Saving Grace

Chapter 4 – Baby Steps, to Giant Leaps

Previously…

"The jury has made their decision. Grace Annemaria Rasgotra will…"

Her vision was blurred. Neela couldn't hear or see clearly. She reached over and gripped Gallant's hand. Both were cold and clammy. Surely, he was just as terrified as she was. But Gallant didn't know what it felt like to be a parent. The risks, the danger, and the stress. He knew nothing.

Before Neela could finish recollecting what the judge had just said, she blacked out. Swirling colors of light surrounded her, and soon she could see nothing but darkness.

3 YEARS LATER

"Neela! Look what I just found!" Gallant called upstairs.

"Hold on one bloody second. Pregnant woman take time to go places…"

Gallant rolled his eyes. Just one more month of her bickering, and then their son would be born.

Gallant just sat on the couch, and drummed his fingers on the table next to him. He thought about how this future came to be, and how fate had made it possible in the first place. He remembered way-back-when…more specifically, the day Neela gained full custody of Grace. She had been so happy, she had fainted. A party was held afterwards, and poor Gracey felt bad about spilling the beans about Abby and John.

Flashback

"Guess what everybody! I got to tell you before Abby and John get here! They are having a baby! They told me yesterday at the hospital and made me swear not to tell nobody! Shhh! They are gonna get here any minute, so don't tell them I told you," she whispered. It was loud, but it was a whisper. When she turned around, Abby and John had their hands on their hips, and were staring right at her. Abby shook her head, and John laughed. Grace bit her lip, and uttered a very sad oops.

"I thought you said you wouldn't tell anyone?" Abby asked, trying not to laugh.

"I'm sorry, Abby. I won't do it again! Honest! You can tell them if you want…" She looked so sad. I actually had to pick her up, so that she could look them in the eye. Everyone was just watching, and chuckling at how cute she was.

"They already know, babe." John said.

She looked at the floor.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay! Let's just get on with the party…everyone would have found out eventually…" Abby smiled. And for the first time in a while, Grace smiled back.

End of Flashback

"Neela!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming! Hold your bloody horses!"

After a second or two, Neela sat down next to me. She was sweating. Apparently, she was exhausted. "What did you find?" she asked, suddenly very calm. Talk about mood swings…

"I found our old photo album. The one you began making when we started to date again, remember?"

"Oh yeah! Where did you find it?" Under the couch…and I remember how it got there too…" she smiled.

Flashback

"Neela, there is something I have to tell you…"

"What is it?"

"Well…I know who Gracey's father is…"

"Who?!" Neela asked impatiently, her eyes widening.

"You see…When you told me about that night…the night when Grace was…you know. I realized it was the final piece to my puzzle. I was at that bar, Neela. I saw you and Abby, and Susan, and I saw that guy, Gordon, hitting on you. Luckily, I was close enough to hear you turn him down. I don't know how you didn't notice me…I guess you were too drunk. Susan saw me though. She came up to me, and asked how I was, and why I hadn't left yet. I told her that I wanted to spend the rest of the night here, and that I would leave the next afternoon.

"She brought you over, after me desperately telling her not to, and by this point Abby had gone home…I think she had a shift the next morning. But anyway, you were glad I hadn't left yet, and asked me over to your place. Gordon saw, and got jealous. You turned him down, and kept me. I drove you and Susan to your homes, and told you I had a nice time talking to you, and just as I was about to leave, you asked me to come in. I accepted, and soon, after telling you that I loved you…you kissed me. But Neela…that kiss grew into something way, way more. The next morning when I woke up, with you next to me, I realized what I had done, and I knew I couldn't break your heart like with Abby and John. I left you Advil, and didn't write my name down. I was trying to make you think that you had slept with some, unknown person, so that you wouldn't get hurt…

"I'm really, really sorry I never told you sooner, but I had no other way, and besides, I didn't want to just come out and tell you out of the blue. I wanted to wait a while, and I wanted to make sure I was right…Are you okay with everything I just told you…I know it's sudden…"

Neela smiled. I was so confused. I was so sure she would be mad…

"I'm glad it was you, and not Gordon. I love you Michael. I am glad Gracey has finally got a father. This time it really is her father." She chuckled. "I couldn't have asked for anything more…we should add this chapter of our lives into that photo album I made last week…Let me go get it."

I was so glad she took it so well. The second she came back, I captured her lips with mine, and she took it from there. I could feel the album fall off of my lap, and Neela climb on, and after that we never knew where it was.

End of Flashback

Neela was crying. I had no clue why, but remembering had made her cry…

"I am so glad you told me, Michael. I was hoping it was you. I knew it wasn't possible, because I thought you were gone, but every night I wished for her to be yours, and she is! My wish came true, and I couldn't ever ask for more…"

I was glad too. I just smiled, and held my pregnant wife close. After only a second of cuddling, the phone rang. I lifted Neela off me, and ran towards the phone hanging on the wall.

"Hello?"

"Gallant! You gotta come to the hospital, and quick." It was John.

"Why? What's wrong? Is everything okay, John?"

"It's more than okay! Abby just had the baby! Rachel is begging for you, Neela, and Grace to come."

I smiled.

"That's great! Congrats! We'll be down there soon. Grace is asleep, but I'll wake her up. She made me promise to bring her to the hospital right when the baby is born."

"Great! See you soon!"

I hung up the phone, and ran back into the living room to tell Neela.

"Abby just had the baby! Come on, we gotta go! I'll go and get Grace," I practically shouted. But the look on Neela's face, and the size of the puddle on my floor made me realize we had to go to the hospital anyway.

HOSPITAL (No POV)

"Susan…he is so cute!"

"Yeah, Grace, she is. Your mommy is having one now, too." They were looking into the nursery at the new Carter baby. Jeremy Alex Carter, they had named him.

Abby and John were in their hospital room, waiting for the nurse to bring him back. He was having trouble breathing, but he was perfectly fine in a few minutes. Soon, Chuck and Jamelyn were running towards them.

"Neela just had the baby boy! The other one is coming now!" Chuck explained, out of breath.

"You must be so excited!" Jamie squealed. Susan and Grace smiled.

This time, John was running towards them. "The second one, a girl, was just born. Grace, your mom wants to see you." It was almost lunchtime, and Grace was starving, but she really wanted to see her baby brother and sister.

"I was going to get lunch, but I guess I'll go. After all, they must be hungrier than I am. They haven't eaten in 8 months!" Everyone laughed, as Grace and John left.

NEELA'S HOSPITAL ROOM, 5 MINUTES LATER

"What are you going to name them?" Gracey asked eagerly. Michael, and Neela looked at each other. They had one boy and one girl, but because they knew that they were at least having a boy, they had no name for the girl.

"Well, the boy's name is Nolan Michael Gallant, and we have no name for the girl. Nolan was blocking our view of her, so we had no idea she was a girl. All we have is a second boy's name…I know! Why don't you name her, Grace?" Neela said.

Grace thought for a moment. She smiled.

"Abigail Susan Gallant," she said proudly. "For your two best friends."

A/N: THE END! i loved writing this story, and thanks to all of my reviewers! I just love happy endings...:)