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[beentodamascus]

He's seen a lot of things in his life, his career, but not a lot comes close to the birth of his second child. Tiny robots and a surgeon who looks about fifteen, a woman who isn't his wife but might as well be sleeping peacefully in clean sheets, the bloody ones taken immediately to the laundry by a midwife, and Adam Carter sat in a chair in the

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[thedescent_into]

She drifts. In and out of a haze of pain and exhaustion. But she has her baby. She can remember seeing her, if only for a moment before she slipped back into unconsciousness. A beautiful, healthy daughter. Alive.

When she opens her eyes, she doesn't know how long it's been. She knows that she hurts, a deep ache all over her body, sharpening in her middle, but she manages not to groan, her head lulling and her lips tugging into a bleary smile when she sees them.

"Hello."

[beentodamascus]

He knew that she was alright; the doctor assured him that she was going to be alright, but there's a relief that can't quite be measured when she opens her eyes and looks at him. He rubs his hand against the baby's little back and shifts to lean closer.

"Back in the world?"

[thedescent_into]

"Getting there," she whispers, her throat sandpaper dry, and she wants to reach for him, for their baby, but her arms feel so heavy. She's just so tired.

"How is she?"

[beentodamascus]

He shifts closer, reaching out with one hand to touch her thigh under the blanket. He leans in so that she can see the baby clearly, so that she's close enough to touch.

"She's amazing," he says, quietly. "She's perfect."

[curiously_cora]

Coraline peeks curiously in from the doorway. There's a feeling in her stomach- she's elated and worried all at once. She loves Adam and Sarah and even the baby but she can't help but wonder, will they still love her?

"Hello," Coraline said quietly peering in as Adam holds the new baby and Sarah sleeps on. She tiptoes in, barefoot so her wellies don't squeak and wake Sarah up.

[beentodamascus]

At the sound of her voice, Adam looks up, a bright smile spreading across his face. He'd gone to find her after the baby was born and Sarah was sleeping, but it had taken her this long to come looking.

"Hey, love," he says, still smiling. "You want to come meet your baby sister?"

[curiously_cora]

No... yes... Coraline felt all those words and emotions. No, she didn't want to meet her, didn't want to be replaced and yes she wanted to meet her, she wanted to meet her sister. Coraline wondered if growing up always felt like this- it was very confusing.

"Okay," Coraline said placing her wellies down at the end of the bed and creeping quietly closer to Adam. Coraline looked at her, holding out her fingertips to touch her hands. She was so small and soft. "She's tiny. Is she supposed to be tiny? Is she okay?"

[beentodamascus]

"She came a little bit earlier than we were expecting her, but she's fine, sweetheart. She's absolutely fine." Gently, he turns the baby in his arms, cradles her in the crook of his arm so that she can see her face.

"This is your sister," he says, quietly, dropping a kiss onto the baby's head and then leaning up to kiss Coraline's too.