Toby cradled the newborn in his arms, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Spencer slept peacefully in the hospital bed. He didn't want to wake her just yet. She had been through a lot the night before. Before the girls could even come visit, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
It was now 9:30AM. Sierra had been in this world for a mere five hours, and still Toby knew that she had just become the center of his life. He had held Spencer's hand tightly as she pushed, he could almost feel the pain coarsing through her body. She screamed, she cried. He felt helpless. Then, suddenly, it stopped, and he heard the doctor ask for him to cut the cord. When he saw her for the first time his heart nearly stopped. They wrapped the infant in a towel and placed her on Spencer's chest, and he cried along with her.
"Hmm.." Spencer stirred in her sleep, she opened her eyes slightly. It was very bright.
"Good morning, momma," Toby looked up at her and grinned. Spencer smiled back at him.
"Morning," She sat up a little higher in the bed, "Is she sleeping?" She asked, looking at the small bundle in Toby's arms.
"Yeah, I think she had almost as rough of a night as you did. How are you feeling?" He asked, he walked over to the bed and took a seat on the edge. Spencer moved over a little, and motioned for him to join her. He sat back and she put her head on his shoulder, peering at the little girl in his arms.
"I'm happier than I've been in a very long time," She leaned up and kissed his chin, "Look at her, she's so content just laying there with you." She looked back down at her daughter, "She's everything I could have imagined, and more."
"Here," Toby held the baby out for Spencer, "You've barely gotten a chance to hold her," She gently took the bundle in her arms. The emotions she had felt the night before began to run through her once again. This was her new life, her whole world. "Are you okay?" Toby asked, he stroked her hair lightly. Spencer nodded.
"I just… I guess you could say I'm in shock." She caressed the little girl's cheek lightly, "It just became very real - and I'm very much in love."
Toby nodded, he knew exactly how she felt.
"I love you so much," He whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek tenderly.
"I love you too, more than I think you could ever know," She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He wiped them away before they could fall, but this time he knew they were a different kind of tears.