Winter

The moment I had her in my arms, everything changed because Niall wasn’t the love of my life anymore, he was replaced by this little bundle of cuteness. She was perfect, this whole situation was perfect, I looked over at Niall who was a goner just like me, he was staring at her as if she was the love of his life, which was a good thing and it relaxed me to see him looking at her like that. The doctor took her away from me again to clean her up and check her vitals and it was also time for me to get cleaned up. Niall turned to me completely in panic. “What’s wrong?” I whispered “We don’t have a name for her yet.”

I smiled gently at him “Look in my bag, I have written three names, just pick one and tell me after I’m all cleaned up. He kissed me on my forehead and left the room with my notepad in his hand. I had written three names on there, the first Sophia just because I like the sound of it. The second name was Quinn, as it was an Irish name and well it was a good solid name and lastly I loved the name Emma, always did but I thought it was important for him to choose as I was fine with whatever name he would choose.

I was emotionally and physically drained and after they helped me get cleaned up I was happy to be back in bed. I must’ve fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes Niall was sitting next to me with our little girl in his arms, he didn’t see me waking up so I just observed him, he was tracing her little fingers, they looked so at peace that I almost dozed off again. “Don’t fall asleep love.”

I opened my eyes again and saw Niall looking at me with so much love that I felt tears forming in my eyes. “How are you feeling Winter?”

“Tired but okay.” I said sleepily and he moved to my bed and climbed in with our little girl, it was apparently time for some feeding because she started drinking immediately, which made me smile. Niall was watching it completely mesmerized “Niall?” he focussed back on me and smiled as he took something out of his jeans.

He put it in front of my face and there it was the name of our baby. He picked a name I had expected. He had a little bracelet made for our girl and the bracelet said Quinn Horan. I smiled because I knew he would go for the Irish name. “Are you okay with this?”

“I love it.” He smiled and put the small bracelet around her tiny little wrist. “Mrs?” I looked up and there was a nurse smiling at us and I knew it was time to go home. “Yes?”

“The doctor will be with you shortly but you can get dressed if you want to.” She told us and I nodded giving Quinn back to Niall. I dressed in some sweats and a shirt and was just putting on my shoes when the doctor walked in. “Mrs, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine doctor.”

“Good, you can both go home. Quinn is completely healthy, here are the things you need to know, your nurse will explain everything once you get home and I wish you both all the luck in the world.” He shook our hands and that was that.

We walked into the waiting room where everyone was still waiting, which was a bit weird because I thought Niall had already told everyone that we were fine and the baby’s name but apparently he didn’t. They all jumped up when we appeared through the doors. What’s her name?” was the first thing they asked and I had to giggle at that, Niall looked at me and I nodded my head to give him permission to tell them.

“Say hello to Quinn Horan.” We moved slightly to show them the little bundle of joy in my arms and the enthusiasm that I felt made me feel home, this was my family and the fact that my mother wasn’t here to celebrate, wasn’t that bad anymore, as everyone was falling over Quinn, I felt so tired that I just wanted to go to bed and Niall noticed this immediately. “Guy’s thank you for coming but Winter has to go to bed, we will let you know when you can come over okay.” I was almost sleepwalking by now as Niall directed me to the car, this is where he took Quinn from me and put her in the car seat, whilst I got in as well.

I don’t remember a lot from the journey but when I woke up Niall was sitting in the chair with Quinn and they were both sleeping, this was such an adorable sight that I didn’t have the heart to wake them even though Quin had to eat.

I got up to grab my laptop because giving birth to Quinn made me even more curious about what had happened with James and Lady Blackwood. I just had to know that I didn’t screw their lives up completely. I inserted the names and I was happy when I came across of Lady Blackwood, she was married to a lord and had two children, she died in her 60’s, there wasn’t a word about Duncan or James so that was a good thing but what was unsettling is that I couldn’t find anything on James, this scared the hell out of me because what if he came after us?
I didn’t have time to ponder on it though as Quinn had woken up and with her Niall, who was already smiling at her even though she was crying like crazy.

I had forgotten all about James when I received a note a few months later and attached to it was a rose and I really didn’t want to find out what it was, so I just put it aside but after a few hours it was itching, I just had to find out but not alone, Niall had to read it with me. I went back to the kitchen and took the rose with the note, I just had to find Niall, which wouldn’t be difficult as there was a game on and he probably had Quinn with him, as he was trying to get her addicted to soccer.

“Niall?”

“I’m here, so is Quinn.” He called from the living room, which made me smile and shake my head slightly. “I uhm have something, it was delivered earlier today but I don’t really want to read the note alone.”

He put Quinn in her little bed and walked over to me, he always kissed me first when he sees me and that always made my heart skip a beat. He took the rose with the note, he didn’t waste a second and opened the note but whatever was in it made his face turn pale. “What does it say?”

“It’s James, he congratulates us with the baby and he wants to see us in person.”

Notes