~*~
"I just cant help believing
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
When my fingers fold around it like a glove
...
This time the girl is going to stay
This time the girl is going to stay
For more than just a day "
-'I Just Can't Help Believing,' Elvis Presley
~*~
Two nights after the desperate call to Jackie, Robbie sat in the armchair holding Sophia who had drifted off to sleep during a feed.
She looked so peaceful and so small, with one tiny hand curled around his finger, that he just couldn't put her in her cradle. He wanted to enjoy the quiet moment with his daughter.
His baby daughter.
There were times when he couldn't get his head around the concept: he had a daughter, a tiny little daughter who was completely dependent on him. There were times when he didn't feel like he could take the responsibility and then there were moments like these, where he would look down at her little face and promise himself that nothing was ever going to harm her.
Not his little girl.
He shook his head as he thought of Isla who had disappeared almost as soon as both mother and baby had been discharged from the hospital.
She hadn't even wanted any form of contact with her child – no photos, nothing.
He supposed it was just another failed relationship to add to the list, but he would never be able to understand how easily she could give up Sophia.
Such a perfect little doll-like thing, so small and helpless in his arms – how could she just walk away from her?
Unconsciously Robbie pulled her closer into his chest; he would give her all the love he could to make up for her mother abandoning her.
This time the girl was going to stay…and so was he.