Chapter Twenty Two : Hello, World!

"Is the car ready?" Miguel asked, slightly anxious. He was bringing home his wife, who had just given birth the day prior, and his newborn daughter. Everything had to be perfect.

"Yes, Sir," Arthur answered, "All of the baby bag are packed in the trunk. The extra pillows are placed to provide for Her Highness with the maximum amount of comfort, as you requested."

"Thank you," Miguel breathed a sigh of relief and turned to his wife who was sitting quietly on her hospital bed. She was glowing, completely in awe of their new baby.

He stepped forward to just listen to her coo...

"Mommy loves you, my sweet, precious, baby girl. Mommy loves you so much," Amalia cooed her daughter and bent her head down to breathe her in.

"Well I hope there's room for Daddy," Miguel spoke up and glided over to his family. He sat behind Amalia and rested his chin on her shoulder, looking down on the little life he had helped create.

"Room to kiss your daughter, or to be kissed all over by Mommy?" The new mother arched a suspecting eyebrow at her husband.

"With any luck, both." The new father nuzzled his wife's neck and reached a careful finger out to gently feel his newborn's soft, baby skin, "I love you, Antonia Kristen Sarah Diana. It's time to go home."

The couple paused for a moment to look at their daughter. Only one day old , and so soft and small.

"Royal Highnesses, are you ready?" The doctor came in with a nurse who was pushing a wheel chair for Amalia to sit in.

Amalia turned to Miguel and carefully put the baby in his arms and the doctor helped her into the chair.

Once Amalia was safe in the wheel chair, Miguel carefully handed Antonia back. He wanted to hold her too, but since Amalia had just given birth for both of them, he thought it better to give her the extra time.

-

The new parents relaxed in their car with baby Antonia relaxed in her mother's arms. They lied back on the pillows as their car drove them home to their palace.

Miguel continued staring as the car came to a stop in front of their multimillion dollar home. "Look, home sweet home." Miguel gestured to the window.

Amalia breathed a sigh of relief.

"Give me a kiss," Miguel requested, and Amalia pecked his lips, and then turned so Arthur could help her out of the car with the baby in tow. Miguel quickly got out of the limo and put his arm around Amalia for support as he walked his family inside their home.

-

Miguel was rocking Antonia quietly in the rocking chair that Catherine had given them. The baby was wrapped in the purple crocheted blanket that was also a gift from Catherine. He looked over his daughter, Amalia was convinced that the newborn looked just like him, but he wasn't so sure yet. When he looked down that the little life in his arms, all he saw was Amalia, her soft skin and loving heart.

They'd been home for about an hour now, Amalia nursed Antonia and then let Miguel hold her for a while. She knew she should rest, but wanted to open up all of her hospital gifts. It was almost like she had a second baby shower. She loved the new outfits and stuffed animals, they were precious.

Amalia didn't even realize how tired she was, but she practically passed out on the living room sofa. Miguel was still rocking Amalia when he noticed that Amalia was asleep on the couch. He smiled at the sight of her cuddling with Antonia's stuffed elephant. He was brought out of his thoughts by the buzz of his cell phone.

It was a text from Rose. Miguel replied to her text and then quickly turned his attention back to Antonia until he was interrupted with-

"It's about time," Rose huffed as she entered the living room from the back.

"Shhh!" Miguel said, "Do you want to wake her up? You know I want it to be a surprise." He whispered and motioned to Amalia.

"We've been here for hours. Were you planning on calling us?" Rose whispered.

"Where's Michael?" Miguel asked.

"I'm right here," Michael whispered his reply.

"Good," Miguel said standing with Antonia in his arms, "Now move all this stuff into the nursery, and be quiet so you don't wake Amalia, and I'll hold my baby." He smiled down at the baby in his arms.

"Oh no you don't, Miguel. You help Michael lug all this stuff back there and I'll hold the baby," Rose cut in.

"Why do you get to hold her and not me?" Michael argued with Rose.

"How about she's my daughter, so I'm holding her," Miguel argued.

Then the three of them got into a quarrel, all the while, trying to keep their voices at a whisper.

In the midst of their fight over who gets to hold Antonia, they heard Amalia stir in her sleep, and they all froze. Thankfully, Amalia just turned over and continued sleeping.

"Alright, Rose, you can hold Antonia, and Michael and I will move all of this stuff into the nursery as quickly as possible," Miguel said and reluctantly handed over his daughter to his sister's eager grasp. "Michael, let's hurry please."

"Wait, when do I get a turn?" Michael folded his arms and pouted.

"When we're finished, now grab the rocking chair!" Michael demanded.

-

Amalia awoke sometime later tucked into her bed, and she had no idea how she got there because the last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the couch. She looked around and Miguel wasn't there, but noticed the baby yellow bassinet by her bedside. She looked inside, but Antonia wasn't in it.

"Miguel?" Amalia called, slightly worried. He refused to leave her side, even to go to the bathroom, during the entire 12 hour birthing processes and was never far from her side after Antonia came into the world.

"Come back here, Amalia, I'm in Antonia's nursery." Miguel called back.

Amalia got up, even though her body protested a bit, and walked to the finished room that was designated for Antonia.

She stepped inside and was greeted with-

"Surprise!" Miguel, Rose, and Michael said in unison as she walked into the nursery. Miguel had Antonia in his arms.

She looked behind her and got another surprise. Catherine, William, and their three children were standing at the door, behind them were Sarah, Beatrice, Eugenie, Kitty, Louis, Robyn, Onika, Harry, Meghan, Kristen, Kendrick, Gabrielle, and Henrik. Amalia blocked out everyone at the door except Sarah, and ran straight into her arms.

After Amalia let go of Sarah, she turned around and rushed into Miguel's arms, "I love you," She said with tears in her eyes, and kissed soundly on the lips.

"Come on, everybody!" Rose shouted for everyone to enter the room, "This cart if only temporary, I needed it to fit all of our champagne flutes." Rose giggled.

Rose and Michael began to pass out glasses of champagne and cigars that had blue ribbon tied around them.

"Sparkling cider for our nursing new mommies and pregnant lady,"Rose giggled as she handed a glass to Catherine and Amalia.

"Thank you everyone for being here for us," Amalia started to say, but broke down in tears. Miguel handed his glass to Rose so he could put his arm around Amalia.

"Thank you, everyone," Miguel stated, "To Princess Antonia, the newest addition to our family. Raise your glasses. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone said in unison as they toasted Princess Antonia, the perfect addition to their family.