Happy New Year! I hope that you all are doing well! Thank you for all the continuing reviews. Here is the next chapter. ENJOY!
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing.
Celebrity Daughter
Chapter 11
Pictures from the wedding dominate the covers of the celebrity rags over the next couple of weeks. The articles rave about the ceremony, and say it was the "event of the year." Finn and I don't take any notice, though. We instead bask in the glow of newlywed bliss. We sneakily make our way to District 4 and manage to get on Finn's boat. He sails a few hundred miles off shore and we just enjoy the peace and quiet of being together there for a few days. No one finds us or even comes near our boat as we alternate relaxing on the deck and staying in the bed.
When we come back home, we get into the routine of normal married life. Continuing to work out the logistics of combining our lives makes for some interesting evenings. One debate over where to place his Finn's favorite chair lasts for hours. Luckily after arguing and making up, we end up laughing together over the whole ridiculous issue. Finn overall, though, is an amazing husband.
Eventually, I go back to work, where Delly has left me three new cases to start working on, and Finn is starting preproduction on a small independent film. I am so excited for him as each job he is getting is becoming bigger and bigger. He is making a name for himself, and not just based on the fact that his father is Finnick Odair. I can quickly tell, though, that this job is the largest one he has had yet, because he comes I am so excited for him as each job he is getting is becoming bigger and bigger. He is making a name for himself, and not just based on the fact that his father is Finnick Odair. I can quickly tell, though, that this job is the largest one he has had yet, because he comes late most evenings. I am usually in bed myself, and he will come in and just wash up before getting under the covers with me.
One night in particular, my husband comes in after being home after midnight every day that week. I know Finn is exhausted, and as he gets in the bed, I reach out to place my arms around him. I feel him return the embrace and the warmth of his body against mine.
"Are you okay?" I ask him quietly.
"Yeah," he replies. "There is just so much to do on this movie, and I have to get it done on time and on budget. I have everyone scrambling to finish."
I give him a few kisses on his neck. "It's going to be a great movie," I reassure him.
His hand begins rubbing up and down my back. "As long as I have you to come home to," he tells me, and we begin to make love before settling down into sleep.
The weeks and months continue to pass in this way. We work, and then come home to spend our time together. In the summer we travel, visiting both of our families, and then going to the fantastic woods in District 7 where we hike trails and see Johanna. No one would say it's the most exciting life, but I'm happy.
The crisp air of fall had just returned when I am at work and the phone rings. Delly asks me to come into her office. I walk over and see her behind the desk.
"You wanted me?" I ask.
Delly places on that bright smile of hers. "Emma, yes. I need you to head to Capitol Hospital. There has been a baby left there this morning, and they have asked us to find guardianship while an investigation is done. Can you go and give a call to our foster families to see who could take the little girl?"
A little baby girl. My heart melts at this. "Of course, Delly. I'll get over there right away." She gives me her thanks and I go back to my office to grab my keys. I drive over to the hospital a good fifteen minute drive away. As I enter the building, I show my badge at the information desk and inquire about the infant that had been left. I am told to go to the nursery on the 3rd floor, and I ride the elevator up.
When I get to the desk of the department, I once again show my credentials and tell the nurse at the desk that I am here about the baby.
"Oh! You're from the agency. Thank you for coming. I'm Atala…head nurse here in the nursery. Let me show you back." I am shown through some double doors to a room with about 6 cribs in it. Most of them are empty at the moment except for one. I notice the beautiful little girl, so tiny lying there. She has tufts of dark curls on her head, and as I get closer I see her eyes are a hazel color tinged with green. I can't help but smile looking at her over the crib and place my finger down for her to grab it. In return for my gesture, the baby smiles back.
Atala then shares the story. "As workers for the morning shift were coming in, a nurse from radiology found a basket that was left on one of the benches in the lobby. She thought it was strange, so she went over to it. When she unfolded the blanket on top, she found the baby. She brought it here, and we didn't know what to do other than to call your agency. I hope you can find a place for her. She's so sweet."
