No Ordinary Love, Part 3, chapter 193
193
The twelve hours of constant worry took their toil on me as well and I dozed off a little but it was enough to hear a little rustling of the sheet, very subtle one, made me open my eyes. Sweetie was awake. She smiled at sleeping Kai and his hand drapped over her waist. She kissed his hair and caressed his cheek before her head turned my way.
I was already by her side and leaned in to kiss her, my right hand was already caressing hers while my left was resting on her forehead. She smiled and pouted her lips wanting another kiss and I indulged her.
“How are you feeling?” I asked in a whisper. It becomes a habbit when you have a sleeping child in the room.
“I’m good,” she returned her voice a bit hoarsed due to drugs they gave had to gave her.
“You know, it won’t hurt if you admit you’re in pain,” I pointed out at her little frown as she tried to move in the bed. It must hurt like hell but she doesn’t want to say it.
“I’m fine,” she repeated. “How’s the baby?”
“She’s fine, too.”
She nodded with relief.
“I haven’t seen her. I passed out.”
“She’s beautiful. Though Kai thinks she’s ugly,” I grinned.
“I expected that,” she grinned back. “How long have I been out?”
“No more than two hours, I think,” at least that’s my own personal perception of time.
“You should take Kai home and have some rest. You can come back later.”
“You can try to tell him that. I’m not going to fight with him,” I returned and she frowned. It didn’t surprise her, more like it made her sad but also glad. She knew much as I did he won’t want to leave her side much like me the very moment he insisted he comes along with us.
“Poor thing, this all must be scary for him,” she sighed running her fingers through his hair which maimed a smile to his face.
“He’s not the only one,” I returned and her eyes were back on mine wondering. “You know it doesn’t get easier with time. Though having Kai to distract me was helpful a bit until he shuts his mouth.”
“I guess, trust in me isn’t of much help in such situation,” she twisted her lips like she’s actually saying she’s sorry she can’t do much about it.
“It is but only in way of knowing you’re not someone who will give up easily,” I smiled at the truth of my words. It did help great deal. I knew she won’t cry for help, she never does that and she’s one hell of a fighter as well. All I wished is if I could do something to ease the pain, to make her feel better, make her heal faster.
“You’re already doing it,” she said like she read my mind. Her hand find the edge of my chin and made it clear she wants me to press my lips against hers and so I did. They were chopped a sign she was bitting on them hard just few hours ago and that meant tons of pain. But it didn’t take anything away from the feeling of being kissed by her. Quite contrary, it was my only mean to translate my feelings for her so I deepened the kiss and she didn’t mind. Her hand found the back of my head and her fingers entangled in my hair as she was pulling me closer, sending shivers down my spine, making me want to take her right there and then. And I would if that was possible. But I was also not conscious enough to break it, too weak to pull away and think about her as someone who probably needs air more than me in that particular moment. Nothing about her, nothing in her kiss was telling me to stop. I was savouring her taste now clear of all the chemicals from anesthesia, tension building up in me same as in her. She wanted me, needed me, she was hungry for my love. Then all of a sudden she broke the kiss abruptly her face frozen in pain, her eyes shut as she was holding her breath.
“You ok?” was all I could ask and she nodded instantly as I inspected her face wondering what was really wrong.
“God, I forgot it’s not got getting horny at this moment,” she explained as she opened her eyes.
“Sorry,” I apologized and she chuckled.
“We’ll just have to behave for a while,” she added with a frown. “Fucking hormones,” she cursed and made me smile.
“Ok, I’ll be good, I promise,” I said raising my hands in the air like I’m surrendering.
“Not too good I hope,” she grinned.
Well, we knew each other way too well to be able to resist the tease.
“I love you,” I said smiling at her looking in her crystal like eyes.
“Love you, too,” she returned smiling and kissed her hand.
“Hope that was ok.”
She smiled at my little joke then switched the subject.
“Can you see if they’d want to bring baby here?”
“Sure,” I nodded and was right away out of the room looking for someone who can help me. The nurse was surprised she was already awake, doctor as well. They expected her to sleep for at least six more hours. I chuckled at that, six hours was when she was tired and now she was impatient to see her newborn baby. They sent me back to the room and said they’ll have someone bring her right away. Sweetie was a little disappointed I didn’t bring her.
“Doctors can be very annoying at times,” she snorted.
I hated hospitals and she hated them even more than me. My asthma and allergies made me so used to the coldness and smell but it didn’t made me comfortable at all. I hated feeling helpless and Sweetie hated it even more. Not to mention she had a kind of phobia when it comes to doctors. She didn’t trust them at all. Above all she hated them treating her like she’s about to crumble every moment. Well, that’s how she perceived it at least. I knew they were just doing their job. Ok, they were a bit more nicer and pain more attention to her since they knew who she is and who I am. I knew it’s not really fair that they were trying to give her the best care just because she was very important public figure but I was glad for it. It eased my mind. I knew that the moment one would hear she’s in need for medical care all the staff would look for the best doctor available as well as best nurses. And that meant zero possibility for mistreating or mistakes. And that was what I was thankful of. However, Sweetie hated it. She never wanted special treatment and she hates it, it makes her feel disgusted. Well, she’ll just have to deal with it.
