For Those You Love

Chapter 6

A/N- The song used in this chapter is 'I hope you dance' by Lee Ann Womack.

"Yeah, Car. I got home safe." Lee assured, entering their kitchen and talking down his mobile phone. She practically forced him to go home, telling him to get the car seat ready in preparation for their return home the next day.

"Are you sure? It's been a long day and you could have had an accident…" She worried, even though a phone, he could tell her emotions.

"Honey, you worry too much!" He laughed, rolling his eyes and smiling. "Just try to get some rest? You deserve it."

"Fine…" She huffed, making static crackle in his ear. "I love you."

"I love you too." He replied, plopping himself down on their sofa. "Give Clem a kiss goodnight from me?"

"Of course." She laughed, her voice echoing in his ear. "Bye daddy."

"Bye mommy." He said softly, snapping the phone closed and relaxing, letting the events of the day finally sink in. Unfortunately, he drifted too far in and let darkness and tiredness consume him, leading him into a dream-filled slumber.

The first thing he realized when he woke up was the lack of warmth by his side. He shot up and looked around, panic-stricken. Then, he remembered and glanced down at his watch on his left wrist.

"Shit!" He shouted, bolting out of his seat and racing outside to their garage. "It's Ten O'clock!"

He grabbed the infant's car seat and hurriedly opened it, all the while, marching over towards his car. Once the box was opened, it took no time to fit the seat and back the car out, turning out of their street and making his way to the hospital.

He raced through the hospital, baby seat and flowers in hand only stopping when he reached the maternity ward.

"Ah, Lee!" Janey greeted, waving to him from across he corridor. "How are you doing?"

"I'm great, thanks." He replied, smiling and hugging the small woman. He held out the lilies to her and shrugged. "These are for you… as a thank you."

"Thanks Lee, I appreciate it." She grinned, taking them off him and placing them on her desk. "Carley's in the same room as she was yesterday."

"Thanks. I'd better get to it. I'm running late as it is." He laughed, turning and striding the familiar corridors. He reached Carley's room and knocked.

"Come in." Came the muffled reply from the other side. He did as she asked and entered, walking up behind his wife (who was hovering over a Perspex cot), dumping the car seat on her bed and kissing her neck.

She tensed at his touch, only relaxing once she realized who it was. She turned her head and looked at him through dark-rimmed eyes. His eyebrows shot into his hairline and he moved away slowly.

"Have a good night?" He asked, taking her hands in his and kissing her softly. She chuckled softly.

"It was the most tiring night of my life, but it was the best." She grinned, hugging into his chest.

"How's Clementine?" He asked, pulling away and moving closer to the cot. He smiled, seeing his daughter laid on her back, dressed in a plain white baby grow with her eyes closed.

"She's fine." Carley assured, smiling as the tiny girl shifted in her sleep. She reached out and picked her up, cradling her in her embrace. "Can you get her ready to go home? I need to pee."

"Of course." He replied, taking her into his arms and bouncing her slightly.

"Thank you." She smiled, hopping out of her room.

Lee looked down into his arms, where his daughter slept soundly and crept over to the carry seat. He placed her in it gently, as to not wake her, and buckled her in. She started to fuss, so he found the stuffed lion he bought and placed in next to her. To his delight, she clasped it in her tiny hands and didn't let go, falling back to sleep. He simply stared at her for the longest time… How the fuck did he help make her?!

"Lee?" He heard, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Carley slipping her thin, silver wedding band back on her finger and smiled. She never wore her engagement ring, saying it was only for special occasions. He was yet to see her wear it. "I said are you ready to head out?"

"Yeah." He replied, picking up the carry seat and walking out of the door towards the exit.

They made it to the car and started off home, securing the carry seat in the back seat.

"So… how did you sleep last night?" He asked, looking into the rear-view mirror at his wife and daughter. Carley returned his gaze, nodding her head slowly.

"It was alright." She shrugged. Her eyes were darker underneath already, indicating that she hadn't had much sleep after all. "I mean… considering."

"Yeah…" He agreed, stopping at the intersection.

After that, their journey was quiet, neither of them wanting to wake their child. To their relief, it was within ten minutes that Lee pulled their car into the garage and hopped out, opening the door for Carley and grabbing the carry seat. He approached their front door and opened it, gesturing his wife inside.

Once he followed her and locked the door, he entered the living room and was greeted with the sight of balloons, cards and a whole manner of stuff.

Carley stood in its midst, holding a card in her hand and smiling.

"What the hell's all this?" He asked, placing the seat down on the sofa and going to her side. He looked at the card from over her shoulder and smiled, reading the caption.

Lee & Carley

Congratulations on the birth of Clementine! We hope this finds you okay! We'll be over to see you in a few days; give you time to settle into being a Mommy and Daddy. Have fun! You deserve it!

From all your colleagues at UGA and WABE

"Holy…" Lee breathed, feeling an elbow to the ribs, effectively cutting him off.

"Lee, Clementine!" Carley hissed, nudging his head towards their sofa. Lee understood immediately and shut up. Carley ran her hands through her hair and sighed. "I'm gonna put her down for a nap."

"You sure you don't want me to?" Lee asked, helping her with the various straps that were holding their daughter in place.

"Nah, I think I've got it." She replied, taking the baby in her arms and turning her around to look at her father. She addressed the tiny girl, putting on her best 'baby' voice. "Say 'goodnight daddy!'"

"Goodnight sweetheart." He smiled, kissing his daughter's forehead and smiling slightly. He watched Carley leave the room and got to tidying the room, moving all the cards and standing them up on the fireplace.

Ten minutes passed, and Lee started to worry. Carley wasn't back yet and he couldn't hear anything from upstairs. He slowly crept upstairs to the nursery and stopped when he heard the most angelic sound ever.

Singing softly radiated around him, and he stopped in the doorway of the light yellow nursery, watching as his wife sat beside the bassinet, her hand snaked over the side and her finger being gripped tightly.

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed"

She smiled, rocking it slightly and running her thumb over the baby's small hand. The baby gurgled, obviously loving the sound of her mother's voice.

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance"

Lee walked inside slowly, folding his arms across his chest and loving the sight before him. It was the first time he'd heard her sing, and knew he would hear it more. He wanted to hear it more.

"I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking

Loving might be a mistake but it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance"

Clementine drifted off, relaxing the grip on Carley's hand. Lee walked over to his wife and sat on the arm of the rocking chair; startling her slightly.

"That was beautiful, Car." He admired, taking her hand softly in his and smiling softly. A blush crept up her cheeks and she lowered her head in embarrassment. "Really, it was. She's lucky to have you."

"I don't sing for a reason, Lee." The woman laughed, resting her head on his shoulder. He gave her hand a soft squeeze. "I just thought it might help her drift off easier."

"It sure did." He laughed, noting that their daughter was pretty much dead to the world, splayed out on her back with her arms raised into a surrender. He looked back down to his wife. "Thank you so much, Car."

"What for, you stupid man?" She asked, pulling away and looking at him in surprise. He sighed, running a hand over his stubble.

"You never gave up on me… on us." He explained, showing her a lopsided smile. "Even when I was in a really bad place, you never let me give up. You gave me a family."

"Oh, Lee." She sighed, leaning her head back on his shoulder and cuddling into his chest. "You don't have to thank me for that…"

"Yeah, I do." He argued, kissing her forehead lightly. "Now, come on. She'll be up before we know it and I'm sure you'll want to have a cup of decaf."

"You know me too well, Everett."