Chapter 9: Going home

Looking back on the weeks that followed Ivy's birth, Cornelia later said that she felt like she was living in limbo. Time might as well not have been passing. She lived in her hospital room, spent day after day sitting by Ivy's tiny crib and later holding her as the baby grew stronger. Even Cornelia's mother, who had been patient through the trials, got tired of the monotonious routine and returned to work.

One day as Cornelia sat in a rocking chair in her room, holding the drowsy Ivy. I think I need you to survive and be strong for me. She thought to her baby. Because you were born in the most awful, unlikely situation--and I need proof that we can both overcome this.

Ivy regarded her with serious, sleepy green eyes and yawned. Cornelia smiled and gently began to rock her again.

The doctor, Cornelia's father, looked in the room. "How's Ivy?" He asked as he gently brushed a finger over the baby's small, white hand.

"Sleepy, but okay." Cornelia smiled and kept her voice low and soothing. "What's going on out there?"

"We think Ivy can go home next week. She's really remarkable. So far no other preemie has done so well." The man smiled and brushed his fingers over Ivy's hand again. "I can't wait to see what color hair she'll have."

"Blonde, like me." Cornelia told him. She smiled at the baby. "She has pale eyelashes and eyebrows." For a moment, she was lost once again in the quiet apraisal of her baby.

Caleb walked in the room, froze, and leaned against the wall. Finally he spoke. "Cornelia, can I hold her?"

Cornelia looked up and nodded. "She's grumpy, but she likes to be held." She warned him. As she shifted the baby to her father's arms, the baby began to wail, and Cornelia smiled. "It's amazing how much she sounds like me already."

"Yeah." Caleb agreed. He lightly touched a finger to Ivy's small nose. "She even looks like you." He held Ivy closer while Cornelia began to eat her belated and now cold lunch.

"She's going home next week." Cornelia said between bites. "I still need to fix up her clothes in the closets and paint some flowers on the walls--"

"Why don't you let Will and Irma handle that?" Caleb suggested. "You need to rest."

"I've rested long enough, Caleb. I need to go home." The teenager said sharply. "Besides, it is my house."

"Apartment." Caleb corrected. "And you may not need to rest, but Ivy needs her mommy to hold her while she sleeps. She won't sleep while I hold her."

"I guess Will can paint the walls this once." Cornelia murmured to Ivy. "And Irma could..."

"Good." Caleb escaped the hospital, mind overflowing with ideas.

ONE WEEK LATER...

Cornelia smiled down at Ivy as she laid the baby on the small crib. "I hope you like the room, Ivy." She whispered. "I hope you like your home." She looked out the window, as she had done so many times during her pregnancy and even in the hospital, smiling. "Daddy said that Will is getting baby names and looking only at the 'I' names. You'll have a baby brother soon!"

Ivy wrinkled her nose as if in distaste.

"I know, you don't want to share all this attention. But do you really think that I'll let you loose all of my love? No way! We've been through so much." Cornelia lifted Ivy and held her child close. "So much."

Okay! I might write a new chapter, or I might write a sequel! Tell me what you guys want:D