Roxanna was smoothing down her shirt for the hundredth time in the last ten minutes as she critically examined her reflection in the mirror. Henrik wished that he could convince her that she looked perfectly fine, but he knew that it was useless. She was so determined to present a good picture to Maja, and he found himself caring all the more for her in that moment. "Are you certain that I look presentable?"
"More than that, Roxanna. Come here." He patted the bed, smiling gently at her, and she nodded as she drifted over to his side, sinking down onto the mattress next to and letting her head come to rest on his shoulder. "Remember, Fredrik is just a baby, he won't recall how you looked right now, even if we do take a few pictures to cement the memories in our brain. And Maja will probably not be the warmest towards you, since I think that she was assuming we would have a renewed relationship once she announced the pregnancy."
Roxanna nodded a little as she took a deep breath. "All right." She turned her head and pecked his cheek before popping to her feet once more, pacing the floor. "I'm sorry, I know how ridiculous it is to be so nervous, but he's your little boy, and I love him already."
His smile grew a little as he rose to his feet, grabbing the two gift bags and then holding his hand out to her. Roxanna took hold of it, threading their fingers together as they exited the room and began the long trek down the stairs. "We haven't even met him, and you love him."
"What can I say? I have a very soft spot in my heart for Hanssen men." He knew that she was making a pun on his last name, and he chuckled a little, watching her grin illuminate her features as she nodded. "If Mum hadn't succumbed to locked in syndrome, I might have gotten my degree in English literature, and then we would never have met. I hope this doesn't sound like blasphemy, but I think I may have finally discovered that mythical silver lining, and it's you." She squeezed his hand rapidly, as if she was trying to get control of her emotions, and he nodded as they continued on their way, a part of him knowing that if he acknowledged her emotions, she might lose control completely, and that would be the last thing she wanted. Instead, he tightened his grip on her hand, letting her know that he understood what she was saying completely.
They were quiet until they were in the cab, and then she was scooting as close to him as she could get, resting her head on his chest. Henrik breathed in the delicate scent of her perfume, finding that it calmed his nerves. Though he hadn't wanted to admit it, he was nervous about meeting his son. His feelings had waffled back and forth over the last few months, between never wanting to meet Fredrik and just letting Maja raise him, since children had never been in his plans. But then, Roxanna had made him see the possibilities of a future as a family, and his views had started to shift. But he just wasn't certain how Maja would react.
Their drive over was quiet, which suited him just fine, since he wasn't certain how good a conversation he would be able to carry out with his heart in his throat. When they arrived at Maja's home, he quickly paid as Roxanna slipped out of the cab, smoothing her skirt down her thighs as she waited for him. "You look fine, darling," he murmured in her ear as he handed her gift bag over.
"Thank you," she whispered back as they stepped up to the door. Henrik knocked on the door firmly, and they waited together, Roxanna bumping into him gently as the moments passed by slowly. Finally, he heard feet behind the door, and then it was being wrenched open, Maja's soft blonde head coming into view. Henrik tried to smile at her, but found it felt more like a grimace, and her eyes quickly shifted from him to Roxanna, a small sneer flashing across her features before she had schooled her face into a placid mask.
"You're here! I'm so glad, Henrik. Please, introduce us."
He nodded as they were welcomed inside, slipping out of their shoes and jackets, allowing Maja to hang them up before she faced them once more. "Maja, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Roxanna MacMillan. Roxanna, Maja." They shook hands, and Henrik could feel the tension in the room grow a little instead of ebb, like he had expected it to. Frowning a little, he rested his hand in the small of Roxanna's back as they followed Maja into the sitting room.
There was a cradle next to the sofa, and he felt his breath catch in his throat as Maja went over and picked up a squirming bundle of baby, bringing him over to their sides. "This is Fredrik," she said softly, holding the bundle out to Henrik.
"He's beautiful," Roxanna breathed out as she held out her gift bag to Maja. She accepted it, and the one from Henrik, going over to the sofa to open them as they cooed and fussed over the baby. "Oh, Henrik, your son is so perfect."
"He is," Henrik replied as he ran his finger down Fredrik's nose, watching the baby yawn a little, stretching his back a little before squirming around again, trying to find a comfortable position. "Would you like to hold him?" he asked, feeling awkward all of a sudden.
Roxanna nodded, a beautiful smile on her lips. Henrik glanced over at Maja, seeing her glare a little at them. He shook his head a little as he carefully placed Fredrik in Roxanna's arms. There was something so natural about the way she held him, and he found himself suddenly picturing a future with Roxanna that included another baby, their baby. A blissful smile curved his lips upwards as he bent down and kissed the top of Fredrik's head, the clean scent of baby wafting up to soothe him. "I don't know how I'm going to let him go, Henrik," she whispered in his ear, as if she didn't want Maja to overhear her, and he nodded. "I am head over heels already."
"Why?" he couldn't help but ask as he took a step back from them, pulling out the camera and taking a few snapshots of her.
"He reminds me so much of you. His dark hair, his nose, there are all these little things that tell me he's yours." The first tear slipped down the planes of her face, and Henrik reached out to brush it away with his thumb. "Maja, you have an angel to take care of. Thank you for letting me hold him."
Henrik glanced over at the woman, seeing the slightly mollified look on her face. "He is the perfect baby. And thank you for blanket. Did you make it yourself?"
Roxanna shook her head. "My mum used to knit. This is one of the last pieces she made, in hopes that she would have a grandchild one day. Since I don't know if that will ever be, I thought who better to have it than the son of the man I adore?" Roxanna's lower lip trembled a little as she stepped closer to Henrik once more, and he wrapped an arm around her waist as they stood there, growing closer to each other as they became acquainted with his son.