Shoutouts to SarcasticRockinLC for giving me inspiration for the baby's name. She gets full credit for it, so if you don't like it, take it up with her. Just kidding. Take it up with me. I picked it. As usual, don't own FB. I'd do more, but I'm working without a mouse and it was a bitch of a time just getting this uploaded. This is the last fluffy chapter I have, because I'm getting into the movie after this. I'm hoping I can finish in ten chapters, which hypothetically means this is the home stretch. Wish me luck! I have the ending already written so let's hope I don't have too much time to re-work it. Hope you enjoy this chapter all!!
CHAPTER SEVEN: LOST IN LOVE
Jack looked down at the small bundle in his arms, blinking back a wave of tears. After eighteen hours of labour, Lauren and Jack lay in the cramped hospital bed, observing their daughter through very tired eyes. He looked up at her, still cradling the tiny baby, and smiled a smile that came deep from within his soul. She softly stroked his forearm with the pad of her thumb and rested her cheek against his cotton-clad shoulder. Jack kissed Lauren's warm forehead and looked back down at the newborn. With a contented sigh, Lauren closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel both of their presence in the bed with her.
"She's early," she whispered as Jack placed the baby between them.
"Rather early than late, don't you think?" he inquired, not taking his eyes off the pink blanket.
"Says the man who didn't just spend hours birthing a seven pound baby girl three weeks early," she groaned, opening her eyes.
He chuckled and placed another kiss on her forehead. "A beautiful, HEALTHY, seven pound baby girl. With blue eyes like her daddy and dark brown hair like mommy."
"Jack, you're cooing in a baby voice," she stated.
"So what?"
"So stop. It's annoying," she warned.
His brow furrowed and he scoffed. "To you maybe. I bet Cammy love it. She's gonna be a heartbreaker someday."
"Jack!" she hissed, slapping his thigh. "Stop doing stuff to piss me off."
"Don't wake the baby," he advised, hopping off the bed. "She's a preemie."
"And they're more irritable?" she asked, scooping Baby Mercer into her arms.
"More delicate," he corrected, looking out the window. "Bobby's gonna love tormenting her boyfriends."
"Don't even pretend you won't love it too," she scoffed.
"I will, but Bobby will me a thousand times better at it than me. That's the way it goes though. Fathers are just instinctively protective of their daughters, just as much as uncles are of nieces. And you know having Bobby keeping an eye on her relaxes you," Jack stated.
"Oh please. Scaring the crap out of boys is one thing. But Bobby Mercer will not be keeping an eye on our daughter. Your mom will be the first person I go to," Lauren said, clearly ending the discussion.
"I'm glad we're going home. To Detroit. I miss Ma," Jack admitted. "And Jerry."
"Shouldn't we tell them?" Lauren asked.
"I already told you I wanted it to be a surprise. We'll be there for Thanksgiving and it'll blow them away when we show up with a baby!" Jack exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air.
"Well your mom anyway. Jerry already knew I was pregnant at the wedding," she said, wiggling her finger in front of the now awake baby.
"You told Jerry? Aw I wanted to surprise him," Jack pouted.
She laughed. "Oh he was surprised. Trust me. But I told him not to tell anyone."
Jack sighed and pushed his fingers through his hair. "Oh little Camryn Emily Mercer. Are you ready for the cold, hard Detroit life?" he asked her, touching the tip of his long index finger to her nose.
"Is anyone ever ready for that life Jack?" Lauren asked, taking his hand in hers. "But if there's anyone who can protect her from the most of it, it's the four Mercer brothers, should they ever be home together again."
He smiled. "You're right Razz. Taking her home to ma is the safest thing. We'll all be safe there, in our old house. We'll be just fine."
---
The truck pulled up to the Jansmen house a little past nine o'clock on the morning of October twenty first. Snow had been tentatively falling as they drove through Michigan but upon nearing Detroit, it had made up its mind to come howling down. So Jack pulled into the driveway and declared they would move stuff in once the storm died down. He hurried to unlock to door for wife and baby, hoping Jerry had done the proper upkeep. They were both delighted, upon entering, that he had indeed kept up his word. The air hugged them all in a warm, passionate embrace. Lauren sighed contentedly and wandered into her old house.
"And this is the chair Granny Jansmen used to knit in," she cooed to Camryn as she toured into the living room.
"In the kitchen you'll find the counter I took your mommy on when I surprised her the day she was flying to LA," Jack mocked, unwrapping his grey and black striped scarf from around his neck. "You know, it's a wonder you didn't get pregnant sooner. We fuck a lot."
She shot him a look of disgust. "Go unpack the crib, jackass. Cammy needs her bed or she won't sleep."
