Meg sleeps almost as long as she was in labor. She knows that somewhere during her long repose she's woken a few times so the nurses can take her vitals. At some point, Adrian says good-bye and promises to return. She's taken into another room. But all of it feels very far away and unimportant. All she wants to do is sleep and that's what she does.
When she wakes, it's a little after ten in the morning. Meg's breakfast is on the table, and her stomach growls ravenously. She's halfway through her tray before the nurse comes in.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Sleeping Beauty," she says with a gentle laugh. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine." She sips her orange juice and rubs the back of her neck. It feels a little grimy and sticky with dried sweat. "I don't suppose I could take a shower, could I?"
"Well, I don't see why not. Not if you're feeling well enough. Let me help you out of bed and get you settled in the shower."
It takes a few minutes, but soon, Meg is standing under the hot stream of water. It feels heavenly to wash away the sweat of the past few days. The fear and pain. Although, to be honest, she's still in a bit of pain. Her body is sore and achy. Her breasts feel strange and she feels raw between her legs. But surely the worst is over now. The baby is born, and Meg won't have to do that ever again.
The baby.
She sighs and washes soap off her face. She forgot to ask about the baby when she woke up. The nurse probably thinks that was strange. Meg hopes that she's not gossiping about it with the other nurses or selling that fact to the news. If word gets out that she doesn't love her baby, Adrian will kill her.
Meg rinses off and steps out of the shower. She dresses in the pajamas Adrian packed for her and pulls on the lavender silk robe over them. Then, she returns to the room.
Which is now full of flowers, balloons, and baskets of baby things.
"I hope you don't mind," the nurse says, fluttering her hands around. She waves at the line of delivery men walking out of the room. "Your husband's security team let them up. I thought it'd be okay."
Meg waves wearily. "It's fine." She walks to the bed and climbs in. "Where's the baby?"
"She's in the nursery. Do you want her brought in now?"
Meg picks up her cup of water and takes a long, slow sip, thinking. She'd only asked because she felt it'd be expected of her. And, truthfully, she doesn't really care. However, Adrian's not here. Maybe she'll feel different about the baby without him around.
"Did my husband say when he'll be back?"
The nurse shrugs. "Not during my shift. I could ask around."
"No, it's fine. I'd like to see the baby."
"I'll call down to the nursery, then."
Meg finishes the remains of her breakfast and pushes the tray away. Then she pulls her hair into a low ponytail as she waits. Her heart pounds and palms feel damp.
What if I don't like her? What if I can't love her? What am I going to do? How will I survive?
"Here she is!" A new nurse enters the room, wheeling in a baby crib. "Baby Girl Veidt." She picks the baby up and places her in Meg's arms. "She just fed and has been changed. She should be fine for now."
"Thank you." Meg gazes down at the baby's face.
"I'll leave you two alone. Call if you need anything."
The baby is looking up at Meg. Her eyes are a stormy blue, but Meg thinks she can see a hint of green. Like Adrian's. Her nose is slightly pointy like his, too, and she has his chin. Maybe there's something of Meg in the cheeks and ears, but she's not sure. It's probably too early to tell, after all.
Meg lowers her face to the baby's head, pulling back the knitted cap. She inhales, breathing in the sweet, milky baby scent.
Nothing. It's a pleasant smell, but it doesn't do anything to Meg internally. She's not suddenly overflowing with joy. With love.
A lump forms in her throat. Fear prickles up her spine, over her arms, and down her legs.
Maybe if I kiss her.
She presses her lips to the baby's cheek. Forehead. Nose.
The baby's skin is soft. She gurgles and coos, squirming in Meg's arms. She stretches and reaches towards Meg.
Meg smiles and catches the baby's hand. "I'm glad you liked that." She kisses the tiny, balled up fist.
There's a flash.
Meg's head snaps up.
A photographer is in the doorway. The flash keeps going off as he takes more pictures.
Meg clutches the baby to her chest and grabs the call button. "Help, there's a stranger in my room!"
"Mrs. Veidt, what's the baby's name?" asks the photographer. "How big is she? How was the birth? What…" He breaks off as a security guard grabs him from behind.
Two nurses rush in, pushing past the guard. One closes the door while the other goes to Meg's side.
"I'm so sorry about that, Mrs. Veidt." The nurse readjusts Meg's bedclothes. "Did he hurt you?"
Meg breathes out slowly and loosens her grip on the baby. "No. We're fine." She looks down. "He used a flash. Will it do anything to her?"
"No," the nurse reassures her. She fixes the cap on the baby's head. "She'll be fine."
There's a knock on the door. It opens and Adrian peers in. "May I come in?"
"Yes, Adrian." Meg is disappointed. She'd hoped to get more time alone to sort through her feelings. To try and dredge up some feelings for her daughter.
He closes the door behind him and swiftly crosses the room. "Are you all right? I saw the photographer as they were taking him away."
Meg catches the look in his eyes as he leans down to kiss her, and her body goes cold with certainty.
He let the photographer in. He wanted a picture of me and the baby leaked.
She forces herself to relax as she accepts his kiss and watches as he kisses the baby.
"We're fine, Adrian. It's just a few pictures."
"Yes, of course." He glances at the nurses, who are standing together at the foot of the bed, watching them with soppy smiles on their faces.
The head nurse starts. "Oh, sorry. We'll step out now. Call if you need anything."
"Thank you." Adrian sits on the bed next to Meg, sliding his arm around her shoulders. "How are my girls this morning?" He takes the baby's fist and kisses it. Then he looks at Meg.
Meg plasters a smile. "Fine."
"I'm glad you're getting to know her." Adrian traces the baby's lips with the tip of his finger. "Have you thought of what you'd like to name her?"
"No," she sighs. "Have you?"
"I've a few ideas."
"Let me guess. Ozymandias had a daughter."
Adrian laughs. "He had many daughters, actually, but none were named anything I'd inflict on my child. No. I was thinking of something simpler. Like Alexandra."
She looks at him out of the corner of her eyes. He's not looking at her, focusing very steadily on the baby.
"For Alexander the Great?"
He nods.
She sighs.
"What do you suggest, then?"
"I don't know. Alexandra's fine. It's fine."
Now he does look at her. A long, considering, measuring look. "Surely you must have some opinion. What name do you have squirreled away that you're too afraid to say?"
"I'm not afraid to say anything. I just don't…" She bites her lip before she says the word care. Instead, she says, "Billy and I could never come up with a name we agreed on for a girl."
"Then what was one you liked? If I weren't here…"
"But you are here, Adrian." Meg looks at him, then back down at the baby. Her eyes fill with tears. "You are here. And you want to name her after the only person you ever felt any kinship with. So, go ahead. Do it."
Adrian puts his hand on Meg's face. Turns her head and rests their foreheads together. "Meg. It doesn't have to be this hard. You don't have to fight me on everything." He runs his free hand down her arm to her hand and squeezes. "We could be happy. I truly believe that. You just need…"
"I just need to surrender."
"No." He kisses her. "No, my love. But compromise."
The last line from Rorschach's journal floats through Meg's mind: Have lived life free from compromise and step into the shadow now without complaint.
Between them, the baby stirs. Starts making unhappy noises, the rumblings of crying.
And, suddenly, Meg finds herself saying, "Molly."
Adrian pulls back. Looks at her. "Molly?"
"Yes. Molly. That's my choice."
He thinks about it a moment, then nods slowly. "After your mother."
She nods.
Adrian looks down at the baby. Puts his hand on her stomach and rubs gently, as if trying to soothe her. He smiles. "All right then. Molly Alexandra Veidt. Welcome to the world."
