Like I said, here's the next chapter!
Daughter
Catherine Halsey sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, where Cortana currently lay sleeping, still a bit tired from the birth. Cortana's two-year-old son Sam sat in the chair next to Catherine. He was sound asleep, and snuggled up next to her.
Catherine's eyes were currently on the figure on the opposite side of the bed. Her son-in-law, John, was walking back and forth very softly, while gently whispering to the tiny bundle in his arms. Wrapped in a pink blanket, his newborn daughter, Joy Miranda Halsey.
John and Cortana had given their daughter Miranda as her second name to honour Miranda Keyes, a person, officer and friend they both admired. Her death had affected the both of them as much as her father's had. As for Joy, they both liked the name, and it also described the feeling they had when she was born, so it seemed to fit very well.
Catherine found herself scrutinizing John. This man, who more closely resembled a walking tank when wearing his MJOLNIR armour, had always been her personal favourite of all the Spartans, and she loved him like a son. He had always possessed a strong bond with Cortana, his former AI partner who was, in every respect, Catherine's daughter. And when Cortana had gotten her human body, she and John had married soon afterwards, essentially making John her son-in-law. Now the two of them had given her two grandchildren. Catherine already doted on Sam endlessly, and she planned to do the same with Joy.
Looking at John with Joy, Catherine could not help but feel amazed. In battle, John had handled a great deal of weapons and armaments, both human and otherwise. The actions of firing and reloading a weapon came as natural to him as breathing and walking. Thousands of aliens had died by those hands. And yet, those very same hands just as naturally held his daughter with great care and tenderness. The same gravely voice that barked orders to soldiers in combat just as easily whispered soft, soothing words to the little girl. Simply put, the same deadly soldier that made enemies tremble, who had killed thousands of Covenant soldiers, exterminated countless Flood forms, and saved the human race more than once, had also proved himself to be a tender and loving father. He had already done a remarkable job with Sam, and it seemed inevitable that he would do the same with Joy.
John walked around the bed to Catherine's side. "Could you hold her please?" he asked her. "I've just got to step out for a moment." Catherine nodded, and John tenderly placed Joy in her arms. He gave his daughter a quick kiss on the forehead, whispered, "I'll be right back, my little Joy," and stepped out.
Catherine looked down at her granddaughter, softly cooing to her. She held out her finger, and Joy reached out, wrapping her entire hand around the tip of her grandmother's finger. This earned a loving smile from Catherine. She then looked up and noticed that Cortana was awake and looking at them.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" said Cortana, with a smile on her face. "Almost unbelievable. He's the greatest and deadliest warrior the human race has ever known, with perhaps the biggest personal body count in history, and yet, when it comes to his daughter, the man is a complete and utter mush-ball." The two Halsey women had to have a laugh at that. Even Joy seemed to give a happy gurgle in agreement.
And I got this from ANOTHER fic (ironically about the same couple, who never actually got together, hmm)...
Anyway, I got Joy because several people have actually made fics where John and Cortana had a daughter named Joy, so I figured I'd join the crowd. And the tribute to Miranda seemed necessary, wouldn't you agree?
Random thought: I always thought that if Cortana became human, but Miranda survived, they would be pretty close friends, wouldn't they? Kind of a shame when you think about it.
Ah well, till next time.