I scan the small room, that before today was still serving as a storage room where I kept clothes that didn't fit into my closet, shoes that didn't fit into the shoe cabinet in the hallway, and other things that I didn't unpack when I moved into this place. It's a completely different room now.

Mercy, Titan and his girlfriend Maisie, my mum, and I have worked all through the night to make this room suitable for Josephine and her baby on time. I'm knackered, which I'm sure just like my family, but I think we succeeded.

In the far corner of the room stands a bed, one that Titan and Maisie kindly lend me out of their guestroom, and next to it stands a baby cot. It's the one Titan, Mercy, and I slept in when we were babies as well. My mum kept it for our children since it's been in our family for five generations, and therefore it's quite an emotional piece.

The room isn't big, but we've also found a spot for a small dresser which is filled with a few baby clothes already. Maisie's sister gave birth to a girl a little over a year ago, and she thankfully kept all the baby clothes that she insisted on giving to Josephine when Maisie told her the story. She also bought the much-needed things like nappies, baby wipes, and some soft towels. And Mercy got Josephine some comfortable clothes to get through the first few days.

I seriously owe them. Big time.

The walls of the room are still white since I never spent longer than five minutes in that room, but I figured that if Josephine wants and if she'll be here long enough, she can do something about that later on. It's a very basic room, but mum assured me that it contains everything they'll need.

"And? You think she'll be okay here?" My mum asks, her arm moving around me as we both stand on the threshold.

"Yeah, I hope so. Until there's a better place for her at least,'' I answer, scanning the room once again. I'm a bit amazed by how much we accomplished in just one night.

And it also makes me realize what an amazing family I have. I just had to make one call, and they were here, ready to help.

When Mercy and I pitched the idea of Josephine and Daisy staying with me to Patty and Linda, who is the psychiatrist that made a file on Josephine, they weren't enthusiastic from the get-go.

They insisted that it isn't protocol, and they also gave me shit about how I'm not specialized in taking care of someone with mental problems. They ignored the fact that I'm about the only one who Josephine trusts, and therefore probably also the only one that can actually help her, at least in trusting her surroundings and the people that want what's best for her.

After a lot of convincing and even having contact with Hanson, they reluctantly gave their accord, but under very strict arrangements.

Josephine needs to go to therapy once a day, for a session of two hours. A social worker will come by once a week to make sure everything is going well with Daisy, and since the investigation is also hitting a wall, she'll need to talk to the officers eventually.

All those things I agree with in fundament, so I gave them my word. Although I also made it very clear that I refuse to pressure her in any way, so if it'll take years before she'll finally talk about what happened to her, then that's it, and they better be fucking patient.

After everything was set into motion at the hospital and the other instances, Mercy and I went to mum. We figured that she was the one that knew what a newborn baby and her mother would need, which meant we needed her desperately to make my house baby-proof.

I told her the whole story. I told her about how I'd helped Josephine give birth once again. I'd told her that after it happened, but didn't mention anything more about the situation because I knew how unprofessional my attachment was. The only one who knew was Mercy, and she kept it for herself.

When the whole story was out, mum was a bit shocked. She did ask a few questions, mostly about how I would handle it when they take Josephine away again when they've found her a place to stay. I shrugged it off, pretending that it won't be a problem, although I know that it will be deep down.

She also asked me if I was ready for such a commitment, and I have to say I completely understand why she asked that. Outside of my work, friends, and family, I've never really committed to anything important and for a long period of time. I'm living a day-to-day life, doing whatever feels right at the moment.

With Josephine and Daisy around, that will change. According to mum, it will ask for discipline, routine, and a lot of patience. Not to mention my selfless way of going through life, which is something that I've been getting used to since I live on my own, is changing as well.

No more friends that stay until four in the morning while lots of alcohol is involved. No more going out until six in the morning and laying in bed the whole day that follows because I feel like shit due to lack of sleep. And, no more random girls that take the edge off when I need it. Not that there were many, but still.

