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[shawn]

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the baby that rests in my arms scrunches up her little nose, making me chuckle softly, as her little arms move around in the soft yellow blanket anya picked out for her a few months prior. the room was silent, apart from the soft whimpers coming from avery's little voice, and the occasional sighs leaving my lips.

"you're gonna be as beautiful as your momma, aren't you sweetie?" i whisper, looking down at my daughter, my blood, my flesh, as she shuts her brown eyes, nestling into her blanket. "so beautiful," i mumble, my voice cracking, as i look over to anya, who's fast asleep, hooked up to a drip.

anya had to be revived. she lost a lot of blood, and they thought she wasn't going to make it, until she had five pints of blood transplanted into her, and somehow her vitals were steady again.

it almost scared me to death.

i wouldn't know how to act if she really had gone, avery wouldn't have her mom, and i wouldn't have the woman i want more than anything. it's horrible to think about.

"hey," brian says, softly, as he walks into the hospital room, followed by matt and ian.

"hey guys," i smile sadly, standing up from the chair, walking to the hospital crib, and gently laying avery down into it, pressing a small kiss over her little rosy forehead.

"she's so tiny," ian chuckles, walking next to the crib, rubbing his finger over her cheek. i smile tiredly, folding my arms to my chest.

"still not awake, huh?" brian says, sitting down in the other chair next to anya's bed, holding onto her hand. "come on anya, wake up."

"she's strong, she'll be up in no time," matt says, placing his hand over my shoulder. "you doing okay, bro? is avery feeding?"

"a nurse comes in to pump milk from anya every so often, she's still producing it," i sigh. "it's been three days, and she still hasn't woken up."

"she got a lot of blood transplanted, she went through a traumatic birth, they had to induce her into a coma," brian says to me calmly, as i sigh, feeling the tears build at my eyes.

"i-i thought i was gonna lose her, i-" i say, cutting myself off, letting a single tear roll down my cheek. "i don't know what i would've done if-"

"everything's gonna be fine," ian says to me, walking to the bed. "she'll be awake in no time."

"y-yeah," i nod, looking at the crib, seeing avery fast asleep.

"i guess there's not gonna be regular parties at the condo, right?" brian jokes, trying to make light of the situation. we all chuckle lowly, as i roll my eyes playfully.

"fuck yeah there will," i say. "just quietly, avery's gonna be partying with us."

"she's gonna take after her mom alright," ian says.

"she is," i grin, reaching into the crib, craving to hold her against my chest. "mrs steinburg- ashley- already sees the similarities between the way ave acts and the way anya was when she was a baby."

"she's gonna break so many hearts," brian says, as i pick her up, resting her against my chest.

"you're all gonna have to help me beat the guys who even look at her," i warn, running my fingertips over her little warm back, before taking a seat next to anyas bed.

"of course," matt says, making everyone chuckle.

"have the girls been over yet?" brian asks, as i sigh again, nodding.

"jasmine and poppy couldn't get their hands off of ave, i physically had to drag avery out," i laugh sadly. "alessia came round too. she started crying."

"mate, gerty started crying too," ian chuckles. "just watch, the band are gonna turn up and start sobbing as soon as they see avery."

"i can't believe you have a freaking child," brian says, as i chuckle, shaking my head.

"neither can i," i mumble. "but she's perfect. she's all i could ever need," avery starts complaining, letting a little cry leave her small lips, making me frown. "shh baba, it's okay, you're okay," i whisper, rocking her gently. "it's just the boys here, you're gonna have to get used to them princess, they're all gonna spoil you rotten," i say in a baby voice, making the guys laugh. "shh hunny, it's okay, i'm here."

"bro," brian says suddenly, looking down at anya. "dude."

"what?" i ask, turning my attention to anya, who's moving slightly. my eyes go wide, as i quickly hand avery to ian, before sitting back down eagerly at anya's side, grabbing her hand in mine. "babe? can you hear me?"

"hmm," she hums, as if she's in pain, before her eyebrows furrow, and a little groan escapes her lips.

"shh, it's okay, don't speak hunny," i say quickly, rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand. "just squeeze my hand okay?"

i feel a little squeeze over my palm, and i smile widely, my eyes filling with tears yet again. i breathe a sigh of relief, before tucking the blankets tighter around her, trying to warm her up since she's had a blood transfusion.

"get the doctor, brian," i say, looking up from anya. "she's waking up."

-

"i wanna hold my baby," anya complains, sitting up against the pillows, her stature looking so much more better than a mere hour ago.

