The Real Deal (20)
A/N: Sorry this is so short and has taken so long to post, things have been crazy with me lately. On another note...I have had a few people ask about some of my stories that have been deleted. Unfortunately they contained song lyrics and were deleted by the site. I do not have any of those stories saved anywhere as the flash drive all of my old stories were on has stopped working so they are gone and that hurts my heart...Anyway I will try to finish the few stories I still have up that are not yet complete and then I have a very insistent plot bunny running around in my head that I will let lose later on and hope you all like what I come up with. :)
"Sorry, Mr. Calaway, we need to take the baby to the NICU," The nurse said walking over and reaching out for the baby girl.
"The NICU? But why? She's perfect," Mark said but still handed his daughter over to the nurse.
"She's a preemie Mr. Calaway, only three pounds seven ounces, we need to monitor her," the nurse replied.
"Monitor her for what exactly?" Laurel asked as she stood next to Mark.
"Her lungs aren't fully developed, ma'am. We will hook her up to some machines to help her and place her in an incubator and watch her to make sure she doesn't go into distress."
"But she's going to be okay, right?" Laurel asked fighting tears.
"We think she will be just fine. This is just procedure. I'll come back down and get you once we have her situated so you can see her again," The nurse said as she walked out of Harley's room with the baby.
"Hey, don't worry she's perfect and she is going to be just fine!" Mark said when he realized that Laurel was crying beside him.
"I know it's just I can't believe that this is happening. Harley just gave birth and she wasn't even awake to enjoy it," Laurel said wiping at her cheeks.
"I didn't even think to record it so that she can witness this miracle when she wakes up," Mark said shaking his head.
"No worries I caught the whole thing on my cell, even you going a little pale as that little princess was popping out," Laurel said with a smile.
"Thanks for that…I think," Mark said smiling down at her. "So about this name you've come up with, can I hear it or is it some secret?" Mark asked as he went and took a seat beside Harley's bed.
"Oh yeah I almost forgot about that," Laurel said flipping open the notebook just as there was a knock at the door.
"Hey is this a private party or can anyone join?" Shawn said sticking his head in the door.
"Shawn! I thought you said you were coming in the morning!" Laurel said as she walked into Shawn's arms once he was fully in the room.
"Yea well someone wanted to see Mark so we just got on the road as soon as I got off of the phone with you," Shawn said kissing Laurel before motioning for the person still waiting outside the room.
"I hear someone's about to become a daddy!" At the words Mark's head shot up and towards the open door.
"Glen! Well I'll be damned, where'd Shawn get you from?" Mark asked his best friend as he stood and walked over to hug Glen.
"Went to your place a few days ago when I couldn't find you I called this clown. So Shawn filled me in on what's been going on. How's your lady doin?" Glen said looking past Mark and over to the bed.
"She just gave birth to our daughter!" Mark said with the biggest smile Glen had ever seen.
"Well damn! Congratulations man!" Glen said hugging Mark again.
"Yea, what he said!" Shawn said giving Mark a hug of his own.
"Are they both…okay?" Shawn asked hesitantly.
"They took the baby up to the NICU. She's beautiful, man! "
"The NICU? Is she alright?" Glen asked.
"She's only 3lbs 7oz so she's very small, and her lungs are under developed, but she's going to be fine," Mark said emphatically.
"That's great! Named her yet or gonna wait on Harley" Shawn asked.
"Well actually your lady was just about to tell me what name she's come up with," Mark said looking over at Laurel.
"Right, well I was thinking Hanan Wenona Calaway. Now before you guys balk at the name at least let me tell you what that means," Laurel said when she saw the looks the men were giving each other. Hanan is Hebrew and it literally means "A gift from God" and Wenona is Native-American for "First born daughter" and that's exactly what that precious little girl is, so I just think it's the perfect name for her, but if you hate it, Mark, I absolutely understand," Laurel said trying to read Marks expression.
"You're right, Laurel, that is the perfect name for her and I think Harley will love it too. Thank you," Mark said hugging Laurel.
"You're welcome. Hey I'm gonna go and call Harley's niece and let her know what's going on, be right back," Laurel said grabbing Harley's cell and walking out of the room.
"So, how are you holding up big man? I mean it's not every day you drive across the state after your woman only to find her pregnant and in a coma," Shawn said as he smacked Mark on the back.
"Tell me about it!" Mark chuckled. "I'm hanging in there. I just really want Harley to wake up so I can explain everything to her and make her understand that she is the only woman I want in my life, well now her and our little girl of course, and I'm gonna ask her to marry me…for real this time," Mark said looking over his shoulder at Harley.
"She whispered my name right after she had the baby. I think she recognized my voice. She's gonna come back to me, she has to."
"Hey, Mark, I haven't known her for very long but Laurel has always said how much of a fighter Harley is and after putting up with you I believe that she is tougher than Teflon, she'll come back to you, I know it," Shawn said reassuringly.
"Yea, I've never even met her and I can tell she is a tough one I mean she slept with you, so she has to be, right?" Glen said and getting a smack in the head for his troubles.
"Go to hell Glen!" Mark said but he was smiling as he said it.
"Mark..." Harley groaned causing Mark to hurry to her bedside.
"I'm here Darlin'! I'm here and I'm not going anywhere so you just keep on fighting and open those beautiful green eyes of yours, okay? I'll be right here when you do," Mark said as he placed a kiss on Harley's forehead.
"Should we get someone?" Shawn asked.
"Naw, the nurse should be back soon, but I already know what she'll say. She'll just tell me to keep talking to her and to let her know if she opens her eyes," Mark answered not looking away from Harley.
"Well we're gonna go grab some food, want us to pick you up something?" Glen asked his friend.
"I'm good thanks though."
"If you say so, hey when we get back maybe you can take us up to meet Hanan," Shawn said as he and Glen turned to leave.
"Sure thing man, sure thing and hey guys, thanks for coming. It means a lot."
"Hey now don't go getting sentimental man, you know we're always here for you," Glen said before walking out the door leaving Mark alone with Harley.
"Alright Darlin' no more Mr. Nice Taker, now I want you to open your damn eyes and look at me and if you're just too tired to do that then squeeze my hand and let me know that you can hear me! I need to know that you're still in there! Squeeze my hand, Harley dammit! Squeeze it!" Mark said through clenched teeth.
Mark closed his eyes and placed his head on his hands which were still clutching Harley's when he felt the tiny squeeze of her hands. He gasped and looked up just in time to see Harley's eyes flutter open.
"Mark," Harley whispered before her eyes closed once again.
"Nurse!" Mark yelled as he frantically hit the call button for someone to come into Harley's room.
Ann-Marie ran into the room seconds later and saw the huge grin on Marks face, "She said my name again and opened her eyes!" He said as Laurel walked back into the room.
"She's coming back to us Laurel, our girl is finally coming back to us!" Mark said grabbing Laurel and hugging her tightly as Ann-Marie called in the doctor to fully examine Harley.
