Lydia leaned back against the pillows, anxious to see her daughter and a yet a little too tired to even think about sitting up and reaching for her. She sent Samuel a pleased smile, his words a relief. His relief was palpable even without touching him, mingling with hers, but for the moment she was glad he'd withdrawn just a little. She did feel raw, exposed, inside and out.

The feeling didn't go away when Sarah brought the infant to her, laying her in her arms, so Lydia could look at her the first time. She shivered, holding back the gasp at the flood of...confusion almost, and exhaustion. She supposed, then, that if giving birth was hard, being born had to be pretty damn traumatizing, and she snuggled her daughter close.

"It's okay," she murmured. "You're here, and safe, and your Daddy and I are not going to let anything hurt to you..."