Chapter Text
It’s a humid June afternoon, when at last they bring her home; weary and spent, with a faint scent of rain lingering in the air. Michelle and Beard were the first to greet them on the porch, ushering them inside and ensuring their comfort before Henry and Olivia came rushing down the stairs.
Although he would typically incline to be nearer to them, Trent instead observes serenely from his lounging chair in the living room as Ted delicately places their newborn into Henry’s lap, with Olivia silently watching over her brother’s shoulder, as still as either have ever seen them. Trent notices when Henry chuckles softly in awe, almost as quiet as a whisper, while gazing down at his new sister. Olivia grins just as broadly as him.
Ted guides Olivia onto his lap as he settles beside Henry, and Trent’s heart swells at the sight of them in this tender tableau. Their gentleness with their baby sister is palpable, handling her with the utmost care—indeed, he should expect nothing less. Henry, at twelve, and Olivia, at eight, are both aware of her fragility, cradling her as if she were crafted from the finest glass. Inevitably so, for she almost literally is.
Trent can tell how they have yearned for this moment; eagerly anticipating and longing for the day they would finally behold her in the world. They meticulously updated the calendar, marking down the months and eventually the days. Both were practically bursting with excitement when Ted informed them over the phone that she had at last arrived. No longer was she merely a bump to converse with, responding only with kicks and turns, nor was she just a concept or thought lingering in Trent’s mind long ago—she was now very real, here to hold and cherish.
Their excitement was barely contained within the house, and even Michelle had to intervene to prevent them from dashing out the doors, just for a moment, until they were all discharged.
Yet now, they are as silent as church mice in her presence between the five of them—even when Olivia appears on the verge of an emotional outburst from her excitement. Trent has been pleasantly astonished by her capacity to bottle up her emotions for an eight-year-old; Trent knows that she will need to learn to moderate her volume soon.
They are all looking at her as though she were one of the seven wonders of the world.
Their Magnolia. Magnolia Dawn Lasso, they had decided to name her; Ted wished to name her after one of the most exquisite flowers of the South (the name sunflower was, surprisingly, a bit too overt for Ted, a sentiment Trent did not dispute or attempt to alter), much like herself. And “Dawn” because she arrived at approximately six in the morning, just as the sun was beginning to crest the horizon. She was born following a tempestuous storm through the night, with tranquility prevailing outside the hospital room before her birth.
“Daddy, is it okay if I could hold her now?” Olivia murmurs softly as she gazes up at Ted, her voice so faint that Trent can barely discern her question.
Ted casts a glance at Trent, his brows arched in curiosity. He appears as fatigued as Trent feels, his face unshaven and eyes heavy-lidded, yet Trent knows the exhaustion does not faze him in the least. Despite this, Ted remains strikingly handsome as ever. Since Magnolia's been born, Ted has consistently volunteered to hold her while Trent rested—familiar with Trent's discomfort to hospital stays and his yearning for the solace of home. Nonetheless, Ted prioritized that Trent should do nothing but rest, save for eating or feeding Magnolia. By the time they were ready to depart the hospital, Trent felt more at ease than ever in the back seat with Magnolia, though a vestige of his weariness persisted.
Trent acknowledges Ted with a nod as Olivia tugs at him, eager to hold her sister. Henry sulks slightly but comprehends that he will have plenty of opportunities to hold her, shifting over to allow Olivia to sit comfortably. Henry gently admonishes her to be cautious with Magnolia’s head. He aides Ted in carefully placing the baby into Olivia’s lap with gentle whispers of ‘careful, careful.’ Trent smiles at the scene, touched by Henry’s protectiveness—although he is generally the more careful one in the household, knowing he is diligent in ensuring everyone is gentle and aware of their actions is particularly meaningful to Trent.
Whenever Magnolia finally finds comfort in Olivia’s embrace and ceases her wriggling, Olivia glances up at Ted and then at Trent, her face alight with a radiant, toothy grin—albeit with a few gaps. She whispers hoarsely to Trent, brimming with excitement, “I think she likes me, daddy!”
Trent hums in agreement, his tired smile unwavering as he responds, “I think she loves you, darling,” while his gaze sweeps over the three of them gathered around Magnolia. “She loves all of you,” he adds, his voice filled with warmth.
Henry quietly rises to his feet and makes his way over to Trent, standing by his side. Trent wraps an arm around Henry’s back, gently rubbing in a soothing manner, and Henry leans into the embrace. Meanwhile, Olivia appears to be studying Magnolia with the curiosity of an avid reader, noting her darker hair in contrast to her own and Henry’s, her tanned skin juxtaposed against their fair complexion, and eventually discovering that Magnolia’s eyes are darker as well. Though Ted would assert that she is the spitting image of Trent, it is impossible to overlook how her nose and cheeks—indeed, her entire face—bear a striking resemblance to Ted’s.
Others, for the most part, would assert that she embodies a perfect blend of both parents. After much contemplation and scrutiny, Trent would undoubtedly agree.
“Thanks,” Henry murmurs, leaning into Trent and resting his head atop his shoulder. Trent refrains from inquiring about the gratitude; he understands implicitly, aware of how much Henry has longed for this moment. Despite initial uncertainties—how they would navigate the slight difference in age and how he would care for her—Trent had reassured him that, regardless of the circumstances, they would always rely on each other as brother and sister. This moment validates most of Trent’s assurances, showing that their love for her is so profound that it couldn’t matter if she had come into their life years before, or years after.
