Chapter 7- To Wish Impossible Things
"I'm sorry," Fern started. "You think you might be Lux's birth parents?"
Cate looked between Lux, Baze and Fern. "Lux's birthday is April 18, 1994. I- we had a daughter on April 18, 1994. County General Hospital, the same place Lux was born. And we gave her up for adoption. Just like Lux was. Plus she has his eyes." Cate pointed at Baze. "And the necklace! Lux has a necklace that her birth parents gave her, and we gave that exact same necklace to our baby."
Fern held up her hand to cut Cate off before she could ramble any further. Cate instinctively reached over and gripped Baze's hand as Fern began to speak. "Cate, it's perfectly understandable for a person, especially a woman, who has given their child up for adoption, to be overcome with guilt. I think this is what is happening with you and Lux. You've compiled a few coincidences and turn them into something more. But I'm afraid you're becoming too attached to Lux this fast."
Cate's eyes filled with tears and she looked longingly at Lux before looking back at Fern. "She's my daughter. I know she is. And it's not just because there are a few coincidences. I can feel it." She gripped her hand to her chest for emphasis. "Please... just let us do the DNA test."
Fern sighed. "Cate, what happens if we do the test, and the results prove that you, and Nathaniel, aren't Lux's biological parents?" Her question was more rhetorical leading Cate and Baze to stay silent as Fern continued. "Whether you want to believe it or not, your relationship with Lux would change as a result. Considering what you've come to talk to me about today, I'm afraid I believe it's in Lux's best interest to find her another home."
Lux looked up, sensing something was wrong. She grabbed her teddy she had brought with her and walked over to stand between Cate and Baze, before climbing onto Cate's lap and cuddling into her.
Cate smiled at her through tears, placing a kiss to the top of her head before resting her cheek there.
"Please." Baze spoke up. "If you're going to move her anyway, what harm would it do?"
Fern thought about it for a few seconds, looking between the three. Finally, she sighed. "The state won't pay for the test, but if you get the money, I'll make sure it gets approved."
Cate's face lit up, as did Baze's, and she nodded furiously. "We'll get the money."
Fern smiled despite her reservations regarding the idea. "Okay. Bring Lux to the hospital this afternoon. I'll organize for a court order and a doctor to do the test."
"Thank you." Cate smiled through tears, kissing Lux's head and squeezing Baze's hand.
"But Cate, if the test comes back negative, proving that you are not Lux's biological mother, I will have to find her another foster placement."
Cate nodded slowly, looking down at Lux. On one hand, she was risking losing her, but on the other, she was risking gaining so much more. "She's my daughter."
"Okay." Fern sighed. "I'll see the three of you in a few hours."
Cate stood up with Lux and hugged Fern thank you, before exiting the office. Baze shook Fern's hand and followed but stopped at the door and looked back in. "What made you change your mind?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Fern thought for a few seconds before replying. "A mother usually knows there child."
Cate, Baze and Lux headed to the hospital the second they had finished lunch. Baze led them through the entrance, and Lux gripped tightly to Cate, suddenly silent.
Cate rubbed her back comfortingly as she walked. She knew it was because Lux was scared, and to tell the truth, Cate felt the same. The only times Cate had been to the hospital before were her daughter's birth, and to pick up Lux. Besides that, she avoided it at all costs.
They met up with Fern at admin, and she introduced them to the doctor who would do the test, leading them into an exam room.
"We're doing the right thing, right?" Cate spoke both to herself and to Baze.
Baze didn't answer, instead choosing to place a hand on Cate's shoulder.
"Okay." The doctor announced as he and a nurse came back into the room. He put on a pair of gloves and smiled as he held out a cotton bud. "Open up."
He took Baze's sample first, followed by Cate's. When it came Lux's turn, the little girl gripped Cate's top tightly and closed her eyes, hesitant to open her mouth.
Cate smiled at her, rubbing her back comfortingly. Finally, Lux opened up and the doctor took a swipe. "That wasn't too bad now, was it?" He smiled at Lux.
Lux shook her head no and shyly hid in Cate's jacket. The doctor smiled at her as the nurse exited the room with the swabs. "We should have the results in some time this afternoon, if the lab isn't too busy, and I'll call Ms. Walters to inform her."
Cate nodded, standing up and placing Lux on the ground beside her, taking her hand. Baze took her other hand and shook the doctor's. "Thank you."
The doctor nodded, exiting the room. Cate, Baze and Lux followed, walking slowly down the hallway.
"Well, Lux, what do you say we go get some ice cream and go to the park?" Baze questioned.
Lux nodded enthusiastically, making both adults laugh. As they had done the other day, the three headed to the same ice cream parlor before heading to the same park.
Lux ran onto the playground and Cate and Baze took a seat where they could watch her, both enjoying the silence. "So, how have you been?" Cate broke the silence first. "I'm sorry we didn't really get a chance to talk earlier."
"No, that's okay. I've been good, you know. School's been insane."
"Oh, yeah? What are you studying?" It felt weird asking about school when they were watching a child that could be there daughter.
"Business. Accounting to be exact."
Cate laughed. "So your dad finally got to you, huh?"
"Well what about you, hot shot? This is Morning Madness with Cate and Ryan." He mocked and she hit him playfully.
"Hey! Not fair!" She laughed. "But it's a good job. I like it. And Ryan is great."
"Ryan, huh? Boyfriend?"
Cate rolled her eyes. "Not even close. We're just friends. What about you? Do you have someone special in the picture?" Baze laughed in response. "Well I guess we're both just sad, single people then." Cate laughed too.
A comfortable silence overcame them again, and they sat watching Lux play, before Baze spoke up seriously. "I believe you, you know? About Lux. I know she's our girl too."
Cate smiled. "I like that. Our girl." She finally whispered.
"Me too." Baze smiled.
Cate moved leant over, resting her head on his shoulder as Baze wrapped an arm around Cate. They sat in silence until Cate's phone rang and she sat up abruptly. "Can you get Lux?" She whispered to Baze before answering. "Hello?"
"Cate?" Cate recognized Fern's voice instantly.
"Fern, hi."
Cate could practically hear Fern smiling on the other end. "I guess you were right. DNA tests prove that Lux is your, and Nathaniel Bazile's, biologically daughter."
Baze walked over to the playground, spotting Lux instantly. "Lux? Time to go, kiddo." She giggled when she saw him watching her and ran into the jungle gym, hiding.
Baze smirked, following her playfully. Lux squealed when he spotted her, and Baze laughed, picking her up easily and throwing her over his shoulder as she continued to giggle.
They walked back over to Cate who was now standing, tears streaming down her cheeks but a happy smiled plastered on her face. "Thank you, Fern. Thank you so much!"
Lux wiggled out of Baze's arms and he placed her on the ground. Cate hung up and Lux immediately ran into her arms. Cate picked her up, hugging her tightly as Baze came over. "She's ours." Cate smiled to Baze.
Baze's face broke into a smile and he stepped closer. "Are you serious?"
Cate grinned through tears, kissing Lux's head. "Your ours."
Lux looked confused but giggled as Baze wrapped his arms around Cate, squashing her in the middle.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update! So Lux is definitely Cate and Baze's! Yay! Next few chapters involve more Lux/Cate/Baze bonding, reinstating parental rights, and Cate and Baze's families find out! Please review :)
