“You’re perfect,” he countered tenderly, kissing her once more before straightening up. “The nurse brought you in a tray, but I didn’t want to wake you. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to eat while Jolie was sleeping, or…”
“Is something wrong?”
“No,” he whispered emphatically before looking at her, shaking his head in disbelief. “I just can’t get over how insanely lucky I feel in this moment, knowing I have you in my world… and now we have her.”
“I love you too,” she smiled tenderly as the baby made a little mewling sound, the little pink lips working instinctively. “Someone is waking up…”
Jax brought her a tiny diaper, some wipes, a little bottle of formula, and burp cloth… before smiling at her sheepishly.
“I’m not sure what she needs – I just want to help.”
“Thisis perfect,” she said tenderly – and clasped his hand tightly.
“Youare perfect,” she breathed, looking at his beloved face, needing to share with him the rocketing emotions within her.
Words just failed to express what was in her heart – and she understood the struggle he seemed to have a few moments ago, feeling so strongly but not able to express it. The closest moments were when she was holding him, sharing herself, because there was no Mary or Jax – just their very souls reaching for each other.
“Sometimes I wish you could read my mind, or do some Vulcan mind-meld, so you understood just how insanely I love you,” she said openly, staring at his dark eyes. “Thisis perfect.Sheis perfect. We have a perfect life… but only because we have each other.”
“I know,” he choked out, sitting next to her and clinging to her hand that held his. “Every morning that I wake up and see you beside me – it feels like the first time. I joke about our dates being miracles and stuff like that – but that is only because what I feel is so indescribably intense for you.”
“It’s the same for me,” she whispered, feeling tears threaten. “You once promised to take me to paradise…”
“Name it,” he interrupted, his voice an impassioned whisper as he gazed at her with so much longing and emotion. “Anywhere you ever want to go, it’s yours - anything you ever need, just say it. Mary, I would give you absolutely anything for just letting me love you and share your life.”
“Paradise is right here,” she breathed, hoping he understood, pulling his hand to her lips and kissing the back of it. “Paradise is here, at your side, in your smile, and being able to hold your hand in mine, forever.”
“Forever, my love,” he whispered tenderly.
“… Oh,” she smiled tearfully, trying to lighten the mood between them as Jolie stirred in her arms again, arching her little back in a stretch, causing the two of them to look away from each other to her. “And I want another baby as soon as we get the okay to start trying again.”
Jax’s soft smile widened as he gazed at her.
“Anything you want, my love… forever.”