Chapter 43

Dembe and Gabby were on the floor of the front room playing with Agnes when they heard the cries echoing through the house, Dembe's eyes going wide as Gabby had a smile on her face, reaching over and taking hold of his hand. Red sat beside Kate a little while later as she got herself comfortable on the bed, brushing her hair from her face as they both watched Andrea cleaning up the baby, Liz passing a blanket to the other woman, smiling as she watched Andrea wrap the small child up before picking her up in her arms and coming up beside Red, who moved out of the way to allow Andrea to place the baby in Kate's arms. Liz came over to Red, linking her arm through his as they watched Kate get to grips with her new daughter. Andrea sat down beside her, brushing a finger down the baby's cheek.

"You did it, I'm so proud of you." She said quietly.

Kate looked up at her, tears in her eyes, a little overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the last few hours.

"I couldn't have done it without you dearie, without any of you, thank you."

Gabby picked up Agnes in her arms before getting to her feet, Dembe helping her before they both made their way up the stairs towards Kate and Andrea's room. Dembe knocked lightly before they entered to see everyone hovered around the bed, Andrea sitting beside Kate. As he got closer he saw the small baby in Kate's arms, a smile appearing on his face.

"Dembe, dearie come over, meet our daughter." Kate smiled.

Dembe didn't move at first, feeling a small hand on his back as Gabby ushered his forward. He stood over them looking at the baby before Kate motioned for him to sit down.

"Here, hold her."

Kate placed her gently in his arms, a small gurgle escaping her mouth as she was placed in his arms. He stared down at the small child in his arms, before looking up at Kate, taking hold of her hand.

"I'm so proud of you Kate."

"Thank you dearie."

"She's beautiful Kate." Gabby smiled.

"Just like her mom." Andrea smiled.

Liz looked back when they heard the front door, Liz moving from Red's arms.

"I'll go, it's probably the doctor."

"Thanks Liz." Andrea smiled.

Liz made her way down the stairs, towards the door, opening it to find a brunette in her forties standing on the doorstep, smiling at Liz.

"Hey?"

"Hello, my names Kara, I'm an associate of Terrance. He got held up with another patient and asked if I might come along."

"Oh I see, we've been trying to contact him, his receptionist said…"

"She's new, I'm sorry about her. How is Ms Kaplan."

"She's okay, Andrea delivered the baby."

"Well she knows what she's doing at least, may I come in?"

"Oh yes, of course, sorry. It's been a hectic day."

"Believe me, I understand."

"This way."

Kara followed Liz up the stairs and towards the bedroom, where everyone was congregated.

"Who's this?" Red asked, suddenly worried.

"Relax Red, this is Kara, she's an associate of Terrence."

"Mr Reddington, it's a pleasure to meet you at last. I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh, and you still find it a pleasure."

"I try not to make snap judgements about people, I like to make up my own mind."

"Good, then it's a pleasure to meet you to Kara."

"Right, well not to be rude, but I need everyone out of the room now. I'd like to give Ms Kaplan a thorough check up and then the baby."

"I have checked them both." Andrea spoke up.

"All due respect, you're her partner are you not?"

"What's that got to do with it?"

"I can't have her partner down on my paperwork as being the one to give the all clear, I'd feel a lot happier if I did it. It's not a reflection on your abilities as a doctor, I'm just covering my own back, you do understand?"

Andrea was ready to argue until Kate took her hand, forcing her to look at her."

"Dearie, she's right. We wouldn't want anything coming back on her, would we?"

"No, no you're right. Of course, I'm sorry Kara, I understand."

"Wonderful, now all of you…out, go on."

Kara ushered everyone out of the room before closing the door behind her, turning back to Kate.

"Now, let's get you and the baby all cleared shall we." She smiled.

Andrea turned to the others, Red watching her closely.

"Well she's…something." Andrea stated.

"A little pushy I guess, she's just doing her job Andrea." Liz replied.

"Yeah I know, I just don't like being bossed about."

"Yeah, we had noticed." Liz laughed.

"So, how does it feel?" Red asked.

"Mm-mm, what?"

"Being a mother?"

"Oh crap, I am, aren't I."

"It's a piece of cake, I mean I did it twice." Gabby added.

"Well this will be fun."

"We'll all be here to help you, don't worry. If I can do it, you can." Liz smiled.

The day had been very tiring for all, so everyone decided it would be best to have an early night. Dembe went back to his place with Gabby, to spend some time with her before she had to get back to her kids, while Red and Liz got Agnes settle before going to bed themselves. The low lighting in Kate and Andrea's room bounced off the far away wall as both women lay in bed, Andrea close to Kate as she held their daughter in her arms.

"I can't get over the fact I have a child?" Kate whispered, so as not to wake the baby.

"I know what you mean, it does seem weird but in a good way."

"Raymond could never understand why I wanted to go ahead with the pregnancy when we all found out."

