And baby makes two...

[have_no_mercy]

It was a long night - very long - but it's over now. At least, this part of it is. The truly hard part has only just begun. That isn't going to stop Tess from attempting to enjoy the relative quiet time she has these couple of days in the hospital, even if she feels like she's just been hit by a mack truck. Repeatedly.

The baby is finally here. A little girl; her daughter and isn't that incredibly weird to get used to. Everything had gone well and as expected. Of course Ryan had been there, Tess knows she has George to thank for that, but they'll chat about it later. He'd been... helpful, she supposes, and appeared happy with the result.

For now, Tess is alone, resting in her wonderfully private room, the baby asleep barely a few feet away. She can't help but glance over every few minutes, half out of an innate paranoia that the girl may no longer be there and half out of surprise that she is. It's a good thing she's already used to not getting enough sleep.


[[OOC: Open visiting post! Anyone and everyone who might conceivably want to see Tess and the new baby are welcome to tag, Twitter and BNW verses alike.]]

Comments

[have_no_mercy]

"I think you did." She's still impressed. "Well done."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod shrugs. "Well, you didn't laugh, so it must not have been a very good one."

[have_no_mercy]

"Laughing hurts," she informs him. "But I may need to actually see this speed diaper changing to really tell if it's that funny or not."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"I don't think that would be a good idea." And he's being semi-serious now. "Using my abilities in such close proximity to something so delicate hardly seems prudent."

[have_no_mercy]

Okay, maybe she'll laugh a little now. Or at least snort. "You'd be surprised. Babies are very resilient."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head absently, staring down at Alice again. "Crushing her would be like crushing a dried leaf."

[have_no_mercy]

"Crushing a stone would be like crushing a dried leaf," Tess points out distractedly. "You've managed to contain yourself thus far. But as I said, don't panic. I have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"I don't doubt my ability to contain myself," he says more clearly, glancing up at her. "But you could always arm her with kryptonite just to be sure."

[have_no_mercy]

Dryly, "When she has motor control of her hands, I'll keep that in mind."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"No need to wait," Zod responds in kind. "A kryptonite-laced pacifier would do."

[have_no_mercy]

Now he's just getting a look.

"In the land of the meteor infected? My child isn't going to be ingesting traces of kryptonite anytime soon."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He's used to the look.

"Probably a wise decision."

[have_no_mercy]

He should be.

"I think so."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

His attention is back on the baby now, and after another moment or two, he slowly reaches down and picks her up to rest lightly in his arms.

[have_no_mercy]

Alice makes only a soft gurgling sound and then yawns, barely regaining consciousness at all. Her mother watches the scene carefully.

"See? Just like riding a bike."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He doesn't answer her right away, eyes remaining fixed on Alice. But eventually, he sets her back down and returns his gaze to Tess.

"It's not something I have the luxury of forgetting."

[have_no_mercy]

"I know," Tess replies softly.

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

Zod wanders back to his chair and sits down, falling silent for a few seconds. Then, "I suppose I shouldn't be keeping you from resting."

[have_no_mercy]

"No, I suppose not," she agrees dully. "Thank you for coming."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he murmurs, rising to his feet and making his way back toward the door. "I hope you feel better soon."

[have_no_mercy]

"You know me," she replies with forced positivism. "I always bounce back."

[kneel-majorzod.livejournal.com]

He glances back over his shoulder at her with a small smile and nods. "I have no doubt."

And then he's gone. Not just out the door gone. Really, really fast Kryptonian gone.