Two weeks later

"It looks perfect." Amber smiled as she pulled her gloves off. "I would say you can actually submerge it now. No more sponge baths." At that I had to give a relieved sort of smile. I hadn't had a proper bath or shower in two weeks, not since the night that I had Isla. I just wanted to feel clean but it had been hard. I had spent a week in the infirmary on full bed rest and then I had spent the last week at home on 95% bed rest because Amber wanted to ensure that my incision was closed enough that it wouldn't open up when I started moving around.

"I'll make sure you have a bath ran when we get home." Brochan's voice was almost soft and I looked over at him. He was holding Isla in his arms, her little body laying on his forearms, her small head in his hands. He was pressing little kisses to her face, smiling down at her, love practically radiating out of him. It made my breath hitch in my chest to see. He loved Isla, so much. I was... I was so relieved that he loved her that much, that he had loved her from the moment she was born. From the moment I had opened my eyes, he loved her. He was attentive, caring, loving, and there for her. That was all I had ever wanted.

"Please do." Amber draped her stethoscope around her neck with a grin. "Now because you can have a bath, it doesn't mean that you can go right back to your regular routine." The look she gave me had me pressing my lips together in slight irritation. "I mean it, Menza. We can reduce your bed rest to about 50% but no over exerting yourself. I don't want you lifting more than fifteen pounds for another week. From there we will up it to twenty pounds but not a moment before." I hated that. I hated staying in bed and not being able to do anything. Brochan wouldn't even let me pick up Maeve when she managed to toddle her way into my room to see me. I hated it, all of it.

"We do this for a reason, Menza." Andrew's voice was even and I glanced at him. He was charting my vitals off the monitors I was currently hooked up to. "Right now you're on track to be okay within about three weeks. We push you or you push yourself and your healing time could be pushed another two months. There could be more serious complications and even surgery. We want to avoid that." He gave me a soft smile that I sighed at.

"I hate feeling like this." I did. I hated feeling like I was useless. I wasn't the kind of person who was comfortable sitting in bed all day. It made me feel restless and just plain useless.

"I know. Mari hated her bed rest too but sometimes it's needed." Amber said it evenly before smiling at me again. "But this next week will fly by. Just you wait. Are you done, Andrew?" She glanced over at him and he nodded so she started to unclip me from the various monitors and remove the sticky pads from my chest. "Alright, Menza, all done." I was thankful to hear that. I had been getting poked and prodded quite a bit since I had Isla. I understood why, they wanted to make sure I was perfectly okay but it was getting a bit tiresome.

"Your vitals and all our readings are perfect. As always you're a perfect patient on all accounts." Andrew grinned at me before giving me a friendly wink. I smiled back at him as Amber helped me off the cot.

"Time for me to check out little Isla." She gave me a grin and I nodded. I wanted to know exactly how she was doing. That was part of the reason I said nothing about being tired of my check ups. When I got a check up, so did Isla and the health of my little female was so important to me.

I turned and shuffled over to Brochan. He was nuzzling Isla's cheek with his nose, inhaling deeply with a soft smile. "Look at how precious she is." He whispered it as he looked up at me. I nodded as I reached out and touched his shoulder, looking down at the little life we created. She was sleeping, her hands curled into her chest and her legs tucked up. That little purple knitted cap was on her head and she looked so amazing to me. I reached down and gently ran my finger down the tiny curve of her nose, unable to help myself.

"She's wonderful." She was. She didn't sleep all that well during the night but I didn't care. She was absolutely precious to me, sleeping or not.

"Alright, papa, hand her over." Amber came over, new gloves on her hands as she held her arms out. Brochan nodded before bending down and kissing Isla's forehead and her cheeks. I rubbed his shoulder unable to help myself as he carefully shifted her so Amber could pick her up. "There we are. Little Miss Isla, I do believe you feel heavier than last time. That's what I like to feel." Amber grinned down at her and I watched as she carried her over to the modified counter of the infirmary where she had a weigh station set up.

Brochan grasped my hand and pulled it off his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the back of it before he stood up. He was large beside me, his form nearly towering over me but I didn't feel wary or crowded as he let my hand drop and then wrapped an arm around my shoulders. We moved in tandem to nearly hover over Amber and Andrew as they carefully undressed Isla.

"Let's measure her up." Amber said it evenly and Andrew pulled out a rolled up measuring tape. He unrolled it as Amber lay Isla down on her too big onesie. I watched intently, picking at my nails as they carefully rolled the flexible measuring tape down her little body. "Look at that. Eighteen and a half inches. Getting bigger, baby girl." Amber practically cooed it at her and Isla scrunched her face up, her eyes still closed as she pulled her arms and legs to her chest like she was cold.