He groaned. "Laur, we just got here. Can't we wait like, ten minutes?"
"Only if you want to hear her fuss when she's tired and wants a nap," she snapped.
"And that will happen in the next ten minutes?" he challenged, folding his arms over his chest.
"It will if you don't go get the fucking crib, Jack," she shot back, covering the baby's ears.
"Alright! Fuck! I'll get the damn crib so Cammy can nap!" he griped, winding the scarf back around his neck and stomping out the door.
Lauren looked down into Camryn's wide blue eyes. "Let it be known now Cammy; mommy ALWAYS wins against daddy."
Jack stomped back into the living room, shaking snow from his hair. "Don't believe her lies Camryn. She only wins when it involves you baby."
"That was fast," Lauren commented, kissing his cold cheek.
"Well, we have company," he stated, putting his arm around her shoulder and guiding her to the door.
"How can we possibly have company? No one knows we come home yet," she said.
"And maybe you can explain our diabolical plan to this nice young officer here," Jack informed her. "Must be new because all the cops know the Mercer brothers."
Lauren looked up at the officer in the doorway. "Is there a problem here?"
"Just a little thing called breaking and entering," he snapped.
"That would imply this isn't my house. But it is, so you have nothing to worry about," she stated, matching his tone.
"Well that's not what your neighbours say," he said.
Lauren handed Camryn to Jack ad stepped up to him. "Do you honestly think I would burglarize a house in broad daylight with a three week old baby?" she inquired, placing her hands on her hips.
"Uh well…"
Lauren nodded. "Exactly, Officer Brody. Now, who reported this breaking and entering?"
"Uh…your neighbours across the street. A Mrs…Mercer. She and her husband-"
"Are my inlaws. So you can run right back over there and tell Camille and Jerry that Lauren and Jack say hi," she snapped. "Oh and Officer?"
"Yes?" he asked, turning to face her.
"Can you bring in that crib you so thoughtlessly made my husband leave in the snow?" she inquired, smiling sweetly.
"Yes ma'am, of course. Not a problem," he stuttered, scrambling for the snow covered box.
"Thanks a bunch!" she called out, turning back to Jack. "So much for the element of surprise."
Jack smiled, kissing her lightly on the lips. "You handled that beautifully Razz."
She rolled her eyes. "Well come on. Like I have any kind of time to deal with rookie cops with something to prove."
"I'll show him where to put the crib. Want me to make him set it up too?" he inquired, letting Camryn suck his index finger.
"As long as it gets done. I'm going to have a bath. The baby backpack is in the front seat," she sighed, rubbing her forehead.
He laughed, ignoring Officer Brady standing in the doorway. "Stop calling it a baby backpack!"
"Excuse me Mr. Mercer, where would you like the crib?"
Jack turned, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Follow me, good sir. You and I are going to put a crib together."
"Oh but I have to…I might get calls," he protested.
"You're not getting any calls rookie. They sent you over here because the name Mercer was involved. So get comfy and help me set up her crib," Jack demanded.
Officer Brady sighed and opened the box. "Alright, where do you want it?"
---
"Well aren't you just beautiful?" Evelyn cooed, stroking Camryn's dark brown hair. "Well done Jackie."
"What does that mean Ma?" he asked, wiggling his finger in Camryn's face.
"It means I'm proud of you Jack. You've done well for yourself. Both of you," Evelyn stated, looking at the couple.
Lauren smiled. "Thank you Evelyn. That means the world to me."
"To us," Jack corrected. "We moved back to Detroit to be closer to you Ma."
Evelyn smiled warmly at the pair and placed her hand on Jack's knee. "I think you moved home because you couldn't stay away, Jackie. Whether you like it or not, this will always be your home."
He chuckled. "Yeah Ma. Home."
"Like it or not Jack Mercer, this is the city you'll die in. Born here, die here," she sighed, standing up. "Stay for dinner. Jeremiah and his family are coming over and they'll love to meet the baby."
"Are we having Thanksgiving here Ma?" jack inquired, following her into the kitchen.
"Yes, we are. Jeremiah is having his own but you two are coming here on the fourteenth. Go back into the living room. Be with your family," she commanded.
Jack leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Yes mother. Love you."
"Love you too Jackie. I'm so proud of what you've done for yourself. I always knew you two would have a family together," she mused.
He cast a glance at Lauren on the couch. "You and me both Ma."
"You know, Bobby would be proud too."
"Yeah if he ever shows up again. I haven't seen him in years," he sighed. "But I'll leave you to it mom."
"Keep them safe Jack. Keep them safe and keep them happy," she warned. "Because it could all be gone in an instant."
As Jack walked back into the living room, the three of them had no idea how right Evelyn would prove to be.