1 - Responsibility

The nurse brought in the newborn baby boy. The raven-black haired, fair skinned mother received the baby with gentle arms. She couldn't help but smile. He was the image of perfection no matter what anybody else may say. He had his mother's deep brown eyes, but he looked mostly like his father because of his silver-blonde hair.

"Have you chosen a name for your son, Ms. Chang?"

Cho glanced away from her angel's face for a split second and then back again, "We'll decide soon, but for now can you leave us alone with the child?"

"Sure," the tired nurse retired to her station.

Cho couldn't help but stare. Finally, the boy's father approached him. Unbelievable perfection.

"Can I… Can I touch him?" the fledgling father stammered.

Cho let out a giggle. "He's your son, so why not?"

The silver-blonde young man chuckled hesitantly. Cho gently lifted the small child towards his father.

"Wait," he hesitated. "You're making me hold him?"

"Yeah, I think he wants to meet his father."

Unsure of what to do, he held out his arms to form a cradle for the little ball of perfection to nestle in. Cho laid the baby in the given space. The father was mesmerized with his creation, his child.

"What should we name him, Thomas?" Cho asked.

Thomas let out a sigh, "I…I don't know."

Cho sighed as well. ""I was thinking Thomas Jr. But my mother says it is bad luck to have a Senior-Junior thing. Superstition says whatever happens to the father happens to the child. Like if you have a cough, so will he. So, I was hesitant about giving him that name."

Cho sensed trouble in Thomas' eyes, so she attempted to comfort him. "He has your hair. There's no doubt he's your son."

A single sweat drop fell from Thomas' forehead. He quickly gave Cho the child and stood up. He couldn't keep his fidgety fingers still.

"Thomas!" Cho exclaimed. "Be careful with the baby!"

The father of the baby headed for the door.

"Thomas?" Cho stood up and laid the baby on the bed. She quickly secured him with a pillow and walked towards Thomas. "Where are you going? What's going on?"

"I…I can't do this, Cho."

Cho gently took his hand and placed it close to her chest. "Name the baby? That's fine. It doesn't have to be a fancy Senior-Junior name. Just a name that come from your heart. My mom said –"

"No. Not that… this. This -being a father. I'm a father and I'm not ready." His eyes remained on the ground. He didn't want to look at her. He couldn't look at her. Not for a second.

Cho's heart sank and she let his hand drop. "What?"

"I'm not ready for the responsibility, the financial needs, and the idea of having to raise a wizard child when I have no experience." He reached for her.

She backed away. "Is that it? I thought you were passed that? I told you we can raise him as a muggle –a normal person, in your terms. If you want…" Cho's eyes began to tear up.

Thomas lifter her hand and looked into her deep chocolate eyes. God, the baby did have her beautiful eyes. Inside his heart ached, but he had to do what he had to do.

"Cho" her eyes locked with his. "I can't. I'm not ready. Just give me time or –"

She broke away from his hold and backed away from him. "Oh, and I'm ready? I am so ready to be a mother!"

"Cho!" he raised his voice.

"Yeah, I am so ready for a baby. I'm so ready even if we're not married. Even if I had nine months to think about it. And you had nine months to think about it, too! Don't give me that excuse, you coward!"

"Cho, no…" Thomas didn't know what to say. "It's not that. I thought about it. Hard and for a long time. I loved the idea of a family –the idea of finally starting. But that's it…just the idea. Now that he's here…what do I do?"

"Stay? Stay and man up to these responsibilities."

There was a silence.

Cho's face was drenched in tears when she sighed out "I see…"

"Like you said… We're not married. It would have been better if were, but –"

"It wasn't just my choice…so don't make me the culprit here."

"I know. I know. I just wished we did. I wish I did, but I didn't and now… we can't turn back."

"But you…you can turn away?"

His heart broke at the sight of Cho crying, but he couldn't do this. He wasn't a wizard. And even if she said she would raise him… 'normal' he knew there would be instances where… his not being a wizard would affect his child's life. What could he give this baby? He's only a waiter at a restaurant, making middle class wages. Enough to support a family, yes, but a wizarding family? What does that even mean? Wizard? Wands and broomsticks? What? It's too overwhelming. And…a family? A family? A baby? He just couldn't swallow it whole. Having a family was enough, but a wizard family? Two meals at one sitting…all of it is just too much.

Cho wiped her tears. "Please, Thomas…"

"I'm sorry."

"How long will you be?"

"I just… I don't' know."

Cho wrapped her arms around his waist behind him. "Will you come back?"

"I don't know…"

"This is so unfair."

Thomas pulled away from her arms and sighed. He then walked out of the room. Cho fell to the ground –shattered.

The newborn baby must have sense the sadness in the room because he began crying. Cho's motherly instincts told her to run to him and console her baby. The baby's face was red from want. Want of motherly attention.

"It's okay, baby. It's alright." She hushed the baby. Then she reassured herself, "We'll be okay."

After-note:Okies….so? Thoughts, comments, replies? Review please! I need advice on this piece. I know it's been a while, but I'm back…with CC/DM! Or maybe Thomas will come back… who knows. =P