Here is another chapter for you to read, only one after this...

Her newborn baby smile was as sweet as a summer strawberry and filled me with a burst of sunshine I never knew existed in the world.

Tiny fingers curl around my pinky. I watch Winnie peer through brand new eyes at what must be such a strange world afterlife in the womb. Her legs kick in a tiny jagged motion, looking for that resistance they are used to I guess, but finding nothing but air. I wonder if that's unsettling or relief, it must have been pretty cramped in there. When she stretches her hands barely rise above her head and I think of how strange we'd all look if we kept those body proportions as we grew. This is a new person, and I'm already filling up with love for her.

It was now seven in the morning, well Jesse didn't receive a very warm welcome from a fair few of us. From what daddy said he was sleeping on the sofa after haven his butt kicked, that in the end, it was my choice to let him back into our room or not. But right now Winnie was awake and fed, she was in a yellow romper with frilly white socks and it was time she met her daddy.

In my heart in no way was I ready to forgive him, but my head was more logical, we're forever we have a daughter and he messed up. I could forgive in time when I see how things should be not what they have been.

I want to drink this moment in, this moment with my little girl in my hands. Her eyes are more brilliant than I could have dreamed they would be, her hands more delicate. She feels so light, looks so perfect and smells so divine. I am her protector for as long as I live and my love for her will last for all time. I ask her, "Are you ready to meet your, daddy?" no answer but her legs kicked so I take that as a firm, yes.

Hun was in the den when I walked in, he turned with a smile. "Good morning, Finley. And a very good morning to you, Winnie," he was smitten just like the rest.

Ma was thumping a wooden spoon but her eyes are focused behind me like in the movies I turn in slow motion seeing Jesse fresh from the shower. "Watch it, boy," she warned before turning back to the kitchen.

I speak, "Can Jesse and I have a few moments alone?"

None say a word, they all walk away leaving him and me alone. I just place myself on the lounge chair. "Would you care to meet your daughter, Winnie. I didn't die so you can rest easy she will still remind you of me," his face crumpled.

He sits close, his eyes soaking her image up but he looked no closer to holding her. I offered, "Hold her,"

But he backed up, "She is smaller than I thought, was it because of me?"

"It could have been due to my emotional state, yes, but I don't blame you. Winnie is here and so am I. Right now, you and I are in a bad way and I don't know if we can fix it," the way his face filled with anguish and pain hurt me more than I wanted. I wanted to hate him, blame him, just be angry with him but my heart wouldn't really allow it.

When close to him even feet away he was all that I could smell, his presence made the room warmer somehow. The silence was tense, our emotions kicking it up but after another few minutes, he spoke. "I love you, I hate myself for my actions, my words and most of walking away from you. I was so scared, more than anyone understood, nightmares filled my dreams every night the same one, you dead always you dead. I snapped seeing how fragile you were becoming, I can't change the past but I can change the future. You just need to let me, please. Finley, I may never deserve it but our family does,"

He was right, our family deserved another chance.

This time he moved closer his hands replacing mine, our daughter just stared up at her father as he held her. Asking me, "Am I doing it right?"

"Yes,"

She didn't cry or fuss, they just shared this little moment in time. "She is everything all at once, she looks much like you all but her eyes those are like a mix of us. Mae walked in, "You both need to eat,"

I stood and so did Jesse, I took our daughter as he led us into the now filled table his hand on my lower back as daddy was up moving the bassinet to my seat. "Thank you," beaming at him.

"No problem, sweet pea," we all eat but again it is tense, so many emotions are running wild with his return and it seems as if it will be a while before everything is back to normal.

Angus was a great man as he cut in, "Jesse, I am very disappointed in you. But right now that doesn't matter what does is you fixing this mess you caused with your mate. After our meal, we boys will go and finish the last parts of the new home's the girls have already done the curtains and assorted things, so by tomorrow if she permits you can move in," all eyes moving between Jesse and Angus.

Jesse took it like a man, "I know, Pa. And I deserve much more than what I have already received, but Finley and I both think our family needs another chance. I will never act so childish again, I left my fear to overrule every once of sense I had," his tone so low but so filled with emotion as Ma gave him a withering look.

She let out a frustrated sigh, "I knew you be back; I know you love my girl. So, here we took lots of pictures the entire time you vanished," from under the table was a photo book. It looked perfect to me it was done up with fabric too. He just ate holding the book, his fingers skimmed it his eyes soaking up the first page before he left the table taking the book with him.

I just turned my head mid-bite and watched him walk to where our room was, I sighed. "He needs some time alone," he did too. Talking picked up as we ate, "I think if after our meal tomorrow morning we started moving our belongings in we could be sleeping there by nightfall. But we three girls agreed dinner will always be for family time, so we will have it at each house on certain days," my tone light but my heart hurt for Jesse as he hadn't returned to the table.

Ma smiled, "Yes we have. Now we have a full day ahead of us," I stood taking Winne and his food with me. "Need to make sure he eats, I will be right back,"

He sits just going over the book, his brown eyes held tears as he spoke. "I…I feel so horrible. How could I have missed this, I swear it was never intentional you are not even due yet. But never have I thought I could mess this up, being with you became so easy. My other half, now I see how painful and wonderful having Winnie had been," god his tone floored me.

I just hand him his food, "Eat. You have to get our home done, we need our place to help us grow close again and raise Winnie,"

"You still going to marry me?"

"Yes,"

He didn't need to say a word, his eyes spoke for him