Sophia

Present day

I snuggled into him and all my fears went away. I could breathe again. A smile crept on my face. His embrace was keeping me safe.

He says he will protect Laeila and I know he will. He loves her too much and why won't he, she is his daughter.

I have never seen him happier than the day he held her in his arms.

Three years ago

After the long wait of 48 hours, today is the day I will get to see my baby. I was happy, excited but yet a part of me was sad and disheartened. Knowing that he do not even want to look at our daughter was worse than the fact that he actually wanted to kill me that night. By rejecting our daughter he hurt me more than I could ever imagine.

"Here comes our little princess," Alysia's voice broke my chain of self agonizing. I turned and I saw all of them holding big Dora and 'it's a girl' balloons. I let out a chuckle and I saw her in Caprice's arms. Caprice brought her to me and placed her in my arms. She was so little, so delicate. Her hands were moving as she kept opening and closing her fist. I realized I was crying when my teardrop made her blink her eyes as it fell on her face. I chuckled and wiped my tears. "Ahh...looks like she found her mom" I turned to see my doctor. She was such a sweet lady. "Thanks Maya, for saving my baby" I said. "Hey Sophia, it's eight months you and I have walked on this journey together, it would have really sucked if something would have happened to her." She said holding my hand. She was an amazing person. She must be in her thirties but she is quirky I couldn't have believed that she is a doctor had I met her outside the hospital. I mean tattoos and red hair don't go with the profession, isn't it. But she is the best. She never asked me why my husband never accompanied me on my appointments, she never pry, she wasn't scared of the fact that I am Don's wife. She helped me go through it just like my friend and whenever I was sad due to Damon's lack of interest in my pregnancy, she used to be my support without any judgements.

"So when can we take them home?" Asked a very excited Ric. "I am afraid that I can't let them go today, I think they should be here for another two days atleast. It's better if I can observe till then" she said and Ric nodded. "Great we have two days to prep for their welcome party" said Caprice giving Alysia a hi-five. They all left one by one after playing with her. The nurse set up the cradle cot near my bed.

"Where is he?" I asked Enzo, he was the last one to leave. "I am not sure actually, he stayed here till night. I will just check with him" he said taking out his phone "Leave it, I am sure her must be here somewhere" I said with a smile. "Will you just help me keep her in the cradle", I asked "Yeah why not, give her to me" he took her from me "Hello beautiful, you know who I am? Well I am going to be your first Valentine" he said with a wink and I laughed hard saying "You are crazy" and just at that moment he entered "Say hi to Dadda" Enzo said to which Damon gave half a smile "You okay?" He asked coming closer and patting my head and I nodded. He took the file from the side table and started reading "Okay, Here you go, sleep princess until your crazy parents will disturb your peace." he said placing her in the cot. "Okkayy...I think I should leave before this sexual tension burns me up" Enzo said sensing the awkward silence "Grow up" said an irritated Damon and Enzo raised his hands in surrender and left winking at me.

He laid on the couch with his elbow on his eyes.

He still didn't look at her.

"Doctor said we need to stay here for two more days" I told him "Yup I spoke to her" he said "Cap-caprice is planning some pa-party" I said "for the ba-baby" I don't know why I stuttured in telling him this. "Uh-huh" he said in response. Will we never talk again? I miss him. God why I miss him, I hate him Ugghhh I pouted and turned to another side.

The paperwork was all done and I was about to go to home. "How is my favorite girl?" I heard my doctor. "I am good Maya, thank you for everything." I said "You will be fine Sophia" she said with a smile and I nodded nervously. I was hell nervous. No matter how much I wanted a child but now that it's real, raising a baby was scaring the hell out of me. "And so will he" she added "I don't understand" I said not understanding what she actually meant, about whom is she talking. "Your husband. He was quite nervous himself when the first night he saw her and touched her. His tears were saying how much he loves his angel. But he was scared too, you could read it in his eyes that he might be the Don, but this little pumpkin was giving him chills" she said poking at the baby's cheeks. "He saw her? You said, whe-when he saw her-" I was so confused in these two days Damon hasn't spare a glance at our daughter. Even he wasn't here. Alysia stayed with me, which was really strange, because I couldn't imagine him leaving me in the hospital. I know last time he didn't go home even once and Alysia told me how he choses my life over our baby's before my surgery. I am seeing his rejection to our baby but going home with me still here was something I couldn't digest. But guess we are that far now.

