He managed to stop himself and not throw the door open, content with just a peek from the small opening.
Can she be any more beautiful? He cannot tell.
He had never imagined she could ever make that kind of face. It was genuine adoration, but not quite like the look she would give him every now and then when she thought he couldn't notice.
Seeing her nuzzling against the sleeping child—theirs—he decided that the bruises, courtesy of her gripping his hand so hard as she's in labor, had been worth it, very much so. It was still in one piece anyway, all things considered.
But what's more important was that her smile was peaceful, and he could hear her heaving a content sigh as the radio continued to hum a classical symphony. It was a stark contrast to when she was pregnant and found out she had to give up beer for a while.
Mustering every single bit of willpower he had left so he wouldn't really burst into the room, the Commander slowly opened the door, as quiet as he could but audible enough for her to notice him entering. He was glad at how her face lit up even more over his arrival.
"Liebling," Prinz Eugen murmured; she would like to sound more lively, but she still felt a little drained. She figured her expression right now could compensate, however.
"Hey. How are you feeling, Eugen?"
"Is my smile not telling enough?"
"Well, dearest, your smile can mean a lot of things. That's the first thing I learned about you."
"This one is from the bottom of my heart, and you cannot tell? I thought you knew me better than that."
"Of course I can," the Commander reached forward to touch Eugen's loose hair for a gentle stroke. She let out a rare squeal as he did.
As he drew his hand, his eyes fell on the baby, still sleeping. Their daughter. Theirs.
That she had a bit of both her parents—his black hair and her mother's lovely eyes—was the irrefutable proof of that, and he'd always feel the urge to tear up and laugh like mad whenever that thought crossed his mind.
"Imagine sleeping to the tune of classical music...hey, didn't they say it could promote mental growth or something?" The Commander spoke as the symphony went on, his hand tapping his daughter's cheek, making the girl squirm lightly. Eugen laughed at the scene.
"It's just me taking a liking to it recently. Do you know what symphony it is, liebling?"
For a very brief moment, the Commander could see the glimpse of a teasing smile as she said that and knew she was testing him. Unfortunately for her, he was more well-read than he had been letting on.
"Antonín Dvořák's Symphony number nine in E minor, 'From the New World.' This is the second movement, Largo."
Eugen faked disappointment at the prompt, straightforward reply.
"Smart man, eh? You're no fun," she whined, cradling her baby when she started to stir and wondering if the music was beginning to get to her.
"You love me anyway," the Commander countered, earning himself another light laugh from his wife.
"That, I won't deny."
"Are you tired, by the way? I could leave if you would like to rest."
"Never too tired for you—what's with that face?"
"Sorry," the Commander tried to sound neutral about it, but he could not entirely hide his glee. While Eugen might sound like she's teasing again, her tone said otherwise. It was honest.
"... I'm delighted right now, you know?"
"I can see it clearly…." Eugen's voice was soft as she cast a glance at her daughter. "Can you say the same about me?"
The Commander regarded her briefly. He could see the joyous tears, the not hollow smile.
"Yeah, I can see."
"...Then, I suppose it's fitting I'm drawn to this music," Eugen remarked as Dvořák's last symphony entered its third movement.
"Tell me about it, dearest."
Appreciating the Commander's sincere offer, Eugen continued, "these melodies convey so much. Being daunted by the new world that awaits. The longing for home."
Eugen paused before turning the radio off, piquing the Commander's curiosity. Before he could ask her, she had already caught on to it.
"It's just like me, isn't it? This country...this 'new world' I'm finding myself in...I don't like to admit it, but I was truly at a loss back then. About what I am here for. I yearned for a place."
The barely visible blush didn't go unnoticed by the Commander, but he stayed silent—Eugen clearly wasn't finished.
"...I'm never good with words...and I feel so heady now...so liebling, let's just cut to the chase, hm? Thank you. Thank you for everything. What am I here for, my place in this new world...? You helped me find them."
"I...I... I'm not prepared for this," the Commander brought a hand to his mouth, though Eugen could still see a glimpse of a grin.
"Oh, you haven't seen everything yet."
"Uh...well, I guess I'll look forward to it, then...Anyway, rest, you two. I've got to go."
He didn't expect Eugen to pout at that.
"You haven't even said hi to little Eugenie."
"Oh...right," the Commander laughed at his mistake before leaning closer to the baby.
He wondered as he watched the girl, looking content in her slumber, about her future. Will she become an Ivy Leaguer? Or perhaps even play in the Met like he once dreamed of doing? Or will she follow in her parent's footsteps into the military?
He soon realized it was too early to think of it.
"Welcome to America, little one," he whispered to his daughter. "Welcome to the new world. Nothing to be scared of here."
