Our little Angel(s)

Our Little Angel(s)
By AnitaB
See chapter 1 for all disclaimers.
Rating: Childbirth aftermath, no sex, maybe pgish
Let's start the show.
Chapter 10: Midnight Conversations

***

Late that night the new mother and the newborn were fast asleep. But the new father wasn't. Logan lay on his side watching the treasures held in his arms. "Max," He cuddled closer against Max's spine, rubbing one palm up and down Sylvi's little body. Relief filled him at the sight of his wife and his newborn asleep and healthy. He'd been terrified that mother or child would be hurt during the birth. The idea of losing either of the girls in his arms sent panic rushing through him.

Cradling them both closer in his arms, Logan inundated himself in the sound of their breathing and the rhythm of the heartbeats. "My girls, my precious angels."

Sylvi opened her eyes and smiled up at Logan, one small hand reaching out for him. Gurgling happily, Sylvi grabbed hingernger and gummed it eagerly. The complete lack of fear or concern in her eyesfortforted him. With Max and Sylvi--for Max and Sylvi--Logan could do anything.

"Hey, Little one. Didn't I tell you it was an interesting world out here?" He smiled, stroking his hand along her cheek. "It's gonna be a great world for you. Mommy and I will fix it for you."

Max turned in his arms, smiling sleepily. "Feel better now?"

"How long have you been awake?" He tangled a hand in her hair.

"Just about as long as you've been worrying, I could feel it. Feel better?"

"Yes, love. We'll all be jusne.\ne." Logan brushed his lips across hers and pressed a hand to her--now muchttertter--stomach. "Speaking of feeling, how are you doing?"

"Better, now that she's out there instead of in here."

Nuzzling and kissing her neck. Logan whispered in her ear. "Does that mean you're holding to the plan of no more kids? Is Sylvi going to stay an only child?" Enjoying the soft moan escaping Max and the way her body pressed closer to his, Logan wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Sebastion said it takes a normal woman 8 weeks to heal from childbirth. Kickass female that I am, I bet I can do it in two." Covering his arm with her own, Max lured Logan in for a deep kiss.

Smiling, he pulled back. "Does this mean I can touch you again? Will Sylvi be a big sister to someone?" Placing teasing little touches over her skin, Logan brushed his lips back and forth over hers.

Sylvi, deciding she wasn't getting enough attention, sent up a wail.

"She can't be hungry, I just fed her." Max lifted the little girl. "Hey, Sylvi, what is it, Angel? What do you want?"

"She just feels ignored, give her here." Logan settled the baby on his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. "You're daddy's little girl, aren't you, Sylvi?" Yawning, Sylvi nestled even closer and fell back asleep, obviously agreeing with daddy.

"She is so beautiful, Max." Wrapping one arm around Max and pulling her close, Logan marveled at the little life cuddled against him. "Look at what we made together." Resting a hand on Sylvi's back, he smiled down at both his ladies.

Max slugged him on the should before cuddling closer and resting her hand on Sylvi's back. "We made! You got lucky and I got to carry a stubborn little brat for 9 months." Laying her head down on his shoulder, Max yawned, "I should get more credit than you."

"Of course, dear. Go to sleep, it's been a long day--for both of us."

"Yes, it has. Do you think Zack and Syl will get married before the baby is born?"

Logan laughed, burying his face in her hair. "Sleep, your brother can arrange his own love life. Zack n'tn't need our help. Syl will knock him down and get a wedding out of him when she wants to."

"I guess they'll figure it out on their own."

"That's right, so go to sleep."

***

Syl's sleeping body gravitated towards where Zack's had been earlier, rolling into the dip left in the mattress. Meanwhile Zack stood by the window, staring out at the night sky. He was scared shitless, though he didn't want to admitt it. He fidgitted at the scabs on his hand, remembering the pain on Max's face during childbirth. Childbirth, the same childbirth Syl would have to go through. Zack was terrified of anything happening to her or the baby.
Moving to kneel beside the bed, Zack watched Syl, brushing a strand of long, blonde hair back from her face. Nearly eight months pregnant with his son, Syl slept with one arm curled protectively over her stomach. The other arm was out-stretched in Zack's direction, reaching for him. The image of Syl in labor flashed through Zack's head. The pain in her face brought a sharp ache to his heart.

