Chapter 13

The next several months seem to go by quickly in a flurry of doctors appointments, planning, buying stuff, and more planning.

There were days when I'd be pacing back and forth pulling my hair out from the stress of it all, and I wasn't the one carrying her.

Yeah, she was a her. Feferi likes the name Erika, I like it as well. I offered the middle name Francesca. Her first name starts with an E, like mine, so her middle name should start with an F, like her mother's.

When Feferi was 6 months along, we moved into our own apartment in the same building. Cronus and Kankri stopped by almost daily.

I was currently trying to find my alarm clock to turn it off. Fef was stirring, and she had been so tired lately. She didn't have to work till later, even though I have been telling her she should go on maternity leave now.

We were both 19 now, nearing 20. It was November already, we hadn't gone back to school yet so we were still at home working and getting ready.

And planning, so much planning.

I found the alarm clock and hit the off button. Feferi slowly rolled over to face me, her eyes blinking with sleep, "Mornin'."

"Mornin' love, how are you feelin'?"

"Tired, how are you?"

"I can't complain about bein' tired cause you're tireder than me," I chuckled.

She shrugged and leaned forward just enough to kiss my nose. I smiled as she poked my forehead with her left hand, a shiny silver band with an amethyst stone in the middle on her ring finger reflecting the light from the window.

It might have been a bit early, but I have loved her for almost 6 years now and I knew I wanted to make her mine for all this time. I got it for her a month ago, and she agreed without a moments hesitation.

We were a tad young, but events made it so that we had to grow up fast. I was a supervisor at the aquarium now, and she was one of the lead advocates at the shelter, so we were making decent wages. I was starting to wonder if I even wanted to go back to school.

I traced circles on her stomach, which had gotten rather big. I felt Erika move.

We already had our schedules arranged to where I was working during the day and then she was working at night, that way if one of us is at work, the other is at home taking care of Erika.

I work 8AM to 4PM, and she works 5PM to 11PM. I didn't like her working right now, especially with how tired she's been, and I didn't like not seeing her very much, but there was nothing I could do about that.

I groaned when my second alarm went off, it was time for work.

She sighed, "Go on, have fun helping with the fishes. I'm going to go back to sleep."

"Sleep well love, Cronus said he'd stop by later to see how you're doing since he has the day off," I kissed her nose and got up, showered, ate a quick breakfast, and headed to work.

Around three, I got a phone call from Cronus.

"Cro, I'm at work," my boss was giving me a look, but he knew Feferi was with child so he was more lenient about me being on my phone.

"Yeah I know chief, but you're gonna wanna leave and come here cause well yeah, you know why," Cronus actually sounded nervous.

Anxiety and excitement flooded my veins, "She's not due for another w-week though, are you sayin' she's a bit early?"

"Yes chief, now get the hell out of work and get your ass over here. She's pissed and in pain." I faintly heard Kankri yell about his language.

"W-Will do, see you soon," I hung up, turned to my boss, and before a word came out of my mouth he said, "Go, it's completely fine."

"Thank you!" I said, turning on one heel, and hurrying to get my stuff and to drive out to the hospital.

~====3====~

28 hours later, Erika was a sleeping, warm bundle of life. She was completely healthy, and her mom was good as well.

I sat next to them in a chair next to her bed. Feferi was dozing off, but was holding her.

I held her once, and I was smiling so big my face hurt. She was lovely, looked like the splitting image of her mother when she was a child, only with my blue eyes instead of her sea green ones. She also had my black hair.

Feferi looked over at me, "You're all smiley again, what are you thinking about?"

"I was just thinkin' bout how she's just as beautiful as her mom."

She smiled and stuck her tongue out, "She's a million times more beautiful than I am Erifin."

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and Erika looks just like you," I was smiling so big my face hurt again.

She had a giddy grin on her face, "Well thank you Erifin."

I got up and kissed her forehead, "Any time love, do you want me to take her so you can sleep?"

She nodded and passed her off to me. She was so small and fragile, but warm. I sat in the chair and held her, smiling.

She was born on November 15th, a full week early, at 5:25 at night. It was currently 7:30PM.

I took my paternity leave, so I didn't have to be at work for a month, so I could help take care of her and Fef.

Feferi was out cold in a few minutes, snoring softly.

Cronus walked in, rather loudly, with Kankri. I shushed them both, "Shh, both of them are sleeping!"

They covered their mouths and quietly apologized.

Kankri walked over and kneeled by me and Erika, "Hello Erika, I am Kankri."

Cronus chuckled softly, "She can't understand you doll."

Kankri shot him a look, "Quiet, I can talk to her even though she cannot understand me Cronus."

Cronus chuckled again.

"Sh! Both of you they are sleeping!" I hissed.

They both covered their mouths.

I smiled at the look on their faces.

Kankri reached over and smoothed down the little bit of dark hair on Erika's hair head and whispered, "She's beautiful Eridan."

I nodded, "I'd die for her and her mother."

Cronus kneeled next to his boyfriend, "I know you would chief, you've always been protective of Feferi, I couldn't imagine you being any different for your daughter."

I smiled at him, "Exactly."

Feferi stirred and rolled over onto her side to look at us, "Well if it isn't my favorite couple besides Erifin and myself."

Cronus laughed, "How are you doing there Feferi?"

"Tired like you wouldn't believe."

Kankri nodded, "That is to be expected, you just gave birth after all Feferi. Unfortunately I was too young when Karkat was born so I am not aware of the proper aftercare for new mothers."

Feferi giggled, "The doctors will tell us don't worry yourself."

She sat up and reached for Erika, and I carefully and cautiously handed her to her."

Erika blinked her eyes open, she had my slate grey eyes.

"Oh my cod her eyes are lovely, just like her father's," Feferi whispered. I kissed her cheek real quick, this was truly a wonderful thing.