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Denzel sat on the couch with Elmyra, swinging his legs back and forth as he watched his favorite cartoon. The past twenty-four hours had been strange for the toddler.
His parents had left for the hospital, leaving him with grandma. Mom seemed to be in pain, which worried him. Was she okay? Was his baby sister gonna be okay? Why was Mom in pain?? He couldn't help but cry as he watched the car pull out of the driveway and leave for the hospital.
It wasn't until Elmyra explained things that he finally relaxed. His sister was gonna be born, and they were both gonna be okay.
He waited for hours on updates, constantly asking Elmyra if dad or mom texted. He even stayed up past his bedtime! ....well, only to fall asleep half an hour later. In that time, his sister had been born.
"Denzel?" Elmyra asked, standing up. "You wanna go meet your baby sister now?" She asks. She knelt down, giving him a small smile. "Your parents will be home soon, your mommy's still resting. But, we can go visit in the meantime."
His eyes sparkled, and he nods eagerly. "Yes! Yes! I wanna see my sissy! Baby sissy!" He cheers, leaping out of his seat. He rushed to get his shoes on, putting both shoes on the wrong feet in the process.
Elmyra chuckles, walking over. "Hold on there, sweetie. You put your shoes on the wrong feet!" After helping him, she got her jacket on. Spring had arrived, yet it was still a bit chilly out. "You ready?"
Denzel saluted, puffing his chest out. "Ready!!" He opens the door, skipping to Elmyra's car. His legs kept bouncing in excitement as they drove to the hospital. He wondered if his sister would like him, if he could play with her. There were so many questions and thoughts rushing his mind at once.
"Denz? Do you remember what we practiced last night?" Elmyra spoke gently. "Use your quiet voice and hold the baby gently."
"Yeah, I know," he mumbles, partially paying attention.
Cloud sat out in the waiting room, scrolling on his phone as he waits for Elmyra and his son to arrive. He perks when the two emerge from behind a door, and he stood up, waving them over. Denzel ran over to him, reaching his arms out.
"Daddy! Hi!" Denzel chirped, hugging him tight. "I missed you and mama!"
Cloud chuckles, hugging back and ruffling his hair. "I missed you too, little man. Mom and your sister are alright, just resting." He reassured him.
"Grandma told me to use my quiet voice, so I'll use it." He told him. "I promise."
Cloud nods in approval, before holding his hand. "Alright, thanks bud. Let's go see her, okay?"
They walked to Aerith's room, down a long hallway. Cloud soon turns, opening the door and heading inside. Denzel can see Aerith, resting in her hospital bed, holding a small wrapped-up bundle. He gasps, eyes widening as he approaches the side of her bed. He stood on his tiptoes, trying to get a peek.
Aerith gazed down at her son, patting his head. "Hey, honey." She hums. "Your sister's here. Her name's Lilith." She adjusts the bundle in her arms, so Denzel could see her better.
"Lilith? Oh! That's like uhhh..lily!" He exclaims, bouncing on his heels. "Lilies are your favorite flowers!"
"Mhm, you're right," Aerith chuckled. "That can be her nickname."
"She's beautiful, honey," Elmyra kisses Aerith's forehead. "Congrats to you and Cloud."
"Aww, thanks mom!"
As the adults talk amongst themselves, Denzel stares at Lilith more closely. Her eyes squint open, and they make brief eye contact. There's faint traces of Aerith's features already shining through. She was tiny, chubby, a little wrinkly and pink. Most of all though....
"She's bald!" Denzel announced to the room. "She has no hair!" He points to her head.
The room falls in a pause, before they all started to laugh. Denzel raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?" He huffs.
"Oh, Denz..." Cloud wheezes through his laughter. "You crack me up, kid." He shakes his head. "But she's not bald. She's got a little amount of hair."
"What??"
"Honey...not all babies are born with hair," Aerith explained to him. "She's brand new, she needs to grow. She'll have more hair eventually."
"Oh...okay," Denzel shrugs, before leaning towards her ear. "So...I was bald too?"
Aerith playfully rolled her eyes. "You've seen your baby photos before. Yes, you were."
"I wanna hold her mama, can I?" He gave her puppy eyes. "Please?"
"You can, kiddo, just wash your hands first." Aerith reminds him.
Denzel sat down on the couch in the corner of the room after washing his hands. He watches Cloud gently lift Lilith from Aerith's arms, walking over to him. He knelt down, placing Lilith in Denzel's arms.
"Watch her head and neck, be sure to support it," Cloud teaches him. He helps adjust his arms. "There..." He took a seat beside him, smiling down at his son and daughter.
Denzel cuddled Lilith, grinning. "Wow....she's really here, daddy."
"Mhm, she sure is," Cloud rubs his back.
"I'm gonna be the best big brother ever," He promises. "I'll protect her and play with her."
"Hmm...does that mean you might occasionally help momma and I with watching her?"
"Uh-huh."
"That means you're gonna change some diapers too," Cloud jokes, smirking.
Denzel pouts, tilts his head up at Cloud, and held Lilith out to him. "I will never change a diaper. You can do that."
Cloud just started to laugh again.