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“I’d love to if they’d ever let me see her.”

As if summoned by my words, the doctor appears at the edge of the waiting room. I jump up and rush over to him, an equal mix of relief and terror twisting through my body.

“How is she?”

He nods. “Both Izzy and your baby are doing well. We gave her medication for her blood pressure and that combined with delivering your son worked to bring the numbers down. She’s awake now and I’ll take you to see her if you’d like.”

“Yes,” I snap. He jerks back at the harsh tone of my voice and I grimace as I drag a hand through my hair. “Sorry. Just been a long night.”

“I understand,” he answers with a nod before turning away from me. I follow him down the hallway, questions racing through my mind.

“Hey, doc. Is she really okay?” I ask and he slows down, allowing me to catch up and walk beside him. “Like, there is no long-term damage or anything?”

He shakes his head. “We don’t see any evidence of that at this time but we’ll keep an eye on her over the upcoming weeks.”

“And my son? I know it’s too early…”

“Actually,” he cuts in, offering me a smile. “Your son seems to be doing exceptionally well. He’s breathing normally and eating from a bottle like a champ.”

Pride swells in my chest.

“When can I see him?”

He stops in the middle of the hallway, gesturing to the room behind me. “He’s doing well enough that he doesn’t need to be in the NICU so I’ll have a nurse bring him in shortly.”

“Thank you,” I say, shaking his hand and he nods before leaving me on my own. Turning toward the door, I suck in a breath and step inside. Izzy is lying on the bed with her eyes closed and a blanket pulled all the way up to her chest. She has tubes and wires running all over her body but the heart monitor next to her bed beeps steadily, reassuring me that my girl is still with me. I walk further into the room and stop at the end of her bed.

“Iz?”

Her honey eyes fly open and land on me as she gasps. “Diego.”

“Hey, Mama,” I answer her, moving to the side of the bed and placing my hand against her cheek as I look her over. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay.” A flicker of fear dances through her eyes but it’s gone just as quickly as it appears. I decide not to push her too hard for more than that because I’m sure this evening has already been traumatizing enough for her. It sure as hell has been for me. Thinking about everything that could have gone wrong, everything I could have lost, I can’t stop myself from leaning down and pressing my lips to her. She sighs, a sound so full of relief that my knees almost buckle.

God, I am a lucky bastard.

The door to the room opens and we pull apart, glancing up as a nurse wheels a tiny little crib into the room. I get my first glimpse of my son and every ounce of tension I’ve been feeling since the moment I got that phone call from Izzy melts away. A feeling unlike anything I’ve ever experienced explodes through my chest and I look over at my girl, unable to contain my grin.

“Look at him, Mama,” I whisper. “You did so good.”

With tears shining in her eyes, she reaches out. “I want to hold him.”

The nurse looks on, smiling as I round the cart and gently lift my son out of his crib, unable to take my eyes off him. They put a tiny blue hat on his head and wrapped him up in a matching blanket like a little burrito and all I can do is stare at him, take in every single one of his features. He’s perfect, better than I could have ever dreamed, and I swear I grow a couple feet as I carry him over to Izzy. I lay him in her arms and she gasps. A steady stream of tears drip down her cheeks as she stares at our child. Looking at the both of them, my life feels so fucking complete.

“Let me know if you guys need anything,” the nurse whispers, pointing to the door. “I’m just right out there.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“He looks just like you,” Izzy breathes, pulling my attention back to her. She lets him wrap his entire hand around the tip of her index finger as she turns to me. Her eyes shine with love for our son and I shake my head, unable to believe just how much things have changed.

I’m a father.

Shit, that’s a crazy thought but as I stare at my son and the woman I love, I make a promise to them to be better than my old man was.

“I love you,” I say to both of them, and Izzy glances up at me again, that fear flashing through her eyes once more. Her lip wobbles as she nods in agreement.

“I love you, too, Diego. No matter what happens, remember that.”