Mark had never held a baby before in his life, and he almost demurred when Chris, the proud papa, declared that it was his turn to hold the newborn baby girl. Before he could say anything, it was too late.
"Here you go, Uncle Mark," he said, as he gently placed the warm little bundle in Mark's arms. He awkwardly tried to copy Beck's cradle hold as best as he could.
He looked down at the baby girl, with her small red face, snugly swaddled in the hospital blankets. She was sound asleep, with her tiny hands clenched into fists like a miniature prize-fighter. She had a bossy little face.
"Ha, she looks like you," he said to Chris, as he studied the tiny features.
"She's got Beth's eyes, though." Beck had a decidedly goofy tone; he was obviously way off the deep end about his daughter.
Mark nodded. He repositioned the baby a little bit, so that her head was in the crook of his arm. She stirred a little, waving her tiny fists and working her little mouth open and closed a few times. He patted her on the back, a little gingerly at first, and then wrapped his other arm behind her, as she slept on. Baby Beck was a snuggler, it seemed.
"Aw, look... she likes Uncle Mark." Beck, seemingly convinced that Mark wasn't about to drop the baby on her head, stepped back and collapsed in the chair across from him. He looked absolutely exhausted.
"What have you been doing to yourself, man?" he mocked Chris.
"I know, I haven't slept in over," he checked the time, "forty-eight hours now. I'm so beat."
"Better not let Beth hear you say that." Mark quipped.
"No kidding." Beck leaned his head back, closing his eyes. "You okay with her, there?"
"Yep. Got your back, bro. Get a quick nap." Beck was asleep almost before he'd finished saying it.
Experimentally, he unwrapped one of the baby's fists. Long, tapered fingers, like Beth, and tiny wrists, like Chris. He smiled. She wrapped her hand around his pinky finger, clutching it tightly. Aw, geez. His heart melted a little more. The room was quiet and peaceful, except for Beck's heavy breathing.
"You're gonna make sure Dad never gets a good night's sleep ever again, right, baby girl?" he whispered to her. She snorted, an adorable, delicate baby snort. He grinned. He went back to patting her on the back, as she slept on.
He took a few pictures and sent them on to Oaiea.
Please congratulate Dr. Beck and Miss Johanssen on my behalf.
Will do, he replied. Knowing that he probably wouldn't get a straight answer, he asked, are the newborns on your planet as cute as this one? He smirked. There was about a six-minute lapse between answers, before Oaiea finally replied.
No wish to be rude, but yes. Far cuter.
I'll tell Chris and Beth you said so. Kidding. He smiled. A few minutes later, Oaiea sent him a picture, of what he had to assume was a newborn from her planet. It was the ugliest creature he'd ever seen.
That's pretty cute, I have to admit, he lied shamelessly, Relative of yours? Holy hell, that thing looked strange. Oversized milky blue eyes, set in a wrinkled white face, no nose or chin to speak of, with a fuzzy tuft of white hair on top.
It is me, shortly after my birth. Oaiea replied, six minutes later.
"Yep, that's why they call me a Peacemaker." he confided in Baby Beck, who was still sleeping peacefully.
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