"Yeah he saw her the day she was born. Alone at night. Oh you should have seen him Sophia, he was so emotional when I took him to the incubator and he got to touch her." She said remembering their moments and I laughed "you-you are saying he loves her" I asked as the tears came in my eyes with the smiles "Of course he loves her, what kind of a question is that. You weren't here Sophia but the moment I told him he can only chose one of you, you could see the agony in his eyes, he begged me to save you both and then he chose you. You can see it wasn't an easy decision for him but I guess he loves you too much. All he wanted was you alive." She said "yeah I know. He do love me too much. More than our baby" I said not sure if I am happy or sad with this. "The moment I told him that you are okay and his daughter is okay, he cried in happiness. He was so happy. He asked me instantly that if he could see his daughter but I wonder why he waited till night to see her." she told me and after a long time I felt that I didn't loose him yet. I know he loves me too much all I wanted was that he accepts our baby, but if he do why is he so distant. "Maya, can you please hold my baby for a minute I just need to come " "Yeah sure, my shift is over already I could wait before leaving " She agreed "Thanks Maya I will be back soon."

"Doctor can I come in?" I said slightly peeping through the door. "Mrs. Caprio, of course come inside" said Damon's doctor and I went inside. "Tell me how can I help you?" He said "Doctor I need to know about his hand. We are doing the exercises, the medication why is he not healing? Plesse tell me that Don has not lost his hand forever" I asked because I know this is eating him up from inside. Russo might be dead but he has left him with a lifetime scar and I don't know if he could ever look at himself the way he used to. "Look Mrs. Caprio, medicines and exercise can only do so much. Mr. Caprio has already given up on the hope to recover. He has accepted it that it will never be healed." He said "Oh trust me he's far from accepting it" I said rolling my eyes. "No, Ma'am. He has accepted it. He might be frustrated, or angry with the fact but tell me has he ever did the exercises without your coaxing, ever said that one day he will be able to use his arm. He has believed that he can never move his hand again" he said and I understood what he meant. "So what can we do?" I asked leaning back. "That's the worst, we can't. Whatever is to be done, he has to do. He has to believe that he can" he said "Yeah that's not as easy as it sounds. He is stubborn and he won't let anyone in. You cannot talk him into believing this or keeping up the hopes." I murmured. "Maybe an incident can trigger" he suggested. "I-I don't understand" I said "I can't say for sure but sometimes in extreme circumstances when there is no other way the patients tend to make the efforts. Maybe if something happens where the only option is to use his right hand probably he could force himself to do so" he told and I was listening carefully. I nodded and left thanking him for his advise.

I came in my room thinking what could be the incident. He has trained himself to kill from left, he can eat and write from left. Driving, he do miss driving. But how will I make it driving by him as the only option. What about me. Me, of course me, if anything is about to happen to me, if I am in danger he will give his all to save me. Last time he wanted to save me from falling but Enzo held me, maybe if he wasn't there Damon could- "Finally where were you?" Enzo's voice startled me "What are you doing here?" I was surprised to see him instead of Maya. "Your Doctor got a page and she left handing this munchkin to me and you were God knows where I don't know what...what to do" he said holding her like a football. "You do nothing" I said laughing and took her from him "But why are you here? I mean will he not come to take us home?" I asked, I thought Damon would come. "He has some work, he ask me to bring you guys. He will meet you at home" he said and a gush of disappointment hit me. He won't come today even. I smiled and nodded "Let's go then, shall we?" I asked and he nodded and we left.

