Chapter 51
Ryan sat down in the chair holding the baby in his arms His daughter. It still felt weird whenever he thought about it but he was so proud of it, the fact that he was a father to a beautiful healthy baby girl. He took in all her features, the way she curled her little hands together and kicked out her legs. The way her chest rise and fall as she's sleeping silently, her mouth half open. He was so in love with her. "Hey Phoebe." He said kissing her forehead. "I know I told you this already but I love you so much. And there's lots of people who can't wait to meet you and love you." He continued. "Nana and Granny. And lots of aunties and uncles who loves you just as much as your mother and I do." He whispered to the baby. She started stirring and kicked out her little legs, on the verge of crying but Ryan soothed her and she went back to sleep.
Alex woke to the sound of Ryan talking to Phoebe and she couldn't help but smile at how perfect this moment was. Ryan glanced up at her when he saw she was awake and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He apologized. "No no, you didn't. How long was I asleep for?" She asked not sure how much time had passed since she fell asleep. "Not long about two hours. How are you feeling?" He asked placing Phoebe in the hospital crib before attending to his wife. "I feel much better. Still a bit sore but nothing I can't handle." Alex explained looking past her husband to their sleeping baby, dressed in a white Babygro with a brown teddy bear on the front, wrapped in a pink blanket. Ryan's phone rang a little while later and he went outside the room to take the call so he wouldn't disturb Phoebe. Alex took this time to scroll through her phone and saw all the messages she received of everyone congratulating her on the arrival of their daughter. She only read through half of them when Ryan came back into the room, and she put her phone down.
"That was my mom. And your mom. And my three sisters." Ryan said smiling looking at Alex who had a confused look on her face because he took so long to get to the point. "Okaayy…" She said waiting for him to continue. "They are taking a road trip and are on their way over. I hope you don't mind, I mean if you're not up to see people yet I can tell them to come by in a few days." He said quickly but Alex hushed him. "Are you kidding, no they're more than welcome. It can get lonely in this room sometimes. And I think it's time Phoebe meets her dysfunctional grandmothers and aunts." Alex laughed and Ryan high fived her on that statement.
One of the nurses entered and greeted them friendly, congratulating them on their daughter's birth. She taught them the basics of feeding, bathing and changing. All of which they were determined to master before it was time to leave the hospital. Ryan headed out for a while to get some coffee and something to eat while Alex was busy nursing Phoebe. She opened her eyes again and she and her mother locked eyes and Alex couldn't bear to take her eyes of her blue eyed girl. She was making the cutest little sucking noises as she latched onto her mother's breast as her tiny hand wrapped around Alex's finger. After she was done Alex burped her, did a diaper change and sat there with her in her arms. It wasn't long before she drifted to sleep again, and Alex put her back in the crib, waiting for Ryan to return, reading the other bunch of messages she didn't get a chance to finish. "What's wrong?" He asked looking at her taking a sip of his coffee. "Can I negotiate with the doctor to let Phoebe and I come home tomorrow or the day after?" She asked carefully not sure what he will say. "Doctor Roberts will let you guys come home if she thinks you're ready, she won't keep you here unnecessarily, sweetheart. And your body's been through a lot of strain today you need to rest." Ryan answered looking at her. "I can rest at hoommee." Alex whined but Ryan just shook his head. So much for asking him for his opinion on it, she thought, but before they could talk about this any further there was a knock on the door, five curious smiling faces peeking through the door.
They all came over to Alex's bedside, hugged and congratulated her and Ryan. The moms told Alex how proud they were of her by getting through this because they both know it's not easy. "Where is she?" Amorey asked when she didn't see the baby in either of their arms and Alex pointed to the crib standing close to the bedside. "Can I pick her up?" Amorey asked her sister in law before she picked up her niece. "Yeah of course." Alex laughed. The moment she was picked up everyone circled around Amorey and the sleeping Phoebe, pulling the blankets away from her face a little so they could see her better, and they all cooed over her. "She is so beautiful." Nadia said extending a finger and smiled at Phoebe's reflexes when her little hand grabbed her aunt's fingers. "Okay, my turn now." Simone said and her sister handed the baby over. Phoebe went from arm to arm until all five of them had a chance to hold the latest addition that was added to the family. "You two make pretty babies." Simone commented looking at Alex and Ryan as she looked over her mother's shoulder at the little girl. "Thank you, I guess." Ryan laughed not knowing what else to say as Alex blushed hiding her face in Ryan's side as he sat sideways on the bed with her. His cellphone rang again and he went outside to take the call leaving the ladies alone in the room.
