Frank did his best to stay calm, knowing that any sign of panic from him would just set Karen off even further. But it was hard to keep a soothing voice when he was witnessing Karen in so much pain. All the memories of being by Maria’s side came rushing back to him and he knew he was feeling just as useless now as he did back then.
“Okay Karen, you need to focus, okay?” Claire instructed. “When I tell you to push, you push,”
With her hair matted to her forehead and no energy left, Karen laid her head back onto the pillow and groaned in frustration. It had been hours of discomfort and pain, and their baby still wasn’t here.
“I’ve been pushing!” she cried. “I can’t do it anymore,”
“Hey, yes you can,” Frank encouraged, running his hand along her forehead and soothing her. “You’re almost there,”
“You can!” he assured, leaning down to look into her eyes. “Look at me, you can do this, alright? Just a little more. A little more and she’ll be here,”
Karen did her best to gather up enough energy to even listen to his words let alone respond, but instead she focused on taking the deep breaths Claire was coaching her through.
Deep breath in, deep breath out. Over and over and over.
Until eventually the little baby girl was placed on Karen’s chest, a piercing cry letting everyone know she had arrived.
“Oh my god,” Karen sobbed, her hands shaking as she reached around the baby. “Oh my god!”
Frank’s eyes widened at the sight of his daughter being placed on Karen’s chest. That was his daughter. Their daughter. A small, innocent, pure human being that he was responsible for keeping completely away from harm.
A little person he wished never experienced danger or fear or pain, and he was going to do everything possible to make sure nothing ever happened to her. It felt like he was frozen, staring down at the baby, listening to her cries and Karen’s sobs of joy. As still as he was, his entire face looked like a father watching on in awe.
Even Claire caught a glimpse of the good inside the man.
“Frank,” Karen cried, looking up at him as the baby in her arms was cleaned and wrapped in a pink blanket. “Look at her,”
"She’s beautiful,” he whispered, leaning down to press a long kiss to Karen’s forehead. “Jesus, she’s so beautiful Karen,”
“She’s perfect,” she cried again, her arms immediately reaching out to grab the baby again.
Frank leaned down and reached out to run his finger along the baby’s little cheeks, watching as she squirmed and clenched up her little hands to move around. She wasn’t crying anymore, and instead she moved around just as she did when Karen felt her in her stomach, her eyes open and looking around.
“Hi baby,” Karen cooed, sniffling. “Oh you’re so precious,”
“God, eyes just like yours Karen,” Frank sighed happily, his heart swelling. “She’s a spitting image,”
As the moments went on and the baby was looked over, Claire and her team left the room to give them both some privacy. Frank was sitting on the edge of the bed beside Karen, looking down at the little girl.
“I feel different,” Karen admit softly, her eyes dark and barely staying open, but a smile still on her lips.
“What do you mean?” Frank whispered in return, not wanting to startle the now sleeping baby.
“I thought it would take a while for me to feel, I don’t know, like a mom. I thought they would hand me the baby and I wouldn’t know how to hold her, or I wouldn’t want to. But I love her so much already,”
Frank’s lips pulled into a smile, one that he felt throughout his whole body.
Karen looked up at him with the same smile.
Frank moved around until he was secure on the bed, gently taking the baby from Karen’s arms and shushing softly to soothe the tiny little girl who began to move around and whine.
Karen could hardly handle the sight of her daughter and their father. Her heart was so full, she was sure this was the most peaceful moment of her entire life.
“I can’t believe I have a daughter,” Frank whispered, his eyes stinging with tears. “I never…never thought I’d have this again,”
Karen could feel tears threatening to spill over.
“I promise you Karen, with everything, I won’t let anything happen to her. To either of you,” he swore. “Hear me? Ever.”
Karen stared back at him as his eyes moved to their daughter. She knew this man had done horrible things, that in the eyes of many people in this world he was a monster. But to her and their daughter, he would always be far from it.
She would make sure their daughter never saw her father as anything but the man he is and has always been to Karen. A good man.
Their first night at home was better than either of them expected. Little baby Emma fed perfectly and went to sleep without a fuss, which they both knew wouldn’t be the usual case.
“How is she real?” Karen sighed, looking down at the sleeping baby.
“I’ve been pinchin’ myself since I first laid eyes on her,” Frank agreed. “Come on, you need to eat something,”
“I’m tired,” she yawned, rubbing her eyes.
“I know, just eat something small and go lay down, okay?” he bargained.
Karen had to admit the sound of food was very enticing, and she walked out of the bedroom with Frank trailing behind her. He could see her walking with a few aches and pains, and he wished there was more he could do for her.
“What’s this?” Karen asked, met with a bowl of macaroni and cheese.
“You said you felt like Mac and cheese,” Frank shrugged.
Karen grinned and felt tears stinging her eyes once more. She never believed that women’s emotions could be all over the place days after giving birth, but it was very true.
“You made me Mac and cheese,” she whispered, holding a hand to her chest.
Frank saw the crying begin, and he knew Karen couldn’t help it, but he also couldn’t help feeling guilty for causing it. Good or bad.
“Hey, it’s no big deal,” he assured. “Sit down, please,”
Karen responded by wrapping her arms around him and hugging him as tight as possible.
“You’re welcome,” he pressed a kiss to her temple. “Now eat,”
It was later that night when both Frank and Karen began to question their relationship. They just had a daughter together, and the feelings that always lingered between them remained very strong, if not more amplified by their new life together.
But up until now, Frank had been sleeping on the couch. But after everything they had been through in the last few days, Karen didn’t want to part with him, and Frank didn’t want to retreat back to the couch.
“Will you stay in here?” Karen asked on their first night home. “J-just in case…I’m nervous,”
Frank smiled over to her, knowing that she could ask for anything and he wouldn’t refuse. But this was something he had no trouble accepting.
“Yeah, I’ll stay in here,” he nodded, watching as she slid under the covers.
Karen let out a comfortable sigh before she opened her eyes to see Frank settling into the armchair by the window.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Frank stared back at her in confusion.
“I’m pretty sure we can share the bed Frank,” she laughed. “Get in here,”
Frank smirked as he pulled himself up and scooted over to the bed. Karen could feel the bed move as he climbed in also, the warmth from his body immediately soothing her. She was tired enough already, but with Frank beside her she was sure to fall asleep within a minute.
Karen couldn’t help crawling closer to him, eventually resting her head against his chest. Frank immediately responded by wrapping an arm around her, holding her close and protectively.
This was exactly what he wanted for the rest of his life. Everything he loved in one room. Something he thought he would never have again.
“Frank?” Karen mumbled tiredly.
“I don’t ever want you to leave,” she admit.
Frank took a moment to listen to her words, his heart both swelling and breaking all at once.
“I won’t ever,” he assured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Ever,”
Karen sighed and leaned up on her elbows, looking at him in the dim light of the moon.
“I do love you,” she told him.
Frank leaned forward, capturing her lips in a kiss he had been wanting to give for many months now. One he should have given her the moment he laid eyes on her after all this time.
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