"How old is she?" I ask.
"We're making a guess, but the doctor who came in and looked her over thinks she is about three months old."
I nod, and try to think in my head about all of the foster families that work with the agency. I know that two of them would be able to take the baby immediately, and am debating which one would be the best choice as I continue to look at her. She is wrapped in pink and continuing to look up at me with that sweet smile.
"Can I pick her up?" I question the head nurse.
"Of course," she replies, and I pick the little girl up and cradle her. I just stand there for a few minutes stroking her cheek and smiling at her. I even begin to sing a little song that Mother used to sing to Charlie and I before going to bed when we were little. I suddenly remember that I am supposed to call someone to be her guardian. And I realize that I can't do it for one specific reason. I want to take her home. As I hold her, I know with everything I am that she should come home with me. But would this be possible?
I think about what I would have to do. First, I would need legal guardianship papers. This would not be a problem, since as an employee of the agency; I always have temporary guardianship documents. Usually this is so that I am able to take children for transportation purposes to their adoptive families, but it also means that I could legally take one into my home.
Second and the more difficult task is that I would have to talk to Finn. I place the baby back in the crib and tell Atala that I was going to make a quick phone call. Once alone in the hallway, I dial my husband's cell phone. He answers on the second ring.
"Hey beautiful, I was just thinking about you."
"Hi, hun. Do you have a minute? There is something important I need to talk to you about," I tell him.
"Sure," he says. "Let me get to a private spot." He is off for a moment, but then comes back on to tell me he is ready to listen to what I have to say. I quickly tell him that I am at the hospital and about the abandoned baby.
"She's so adorable, Finn," I gush. "And…I was wondering if you would be okay if I brought her home with me temporarily, at least while they try to find her mother? I don't want to do it if you aren't good with it."
It's silent over the line for a minute or two. I try not to rush him because I know he is attempting to think everything through.
"I wasn't planning on having a baby in our home this quickly, Em, but if you feel this strongly about it, then bring her home. We'll work it out."
I am overjoyed that he agreed and get off the phone after telling my husband about a thousand times how wonderful he is. I go back into the nursery and tell Atala that I would be taking the baby home. I wrap the little girl up in her soft pink blanket and get a bag from the nurse which she tells me has some starting supplies to tide me over.
We walk out of the hospital and I get to my car. I find the car seat in my trunk that I keep for the times I need it as part of the job. I take my time putting in, and then get the baby settled. I call Delly to let her know that I was taking the baby home with me.
"Are you sure, Emma?" she inquires. "That's a lot of responsibility on you."
"I'm sure Delly. I have to do this."
I then drive to the nearest superstore, where I go crazy buying supplies, toys, and a bassinet. Next, I finally go home and try to get everything settled. Finn comes home just as I am trying to give the baby a bottle for the first time. He sees us together and gives a smile.
"You look like a natural at that," he says. He comes closer to us and gently runs his hand over the baby's head. "She's adorable."
"I know," I reply as he kisses me and we both look down at the baby. "Thank you for letting me do this. Something inside me told me that I had to bring her home."
Finn nods and goes into the kitchen and pulls out a soda out of the fridge. "Does she have a name?"
"No," I tell him.
"Well, we should pick one," Finn points out. "We have to call her something."
I think for a few minutes, and then finally come up with an idea. "How about Katelyn? It's pretty, and we can call her Kate for short."
Finn tells me he likes it, and we go about our evening from there. We alternate holding the baby, and my husband even takes a turn changing a diaper. As we put her to bed, Katelyn gives a little sigh and closes her eyes. Finn has his arms around me as I touch the little head one more time.
"I think someone's in love," he comments.
"I think so," I reply. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
So, for the next couple of weeks we live life with a baby in our home. It takes a few days, but Katelyn eventually gets on a pretty good schedule. Delly lets me work from home, and I make calls and do paperwork during naptimes. Delly tells me that the CPS has not found any information regarding Katelyn's birthmother, but they still had a few more things to do before any permanent decisions regarding her care could be made. In the meantime, she was fine being with us.
