Here it is, and sooner thanI thought! Thanks for all the reviews. Hope you like it.
Jesse's POV
"Edward?" I asked Susannah, continuing down the book of baby names. Both of us have gotten out of work for at least three weeks. Susannah has one more week then me, unfortunatly.
Right now, we were sitting in the hospital nursury, feeding the baby and trying to name him. Which was going nowhere, since we couldn't seem to agree to anything.
"Veto." Susannah said as she rocked back and forth in the rocking chair, feeding our unnamed son.
"Edwin."
"Nope."
"Elliott."
"Jesse, do you hate our baby?" Susannah asked, looking at me increduously.
"Of course not!"
"Well, give me some good names, then!"
I sighed, putting the book aside. This whole debate was going absolutly nowhere. "So... what do we do now?"
"I don't know." She said, looking back down. "Oh! All done!" Her baby voice was coming out as she set aside the bottle, standing up and putting the baby upright and in position to burp him.
"I want him to be named Eric. After his birth father." I heard from a female voice behind me. It wasn't until I turned around to see a glowing figure that I knew who it was.
It was Jennifer Phillips. The mother who I couldn't save.
Susannah turned around to face her as I stood up. "Nombre de Dios..." I couldn't help but whisper under my breath.
"That's why I'm still here. I know it. I have to name my son." She continued.
Susannah looked over at me with a small smile tugging at her lips. "How about Eric Hector de Silva?" She asked. "In honor of both of his fathers." Susannah continued, looking back at her.
Jennifer smiled in approval. "It's perfect." Susannah looked overat me, for a response.
I didn't know what to say, really. I was honored, of course. But I was still kind of speechless over the fact that Jennifer was standing right in front of me. It's always something I hope never happens: A patient that I couldn't save not moving on like normal. It's what makes this Mediator thing a curse sometimes.
"I love it." I said nodding, in refrence to the name.
Jennifer walked over to Eric, looking down at him as Susannah held him. She reached out and put her hand to his cheek, to touch him, but couldn't. I swallowed the lump in my throat. If only I had been able to do something so she could have held him before she died. Or if she hadn't died at all.
"I'm sorry. I should have tried harder to bring you back. It's unfair that you can't even hold your child." I said, feeling the need to apologize even though the situation was unavoidable.
She looked up at me, giving me a comforting smile. "It had to happen." She said. "You two will make great parents."
"Thank you." Susannah said.
Before we could say anything more to Jennifer, she disappeared. She had donewhat she needed to do.
I looked over at Susannah, who's eyes were glisening. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
"Do you want to hold him?" She asked.
I only smiled. "Do you even have to ask?"
I took him from her arms. Suddenly, Susannah's annoying ringtone for her mother, which was some rendition of the When the Saints go Marching In, went off, causing Eric to squirm and begin to cry.
"Hey Mom. Are you here yet?" She asked as she answered the phone. The whole Ankerman family was coming to visit the hospitaltoday.
"I'll be back. I'm going to meet them up front." Susannah bent down to kiss Eric on the forehead, before giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
Once we were alone, I sat down in the rocking chair, adjusting Eric so I was looking right at him. It was funny how much I could love someone I had only known about for a few days. Whenever I held him, I didn't want to give him up. Not only did I love him, I felt as if I had to protect him even more than normal. I didn't want what happened to his parents to happen to him.
Eric opened his bigeyes, looking straight at me. "Hey." I said quietly. "I'm your Dad. Your Padre." I told him. "I'mgonna take good care of you, OK?" I didn't really expect an answer, but I liked talking to him.
Through just holding him, I realized I wouldn't have to worry about not having a paternal bond with my child. Just because he's not mine by birth doesn't mean that I'll love him less. He's my child, and I don't need a paternity test to prove it.
"Oh! They're my grandson!" I heard Susannah's mom say as she entered with the rest of the family. I let her hold him, and it wasn't long before we were playing pass the baby. Everyone, but Jake's one year old daughter, of course, held him.
"Have you guys named him yet?" David asked a little later.
I looked at Susannah as she said. "Yes. His name is Eric Hector de Silva. For both his birth father and for Jesse."
"Well, I think it's perfect." Cindy, Jake's wife, said.
"We also have another announcement to make..." Susannah said, looking at me, beckoning me to say it, which I was only too eager to do.
"Susannah's pregnant." I said, grinning like an idiot.
Of course, everyone went crazy, hugging and congratulating us. Debbie in particular was thrilled.
"I have a pregnancy buddy, now!" She said to Susannah, as she gave me back Eric.
Debbie was aboutfour monthspregnant, while Susannah was onlyabout 2 months along.
After about an hour of playing Hot Potato with the baby, it was time for the Eric to go to sleep for the night, and for all of us to go home. The doctor wanted to keep him under observationfor a couple more days.
I'm sorry it's so short, but now you have a name! Yay! The next chapter will include a birth (or two). But if it takes a while, don't be surprised. Review please!
Also, I need a vote: The baby is early, or late. I have comical scenerios for both, but I can't decide which one I want to do.
-Amy