Mike woke up sometime later when the door opened, a NICU nurse came in checking over Michaela.
"How is she?" Mike whispered, not wanting to wake Emma.
"She's good, I was hoping you could wake your wife so she could try to breastfeed her. But if you want, you can hold her."
Mike nodded, smiling as the nurse took Michaela out of the crib.
"It's best for preemies if parents have their shirt off when you first hold her with a blanket."
Mike grabbed the go bag getting out the pink blanket that Hannah and Mikey had picked out on one of their shopping trips. After taking off his shirt he laid down next to Emma who was still dead to the world, the nurse laid Michaela on his chest then covered her and him both up with the blanket.
"I'll be back in about an hour to check on you three, if your wife wakes up get her to try to breastfeed her."
Mike nodded. The nurse left, leaving Mike and Michaela to bond. She looked up at him, Mike smiled at her.
"Hey baby girl." Mike whispered.
Mike felt someone looking at him. He looked over, to see Emma looking at him.
"Did we wake you?"
"No, how is she?"
"Perfect. The nurse asked for you to try to feed her when you woke up."
Emma fixed her gown so she could feed, 30 minutes later Emma handed Michaela back to Mike. Mike burped her before laying her back in her crib and checking her diaper. Emma watched him,
"How is she?"
"Perfect, just like her mother." Mike laid back down with Emma,
"How are you feeling?"
"Tried, happy why?"
"I've watched rape victims give birth, visited them in hospital, none of them ask how are they or are willing to feed them so easily. Not saying that as a bad thing, I'm glad you're bonding with her."
"It's not her fault."
"I know." Mike whispered.
Emma looked upset, but laid her head on his chest.
"I love you. What I said, I meant it as a complement." Mike whispered, and kissed her forehead.
Emma looked at him.
"I love you too."
Mike gently rolled her, so her body would be on top of his. Emma laid her head in his chest, Emma watched Michaela sleep until she fell asleep. Mike closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly. The next morning around 10 the door opened Tom, Sasha, Hannah and Mikey all poked their heads in. Emma with a finger to her lips and a wave of a hand telling them to come in. Mike was still asleep, Michaela was also asleep laying in the NICU crib.
"I figured you would be the one asleep not Mike." Tom whispered.
"I just woke up maybe five or ten minutes ago."
"I'm awake, just have my eyes closed." Mike whispered, opening his eyes looking at Mikey and Hannah.
Mike got up sitting on the couch with them both. An hour passed, everyone got a chance to hold Michaela, after a while Mikey got up on the bed with Emma and cuddled with her both falling asleep in the process. Tom sat beside him, holding Michaela.
"So Mike how did you two do?"
Mike smiled.
"Michaela Sophia Slattery born March 16th at 11:30am at six pounds nine ounces, 19 inch long, perfectly healthy baby girl."
Tom looked at him, smiling.
"What?"
"You look the happiest I've seen you in a while even before the Red Flu."
"It's because I am." Mike looked over watching Emma with their other two kids.
Tom and Sasha went for a walk to give the family alone time. Mike leant back wrapping an arm around Hannah who was holding Michaela looking at Mikey.
"Who was with mom when she had Mikey? I know she died from complications, and I know Emma went to the hospital after." Mike whispered.
"I was, she had Mikey she let me in the delivery room since I was alone. Sophia and Lucas were already gone, Emma and I later found out that I, her, and Mikey were all immune to the Red Flu. Momma told me to name him or her after someone special, so I named him after the two special guys in my life that I love more than life." Hannah looked at him wiping tears from both their faces as they both looked at Mikey.
"I wished I knew what he looked like as a baby. He looks like mom now." Mike whispered.
"I used to call him Lucas up until he was about 3 ½ ."
Mike smiled at her.
Two weeks later Mike helped Emma into the living room as Hannah brought in Michaela. Once all three were settled comfortably on the couch with Mikey, Mike made lunch for the whole everyone was done eating, Hannah and Mikey played games on the floor while Emma and Mike watched from the couch. He was lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice that Hannah and Mikey had gone upstairs until Emma moved to get up, he snapped out of it looking up at her.
"Bedtime?"
Emma nodded smiling softly. Mike followed her upstairs to the new nursery, watching her lay Michaela down. They both stood there watching her sleep.
"I can't decide who she looks like."
Mike wrapped both arms around her.
"Do you love her?"
"Yes."
"That's all that matters." Mike said softly, tears in his eyes.
"What's going on Mike?"
"A lot of painful memories being brought out of the closet so to speak."
Emma looked at him.
"It's okay, I knew…. But I always loved Lucas, just like I love you, Hannah, Mikey, and now Michaela."
Emma smiled and kissed him.
"Let's go to bed."
"Lead the way."
Mike followed her.