'How are you feeling? Do you need any painkillers?' Charles asks softly as he makes his way into the bedroom where Molly is sitting up in bed with the newborn curled up against her chest.
'No, I'm okay just now... Can you believe she's actually here, Charlie? We've waited so long for her.' Molly almost whispers as she stares down at the infant. Their journey to have a baby of their own hasn't been easy; it's been a long, emotional and sometimes full of heartache journey.
'We did.' He replies sitting down on the bed beside her.
'I'd do it all again in a heartbeat for her though.' She admits and he nods his head.
'So would I.' He replies smiling. Reaching over, he gently runs his finger down the little girl's cheek causing Molly to smile.
'You should arrange with Rebecca to have Sam over so he can meet his sister.' She says.
'That can wait until you've rested.' He replies and she shakes her head.
'I'm okay, Charlie. I've managed to get a couple of hours sleep. I want him to meet her.' She says.
'Okay. I'll see if he can come over this afternoon.' He replies and she nods her head.
'Do you want a snuggle?' She asks.
'She looks pretty comfy there.' He replies.
'You should do some skin to skin with her... You've not had a chance to do it since she's been born.' She says.
'You sure?' He asks.
'Mmm... I might do some online baby girl shopping now that I can buy all the cute pink, frilly dresses.' She replies causing him to smile.
'I was so sure we were having a boy.' Charles admits as he carefully takes the baby from her.
'I think everyone was for some reason.' She replies smiling. She watches as he settles back against the pillows with the baby on his bare chest and a blanket covering her tiny body.
'I love you.' She says softly.
'I love you too.' He replies.
'She's so little.' Sam says as he sits on the sofa cradling the baby in his arms causing both Molly and Charles to smile.
'She weighed 6lbs exactly so she is pretty tiny.' Charles replies.
'Have you picked her name yet?' Sam asks glancing at his dad and step-mum who smiles.
'We have. She's called Colette Iris James.' Molly replies watching as Sam grins at her.
'Baby Coco?' He says and she nods her head.
'Baby Coco.' She replies. During the second trimester baby names was something they discussed in detail with Sam, wanting him to be as involved in the process as possible, and Colette was a name both him and Molly really liked but Charles took some convincing.
'She's perfect.' Sam says softly as he stares down at the baby. Molly can feel tears filling her eyes as she watches him hold the baby. Six months after their wedding they made the decision to try for a baby with both of them, albeit a bit naively believing it would happen relatively quickly.
'Are you happy with a baby sister then?' Charles asks.
'Mmm... I would've loved a little brother but I'm happy with a sister.' Sam replies.
'Maybe you'll get a brother next time.' Molly says quietly.
'I'm going to go grab a water, want anything?' Charles asks and both Molly and Sam shake their head. He stands up and makes his way towards the kitchen.
'So tomorrow dad and I will drop you off at your mum's, okay? Coco has an appointment at the doctors at 9 so we'll drop you off on our way.' Molly says as she adjusts the baby in her arms.
'Are you sure? I don't mind going back to mum's tonight.' Sam asks.
'It's really up to you, Sam. I don't mind you being here and your dad definitely doesn't mind you staying. If you'd rather be at home as well then that's perfectly okay as well.' Molly replies.
'I'm happy to stay I just don't want to be in the way.' Sam says and Molly shakes her head.
'You're never in the way, Sam.' Molly replies.
'You okay?' Charles asks softly as he makes his way into the nursery where his wife is sitting on the rocking chair with Colette in her arms.
'Mmm... I just feel a bit emotional about the whole situation.' Molly admits shrugging her shoulders.
'What situation?' He asks.
'This whole pandemic; our families should be able to be here meeting our daughter. I always had this vision of what it would be like when we finally got to hold a baby in our arms; I pictured introducing her to your parents and my parents and it just being perfect.' She replies.
'I know. Honestly this whole pregnancy hasn't been what we envisioned, has it? There was so much I wanted to do for you; pregnancy massages, a maternity photoshoot, a baby shower and even a little break away before the baby came. I wanted you to have the whole experience especially after the time we've had getting to this stage but it's just going to make it that bit more special when our families do get to meet her, isn't it?' He says and she nods her head.
'I know and one thing I'm so grateful for is that Sam got to meet her. Seeing him hold her in his arms was just everything Charlie; it's what we've wanted for him for years and it's finally happened.' She almost whispers staring down at the baby.
It has finally happened. Everything we went through, everything you went through has brought us here.' He says as a tear rolls down her cheek.
'It's been a shitty few years, hasn't it? There was a time I didn't think I'd ever get this... Remember after the 4th miscarriage when I moved out? I was starting to just accept the fact that I'd probably never have children of my own. I was seeing all these people having babies around us, multiple babies sometimes and I just wanted one. I thought I must've done something really shitty in another life for all this to have happened but now? Now I look at her and wonder if everything we went through was because we were waiting for her to be ready for us.' She almost whispered and he gently wipes the tear from her cheek.
'It's been a rough and completely unfair journey at times but she's here now and we never have to go through that again, not if we don't want to.' He says kissing the top of her head.
'Colette Iris, our little rainbow after the storm.' She whispers.