Calin opened up the door to his truck so that his wife could get out. She slowly climbed down, taking a deep breath as she did so.
"You okay?" he worriedly asked her.
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she assured him, "I'm just ready to meet our baby girl."
He smiled back before he kissed her forehead. They then entwined their fingers and headed inside the hospital.
When they arrived in the waiting room, the new surgical tech, Lily, greeted the couple with a smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. James. Right on time – not that I'm surprised."
Anna Elizabeth and Calin simply in response before Lily addressed the mom-to-be, "I presume you're ready to be prepped for the C-section?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," the blonde answered before she looked down at her stomach.
Lily nodded before she turned her focus to Calin and questioned, "Will you be joining us in the operating room?"
"I will," he answered.
The black-haired nurse nodded before she instructed, "You will come with me, Mr. James, and we'll find you and pair of scrubs, as well as gloves and a mask. We'll also be using disinfectant and giving you more information about what is to take place with the C-section."
Lily then turned to Anna Elizabeth and continued, "Another nurse will be by shortly to bring you to be prepped for surgery."
"Thank you," Anna Elizabeth responded.
Calin kissed his wife's forehead once more before he followed the nurse.
Anna Elizabeth then heard a familiar voice behind her, "Mrs. James, it's time to prep you for surgery."
The blonde turned to be met with her cousin and surrogate sister.
"Evie! Alex and Kimberly are here visiting you! Why are you working?" Anna Elizabeth told her friend in slightly scolding tone.
"You really think I'd miss a chance to be with you when you bring my niece into the world?" Evie pointed out with a smile. She then assured her cousin, "And besides, I spent all of yesterday with them, and Alex knows that you and I are close."
The mom-to-be couldn't help but smile before she pulled the brunette in for a hug.
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth told Evie, "Thank you."
Evie smiled brightly in response. Her expression then became more serious as she spoke, "I need to get you prepped for the C-section," before she inclined her head toward the hallway.
As they were walking, Anna Elizabeth grinned as she joked, "Hey, Evie, you think you could keep Calin from passing out in there?"
Evie rolled her eyes before she responded, "You are absolutely incorrigible, and I'm almost positive that Elsa will inherit that sense of humor."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh before she agreed, "She probably will, and she'll probably also be stubborn like me."
"Which makes me feel bad for your husband," Evie told her friend. Both women were giggling when they arrived in the operating room.
When they had sobered, Evie told her, "While you're changing, I'll take your bags to the room you'll be staying in while you're here. Then, I'll come back to check on you before I go grab Dr. Whale, the anesthesiologist, Lily, and the rest of the team to prep you for surgery."
Just as Anna Elizabeth had handed Evie her bag, and the brunette handed over the hospital gown, Calin came in the room, clad in scrubs, gloves, and a surgeon's cap.
He immediately noticed Evie, but before he could say anything, she spoke, "Alex knows I wanted to be here for you guys."
Calin smiled at the brunette before he hugged her. When they pulled away, he told her, "Thank you, Evie."
"Of course," she responded with a smile.
Calin then turned and found Anna Elizabeth coming back into the room in the hospital gown.
Evie tilted her head as she marveled, "How did you change that fast?"
Anna Elizabeth shrugged as she replied, "The restroom is just across the hall, and I'm ready to start this C-section."
Evie and Calin exchanged a knowing look before the brunette announced that she was leaving to drop off the bags and grab the rest of the surgery team.
Calin then moved beside his wife and wrapped his arms around her. He moved some curls from her forehead before he perceived, "You're still a little scared, aren't you."
Anna Elizabeth sighed before she admitted, "Yeah, I mean, I've never had surgery before – it's still a little daunting."
"I know how you feel, but I promise that everything will be fine," Calin assured her.
She smiled as she told him, "Thank you, Calin. I know that it will be."
He smiled at her before he leaned in, and they shared a sweet and loving kiss. When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads together.
They jumped apart at the sound of Whale's booming voice, "Alright, Anna Elizabeth, let's get your daughter."
