The three weeks had passed at a snail's pace. Having to wait quietly for the day when she would breathe on her own was tugging on my last bit of patience. Every day I would remind her that it was time for her to breathe on her own, and every day she wouldn't even try. Well, at least I didn't notice it. But the nurses and doctors continuously reminded me that her lungs were forming fine and she was on her way to breathing on her own. Of course I wouldn't believe them until I saw it with my own eyes.

Today is the first day of week three and today is also the day the doctor is going to take chiyo off of her tubes. My nerves were jumping at the thought. I was both extremely nervous and excited. The doctor said that he would come in today around noon to do the test. He said he would keep her off of them until she was no longer able to take it. He also said that it was most likely that she is fully able to breathe off the machine, but to be safe, depending on how she did, he was going to put her back on it eventually.

My belly had finally healed too, though That didn't stop the nurses from checking up on me every time they checked on chiyo.

Usagi came back to the hospital around 11:30 am after dropping izuru off at school. He kissed me on the head before sitting down next to me with a sigh.

"Today's the day huh?"

I nodded firmly. If all went well today, I would be able to hold my daughter.

"Will the eye doctor come see her today too?"

I hummed at the question before shaking my head.

"I don't think so. But it will all depend on if she breathes on her own today or not right?"

Usagi nodded before throwing a hidden look of irritation. It was frustrating for usagi just as much as it was frustrating me. We both wanted to know why she hadn't opened her eyes yet. We both wanted her out of the incubator and in our arms. We were both ready to start our lives with her, away from the hospital.

Usagi's patience was growing thinner every day. I'm sure having to take care of himself and izuru by himself and keeping up with the norm was exhausting. Not only that, but he had to take time off work to keep up with the busy schedule at home. Plus, the only time he gets to spend with me and his daughter, is at the hospital, surrounded by others. He hasn't been able to touch me like he usually does and I'm pretty sure it's getting to him.

Usagi sighed.

"What's with the look of pity misaki?"

I smiled.

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about how much you have to do at home without me."

Usagi frowned.

"Yeah. I never realized how much you actually have to do everyday. Aiko and izuru are both helping me take care of them though. They are quick to correct me when I do something you don't do."

Hearing about home made me glow with happiness. I could imagine the boys showing usagi how to cook dinner or clean up the way 'daddy/misaki' does it. I'm sure Aiko and izuru we're guiding usagi through every little thing that I do.

I giggled at the thought.

"It must be hectic without me around huh?"

Usagi gave me a very serious look.

"It is. I want to bring you and chiyo home already. It really isn't the same without you."

I kept my smile on my face even though what usagi said was so serious.

" i know. I want to go home too."

That was all i said. The conversation dropped. Silence formed between us until chiyo started crying. Usagi got up from his chair and put is hand into the incubator to comfort her. He rubbed her chubby cheeks and held her balled up fist shushing her, saying it was going to be okay, that she was fine. Her tears stopped and her heavy breathing started. She was calm now.

I watched as usagi walked back to his chair and picked up the newspaper he had brought with him.

" she must have had a nightmare or something. She had just woken up right?"

Usagi nodded.

"Who knows. She could have been startled by the silence and felt alone. She's pretty smart. She knows that if she crys someone will come to her."

I agreed.

"Yeah. she really doesnt like it when its quiet. Good thing home is never quiet right?"

Usagi quirked a smile.

"I agree completely."

I sighed and looked up to the clock. It was 12 on the dot. Being at the hospital for a few weeks now, i knew my doctor well. He wasn't one to be late to anything. If he said he would be at my room by noon then he would be there. I looked to my door. I saw him pass by the window before knocking on the wooden frame of my door.

" , It's . May I come in?"

"Yes! Yes please come in."

The doctor pushed open the already ajar door and walked into the room.

"So to recap. Chiyo is going to be taken off of support. Depending on how well she does, she may not have to go back on support and we can treat her like a normal newborn. Not only that but Dr. mizuki said he can come do his exam today if everything goes well. The nursing team will be on standby during this and will come running if anything goes wrong. We are here to help chiyo, not to harm her. If there is anything that doesn't seem right to me, she's going right back on support."

I nodded.

"That sounds reasonable to me. I'll leave it to you Dr. himori."

The doctor nodded.

"Let me go get a nurse to help me. I'll be right back and we will get started."

The doctor left the room only to come back with a young lady with long brown hair. She bowed to us before walking over to the incubator with the doctor. She unlocked it and opened it up fully like the nurses did every morning. Doctor himori picked up chiyo carefully before putting on his stethoscope and listening to her lungs and heart. He listened for a while, probably wanting to make sure everything was perfect before he attempted to take her off her support. Not that i blame him. Just watching made me so nervous i was visibly shaking. I couldn't imagine how the doctor felt.

"Okay. her lungs sound good and clear. Her heartbeat is strong. I think it's time to test this out."

Usagi got up and sat on the edge of the bed. He took up my hand and squeezed it. He wanted to comfort me. We both watched the doctor nod to the nurse who slowly turned off the machine. The watched as the heavy breaths stopped and so did the rise and fall of our baby's chest. For a moment, time stopped. I watched closely, waiting for her to take that first breath on her own. Chiyo started to squirm in the doctors arms.

" come on chiyo-chan, breathe for me."

The doctor rubbed chiyo's chest. Before watching her chest again.

Then it happened.

She took in a deep breath from her mouth and started doctor sighed in relief and so did everyone else. We had all been holding our breath. Our baby was finally able to breathe on her own. The nurse started to quickly remove all of her tubes so that they wouldn't hinder her breathing. For the first time, i was able to see my baby without anything on her.

She was beautiful. Outside of her box and wires, she was a real baby who i was able to touch.

The doctor rocked chiyo before looking to me.

" and with that, she breathes! Would you like to hold her now?"

Tears started running down my cheeks.

"Yes please!"

The doctor nodded and handed chiyo to me. I took her up in my arms, holding her as carefully as i could. The tears running down my cheeks splashed onto hers, mixing with her tears. I was finally, for the first time, able to hold my baby. I could finally feel the connection to her that i had been yearning for.

"Chiyo, baby...you can stop crying now. Your okay now. Daddy's got you. I'm so proud of you. I love you little snow bunny.

Usagi rubbed my back, trying to get me to stop crying, while i rocked chiyo to do the same.

The nurse took out the machine and the incubator and the doctor came closer to the bed.

"The nurse will come back with a more appropriate incubator, now that she can breathe on her own. She took such a deep breath. I was amazed. Now that she has a feel for it, her phrenic nerve should keep her from holding her breath too long. The machine she was on helped develop her diaphragm and lungs so they are all nice and strong now. We can start kangaroo care as soon as your ready. I'm going to go get dr. mizuki so that he can examine her eyes. Maybe then we can get you some answers. I'll be back in a few minutes. Use your call button if anything happens."

I nodded to the doctor.

"Thank you."

The doctor smiled and exited the room. I looked to usagi and smiled.

"Usagi. Everything is alright now, right?"

Usagi wrapped me up in his arm and caressed chiyo's head; a moment i would never forget.

"Im hopeful, misaki. Im hopeful."

A/n:its been too long! I'm so sorry! please don't forget to review, follow and favorite!

love,

Mousekid!