And yet, I don't find the idea of all that changing difficult. All I can think about is how, by changing those small things in my life, I'm hugely changing Josephine's life.

By not doing those few things, I'm giving Josephine the chance to heal in a safe environment. That's way more important than getting my fix in partying or sex.

"I'm sure she'll feel right at home," mum pipes up after a silence. She is leaning her head on my shoulder, and I can tell she is proud of me, but she is trying not to be sentimental.

"I hope so," I mumble. I really do hope she'll feel comfortable here. "What time is it?"

"A little over nine," mum answers while looking at her watch. "Maisie's made breakfast."

I nod and look around the room once more before following mum into my living room. The smell of bacon and eggs greet me the moment I step foot through the blacked-framed glass doors, and my stomach rumbles loudly. I hadn't noticed how hungry I am.

The living room is by far my favorite place in my apartment. It's because I have an open kitchen, and the round table that's standing in the middle of the room, connects the kitchen and living space as one. The windows bring in the perfect amount of light, and because I've painted the wall where the television stands against dark, it has a cozy yet industrial vibe over it. It's the perfect setting for nights with friends or family, and hopefully, it will make Josephine feel at home.

The table is now filled with a proper breakfast, and everybody is already gathered around it as well. I join them, and just moments later we're all enjoying the food that Maisie made.

"How late will you go get them?" Titan asks after a comfortable silence in which we all took care of the feeling of hunger.

"They'll be ready to leave around twelve," I tell him after I've swallowed a mouth full of eggs. "They had to go over a few last things and give both some last care."

Titan nods his head before sipping from his coffee. "How are we going to get them?"

I almost choke on my bite of bacon which causes all four pairs of eyes to look at me. When I've coughed a few times to get rid of the itch in my throat, I look at him questioningly. "I'm sorry, we?"

Titan nods, completely oblivious while Mercy, mum, and Maisie are looking at me intently. And I already feel like shit for what I'm about to say.

"I'm going to get them in mum's car." I look at them pointedly, hoping they catch on.

A small smile forms mum's face as she looks down at her plate. Titan frowns, just like Maisie, and Mercy takes a sip of her tea as if she wants to say; I'm minding my own business.

"You mean we can't meet her?" Titan asks again, now looking properly confused.

"Tite," Maisie says, pulling his attention away from me. "She's not talking to anyone except Hero. Of course, we're not gonna meet her today."

I subtly nod my head in thanks, and Maisie gives me a fast wink. Titan thinks it through for a second before he nods as well. "Right. I'm just curious what she thinks of her room."

I chuckle, knowing how he feels. I'm nervous as fuck. Not only because of what she will think of her room, but also about bringing her here, into my home. It's my personal space, and I somehow hope that she'll like it because it represents me completely.

"She'll love it," Mercy says before she stands and collects her plate to bring it to the sink. "Her whole face lit up when we told her that she can stay here."

I smile at the thought of Josephine's face when we told her that she didn't have to go to Bristol. For a very short moment, her eyes shined while a beautiful smile appeared on her face. For just a second, she didn't look like the broken, traumatized girl. She looked like a girl around my age.

After a few seconds though, her dejected expression returned once the questions and doubt hit in. I don't know how many times she asked me if I was sure, but reassuring her that I didn't mind didn't go easy. She also worried about money, stating that she doesn't have any to pay me for lending her the room, as well as food and other supplies for her and Daisy. I assume that she has the right to some sort of fund or alimony, but that's something her mentor has to arrange for her. Since he or she is coming over tomorrow, I will make sure to ask it.

I was able to convince Josephine that the financial part won't be a problem, telling her that I can fill in the blanks until she can afford it herself. And eventually, she agreed, making me promise to let her pay me back once she can.

"Let's clean this up, shall we?" Mum says while she also stands from her chair. "I'm sure Hero wants to shower before he goes to the hospital."