"And you survived it my girl, it feels like yesterday when we had the conversation in the car when you told us how scared you were." Sita commented as she put her granddaughter back in the crib. "How was it?" Amorey asked, still as inquisitive as always. "Painful, very very painful." Alex said thinking back to where she was laying down and crying just hoping all of this would end. "I was ready to give up when it seemed like nothing was happening. And I said some pretty horrible things to Ryan in the process." She said embarrassed. "But at the end all of that pain was worth it. " She answered looking at her sleeping baby. They all stayed a while talking about this and that before they had to hit the road again. Alex and Ryan offered that they could stay over for a few days, but they said the three of them needed time alone with Phoebe without company around, but promised they'd call every day and drive down to see her at least once a week.
After they left Alex fed little Phoebe again, she was just about to close her eyes for a while when there was another knock on the door. Ryan went home to go shower and put on some fresh clothes before returning again for the night. "Hello, are we bothering you two?" Shelby asked softly not entering the room completely. "No, come inside." Alex said smiling at the blond, and Nimah and Natalie came trailing in behind her. "Congratulations, mommy." Shelby said hugging her friend, and Natalie and Nimah followed suit. "Where is she? Can I hold her?" Nimah asked and Alex nodded. The moment she was picked up Phoebe's eyes opened. "You have your daddy's eyes." Nimah commented as she looked at the little baby who fiddled with her little hands while curious eyes scanned the new face in front of her. Nimah held her up again supporting her back and neck so the other two could see. "Phoebe these are your delusional aunts, out of all of them I'm the normal one." Nimah said and phoebe kicked her little legs making the four adults smile. "She's the only delusional one her." Natalie said extending her arms so she can I have a turn holding her.
"How long are you guys going to be here?" Shelby asked taking a seat on the couch in the corner. "I'm not sure, I'm hoping they will let us leave tomorrow. I'll try negotiating with the doctor on discharging us earlier but Ryan wouldn't have it." Alex explained to her friends. "And he's right, she'll let you out of here when you're both ready." Shelby said and Alex shook her head. Maybe all of them were right she should just relax. They left after a while and Alex was grateful for her friends and family who supported her but she was exhausted. Ryan came back after an hour, and held his daughter against his chest again since she was awake. He gave her a count down on everyone who was there today what their names are, and that they were either family members or really close friends. Alex laid there looking at the two most important people in her life, she would surely never get tired of looking at them, and seeing Ryan talk to Phoebe only made her love them both even more.
Phoebe's little hand reached up to touch her father's face and she placed it over his mouth. "Okay, I'll keep quiet then." Ryan laughed as she yawned, looking at her a few minutes more while he declared his love for her before falling asleep and he placed her in the crib. "You should get some sleep too." He told Alex as he stood up to kiss her. "I will, I'm really tired." She said looking up into his eyes. "You should head home and sleep too, babe." Alex said but Ryan hesitated. "I'm fine on the couch." Ryan said looking at where he spent most of the early hours of the morning sitting on that couch. "And I don't want to leave the two of you here alone." He said stroking his wife's hair. "Ryan we're gonna be fine, we have the whole bunch of nursing staff checking up on us every hour, and we'll be sleeping most of the time anyway, you won't miss a thing. You should go home. " She said sincerely because she could see how tired he was. "All right." He said still not convinced. "But promise me you're gonna call me when you need me to come over." He said looking her in the eyes. "I promise." Alex responds kissing him once more. He went over to kiss Phoebe one last time before leaving the room. "Be good to mommy tonight, munchkin. I love you. Both of you" Ryan told his daughter. He kissed Alex again, dimmed the lights in the room and headed towards the exit.
Alex took one final glance at Phoebe before settling against the pillows and drifting off to sleep. This day has taken its toll on her body but if she could have it all over again she wouldn't change one bit. She was a mother now and was looking forward to see what his new journey of parenthood had in store for her and Ryan.
Hey guys, hope you're still enjoying the story. Here's another one, enjoy the read and let me know what you think. Lovies-S
