Chapter Text
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For the first time since we've known each other, Niko isn't paying attention to me. Instead, I see something new in his eyes, something quiet and unconditional. A kind of love I have never seen before, so new und different from anything he has ever felt for me. It is love at first sight, and I know it will last forever.
Niko isn't paying attention to me. He's completely, helplessly in love. And I'm perfectly fine with that. Because I feel it too. I've felt this way from the very first moment I held our little boy in my arms.
It's kind of crazy, I never imagined it would feel like this. To love someone instantly, from their very first breath, and to know, without a doubt, that you'll spend your life being there for him, doing whatever it takes to keep him safe.
God, I still can't believe we're actually a little family now.
But right now, while I watch Niko through tired eyes as he sits beside me, his entire world focused on our little one in the bed next to me, our baby's tiny hand wrapped tightly around one of his fingers, it feels like we're finally whole.
I can’t take my eyes off the two of them, and something inside me swells, making me want to smile and cry all at once. My throat tightens softly, and almost without thinking, I reach out to touch Niko, just to make sure this is real.
And it is. The moment my fingers brush against him, his familiar warmth spreads through me, grounding me, and my heart stumbles as Niko turns toward me right away. His eyes are wide, shining so brightly that for a second, it takes my breath away.
A huge, pride-filled smile spreads across his lips. "Baby, look at this! You see what he's doing?"
There’s so much wonder in his voice, so much quiet pride, that it makes my chest ache. I follow his gaze, even though I’ve been watching all along. Our little boy’s tiny fingers are still tightly wrapped around his, clinging to him as if he already knows exactly where he belongs.
A soft, breathless laugh escapes me, and I nod, my eyes burning slightly. "Yeah, see it, Niko. You two look like a perfect match."
Niko lets out a small huff of disbelief, shaking his head just a little, but he doesn’t dare move his hand.
"Fuck me, he’s so strong. Little bro’s crushin’ me!" he smiles, as his thumb gently strokes the back of that incredibly tiny hand.
"Guess, he takes after his dad," I reply, shifting a little so I can lean into Niko’s shoulder.
Almost automatically, his free arm wraps around me, pulling me close as he drops a kiss into my messy brown hair.
"God fucking hell, baby. I love you so fucking much," he whispers, brushing another kiss against my temple, then my ear, and finally the corner of my mouth. "You okay, baby? Need anything?"
I close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the mix of Niko’s warm, familiar scent and the soft, delicate scent of our baby.
"Just a little tired," I murmur, nuzzling into his neck. "Everything I need is right here," I breathe, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw.
Niko pulls me even closer, and I feel the tension leave his body as his shoulders finally relax. Ever since I gave birth to our baby yesterday, he hasn’t left my side. Hasn’t left our side.
I can hardly wait to finally go home. Together with my husband. And my son.
A sleepy whimper drifts up from the little bed, and my heart flutters. The baby’s tiny mouth curls into a small pout, his little face scrunching for a moment before relaxing again. Another soft sound leaves him, somewhere between a sigh and a question.
Niko’s finger is finally released as our little one stretches in the sweetest way before his eyes slowly blink open. They say a newborn’s eye color doesn’t fully settle until later on, but the moment he gave me that first sleepy look with his father’s eyes, I knew it would stay that way.
He has Niko’s eyes, and his beautiful, perfectly shaped face. My brown hair, my nose. He is perfect. And if anyone ever says otherwise, Niko has full permission to deal with it.
I reach for our baby, moving slowly and carefully as I lift him into my arms. He’s so warm, so impossibly small, and yet he fits perfectly, like he was always meant to be right here.
Niko watches us, his big, tattooed hand gently brushing over our baby’s head.
"Heeeey, little bro," he grins teasingly, his thumb tracing the faintest line along that tiny cheek. "Don’t give my lotus flower a hard time, okay? He’s the most wonderful man in the world, and he loves you more than anything. Not as much as me, though, because I loved him first, which definitely gives me extra credits. But you’re a close second."
"Niko." I shake my head, smiling despite myself. "You didn’t really just say that."
"What? It’s true."
"Jesus," I murmur, glancing down at our baby. "Well, then he gets extra credits for being this cute. That makes it a tie. And what did I tell you about swearing?" I add, without lifting my gaze.
Just like his son, Niko’s mouth curls into a pout. I hear it more than I actually see it.
"No swearing… in front of the baby," he grumbles.
"Exactly." I gently rock our little one, stroking his tiny chest. "Don’t worry, your dad can be a bit rude sometimes. But we’ll keep him in line. Right, little Levi Hunter?"
Our son coos softly, and I take it as a yes. Next to us, Niko lets out an amused snort.
"In your fucking dreams, baby."
"Nikolai!" I barely manage to hold back a laugh, shooting him a warning look, though I don’t quite succeed.
He just grins at me, that crooked, infuriatingly attractive smile that still makes my knees feel a little weak.
"What? I didn’t say anything wrong. And what about…" He leans in closer to my ear, voice dropping. "What about fucking? Should I stop talking dirty to you, baby?"
Oh goddammit. Heat rushes to my face.
"Don’t even think about it," I whisper back, turning just enough to meet his lips in a slow, gentle kiss.
When we pull away, I rest my forehead against his, both of us still smiling, breathing the same quiet air. Between us lies the small bundle of life we created.
"Do you want to hold him?" I ask under my breath.
Niko flinches. It’s small, almost unnoticeable, but I catch it. Just like I’ve noticed how carefully he’s avoided it until now.
His jaw tightens. "Uhm… I dunno. What if… shit…"
A little flustered, he rubs the back of his neck, grimacing as he keeps his eyes fixed on our son.
"He’s so… tiny. What if I drop him? Or do something wrong? Or…"
His voice fades, softer now, stripped of its usual confidence.
My heart melts a little into a puddle.
"Hey," I say gently, nudging him with my shoulder. "Don’t think like that. You’re not going to hurt him, baby."
He swallows and leans slightly into me, still staring down at the little bundle in my arms.
"I don’t want to mess this up,” he admits quietly, almost to himself.
"You won’t," I whisper, my voice calm and steady. "I’m right here with you. Your mom showed you how to do it, didn’t she?"
Before he can overthink it again, I gently guide our baby from my arms into his.
"L-Lotus flower, wait. What the-" he starts, his voice catching so damn cute, I can hardly stand it.
"You’re fine, Niko,” I say with a small, reassuring smile. "I’ve got you. And you’ve got him. Trust me."
Niko’s arms close instinctively around the tiny weight, one hand slipping carefully beneath our son’s back, the other supporting his head with almost reverent caution.
And then, suddenly, he’s holding our baby.
This huge, muscular man, covered in tattoos from head to toe, is holding our little angel for the first time.
For a heartbeat, everything seems to still.
Niko doesn’t speak. He barely breathes.
Then our son stirs, a quiet, drowsy sound escaping him as he nestles against Niko, as if he already knows he’s safe.
And just like that, something in Niko softens.
I see it happen.
The tension in his shoulders eases, his hold growing steadier, more certain, shifting from careful to something deeper… something protective.
And I know I’ll never forget that moment, not for as long as I live. Because it’s the beginning of something new.
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