"You'll be fine."

The blankets were thrust at Ansell while Maurice; the ever steady, calming voice throughout the last few days reassured him. It had been an agonizingly long stretch of time, then as soon as the baby had arrived, a whirlwind. Everyone had congratulated him. Shaking his hand, slapping his back, telling him he had done a good job making a boy when he really wanted to correct them because he had most certainly not done any of the work. Midwives telling him what to do, what not to do, chastising him on things they assumed he would do. People bringing food, people talking too much, people, people, people.

He wanted them all to go away.

Eventually, they did. However, with the house silent he gazed at the stairs in trepidation.

Maurice watched his son-in-law. It was the moments like the one before him that made him marvel at Ansell. Before him stood a prince, a beast; ferocious and lion hearted when it was needed. A man who used to be seven feet tall with fangs and claws reduced to nerves at the thought of going into his own bedroom and holding something tiny and harmless. "Ansell,"

He turned, blue eyes wide in the dim light.

Placing his hands on the young father's shoulders, he looked him in the eye. "You'll do fine. All you're doing is going up to sleep near them and help when Belle asks for assistance." The poor boy, his own father had done a number on him and since Belle had started laboring Ansell had been a wreck. Maurice had made a point to take to care of them both, making sure Ansell had eaten something, bathed, and put on fresh clothes before heading up. Someone had to look after the dear, frightened father. "Belle's doing fine, the midwives made sure she was cleaned and tidied up and I brought her dinner. She's just tired from labor, but she's a natural with Henri. All you have to do is what you've been talking about; help."

"Of course." He nodded dumbly. Of course, Belle was the natural out of the two of them.

"If you have any problems or questions, either of you, you're going to wake me up. Alright?"

Ansell let out a deep breath, trying to calm himself. It had been ages since his anxiety had cropped up and it was a struggle to work through it.

"It's not my first go around," Maurice reassured. Reaching out, he patted Ansell's cheek affectionately. "You're more than ready. Now go on, your wife and little boy are up there."

Maurice headed off to bed and Ansell slowly made his way up the stairs. Quietly opening the door there was a single candelabra on the side table, an empty bowl and teacup resting next to it, and from the soft murmurs and sucking he could deduce his son was eating. His new son. His first son. Mon Dieu, he had a son. They had a son. They had a child. What on Earth was he going to do to not be a terrible father?

Belle's head lifted off of the pillow.

He knelt at her side of the bed, gingerly pushing away the cradle which had been placed next to the bed weeks before. Weary yet happy brown eyes found him while his heart quivered at the sight. Belle was on her side, a hand and pillow under her newborn, allowing him to suckle as she lay down in exhaustion from a long, difficult labor. A little head peeking out from under the thick quilts that warded off the spring chill making him crumble. They had a son.

With her free hand, she reached out and took his face, pulling him in for a sleepy yet tender kiss. "I missed you." She whispered. Eyes dark, spent, and needing many hours of sleep. Everything feeling sore and overworked. So tired. So very, very tired.

"I missed you too." Kissing her knuckles he glanced down and caught a glimpse of a little hand kneading her.

"It was worth it." her eyes shut in contentment. "We have our little boy."

"How are my Darlings?" Kissing her palm, he reached over and pushed some rogue hair out of her face.

"One of us is hungry, one of us is very happy the other is hungry. And sleepy, and breathing, and here." She leaned into his touch, letting out a yawn as suddenly her eyelids were much heavier.

They were both healthy, the thought making him sigh. It was all he had hoped for and even at one point, prayed for, when she had been laboring. Their son was strong and as alert as a newborn could be. And Belle was well; unharmed by the possible dangers of bringing a child into the world.

"Why do you have so many quilts?" Stifling back another yawn, she adjusted her babe. "We don't need anymore."

"They're for me when I go get the armchair and sleep next to you two."

Belle gave the declaration a silent, humorless, brow raised response before letting out a scoff. "You're not sleeping in the chair."

"But the midwives-" He began.

"I've been in labor for almost three days and I've barely seen you." Taking his wrist, she gave it a tug. When he hesitated her mouth formed a shape that was part scowl, part sleepy pout. "Ansell."

Obliging hesitantly, he set the blankets aside and climbed in. Belle pulling and pushing on him until he was on his side behind her and she could lean her weight was against her husband. Smiling into her bare shoulder, he pressed his lips to it as she pulled on his arm and draped it over herself. "Hmm."

