Chapter 11: David Henry Cassidy

It had been a long first half of the day.

Two days before Neal had been informed that Emma had gone into labor. He wanted more than anything to be there with her. He wanted to coach her, help her get through it, be there and witness as their child was born. He didn't care if Emma screamed and cursed the hell out of him or if her nails dug so hard into his hand that she would break his skin. He could take it. Emma was in fact doing the hardest part of all so what was a little pain and cursing compared to the trials of labor? Neal wanted to do everything a new dad should get to experience during child birth but he couldn't.

Emma could never know that he was around, checking up on her. It broke his heart knowing she had to go through it alone. Being surrounded by doctors didn't count as they were just doing their jobs. No friends, no family. He could have been both had August never entered his life and ruined it.

It wasn't completely ruined however; at least Neal would have the baby. He had been informed several hours before finding out about Emma that the child, his child, would be placed in his care. Neal was more than grateful. He could not contemplate the thought of his child being placed in the system or worse, being raised by someone else. At least the two of them would have half of their family, they would be together.

Neal now looked down to the small bundle he cradled in his left arm as he rummaged through his pocket with his right looking for his keys.

"One more second little guy," he whispered. "It's not much of a home but it beats being in a crib surrounded by strangers."

Neal finally got the door open to his small apartment. He was greeted by both Aaron and Theresa. A banner hung in the kitchen that read 'Welcome Home Baby Cassidy.'

"Boy or girl," Theresa asked as she walked over to her brother-in-law.

Neal smiled, "Boy."

Theresa stretched out her arms, "May I," she asked.

Neal hesitated but he passed his son off to her gently. Aaron hovered over the three of them as Theresa cooed at the infant in her arms.

"You got a name for the little guy," Aaron asked.

"David," Neal replied, "David Henry."

"David Henry Cassidy," Theresa repeated. "It's perfect."

She and Aaron saw the look in Neal's eyes.

"What is it," she asked.

Neal sighed, "Just not sure if Henry should have my last name."

Theresa looked at Neal with sad eyes and then walked to sit with David on the couch. Aaron took his brother off to the side.

"Don't do this little brother," Aaron said to him.

"Do what," Neal asked knowing full well what he was implying.

"You have to let her go."

Neal looked up sharply at Aaron. "I all ready did that."

"No you haven't. You're pinning for her Neal. It's gotta stop or it will destroy you."

"You don't know what's going on. You don't know the situation I'm in."

"You're right I don't because you're being so cryptic about it. What I do know, what I see, is that you're still in love with a girl that you abandoned which makes no sense. You have to make a choice Neal, you either go be with her or you don't. You can't have it both ways."

Neal watched as Theresa held Henry. In his mind he pictured it being Emma instead. She looked exhausted but still just as beautiful as she held on to their son. No longer was she round and glowing but still in a new way she was even more attractive. What was it about motherhood that made a man feel like he was looking up at a goddess?

Granted Neal had never experienced it directly but in his mind he could imagine it and those moments felt just as real.

Neal's eyes focused on reality.

"I don't expect you to understand," he said to Aaron. "I can't just walk away."

"You're going to destroy yourself. Think about David, he's all ready been separated from his mother. Do you really want his father to be distant from him too?"

"I won't be," Neal said walking away from Aaron effectively ending their conversation.

Theresa handed Henry over to Neal and walked toward her husband giving the two of them a moment.

Neal smiled at the little boy in his arms. He brought leaned in and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I love you David Henry," he whispered.