Sabrina sat at the breakfast table surrounded by her entire family, the morning sunlight streaming in through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. The chatter of her loved ones filled the air, the clinking of utensils against plates creating a comforting rhythm.
As she reached for her coffee cup, her phone suddenly began to glanced at the caller ID and was surprised and a tad concerned to see Isaac's name displayed on the screen. It was only 7.30 a.m. Her son was not an early riser, especially now that hockey season had ended, so she couldn't help but wonder what could be the matter.
"It's Isaac," she announced to the rest of the family, who had gathered around her in curiosity as she accepted the video call.
Isaac's face appeared on the screen, his features partially obscured by shadows, but his smile shone brightly despite the dim lighting. Sabrina noted that he appeared to be in a darkened room, his surroundings barely visible except for his naked torso.
"Hi, Mom."
"Honey, where are you? I can barely see you."
"Lucy wanted to say hello,"
"Lucy?"
With a nod, her son lowered the camera, revealing the tiny bundle cradled in his arms. Sabrina's heart skipped a beat as tears welled up in her eyes, the realization hitting her like a wave – her son was holding his own baby.
Her baby boy had had a girl.
Isaac was a father.
"Mom?"
Isaac's voice broke through her reverie, drawing her attention back to the screen. She blinked away her tears and smiled warmly at her son, her heart bursting with love for him and his new little family.
"She's...She's beautiful."
Her son beamed with pride at her words, his hazel eyes shining with excitement as he proudly introduced his daughter. "Meet Lucy Sophia Hargrave," he declared, his voice filled with pride and joy.
Sabrina couldn't help but admire the way he held Lucy, his expression filled with awe and wonder as he looked down at her. She could see the love and adoration shining in his eyes, and her heart swelled with pride at the sight of her son embracing fatherhood with such tenderness and devotion.
"How's Quinn?" she asked, her concern for her son's fiancée evident in her voice.
Her son's expression softened, a hint of weariness flickering across his features before he composed himself. He turned his gaze away from the camera momentarily, as if collecting his thoughts, before meeting his mother's eyes once more.
"She's sleeping," he replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "It's been... It was quite stressful for her, but she managed to get through it. She's the strongest woman I know, especially after all this."
"Can we come visit you today?" Mason's voice rang out eagerly, his excitement palpable as he anticipated meeting his granddaughter for the first time.
"Quinn and I talked about it and decided that we just wanted you and Mom to come. Judy and Russel are coming in a moment"
"When are we going to be able to visit you?"
Isaac glanced at his best friend, whose eyes were red from tears of joy. He couldn't help but smile at the sight, knowing how much he cared for him and his growing family. "We'll organize a meal or something for you to meet her but I suppose that as her godfather, you get to meet her before. What do you think?"
"Godfather, me?" Jayden's voice trembled with disbelief, his blue eyes widening in wonder as he processed the news.
"Santana is the godmother, but don't tell her, we want to record her reaction when we tell her. But yeah, Jay, you're her godfather."
"That's…Thank you."
"You have nothing to thank me for. We couldn't think of a better person than you for the job."
As the first rays of dawn gently filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue over the room, Quinn slowly began to stir from her fitful sleep. Every muscle in her body seemed to ache with exhaustion, every joint protested with soreness yet beneath the physical discomfort lay a sense of peace and contentment.
With a soft groan, she reluctantly opened her eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep that clung to her like a heavy fog. And there, bathed in the soft morning light, was Isaac's face, his features softened by the gentle glow that surrounded him. His eyes, filled with a mixture of awe, admiration, met hers, and she felt her heart swell with emotion at the sight of him.
"My brave, brave girl," he murmured, his voice a gentle whisper that seemed to reverberate through her very soul. Leaning in, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips, his touch sending shivers down her spine and igniting a warmth that spread through her entire being. "You can't imagine how incredibly proud I am of you right now."
Quinn closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of his lips against hers, the taste of him lingering on her tongue like a sweet memory. It was a moment of pure bliss, a fleeting instant of intimacy and connection reminder of the miracle they had created together. When they finally pulled apart, she found herself smiling through tears of exhaustion and joy, her heart overflowing with love for the man before her.
"Hi, Sunshine," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she reached up to cradle his cheek in her hand.
His smile widened,"Hi, baby," he replied softly, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he leaned into her touch.
Abruptly, a sharp cry pierced through the comfortable silence that had enveloped them, pulling them back to the present moment. With a sense of urgency, Isaac rose from the bed and made his way to the crib, his footsteps soft against the floorboards.
As he leaned over the crib and scooped up their daughter, Quinn smiled as he began to sway gently back and forth, his voice a soothing melody that seemed to calm their daughter's heart swelled as she watched him, her eyes tracing the curve of his jaw, the strength in his arms, the tenderness in his touch. She couldn't help but marvel at the stark contrast in size between the two – Isaac, towering above with his broad shoulders and sturdy frame, and their daughter, nestled snugly against his chest, so small and delicate, like a mere football in comparison.
"She's beautiful," he murmured with a wide-eyed wonder as he gazed down at their daughter with sparkling eyes. Carefully, he settled onto the edge of the bed, positioning their daughter so that she could see her mother. With trembling fingers, Quinn reached out to stroke the baby's dark hair marveling at the softness of it beneath her fingertips.
"She has my eyes," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she marveled at the miracle before her. The baby looked up at them with wide, curious eyes, her tiny fingers reaching out to grasp her father's thumb.
Isaac turned to her, his hazel eyes shining with raw emotion as he gazed at her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. There was a reverence in his expression, a deep sense of gratitude that seemed to radiate from his very being.
"Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, almost as if he were uttering prayer. "Thank you for our baby."
She felt her breath catch in her throat at his words as she leaned forward to rest her forehead against his, their daughter nestled between them.
"You're welcome, Sunshine."
Isaac's attention was drawn away from his phone by the sound of a familiar voice, causing him to glance up and find Dr. Thompson standing before him. Her expression held a mix of surprise and warmth as she regarded him with a smile, a hint of recognition flickering in her eyes.
"It's you."
"I'm sorry?"
"At first, when I saw your name on Lucy's birth certificate, I thought it was just a coincidence. But then I saw your godfather, and it all clicked. I was the doctor who treated you when you and your parents were involved in the accident, Isaac."
"I…I didn't know."
The doctor's expression softened as she reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't know how happy I am to have played a part in bringing your baby girl into the world," she said earnestly, her eyes shining with genuine joy. "It's wonderful to see you after all these years. Congratulations, dad."
A shy smile tugged at Isaac's lips as he hesitantly asked, "Can... can I give you a hug?"
Her eyes twinkled with warmth as she nodded, her smile widening as he embraced her, the gesture filled with gratitude and emotion. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Without you, I wouldn't be here. Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more for your parents."
"Don't worry. I know they're watching over us and our little girl."
"I hope to see you here more often. In the maternity ward, not in the emergency room, okay?"
Isaac chuckled in response, "We'll make sure to visit as often as Quinn wants," he replied, his voice tinged with humor. "Although I don't think you'll be seeing us back here for a couple of years. Lucy... Lucy is already proving to be quite the handful, so I think we'll hold off on any more babies for now. Quinn's father and my mother will have my head if we end up back here before we graduate."
"Good luck," she said warmly as she caught sight of the new mother approaching with the baby stroller. "How are you feeling, Quinn?"
"I'm feeling much better now," she replied, her voice soft and filled with relief. "Although all I want at the moment is a big cheeseburger with bacon. Lots and lots of bacon and sleep. Although, considering the pair of lungs this little one has, I don't think we'll be getting much sleep anytime soon."
"It's all part of the adjustment, but you'll get used to it. And let me tell you, Lucy seems to be better behaved than many babies we've had here before."
Quinn nodded in agreement, a fond smile gracing her lips as she glanced at her fiancé. "She seems to quiet down immediately whenever her father picks her up," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I might just take advantage of that and catch up on some much-needed sleep. What do you think?"
"After everything you've been through in the last 48 hours, you deserve all the rest you need. I'll take care of our daughter, don't worry."
"He's been reading up on everything."
"Most parents do," the doctor replied with a knowing nod. "Well, I must get back to my shift, but it was good to see you, Isaac." She then directed her attention to Quinn, her smile widening. "Congratulations, mom."
Isaac marveled at the sight of his daughter eagerly latching onto the bottle, her tiny hands clutching at the sides with a determined grip. It was remarkable how quickly she had grown in just seven short weeks, it felt like just yesterday when they had brought her home from the hospital.
"You're quite the hungry little one, aren't you?" he murmured softly, a smile playing on his lips as he watched her gulp down the milk. He and Quinn had decided to introduce bottle feeding alongside breastfeeding, a decision that seemed to be working well for their little one.
Gently shifting his position on the couch, he cradled Lucy against his chest, his hand supporting her chin and chest as he rubbed her back in a circular motion. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest against his, and he focused on coaxing out a burp to relieve any discomfort she might be feeling. After a few minutes of gentle rubbing, he felt a small, satisfying burp escape from Lucy, and he couldn't help but smile with pride. Carefully, he wiped her mouth clean with a soft cloth and pressed a tender kiss to her rosy cheek, eliciting a delighted giggle from his daughter.
"I'm so proud of you, Luce," he whispered, his voice filled with affection as he lightly tickled her tummy. "You make Daddy so incredibly happy, you know that? And you're so lucky to have Mommy. She's the reason you're here with us."
The baby's gaze remained fixed on her father, her small green eyes filled with curiosity and wonder. It was as if she were trying to decipher the words he spoke to her, taking in every syllable with a silent fascination.
There was something magical about the way Lucy resembled Isaac, with her dark hair framing her head, a button nose, and endearing dimples adorning her cheeks. But it was her emerald-green eyes and her bright smile that captivated his heart—those were all Quinn's. It was like they had both given her a piece of themselves, blending together perfectly in one person.
"You're going to be a heartbreaker, aren't you? Maybe you'll steal some hearts too," he murmured affectionately as he continued to admire his daughter. "You've already stolen mine, little one. When you're a bit older, we'll take you to see Fairbrook. That's where your mom and I met. You'll have the chance to meet Grandma Sophia and Grandpa Jacob – they're my parents."
Lucy's tiny fingers wrapped around one of Isaac's large digits, her grip surprisingly strong for such a small bundle of joy. He couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.
"You've got quite the grip," he remarked with a grin, "Think you're ready to hold a hockey stick, huh? After all, you're a Hargrave and my daughter but don't tell your mom I said that or she'll have my head. Maybe you'll prefer figure skating. What do you say, Luce? Hockey or figure skating? I'm betting on hockey."
She answered with a gurgle, her eyes twinkling with innocence as she babbled incoherently in response to her father's questions. Isaac couldn't help but laugh at her adorable antics as he lifted her up, peppering her chubby cheeks with soft kisses.
"Daddy's got you, Luce," he murmured tenderly, his voice a gentle whisper as he watched his daughter drift off to sleep in his arms. "I'll always protect you and your mom with everything I've got. I'll fight with whoever I have to to keep you safe. No one's going to hurt you, I promise."