"Welcome!!" I heard a scream along with a burst of balloon and confetti fell on us as we entered home. It wasn't just the family but all the guards and their families too. They have decorated the whole house, there were flowers, balloons, cup cakes and so many happy faces. They all were wishing me goodluck and congratulations. Everyone was here except him.

"Come come come, lets take her to her room" I felt Caprice tugging me and she pulled us all upstairs.

I entered the room next to ours and the first thing I was thankful for it's not pink. I was worried if Caprice is decorating, it might end up being barbie house but it wasn't. It was rather cool, it had a jungle theme with lots of animal stuff toys, there was a big giraffe too. The cradle cot was so cute and had the Winnie the Pooh mobile on it. The room apart from a cradle cot had a single queen size bed, a colorful cupboard and a baby monitor. Everything matches the theme even the rugs. The walls too were painted in the shades of green and there were indoor plants too and so many stuff toys "woah that's a lot of stuff toys" I said surprised as I made some space in the cradle by taking few out and lying my daughter in it. She immediately chuckled looking at the pooh bear hanging over making everyone laugh. "This is so beautiful Caprice, thank you" I said hugging her "Well it's not just me." She said "Ric?" I asked if he had helped "No silly, Don. He has brought everything. The theme was his idea, he has practically done everything. I just gave him a helping hand" she said hitting me slightly on the arms. "Damon did this? For her?" I asked surprised "No for me, idiot. Of course her" she said laughing.

"And here he comes" said Caprice and I turned to see him standing at the doorframe. He was about to leave. Guess he is caught at the wrong moment. The way he closed his eyes with a damn, definitely gave it away. He came inside with a forced smile. He passed the baby and came to me directly "You feeling okay?" He asked and I nodded so did he. "I-I have to go somewhere, will see you later", he said and I nodded again. "Wait brother you are not leaving right now. We are yet to name our little one" said Ric barring his way out. "Yeah have you guys thought of a name?" Asked Chuck as he took her in his arms. Damon shook his head in a no. Because we haven't . We haven't discussed any names, for that you have to actually talk. "She got his eyes, you got your wish fulfilled" he said chuckling and I smiled too. "Heya little Mermaid" he said poking her nose.

I took her in my arms "Laeila" I said and everyone's eyes were on me and mine were on Damon. "I-I want to name her Laeila." I said to him. "If you agree" I added. He just gave a curt nod. "Seriously Cinderella?" said Ric and I could see tears in his eyes. "Yeah I am sure" I said and they all hugged us. When I turned placing her back Damon was gone.

A month passed and nothing changed. Damon never visited her room. Atleast not when he thinks we are watching. I have seen him visit her sometimes when she is asleep or when no one is around. I have seen him giggling with her. I have seen him rocking the cradle to make her sleep. He doesn't knows but I know the times when he goes to see her.

"Enzo stop" I said to him before he could leave for the day. "I need your help" "What's up Soph?" He asked. I looked at the watch and it was ten minutes before Damon will come to her room. He comes at this time everyday, because everyone is in their rooms for the night and just before he comes to our room he comes here. "I want you to hurt Laeila" I said "What? Are you crazy?" "Listen to me" I dragged him inside her room. "Just pinch a bit harsh not too much hard. Just I want you to make her cry and I want her to cry for sometime" I told him. "What are talking about? Why would I hurt her?" He asked all perplexed at my stupidity. "I am trying something. I just hope it works. Please trust me on this. I am her mother I won't want her hurt genuinely. Hell I can't even do it myself, please" I pleaded. I need him to understand that if I am asking him of something like this there has to be a reason. I wouldn't hurt my kid just for the fun of it.

"Okay" he said and we reached her cradle. "I can't, she is so little" he said turning away and I pulled him back "Are you serious? You are the big Mafia man you can't pinch a girl" I said scolding him "I don't go hurting children, sicko" he fought me "ughhhh useless." I saw the time he must be coming any moment. I let out a breath and closed eyes. "I am sorry baby" I muttered and I pinched her elbow hard and she started bawling. "Wh-what have you done, she-" "shhh" I shut him up and grabbed him in the cupboard. I left the door ajar "Soph-have you lost-" " shhh shutup" I put a palm on his mouth as I heard his foodsteps coming inside.