Anna Elizabeth took a deep breath before she answered, "Let's do it."
A little while later, Anna Elizabeth's blue eyes were darting between the ceiling, the blue curtain in front of her, and her husband's face.
The nerves she had been feeling were replaced by anxious excitement. She couldn't wait to meet her baby girl.
Just then, the room was filled with the cries of a baby, and a blinding smile erupted on both Anna Elizabeth and Calin's face.
"You did it," Calin proudly told his wife before he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
A few moments later, he was standing as Evie walked over and handed him his little girl. "And here is Elsa Charlotte James. She is so beautiful – congrats, you guys," she told them with a beaming smile.
"Thank you, Evie," Calin told her. "Yeah, thanks, Cuz," Anna Elizabeth added.
Evie nodded before she stepped away to give the couple a bit of privacy.
Calin then adjusted the chair a bit so that Anna Elizabeth could see the baby better before he sat down.
He then talked softly to his daughter, "Hey, Elsa, I'm your daddy, and I'm so glad to finally meet you. Next to Mommy, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love you so much."
Across from him, he heard his wife sniffle. He looked up and saw tears in her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't mean to make you cry," Calin apologized.
"It's not your fault – not entirely, anyway," Anna Elizabeth assured him. She then took a breath and continued, "I know I was worried about this C-section, but I wouldn't change a thing as long as I get to meet our precious girl."
Her eyes then moved to bundle in her husband's arms. Calin moved closer to the bed to that Anna Elizabeth could reach Elsa.
"If you want, I'm sure Dr. Whale will let you hold her in some capacity. I know you opted not to, but if you changed your mind, I think he'd make an exception," Calin suggested.
Anna Elizabeth shook her head before she told him, "I'd still rather wait until I can hold her for real."
He nodded before his wife turned her attention to their baby girl. She then spoke, "Hello, my beautiful girl. Mommy is so glad that you're here – I've carried you for nine months, and in a little bit, I'll get to hold you in my arms. I love you so, so much."
Calin smiled at her words and blinked back tears. He and Anna Elizabeth then cooed at their daughter before Evie came back over.
"I hate to interrupt, you guys, but Elsa needs some TLC from Dr. Whale."
Calin and Anna Elizabeth both nodded before he stood up and passed the baby to Evie. Before the brunette walked to the other side of the room, she spoke, "After we take care of her, we'll be stitching you up, Anna Elizabeth."
"Thanks, Evie," the new mom responded. Evie nodded before she walked off.
A little over an hour later, Anna Elizabeth had been moved from the recovery room to a regular hospital room. Anna Elizabeth was recovering perfectly, and she and Elsa were in perfect health.
Anna Elizabeth was currently donning a pair of Calin's old blue plaid pajama pants and his worn Chevy shirt that she had brought for her stay at the hospital as she held Elsa in her arms.
Calin was fixing a bottle, and when he finished, he handed her the bottle. He then teased, "She's probably gonna have your appetite," before he sat down in the chair beside the bed.
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes before she gave the bottle to Elsa. She then responded, "Considering that she looks like you, I'm going to guess that she'll probably act like you, too," with a grin.
Calin grinned back before he placed a soft kiss on his wife's forehead. He did the same to his daughter before she sat up and spoke, "Either way, she's perfect."
"Yeah, she is," Anna Elizabeth agreed. She then placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead as well.
When she pulled back, she and Calin both watched Elsa drink down her milk in comfortable silence. A couple of minutes later, the baby girl was ready to be burped.
Once Anna Elizabeth had finished, and she had settled Elsa back in her arms, Calin suggested, "You know, I bet Elsa would love having Mommy sing to her."
"You think so?" she asked as she looked up at him.
"I know so," he responded with a smile before planting a kiss in her hair.
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she conceded, "Well, I do love to sing." "Oh, really? I had no idea," Calin teased. His wife rolled her eyes at him in response.
She then turned her attention back to Elsa and smiled as she spoke, "I think I know the perfect song."
She then took a deep breath and started to sing, "Have I told you lately that I love you? Have I told you there's no one else above you? Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness. Ease my troubles, that's what you do."
