Page 119 of Forever Fallen

“I love the name… unless you want him to be Ryan Junior?”

“No. He should have his own name, his own path to carve, and his own legacy. He’s a Merrick – that will be enough for me. Besides, Ben seems to fit him perfectly.”

“Boy, he was angry,” she teased, lacing her fingers with his as the nurses moved about the room, checking her machines, and picking up items here and there.

“Hostile…” Ryan amended, chuckling. “You think that’s from you or me?”

“Maybe both? Our little scrapper…” she smiled at Ryan.

The doctor walked in the door, pushing the bassinet, and smiled at the couple. The baby was swaddled up tightly, a blue knit cap on his head, and gave off a big yawn the moment her eyes touched him.

“He’s a big boy,” Dr. Bow said proudly. “Eight pounds and eleven ounces – and twenty-one inches long. They checked his vitals, his lungs, his oxygen, ran a few tests on him.”

The doctor hesitated before speaking again.

“The baby did pass the meconium because of his distress and that typically isn’t a good sign, but I believe he was already far enough through the birth canal. I don’t believe he had a chance to aspirate any of it. I do not see any signs of discolored skin due to lack of oxygen, no acidosis, the baby’s heart rate is good, and his cry is strong. He’s healthy as far as I can tell now.”

“He’s healthy?” Sophie asked, looking up at Ryan who was gazing at her. “Everything is okay?”

“I’m going to have neonatal double-check him while you are here, but I believe you both have a very healthy baby boy,” Dr. Bow smiled. “I’m going to leave him with you so you can count fingers, toes, admire every sweet dimple, and fawn over him, since we took him to the nursery so quickly.”

“Thank y-you,” Ryan said brokenly, nodding, as he wiped his eyes.

“It’s my pleasure,” Dr. Bow answered gently. “Sophie, you did fantastic, and I don’t want you to ever doubt it. Childbirth is one of the hardest things your body can go through – so while you might not feel it right now? It’s not unusual to be sore, tired, or in pain later on. Let the nurses know and we’ll help you.”

The doctor turned to Ryan.

“And you? You need to make sure she gets some sleep tonight when the baby is sleeping… and try not to boss her around, Mr. Merrick? I know it worked, but I promise you’ll get more flies with honey.”

Ryan laughed sheepishly – and Sophie didn’t hold back. She reached for Ryan’s hand, pressing a kiss to it, and smiling up at him.

She knew exactly why he did it, goading her, and it was for both their benefit – her and the baby.

“It’s a ‘thing’we have…” Sophie explained, smiling at her husband.

“Well, stop, because it’s very unnerving to the rest of us that don’t participate in this ‘thing’ you share,” Dr. Bow nodded, smiling at the two of them.

As the doctor left the room, Sophie smiled at Ryan, who was already at the bassinet. He picked up their son, cradling him in his large hands, and whispering to him.

“You’re going to have to be good to your sweet Mama, Ben,” Ryan breathed. “She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me and deserves so much love.”

She met Ryan’s eyes as he lay the baby in her arms, just before he touched her cheek, brushing his knuckles against it and cradling her face.

“I would marry you over and over again, Sophie,” Ryan uttered openly, his voice so soft and tender it made her heart ache at the volume of emotion in it. “I don’t deserve you and never will – but you have my heart and soul… forever and always.”

“I never thought any of this could ever happen to us, you know?” she smiled, unwrapping the sleepy baby to admire their child. “He’s so precious, so beautiful, and I can’t believe we made him.”

“It was a lot of fun,” he chuckled tearfully, leaning over to admire their child. She glanced up at him, seeing his eyes dance, and knew he was cutting up to keep himself from falling apart again.

She would never forget the way his face looked when he stared at her, cutting the cord, and she knew then that he already was afraid something was wrong.

She’d been so ‘in the zone’ trying to push and then trying not to faint at the relief, shocked to be holding the baby, and all of it crashing together was too much… but Ryan had known.

His ravaged face had been full of love as he cried, watching them. He was the most beautiful, loving soul she’d ever met.

“I would marry you again in a heartbeat, too, flyboy.”

CHAPTER37

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