Within ten minutes the whole kitchen is clean and everybody has said goodbye. I'm alone once again, and after I've done a quick last round through my apartment to double-check if everything is ready, I step underneath a much needed hot shower.

The warm water pours down on my head and body. My muscles feel tired and my eyes burn, yet I know that I won't be able to sleep now. I'm way too pumped, and I can't wait to drive to the hospital.

It's hard to believe that after days of visiting them in the hospital for an hour, I soon will have them around me twenty-four seven. It gives me a feeling of peace; knowing that they will be here.

Luckily, I have no shifts today and tomorrow, which means I can stay with Josephine and Daisy to help them. I'm curious how it will go since Josephine and I have never been together for longer than a few hours. From today on, we will share a house. A kitchen. A shower.

It suddenly dawns on me that in a few hours, this place won't just be mine. She'll be here, also when I might need some time alone. I've never lived with someone before, and although I've made this decision very consciously, I only now realize that I'm not only changing a few aspects of my life. I'm going to share a lot of them with her as well.

With her and Daisy.

Daisy. The little girl that swept me of my feet the moment she took her first breath. Her first breath that I was lucky enough to witness.

And to be honest, the biggest reason why I'm going to do everything in me to make this arrangement work for as long as it's needed.

It's thirty past eleven when I'm standing in front of the door to Josephine's hospital room. In my left hand, I'm holding the car seat that Maisie also got from her sister, in my other hand the fluffy, beige rabbit with long ears I bought for Daisy at the store downstairs, near the entrance of the hospital.

I couldn't wait any longer; I was pacing through my apartment while I looked at the time on my phone more than I looked around. Eventually, I just decided to go. If I'm really too early, I'd rather wait here anyway.

I lift my hand and knock on the door, for a moment realizing that it's the last time I'm doing this. From now on when I want to see her, she'll be just a few feet away.

"Come in," her voice calls through the door. I immediately notice how her voice sounds stronger than I've ever heard it before; it doesn't crack near the end of her sentence.

I open the door and the sight in front of me is different from what I'm used to. Unlike every other time, Josephine isn't sitting in her bed. She is standing next to it, and Daisy is laying on the bed in front of her.

Her blue eyes looked up the moment she heard the door, and when she sees it's me, a small yet hesitant smile appears around her lips. "Hi."

I smile and walk to the end of the bed, keeping proper distance between us but not able to fight the urge to be a little closer to them. "Hi, how are you?"

I sound very formal and I mentally roll my eyes because of it. Now that I'm here, the fact that they are coming home with me kicks in, and by that, the extreme nerves kick in as well.

"We are good," her soft voice says while she clicks shut Daisy's romper. "I've just fed her and also changed her diaper."

I nod my head and place the car seat on the bed. "I've got Daisy this," I say while holding up the beige rabbit. Her eyes follow my arm, and when she sees the fluffy animal in my hand, her expression changes while her eyes tear up.

I'm on high alert in an instant. I don't know why but I've made her cry. Great start, Hero.

"Josephine, I'm so-"

"I had one just like that once," she cuts me off. She doesn't look sad, but not happy either. "Mine was brown, but it also had those big ears."

Not sure how to react, I offer her the rabbit. It's during moments like these that I wish I could comfort her, but I'm struggling with the distance that I want to keep.

She takes the rabbit from me and moves it through her hands as her lips curl in a small endeared smile. "This is the first gift she got."

There is something about the way she says this that makes me feel ten feet tall. It's such a small gesture, one that I hardly thought over, to be honest. I saw the rabbit when I made a stop at the shop downstairs because else I would've been earlier than I already am now. I saw the rabbit and it just made sense to buy it for Daisy.

"I hope she likes it," I mumble which makes her giggle softly. "I'm sure she will," she smiles and then placed the rabbit next to Daisy, who is sucking on her two fingers contently. Her eyes are open and she is looking at Josephine, who is softly talking to her.

She's nine days old today, and she's changed so much already. She is still very small, but she is sleeping less and she is moving more as well. And she is making little sounds. It's fucking adorable.