Anna Elizabeth then placed a soft kiss on Elsa's forehead. The baby girl was now sound asleep.
"Look at that. Mommy's singing works just as well as Grandpa's," Calin spoke quietly with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess it does," Anna Elizabeth agreed, her voice cracking a bit.
Calin leaned over to kiss her temple before he perceived, "You're thinking about Liam and Elsa."
Anna Elizabeth sighed before she admitted, "I know it's just as hard for you, but I can't help it. It's just that, I know they sang to me, too, but I can't really remember it."
"I'm sure they're happy that Killian found a way to always make you feel safe and to help you fall asleep," Calin assured her.
Anna Elizabeth offered him a grateful smile before she leaned up to kiss his cheek. She then told him, "You always know what to say."
He smiled at her words before he offered a quiet but nervous laugh. He then questioned, "Even though I was practically a nervous wreck trying to talk to you when we first met?"
Anna Elizabeth giggled softly before she told him, "I always found your awkwardness to be kind of adorable."
"Exactly what every guy wants to hear from his wife," Calin told her. Anna Elizabeth only chuckled in response.
She then became serious as she looked back down at Elsa. She smiled fondly as she admired, "She really is perfect. We did amazing, Calin."
"She is the best parts of you and me – she's perfectly perfect," he added.
Anna Elizabeth brightly smiled back in response. Being mindful of Elsa, as well as herself, she carefully scooted over on the bed.
Calin looked at oddly as he asked, "What are you doing?"
"I know it's a tight squeeze, but if we can both sleep on the couch…" Anna Elizabeth began, but she was cut off.
"Because someone was bent on watching all five of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in one day, and you refused to move," Calin added teasingly.
She glared at him before she continued, "What I was trying to say is that I want you to hold me, you dork. Both of us."
Calin smiled genuinely before he spoke, "I would love to." He then worriedly added, "As long as you're sure I won't hurt you."
Anna Elizabeth then moved one of her hands and lightly brushed it over her scar before she assured him, "As long as you're careful, I'll be okay."
He nodded before he gingerly moved beside her. He wrapped one arm around her and rested it on her waist; he placed his other one on hers that was nestled on the pink baby blanket.
He then asked her, "Better?"
"Much," she answered with a smile. She then took a deep breath and told him, "Thank you, Calin," with tears brimming in her eyes.
His expression turned to one of confusion as he pointed out, "I know your hormones are still a little, uh, unbalanced, but I literally moved two feet."
"Not about that," Anna Elizabeth began. She then clarified, "I mean for the life that we have together. I know it gets a little crazy at times – mostly because I'm so stubborn – but I wouldn't trade it for anything. And now we have this beautiful little girl, and I couldn't be happier."
Calin reached up to wipe her eyes before he told her, "We built this life together, and our love created Elsa, and we will continue to make each other happy for years to come."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at him in response. Their eyes stayed locked for a few moments before they leaned in for a sweet and tender kiss.
When they pulled away, he told her, he told her, "I love you." "I love you, too," she replied as she smiled once more.
They then turned their attention back to their sleeping bundle of joy. That cool October day hadn't come without obstacles, but as Anna Elizabeth and Calin admired their beautiful Elsa Charlotte, they couldn't have pictured anything more perfect.
I hope you all enjoyed this precious conclusion to "A Beautiful Scar," and I'm gonna be honest with y'all: The C-section idea was just a way for me to write something that was different; I had no specific reasoning behind it. But the more I began to think about it, I realized how perfect it is for Anna Elizabeth, who has always (unintentionally) struggled with insecurity. I wanted her to finally realize and see what Calin, as well as the rest of her family, already know: she is beautiful on the inside and the out, and nothing will ever change that. :)
P.S. I planned for Emma and Killian to meet their granddaughter, but I ultimately decided that it was best to end this story with Anna Elizabeth, Calin, and their beautiful little girl. But don't worry, in the future, y'all will see some grandparent bonding. I also wanted to say that I hope y'all had a Merry Christmas!