"Laeila why are you crying so much angel" I heard him as he came near to her. He was whispering sweet baby talk cooing her. Don't stop crying Laeila, not yet I was wishing in my head for her to keep crying. As much as I know, once she started crying she do not quite down unless you cradle her in your arms. "Doll?" He called for me and Enzo was about to move when I quite him down with my eyes "Doll? Where are you? Sophia?" He called from the door. He came back to her and started talking to her "Hey-hey Angel, just wait baby mommy must be coming. What happened to you? He rocked her cradle, that won't be enough and it wasn't c'mon Damon. Please I was mentally begging him to pick her up. To try once.

And he did try. "Ugghh" I heard his grunt and we both peeped from the cupboard door behind him. Enzo took a step to help him and I stopped him. We saw him struggle to move his hand he sat on the floor the pain was too much I guess but then he did it. He took her in his arms. He cradled her by laying her head on his shoulder and patting her back and I came out of the closet. I sat next to him, he turned to me and I saw tears falling from his eyes and from mine too. I cupped his cheeks and my forehead touched his. "I am so proud of you Damon. You did it. You did--" "No you did, you crazy woman" he said with a chuckle. He kissed Laeila again and again "I am so sorry angel, I took so much time to hold you. I love you so much. Thank you for not leaving me" he was saying and repeating the love yous to her. He kissed her and hugged her. I have never seen him happier. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked at Enzo. "So this is why you-" he asked. "I was just trying. I needed a trigger. I tried putting up a plan but nothing was working, finally something did." I said holding his hand on my shoulder. He smiled at me and left the room leaving us alone.

I got up and reached him "I will leave the Mafia", he said looking at Laeila. A surprised gasp left me. I was forcing him for so long and I just gave up thinking he needs it. "Are you sure?" I asked touching his hand on the cradle. "Yeah. Yeah, you were right. I don't want our daughter to grow up in the violence I grew up. I don't want her to be a killer at eleven, I don't want her to be a victim of anyone's revenge or to get stuck in the crossfire of my deeds." He said and I hugged him "Thank you Damon, thank you so much" I was saying in his chest and then he said something he never said to me before. Atleast not like this.

"I am sorry Doll." He apologized to me "Damon?" "Yeah for what I did in these months. For every pain that I gave you. For not being there when you needed me the most. I am sorry for not holding your hair back when you puked due to morning sickness. I am sorry for not bringing you the stuff you wanted to eat. I am sorry that I never told you that how beautiful you looked. I am sorry for not being there when she kicked for the first time. For missing holding her for the first time with you in this room. For not bringing you from the hospital. For every fight, for every unreasonable blame I put on you." He cupped my cheeks "And for trying to kill you." I held his cheeks and made him look at me "I forgive you Damon.", I said to him because I did. I just want him back. I was angry but not anymore. His saying sorry was more than enough. Even if he wouldn't have said it it would be enough. I never expected him to apologize. He never did before except for one time when he hit me by mistake. I am seeing him making efforts he has left drinking since that night. I know how bigger was that step for him. The man who used to drink 24*7 hasn't taken a drop of alcohol because he lifted his gun at me in the influence. I was happy that he is making the right decisions.

"How? How can you forgive me so easily. You shouldn't. Don't forgive me, punish me Doll-" "Shhh....Damon. Relax. Look at me" I pulled him to look at me, he was crying like a child asking for my punishment. "I love you. I love you Damon, more than anything in this world. Sorry, forgiveness, punishments. Nothing matters. All I want is you. Promise me you will never leave me. You will never let this distance come in between us again. Don't push me away Damon. You are all I got. And you are all I need" I said and he pulled me in a kiss. He kissed me just like he used to kiss me. Finally I had him back.

"I love you Doll, I will always love you" he said breaking the kiss.