WHO: Eli Salazar, with NPC!Grant Nichols WHEN: Late evening of December 16 WHERE: Dunhaven General Hospital SUMMARY: Eli's step-father comes to see the new baby, much to his step-son's surprise. WARNINGS: Mentions of difficult parent relationship BINGO PROMPT: Doting Grandparent
Ten months had passed since the last time Eli had stood in the maternity ward of Dunhaven General, looking through the glass of the nursery at the handful of slumbering -- and not, in some cases -- newborns. Back then, he had been coming from Emilia's hospital room, giving his friend some space and privacy as she rested from giving birth to Hope only hours before. This time, though, he had been coming from Caty's room, on a mission of coffee for himself, but also to give his girlfriend some quiet to rest on her own.
He hadn't made it to the coffee, though. He didn't know if anyone expected him to, not when his daughter was one of those sleeping babies.
Eli was so close to the window that he was nearly pressing his face to it, looking through the glass at the perfect little bundle that he had somehow played a part in creating. The tears had come the moment he'd heard her first cries, then only multiplied when he saw her, then held her close to his chest. Ten fingers, ten toes, and the dark hair that she could have inherited from either of her parents, she was utterly beautiful and perfect in every way. And while Eli would have been content to keep her near, the doctor had insisted that everyone needed their rest -- and now he was standing at that window.
Raising one of his hands, Eli let his fingers press to the glass. He could remember the birth of another daughter, the memories feeling as real and fresh as the ones he had just lived. Though the events were very different, there was no denying that the all-consuming love that Tony had felt for Morgan from even before Pepper had told him that she was pregnant was the very same he felt for the beautiful baby girl he was staring at. For as much as Eli had struggled with those final memories that he'd been given of Tony's life, the years of fatherhood that had come with them were ones he would cherish.
And now he was being given another chance at fatherhood, to make new memories with his daughter. Eli's heart swelled at the thought.
Though his attention was so focused, Eli felt the presence behind him. He also saw the man, through the reflection in the glass. Before he had a chance to turn, Grant Nichols stepped forward, coming to a stop next to his step-son. Eli didn't have to wonder how Grant had found out that the baby had been born; after some hesitation that morning, he had decided to let him know that she was on the way. It seemed only right. No matter what his relationship with Grant might have looked like, the man had technically become a grandfather and Eli wouldn't leave it to one of his siblings to deliver that news.
Eli shifted his hand, pressing gently on the glass to point. "She's right there."
Grant was quiet next to him. Out of the side of his eye, Eli could see that the other man had brought flowers and it occurred to him that while he had met Caty's parents, she had yet to meet Grant. Given how the two seemed unable to exist in the same space for long before erupting into some sort of argument, it wasn't a shocking realization to consider. The fact that the man had come down from Boston, though, was. Eli had to assume that he had come with Luca, but it was still surprising to consider that he had come. He felt a knot in his chest slowly start to unravel at the thought.
"She's beautiful, Eli." His step-father's voice was quiet, but Eli didn't miss the emotion there. Normally the words they exchanged were clipped, if they exchanged words at all. "What's her name?"
"Joy." Eli looked away from her for the first time since he'd taken up his station, instead peering over to Grant. "Vanessa Joy."
Eli saw the change in Grant's expression immediately, the other man closing his eyes for just the briefest of moments before releasing a breath. When he opened them, he looked at his step-son. It had been a long time since Eli had seen anything other than what he thought was indifference or irritation when Grant let his gaze fall on him. Now, he saw none of that. If he wasn't mistaken, he thought that there might have been a bit of pride there, mixed in with the other emotions that the name brought.
Grant lifted one of his hands, hesitating just a moment before letting it fall on Eli's shoulder. "That's -- that's beautiful, too." Looking past his step-son, he kept his eyes on the sleeping baby as he added, "She would be very proud of you, Eli."
They weren't words that would fix everything, of course. Eli had lived twenty-seven years with Grant as his step-father. He had spent many of those years seeking his approval, then the rest of them trying to convince himself that he didn't want or need it anyway. He wasn't faultless, either, having said plenty of things that he now thought back on and regretted. Their relationship had always been strained and a few words wouldn't fix that.
But, Eli thought as he looked from Grant and over to Joy, maybe, just maybe, they could be the start of something new. His daughter, named for the woman that raised him and born on one of the darkest days in his life, could be the sign of new, good things to come. She was a new beginning, just as Morgan had been one for Tony when he had needed one most. They were pure goodness and both men would be happy to embrace it.