Love Me Until My Heart Stops

Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, Esmé stepped out into her hospital room, her brown eyes instantly landing on her husband who sat up on the bed, their daughter snoozing happily in his arms. They’d left it a few hours, with Ava having arrived in the early hours of the morning, they didn’t want to disturb people with the news, but she doubted that they would be alone for much longer and wanted to enjoy what little time they did have before the raft of cooing relatives appeared. “How’s she doing?” she posed as she padded back towards the bed.

Gerard smiled “Well, she hasn’t gotten any less amazing in the last ten minutes since you went to the bathroom” he mused “So I would say she’s doing very well” he added, offering her a wide grin.

Esmé shook her head. “You know you actually need to put her down at some point” she teased as she sat down beside him, offering their baby a soft smile. She was tiny, Ava was even smaller than Esmé had anticipated that she would be, but if anything, it only served to make her seem even more wonderful. Everything about her delicate, her little fingers and tiny toes had captured her parents’ hearts the second they’d seen them and Esmé doubted that she would ever get tired of looking at the baby. To her mind, Ava was perfect.

Gerard smiled. “She seems quite happy asleep here” he said.

Esmé nodded. “She does seem very happy to be in your arms” she admitted “But eventually, you’re going to have to go to sleep” she added.

“I’ll sleep later” Gerard protested softly, shaking his head.

“You’ve barely slept in two days” Esmé noted “She’s here now, Gerard, safe and sound, and it would do you some good to go home and get your head down for a while. You’ve only got a couple of days before you’ll need to be back in training” she protested gently.

Gerard smiled. “I appreciate the concern, Esmé, but the last thing I want to do right now is go home and leave you and Ava here. I will sleep when everyone’s gone home, I promise you, but right now, all I want to do is sit here and admire the beautiful little girl you’ve just give me” he enthused gently, his hands shifting Ava who let out a small squeak before she settled back down, sleeping happily.

“She’s wonderful” Esmé enthused softly, her head resting on Gerard’s shoulder.

“Perfect” Gerard agreed gently “Thank you for having her” he added.

Esmé smiled. “You don’t have to say thank you” she mused.

Gerard went to respond but stopped himself as the door swung open, allowing Delia and her other daughters inside. “Are you ready for visitors yet?” the older woman posed.

Esmé smiled and nodded her head. “Come in, mama” she enthused “There’s someone here I’d like you to meet” she quipped.

Delia smiled and stepped a little further into the room, her hand covering her mouth as she spotted the baby that sat in Gerard’s arms.

Esmé grinned and gently leant forwards, taking Ava out of Gerard’s arms before she made her way towards her mother. “I thought you would like to meet your new granddaughter” she mused gently, adjusting the little hate on Ava’s head.

Delia sniffled. “I would love that” she enthused.

“Then, mama, Ella, Eloisa, I would like you to meet Ava Maia Piqué Silva” Esmé grinned, gently moving to place her daughter in Delia’s arms. The older woman let out a small whimper before she tentatively hugged the baby close, mumbling about how beautiful she was and how proud she was of Esmé.

“I think they like her” Gerard cooed as he took Esmé’s hand, gently pulling her to stand between his legs.

Esmé nodded her head. She had a feeling that they weren’t going to get rid of her mother and sisters for a little while yet.

~#~
Sitting in the waiting area, Roberto sighed softly. He was excited, since Gerard had called, all he had been able to think about was meeting the granddaughter that Esmé had bought into the world, but he knew he had to be patient. He knew that Delia was there, with Esmé having only given birth a few hours previous, there was little chance that his ex-wife had left yet, but he didn’t want to make scene. That day was about Esmé and not about him or Delia. Running a hand through his hair, he peeked down at his watch before he shook his head, not being able to handle the waiting anymore. “Excuse me” he noted as he stopped at the reception desk “Could you show me to Esmeralda Piqué’s room?” he posed.

“Are you family?” the nurse posed.

“I’m her father” Roberto replied.

“I’ll need to speak to her husband. He’s been checking on everyone who wants into that room” she explained.

Roberto nodded his head and watched her skitter away.

“Roberto?” Gerard’s voice was tired, something which made the older man grin.

“You still haven’t slept yet?” he teased.

Gerard shook his head. “Not yet” he admitted “Do you want come through?” he posed.

“Is Delia in there?” Roberto posed, a little unsure.

Gerard nodded his head. “She is, but I know Esmé wants you in here so Delia will just have to deal with it. One bad word and I will toss you both out” he noted.

Roberto nodded his head and stepped towards the defender, smiling a little. “You look made up” he commented.

“I am” Gerard returned “Esmé’s given me a beautiful daughter and she did it on my birthday. I don’t think it comes much better than that” he enthused.

Roberto nodded his head and followed the defender quietly, pausing a little as they reached the private room that Esmé was staying in.

“Do you want me to go in first?” Gerard posed, knocking the door open slightly.

“No” Roberto commented “I’ll come with you” he smiled.

Gerard nodded his head and pushed the door open, allowing the older man to step inside alongside him. “Esmé?” Gerard quipped.

Esmé, who had been fussing over Ava with her mother, looked up. “Roberto” she smiled “I can’t believe you…”

“Invited him here” Delia snapped.

“No” Gerard interjected, his expression firm “If you can’t play nice, then both of you are out of here. This day isn’t about you and a marriage break up that’s over a quarter of a century old, this is about Ava, the beautiful little girl that my lovely wife just gave birth too and I am not going to have the pair of you bickering whilst you’re in this room. Delia, like it or not, Roberto is Esmé’s father and that means he’s Ava’s grandfather and whilst she wants him here, I want him here to. Now you can fight, or you can shut up and focus on her” he noted firmly as he gestured down at Ava who wriggled a little in Esmé’s arms.

Delia opened her mouth, but Gerard shook her head. “I am not having you ruin this” he muttered “So just deal with it OK?” he added.

Delia sighed and slunk back into her seat, allowing Roberto the chance to pad towards his daughter, greeting her with a soft kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for the phone call” he mused.

Esmé shook her head. “I thought you’d want to meet her” she smiled “Roberto, this is Ava” she added, showing off the baby.

Roberto grinned. “She’s stunning, Esmé” he insisted gently.

Esmé nodded. “Would you like to hold her?” she pressed.

“If you don’t mind, I mean…”

“Hold her” Esmé grinned.

Roberto swallowed a little and wrapped his arms around Ava, holding her close to him. He knew that it wasn’t going to be pleasant, from the look on Delia’s face, she was merely waiting for a fight, but as he held Ava close, he didn’t care. Holding her was worth it.