"So, are you all packed and ready?" I ask her, breaking the silence.

Josephine lifts her head to look and me, and then nods. "Yes, we are. We don't have a lot of things, so..." Her cheeks turn a little pink and she seems ashamed.

"That's okay," I reassuringly smile. "I have everything you need for now at my place."

Her eyes light up a little, her expression hopeful as she looks at me. "You have?"

I nod, her little smile working infectious and plastering a grin on my face as well. "And once you're up for it, we can go shopping if you want."

"Okay," she mumbles. I can tell she still feels onerous about the financial part, and therefore I chose to let the whole shopping subject go. I want today to be positive, and I want her to feel comfortable.

"So, I have a car seat for Daisy," I begin when the silence is getting the upper hand again. "And I've borrowed my mum's car, so if you're all set, we can go."

Josephine takes a deep breath and then nods her head while she looks from Daisy to the car seat. "Do you... Can you put Daisy in it?"

A huge smile spreads across my face as I eagerly nod my head. "Sure," I say, not nearly as enthusiastic as I feel.

When I'm standing next to Josephine, I lean over the bed a little and take Daisy's hand in mine. "Hello, little one," I whisper in greeting. Her small hand curls around my thumb, and her blue eyes focus on my face. "Are you ready to go?"

"Oh, we probably should put this on her first," Josephine pipes up next to me, interrupting my moment with her daughter, and a shiver runs through my body as I realize how close her voice seems to be.

I look at her, and indeed, she is standing right next to me. Her arm even brushes against mine as she holds up a soft-pink jacket as a reverence to what she's just told me.

She has never been this close; I can smell her hair -which is a combination of apple and something I can't quite place- and I feel the warmth of her body against my arm. It's new, and it catches me off guard completely.

"Hero?" She asks when I just stare at her, a frown on her face.

"Uh, yeah," I snap out of my shock and nod my head, feeling my face warm slightly. The fuck? I'm blushing now?! What the hell?

She giggles softly, and when I look at her questioningly, she says, "It's not that hard, although I know the feeling. I first didn't even dare to do her diaper because she is so tiny. Here, I can help you."

Thank fuck. She thinks I'm taken aback because she asked me to put the jacket on Daisy.

I watch as she lays the jacked on the bed before she lifts Daisy, holding her underneath her head and her bum. She then lays her on the jacket before she stops and looks at me. "Now we need to put her arms through the sleeves."

I nod and wait for her to do what she's just told me, but when she doesn't move, I look at her once again.

"I can't really reach her," she softly says, nodding her head in my direction.

"Oh, right. Here," I say while taking two steps to my left, giving Josephine the chance to stand closest to Daisy.

This is so fucking awkward. And it's almost hilarious because Daisy is looking at us with what seems like an amused expression. Of course, that is only my imagination, but it only adds to the nerves I was already feeling.

I watch as Josephine -very carefully- puts the jacket onto her daughter. Daisy doesn't seem to like this bit, because her expression changes into an objective frown before she starts to cry.

"She always does this," Josephine mumbles nervously, her hands lightly shaking as she tries to put Daisy's second arm through the sleeve.

Wanting to help both of them, I lean over the bed so I'm able to lay my hand on Daisy's head. While my thumb slowly moves over the soft, brown hairs, I try to console her. "It's okay, sweetheart. Your mummy just wants you to be warm," I mumble. "It's almost done, and then we can go." I swallow the 'home' that almost escaped at the end since that would've made everything even more awkward. So, I just focus on Daisy, whose cries are now replaced by sobs. Soon, Josephine is done with her jacket and Daisy can put her two fingers in her mouth again.

The action brings a small smile to my face. It's something that distinctly remembers me of her now, and it's amazing how it comforts her.

"You're really good with babies," Josephine observes, pulling my attention away from Daisy's big, tearstained eyes. She is looking at me intently, her gaze making me a little nervous.