The Garden Of Eden
They said it was an easy labor, despite how long it had gone on. But Max had to disagree. It was difficult. The pain was excruciating. Naturally, she’d been taught at Manticore how to handle pain. But just because she knew that, didn’t mean she had to like it. Voices floated around her as she hazily picked out a few words. Seems she’d beaten the record for shortest time pushing. Eighteen minutes. Was that really something to be proud of? All it meant was that she was eager to get this over with. She’d panicked a few times during the labor. But not for reasons any of them expected. Her father had seemed to understand. Somehow he knew that she was flashing back to her days in the hospital wing at Manticore. Especially when the doctor pulled out unfamiliar tools.
He’d been a Godsend, politely asking questions in an easy manner. Max’s nurse, Karen, explained everything in detail. She wasn’t afraid to pull punches. And by doing so, Giles was helping Max get the information she needed so she had nothing to fear. And with relief, the doctor didn’t have to use those instruments, even though she’d been ready to kick the hell out of him if she had to. Angel had done his part as well, distracting her during the tougher contractions with his soothing voice, strong hands and deep love. He kept reminding her that it was time to be excited, even if she was tired. He reminded her that this would pass and she’d have a reward at the end of it. It reminded her of what Lorne had told her. She had a gift to receive. And no matter what might happen down the road, she knew that this was it.
When it was time to push, Giles had removed himself from the room. It was down to her, Angel, Karen and Dr. Reid. And though she cursed all three of them, she finally made it. The baby was out. Angel was making goofy faces, as he seemed torn between kissing her and kissing the baby. But the nurse held him back so that she and the doctor could do the initial check. Angel continued to croon to her about what a great job she did as the doctor pronounced their child perfectly healthy. Then Karen took the baby to a little bassinet in the corner to attach the baby’s anklet and ensure that the identification matched that of mother and father. While she took care of that, Dr. Reid attended to Max, making sure that she was well also.
By the time he’d finished, Max felt a strange numbness steal over her. The voices were disjointed and unimportant. All that mattered now was that she was done. She had completed this part of the journey. She lay back, breathing things in. Karen was filling out some information, time of birth, initial weight, that type of stuff that seemed important but wasn’t to be worried over. The doctor was removing the outer smock he’d worn. Angel was hovering over Karen’s shoulder, watching impatiently. Numb. That’s all she was.
She didn’t pay attention to Karen returning to her bedside. Angel called her name until she looked up. Karen wanted to give her the baby. Slowly, she held her arms out instinctively, because she really had no idea how to hold something so small and fragile. Karen settled the baby in and moved back so that Angel could seat himself beside them on the bed. He wrapped one arm around Max, the other reaching to draw back the blanket the baby was wrapped in. Max watched his face; it was so full of excitement and love. She glanced down at their child, already asleep. So quiet, so calm, nothing of their ordeal evident.
Until one tiny eye opened. Max gasped in shock. Brown. Then the other eye blinked lazily. Also brown. Of course, eyes matched. That was good. But it was Angel’s eyes. Her eyes. Their eyes together in the child they’d created. Max felt flooded by a rush of love. Their child. And that’s when the tears started.
Angel looked on in dismay. He had no idea why she was crying. He glanced up when Karen chuckled. "Hormones," she offered quickly. "It’s normal." He nodded and tightened his hold on Max. She was now peeling the blanket back, reaching for a tiny hand. Fingers unfurled, grasping, holding, tender in babyish strength and Max gasped again. Karen approached and gently rubbed Max’s arms. "Bath time," she announced softly. "You too if you want." Max nodded hesitantly.
"Go with them Angel," she asked quickly. "Please?"
"Of course baby," he agreed. He too, didn’t want their child alone with so many uncertain dangers already present in their lives. He followed Karen out and soon, another nurse appeared to help her to the shower. Once she ascertained that Max would be all right without assistance, she busied herself cleaning up the bed.
Max returned, climbing in gingerly. Her muscles were still stretched and tender, even after the twenty minutes spent under exceedingly hot water. She did feel a little better for it, but knew she was in for another bout of being careful when she moved. There was a knock on the door and Giles peeked his head around to beam at her.
"Can I come in?" he asked. She nodded and he moved straight to the bed. Max held out on tired hand and he grasped it eagerly. A familiar warm tingle ran through them both. It was one of Willow’s innovations. Working off the mind-reading spell she’d worked on Giles and Angel, she’d tried this route. The spell, based on certain thoughts that Giles directed to Max when he thought of her, was transmitted through the tingle. If it wasn’t there, it wasn’t Giles. And the best part was that it was uniquely he. It couldn’t be copied, because even Giles wasn’t sure what the mix of thoughts were, because there were so many. She smiled as the warmth suffused her body.
He took a seat beside the bed after helping her adjust the bed frame so that she was sitting up. "How do you feel?" he murmured.
"Like I just gave birth," she answered mirthlessly. "Six pounds, seven ounces," she groaned. "That’s a small watermelon."
"I was thinking more a good sized honeydew melon," Giles tilted his head to the side. "But ever so much sweeter."
