Chapter 175 CHAPTER 175

Chapter 175 CHAPTER 175
CHAPTER 175
THIRD PERSON'S POV

The night was deep. Still when the first contraction came. Elysia woke with a gasp, her hand flying to her belly. She lay still for a moment waiting, counting the seconds. Then another wave of pain rolled through her. She knew. It was time.

"Kieran!" She whispered, her voice soft but urgent. "Kieran, wake up."

He stirred beside her his eyes fluttering open. "What's wrong?"

"The baby." She said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. "He's coming."

Kieran was awake in an instant, his body moving with a speed that surprised him. "Okay. Okay! I've got this. We've got this."

He helped her out of bed, his arm steadying her his voice, a constant stream of reassurance. "You're going to be fine. We're going to be fine. The baby is going to be fine."

She nodded, her grip tightening on his arm. "I know. I know. I'm just..."

"Scared?" He finished, his voice gentle. "I know. Me too."

The drive to the hospital was a blur of contractions and quiet reassurance. Kieran was behind the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road, his voice an anchor in the storm. Elysia was in the passenger seat, her hand clutching his, her breathing deep and measured.

They have called over William and Sarah with their boy, at home to look after their sleeping daughter.

"You're doing well." He said, his voice soft. "We're there."

She nodded, her eyes closed. "I know. I know."

The hospital was a flurry of activity. Nurses rushed them into a room, their movements efficient and reassuring. Elysia was settled into a bed, her contractions monitored, her pain managed.

Kieran was by her side, his hand in hers, his voice a source of strength. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

The hours stretched, each one an eternity. Elysia's labor was long and difficult, the pain a wave that threatened to overwhelm her. She fought through it, her determination unwavering.

Kieran was her anchor, his presence a reassurance. He held her hand, wiped her forehead and whispered words of love and encouragement. He was her rock, her strength, her reason to keep going.

"You're doing well." He said, his voice soft. "I'm so proud of you."

She smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. "I love you."

"I love you too." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Always. Forever."

The moment came at last. The doctor's voice was calm and steady as he told her. "One more push, Mrs. D'Angelo. You're there."

Elysia gathered her strength, her body trembling with the effort. She pushed hard, a cry escaping her lips. Then a new sound filled the room, the first cry of a newborn baby.

Kieran's eyes filled with tears. "He's here. He's here."

The doctor placed the baby on Elysia's chest, his tiny body warm and perfect. She looked down at him, her heart swelling with a love so fierce it took her breath away.

"Hello, little one!" She whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm your mama."

Kieran leaned in his gaze fixed on his son. "He's beautiful. He's perfect."

"He has your eyes." Elysia said, her voice soft. "I can already tell."

The nurses cleaned the baby, their movements gentle and efficient. They wrapped him in a blanket, his tiny face peeking out, his eyes closed as he was sleeping. Kieran held him for the time his hands trembling, his heart full.

"Hi, little guy!" He whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm your papa. I'm so glad you're here."

"Thank you." He whispered, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for coming to us."

The room was quiet, the only sounds were the cooing of the baby and the steady beeping of the machines. Elysia lay in bed her body exhausted but her spirit soaring. Kieran sat beside her, the baby in his arms, his gaze fixed on his son.

"He's so small." Elysia said, her voice soft. "I can't believe he was inside me a few hours ago."

Kieran nodded, his eyes never leaving the baby. "He's perfect. Perfect."

"What should we name him?" Elysia asked, her voice soft.

Kieran was silent for a moment, his mind churning. "I was thinking about something that means strength. Something that reminds us of everything we've been through."

She nodded, her eyes searching his blue once. "What did you have in mind?"

"Matthew." He said, his voice soft. "It means a gift from God. That's exactly what he is. A gift."

Elysia smiled, her heart full of emotions. "Matthew. I love it."

Elysia reached out her finger gently stroking the baby's cheek. "I think he has your nose. Your chin."

Kieran laughed, a genuine sound. "I think he has your determination. Look at that furrow in his brow. He's already plotting something."

Elysia smiled, her heart expand in size. "He's going to be trouble."

"He's going to be wonderful." Kieran corrected, his voice soft. "Just like his mother."

The baby's eyes fluttered open. Elysia felt a jolt of recognition. "Look at that Kieran. He's looking at us. He knows us."

Kieran leaned closer his face inches from his sons. "Hey, little guy. We're your parents. We're going to take care of you. We're going to love you."

The baby's gaze shifted, his eyes finding Kieran's face. He seemed to study him, his tiny brow furrowing as if trying to understand who this person was.

"I think he knows you." Elysia whispered. "He's memorizing your face."

Kieran's voice cracked with emotion. "I'm going to memorize his. Every inch. Every detail. I don't want to forget a moment."

They spent the hour examining their son marveling at his tiny fingers, his delicate toes, the soft fuzz of hair on his head. They discussed who he looked like whose features he had inherited.

"He has my eyes!" Kieran said, his voice proud. "That's the first thing I noticed."

"He has my stubbornness." Elysia countered, laughing. "I can see it in the way he purses his lips."

"He's going to be handsome." Kieran said, his gaze soft. "Just like his father."

Elysia snorted playfully. "He's going to be more handsome than his father."

"Oh really?"

"Really." She reached out her hand cupping Kieran's cheek. "And he's going to be kind. Loving. Brave. Just like his father."

Kieran's eyes glistened with tears. "He's going to be the best of us. Both of us."

The door opened slowly, nurse peeked in. "Visitors are here. Your family is asking to see the baby."

Elysia looked at Kieran, her eyes searching his. "Are you ready?"

He nodded, his arm tightening around the baby. "I'm ready."

Elizabeth was the first to enter her face bright with joy. "Oh, my goodness! Look at him! He's beautiful!"

Thomas followed his voice gruff with emotion. "That's my grandson. The new light of our eyes."

William and Sarah came next Samuel in Sarah's arms. "He's so tiny!" Sarah whispered, her voice soft. "He's perfect."

William leaned in his gaze fixed on the baby. "He's got Kieran's eyes. There's no mistaking that."

Elysia smiled, her heart "I think he has a bit of everyone."

Hope also walks ahead of everyone, her steps slow and careful. She approached the bed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Can I see him?" She asked, her voice soft.

Elysia nodded, gesturing for her to come closer. "Of course, sweetheart. Come here."

Hope peered at the baby, her face a study, in concentration. "He's so small." She whispered. "And so wrinkly."

Elysia laughed, the sound warm. "He's a newborn. That's how they look."

Hope reached out her finger touching his hand. His fingers curled around hers. Her face broke into a wide smile.

"He held my hand!" She exclaimed. "He likes me!"

"Of course he likes you!" Kieran said, his voice warm. "You're his sister. You're going to be his person in the whole world."

Hope beamed, her pride clear. "I'm going to teach him everything. How to walk. How to talk. How to play with Sophie."

Elysia smiled, her heart "I know you will, sweetheart. I know you will."

The family slowly left, leaving the room quiet again. Elysia lay in bed with the baby in her arms, Kieran next to her. The world outside felt away, not important.

"Kieran," She said, her voice gentle. "I never thought I could love someone this much. Not after Hope. Not after everything we went through."

He moved closer, his forehead touching hers. "Neither did I. Here we are. With our son. With our family."

She smiled, her eyes closing. "I love you."

"I love you too." He placed a kiss on her lips. "Now and forever."

They stayed like that, their heads closed and their hearts full. The baby moved in Elysia's arms a noise coming from him. They both looked at him, their love a good thing, in the room.

"Welcome to the world, Matthew!" Kieran said quietly. "We're so glad you're here.”