Welcome To The World

Renee's POV

I sat in that hospital room, sweaty, tired, and happier that I have ever been in my whole life. In my arms, bundled in a pink blanket was a ruddy-faced baby barely ten minutes old. She was a precious little thing—my precious little baby, my daughter.

"Hey Not Dad would you like to do the honors", a doctor asked producing a pair of scissors. I think his name was Dr. Hastings, Henry or Harry or something.

No, the man sitting next to me was not the father of my baby, but he had been there to support me since we met about a month-and-a-half ago at the library.

His name is Matt Camden. One time, he even got in trouble with his parents after he spent the night at my apartment in order to take care of me. I don't know if I will ever be able to thank Matt for all of his support, and once they got over the initial shock Reverend and Mrs. Camden were also very helpful.

This little one picked a particularly interesting time to come into the world. Matt's grandmother's funeral service was just that morning and I had come to pay my respects and sing a song or two. (It was the least I could do for such a sweet lady as Mrs. Camden.) Anyway, I was at the wake when my water broke. I laughed a little at the irony of the day.

"What", Matt asked from next to me.

"Nothing", I faltered, covering my mouth. "Come on tell me", Matt pressed.

"I was thinking how ironic it is that she was born today; that something so miraculous could on the day of your grandmother's funeral. Birth in the face of death."

Matt considered. "Yeah." he agreed looking down at the baby in my arms, her tiny fingers reaching out for contact. "Hey, she still needs a name."

"Any suggestions?" I asked.

"How but Renee? She has your curly brown hair."

"I think I know", I smiled. "From what I heard in the eulogy today, your Grandma Jackson was pretty incredible."

Matt's face became blank and dreamy. "You have no idea", he said quietly.

"I think she deserves a namesake."

He turned to me, dumbfounded. "Renee, what are you saying?" I grinned.

"Matt would you like to hold Baby Jenny?" I asked, carefully handing him my daughter.

Matt gasped blinking rather rapidly as he cradled the child and I looked away assuming he didn't want me to see the tear that was fighting its way out. Aw!

"You're naming her Jenny", he asked smiling, as Baby Jenny looked with at him with big hazel doe eyes.

"Yep", I replied. "Jennifer Annie Nicholson-Schmidt" In the middle of Matt's numerous thank-yous the intercom in my room buzzed: Renee, are you and the baby ready for a visitor?

"Sure", I called. "Send him in." It was better to get this over with, even if I wasn't with him, he deserved to see his daughter.

A muscular eighteen-year-old with oil-black hair came. "Hey babe", Lou Schmidt said hugging me. "Sorry I could be here in time, the train back here was late."

I shrugged off his lame excuse deciding he wasn't going to ruin my day. "Lou, would like to hold you daughter, Jennifer?" I inquired, being polite strictly for the baby's sake.

"Thanks Camden", Lou said as Matt handed her over. "Hi Jennifer, I'm your daddy", he crooned. "Welcome to the world, sweetheart."

I was taken aback by how quickly Lou had acquired a paternal tone. It was almost little Jenny did something none of us expected, cooing in Matt's direction; she reached for him puffing for air.

"What wrong with her", said Lou franticly.

"Dust", Matt answered in the calmed tone of a practiced older sibling. Lou shot him a slightly resentful glance, but he face softened into a smile when Jenny let out a dainty sneeze.

"God bless you", I laughed, turning to Matt. "Can you leave us alone a second?"

Matt's POV

I saw that look Lou continued to give me as I exited the room, somewhere between hurt and resentment. Well it wasn't my fault Baby Jenny had reached for me, I had been there when she was born, and from a psychological standpoint it would make sense for a newborn to think that the first male to hold her was her father. On the other hand even the doctors thought I was Jenny's father at first, and just knowing he had missed his daughter's birth must suck for Lou. Yes I decided I would try to empathize with the slimeball.

Lou's POV

I had my Jenny tightly, as Renee told me her plan as if someone was two seconds away from snatching my daughter.

"I can't believe you want to do this", I cried looking at her in shock. "No baby, not him!"

"Yes, Lou him!" Renee replied aggressively, reaching over to take Jenny back from me. "And don't call me baby! We were over a long time ago." I watched as Jenny snuggled up to her mother in contentment, as if choosing a side. My own daughter was against me.

"Fine!" I huffed in resignation.

Renee's POV

`I took a deep breath as Matt reentered the room. When I opened my mouth, the words just tumbled out.

"Matt, Lou and I would be honored if you would be Jenny's godfather."

Note: There's chapter one. I just felt like the character of Renee had more to her story than a couple guest scenes in Season 1. Please, please review and tell me whether you like the story