"You did it, Tate," Sean said proudly as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders, sitting on the bed next to her so he could look at their daughter in her arms. "You're incredible, I honestly don't know how you just did that," he added, kissing her cheek, before he gently leaned his head against hers. Already he couldn't stop staring at what he thought must be the most beautiful baby in the world.
Tatum gave an exhausted smile, without looking away from her baby. "Thank you for not faintin' or bailin' on me," she told him softly. All the way through and since he'd been praising her strength, but she honestly wouldn't have been able to have done any of it without him there. He'd been her rock for the past two days, seeing her at her worst; exhausted and in pain, too uncomfortable to sit or lie down but not being able to walk or stand for long either. He'd had to massage her back on and off throughout the night, with her yelling at him to use more pressure.
"I'd never," her boyfriend promised, and she felt some of the tension in her heart ease. That was one of her biggest fears, to be left to fend for herself.
The hospital staff left them to it for as long as they could, until it was time to show Tatum how best to breastfeed her hungry baby. Sean took the opportunity to head out into the waiting area, where Isabella and Austin had been patiently waiting. All they'd heard over an hour ago was that mother and daughter were doing fine.
"How is she?" Isabella asked anxiously.
"Perfect," Sean answered with a besotted smile, making his friend chuckle.
"And my sister?" the Colombian made it a bit clearer for him.
"She's a hero," he said simply, still in awe. It made him appreciate what his mother had gone through more, which he had to remember to tell her when he next saw her. "She's just trying to feed her, but you guys can come visit in half hour or so," he told them now. "Do you know if Maya knows or is on her way?" he asked his girlfriend's sister. They'd sent her a text when Tatum first got to the hospital, but they'd not heard anything back.
"I can try getting hold of her," Isabella offered.
"Or I can put out some feelers, see if her car's been spotted or she's been travellin'," the Sheriff offered in his turn, getting a nudge from both the brunette and his friend.
"I want her to see her granddaughter, not get arrested," Sean clarified as Austin innocently held his hands up. "It's just, I don't know how much she knows about... well, me, to be honest. I'm worried she'll turn straight back around if she sees my folks here, and that'll break Tate," he added concerned, rubbing his face as he tried to think, but the past 48 hours were starting to catch up with him.
"I can try to explain or intercept her when she gets here," the Colombian offered; after all, she'd kind of grown up with Tatum and Maya so knew her sister's mother enough to try to have that conversation on their behalf.
"Thank you," the younger Miller surprised her by pulling her in for a hug, obviously a little emotional himself as well. "I'm going to go back in. See you in a little bit?" he continued to both of them and headed back to Tatum's room. Isabella and Austin exchanged bemused looks. She leaned against him, still getting used to their new situation; they no longer had to pretend towards others about the depth of their feelings. It felt good to finally be honest about her past with Austin, though it had led to some awkward conversations with Tatum and Sue. She wasn't sure where they stood now, but, for the first time in her life, it was completely up to her.
"Hey baby girl, look, there's auntie Izzy and uncle Austin," Tatum said with a big smile when she saw them hovering in the door opening.
"No name yet?" Austin asked, after fighting back a proud smile of his own; he'd never thought he'd ever be called 'uncle Austin', and he'd been a little worried Tatum wouldn't want him to be after the last few awkward weeks where she'd been upset with him too for things that had happened between him and her sister. He was still holding out hope to one day be called 'daddy', glancing over at the only woman he wanted as the mother, as she carefully took hold of her niece.
"Not yet, though we have a few ideas," the redhead answered as she slowly relinquished her daughter to her sister.
"So, baby girl Tennant for now?" the nurse, who'd helped her breastfeed, checked as she picked up the medical notes on the clipboard at the foot of the bed.
"No, baby girl Tennant-Miller," Tatum corrected her, smiling when she saw Sean's chest puff up proudly from the corner of her eye. She tried to make herself a bit more comfortable but she wasn't sure how best to have her legs.
"Great," the nurse wrote down. "I'll be back soon," she promised and left the room.
"She's gorgeous, Tate," Isabella said as she cuddled her new-born niece.
"Who do you think she looks like?" her sister asked curiously, as she couldn't figure it out; luckily, she couldn't see much of Kenny in her.
"Definitely you," Austin answered straight away.
"I can see Sean in her," Isabella said, genuinely seeing some of his features even if she knew it wasn't biologically possible.
"Thanks, Iz, but she's the spittin' image of her mama," Sean appreciated the comment with a smile as he sat down next to his girlfriend, giving her a hug when he noticed her blush a little.
"Can we come in?" they heard tentatively after both Isabella and Austin had had a turn holding the baby girl. They all looked up to see Martha leaning in through the door, fighting back happy tears, and Malcolm just behind her, looking thoroughly uncomfortable.
"Of course," Sean beckoned his mother in.
"Eh, we might step out," Isabella offered, speaking on behalf of her and Austin, thinking it might be getting a little crowded in the small room. "We'll keep an eye out for Maya," she added before they snuck out.
Martha's tears threatened to spill over as she took the small baby from her son. "Hey little one, I'm your gams," she said softly, already falling completely in love with her granddaughter. "And that grumpy man there is your pops," she added, getting a slight glare from her husband, which only made her chuckle.
"Mr. Miller, would you like to sit?" Tatum asked nervously, not sure what to make of him being there. Obviously, she was thrilled about the possibility of a reconciliation between him and her boyfriend, but he definitely made her nervous.
"I'm alright here," he told her, as he stood in the corner behind his wife's chair, dipping his head slightly towards her. Martha had dragged him with her, saying he'd regret not going to see his son welcome his new baby girl into the world. And he still wasn't sure if he wanted to be here, not really one for holding babies and whatnot, but he could see it made his wife and son happy. So, for now, that was good enough.
"I still can't believe Tatum actually has a baby now," Isabella said as she sat back down in the waiting room. It was such a crazy thought and, even though she loved children, she was glad it was her sister's turn first so she could learn what not to do before it was her own turn. If she'd ever get her own turn.
"Or Sean, I always kind'a thought I'd beat him to it," Austin agreed as he sank in the seat next to her. He could feel her big eyes focus on him.
"Really?" she asked softly, to which he nodded.
"I've always dreamt of raisin' our babies."
"Our babies?" she picked up on his choice of words.
"It's always been you, Bella," the sheriff told her, turning his blue eyes to face her. He knew he still had some making up to do, but he thought she would've at least known that. "And I can't imagine my life in any other way," he added, his voice dropping to a soft, low tone. He noticed her light brown eyes narrow slightly.
"I'm still not entirely sure you won't do another runner, and you're talkin' about havin' babies?" Isabella asked a little incredulously. At this he turned to face her properly and took hold of her hand.
"I get that," Austin assured her. "But you know I've had enough of my own daddy issues to ever think of doin' that to my own babies. If you believe nothin' else, then please believe that," he told her, his voice taking on a slight edge as he fought back the anger and hurt of his own childhood when his father walked out on him and his mother. He felt her hold his hand a little tighter as she moved in closer.
"I do," she said softly.
"So, how about it, Bella? You and me?" he offered, seeing a small smile tease her lips after thinking for a few seconds.
"Maybe... Someday."