Tristan was seated in the hospital lobby and impatiently tapping his foot on the floor.
Tristan and Ava were watching a movie when Ava cried out in pain and there was moisture on the sofa, Ava's water broke. Her due date was in the next two weeks, and it seemed like she was ready to give birth now Tristan panicked and quickly brought her to the hospital.
During the whole journey Ava was screaming and kept on saying it hurt a lot. It broke his heart that she was in pain, but he was unable to do anything other than console her.
Ava was very sensitive, and during the monthly checkups whenever they gave her a shot, she closed her eyes and hid her face in Tristan's chest. He could not imagine how she was able to cope up inside the operating room.
Ava was not willing to go inside the room alone and held Tristan's hand tightly which left nail marks on his hand.
'Tristan, please don't let me go inside by myself,' tears were running down her face.
How could he resist his little one? He promised he would never make her cry and here she was afraid, her heart tearing apart because of fear, and crying buckets of tears.
He called his grandparents and Ava's parents to let them know she was in labor and walked into the operating room with his wife.
It took a while before the elders heard from Ava or Tristan, they had assumed they were inside together as Tristan was nowhere to be found.
A man covered in scrubs and medical gear came out the doors to the operating room. "It's a boy!" Tristan exclaimed as he came out to announce to everyone the birth of his child.
They didn't recognize him because they made him wear protective covering so as not to contaminate Ava or the baby.
After they cleaned up Ava and the baby, they sent them into the VIP room to rest and meet the rest of the family.
"Husband, look, the baby is so cute. When Tristan was born didn't he also look the same," Grandma said.
"Yes, yes our precious great-grandchild," Grandpa beamed.
The baby was so small that they could not really make out much of his features. Also, Grandma and Grandpa did not actually remember whenTristan was born. Their hearts were filled with immense sweetness that they were making such silly comparisons.
Mrs. Wesley, took the baby from grandma's hands," Look at his nose, those lips. How can you be so adorable?"."Everyone had surrounded the baby and kept on praising him.
Ava was too tired to get up and she took this opportunity to rest while the elders had the baby.
"Pass me, my son," Tristan extended his hands.
"Slowly, balance the head and don't hold too tightly," Grandma said.
"I know how to hold him," Tristan confidently took the baby.
Grandma and Mrs. Wesley were little hesitant but saw Tristan was holding the baby better than they did. Tristan had read those pregnancy books and had practiced holding a pillow a number of times.
He carefully looked at the baby, he was small, really small. He was fair and his lips pinkish and not yet opened his eyes. This was his flesh and blood.
His son, his and Ava's son. This child was the external bond between him and Ava.Tristan was holding the baby in his arms and touching him yet it all felt so unreal. It was like a beautiful dream which he never wanted to end.
Four years ago if anyone would have told that he will fall in love and start a family, he could have told them to stop joking and get lost. But here he was now, tightly holding onto the things from which he ran away from.
He touched the baby's cheek, it was so soft. He could not help but pat his son's cheeks again and again. All of this was possible because of Ava, she gave him a chance and loved him immensely.
"Water" Ava murmured as she opened her eyes. Mrs. Wesley kept the glass at Ava's lips as a drip was still attached to Ava's hand.
All the elders talked to Ava for a few minutes and seeing that she was still worn out, everyone left them alone. Only Tristan stayed behind.
Ava went to sleep and woke up half an hour later. The nurse told him he should put the baby in the cradle, but Tristan did not feel like parting from his son.
"Tristan …," Ava looked around and called as soon as she spotted him.
"Little one, how are you," Tristan who was sitting on the sofa walked towards her.
"I feel better now. Let me look at our baby," Ava's eyes glistened as Tristan held their child in his arms.
"Yes, our baby," Tristan repeated with a proud feeling, he put the baby in Ava's lap.
"So tiny," Ava touched his cheeks, nose, lips and hugged him to her chest.
"Tristan, he will grow up as handsome as you," Ava said.
"He's still so small, how can you tell?" Tristan chuckled.
"Of course, it's a mother's instinct," Ava patted the baby's head.
Tristan's eyes were wet, he was a little emotional seeing his wife and son together.
Ava radiated motherly love when she held their son as if he was a piece of her heart, very carefully and tenderly.
Tristan has never experienced this with his mother, as she cared only about money.
"Little one, thank you for everything. You have gone through some much," Tristan kissed her forehead.
Ava smiled and replied, "Tristan I love you and the baby a lot."
"Me too, one child is enough," Tristan stated. After witnessing
Ava's labor pain, he had made up his mind that he will not put her in this situation again.
"Hmm Okay," Ava also agreed.
She never knew giving birth was an extensive task. These past nine months had really made her exhausted.
But who knows, Tristan might break his promise in the near future.