Title: Firsts
Genre: Family
Summary: Out of all the firsts for Marco, some stand out more than others.
Marco remembered the first time his Pops told him he loved him. It was the first kind of fatherly affection he had ever received, and he nearly cried. However, he merely held back the tears and grinned at his adopted father. He was eleven. Marco was almost forty-three when he realized just what love meant to the older man.
He remembered the first time he told a woman he loved her. It was after one of their numerous arguments. They had both said some stupid things, more so than usual, and neither let up on the insult game. Finally, she had left the room in a blaze of fury, storming outside into a raging rainstorm. Immediately feeling guilty, he followed her, confessed his emotions, and kissed her deeply in the rain. He came to marry her one day. That was also one of the first times he remembered feeling especially nervous.
However, there was one first that stood out the most to Marco, and that was the day he held his newborn child for the first time. After sitting through hours of tense and excruciating labor, easing his wife's pains to the best of his abilities, their little one was brought into the world. The nurse present quickly snatched up the child (gently, under Marco's stern gaze), took her from the room, and performed customary checkups. The child was wrapped in a blanket and a tiny pink cap was placed on her head. The nurse, his wife's closest friend, proudly presented the baby to her anxious (and slightly impatient) father.
Marco could only stare in awe and wonder at his little angel, anxiety melting away like snow in summer. She was completely perfect in every way he could imagine. A cute, button nose adorned her roundish face; two tiny ears sat on either side of her head; two eyes were shut tight; a mouth set in a firm line; and a tiny hand curled around the edge of the blanket. He gently brushed his fingertips over her knuckles, marveling at the size and color of her fingers compared to his long, tanned digits.
He was brought out of his state by a soft chuckle. His blue eyes left his child's face to gaze at her mother, who was gently smiling. "How is she?" She asked.
He went back to staring at the baby in his arms. "She's so small," he answered in a whisper. He added after a moment, "And so perfect."
Just then, the babe let out a yawn, opening her mouth to reveal two rows of red gums and a tiny pink tongue. Marco let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
His wife chuckled again and held out her arms. "Let me see her," she requested quietly.
Somewhat reluctantly, he crossed the room to pass the baby into her mother's waiting arms. She smiled softly and nuzzled the child into her breast, humming gently. Marco took a seat on the edge of the infirmary bed, where the child was in plain sight.
The baby yawned again and blearily opened her eyes. Marco took in a soft breath when he noticed they were the same shade of blue as his own irises, with streaks of gold running through them. The girl's gaze met her mother's first, then slowly moved to meet his. Upon meeting his eyes, she stretched her mouth into a wide, toothless smile. Marco couldn't help but grin back, almost goofily. She looked back at her mother and smiled wider.
Marco reached out and brushed her cheek with a calloused finger. The babe let out a peal of laughter and reached her chubby hand for the digit. Her tiny fingers closed around his in a surprisingly strong grip. She then brought the finger to her mouth and closed her lips around it. She seemed disappointed, though, when she sucked on it and nothing happened. The finger was released and she frowned at him before yawning again.
Blue eyes closed sleepily and the child snuggled closer to her mother's warmth. She let out one sigh and fell asleep. Her mother sighed, too, and smiled fondly at the babe in her arms. Marco brushed the hair out of her face and leaned forward to kiss her temple.
A quiet knock at the door caught their attention, followed by the door opening slowly. Marco sat up a little straighter as Jozu, his first mate, poked his head through the doorway.
"Sorry to disturb you, Marco," the giant man said. His tone did sound apologetic, even if his face remained impassive. "But we need you on deck. There's a storm coming."
The blond nodded and Jozu glanced at the child's mother. His eyes softened slightly as he asked, "How are you feeling, Aerie?"
"Much better, thank you." Aerie smiled gently.
Jozu nodded at the two and retracted his head from the doorway. Marco turned to look at his wife, an apology already on his lips, but she beat him by saying, "Go. We'll be here when you get back." She smiled at him, and then their child.
He smiled, kissed her again, and left the room. Walking down the hall towards the deck, Marco felt for the first time in a long time that everything was going to be alright.
Annnnnnnd just when you thought I had given up the writing business for good, I make an attempted triumphant return with this fluffy thing. Didn't see that one coming, did you?
You know what to do!
~Batman