She's intelligent, talented, witty, and incredibly beautiful, all reasons to miss her company," you say taking Helena's hand in yours as a blush rises in her cheeks.
"I feel the same about you, darling," Helena answers softly.
"Don't apologize, Myka," Woolly says, breaking the stare between you and Helena. "I'm so glad Helena has at last found someone to love her the way she deserves to be loved. And Christina too, is fortunate you've come along," he smiles at you. "The two of you are going to be wonderful parents to that little girl."
"We certainly hope so," Helena says, rubbing along the swell of her stomach.
When you come home from classes now, instead of finding Helena in the living room practicing violin, you're more likely to find her in Christina's nursery, either playing a soft melody on her violin, or more often than not, simply sitting in the glider chair, gently rocking, deep in thought, no doubt contemplating the impending arrival of Christina.
"Everything okay in here?" you smile as you step to Helena's side to drop a kiss into her hair.
"Everything is fine, darling," Helena replies reaching to grasp your hand. "It won't be very long now before Christina will be here, will it?" she asks glancing around the room.
"Not long," you agree, "only about four weeks," you exhale at the realization. "We should pack your overnight bag," you decide suddenly.
Helena looks at you amused. "So soon?"
You shrug. "It can't hurt. I've read that first time babies are equally likely to come early as they are late."
"What kind of baby were you, Myka? Early or late?" she asks interested.
"Early, by about a week."
Helena laughs. "That doesn't surprise me a bit, you're always so timely," Helena smiles at you.
You reach out then to help her stand from the chair, a task that is becoming increasingly difficult as her stomach grows. Dropping a kiss on her nose, you ask, "What were you then, early or late?"
Helena sighs. "Late, almost two weeks late and I was a second child. My mother thought I was never going to arrive, but used to say I was just waiting to make my dramatic entrance into the world. I miss her more these days it seems," she says softly, "as I realize I'm going to very soon be a mother myself. I don't know what to do…how to be a mother for Christina," she says, tears forming in her eyes.
Gathering Helena into your arms, you hold her as she shakes, her tears soaking into your shirt. "I'm sorry, Myka, I don't know what's come over me," she apologizes.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," you assure, stroking your hand through her hair.
"Sometimes I'm so terrified at the prospect of becoming a mother…I don't know what to do…how to care for Christina."
"I wish I could honestly tell you that everything is going to be okay, Helena, and everything will work out, but the truth is, we'll probably make mistakes. That's how life works, but we'll learn from them, move on and do better. I actually had a similar conversation with Pete weeks ago," you laugh lightly. "I told him I didn't know anything about taking care of babies and he actually had reassuring advice – he said no one does when they have a child for the first time. It's a learning experience, and we'll simply have to learn together and hope that Christina is patient with us."
Helena laughs then. "If her temperament is anything like mine, impatience is more likely what we should expect from her."
"That's fine too," you laugh. "Regardless, Helena, we'll figure out this parenting business together."
Helena looks up at you, kissing you gently, lovingly. "You always know how to comfort me, Myka," Helena breathes. "I'm starting to believe anything is possible with you by my side, and you're right, together we will figure this out."
"Of course we will, and Christina is already so loved, Helena. I know I'm no expert, but I think loving a child has to be one of the most important things you can do for them."
"Yes, darling, I agree," Helena sighs against you.
"So, back to the overnight bag then. What do you want to bring for Christina? I think we should probably pack several outfits for her, depending how long the hospital stay is, she may go through that many."
Helena moves to the closet, quickly pulling out a garment. "This one for certain," she says handing it to you with a smile. You recognize the musical note onesie you brought home for Christina weeks ago and feel an unaccountable happiness surge within you.
Helena goes into labor early, almost three weeks early, catching you both off guard. One minute you're sound asleep, your arms wrapped around Helena. The next you're startled awake by Helena gasping in pain.
"I guess Christina takes after you, darling," she manages to say in between a contraction and you manage a shaky laugh as Helena grips your hand.
"You have to admit, I'm never quite this early."
"True," Helena concedes as the contraction passes. She settles against the headboard as you quickly dress and gather her packed overnight bag before helping her into her coat to leave for the hospital.
The doctors and nurses all tell you six hours is a quick delivery, especially for a first child. You're inclined to disagree, feeling that anytime Helena spends in pain is much too long. For six hours you stood by her side, feeling helpless as all you could do was watch the pain etch across her features, perspiration dotting her skin and her hair matting her face as she tried to breath through each painful contraction. Her grip on your hand became tighter with each contraction, but all you noticed was Helena, willing the pain to end and Christina to come at last.
Finally, as darkness gives way to light, the sun just beginning to rise, Christina arrives, sounding her indignation to everyone in the delivery room. Helena falls back on her pillows exhausted, but alert and manages a teary laugh as Christina is placed in her arms for the first time.
