Day-to-Day

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!

Chapter Fifteen

It was early March, when Lisa went into labor. Jackson was nowhere to be found, just as she had feared. She was on her own to deliver their child into the world. He had avoided her for several months and it was entirely possible that Jackson Rippner was dead and would never return to her.

Her heart ached, but the searing pain coursing throughout her body demanded immediate attention.

The hospital sent an ambulance to pick her up. There was no way that she would have been able to drive in her condition.

Upon arrival, Lisa was wheeled into surgery because a c-section was needed to free her baby. The baby was positioned awkwardly and there was no way that her daughter would straighten out on her own. The doctors needed to take drastic measures to save the unborn baby.

At 5:55am, on March 10th, Jacqueline Kyra Reisert Rippner was born.

I wish Jackson were here to share in the joy. Our baby is gorgeous. I can't believe that he did not want me to have our other baby—Jack's older brother or sister.

Jack is the spitting image of her father, even following birth. She was born with a full head of dark hair—just like her daddy. What color her eyes are, I'm not entirely sure. I'm willing to bet that she's got Jackson's blue eyes for some reason. Call it instinct, intuition—whatever!

I had Jackson's last name tacked on because I felt that there was no reason for her to not have her father's last name. She has mine as well, but no one's going to find out that she's his daughter. Even if they did, how would it effect us? Jackson's dead…he's been gone for far too long to be alive.

She'll take her father's name. Jack Rippner…that's essentially her name. She might very well hate me for it, but I don't care. She's all I've got left of him now.

Five Months Later…

"Ssh, Jackie, it's okay. Mommy's here," Lisa whispered to a fussy Jack, her dark hair wild and her big clear blue eyes filling with what she liked to refer to as crocodile tears.

Jack slowly quieted as she was lovingly rocked to sleep in her mother's arms. Lisa smiled as her daughter's eyes closed. She sank into the nursery's cozy chair, still rocking Jack. Jack was rather temperamental—a trait that she surely had gained from her father.

It still pained Lisa to know that Jackson had never learned about his child. He could very well be dead and he had never known. He would have been angry, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Did he think that she would let him suffocate their baby if he came back? She sure as hell would not let him harm their innocent baby.

A loud pounding on the door broke through her thoughts. "Lisa!" a muffled voice came through the thick door.

Jack stirred in her arms. Lisa's green eyes darted between her waking daughter and the front door. She would have to answer the door. She carefully hopped up from the chair and walked to the door, trying her best not to jostle the sleeping infant.

"Leese…" Jackson Rippner began as she yanked the door open angrily. He noticed the child in her arms and froze.

"Jackson!" she gasped in shock, almost dropping Jack.

Jackson steadied her, and was unable to take his eyes off the baby in her arms. Zillions of thoughts raced through his head. Could it possibly be his child? Or someone else's?

"Is…" Jackson swallowed hard before continuing. "Is that…?"

"Your daughter," Lisa whispered, tears in her sparkling eyes as she held the baby out to him. "Jack's her name."

Jackson carefully took baby Jack from Lisa and cradled the tiny infant in his arms. His eyes were tearing too and emotion filled his face. He had never excepted to feel this kind of joy that only children could bring; not after he had thrown Lisa down the stairs and killed the other baby. Now, now he realized that he did indeed want children.

And he swore at that moment to himself that he would do whatever it took to protect his small family. No one would touch them.

"Lisa…she's beautiful," he smiled. "Oh, Leese, if I had known…"

"It's okay. You're here now." Lisa was lightly crying now.

"Hey…You're daddy's little girl, huh?" Jackson cooed to the slumbering Jack. "Daddy'll protect you, I promise."

A muffled sob came from Lisa. Jackson's gaze flicked up towards her and he whispered, "Where does she sleep?"

Lisa led him to Jack's little nursery, where he laid the baby down and turned to Lisa. He supported her as she trembled and shook.

"Ssh, Leese, we don't wanna wake the baby, now do we? Come on…"

Jackson helped Lisa into her bedroom, where he comforted her as best he could. She clung to him and he to her. After she calmed down, they fell into their usual routine until Jack's cries caught their attention. Lisa was going to go to her, but Jackson stopped her, and went to care for his child.

Lisa just smiled and fell asleep, not knowing that her dreams of a family would be crushed the following day…

I have a daughter. I'm a father.

Jack's her name. Lisa named her after me. It's our baby—Lisa's and mine. Our perfect child.

I will protect my family. I never planned on becoming attached or tied down, but I love them both. I've only just met Jack, but I'm sure that I'll love her as much as I love Lisa. I will fight to the death to protect them from my job.

There's no way in hell my baby girl's going to become a tool in my business. She will never have anything to do with killing. I won't allow it.

Author's Notes:

Okay, I'm so sorry about the delay! There's been a lot going on these last few days and I just now got the chance to type this up. It was supposed to be longer, but there was so much breakage, I figured I save her death for the next chapter. Anyways, Jackson has to leave the following morning, but he promises to return that evening. That's where the next chapter will start off. Jackson wants to be a father now, but he's still learning and he doesn't really get a chance. He really does care for Kyra, but Lisa's death throws him for a loop. Enjoy!