A son is born and with him the world is reborn
As the hours passed, it became more difficult. She couldn't stand, she couldn't sit, she couldn't lie down. Her face shifted from a smile to a grimace of pain; Daniel held her, stroked her, massaged her, did everything he could, but he knew it was all Deanna's work.
Until the pain became unbearable; the doctor did one last check and announced that they were ready to begin.
"I want my mom!" she yelled at Daniel.
She seemed like a frightened child, and of course, Daniel leaned out and brought Philippa in. She took her hand, caressing her face and offering words of encouragement.
"Here comes the first one, Deanna, push..." the doctor urged.
Daniel held her other hand, astonished. His wife's face contorted and her breaths were heavy. They exchanged looks, he kissed her forehead; the effort was so great, Deanna began to cry.
"You're amazing, you're doing great... I love you," he said, half scared.
And then he heard it: their daughter's first cry. Not even among his colleagues in the theater had he heard such a beautiful voice. They placed her, wrapped in a blanket, on Deanna's chest; her tiny face stained, crying loudly: Grace. Deanna looked at her and couldn't believe it. She was so tiny, so defenseless, and had black hair. Daniel's tears fell, not just tears: his little girl.
The nurse took her; Audrey was still to come.
"I know you're tired, Deanna, just one more push..." the doctor requested.
"I can't anymore..." she responded, breathless, exhausted.
"You can, come on, one more time..." the doctor said.
Daniel held her hand tighter and looked at her; a look of assurance, of confidence, of "You can do it."
"Come on, honey... Don't you want to meet her?" Philippa urged.
And where mothers find all that power, no one knows. But Deanna found it, took a deep breath, and did all the work again. Audrey was having a hard time leaving her warm cocoon; apparently, the cold world didn't attract her. The doctor had to adjust her a bit.
"Now push, Deanna, here she comes..."
Deanna did it again and again, and her body no longer wanted to respond. Her husband encouraged her, constantly telling her how much he loved her, how strong she was, and how much he admired her. Philippa also encouraged her with motherly caresses. Determined to bring her daughter into the world, Deanna put all that power into one last attempt and heard it. Another beautiful voice crying out that she had arrived. Audrey was even smaller than her sister, but she also had black hair.
The doctors checked them, and both were perfect. Their weight was adequate, which explained why her belly had been so large. Usually, being born slightly premature means being underweight; but these two Crusher girls entered the world ready for the fight. Daniel looked at them and didn't understand, he knew they were his daughters, but he still couldn't comprehend how something like this could happen. And it wasn't the first time he had seen it.
Deanna was exhausted; she didn't want to move a finger. The nurses placed Grace on her right and Audrey on her left, and Daniel approached with both to where Deanna was.
"Look what you did," he said. "Look what you gave me."
Philippa looked at her son-in-law's face; his eyes shone with pride. That man who once looked at her shyly, embarrassed, intimidated, telling her he loved her daughter; was now a fulfilled man, and it showed, it emanated from his body. She knew he had broad shoulders to use as a shield and strong arms to hold all his children. Deanna hadn't been wrong when she fell in love with him.
From the bed, she looked at him with a satisfied but tired smile. Her beautiful daughters barely moved in their father's arms, feeling warm. Exhausted, Deanna's eyes slowly closed; it wasn't just the labor, but the accumulation of almost nine months.
When she opened them again, there he was, sitting next to her, waiting. And it didn't take long for him to kiss her, again and again; grateful for what she had done, in love all over again. And she let herself be pampered and kissed and caressed because she needed it even more than before. The bond they had was strengthened; convinced they had found each other in life precisely for this: to become a whole.
"I love you," he declared to her again.
"I love you," she replied.
"You're so incredible... You've given me everything, Deanna, since I met you."
Daniel also needed her fragile and delicate hands, and Deanna caressed his face, kissed him, and hugged him tightly. He was her love. He was the one who accompanied and helped her, who whispered in her ear and made her body tremble; who was there for her in the smallest things; her safety net. She always appeared determined and confident, but in the most challenging moments, it was Daniel who kept her standing, him and his love.
"We have two girls," Deanna said.
"They're beautiful."
Grace was in her mother's arms, and Audrey in her father's.
"They have black hair..." Deanna observed under the little pink hats.
"It's true..."
"Like you."
"Do you think they'll always be like this? Your hair is prettier," he said, a bit hopeful.
And, since they would be two Deannas, let them be completely, with those unruly, rebellious curls.
"I don't know... But then we have two Daniels," she said, looking into his eyes.
Daniel let out a quiet laugh, not wanting to wake them. Even after giving birth, even feeling tired, she was still herself.