MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Damon held his daughter close, arms steady but soft, as if any shift might wake her or somehow disturb the moment.

The sounds in the room faded behind him, laughter, chatter, the rustling of people still crying and congratulating, but none of it reached him clearly.

He only looked at her.

Even with everything happening around them, his gaze didn't leave her face. Her tiny fingers were curled near her cheek.

Her breathing slow, gentle. Her nose was small, lips faintly parted, and her skin still soft and flushed from the birth.

A sudden flash made him blink.

He turned his head and saw his mother grinning, holding her phone, already lining up another photo.

Damon smiled, shaking his head lightly. She snapped another picture, clearly not planning to stop any time soon.

He looked back at his daughter.

Blue eyes. Just like his. Still unfocused, but open now, as if trying to see the world she had just entered.

He didn't want to hand her off.

He could already feel it, that protective pull in his chest.

The kind of feeling that made him think he'd do anything to make sure she never cried, never hurt, never went without.

He wasn't scared anymore.

He was just… full.

And the small weight of her resting against his chest felt like the most important thing he'd ever carried.

Damon looked at Svetlana who was watching them with a soft, tired smile.

Her head rested gently against the pillow, her hair damp from the effort, but her eyes were still focused.

She raised her voice just enough to be heard, her tone light but curious.

"What do you want to name her?"

The room went quiet. Damon froze slightly. He could feel every eye in the room shift toward him.

He glanced around, seeing the anticipation on their faces, but his eyes eventually returned to the small bundle resting in his arms.

For a second, he didn't know what to say. He hadn't thought that far ahead. Not seriously.

There were names he'd heard before. Names suggested when they were discussing it. Some sounded nice, others felt too grand.

If he had to be honest, there wasn't a name tied to anything special for him or one that was a sentimental anchor. Nothing that had been passed down or carried weight in memory.

But maybe that was okay.

He smiled faintly, still looking at the baby. 'Whatever name I give you… it'll matter because it's yours.'

So he breathed in and spoke.

"Aveline."

It came out smooth. And once it was said, it felt right.

Everyone smiled around him.

Svetlana looked at the little girl and softly echoed the shortened form. "Ava…"

The baby shifted gently in his arms, a small movement, but enough to make a few in the room let out a quiet laugh.

"She moved," Ashley whispered, nudging Joey.

Aoife smiled from beside Macey. "Maybe she liked it."

Damon chuckled under his breath, brushing his thumb over Ava's tiny hand again.

She was still calm. Breathing steady. Eyes closed again. But in that moment, she felt more present than anything else in the world.

He looked at Svetlana again.

She was watching both of them with her chin resting against her shoulder, the exhaustion visible in her posture, but none of it dimmed the way she looked at her daughter or at him.

The name didn't need a reason. It didn't need to be some important name in his life, but she mattered, and that meant whatever name they gave her would matter now.

Everyone stayed in the room for a while after the name was spoken. Aveline. Ava. The mood was warm. Soft smiles, quiet laughter, and a few more tears.

The nurse stepped in again, clipboard in hand. She checked the monitor beside Svetlana, then gave a quick glance at Ava in Damon's arms.

"We'll need to take her in a few minutes to run the routine newborn checks," she said gently, not interrupting too much. "Just for a little while. She'll be right back after."

Svetlana nodded tiredly. Damon didn't speak, just held Ava a moment longer before leaning in and pressing his lips softly to her forehead. Then he handed her over carefully.

The nurse left with Ava in her arms.

Another nurse stepped in to check on Svetlana, her pulse, her temperature, and just to make sure everything was okay. She asked how she was feeling. Svetlana responded with a quiet, "Tired, but good."

The family lingered for a bit, then slowly began stepping out one by one to give the new parents some space. Victor squeezed Damon's shoulder on the way out.

Ashley and Joey were last to leave, giving a quiet goodbye. The door clicked shut behind them.

The room was quiet now, just the two of them.

Damon sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand. Svetlana leaned back slowly on the pillows, her eyes still on the door where Ava had been taken.

"You did amazing," Damon said again.

Svetlana gave a soft, tired smile. "You're not getting tired of saying that?"

"Nope."

She squeezed his hand. "Think she's okay?"

"She's fine," Damon said, more for her than himself. "They said it's normal."

They sat together for a few minutes. No rush. Just waiting.

Eventually, the door opened again. The nurse walked back in, Ava bundled up and quiet.

"All done," she said with a smile. "Everything looks great."

Damon stood and took her back in his arms but soon past her off to Svetlana's hands gently. Ava stirred a little but didn't cry.

"She's perfect," he said.

And just like that, it felt complete.

Damon smiled as he looked down at her.

"You're going to be a great dad," Svetlana said, her voice low and warm.

He chuckled, brushing a bit of hair off her forehead. "Yeah? You sure?"

She didn't answer with words, just shifted her arms slightly and cradled Ava tighter.

Damon leaned in and kissed her temple.

Svetlana looked down at their daughter. Her eyes lingered, soft but tired.

"I love you," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

Damon looked at her, then at Ava. He didn't ask who it was for.

Maybe both. Maybe all three of them.

He just smiled. "I love you too."