Killing Him Softly: Epilogue

by tarskeewee08

7 months Later

Sitting in the hospital room John watched as Evangeline sleeps. She had a rough delivery with their daughter and the doctors had to result to cesarean. He remembered the moment when they pulled his Angel from her. She was gorgeous with a crown of jet black curly hair. John followed the nurse as she cleaned her and cleared her nose and throat. His baby girl let out a squeal that warmed his heart.

He didn't now he could love someone other Vangie. Pink and squealing she was wrapped up extra tight and then placed in his arms. Touching her tiny wrinkled hand it clasped around his finger squeezing tightly.

He stared into her face and willed her to open her eyes. If she opened her eyes he would know the truth. Evangeline never regained her memory of Greece. She never asked about what was done to her while in captivity and John was grateful.

They picked up their normal lives and eloped when she was six months pregnant. He was so happy at having the family he always wanted. But secretly he prayed that the baby she carried was his. The anxiety of not knowing ate at him constantly, he never shared his fears. Not even her friends and family knew that this child could possibly not be his.

The nurses took her from him and he watched as the doctor stitched her mother back up. She was asleep during the procedure and he figured it was mostly from sheer exhaustion. 18 hours of labor had weakened her incredibly.

Now he sat in the private room waiting patiently for her to awaken or for their daughter to be brought in. Hearing the door open he looked up to see Nora walk in carrying flowers and balloons.

"She still asleep?" Nora whispered creeping in.
John stretched and yawned "Yep"
Nora smiled taking the flowers over to the table and placing them down. She went over to Evangeline and kissed then stroked her forehead. "Amazing John that we have her back and a new baby too, after all this time it's like she never left us.

John looks over at his wife "She still doesn't remember her time in Greece."
"I know and she doesn't want too either." Nora said

John looked at her confused "What?"
Nora looks at him smiling. "She doesn't want to John, she's told me over and over how happy she is and she didn't want to know of the horrors of her kidnapping."

John gets up and comes to Evangeline's side of the bed. Looking down at her lovingly he takes her hand. "She doesn't remember the bad time with us either Nora, is it right that I keep her in the dark about the things I've done to her?"

Nora looks at John sadly "John, Evangeline was just as in love with you the night she was kidnapped as the day you gave her strings. You aren't manipulating anything in my opinion"

John smiles grateful. "I needed to hear that."

Evangeline moans and then opens her eyes. She sees John then Nora. "Hey guys" she says weakly.
"Hey" they say together.
"Where is she? Where's my baby?"

The door opens and the nurse comes in pushing the baby "Here she is!" she says smiling.
Evangeline can't lift up so the nurse puts her little jewel on the side of her. John looks down at his sleeping daughter and smiles. "She's beautiful Van" he says proudly.

Evangeline looks up "I wan to name her Christina…"
John's heart stops and the color drains from his face "What?"
Evangeline frowns at him. "What's wrong?"
"The name, baby why did you choose that name?" John asked concerned.
Nora sees his clenched jaw and frowns too. "I like the name John"
Evangeline looks at Nora and nods "Me too….it just came to me."

John rubs his jaw. "I think we should find another name"
Evangeline nods "Okay baby, how about Eve after your mother?"
John smiles "I think she would like that."
Evangeline leans down and looks at her baby and smiles. Eve opens her eyes and looks at her mom and Evangeline smile grows even brighter. "Oh my god look at her eyes!"

John heart jumps to his throat and feels weak. He was prepared for this moment but had prayed every night it went his way. He closed his eyes and gripped the railing on the hospital bed. If she said they were green eyes then his precious baby girl was Laredo's.

"John! Look!" Evangeline said laughing
John opened his eyes to see her holding his daughter up to face him. She was peeking at him with light blue eyes. He laughed too and reached for her. "She's beautiful!" he exclaimed.

Nora and Evangeline beamed at John as he paced rocking his daughter. The sight of them two together is overwhelmingly sweet. Evangeline sighed and relaxed on her pillow. The name Christina kept playing in her head. She wondered silently why?