The morning dawned frosty and cold, but with the combined body heat of them and the three dogs, they were comfortably warm under the covers. Finn rolled over to look at her still-sleeping husband, trying to find solace in his relaxed face. Nerves had woken her, and try as she might, she couldn't dampen them down.

The day had been marked on the calendar for the last two months. And every time she looked at it on the calendar on the wall or on her phone, she grew more and more anxious. Her son's birthday wouldn't come naturally as she'd intended but was instead scheduled by a team of doctors and nurses. The surgery was in the best interest of her and the baby, they all knew that, but it still hurt. Like she'd done something wrong.

She watches as he wakes up. A sighing breath, a hard blink, and then his green eyes meeting hers.

"Hey," she whispers, rubbing a hand on his face; his morning scruff scratching her fingers.

"Hey," Deacon grunts, clearing his throat. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Just woke up early," she lies.

"We're gonna meet him today," Deacon says, changing the topic. If he sees through her bluff, he doesn't admit it.

"Yeah, we are." she nods. It felt almost surreal to her in that moment. That in a matter of hours, she'd be a mom.

"He's our early Christmas present." Deacon had been saying that all month. She knew it was his way of coping with his own fear and anxiety.

"Yeah," Finn whispers. "I'm nervous."

"I know. But I'm gonna be there the whole time."

"I know," she takes his hand and squeezes. "I need to take a shower. Wanna help me?"

"I'd love nothing more," he smiles and throws back the covers letting in the cold morning air. Their large black lab, Chunks, whines at it and Finn laughs.

"Spoiled boy," she croons, rubbing him between the ears. She swings her legs over the side and stands, using the bed for support until Deacon wraps an arm around her waist. In the beginning, her reliance on her mobility aids and sometimes needing extra help from people was a real ego trip for her, but she got over that very quickly.

While she strips down, Deacon starts the shower, heating the water just how she likes it. He helps her step in and sit down on the bench.

"Hey! You got it in my eyes!" she splutters with a giggle as he holds the wand over her head.

"Sorry!" he laughs too. "Okay, lean back." She was completely capable of washing herself, but neither would deny they didn't love doing it together just as much.

He takes extra time massaging shampoo into her hair, and it fills him with adoration when she happily sighs into his touch. As the suds rinse away, Finn's hand comes to her stomach as the baby moves.

"Today's the day, buddy. Everyone's ready to meet you." She gasps again as water splashes in her eyes. "Okay: you're done. Get out."

"Hey! I didn't mean to!"

"Nuh-uh. I let the first one pass, but this time? No way, Jose! Get out and let me and the bubs finish." She playfully shoves Deacon out of the shower, laughing at his pout.

[][]

Three days before Christmas, the halls of the hospital were decorated for the holiday with lights and strings of glittering tinsel. Themed muzak plays from the grainy speakers overhead and the nurses are wearing scrubs with Santa and The Grinch on them.

"And you haven't eaten since midnight, right?" the nurse asks her as she types on a computer.

"Right," Finn nods from her spot in the bed. Already hooked up to an IV and changed into a gown and hospital-issued socks, she was as ready as she'd ever be.

"And just to be sure: you have a latex allergy, right?"

"Yes. please make sure they know that."

"Don't worry, I will." And with one final click of a mouse, the nurse turns away from the computer and starts for the door. "There are two cases ahead of yours, so we'll come get you in about an hour?" She guesses. "Hang tight."

"We'll be here," Finn nods. "Miyana just texted. Their flight is about to leave," she tells her husband. Her sister's family and her parents were flying in to celebrate both the holiday and the new baby, and Deacon's family was eagerly awaiting the news of the baby's arrival. "Christmas will certainly be different this year."

"Different every year," Deacon nods. "He's gonna have to share his birthday with a holiday."

"Oh yeah! God, that's gonna suck," Finn winces, suddenly realizing what day it was. "Think we can just celebrate on his half-birthday?"

Deacon laughs. "We could do both! A small family thing on his actual birthday and then a bigger party for his friends in the summer. What kid wouldn't want two birthdays?"

Finn laughs at that. Having a winter birthday, she knew there were certain constraints summer birthdays didn't have to contend with. "I love that idea. Two birthdays."

