Chapter 6: Playing Father

Rebecca woke up to the sound of a baby crying. "What is that?" She muttered. She got up from bed and went downstairs. She saw Carter bouncing Megan in his lap. "Carter what's going on?" She asked. Carter looked up.

"While I was searching for Dana, I'm going to play dad too," he replied.

Rebecca sighed in frustration. "Carter," she whined.

"What?" He asked.

"When are you going to find her?" She asked.

"I don't know yet."

"That baby's been here for three days."

"She's my daughter."

"I'm your fiancé."

Carter sighed as he held her hand. "Dana didn't create this baby by herself," he pointed out.

"Might as well have," she muttered.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing," she replied.

Megan gurgled and grabbed Carter's shirt. "Here, Becky, you hold her for a second," He told her.

"No, Carter I don't think…" she trailed off.

"Come on, just for a second."

Carter set Megan into her arms. Rebecca seemed to freeze when she held that baby. "See it's not so bad," he commented.

"I don't even like kids, Carter," she answered.

Carter was bringing in a bottle for Megan when she said that. "And why's that?" He asked. Rebecca handed the baby back over to him.

"Babies are smelly, they take up time, and they take up money," she replied.

Carter held Megan and fed her. "And besides, until a few days ago, you didn't even know you had a daughter," she pointed out.

"Well, I'm a father now, Becky, you just have to accept that," he answered.

"Carter…we don't even spend time together anymore," she whined.

"Sorry, Rebecca. Some things are just more important than going out to fancy places and stuff."

Carter stood up and left the living room with Megan in his arms. Rebecca sat back with a huff.

Carter was sitting outside holding Megan. "You know, Megan. Your mommy and I loved each other very much," he told the infant. Megan gurgled and grabbed onto Carter's shirt again. "I love…loved your mother very much," he murmured. He kissed his daughter's forehead with a sigh. "But daddy loves you very, very much," he added.

(Flashback)

Carter was sitting in the living room looking over the paperwork he had to finish about the last fire. "Carter!" Dana called. Carter looked up when Dana came running down the stairs with a huge smile on her face.

"What is it?" He asked.

Dana smile. "It turned blue!" She replied. Carter's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

Dana nodded, practically jumping up and down. "IT'S BLUE!" She exclaimed. Carter grabbed her and hugged her tight with a grin on his face.

"Yes…" he murmured.

Carter kissed her neck with a smile. "I love you," he murmured. Dana smiled and buried her face into his neck.

"I love you too," she answered.

(End Flashback)

Carter sighed as he held his baby girl. "That was when times were happier, Megan. Before the accident. I regret it everyday to take your mommy out in the rain like that, but I guess that baby wasn't meant to be. You were meant to be here with me right now," he explained. He smiled to see Megan fast asleep in his arms. He kissed her forehead and sighed. "Daddy loves you very much and I will get your mommy back," He murmured.