Morning Breath

Chapter Two: Pumpkin

Part One

The hallway lights had been dimmed to simulate nighttime and rushing from the bright lights of the waiting room to the dim lighting of the hallway, it took several seconds for Fred's eyes to adjust. The hallway was indeed empty. Fred had started back to his seat. Enough of this, he'd take a walk, maybe get some putrid instant coffee from the machine; anything to get out of this room.

"Mr. Jones?" Fred turned at the sound of his name being called to see Daphne's doctor, dressed in green scrubs, "your wife would like to see you now, please follow me." Fred looked at the empty chair where the boy had sat. 'Where did he go?' thought Fred as he picked up the coat he hadn't shared, he followed the doctor into the hallway.

"Was it a boy or girl?" Fred asked when they had walked a few paces down the hall. He and Daphne had elected not to be told the sex of the baby, only that it was healthy.

"There were complications, nothing to be concerned about, Mr. Jones, mother and baby are doing fine...now. Your wife asked that we not tell you, she wanted that pleasure herself."

"Where is the boy?" Fred asked, wondering how the boy had disappeared so quickly, "you must have seen him."

"Mr, Jones," the voice of one talking to a child, "what boy?"

"The little boy I've been talking to all night. Seven or eight years old, faded T-shirt."

"Mr. Jones, This is the delivery floor; lots of blood, some births are harder than others. Take your wife's delivery as an example. It was as if the little tyke didn't want to be born, then all of a sudden, he makes his appearance and all is well. It happens some times like that.

"No minors are allowed on this floor, no exceptions, and never in the fathers waiting room." This last delivered as if Fred said anything about a breach of security, the doctor would call the men with straight jackets and Fred would never see the light of morning.

"No boy then," a last plea for his sanity.

"There was no boy, Mr. Jones." End of discussion.

---------Xxxxxx

Part Two

The first thing he saw when he walked into Daphne's room was her smile. The smile that went from ear to ear, or that was the way he saw it. That smile he had fallen in love with so many years before. He thought she had never looked more beautiful than right now. The second thing he noticed was the tiny bundle she held to her breast. He leaned over, careful not to disturb the baby, and kissed her lips.

"Freddy, your new son wants to say, "Hi"." Fred took the little bundle, holding the baby as he had been shown in the pre natal classes Daphne had insisted he attend. This was no doll that if you accidentally dropped wouldn't be hurt. This was a real living baby!

"What a smile he has! He has your smile," he pushed the baby blanket away, looking at his new born son for the first time.

"That's gas, Fred."

"Daph, I fell in love with your smile. I know the difference between gas and a smile. This is a smile."

"Freddy, I was so exhausted I couldn't think straight. They want a name for the birth certificate... we never did choose a name."

"Don't worry, I got it covered."

He looked down at his son, so small yet so full of promise, "Good morning, Thomas Jones. Welcome to your family. You do have baby morning breath."

-------------Xxxxxx

Part Three

With Daphne asleep, Fred stood in front of the window that took up the whole wall. A nurse picked up a bundle wrapped in a blue blanket holding the baby so Fred could gaze at his son. Several other men stood around, eagerly watching the lines of babies as they slept before being taken back to their waiting mothers.

**Flash forward**

..."Tom Jones...quarterback," the voice announces over the public address system. A loud chorus of applause erupts from the watching crowd; Fred and Daphne clap and yell the loudest as their son runs onto the field, joining his team mates amid a forest of high fives.

** End Flash Forward **

"Has he thrown his first touchdown pass?" Fred turns at Velma's voice, accepting her hug.

"Not yet," the nurse takes him away; it's time for a little visit with mommy, "I think we'll give him a few years first."

"How is Daph?" This from Shaggy who stands behind and to the right of Velma, patiently waiting his turn.

"She's doing fine. Doctor says she and the baby can go home tomorrow." He neglects to mention the complications, enough time for that later. He's just happy that every one is healthy now. If he knew Daph, she'd be in the gym tomorrow afternoon to get the baby weight off her slim figure. Or worse, buying enough equipment that they could open their own home gym.

He accepts the present presented from Velma, knowing what the box, wrapped in blue paper with little boy angels. This isn't the first "going home" outfit 'Mother Hen' Velma has bought. Daphne had announced her pregnancy over their oatmeal breakfast; "I'm pregnant," she had said simply between bites. Since then Velma and Daph were even more inseparable that before.

"For little Thomas," Velma says as if there was any doubt, "from Shaggy and I." Fred wonders why there had been no answer when he had tried to call Shaggy, but instantly decides to drop that hot potato quickly. If there is any thing he needs to know, they will share it in their own time, no need to broach the subject now.

"Any place around here to get something to eat?" Shaggy asks, rubbing his stomach.

"You're always wanting something to eat!" Velma scolds him, even as she laughs.

"For once I agree with you, Shag, on something to eat. It will be a while before we can see Daphne. The cafeteria is close by. My treat, and do I have a story for you." Fred replies as the three friends walk away.

-------------Xxxxxx

Part Four

Daphne waits in her room, eager to see her son. The door swings open, admitting the nurse carrying the blue bundle. Daph smiles, accepting the baby from the nurse, "Good morning 'Pumpkin'. Did you have a nice nap?" she coo's at the newborn, "I think 'Thomas' is a good name, don't you?"

Thomas Jones, newborn, opened his blue eyes...and smiled.

The End