"Much better, right?" She gently stroked the top of the little head and relaxed as much as she could.

He found the little toes under the blanket and cupped them in this palm. Every bit of Henri astonishingly tiny as they curled and shifted in his hand. "I want this to last forever." He kissed again.

"That would be nice." Closing her eyes she let out a sigh.

"You look so beautiful together." Ansell nuzzled.

"He's beautiful." Stifling back a yawn, she felt her son struggle to get closer and she helped him. Her husband's big hand coming up and petting an arm, his child letting out a tiny groan.

"I missed you, Belle." He breathed, his worry pouring out. "I missed you so much, and I was so worried. But you're both perfect."

"Mmn." The brown eyes bobbed while the little chest moved rhythmically. It felt so right for Henri to be against her, skin against skin, at her breast. "I love you two so much."

"Henri." He mused sleepily, Belle's scent mixed with the baby's helping his frayed nerves. Having them in his arms did him a world of good. "Our little Henri."

"You're going to be so good with him." She smiled drowsily at the thought. Feeling his face slacken against her shoulder, Belle's eyes fluttered open and she mulled the situation over. "When he's done, could you take him? They want me in bed for at least a day, and it works better if you walk with him."

Ansell glanced over her shoulder pensively, tensing at the idea of being in charge of someone so new and delicate.

Belle placed her hand over the one that had gone back to holding the button toes. "You'll be fine. You just need to pat his back."

He shifted, worriedly watching mother and son.

"Ansell." Looking over her shoulder as he nestled his chin on it, she reached around and found his jaw covered in whiskers. "You know how I know you'll be fine?" Leaning back, it allowed her to kiss him. Their struggles and adventures had shaped them both over the years, changing them, making them less and less like the common husband and wife. Making him rare. "Because no other father would even consider helping with his baby. But you're here, and you've been talking nonstop about how you want to help me ever since we found out I was expecting."

"I don't want to miss anything." He exclaimed, stomach dropping at his greatest fear. "I don't want him to feel like I've been absent, or I'm distant, or he never sees me."

"I don't see you letting that happen." She soothed. "You love him so much, it's so obvious you love him."

Sniffling, hoping Belle wouldn't see how red his eyes were, he smiled in agreement. "Both of you."

"You have the biggest, kindest, sweetest heart." Belle was near tears herself, flooded with emotions since Henri had entered into the world. "And I know you, you'll never go a day without making sure he feels it."

Nodding his head, he kissed her again. "God I missed you."

"I missed you too." Feeling him nuzzle, she smiled through happy tears. It was the first time she felt they were a family; the three of them cuddled in bed, Ansell holding her, his face against her shoulder, little Henri's belly full of milk as he relaxed in her arm and began to doze. She let the time stretch out, looking at the moonlight softly trickling through their window, listening to their breath. Her little family, together. "Ansell." She finally, reluctantly, broke the quiet they were enjoying.

"Yes, Darling?" He kissed.

"Your son's finished and he needs his Papa."

Ansell couldn't help but shed a tear at the thought of it. Henri needed him. She sat up for a moment, taking a blanket and wrapping the little thing up to keep him warm, handing their newborn off, capturing a kiss, whispering a thank you before he climbed out of bed and begun to pat the tiny back.

"You might want a towel." She murmured against her pillow, eyes heavy. "Unless you want to wash that shirt."

"Oh." Reaching over the new father found one on the table and placed it on his shoulder. "Sorry."

"It's alright, I already made that mistake." Belle yawned, smiling as her husband began to pace in front of the window. Eyes sinking under their lids, her protectiveness towards her baby waning as she knew Henri was safe and sound with his papa.

"Will you watch and make sure i-"

She was already asleep.

Henri let out a squeak and Ansell clumsily tugged the blanket around him more tightly. Carefully, slightly awkwardly holding the baby out, he studied him. Their newborn was all Belle; that little tuft of brown hair, the way his brow furrowed. He smiled warmly at the thought of a little bit of her in the world when suddenly Henri squirmed, startling him as he placed him back on his shoulder. "Sorry, sorry." Suddenly realizing he hadn't the foggiest clue what Belle had talked about, he quickly, quietly left the room. The little one nuzzling him as he retreated to the one person who could help.

Maurice groggily opened his door to a sleeping newborn and an anxious father.

Ansell began to open his mouth to sputter.

Letting out a sigh, he gestured the new father to give up the baby. "Alright, lesson one-"

-Fin-