Zane awoke with a start, his mind hazy and confused as to why he woke up. His ears eventually processed the cries coming from the baby monitor on the bedside table. For a split second he debated waking you up to deal with your crying child, but he shoved that thought away. One, he knows you're exhausted. You need your rest after pushing a literal mutant potato out of you just a couple days before this night. And two, he knows what you're like when you're tired. You're cranky and snippy and honestly that's not a good attitude to have when taking care of a crying baby. Carefully and tiredly, Zane pushed himself into a sitting position before pushing himself off the comfort of your warm shared bed, making sure not to wake you.

He padded down the hall quietly, the cries gradually getting louder as he approached your son's room. The door was already open when Zane finally entered the blue and grey nursery, just how you and him left it. Neither of you could stand being away from your baby, but you both knew he had to have his own room. So, you both made sure there were as little walls separating you three as possible. Zane sighed softly as he stared down at the crying child, absolutely certain his heart would break in two if he had to continue listening to his wails. It most likely would have been even worst for Zane if he could see Zander's eyes. Making eye contact with someone made emotions seem stronger, at least to Zane they did. Thankfully, Zander hadn't really opened his eyes all the way just yet.

"Hey Zander," Zane cooed quietly, lifting the baby from the crib and rocking him gently. Zane gently patted Zander's bottom, noticing the diaper was still dry. He was a just fed a couple hours ago too, so he shouldn't be hungry just yet. Zander continued to cry, getting tears and spit all over Zane's nightshirt. Zane didn't really mind.

"What's the matter buddy? Huh?" Zane asked, as if he would really answer. Zane babbled to Zander for a few minutes, his wails eventually dying down to hiccups and feeble whimpers. Zane smiled gently.

"You just wanted some attention, didn't you?" Zander gurgled in reply, gripping at Zane shirt. Zane laughed softly. He knew, now that Zander was awake, he wasn't going back to sleep any time soon, and he especially wasn't going to sleep if Zane put him back down. Deciding to at least get comfortable, Zane sat down in a white rocking chair in the corner farthest from Zander's crib. He slowly rocked in the chair, thinking and looking down at his son.

His son.

Until now, Zane hadn't even thought of these words. This week had just been so hectic that Zane had barely had time to eat. Now that he's finally had the chance to look down at his special boy and realize that this was all real, Zane began to tear up, a soft smile on his face. He realized he would do anything for his son. He'd climb a mountain, he'd swim across a rushing river, he'd run a marathon, he'd speak in front of a crowd of people, hell, he'd even... sing.

Zane paused.

Oh wow, when was the last time he sang? It's been so long since he last sang a song on the radio, let alone one of his own songs. Yeah, that's right, Zane Ro'meave wrote songs, laugh it up. The last time Zane had written a full blown song was in high school. Since then, song writing had been put on the back burner. Just recently was Zane struck with inspiration, just a couple days ago. He managed to finish writing his new song in just a couple hours, his baby boy in the incubator a few feet away from his chair driving him onwards to finish the song.

Zane looked up from Zander to scan the nursery, half expecting to see his friends teasing him for being caught in such a tender moment. Zane didn't exactly know what possessed him to commit to his next actions. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, the tender moment with his son, or even the soothing colors of the walls. All Zane knew was that he was suddenly humming, a slow and soft melody he made up on the fly. He looked back down at Zander as the first lyrics he wrote down just days before came to mind.

"My ear upon her belly, I listen to the beat. So tiny and so precious, can't wait until we meet," Zane sang sweetly. Zander stared up in Zane's direction, most likely questioning what the heck his daddy was doing. Zane chuckled a little at Zander's face and continued on.

"I'll hold you and protect youwith my entire be. How can a heart have grown so big, for such a little thing?" Zane nuzzled the baby's little face gently, Zander letting out a little squeal at the feeling. Zane stopped singing for a moment to laugh at the Zander's cute sounds, eventually continuing.

"It's been the longest day, and one I won't forget, the day that we first met, the day that we first met." Somewhere in the back of his mind, Zane could've sworn he heard the sound of faint footsteps from somewhere outside the room, but he paid no mind to it. How could he pay attention to something other than his son right now?