"You’ve got that right," she sighed, content. There was only one thing missing, and strangely, she sensed it just outside her room. There was a polite knock and Max called her permission to enter. Karen was back but her arms were empty. But she hovered by the door and finally Angel entered, baby in his arms. He paused in the doorway, until he saw Max’s nod, indicating that Giles was safe. And then he hurried to the bed.
"Hey Grandpa," he greeted teasingly. He gently lowered the still slumbering bundle into Max’s waiting arms. And as soon as she felt the weight, she wanted to cry again. Everything was perfect. She pulled back the blanket so that her father could take a good look.
"Dad," she whispered," meet-!" She glanced up at Angel, who was smiling beatifically down at them. He grabbed another stool and plunked down on it, as close as he could. They’d discussed names, but had never decided for sure. They were all nice, but they just couldn’t decide.
"Eva," Angel supplied with a broad grin. Max felt her heart flip-flop. It was the one name she hadn’t suggested, even though she wanted it desperately. And he understood. He’d never brought it up and the sudden current of togetherness flowing between them awed her.
"Eva," she confirmed softly. And then she did cry, complete at last.
After Max finally composed herself and handed Eva to Giles so that he could croon over her as well, she asked about their friends. Giles informed them that he’d already called and they were on their way. As soon as visiting hours began later that afternoon.
"Did you know," Giles spoke in low tones to his granddaughter, "that you were born at dawn? That’s the perfect time for new beginnings. Yes it is." He continued on, murmuring nonsense as Angel and Max shared a bemused glance. Of course, all that news meant was that Angel was stuck in the hospital all day, but he could think of no better place to be. Max suggested he make use of the cot the hospital had provided but he declined. She’d then shuffled over gingerly, to make room for him on the bed. He climbed aboard, still too excited to sleep. Karen brought back the bassinet so the baby could room in, as the couple had requested.
It was a beautifully endearing scene that Cordelia, Fred, Willow, Wes and Gunn found. Max and Angel, spooned together on the bed, both of their arms reaching to the bassinet on the far side. Giles, one arm slung protectively over the baby’s bed, his head resting on his other arm propped up on the railing of Max’s bed. All of them asleep.
"Should we come back?" Fred whispered nervously. She didn’t want to disturb the family. But Cordy shook her head.
"I just want one peek at the baby," she replied softly. She tiptoed forward, but she should have known better. At the first click of her high-heeled shoe, three heads shot up. Bleary eyes tried to focus on the incoming noise. Max realized first who it was, but busied herself checking that Eva was still with them. Angel peered at the group, then up at the clock, surprised to see that it was precisely one o’clock. Visiting hours had started. He grinned. They had a very good reason for being here. He peeked over Max’s shoulder, the gestured the group closer.
"Dad," Max whispered. Giles turned his attention to her, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. He encountered his glasses, which he seemed to have pushed up to rest on his head. He moved his arm out of the way so that Max could life Eva from her bed. The five guests circled the bed all waiting for their first glimpse of the miracle baby. And as one, they seemed to coo as Max pulled the blankets back.
"Everyone, this is Eva," Angel announced softly. More coos as the baby opened her mouth, a perfect little ‘O’.
"Can I hold her?" Cordelia demanded softly. Max nodded slowly. Now that she’d finally bonded with her daughter, she was a little hesitant to give her up. Even to her best friend. But she recognized what the easy to read Seer was thinking. This was her reward as well for a job well done in getting Angel and Max together. Giles offered up his seat, needing to stretch the kinks out of his back. Cordy took the seat, then the baby. After a few minutes, she received permission to pass her on to Fred and she on to Willow. The men declined the honor and Willow passed Eva back to Angel.
"Lorne wanted to come," Wes finally spoke up, "but he didn’t want to alarm anyone. So he sent these." He backtracked to the door, where they’d set their gifts. He pulled forth a bouquet of two dozen white roses and brought them to the new mother. Max breathed in the scent and then took the card as Wes set them on the sideboard by the blacked out windows.
She read it over swiftly, smiling at the demon’s thoughtfulness. Reading aloud made it even more sweet, "Happy Birthday to the newest little Angelcake. Love Lorne." The others had also retrieved their gifts. More flowers, balloons and cards. And Willow, with a little enthusiasm, also presented a charm for the baby’s bassinet. Angel and Max accepted everything with good grace. It would have gone on, but Eva finally had enough of the attention and began to cry in soft, mewling tones.
"Must be chow time," Gunn chuckled.
"Then that’s our cue to leave," Willow announced. She turned to the group. "Should we go get some lunch?" She’d included Giles in the offer.
"Lunch does sound good," he admitted. But he didn’t want to leave.
"I hear this cafeteria does a mean wild mushroom soup," Fred grinned. Giles looked a little surprised at her sensitivity to his inward dilemma and agreed. He assured Max that he’d be back soon. Cordy waited for the others to go on ahead and approached Max once more.
"You did super," she congratulated her friend. Max simply smiled and directed her attention to feeding Eva.
Two Weeks
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