* Flashback*
- January 17th, 2011
" Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part
Baby of mine
Little one, when you play
Don't you mind what they say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear
Baby of mine
From your head to your toes (Baby mine)
You're so sweet, goodness knows (Baby mine)
You are so precious to me
Cute as can be
Baby of mine
Baby mine
Baby mine"
Laura Cassidy gently caressed her swollen belly as she rocked back and forth in the wooden rocker Neal had surprised her with.
The blanket cushioning her, softly thudding in rhythm with the song.
Her husband had been so wonderful from the moment Laura informed him that he was going to be a Daddy:
Surprised, excited and very attentive!
Everything her parents weren't when she told them. Their exact words were "Great, now we'll never be rid of him…"
Things hadn't improved much since that morning after the Wedding.
Ramona and Patrick (aka) the In-Laws hated their daughter's husband with a passion.
Even going as far as inviting Laura's ex-boyfriends/suitors to the Congratulatory Dinner held in "honor" of the newlyweds. In hopes that she would realize what a mistake she made by marrying beneath her station in society.
As you can imagine, things didn't turn out the way they'd hoped.
Neal and Laura immediately got out of there and the only contact between parents and their adult child was last month's phone call:
Wishing them "Happy Holidays!" and they were going to be grandparents.
Thankfully the abrupt evacuation from their house, back to Chicago. Followed by no 6-month contact, at least… toned down her parents' objections. So, they were playing civil…for now…
Suddenly a rush of pain in her abdomen brought the expectant mother out of her thoughts "OW!"
_
Late that afternoon Laura was released from the hospital.
She was in tears as she managed to walk into her husband's work at Starbucks. Once Neal caught sight of his wife and how distraught she looked. He called out to his supervisor
"Matt! I need to take five!"
Barely hearing his boss's confirmation as he ushered Laura into the back-storage room. "What is it Honey? What did the doctor say?"
Neal had sadly been unable to stay at the hospital especially when Ramona showed up. If his mother in law had said something on top of what was discovered. No wonder Laura was in a tizzy.
"The-the doctor said she…our daughter had a massive stroke and there's been some permanent damage. They don't know the full extent but it is clear she's going to have trouble with her speech. Of course, when mother found out, she hit the roof. She literally grabbed my arm towed me into the hallway. She's trying to convince me to have an abortion."
"WHAT?!"
"-She said, it's not fair to the baby to condemn it to "this" kind of life and we DO have a family image to maintain. What will people think if they found out we have a retarded grandchild after generations of healthy strong babies? It would be a stain on our family's good name"
Laura broke down, crying in her husband's chest as he wrapped his arms protectively around her shaking form.
"Shh! It may not seem like it now, but it's going to be alright…"
"-You don't KNOW that Neal!" she sobbed.
"Hey, hey…look at me" He gently lifted her chin up, so her eyes met his.
"Do you remember I told you that day I asked you to marry me?- I said this life would not be easy but it COULD be WORTH it.
Now: Ramona & Patrick Michaels didn't create this baby, WE DID. (You and I) it's OUR decision, I will love, cherish, protect and provide for any child of mine. Whether it's healthy or not. So, what it really comes down to is: What do YOU WANT?" …
It was silent for several as Laura collected herself, sniffling before answering in a shaky voice.
" I want her,"
Neal smiled as he engulfed his wife, "Then that's what we'll do…
Now that we know she's a SHE, what should we call her?" Laura's eyes widened in thought as she leaned in and whispered into her husband's ear. Neal took a step back,
"You really want to name our daughter after a TV show character?"
"-Please, it's my favorite. Just promise me you'll think about it?"
"Okay,… Oh! This is for her," He said, reaching behind and presenting his wife with a medium sized gift bag.
"Neal! What did you get THIS time?" she squealed with excitement. "That rocking chair for Christmas was already pretty extravagant,"
"Well I didn't BUY this one,"
She raised an eyebrow and quickly tore through the tissue paper to have the tips of her fingers meet an extremely soft knitted fabric tinted in a pretty shade of bluish-violet. "Neal!"