"here," i say gently, letting a small laugh leave my lips, before i stand up from the chair, leaning down, and easing avery into anyas arms. anya let's out a small gasp, her eyes filling with tears, as avery shuffles closer to anya, feeling the presence of her mother.

"oh my god, shawn, she's so perfect," she whispers, letting the tears roll down her cheeks. "hi baby, you're so beautiful, oh my god."

"your mum said she looks like you," i smile softly, looking down at avery in her arms. "i think she's gonna he just as beautiful as her mother when she grows up."

"shawn," she murmurs, smiling widely up at me. "when can we take her home?"

"soon hunny, they just need to make sure you're stable before we can go home," i say, sitting down again, raising my finger up to avery's little hand, letting her grip onto my thumb.

"everything's okay with ave, right? she's all healthy, right?" anya asks me, her voice going small.

"she's perfectly fine hunny, all healthy," i reassure her, as she breathes a sigh of relief, holding avery closer to her. "okay, i'm gonna let you two have some time alone, yeah? i'm gonna go get some coffee, you want anything?"

"can you get me some juice please?" she asks softly, looking back down at avery, rocking her gently in her arms.

"of course," i grin. "bye girls." i see anya playfully roll her eyes, making me chuckle before i walk out of the hospital room, shutting the door lightly behind me, hearing anya whisper soft words to avery.

i sigh gently, seeing my family and her family waiting outside in the uncomfortable plastic chairs, looking straight at me for any information.

"she's good," i say, making everyone let out a sigh of relief. "i left mommy and baby alone though, give them some time together," i say, making everyone smile understandingly. "i'm gonna go get some coffee, does anyone want anything?"

"just went on a coffee run, thanks though," anyas dad tells me, making me nod, before turning around and walking in the direction of the hospital cafe. i rush through the endless corridors, wanting to quickly get back to see my baby.

i get to the cafe quickly, getting myself an expresso, and getting anya a fresh orange juice, before paying and quickly rushing back to the hospital room, still seeing our families waiting outside.

"hey, you guys can go home, you know," i say, chuckling softly at all of their tired statures. "it's getting late, and you guys have all been living here for the last three days."

"will you call us if anything happens?" ashley asks me, standing up and giving me a quick hug. "and anything, shawn, she's our baby."

"i promise ashley, i assure you i'm gonna make sure anyas okay," i say seriously, as her parents smile at me thankfully.

"look after them both," her dad tells me, shaking my hand. "or you're gonna have me to answer to."

"yes sir," i gulp, making everyone around us laugh.

"shawn, it's thomas to you," he says, making me chuckle nervously. "have a good night."

"you too, thomas, ashley. i'll call if anything happens," i reassure them, before they say goodbye to my parents, and walk away. "right, i'm gonna go in." i say to my parents and aaliyah.

"call us if you need anything, shawn," my mum tells me, wrapping her arms around me. "i'm so proud of you," she whispers, kissing my cheek gently.

"thanks mum," i grin, shutting my eyes and hugging her back tightly. "i'm gonna be calling you guys at 3am if i don't know how to do something, you do realise that, right?"

"you and anya will be able to figure things out," my dad tells me, patting my back. "make sure she's okay, yeah? she's been through a lot."

"i will," i say, nodding. "i'm just happy both of them are okay." i sigh softly, leaning against the door. "i-i don't know what i would've done if either one of them weren't okay."

"don't think about that, shawn," my mum tells me. "you just have to be grateful that everythings okay, and that nothings gonna happen now. be positive."

"yeah," i nod, sighing gently again. "okay, i'm gonna go in."

"okay, we'll see you later then," my mum tells me, kissing my cheek again. "have a good night, love you."

"you guys too, i love you," i say, before opening up the door, and walking inside, seeing anya looking down at avery in complete awe, little tears still rolling down her cheeks. "hey hunny, why are you crying?" i ask her softly, walking forward and placing a small kiss on her forehead, putting the drinks down on the table next to the bed.

"she's so perfect," she sniffles. "so perfect."

"please don't cry, love," i chuckle softly, wiping her cheeks with my thumbs. "she's here, don't cry."

"s-sorry, i'm just so emotional," she sniffles, letting a small laugh pass her lips. "we made her, she's so beautiful."

"gonna be just like her momma," i say, smiling widely at my girls, making anya blush slightly. "god, i can't believe it, my girls."

"you're so cute," anya giggles, as avery let's out a loud cry, making anya and i sigh. "hey baba, what's wrong gorgeous?" anya coos, rocking avery in her arms as she squeals and screeches loudly, her little face scrunched up in a frown. "are you hungry, baby?"

that's the moment i knew anya was gonna be the best mother out there, and i was so damn happy she was the mother of my child.