I winced. I was glad I would never have to go through anything like that, because it sounded like absolute hell. I’d have to go and praise Raven for it when I got the chance.
Theo looked between Stryker and the little bundle with an eager expression on his face “can I hold her?”
“Uh…” Stryker hesitated- I didn’t blame him- “just, um…be careful, yeah? Sit down first.”
I watched in amusement as Stryker got Theo sat on the expensive looking sofa before handing him his daughter, mumbling a “don’tdrop her.” Followed by “you gotta support her head, okay?”
“Yeah, okay. Got it.” He looked at the baby in something close to awe “she’s so light.”
“Yeah, six pounds two ounces. Small, really.”
Watching Theo fuss over the little baby made my heart melt in my chest. Mainly to distract myself from the feeling, I turned to Stryker.
“Want something to eat, S? I’m assuming you haven’t had anything since...” I waved a hand.
“No, I haven’t.” Stryker admitted. He hesitated, and I watched his gaze shift to Jack, who was standing awkwardly by the door but still managed to summon a glare onto his face at the topic “you have been eating, right?”
“Mostly. Raven’s mum enjoys cooking.” He explained with a hard swallow “I just…my body really hurts so my appetite hasn’t been the best.” I could tell it was something more but didn’t push, and thankfully Jack didn’t either, settling for pulling Stryker into a tight embrace- but not tight enough to put any pressure on his injuries-and mumbling something into his shoulder. He pulled back and smiled, turning to me and mumbling “I’m kind of hungry right now, actually.”
“On it.”
I could hear them both talking from the small kitchen.
“So uh…she’s here, huh?”
“Yep.” Stryker chuckled “and hey…I know what was going through your head when you said that. And there will definitely be times where I regret this. But I wasn’t gonna leave Raven and I wasn’t gonna leave my child. And I think you might have gotten that, if it were you. And now she’s here, and I love her already, and…I think you should meet her too, while I go and check on Raven.”
“Oh, um…yeah, right. That’s what I’m here for. Definitely.”
I smiled at his awkwardness. Jack had never stricken me as someone who’d do great with children.
“She doesn’t bite, Jack. Promise.”
“I know.” He mumbled.
When I emerged from the kitchen,I felt a jolt of surprise when I foundJackholding Izzy, looking a little uncertain but otherwise quite content.
“How is she? Raven, I mean.” I asked a vigilantly watching Stryker as I handed him plate of chicken soup- theliteralonly thing I’d been able to make with the limited ingredients in the cabinets, which Stryker accepted gratefully.
“Still asleep.” He murmured while starting to tuck in “didn’t expect any different. But I’ll have to bring her something to eat, she’ll be starving.”
“Hm” I hummed, sitting beside Theo who leant against my side and nodded towards Izzy “cute, isn’t she?” He observed quietly.
Stryker gave a small nod. “You know when adults look at a newborn baby, just popped out, and say it’s adorable? I can assure you they’renot.”
I smiled and Theo cracked up laughing.
Jack chuckled “she’s quiet, too.”
“Oh, yeah. Gave us a heart attack when she didn’t start crying straight away.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her rosy forehead.
“God, I’m exhausted but I don’t knowhowI’m gonna sleep tonight.”
“What d’ya mean? Just close your eyes and boom.”
“I won’t want to leave her unsupervised. Was awake the whole night last night too. I already have difficulty sleeping as it is.”
I recalled the sleeping pills incident back when we’d first met a little too clearly.