"-Every baby deserves a blanket,"
"-You made this?"
"I spent the first fourteen years of my life living with my father on a small sheep farm where we spun and sold their wool at market. My- Father was very talented and he taught me a few things. My skills are a bit rusty but once you told me about the baby. I guess, I just wanted him or her to have something special. I was going to wait for the baby shower but you looked like you needed it now…"
"-Oh Neal, it's beau-"
"GUN!" Somebody hollered from out in the front. "-SOMEBODY HELP! HE's GOT A GUN!" and shots were fired.
The couple immediately rushed to see what was going on.
Just as they rounded the corner they saw a young college kid in his early twenties holding the cashier at gun point as she hurriedly emptied out the cash while the other employees and customers were on the ground.
"Faster! Hurry up!" the boy shouted as he ripped the money out of her hands and began backing away from the counter. Suddenly sirens flared.
"This is the Chicago P.D!
Put the gun down and no one gets hurt!I repeat, PUT THE GUN DOWN!"
The kid looked around frantically, wide eyed and scared " No, No I can't go back there! He'll kill me!" And without warning started shooting off bullets right and left.
"- Get Down!" Neal tried to shield Laura but it was too late. She took a shot to the chest. "Noooo!" He screamed at the top of his lungs as he tackled her shooter…..
_
Neal spent his time furiously pacing back and forth in the waiting room. Counting down the minutes until he learned of his wife and child's fate.
He had barely managed to hold that kid to the ground 'til the cops entered the building. Laura had been taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Unconscious yet still alive when they'd arrived.
He hoped he'd be leaving with both of his girls living and breathing.
Oh yeah! Not long after they came the doctors had him sign a form for an emergency C- section to save the baby.
As soon as he'd heard what happened J.J had practically sprinted across town to offer any support he could but Neal's mind was elsewhere and barely took notice of his friend.
Finally someone came out, "Mr. Cassidy?"
"Here," he said rushing over to meet the doc. "I'm so sorry Mr. Cassidy, your wife Laura … She didn't make it. Between her wounds and the child… it proved to be too much."
Neal squeezed his eyes shut in sadness before opening them again, "And my daughter…?"
* End of Flashback*
"Swan why can't you just tell me?" asked the former sea captain.
As he trailed after Emma into this brightly lit hospital with all kinds of Children memorabilia on the walls. From Sea Creatures to cut outs of safari animals.
"Because somethings are better explained once you see them for yourself" She answered as she hustled over to the receptionist behind the large desk.
"Can I help you?" asked the lady in the chair.
"Yes, I'm Emma Swan. You guys called me down here for Miss Lorelai Rae Cassidy,"
Hook's eyes widened.
"Yes Ms. Swan," the receptionist gave a polite smile "If you'll just sign in here on the clip board and fill out the information."
Can I help you sir?" she asked taking notice of Hook.
"I'm with her lass," he said,
"-Alrighty then, just fill out your name after Miss Swan. Then we'll take your picture and give you your visitors pass and you're all set"
Killian was a bit confused at when they took his photo but lighten up immensely at the result. "Still devilishly handsome looking eh love? Now what do we do with this?"
"You clip your name tag on your clothing where everyone can see it?" Said Emma, demonstrating with her red jacket.
Hook copied as he followed her down the hallway into the "Blue Whale" wing of the hospital.
After a moment or two they finally found the right door.
"Rory!" She sang as a nurse in the room turned a small wheel chaired toddler around from the TV.
Seeing the new people, the adorable little girl's eyes lit up and began to smile, clapping her good left hand over her semi-crunched up right side of her body.
"Rory," the nurse lightly scolded "Don't hit yourself, remember to use your words."
The little girl reached out with her index finger tapping the small computer screen attached to the left side of her chair and the robotic voice answered:
"Welcome Friends,"
Killian laughed and came closer "Hello to you too lass," Gazing fondly at the girl for a while, then he locked eyes Emma.
"By Gods! Swan, she looks exactly like her father…"