oOo
"How are you feeling, love?"
Her dark eyes were filled with tenderness as she looked up.
"Okay." She smiled wanly. "A bit groggy."
"That's to be expected, right?"
He sat down next to her and kissed her ear.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Their lips met in a gentle kiss.
"Thank you," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. She inhaled his scent.
"This is incredible," he whispered into her hair.
"I know."
Both sets of eyes went to the cradle to their left.
And, as if on cue, little Henry made himself known.
"Do you think he's hungry again?"
She bit her lip, overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
"Should I lift him out?"
Edward's eyes were filled with love and concern.
"I guess."
He placed a kiss on her lips before he got up and lifted his teeny tiny son out of the cradle.
He seemed to weigh nothing!
And he wanted to be fed, right now.
For the second time, Bella placed him against her breast and Henry began to suck happily.
It was a beautiful sight, and Edward mentally saved it to paint later.
He nuzzled Bella's temple with his nose.
"I love you," he whispered again. "Both of you."
"And we love you," she murmured, her eyes on the small person in her arms. "It was worth waiting for him."
"Yeah," Edward smiled. "I guess he just didn't want to leave the warm, comfy place he was in."
Bella huffed.
"Those ten days after the due date were horrible. I felt close to exploding."
"I know, darling." He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You're so brave."
"And you kept up with my whining. Did you…"
He knew what she meant without her saying it.
"Think about a huge, big drink?"
She nodded, her eyes on tiny Henry who kept sucking away.
"Seriously? No."
He remembered those last eleven days. There'd been nothing further from his mind than Bella, and the little person she was about to bring into their lives, and who was taking his time to arrive, driving his mum crazy.
Today was Edward's three-year, seven-months and thirteen days mark of being sober. He was aware of the possibility of a relapse. But he knew that he would make it. That Bella and Henry – his little family – were the most important thing to him now.
"Oh, look!"
Bella's soft voice drew him out of his reverie.
Henry was making tiny fists while suckling happily.
"He's so beautiful," Bella whispered. "Just like his daddy." She placed a quick kiss on his lips before returning her attention to Henry.
"Like his mum," Edward replied, his voice low and husky. "Thank you, my love."
And there they were: Mum, Dad, and Henry.
A happy, healthy family.
And that was so much more than either of them had dared to imagine four years ago.
oOo