The day came when Ron and Dream's child was born.
Dream lay on the hospital bed, exhausted but smiling, while Ron stood beside her, holding her hand tightly.
"You did great," Ron said softly.
Dream smiled back. "How do you feel now that our child is born… and she's a girl?" she asked weakly.
Ron let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "I always wanted a daughter. I feel like the luckiest man alive," he said proudly.
Dream smiled again. "That's good to hear, Mr. Luckiest Man Alive."
"I'll take care of both of you. I'll protect you. I'll be—" Ron began, his voice trembling.
Dream gently interrupted him. "Yes. You will always be there for us," she said quietly, smiling.
Ron nodded. "Yes. I will."
At that moment, the door opened.
A nurse entered, holding their daughter.
She handed the baby to Ron.
Ron looked down—and froze.
White hair.
Crimson eyes.
For a second, the world disappeared.
Then Ron grinned like an idiot.
Carefully, he handed the child to Dream.
"She has white hair," Dream whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "And… she has your eyes."
Ron smiled. "What should we name her?"
Dream looked at their daughter, then at Ron. "Ines."
Ron nodded. "Perfect. Just like her."
Dream cradled the baby gently. "So, Ines… this smiling man is your papa," she said softly. "And I'm your mama."
In that moment, Ron and Dream felt something they had never felt before.
Later, Ron sat on the couch holding baby Ines. Ron was asleep and so was Ines.
Dream watched them both with a smile and her eyes were watery.
Ines woke up and began to cry, startling Ron.
"What?" Ron said.
Then he noticed Ines' face, scrunched up in tears.
"Oh no… she's crying? She's crying, Dream," he said, looking at her in panic.
Dream smiled—still weak, but calm. "Ron… she's a baby."
"I know, but why is she crying?" Ron asked.
"Did I hold her wrong? Or did I do something else?"
Dream tried not to laugh.
"Dream, tell me what to do," Ron said, panicking.
He looked down at Ines' crying face.
"Hey, hey. It's okay, Ines. Papa is here," Ron said with a gentle smile.
Ines' crying slowed.
"It's okay. I'm here with you."
The crying stopped.
Ron smiled proudly. "She stopped."
He let out a laugh—half relieved, half terrified.
"I thought something happened to her," Ron said.
After a few knocks, the door opened.
The nurse entered to check on Ines.
"Doctor, she was crying," Ron said quickly.
"So?" the nurse replied.
"I thought something happened to her."
"Sir," the nurse said calmly, "babies cry."
Ron was dumbfounded.
Dream turned her head, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Now, sir, please hand Ines to me. I need to check her vitals," the nurse said.
"Okay. Please be careful," Ron replied.
The nurse took Ines, and the door closed behind her.
Dream burst into laughter.
"What?" Ron asked, embarrassed.
"Nothing," Dream said between laughs. "Nothing at all."
"I'm going to tell Ines about this when she grows up," she added.
"You should've told me that babies cry," Ron said, sitting down on the couch as Dream continued laughing.
Soon, the nurse returned with Ines.
Ron stood up immediately. "How is she?"
"She's healthy—very healthy. I've never seen a baby like this," the nurse said.
Ron smiled. "Oh."
He gently took Ines into his arms.
"Ines, you're healthy. Papa is proud of you," Ron said softly.
He lifted his gaze to Dream, who was watching him and Ines with a warm smile.
"I wish this could never end," Ron thought.
Then he shook his head. I should focus on the present moment.
"Ron? Is everything okay?" Dream asked.
Ron smiled. "Everything is perfect."
Dream smiled back.
There was another knock, and the door opened. The nurse stepped in.
"Miss, you can be discharged anytime you want. You're doing better than any woman I've ever seen," she said.
Ron and Dream exchanged glances.