"Syl," Zack crawled into bed and wrapped Syl in his arms, burying his face in her hair. With both hands splayed over her stomach, Zack fitted his body against hers spoon-fashion. The warmth of her body along his was comforting, but the fear still rode him.

"Zack, honey, what's wrong?" Syl laid her hands over his and turned her head to kiss him over her shoulder. He kissed her eagerly, as if trying to memorized her taste, as if trying to take her inside himself, to hold onto her forever. Feeling the tension in his kiss, Syl pulled back to study his face. "Zack, tell me what's wrong."

Propping his chin on her shoulder, Zack whispered the truth. "I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"Of losing you, of losing the ." ." Nuzzling against the skin of her neck, "of watching you suffer when I can't prevent it." Sliding both hands up and down her stomach. "I'm afraid of not being a good father to him. Of failing you both."

"Oh, Zack," Turning in his embrace, Syl put both arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. "I know you love us, you could never fail us. You'll be a great father to our son. You won't lose us." Taking his hand, she laid it on the child inside her. "We will come through this delivery just fine," She laid a palm along the side of his face, forcing him to meet her eyes. "All three of us." Pulling him down against her, Syl cradled his head against her heart, reassuring him with her touch, warmth, and heartbeat. "Zack, I love you and I can't wait to have our son, to see him asleep in your arms. And as for the labor, your being there will make it easier for me. No matter how much I grunt or bite or claw, we'll get through it, I'll be fine. Women have been surviving childbirth for thousands of years."

"I know, but I've never done any of this before. I don't know what I'd do without you." Sliding a thumb back and forth over the bite mark in her arm, he came to a decision. "I need you with me, Syl. Forever." Climbing out of bed, Zack retrieved a small box from a hiding place in the closet. "I had Logan help me get this over a week ago. I had to make him promise not to tell Max 'cause she'd tell you and I wanted it to be a surprise." Kneeling next to her on the bed, he smiled at the love in her eyes. "I didn't know how to ask you."

Syl slowly came to her knees in front of him, knowing what she desperately wanted the question to be, but was half afraid to get her hopes up. He reached for her hand, kissing her knuckles.

"Syl, will you marry me?" Sliding a gold band with a pattern like nothing Syl had ever seen before onto her finger, Zack gazed into her eyes with love written all over his face. At her silence, he continued. "Marry me, Syl, I love you."
Reality finally sunk in and Syl knocked Zack to his back with the strength of her response. Throwing herself into his arms, she unncednced them both, landing against his chest over the foot of the bed. Kissing him breathless, Syl whispered 'yes' against his lips between kisses.

Pushing her up just enough to breathe, Zack stroked a thumb over her lips. "Did you just say you'd marry me?"

"Yes, Blue Lady, Zack. I'll marry you. I've never wanted anything more."

After another breathless kiss, it occurred to Syl to actually look at the ring Zack had picked for her. She'd been so happy at receiving the proposal that the ring only registered in her mind as a gold band with some kind of pattern. Looking at it now, Syl was shocked to recognize the pattern. Not from another piece of jewelry, but from herself, her own body. The only decoration in the gold encircling her finger was the impression of Zack's teeth--his mark on her, his claim.

"Oh, Zack, it's beautiful, perfect."

"I wanted my mark on you and this," he brushed a finger over the ring, "was my first mark on you--our marks."
She smiled, leaning into his lips with a seductive glint in her eyes. "This doesn't mean you're going to stop biting me, does it? 'Cause you don't even know how you marking me makes me feel."

Gently nipping at her lips, Zack groaned. "Never, my love. I love seeing my mark in your skin. You're mine. Let's make it official soon, before the baby's born."

"Yes, but we'll have to see Logan about another ring." Running her fingers through his hair, Syl cuddled down into his arms. "'Cause you're not going out there without my mark on you."

Cradling her close to his body, he kissed her neck and stroked her stomach. "We'd better hurry, he wants to see the world." Pulling a blanket over them both, Zack smiled against her skin. "Sleep. We'll go see our brother-in-law tomorrow. Who would have thought I'd ever look forward to seeioganogan."

***