Chapter Text
Cover Art by @lovemoroporo!
Sweet Child O’ Mine
She's got a smile -- From Sweet Child O' Mine by GNR
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Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stare too long, I'd probably break down and cry
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“I just can’t stop looking at her.” Hunter whispered as he sat on the sofa in his cozy living room where his wife had been sleeping soundly.
It was their third, maybe fourth night home with their newborn daughter – who even knew anymore? Luz and Amity had warned both he and Willow that in those very first few weeks of parenthood days and nights would blend together in a big puddle of exhaustion.
Of course, years ago, during his time in the Emperor’s Coven, Hunter had felt a similar feeling. Back then he pushed on beyond the signals from his young body that he so desperately needed sleep and sustenance. But in those days, Hunter’s motivations had been ruled by fear.
Now, with his wife nestled beside him, and their child in his arms, the desire to push on without sleep came from love.
A few minutes earlier Willow had stirred from her sleep, stretching out like a vine over the sides of the couch and accidentally hitting Hunter in the back of the head, but he had just sat there, lovingly gazing at the swaddled baby as if he didn’t feel anything.
“I can take her for a bit so you can get some sleep.” Willow had offered, but Hunter just shook his head and planted a gentle kiss just above her brow.
“I’ve got her!” He insisted. “I’ve got you both!” Then he yawned.
Willow arched a sleepy eyebrow. “You know that we are partners in this right? You need some rest too.”
“Not as much as you!” Hunter exclaimed a little too loudly. The child stirred. He lowered his voice. “You grew a WHOLE baby! I just ..” he paused as a blush bloomed at the tips of his ears. “I just, you know, contributed.”
Willow laughed, “That’s one way of putting it I guess.” Lazily her eyes fluttered, even with all the potions and efforts of the healing coven, her body was still exhausted from the last nine months, plus labor.
Hunter smiled and kissed her forehead. He looked at his scroll where their friends had been messaging him and Willow for updates and pictures.
How were they supposed to keep up with all of this?
Either way, no pictures could do any justice to the in person beauty of Hunter’s family right in front of him. His heart fluttered, as the feeling of Flapjack's wings brushed softly within him filling his body with warmth.
He noticed a message from Gus that he had not yet answered.
“Hey, you still doing good?”
With one arm around the baby and the scroll in the other, Hunter answered.
“ All good. ”
Three dots immediately appeared on the screen.
“Dude. Are you seriously messaging me at 4 am?”
“You didn’t have to answer.” Hunter responded. “Anyway, why are you up?”
“Because I forgot to put my scroll on silent? And SOMEONE thought it would be a good idea to message me back at 4 am?” Gus answered.
Gus was likely studying for whatever degree he was going for now. He already had gotten a degree in Master Illusion Magic from St. Epiderm, a Masters in Human Culture and a Second Masters in Ruins of the Boiling Isles from the University of Latissa.
Gus and his friend Mattholomule were always competing about who could be the higher achiever. Apparently their competition didn’t end just because they were in their 20s.
“Hunter…” Gus typed again. “You good?”
Hunter blinked. Willow was sleeping again, snoring adorably. Her palisman Clover had fallen asleep on her chest and was buzzing softly. The child in Hunter’s arms stirred. She looked up at him with beautiful brown eyes and yawned.
Hunter offered her his pointer finger which she accepted and squeezed with a surprisingly powerful grip indicating that this was in fact Willow Park’s daughter.
Willow Noceda-Park.
Oh Titan this is my family. Our daughter! She is half Willow and half me!
Hunter’s heart swelled and he smiled.
“ I’m great, actually.” He answered.
And it was true. In spite of the exhaustion, Hunter felt wonderful.
His daughter fussed and he began to hum her a tune that he had learned in the human realm as Hunter’s mind briefly trailed back to just a few months prior when he was not feeling great, actually.
Artwork by @smallpapers