I was falling in love more and more with this little baby every day. Finn doesn't say so, but I know he is too. We have her for about two weeks when we talk about our growing attachment.
"Finn, I'm not sure I can give her up to another family."
He sits up in our bed. "You feel that strongly about it?"
I nod. "I love her. I want her to be with us. How do you feel?"
He gets that look on his face when his green eyes darken as he is thinking deeply. "I love her too. Somehow, I think that life is telling us that we are meant to be her parents. If you want, let's tell Delly that when Katelyn is free to adopt, that we would like to be the ones to do it." I hug him tightly then in my excitement about the possibility of our growing family.
Within the next week, the anticipation grows as Delly tells us that CPS has given the green light for Katelyn to be adopted. We had told her our interest, and she was overjoyed. Finn and I go in to fill out the paperwork and begin the process of doing home studies. We are told that it could take a month or so, but with no birthparents in sight, that we should be able to go to court fairly soon. It's a busy time, as we work more to prepare our home for the changes. We finally tell our parents, and after the first shock, are over the moon at the possibility of being grandparents. Haymitch also gets the news, but has a much different reaction.
"Oh boy, the media is going to eat this one up," he offers.
I have an immediate gut reaction. "No Haymitch. No way. I am not putting the baby in any of those gossip magazines. Those hounds can just stay away. They don't need to know anything."
"Alright sweetheart. Have it your way," the agent defensively. "You sound just like your mother. Just let me know if you decide to make an announcement."
Everything is going along smoothly. Most of our paperwork is done, and it looks like we will have a date in court within a week according to Delly. Finn and I spend most of our evenings after Katelyn is asleep working on what will be her room. We smile together as we paint and put the furniture together. Mother has even given us the rocking chair she used with both Charlie and I. It's almost complete and we are taking a break for a few minutes when we hear someone knocking on the door.
I go to answer it, and see that it is Delly along with two other women who I don't recognize. I can tell immediately that something is wrong because my boss does not have that smile on her face. Instead, her look is completely serious, and somewhat sad, as well. I don't know why, but it makes me really nervous.
"Hi Delly," I cautiously greet her. "What's going on?"
The woman looks hesitant to even talk, but she eventually opens up. "Emma, today a young lady showed up at CPS saying she gave birth to a baby five months ago and during a time of uncertainty, left that infant at the hospital two months ago. She described the baby, and we are sure that she is the birthmother of the little girl you have been keeping. What is most important now is that she wants to take the baby back."
I am in shock. The only word that can come into my head at the moment is No. Finn is behind me and just stares ahead, totally speechless. I finally decide to speak.
"She can't do that." I state with little confidence.
"Mrs. Odair," one of the women who came with Delly talks. "The birthmother still has rights to the child. So, yes, by law she can. We are both from CPS, and have come to take the baby to a safe place until she can be reunited with her mother. Can you please go and get the baby and some of her things for us?"
I am stuck in place for minutes, before I slowly walk into our room where Katelyn is in her bassinet. Finn gets her bag and packs a few clothes with diapers and a bottle. I then pick the baby up and wrap her in a blanket. We go back into our front entry where they are waiting.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Finn asks.
"Not right now," Delly replies. "I'm so so sorry." I can tell that she is trying hard to keep it together.
Finn comes over to stand beside me where I hold the baby tight, not wanting to let go. He places a kiss on her forehead, tears forming in his eyes, and I do the same. Then, I slowly place my arms out and one of the CPS women takes Katelyn and the bag. The two women turn and walk out. Delly gives a final apologetic look at us, before she silently follows. The door closes behind them, and I finally collapse onto my knees and sob.
I know I ended this chapter with such a sad cliffhanger, but it made the most sense to stop here. I promise things will get better for Emma and Finn in the next part. Thank you again to everyone who has stayed with me through this! Your support has meant so much. I hope that you all are still enjoying the story. Please continue to review! : )
