crescent [h.s]

26

Harry Styles

It's now a few days before the start of December, and today is Aurora's baby shower. Over the last few weeks me and Delilah have been planning this, knowing she deserves it. There may only be 6 other people going, but this is our family. Family doesn't need to be large, I've always known that.

With Aurora being just over 32 weeks, we decided now would be a perfect time to celebrate. Not wanting to risk her missing out by going into early labour, we were all ecstatic that the tablets have been working and she's reached 32 weeks.

We haven't had a scare since, and we're both so grateful. According to Aurora's midwife, we're in a stage where the likelihood of her going into labour and everything being safe is high, and I know that calmed us down. We're expecting and have been preparing for an early birth, her hospital bag ready to go, but we're doing anything we can to stretch this time out. The closer she is to full term is the best.

4 more weeks before she's full term. Just praying we get there. For her safety and our little baby's.

We're currently at my house, having just woken up. Aurora is still in that 5 minute stage of falling in and out of sleep, but what I love most about this time, is how clingy she gets.

The pregnancy pillow she keeps here is pushed off the bed, me now acting as that support. I hold her as she drifts into sleep, my hand under my t-shirt she's wearing so I can get some skin to skin time with the bump.

I'm so obsessed with them.

I pucker my lips against the bump, kissing her softly before pulling back again, my eyes fixated on the gentle kicks she's giving me in response. The best part about Aurora never waking up to anything, is the fact she sleeps through the nightly kicking. Once she finally falls asleep, she is gone until she wakes up naturally.

Nothing, absolutely nothing else wakes her. I've tried everything at this point.

Next, I watch Aurora. I brush her hair behind her ear, draping it down her back so it doesn't tickle her neck– not that it'll wake her up, however. I admire her clean face, taking in every inch of pure perfection. Her eyelashes wisping down onto the tops of her cheeks, those same cheeks slightly pink from what looks like a deep sleep. Her cheeks are slightly puffy, making me smile as she looks as peaceful as ever.

I wish I could keep them both like this forever. Safe, happy and comfortable.

The door to the bedroom gets slightly pushed open, the smallest gap creating a beam of sunlight to shine through the room, and I smile knowing who's come to join us.

My fluffy white kitten jumps on the bed, and if possible, he smiles at me, plodding his way through the heavy white duvet. I used to have black sheets, but with the amount of fur that falls off him, that quickly had to change.

Laying in between me and Aurora, he wedges himself into the tightest spot, practically sighing as he stretches his head out. I don't know how he does it, I've never met a cat like him before, but he makes noises as if he's human. He even snores.

It doesn't take long after that for Aurora to finally wake up, her third or fourth attempt being successful when she opens those dark green, and brown mixed eyes. Her eyes glisten in the daylight, and my thumb instinctively raises to smooth under them, loving the way her soft skin melts under my touch. I peck her lips once, and she keeps me there for another few, us leaning back just enough to look at each other.

She talks first, her voice coming out as a whisper, "Good morning.."

A smile instantly crosses my face, "Morning beautiful."