You're Beautiful To Me

Later that afternoon Frank goes to work and Anna and I play for a while in the living room, Anna really trying to kill me by attempting to run before she can even walk properly and trying to climb up on the couch and the coffee table. "No no baby" I tell her for the millionth time as I grab her around the waist, picking her up and pulling her away from the coffee table. "You're trying to give daddy a heart attack huh?" She just lets out a small giggle in response and I narrow my eyes at her as I say "Yes I see how it is now, you wanna get me out of the way so you can have all of daddy's hugs and kisses, isn't that right?" "Da da ba" she babbles back as she gives me a smile and I can't help but smile back as I bring her closer to my face to give her a kiss. Another half hour passes and Anna starts getting tired and cranky so I wrap her up in her blanket, getting her a bottle and I cuddle her to my chest as I settle on the couch, gently rocking her back and forth as she sucks on the bottle until she falls asleep. I cuddle her for a little while longer once she's asleep and when I try to stand to take her into her room a sharp pain rips through my stomach and I immediately recall the last time I felt the same sensation, looking down at the sleeping eleven month old in my arms and thinking about how this one is coming a month early too. I try to keep calm as I reach out for the phone on the coffee table and I dial the number for the bar. Frank answers, his voice cheery and fake and I take a deep breath before saying "Frankie, I'm...." But I'm cut off by another sharp pain. "Babe? Is it coming?" "It hurts Frankie" I whimper and he breathes out sharply as he says "I'll be right there, hang on baby" and he hangs up. Ten minutes later Frank comes running through the door with Mikey on his heels, Mikey taking Anna from my arms where I've kept her, staring down at her sleeping face to keep myself calm and Frank helps me up, his arm wrapped around my waist as he says "Come on beautiful" before adding "It'll be ok" when I whimper in pain.

Things move fast at the hospital and just twenty minutes after we arrive I hear the first screams of our second child. "Baby" Frank says excitedly, his face lit up with a huge smile and I smile back as I say "You were right weren't you?" Franks smile grows wider as he nods and I shake my head at him as he reaches out and takes our son from the nurse. "Hey little man" he says softly as the baby looks up at him wide eyed. "He's perfect babe" he breathes out as he gently hands him to me and I lock eyes with him and I feel my heart melt. "We have a boy" I say softly, my voice laced with tears and Frank smiles wide as he gently sits on the edge of the bed and looks down at him with me. "We have the most beautiful baby boy ever" Frank corrects me and I let out a soft giggle as the baby's eyes slip closed and his breathing goes deep and even. After the baby and I are cleaned up the nurse brings Mikey and Anna into the room and Anna is now awake again and looking around at everything. "Hey cheeky girl" I say, taking her from Mikey's arms while Frank holds the baby. Once Anna is settled in my arms Frank sits on the edge of the bed again and we let Anna have a look. "This is your little brother baby girl" I say and she looks from my face to the baby and back again. "You wanna say hello to him?" She looks back at the baby again and her little hand reaches out for him. "Gentle, very gentle Anna" I tell her as I lightly grab her wrist and guide her hand over to touch him, the baby letting out a little noise which startles her and she squeals
and pulls her hand back, clapping them together as she giggles. "Well that went well" Frank says with a chuckle as he hands the baby to Mikey for a cuddle. "Gee you gotta stop popping out such cute kids, it's killing me" he says jokingly and I chuckle as Anna snuggles herself into my chest and I lay back and wrap my arms around her, gently stroking her back as her little fingers play with my hospital gown.

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