Trent gazes up at Henry, his heart sinking slightly as he realizes how much older Henry already appears. Henry has exhibited remarkable bravery these past few days, assuaging Olivia’s fears whenever Ted and Trent had to stay overnight at the hospital and offering a steadying hand to keep everyone calm. Trent feels his chest tighten and struggles to maintain a steady voice, “No, thank you,” he says, reaching up to tenderly run a hand through Henry’s hair. “You’ve been so patient and helpful; we truly couldn’t have managed any of this without your help, my love.”
Henry's grin broadens as he leans back into Trent, who tilts him down to place a tender kiss on the crown of his head. Olivia giggles with delight when Magnolia grasps her finger, exclaiming in surprise at the infant's unexpected strength. Trent knows this to be true, particularly when it comes to feeding, where Magnolia's tenacity is evident. Although she is much smaller compared to her siblings at birth, Trent suspects her “big” personality will more than compensate. Her fierce cries upon entering the world startled Ted, a reaction Trent had anticipated—but she was loud for her size.
Hours later, after everyone had eaten, Henry and Olivia converse quietly upstairs in their rooms. Ted embraces Trent from behind in the dim light of their living room, as Trent cradles Magnolia in his arms. She has been mostly quiet today, except when hungry or needing a change. Despite just being days old and her limited abilities, she is already exhausted. Ted finds the fact of it all amusing, for a baby to be so tired, but Trent prefers it to the difficulty of putting a restless baby to sleep—reminiscent of Olivia, who would babble and kick incessantly.
She is so lovely and perfect that Trent wishes he could hold onto her forever.
“Gosh, I—I just can’t believe how tiny she is.” Ted speaks with emotion, his voice half-muffled as he nestles into Trent's shoulder, reaching out to gently brush his knuckles over Magnolia’s cheek, who instinctively turns into his touch. Weighing a mere 5 pounds, 8 ounces, she appears even tinier whenever she’s in Ted’s arms, prompting him to remark, “She’s like a little doll, isn’t she, honey?”
Trent chuckles, his gaze flickering between Ted and Magnolia before responding, “Very much so.”
Ted places a hand behind Trent’s head, drawing him in for a kiss on the side of his head. Trent leans back into Ted’s embrace, while Magnolia nestles against Trent’s chest. They find it difficult to look away from her, with Ted easily captivated by her every move. Trent feels as though he’s gazing into a mirror when he looks at Magnolia—in the most wonderful way, because she is theirs, their precious daughter.
Trent’s glance shifts to the coffee table beside them, where a beautiful bouquet of white magnolias rests in a colorful vase—sent by Rebecca upon hearing of their discharge from the hospital. In her note, Rebecca praised their choice of name, highlighting that magnolias symbolize everlasting connections and stability, and are a flawless design in nature. Trent suspects Rebecca will soon fly into Kansas, perhaps within the next few days, bringing along other guests who will make their home as lively as the locker rooms once were.
But for now, Trent muses, their home is alive with a tranquil hum, nearly silent with just the five of them, perfectly meeting his standards. Yet, the new silence borders on unsettling. “I think we should head upstairs, to make sure the other two deviants aren’t dismantling their walls as we speak,” Trent whispers gently to Ted, his voice lowering when he notices one of Magnolia’s tiny fists curl tightly into his dressing gown, followed by a soft whimper.
“Alrighty, Keira Knightley, lead the way— you need me to take her, babe?” Ted circles around Trent and guides him by the arm, as Trent tries to shift Magnolia further onto his arm while steadily rising to his feet. He feels soreness all over, his arm numb from hours of rocking her back and forth. It’s not unbearable, though, and he raises an eyebrow as he glances between Magnolia and Ted.
“I’ll hold onto her. I think she’s getting too accustomed to being held by you,” Trent finally says, playfully nudging Ted in the shoulder as he adjusts Magnolia in his arms. She makes a quiet noise, somewhere between a whimper and a cry, but falls silent whenever Trent strokes a finger over her cheek.
Ted laughs, watching as she nestles contentedly into Trent. “It’s been three days, Trent.”
“Which, is a lifetime to her. I’ll keep her, thank you very much.”
Ted leads him with a broad grin, effortlessly guiding Trent upstairs, his focus unwavering on his steps. They make their rounds between Henry and Olivia’s rooms; both children are serene, wearied by the day's events, no longer brimming with restless energy. Trent feels a wave of relief, as it has been an arduous week for all five of them. The bedtime routine is seamless; they kiss the children goodnight without protest or pleas for more wakeful moments, just nods and the closing of heavy eyelids. When Ted and Trent finally retire to their own bed, they nearly collapse into the covers, exhaling loudly in relaxation. Trent cradles Magnolia closer to his chest, her head resting above his heart, her gentle breaths rising and falling rhythmically.
While he half-expects to hear a soft snore from Ted's side, Trent glances over to find Ted watching them silently. In the dim light, Trent can see Ted's smile, his eyes brimming with love. Trent feels breathless, as if experiencing the exhilaration of falling in love anew.
In the space shared between him and Magnolia, only she can hear the quickening of his heartbeat.