You look on amazed, not sure who is crying more, Christina, Helena, or yourself as you brush away a fallen tear. It's obvious Helena is completely in love with Christina, holding her close, kissing her forehead, brushing a hand along her head of dark hair.
"Hello, love, I'm your mummy," she whispers against Christina's forehead. "Myka, isn't she beautiful?" she asks proudly, glancing up at you, her eyes bright with love and tears.
"She's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen, Helena," you answer honestly as you gently trace Christina's cheek with a single finger. "Hello, little one," you whisper. You trail your finger along her soft skin, counting her fingers and toes, laughing through tears when Christina grips your finger with her tiny hand.
"You love your mama, don't you, darling?" Helena says as she kisses Christina's cheek. For a second you can't breathe. Did Helena just say…you know you and Helena have talked about this before Christina was born about being her mother too, but now that she has actually arrived, it's real in a way it never was before this moment.
Your eyes must reflect your awe because Helena smiles at you. "I love your mama too," she tells Christina conspiratorially. "So very much."
And then you are kissing Helena, chastely but passionately. "I love you, Helena," you say breathless, "and I love Christina and I want to be her mama."
"You are," Helena assures slipping her hand into yours to squeeze it gently.
You nod, brushing away frenzied tears. "Can we make it official?" you whisper hoarsely.
"Official?" Helena asks confused.
"Marry me?" you whisper.
Helena smiles broadly, pulling you into a lingering kiss that you only break at the sound of Christina's soft coos. You both laugh as you look down at your little girl. "I think Christina approves of that idea," Helena says, "and I know I do."
Helena carefully hands Christina to you then to hold her in your arms for the first time. You expected to feel nervous holding this fragile bundle in your arms for the first time, instead you're astonished of how right it feels to hold her, the way she fits perfectly in your arms. You're unable to look away from her, her eyelids fluttering in sleep, her tiny mouth slightly open as she breathes. The tears come unbidden again as you realize how precious she really is.
When at last you manage to look away from Christina, it is to look upon Helena in bed, sleep beginning to overtake her as well, but you know she's fighting it as she watches you and Christina with a smile on her lips. Helena holds a piece of paper in her hand that she reaches out to give to you. Carefully holding Christina with one arm, you reach out to take it, realizing it's her birth certificate. The name on the certificate reads Christina Bering-Wells. More tears fall and you laugh at yourself for how sentimental you feel. You kiss Helena once more before she settles under the covers and you gently place Christina by her side, pulling a chair close to the bedside so you can run your fingers through Helena's hair as you watch she and Christina fall into much needed sleep at last.
Christina's cries startle you awake. Glancing quickly at the clock at your bedside, you notice it's only been an hour since the last time she awoke. Helena is beginning to stir beside you but you gently lay your hand along her arm to stop her. "It's alright, I'll get her."
Quickly you hop out of bed, moving to Helena's side of the bed where the bassinet sits and reach down to pick Christina up and cradle her against your chest. Christina's cries begin to dissipate as you slowly rock her in your arms.
"Is she all right, Myka?" Helena asks tiredly as she sits up in bed, turning on the lamp by the bedside. "Does she need to be fed again?"
"I don't think so, Helena. I think she just wants to be held," you say as Christina's cries fade away and she falls asleep once more.
"Well, that's certainly understandable when you're the one doing the holding," she smiles softly at you. "Come back to bed, darling," she entreats shuffling your pillow against the headboard so you can sit up comfortably with Christina still in your arms.
Helena leans into you as you settle under the covers again and you both just sit and stare at the perfection that is your little girl.
Christina has only been in the world a little over a week and that fact amazes you every time you look at her. She seems to grow right before your eyes and you can't help wishing it would all slow down a bit. You think about all that has changed in such a short amount of time. You came to London for a job and ended up finding love in a way you never thought possible with a woman who makes you fall in love with her in a million different ways. All because of a simple plan gone awry of Pete not joining you in London. A smile forms as you think of him. He promised to come to your wedding in several weeks, as did your family. It won't be anything elaborate, just a simple civil ceremony and then dinner at home.
"What are you thinking, Myka?" Helena asks softly as she lifts a finger to touch Christina's hand, smiling when it's grasped in her tiny fist.
"I was just thinking how amazing this all is."
"What?" Helena asks.
"You. Christina. I never thought I would ever feel a love of this magnitude my life. I was thinking how amazing it is the way things work out. I came to London for a job, never expecting to fall in love, but I have and it's the most incredible feeling," you say brushing a kiss along Helena's cheek and encircling your free arm around her.
Helena leans her head against your shoulder, nestling into your neck. "I never thought I'd have this kind of love either; a family, but now I do. It seems we've found our rainbow's end after all, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, we have," you agree kissing her temple and drawing her closer. As Helena sighs contentedly against you and Christina continues to sleep in your arms, you know your love for them both will only continue to grow and multiply in ways too numerous to count.