"It was hard for him, for all of you back then. Red was angry, feeling powerless to help you after what Salgado did to you."

"I did consider it for all of two minutes."

"The abortion?"

"Mm-mm, but then I realised I just couldn't do it. This is why, this one right here. No matter how much pain that man caused me, just for revenge on Raymond, I could never have killed her. She's not to blame for what happened…only Salgado."

"At least you can relax, knowing her can never hurt you again."

"I know, I think killing him helped Raymond deal with it a little better. I know he'll always blame himself, no matter what I tell him."

"Because he loves you, you've been the biggest part of his life for so long, it's not easy for him to watch you go through something, he could have protected you from."

"Enough, enough misery now. Today's a happy day, we're parents now."

"It feels so strange saying that."

"You'll have to invite Fiona over to see her."

"I will, it's been a while since we spoke."

"But she's happy?"

"Her and Nikki are back together, I think that's all she wanted."

"Do you think they'll try again?"

"What, a baby you mean?"

"Mm-mm."

"I don't think so, it nearly destroyed them. I don't think Fiona could go through that again."

"Well, there a plenty of children out there who need good homes, perhaps they could adopt."

"You never know."

There was a small knock at the door, Kate and Andrea looking up when Red walked in.

"Raymond?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you both, I was just wondering if I might have a few moments with Kate, I won't be long."

"Sure, here…let me take the baby."

Andrea took their daughter and left the room quietly, Red coming over and taking a seat beside Kate, taking hold of her hand.

"Is everything okay Raymond."

"More than okay, we've just never really had a moment alone today."

"What's bothering you?"

"Why would anyth…"

"Raymond, I know you, better than anyone and I know when you have something on your mind."

"Just, seeing you today. Going though what you did, it should never have happened in the first place."

"We can't change what happened, we just have to move on and deal with it, and I have dealt with it. I've accepted what happened to me, I know you haven't but I hope some day you can."

"I can't forgive him for what he did, that's why he had to die and I feel no remorse for what I did to him. I'd do it again, the biggest mistake he made…was turning his attentions on you. If he had come for me personally, I'd have understood but you. What he did to you is unforgivable, and what are you to say to that daughter of yours in years to come when she asks about her father."

"She'll never know, she will have two mothers who love her and that's all she needs."

"She will ask Kate."

"We had help from a donor, that will be enough."

"And you think that will satisfy her.

"What good would it do her to tell her that her father raped me, it wouldn't."

"She'll have a good life, with good people. With all of us, she'll have a father figure, you…and that will be all she needs."

"I love you Kate."

"I love you too, please stop blaming yourself, we can't spend the rest of lives doing that, because it can't be changed.

"I'll try harder, I promise."

"I'm glad."

"Well, I'll let you get some rest." He smiled before he leaned in and kissed her cheek, Kate leaning in to him, her eyes closing briefly.

Red got up and made his way to the door, turning back for a moment.

"You know, you really need a name for that little girl of yours."

"We're getting there."

"Night Kate."

"Good night Raymond."

The baby slept peacefully in Kate's arms that night, Andrea's head on her shoulder as they looked down at their daughter.

"So, what did Red want. Is he okay?"

"Mm-mm, he wanted to apologise once again."

"So you were right, he does still blame himself."

"He said he'd try but I think he always will, even though he'll never say. Every time he looks at this one."

"He'll still love her you know, how could he not, she's absolutely beautiful."

"She really is, it's hard to believe going by her mother."

"Hey, stop…you are beautiful and I love you."

"I love you too dearie." Kate smiled as she leaned down to kiss Andrea. "Raymond did say one thing?"

"What's that?"

"We need to name this little one."

"Oh yeah, right enough. Well, it's up to you."

"She's our daughter dearie, not just mine."

"Okay, so how about we name her after our mothers, my Mom's name is Eleanor, what was our Mom's name?" Andrea asked.

"Frances."

"Frances Eleanor, I like it."

"No."

"You don't like it?"

"No I do, but the other way around, Eleanor Frances sounds better."

"Okay then, Eleanor Frances Kaplan."

"Nemec."

"Really, no more Mr Kaplan."

"Dearie, the whole point of moving here was to put our past behind us, and that's what I intend to do. Mr Kaplan was my work, and that work is no more."

"You know, we never got around to actually getting married before we came here like we planned. How about in another few months we do that, finally get married."

"I'd love that dearie, another reason for Fiona and Nikki to visit."

"Yeah."

"So, would you take my name or keep your own?"

"How about both."

"Wilder-Nemec or Nemec-Wilder?"

"You first."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Very well then, so little one. You now have a name, Eleanor Francis Nemec-WIlder."

"That's a lot for her to learn."

"All in good time dearie, all in good time."

Kate leaned down, kissing Andrea before placing a kiss to their daughters head.

"Welcome to the world Eleanor Francis." She smiled, closing her eyes.

-Fin