“Hi mom, here I come,” the nurse sang as she approached us.
I released Sweetie from Kai’s hands and helped her sit up in her bed. Kai didn’t wake up. He didn’t even register it. Good. Then I took baby from nurse’s hand and that feeling of being swept off your feet, plummeted into sky then slowly landed back to the earth engulfed me.
“Hey, you,” I smiled at her, she was sleeping and frowning. I had no idea what colour were her eyes or how would she react if she was awake to witness me caressing her little face before I planted a kiss on her forehead. She was beautiful. Truly beautiful. And she was heavy. Heavier than I remember Kai was.
“Can I have her now?” Sweetie was too impatient and there was clear edge in her voice letting me know I’m not the only parent of that child present in the room.
Unwillingly I handed her over, very gently then watched Sweetie’s face lighten up as she just stared speechless, inspecting every single trait on our daughter’s face. If she hadn’t told me all those things before about her I’d thought she believed now our daughter will turn out no different than Kai. She had the same love in her eyes, same enchanted, caring expression like when it was Kai in her arms few years ago.
Then her eyes found mine and I knew what they were saying.
“Ariella?” she hopefully asked but I know she already knew I’d like it. No, I loved it.
I smiled a huge smile already seeing possibilities at various nicknames that won’t offend her or piss her off one day. Plus with my last name it made it sound like title of some divine symphony.
“Ariella Valo,” I said it out loud and her name echoed in the room with the exact melodic effect I craved for. “It’s fantastic, isn’t it?”
“Especially when you say it,” she grinned.
“Ariella?” Kai’s sleepy voice joined us as he rushed to sit up in his bed. “Is that her name?”
“Hopefully, if you don’t mind, kiddo,” I said.
“Ari, Ella, Ri,” he began like he had heard my thoughts examining the possible nicknames he’ll probably use to refer to her.
“So can we keep it, love?” Sweetie raised her eyebrows.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Hopefully she’ll live up to her name,” he added.
“She will,” I said very confident.
Maybe, Sweetie was right about her feeling about little Ari, maybe she wasn’t. All I knew is that again the two of us, no, the three of us would do our best with her.
Seeing us filled with so much love I had more hope than ever that it can’t be bad. No one can be immune to that, no one ever was, why would she be any different? She’ll embrace it and it will all be all right. At least, after Kai I had much better idea of what I should, how to be a good father to her.
You’ll be the happiest child in this world, Ariella, I was unspokenly talking to her. You’re going to be loved more than any other child. You’ll have everything you need. We’ll take good care of you. I promise I’ll be the best father for you, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.
And like she had heard me, Ariella opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings as the three of us held our breath waiting for her next gesture.
The frown was still there, I knew her vision is blurred and she can’t really see us, I knew her little hands weren’t really reaching out to touch us but it was more just her attempt to move. Yet I reached out and let her grabbed my index finger and she squeezed it pretty hard. in that moment I had a feeling like she was telling me she’ll be holding me for everything I had told her before she had opened her eyes.
“You’re one strong little girl, aren’t you?” I said to her and she tightened her grip taking me by surprise. “Hey, I might need that finger, you know.”
Kai and Sweetie giggled but Ariella didn’t. The frown was still there, she didn’t cry, she remained silent and just stared at me. Slowly she let go of my finger and Sweetie took her hand. She slowly caressed her, planted a kiss on her little fingers and Ari didn’t react. Her lips continued to pout.
“Why’s she so pissed off?” Kai mused.
“Maybe she’s just showing her temper,” I joked.
“Would you like to hold her?” Sweetie offered to him.
“She’s so tiny,” he commented and made me laugh.
“Actually, she’s bigger than you were,” I pointed out and his eyes went wide.
“You won’t break her, love,” Sweetie assured him with her loving eyes. It’s like it was all he needed. She slowly let him hold his sister for the first time instructing him to watch for her head. He was very careful and scared to death he might harm her but he coped with it. As the moments passed he was becoming more confident with holding her.
Also, it was becoming more evident that his impression of her being ugly was fading away. Unconsciously, his mouth were pulling into heartedly smile. My eyes found Sweetie’s as my arm wrapped over her shoulders. Her head leaned on me to rest as her gaze returned to Kai.
“She’s smiling, look,” he said thrilled, eyes wide in surprise as he had accomplished something unbelievable. My eyes fell on Ari and sure she was smiling at him, making little bubbles in the process.
“She likes you,” Sweetie said with smile.
“I guess I like you, too,” he said to her sister for the first time. “Hi, I’m your big brother Kai,” he talked to her. “I’ll take good care of you, I promise.”