chapter 128: She is perfect

---

Chapter 128 – Ethan's POV

The corridor smelled like antiseptic and baby lotion. Clean. Cold. But the second I saw Damon standing outside Arya's hospital room with a quiet, tired smile, warmth broke through that sterile atmosphere.

He looked like a man who had just lived a lifetime in a day—and survived it. His shirt was rumpled, his eyes were bloodshot, but there was pride written all over his face.

"She's okay," Damon said when we got closer. "They're both okay."

A strange kind of relief surged through me. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath since I got the call. Amara reached out and hugged him without hesitation.

"Congratulations," she said with a soft smile.

"Thanks." Damon gave her a nod, then glanced at me. "She's awake now. Want to go in?"

I didn't answer right away.

I just looked at the door. Behind it, Arya was holding her daughter. Her daughter.

"I do," I finally said. "Let's go."

Amara slipped her hand into mine as we walked in slowly. Damon pushed open the door for us, and we stepped into the warm, softly lit room.

And then I saw her.

Arya.

She was sitting up in bed, hair tousled, no makeup, looking utterly exhausted and somehow more beautiful than I'd ever seen her. Her skin glowed in that sacred way women do when they've done something that can't be explained—only witnessed.

In her arms was a tiny bundle wrapped in a pink blanket.

Liam was sitting beside her, practically vibrating with excitement as he peeked at the baby with wide eyes.

Arya looked up and saw us. Her eyes sparkled with tears. "Ethan. Amara."

"Hi," Amara whispered, her voice already trembling.

I stepped forward slowly. "You did it."

Arya laughed softly, the sound strained but pure. "She did all the work. I just… survived it."

"What's her name?" Amara asked, eyes already fixed on the little girl.

"Hope," Arya said simply.

And just like that, my chest cracked open.

Hope.

A small sound, a big meaning. A name that held everything Arya had ever been—resilient, brave, full of light even after so much darkness.

"She's beautiful," Amara whispered, moving closer to the bed. "Can I see her?"

Arya nodded, smiling gently as she adjusted the blanket. Amara leaned over and peered down at the tiny pink face.

"She has your lips," she murmured.

"I think she has Damon's scowl," Arya teased, earning a grunt from the man himself as he entered behind us.

I stayed where I was for a moment, just watching.

Hope.

A name so simple, and yet it made my throat burn.

"Do you want to hold her?" Arya asked suddenly, turning to me.

I blinked. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," she said. "Come on, Uncle Ethan."

Something tightened in my chest. I stepped forward, and carefully—so carefully—she transferred Hope into my arms.

She was light.

So light, it felt like she might float away if I didn't hold her just right.

Her face was round and pink, her tiny fists curled near her mouth. She shifted slightly and let out a little sigh. That sound… that tiny, content sound… almost undid me.

"She's so small," I murmured.

"She was in me just hours ago," Arya said with a dazed laugh. "It still doesn't feel real."

I looked down at the baby and swallowed. "Hey, Hope. I'm your Uncle Ethan. I promise not to drop you or spoil you too much." I glanced at Arya. "Okay, maybe a little."

Hope shifted again, and for a second, I imagined a future. One where this little girl was laughing, running around, painting with Arya in the studio, teasing Liam, making Damon go gray with worry.

And me?

I imagined her calling me for advice about boys. Or life. Or anything. Like I mattered. Like I'd always be part of her life.

I wasn't her father.

But in that moment, I felt something I hadn't expected—a quiet kind of love. Not overwhelming. Just… steady. Rooted. Peaceful.

Amara came to stand beside me and placed a hand on my arm, her eyes soft. "You look good with a baby."

I gave her a smirk. "You trying to tell me something?"

She laughed. "Not yet."

I looked at her longer than I should have. "But one day?"

She met my gaze, and her smile slowly softened. "Maybe."

When I handed Hope back to Arya, my arms felt empty, like I'd just set down a piece of something I didn't know I needed.

"You're going to be amazing," I said to Arya.

She looked at her daughter, then back at me. "Thanks for being here, Ethan. Really."

"You couldn't have kept me away if you tried."

Damon cleared his throat behind us. "Visiting hours are ticking."

I smirked. "Fine. We'll go."

"Come back tomorrow," Arya called as we turned to leave. "Liam wants to show off being a big brother."

Liam puffed out his chest proudly. "She's really small now, but when she grows, I'm going to teach her to draw dragons."

"Can't wait," I said.

As Amara and I stepped out into the hallway, I exhaled like I hadn't taken a full breath in hours.

"That baby…" Amara began.

"I know," I said.

"She's perfect."

"She really is."

We walked quietly toward the elevator. But inside, I wasn't quiet at all.

Something had changed.

I didn't know if it was Hope… or the way Arya had looked at her… or the way Amara had looked at me.

But something inside me settled.

And for the first time in a long time, the future didn't feel so uncertain.

It felt possible.

It felt full of hope.

---

End of Chapter 128 – Ethan's POV