Brochan rubbed my arm, tucking me closer to his side as I nearly reached out for her. I knew it was necessary but I hated her being even the slightest bit uncomfortable. "Let's weigh her." Andrew moved over to the scale and powered it on.

Amber cooed at Isla as she carefully picked her up and put her on the scale. It took a second for the numbers to come to a stop and Amber grinned wide. "Eight ounces this week? Look at you, baby Isla!" Amber's grin was firm as she looked at us. "She just cracked six pounds." At that I found myself smiling wide. She was growing so much and that was all I wanted for her. Amber picked her up from the scale and I pressed my hands to my chest. I just wanted to hold her. It was so hard to not hold her all day. "I love the newborn scrunch." Amber grinned as Isla pulled her legs up to her tummy and held the position before fussing.

"I know, I know. Naked babies are cold babies." Amber chuckled as she slowly lay her down on her onesie again. "Andrew can you-"

"Already got it." He handed her a clean diaper and she smiled at him before quickly putting it on Isla and then putting her onesie back on. "Oh look at that glower." Amber chuckled as she looked down at Isla who had her eyes open.

"She glares like that at everyone but her mama." Brochan chuckled slightly as he rubbed my arm and then my shoulders. My heart fluttered in my chest at the touch and I swallowed hard before I moved to stand beside Amber. Isla was glowering up at her, her face scrunched up.

"Hey my love." I cooed it out and the glower vanished and she looked around until she saw me. She blinked those big eyes up at me and she smacked her lips.

"I see what you mean. Someone's a mama's girl." Amber patted my shoulder as I carefully picked Isla up and pressed her to my chest. I rubbed her tiny back and swayed with her slightly before I looked at Amber, feeling a bit ashamed.

"My milk hasn't come in." It hadn't and it had been two weeks. I swallowed hard and she glanced at me.

"That's okay." She turned a bit more to look at me, her blue eyes searching my face intently before she sighed. "Menza. You had her at 33 weeks. Your milk supply wasn't in at that time and you had a very traumatic labour and delivery where you and her both died. Sometimes when traumatic births happen, milk dries up or doesn't come in at all. It's okay." She reached out and touched my elbow, making sure she was maintaining eye contact with me. "There isn't something you did or didn't do. Your supply not coming in, isn't your fault, not by any means. Sometimes it just happens like that." She gave me a soft smile. "Isla has gained eight ounces in the last week. She's growing very well. That is all you should be worried about. If your milk comes in, great, if not, it's absolutely okay because she's getting everything she needs. A fed and growing baby is best, regardless of how they get that food." I gave a small nod and rubbed Isla's tiny back as she rooted against my collarbone as if hungry.

"Now. Everyone in the pack will be stoked to hear this but Isla can now meet everyone." Andrew smiled as he said it and I nodded, feeling happy at the news. We had been told to hold back on her meeting everyone until they said it was okay. Particularly the guys and those who worked in the shop front because the mundanes carried germs that shifters didn't and we didn't want Isla to catch anything with her compromised immune system from being born early. "Everyone has a clean bill of health and we have had everyone quarantine from mundanes for a week just so they can meet her. But they do know that if they want to continue to come over to visit that they cannot be in contact with mundanes and if they are, they need to isolate for several days and make sure to wash very very well before they come over. No excuses and everyone has agreed to the terms and conditions that come with being able to see the newest pack member." The information had me relaxing. I had really wanted everyone to meet her but the idea that they could accidentally get her sick was something that stressed me out.

She was just so tiny and so precious and I was so concerned for her health and safety. I had to wonder if it was just lingering worry over the fact I had nearly lost her. It had taken me a while to fully grasp that we were okay, that we were both alive, that we had made it out of Mene's throne room with our lives intact. She fussed slightly in my arms and I shushed her softly, bouncing her slightly in my arms until she settled.

"Okay. So it's home time for you both." Amber's voice was chipper and I turned to look at her. "You need a bath. So go home and have a bath and relax for an hour or so." She gave me a look that told me not to argue and I nodded at her.

"I'll make sure she does." Brochan moved over to my side, dipping his head down to kiss the top of Isla's before gently putting her knitted hat back on her. His hand fell to my lower back and I looked up at him. He gave me a soft smile. "Let's get her bundled up and take her home." At that I nodded and we moved over to her carrier. Brochan lifted it up so I didn't have to bend over to put her in it. I smiled at him in thanks before I carefully set her down in it. I made sure she was buckled appropriately and then tucked her fuzzy blanket around her before zipping up the cover to make sure no cold air could get in with her on our walk home.