"When the nurse first called me daddy and handed you to me, the tears welled up in my eyes; I found it hard to see. The meeting I had waited for finally was here, and everything I couldn't say was captured in a tear." Travis or Laurance or even Garroth would never let Zane live down the fact that he started sobbing when he held Zander for the first time, almost immediately giving the whining newborn back to the doctor to collect himself in the hallway. Zane would deny it, but he nearly had a full blown panic attack in that hallway. Tears gathered in Zane's eyes as he thought back on the day Zander was born.

"It's been the hardest day, and one I won't forget, the day that we first met, the day that we first met." Some years ago, if you had asked Zane what's the worst day he ever had to go through, he would say that one day he woke up late and managed to miss his English test. Little did he know, that day would be blown out of the water because of this one little boy in his arms.

"The rhythm of the monitor, a slow and steady beat. The faintest glow, the lights alow, your mother is asleep. My world is in this room, my world is just us three. There's no other place that I would rather be." Zane's voice cracked at the end of the last word, triggering a couple tears to fall. He quickly wiped them away.

"So much I wanna give you, so much I wanna say. You've changed my life forever and it's only been a day. I'll spend a lifetime loving you starting from day one. I can't believe you're finally here, my everything, my son." Zane smiled lovingly down at Zander. He was about to start the final verse, when Zander began to whine. Zane's expression turned worried.

"What's the matter buddy? Did you not like the song?" Zane could care less if his song was good or not, Zander was the only thing on his mind. Zander's eyes began to flutter, just a couple seconds away from opening his eyes fully. Zane grinned, holding his son impossibly closer.

"Come on buddy, you can do it," he cooed encouragingly. Only a few seconds passed when Zane saw the prettiest pair of eyes he ever saw looking around the room curiously. An icy blue eye and a warm (E/C) eye turned to look at Zane, a smile breaking out on his small face. Zane gasped happily. Before he could say anything, someone beat him to it.

"He's so beautiful," said a sleepy voice. Zane looked up quickly, startled, but relaxed when he saw you standing in your robe, leaning against the doorway all relaxed like. You were still a little chubby from giving birth, but Zane couldn't think of another time you looked so gorgeous. You both shared a smile as you crossed the room to stand at Zane's side, looking down at Zander. Zander looked up at you, analyzing this lady who just walked into his line of sight.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Zane said, not looking up from Zander.

"Maybe, but it's pretty hard to sleep when your husband is singing." You laughed quietly when Zane looked up at you with rosy freckled cheeks and a confused expression. "We bought that baby monitor for a reason honey, to listen to what's happening in Zander's room." You pecked Zane's head and let your head rest there. "An original song I assume? I've never heard it. It fits him very well."

"Yeah, wrote it while you were in labor. I was just... struck with something. I couldn't help it."

"Mhm, it was very pretty. I hope you man on singing to more." Almost comically, Zander let out a few little coos, making you and Zane laugh.

"Maybe a will, I don't think he'd mind." You hummed in acknowledgement, smoothing back Zander's fuzzy head.

"His eyes are so... amazing. Now we don't need to argue over who he looks like the most." Zane chuckled.

"Maybe so, but no matter what, when I look at him, I'm always going to see you." You looked up at Zane to see him smiling at you, a look only reserved for you on his face. You rolled your eyes jokingly.

"No one would believe me if I said Zane Ro'meave was a sap," You said, grinning. Zane was about to retort, but a small yawn interrupted him. Zander stretched his little arms, his eyes beginning to close.

"Alright little man." Zane stood up from the rocking chair and walked to the crib. "Time for bed." He put Zander down with care and love and kissed his head softly. "Daddy and Mommy love you." The baby gave no response, already releasing soft breaths; asleep. You smiled as you watched your two boys, wondering what you could have done to deserve this life. You walked over to Zane and held his hand.

"Ready come back to bed, Daddy?" You asked jokingly, a yawn emitting from your lips (If I see a daddy joke I swear). Zane smiled and nodded, turning to look at you.

"Yeah, let's go Mommy." Giving Zander one last look, Zane allowed you to drag him back to bed. As he wrapped his arms around you and felt sleep overcome him, Zane took a second to thank Irene for giving him this amazing life.

It felt so good to rewrite that. Maybe it could have been better, but I'm proud of this. I'm happy to be writing again 😊. And suggestions are officially open again!

I love you all!

Sorry it's been a while, I hope you're still okay 💕.

~Alyssa