I couldn't hold my emotions. I cried.

Our daughter was perfect with chubby cheeks and a beautiful face that was a mixture of mine and Drakos. My hands itched to hold her but just staring was fine until the nurse came back.

How could I hold someone so tiny for nine months? I loved her during her time in my stomach and now I loved her so much more.

I cried tears of joy and adoration. I had a child of my own. She'll love me as I love her and I'll raise her to be a respectable young woman. I vowed to never abandon her like my parents did. As long as there is breath in my body, she'll not go a day unloved, hungry, or neglected.

I felt Drakos' hands slid around me and he kissed my temple.

I quivered as I leaned into him and stared at our daughter through blurry eyes. Our precious gem. Our miracle baby that I carried supernaturally in my womb. I loved her so much and she didn't even understand it as yet.

"I can't stop crying," My words came out chopped up.

"It's okay to cry. This is a treasured moment where you get to see our child for the first time." He kissed my cheek. "She's more than I ever imagined."

I kissed his jaw and gazed at our child as she slept soundly. The nurse came and offered for me to have a seat in the chair beside the cot after sanitizing my hands. She carefully scooped up little Zyaire and instructed me on how to hold the baby. I followed exactly how she told me and soon after, I held my daughter in my arms.

She was so soft and delicate in my arms. I was afraid I might crush her. She yawned again and I brushed my finger in her hand that closed up around it in a firm grip. I laughed delightfully, captivated by her.

"Hi there, beautiful." I smiled. "Your daddy's waited a long time for you to be here."

Drakos leaned over us and I glanced up at him with a smile. "She's adorable." He leaned in and kissed Zyaire's forehead.

She stirred awake and hazel eyes stared up at him for a brief moment before she slipped into slumber again.

Tears gathered in my eyes when I saw my resemblance in her eyes. A lump lodged in my throat and I sobbed out, "She has my eyes and your hair."

Drakos kissed my eyelids and snaked his hand around my shoulder as he leaned over us. We looked like a happy family, welcoming our new addition.

My life couldn't be more perfect.

"I can't believe I thought of leaving this earth if you passed, only to leave our child an orphan. How could I harbor such a thought when she's so innocent and precious?" Drakos said softly and my heart stuttered.

I stared at him in shock, remembering what he told me earlier in the operating room. "You weren't in your right mind. You were afraid and grieving. I know you didn't mean it to abandon her. I'd rather you to live on and raise our daughter if I...if I didn't make it." I struggled to get the phrase out. The thought of me dying made me want to faint.

He kissed me again, this time on my hair, placing his cheek on top of my head. "I'm sorry for thinking that way. You are here now and we'll be together and nothing's going to tear us apart."

Zyaire made a cooing sound, moving around in my arms, her beautiful eyes opening up to look at me with such intelligence. Her gaze locked on me and I held her gaze, enthralled.

She started shifting towards my chest, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to nibble on it.

My eyebrows dented together and then they went up in realization. My face stained a deep red in embarrassment.

"She's hungry," I said and Drakos looked at her with blooming affection.

"It's obvious what she wants." He smiled, directing his eyes at my chest.

First of all, I have no breasts and second, there's no milk it here. My chest is dry as fuck. My nipples weren't aching anymore, thankfully.

Oh boy, I'll have to stop this swearing, I'm a father now.

"Call the nurse," I told him and he quirked a brow at me.

"You'll have to breastfeed her eventually."

"Yeah, Sherlock, when you can locate them then I can give her want she wants. I have nothing in here." I said, exasperatingly.

She began to get fussy, squirming in my arms, her low cries desperate.

As if on cue, the nurse returned, probably slipping away silently to give us privacy.

Zyaire was rubbing her lips against my shirt with an open mouth, making little anguished sounds.

My heart ached. I didn't like her crying.

"It's time for her feeding. She wants to feed from you but I'm not sure if she can." She informed us and Drakos straightened and faced her, his eyes determined.

"She will feed from him."

"Drakos," I said through gritted teeth.

His eyes settled on me, intense and domineering. "You were capable of birthing her, what makes you think you cannot supply her needs now? Your body will accomplish this. Trust me, it all makes sense. At least let her stimulate your nipples. Milk may eventually come out."

I sighed as I rocked our baby to try and soothe her. She still nuzzled my chest and I couldn't stand to see her so needing.

"In some cases, we try to get babies to learn how to latch on to their mother's breasts after birth. We can try it in your case, the milk sometimes take several days to spring in some mothers but we can see if your case is different."

"Let's get you cleaned and we'll give it a try, okay daddy?" Her smile was directed at Drakos who now wore an appeased expression.

"Yes, thank you."

***

After she cleaned my nipple that was surprisingly swollen, and I felt nothing to indicate that it was, she guided me on how to get our daughter to latch on. Honestly, it was embarrassing. My chest was flat yet she sucked hungrily on my poor nipple until I felt blisters.

I was about thirty minutes into breastfeeding her. I cradled her to me as Drakos sat beside us, watching avidly, his eyes alight with admiration.

"What are you so smug about?" I glanced at him, a smile tugging at my lips.

"You look so stunning. You don't understand what you do to me. The image of you nurturing our child will forever be engraved in my mind. Imprinted for me to view forever and bask in my elation." He drew a hand down my cheek and I leaned into his touch, enjoying it.

"You make me feel brand new. Like I'm whole again. Thank you for believing in me. You gave me a daughter, a reason to live on and I'm so overjoyed, I feel like I'll burst with emotions." I kissed his hand.

"I will set nations afire for you." He vowed, a burning flame in his eyes. "For the both of you."

I shuddered at the declaration, feeling a thrill of desire from it and trepidation.

Would he really do that for me?

I didn't want to ponder on it.

We were complete now. Me, him, and our Zyaire.

I couldn't wait to get home and spend more time with her.

This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. As I gazed at our daughter with her head full of hair and freckled cheeks, I knew this chapter would lead to a prosperous and blissful end.

I'll make sure of it.

***