He crashed in through the hospital doors, nearly slamming into the glass. His ebony hair stuck up in wild disarray, and cobalt eyes flicked about desperately. He wobbled as fast as his bag leg would allow to the front desk.

"Where is Kamijou Hiroki?"

"Um… let's see… oh, here he is. Down hall F and to the left. He's in room sixty-five."

He gave the receptionist a quick thank-you, then rushed down the designated hall.

He cursed himself for his inability to sprint as he speed-walked jerkily down the hall. In any other situation, it could have been almost comical, but doctors and nurses willingly jumped out of his way as he plowed his way through. His torn muscles screamed at him in protest, despite the brace holding them together. He didn't care, however, as he neared the door he was looking for.

Sixty-three.

Sixty-four.

Sixty-five.

He threw the door open and stumbled inside.

"Don't slam the door open so loud, idiot. You're going to wake the baby."

Nowaki panted breathlessly, skimming his eyes over the feeble form on the hospital bed that was his precious fiancé. His eyes landed on the little bundle cradled in Hiroki's arms. A tiny, tiny creature of light was nestled against Hiroki's hospital robe-clad chest, all wrapped up in a little pink blanket.

"A girl," Nowaki breathed in disbelief, staggering forward to Hiroki's bedside. "It's a girl…"

"I know, you dummy," Hiroki murmured. He transferred the baby to one arm, then reached up with his free hand to brush back the blanket from her head. A full head of fluffy, jet black hair was revealed.

"She has hair," Nowaki croaked, smiling waveringly. He reached out to run his fingertips through it. "…and she's so tiny."

Hiroki hummed a chortle, lazily tipping his head back against his raised headrest.

"Isn't she? She sure took a lot of work for being so little," Hiroki sighed, shutting his eyes. Nowaki smiled sympathetically at his exhausted fiancé.

"You were amazing, Hiro-san," he whispered. He removed his hand from his daughter's head to brush back Hiroki's stringy bangs and caress his cheek. There was a long, comfortable silence. Hiroki peeled his eyes open halfway.

"You're going to love her eyes, Nowaki. They're yours."

"She has my eyes?" Nowaki whispered, his heart skipping a beat. "Mine? Really?"

"Hold her," Hiroki said quietly, letting his eyes drift shut again. "I'm so tired…"

Hiroki lolled his head as Nowaki pulled up a nearby folding chair. He scooped the sleeping baby into his arms, and Hiroki sighed in relief as he let his hands drop to the bed.

Nowaki sank down into his chair and stared down at his daughter. Hiroki rolled his head towards his fiancé and watched him with half-lidded eyes and a gentle smile. The tiny baby was a beautiful contrast to his large features.

"It doesn't suit you… you're too big," Hiroki murmured. Nowaki glanced up at him.

"Sorry."

Hiroki giggled breathily.

"Don't be sorry, idiot. I was just kidding. It suits you. You look like a new daddy."

"Because I am a new daddy," Nowaki teased softly. He glanced down at his daughter, who was shifting slightly. "What is she doing…? Is she-"

The baby scrunched up her face and began to whimper.

"Ohh! Hiro-san, what do I do? I don't want her to cry!" Nowaki hissed, looking around frantically as if something was there to help him. Hiroki laughed.

"Nowaki, relax. You're a pediatrician, remember? Just calm down. She's getting used to her daddy's arms."

Nowaki gulped audibly as the baby continued to make squeaky whimpers.

"This is so different from holding a baby at the pediatrics center," Nowaki said shakily, nervously reaching up to stroke the baby's soft cheeks with the pad of his thumb. "She's so beautiful and small, I feel like I'll break her."

"You won't. Just take a deep breath," Hiroki instructed gently. Nowaki sighed and allowed his hunched shoulders to relax. The baby instantly quieted and settled once more.

"She stopped," Nowaki breathed, smiling.

"Let her hold your finger. She's just as strong as we imagined her to be," Hiroki whispered. Nowaki chewed his lip and held the baby in the crook of one arm. He pulled down the pink blanket to reveal two small, pale arms curled against a little chest. He poked her knuckles with the tip of his index finger. The baby frowned and knitted her brows, unclenching her fist in response to the new touch.

"Oh wow, her fingers are teeny," Nowaki commented, looking up with a smile. "She has your hands."

Hiroki rolled his eyes.

"Are you kidding me? All baby hands are small."

"No, they're definitely yours," Nowaki murmured. He looked down again as the baby wrapped her hand around Nowaki's finger. She squeezed and scrunched up her face once more.

Slowly, ever so slowly, her eyes peeled open.

"Oh my God," Nowaki breathed. Hiroki smirked tiredly.

"What did I tell you?"

Her eyes were cobalt, exactly like Nowaki's, except they weren't as cloudy. She had Hiroki's sharp yet gentle gaze, with the same clear, crisp glimmer.

Absolutely gorgeous.

"They're your eyes too, Hiro-san," Nowaki said, staring down at his daughter as she blinked back up at him.

"Whatever. She has yours and that's final."

Nowaki looked up to disagree again, but Hiroki was just barely able to keep his eyes open, his body becoming limp upon the bed. Nowaki's eyes softened.

"Okay, Hiro-san."

The baby stared up at Nowaki, her face expressionless but her eyes sparkling with what seemed like recognition. This was the nice man who had gently laid his warm hands over the shield of her nine-month cradle. This was the man who had played peek-a-boo with her, who had talked to her, who had kissed her.

This warmth was daddy.

"What's her name, Hiro-san?" Nowaki asked softly. Hiroki blinked sleepily and lolled his head towards the window, where snow was slowly drifting to the ground in the afternoon sun.

"Fuyumi," he whispered. Nowaki gazed out the window with Hiroki, watching the snow fall. Then, he looked back down at his daughter.

"Fuyumi…" he echoed dazedly. "That's the perfect name."