473 Baby

~ SASHA ~

Sasha's heart expanded until she thought it might fill the room. Completely forgetting the gun at her temple, or anything else, Sasha made a small cry and rushed forward, leaning over the lowered side of the crib to reach in and scoop him up. She'd only held babies a few times in her life, but she knew enough to support his head and lift him to the crook of her arm.

"Baby, my sweet boy," she breathed.

The smell of him was what she noticed first. Like milk and freshly bathed skin.

He was a lot bigger than the doll had been, an armful for Sasha. When she lifted him, his eyelids fluttered, and his little eyes opened, squinting, and he made a tiny, indignant squawk.

"Oh, baby, my sweet baby," Sasha crooned, and the moment she spoke, his eyes opened wide and he stared at her.

Really stared at her.