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Siegfried kissed his wife's hot and sweaty head as it lulled back to his chest, burying his nose into her hair as he held her close to his chest. "You are incredible Audrey Farnon, absolutely incredible." Siegfried muttered as he kissed her head again and again.
"One more push Audrey." Edith, the midwife instructed, "one more push then we'll have the head." Siegfried smiled, he couldn't believe this was really happening. He was going to be a father, he was going to have a small human that was the creation of the strong and unwavering love between him and his wife of a year.
It had all started with a kiss to her temple, a kiss that was bestowed as she cried in pain at the MIA telegram that had fallen on their doorstep. She had fallen at the words, crumbled with the knowledge her son was lost at war. Siegfried had rushed to her side and scooped her up in his arms, holding her close and muttering anything he could think of to help calm her but nothing worked. Only when he pressed his lips to her temple did she register him at all, then she had wrapped her arms around him and held on for dear life. The following two months were a living nightmare, each and every time he had to leave he kissed her cheek or head with a squeeze to her hand promising her he would be home soon.
Then the shortest letter either had ever received arrived, a letter though short meant the world, 'Ma, I'm safe. I'm so sorry it took so long to get news to you. I'm safe and uninjured. More letters to follow. Love Edward'
Audrey had all but leaped into Siegfried's arms as she came rushing into exam room 1 where the latest Peter the budgie was getting his beak trimmed. Siegfried had caught her and spun her around, kissing her head relieved that she was fully alive once again.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Audrey blushed when she realised what she had done. She hadn't stopped to think he may have a customer or patient in but luckily Mrs Thompkin had called to say Peter was not eating much and Siegfried felt duty bound to give him the best care after the last disaster.
"It's alright, it's just me and Peter. I can drop him back later. " Siegfried laughed, still holding her in his arms. "Oh Audrey, what wonderful news."
"I love you!" She blurted out, blushing brightly as she stepped back. "Sorry."
"No, please don't go. I love you, Audrey. Oh how I love you." Siegfried outstretched his hand and pulled her to him as she accepted it. Their first kiss was soft and gentle.
Now Siegfried sat on their bed with Audrey between his legs using him to brace herself while she gave birth to their baby. It was a dream come true.
"One more push Audrey and we'll have baby Farnon." Edith smiled, "You're doing so well. A natural."
The midwife had been slightly disarmed when Audrey told her Siegfried would be staying but Audrey was adamant. It had taken Siegfried by surprise as well when she asked him to be there just a week prior, "You put this baby in my Siegfried Farnon, you'll be there when it comes out." Her stern voice had made him laugh, but as her voice turned softer he had taken her in his arms. "I need you Siegfried, I feel safe in your arms. With every kiss to my head I feel the strength of your love and I'm going to need that to get me through."
"I'll happily do whatever you need my love."
So he sat and held her, Audrey used his feet to push her own against. His hands to grip onto and take his strength from. When the contractions started she asked him to kiss her temple, her head and her cheek. To tell her that he loved her, because even though she had done this before she had been alone, now she needed to know that her and their baby were safe and loved.
"Well done." The midwife's words were dulled by a small cry. "You have a girl."
"Oh my beautiful, clever, amazing, warrior wife. Audrey, I love you. Oh how I love you. You have just created life my love, a true goddess." Siegfried wrapped his arms round his wife as she fell back into his chest weeping with joy. The kisses he rained on her hair gave her the strength to look up and capture his lips.
"Thank you Siegfried. Thank you for being here. For loving me and for giving me our child." Audrey smiled as she cried.
Siegfried's reply was interrupted by the small swaddled waling baby being presented to them by the young midwife.
"Hello little one." Audrey cradled their child to her chest, high enough for Siegfried to be able to look over her shoulder and into the face of their daughter.
"She's beautiful. Just like her mother."
They stayed in their bubble until the time came to get Audrey up, washed, changed and the sheets swapped. Siegfried carefully climbed off the bed ready to all but carty Audrey to the bathroom.
"Siegfried please just hold our daughter, she needs her father and I know you need her. Edith will help get me washed and Helen can help with the sheets- she's just waiting to do something useful." Helen had offered to do anything and everything Audrey needed to repay the way Audrey had been by her side when little Jimmy had been born. Audrey had felt a small wave of guilt when she had to tell Helen that Siegfried would be by her side and not her.
Siegfried smiled as he took his daughter from his wife's arms and pressed a firm kiss to Audrey's forehead. "I love you."
Taking the rocking chair in the corner of the room Siegfried held his daughter to his chest and did something he had been dreaming of from the moment Audrey had told him she was pregnant, he kissed his child on her head. It had soft downy hair that was brown with a tinge of auburn, a slight curl already visible. He kissed her head again and rocked gently humming nurses rhymes he had been singing to Audrey’s ever growing stomach each night.
"With each kiss she knows how much her father loves her. Your kisses contain so much love Siegfried I'm not sure you realise what magic they hold." Audrey said as she gingerly sat back down in their bed.
"It's all because of you my dear." Siegfried said as he moved over to join his wife."You pulled me from the shadows and allowed me to find my way. You showed me what it was like to live again and then you stole my heart and I fell hopelessly in love with you. Now you have given me a gift that can never compare, my heart is so full with love that I need to kiss the people I love the most. You, my Audrey and now our little Grace." Siegfried proved his point by kissing both their heads before kissing Audrey’s lips. A simple kiss had changed their worlds but no kiss really was simple, each was special, a gift of love, a pocket of sunshine, a seed of hope.