"Okay you three. We'll see you later." Andrew moved over to the door and opened it up. Brochan adjusted Isla's carrier and wrapped his arm around my shoulders again, tucking me close to his side. My cheeks flushed warmly but I found myself smiling slightly at the action.

Do you love me?

So much it makes my chest hurt.

The memory lingered in my mind as we left the infirmary and headed to the front door. Brochan didn't give me any time to grab my jacket as he quickly set Isla down and grabbed it for me. "Okay. Put on your jacket." He held it up for me and I beamed as I slid my arms into the sleeves and he made sure it was sitting properly. I zipped it up as he picked up Isla again and opened the door for me. "Let's get out little one home and then I can run you a bath so you can relax and get clean." His brown eyes were warm as they landed on me and I nodded quickly, stepped out of the main house.

He put his arm back around my shoulders as we walked off the porch deck and towards the house. It wasn't a long walk but the air was still a bit crisp with the winter's bite. I knew it would be starting to warm up soon. I liked that thought.

Whenever the sunshine feels especially warm, whenever the sky is especially blue, or a daffodil crosses your path, know I will be there.

Chrissie's words echoed through my mind and my breathing hitched in my chest as that curious tugging started and then faded to a warmth that made me feel half a second from crying. To know Chrissie loved me, that she gave me her approval for how I took care of Maeve, how I loved her, meant the world to me. I felt a strong kinship with her, with the female I had never truly met. I loved her, I truly did, for giving birth to Maeve, for being there for us however she could.

We came to the house and Brochan helped me up the stairs before dropping his arm and opening the door for me. I stepped inside and froze as I took in everyone who was inside. It looked like the entire pack had showed up. They all grinned at me as Brochan walked in, closing the door behind him.

"Jesus!" He jolted as he turned around. "A little warning would have been nice." He grumbled it slightly before he turned and kissed my temple. "I'm going to run you a bath, okay?" I nodded and he set Isla down on the kitchen table. I kicked my boots off and took off my jacket as Jace came over.

He cleared his throat and rocked back and forth on his feet. "Can I see her?" He had his hands tucked behind his back, looking so much like an excited kid that it had me beaming up at him. My heart and chest full with the thought of how excited he looked. Isla was going to be so loved.

I moved over to the table and carefully unzipped the carrier cover before taking the blanket away and unbuckling her. I carefully pulled her out and held her in my arms before turning so Jace could see her. "Meet Isla Uzoamaka." I swallowed hard as his eyes widened and then he blinked once and then twice before he beamed.

"She's fucking tiny, Menza. Like holy shit. Can I hold her?" At the question I nodded and carefully passed her over. "Mene, I wanna cry, she's so fucking cute." Jace practically curled around her. "Hey precious. I'm so glad to finally meet you." His eyes watered slightly as he looked at me "You did good, kid. She's amazing." He reached out with his free arm and pulled me into a tight hug before he kissed the top of my head. "I'm so fucking glad you and her are okay, you know that? The pack wouldn't be the same without you." The words were whispered and I nodded as he let me go.

"Alright. Time to meet everyone." He turned and showed her with a flourish and I watched as everyone, even Bennett, seemed to melt, grins on their faces. "The newest Oblitus family member. Little Isla Uzoamaka." He brought her over to the large group and I nearly started crying as he introduced her to each and every pack member and they grinned at her, touching her little face or her tiny hands, cooing at her how much they loved her and how cute she was.

I sniffled and Duffy came over, giving me a side hug. "Does my heart good to see them love her like we do." She stage whispered it to me and I nodded, wiped at my eyes. "This is how a pack is supposed to be, Menza. It's supposed to be a family that you can rely on, that you can lean on when things are hard. I want you to remember this." I nodded at her before leaning against her a touch more. I looked around and spotted Collin and Jay play fighting over Maeve as she giggled. Angie and Mari were holding Jackson and Fern up so they could meet Isla too. I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. "How big is she now?" Duffy nudged me gently and I smiled, wiping at my eyes again.

"She's six pounds now and almost nineteen inches long." She was growing, Amber was right with that. It made me happy to hear she was putting on weight like she was supposed to, that she was growing like she needed to be.

"Good to hear it. I love hearing about growing babies." Duffy gave a nod and I turned my head right as Brochan came from the hallway. I caught his gaze and he nodded at me and I nodded back.

"I'm going to have a bath. Amber said I could." I looked at the older female and she gave a short nod.

"Okay. You go and relax. We'll hold down the fort here." She patted my back and I moved towards Brochan. My muscles felt a little wobbly but I put that on the fact that I had been on bed rest for so long.

"I ran you a bath, do you need any help getting in or with washing your hair?" The question was asked low and I went to tell him no before I paused and reached up, touching my hair. My cheeks flushed hotly and I swallowed.

