Cora

“You’ve got this, Cora!” Ella cheers at my side while I squeeze Roger’s hand, panting and shouting as I give what the nurse has told me is one last, final push.

I put everything I have into this final moment, squeezing my eyes shut and pushing as hard as I can, wanting this done – wanting to feel my little baby in my arms

And suddenly the pressure lessens, and my eyes fly open as I gasp And there’s a little baby’s cry ringing out through the room.

“Here!” I gasp, leaning forward fervently, some motherly demand in me needing my little baby now even as I see him in the nurse’s hands. “Give him to me!”

The nurse hesitates, looking towards her colleagues. I moan a little, still reaching, wanting him now

“Do it,” Ella snaps suddenly up from my side. She stands and moves towards the nurse, putting a hang on her shoulder and gesturing towards me. ” He needs his mother – ”

Roger is completely still at my side, his eyes focused totally on the baby, who starts to cry his little heart out.

“Please,” I beg, reaching for him.

“All right,” the nurse says, nodding and bringing him forward. “We’ll clean him up in a minute – ”

And she takes two steps forward, and leans down, and places my little baby in my arms

And I burst immediately into tears.

him against my arm-his little head curled against my elbow-my heart just

ounce of him, every tiny finger and toe, his wide and crying mouth with its

to my side, his arms wrapped around

can’t believe he’s here,” I whisper in complete

can’t believe he’s so mad,”

his strange sense of humor has at least stopped my crying. “You know, Roger,” I say quietly, “most new parents say something nice

Cora,” Roger murmurs, still staring at the baby with an expression somewhere between shock and

the baby, cuddling him close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Welcome to the world. You are very, very

up with something that good. He

got me,” I sigh. “My

though I’m exhausted, and my whole body is aching, I just feel such rich, complete happiness

minutes where it feels like Roger and the baby and I are the only three people in the world. I almost jump in surprise when I feel Ella’s hand on

tears of joy when I look up at her. “What do you think, Cora?” she asks quietly. “Will you let the nurses clean him up and wrap

as the nurse comes close, reaching for him. “I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head.

an excited new mom and the birth went beautifully, no complications, so there’s no harm in wanting to hold him

eyes follow the nurse as she carries the baby across the room to be weighed and checked out by the doctor. But the nurse is right

sitting down next to me and holding her hands out, palm up. “I basically bled out after my

hands on top of hers

wide eyes, and I turn my head to the side, not understanding her reaction. But then she just grins and shakes her head, dismissing it. “I’m sure it will,” she

I the one who usually asks that?” I murmur in reply, leaning my head on

a little with curiosity. This isn’t the first time Ella has healed me, of course, but this is the most conscious I’ve been for it and I

until I feel

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