After going through my computer and brainstorming for an hour, I thought it was high time I continue this story. I wonder how many of you are still around, I hope some of you still had hoped I'd continue after so long.
Crutchie swung his good leg back and forth, toes grazing the floor from his perch on the window ledge. The cramped living room was filled with the Manhattan boys; Jack pacing up and down, wearing a hole in the carpet, worriedly biting his lip as he glanced ever so often at the closed bedroom door. A scream of anguish from inside made everyone jump. Race pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket and started to deal a few hands, some of the boys getting involved. Jack, finally tiring of pacing, came over and lent against the wall next to Crutchie. Crutchie looked up at him.
"She be fine, Jack", he said, nudging Jack in the side, "Kath is one-a tha strongest people Ise eva met. Don'tcha worry one bit". Jack looked down at him with a tight smile.
"Ise know, Ise just a little nervous."
Crutchie nudged his side again just as one of the midwives peaked her head through the door. Nobody moved a muscle, except Jack, who ran start up to her, everyone holding their breath.
The midwife smiled, "it's a girl. Katherine's alright, a little tired, but she and the baby are fine".
The boys whooped with joy, jumping up and high-fiving each other, patting Jack on the back. Jack grins, grabbing the midwife into a hug before shoving past her into the bedroom. A few seconds later, he reappeared, poking his head out the door.
"Crutchie", he shouted over the boys' celebration, "come 'ere a minute", before disappearing back into the room, leaving the door just barely ajar.
Crutchie lifted his crutch of the floor and went over to Jack, making his way into the bedroom, shutting the door softly behind him. Barely noticing the midwives bustling around, he turned and saw Katherine sitting up in the couple's bed, hair slightly messy, sweat on her brow, but beautiful none the less. Jack sat perched on a chair beside her, grinning wider than Crutchie had ever seen, his eyes shining as he looked into the bundle Katherine held in her arms. Looking up at Crutchie, Katherine gave him a tired smile.
Slightly gesturing with her arms, "would you like to hold Lilly, your new god-daughter", she asked him.
Crutchie's jaw dropped, gasping slightly at the revelation.
"My god-daughter", he said breathlessly as he made his way over, settling down in the chair Jack was sat in previously. Katherine set the bundle in his arms, making sure he held the baby properly. The baby yawned and looked up at him. Crutchie nearly thought he was going to drop her when he looked at her; she was so tiny and soft, her big blue eyes looking curiously up at him. Even as a newborn, he could see the mischievousness behind the eyes, the same eyes as her father. The little tufts of hair at the top of her head were the same curly brown as her mother's. Yes, this baby would grow to be an amazing child.
Tearing his eyes away from his god-daughter, Crutchie looked up at Katherine.
"Why me, why would ya choose me, when youse got so many otha friends?"
"Because, Crutchie", Katherine smiled at him, "you mean so much to us. We see you as just as much a part of this family as our daughter and, even if you aren't her uncle by blood, we wanted you to be the next best thing. She's going to love you, just as we do".
Jack, knocking lightly into Crutchie's shoulder, took the bundle from Crutchie's arms, smiling at how shiny Crutchie's eyes were from unshed tears. Crutchie reached over, carefully pulling Katherine into a hug. Finally letting a few tears fall, he pulled back, Katherine still gripping weakly onto his arms. Practically speechless, Crutchie could only utter two words.
"Thank you."
A.N. I'm not going to promise anything, but I doubt this will be the last of the stories. I think I'll put it at complete for now, but if I get inspired again, I'll keep it going. I just don't want to fill all of you with false hope.