"I can get in fine but I would love it if I had a bit of help with my hair." I glanced up at him, hating how visibly I must have been blushing but he didn't comment on it, just nodded quickly.

"Let me know what you need and I'll get it for you. I don't mind." At the words I rattled off everything that I needed, some of the things were sitting in my bedroom and I let him know where. "I'll bring those in for you. I'll give you about fifteen minutes before I come in to help with your hair. Is that alright?" He was looking at me intently and I nodded. Fifteen minutes was more than enough time. I was going to scrub myself head to toe but I didn't need too long to do that.

He bent down and kissed my cheek quickly before heading to my bedroom. I reached up and touched the tingling spot, giving a small smile as I headed for the bathroom.

You love me?

So much it makes my chest hurt.

The words followed me as I went into the bathroom and closed the door behind me I carefully stripped in the steamy air before moving to the bathtub. There were some bubbles in the water and it smelled like my milky bubble bath. Brochan's thoughtfulness made me beam as I carefully stepped into the water and groaned loudly. It was the perfect temperature as I slowly sank into the water.

I leaned against the back of the tub with another groan, feeling utterly blissful as I let myself relax for a moment before I grabbed my wash cloth and scrubbed at my skin. I made sure to get every inch of skin clean, taking care around the long, dark incision across my lower belly. I lingered on a for a moment, feeling a bit of a pang at the reminder I would no longer have anymore children before I shook it off. I had Isla and we were both alive. I was more than okay with that. What could have been didn't matter as much as what currently was.

I scrubbed my face and then my arms and I was able to lean back and close my eyes for a few minutes before there was a small knock on the door and then Brochan came in. I felt suddenly shy being naked, even though I knew he couldn't really see anything under the water. "Come in."

The door opened and Brochan came in with my leave in conditioner and some oils that I had told him about. "I hope these are the right ones." He set them down on the counter and I put my arms over my chest a bit self consciously. "Did you get a good scrub and feel clean?" He glanced at me with a smile and I gave a shaky one in return, feeling myself relax. That wasn't a look of a male wanting anything from me, it was a look of a male who was wanting to know if I was alright. I nodded and he gave one in return. "Alright, what do we do now?" He looked at the containers on the counter and I smiled a bit wider.

"Now we clean my hair." I pulled it out of it's bun, being careful to keep it out of the hot bath water. "We have to use lukewarm water, it's healthier. I use the big bowl under the sink." He nodded and grabbed it before coming over and filling the bowl with water from the tub spout as I grabbed my specialized shampoo and conditioner. He brought the bowl over to me and I shifted in the water before dunking a good portion of my hair into the bowl.

"Do you mind if I help?" At the question I shook my head and soon he was helping me soak my hair until it was fully saturated. Once that was done he helped me shampoo and scrub my hair. I loved feeling him rub at my scalp and to help me get my hair clean. We then conditioned it and he dumped the slightly grey water from the shampooing in the sink before getting more. We chatted about Isla and Maeve as I lingered in the tub, waiting until I could rinse out the conditioner and take the next few steps to ensure my hair was properly taken care of.

"You know I love your hair." Brochan said it low and I looked at him in surprise. His eyes were on the twisted mass I had made my hair into with the conditioner. "It's a shame you keep it back all the time. It's so beautiful." His gaze never let my hair and my cheeks flushed warmly as a warmth spread through my chest.

"Really?" I couldn't help but ask it and he finally met my gaze.

"Really." His expression and voice were sincere and I smiled at him.

"Thank you." The compliment made me feel like I could melt with happiness.

Brochan cleared his throat slightly. "I'm so sorry, Menza." I blinked rapidly at him and he clasped his hands together, looking down at them. "For everything. I wish I could go back and change it all but I know I can't and I'm so sorry."

I swallowed hard at that. "It's okay. I understand." I did. I understood why he was so angry at me, why everything had happened but he just shook his head.

"It's not okay and it never will be. What happened was wrong and I wish I could go back and change everything, to take you and leave before it happened. With everything inside me, I wish I could do that." His voice was nearly a whisper and he glanced at me, shame radiating off of him. "You're all that's good in my world, you and my girls. I would do anything for you three. Absolutely anything. I hope you understand that."

I nodded quickly, my eyes burning before a small silence fell. I understood how much he cared about Maeve, Isla, and I. I truly did. He did his best to ensure we all knew it. However the silence felt a bit awkward and I hated that. "We can rinse out my hair now." He seemed to jump at the chance to change the subject as he nodded and filled up the bowl so we could rinse out the conditioner.

I understood why he had done as he did and even though my chest hurt about it, I knew he was doing his best and that he was a good male.

He was.