They spend the hour talking, playing on their phones, and responding to the family group chat. Periodically, nurses would come to check on her and finish getting her ready. They bring Deacon a set of scrubs, a surgical cap, and a mask to change into, which makes both of them laugh and Finn snaps pictures to send to their group chat. And before long, she's being wheeled into surgery.

"I'll see you in a few," Deacon says, kissing her quickly before the nurses push her through the double doors.

[][]

She's lying on an operating table, bright lights shining above her. A blue curtain separates her from the work the doctor is doing, and Deacon is on a stool at her side, holding her hand.

"Hey, there, buddy! Happy birthday!" One of the nurses cheers and a second later the sound of a squawking baby fills the room. "I know, it's awful, huh?" The doctor holds the baby up over the curtain and Finn starts to cry. She was a mom; her baby was here and safe and healthy.

Deacon follows as another team takes the baby to be cleaned up, and once he sees his son properly for the first time, he starts to cry too. "Hey, dude. We're so glad you're here." He holds out a finger and watches in awe as the baby wraps his whole hand around it.

"Five pounds, eleven ounces. He's a tiny little guy," the doctor comments. "What's his name?"

"Bodhi," Deacon says, picking up his freshly wrapped-up son and walking back to his wife. Everyone in the room awws over the name. "Hey, mommy, meet your son."

Finn turns as far as she can and looks into Bodhi's tiny face. "Oh my god! He's so cute!" she can't help but cry and kiss his soft cheek.

[][]

Hours later, with sunshine coming in through the window, Finn rests in bed, her son tucked against her bare chest. Despite having just been cut open, she felt pretty good; though that could just be the hospital-grade painkillers she was given.

Even with her family all around, she only had eyes for her son. His tiny mouth and nose, peach fuzz for hair, and the little grunting noises he made. It made her so giddy and yet so overwhelmed. Once again, that feeling of surreality overcame her. How crazy it was that she was a mom. Deacon had taken his turn to hold Bodhi in the immediate aftermath of his birth and now it was her turn and she didn't know if she'd ever give him up.

"Bodhi Joseph; after your grandfather, right?" Rick asks Deacon.

"Yes, sir," Decon nods. "And my family agreed he'd be the first one to meet him once we get home; even after all the whining my mom and sisters had about it.

"We better get going. Just wanted to say hi and meet this little guy," Castle says, rising from his chair and kissing his daughter and grandson. They'd come straight from the airport, sending Miyana, Byron, and their girls (who were in desperate need of a nap) to the hotel.

"Yeah, we're kind of tired," Kate agrees.

"That and the fact Mia's been chomping at the bit to come over since you guys got here?" Finn asks with a raised eyebrow. She'd seen the messages her sister had sent in the group chat.

"Yeah, that too," Kate drawls, making everyone laugh. With one last round of hugs and kisses, Finn's parents take their leave, and the little family is left alone again.

[][]

"Our Christmas gift to you is that you're getting out of here early," Her lead nurse announces coming into the room with a wheelchair. It was Christmas Eve morning and Finn was certain they wouldn't be going home until the next day.

"Seriously?" Finn asks, choking over a sip of orange juice.

"Don't question it," the nurse says.

"This is amazing!"

"I sent Deacon downstairs to get the car seat. Let's get you ready."

By the time Deacon gets back upstairs, infant carrier in hand, the room is packed up and both Fnn and Bodhi are dressed and ready.

"Wow, you don't waste any time, do you?" he asks chuckling as his wife bounces eagerly on the bed.

"Come on, baby. I want to go home," she half-whines. "No offense."

"None taken," the nurse laughs. "If I had the option, I'd choose going home too."

She helps Finn into the wheelchair, lets Deacon buckle the baby in, and soon they are walking down the hallway, calling goodbyes to the wonderful doctors and nurses who'd helped them.

Alone in the car, just the three of them, it was surprisingly quiet.

"How is he?" Deacon asks from the driver's seat.

"Asleep," Finn replies, looking over at her son. "I think he likes car rides."

Soon, they are on the highway headed to let Deacon's family meet the new baby. Their early Christmas present