He’s never understood before why so many parents cried in the delivery room. And… he’s never imagined that he would be there. Crying. Smiling. Thanking his wife. “You’ve done well,” he says as he industriously cleans her, healing her discreetly with his magic. He’s been helping. Here and there. And it’s the least he can do for her. 

She’ll be feeling just fine in a matter of days, perhaps sooner. Her exhaustion… he might be able to heal if he’s willing to exhaust himself.

Charlie looks up as he helps reposition her legs, which are shaking from the exertion. She really… had his baby. She had his baby. This little, crying creature is him and her. Married together into… into…

“I’ll take care of the rest,” his mother says quietly. She smiles knowingly at him. He nods, removing the gloves he wore for the birth and setting them aside.

It’s become so real.

He’s a… parent. Now.

Charlie sits next to Thandi and leans over her, watching as she latches onto Thandi’s breast to take her first drink. He’s never seen anything that makes him want to cry more. And as Thandi looks up at him, face positively aglow with her exertion?

He could kiss her.

There’s a pang of deep regret in him, over his daughter’s conception… a child was just an idea, a means to an end, but now…

He feels a hand on his head. “Thank you,” Thandi says breathlessly. 

“Thank you,” he says. Thandi scratches at him and… he lays his head on her shoulder and watches their baby. He’s never felt this way before and honestly… he feels the fierce… love. In him. Waiting to pour out over his child and wife.