This is not the dream I dreamed - Rachel faces up to the fact that her Broadway career could be over before it had chance to begin.
Rating - T
Character - Rachel [and her fathers]
A/N - Reviews/concrit are loved, and if there's anything you'd like to see happen the let me know and I'll try my best to work it in somehow.I'm from the UK, so if anything American is not quite right, please let me know and I'll fix it.
Sorry this part's a bit short, I've been working all week and I'm exhausted!
"What if I hurt her?" Rachel asked, her hands shaking as they reached to take Lyla from the doctor.
"You won't" he laid Lyla on Rachel's chest, "Keep one hand under her bum" he moved her left hand, "and if you stand up or carry her anywhere, support her head with your other hand" the doctor placed her right hand over Lyla's head to demonstrate, "do that and you won't go far wrong." He smiled, watching Lyla snuggle again Rachel's chest, before covering the small girl with a blanket. "It looks like someone's trying to tell you something" the doctor smiled, watching as Lyla curled and uncurled her fists by her head, her mouth opening and closing as she suckled the air by Rachel's chest. "Would you like to try feeding her?"
Rachel was shocked, today was the first time she'd held Lyla without a mass of tubes and wires tying her to the incubator, she'd never imagined she'd get to feed her too. "Will she be able to?" Rachel asked, "I mean they told me she might still be tube fed when she went home."
The doctor shrugged, "she's still small, she might not take much before she's exhausted, but getting her used to putting some effort into feeding won't hurt. I'll get a nurse to take out the tube then we can see how she takes to it" he smiled leaving Rachel with Lyla.
"Daddy, Daddy, she's feeding" Rachel couldn't tear her eyes away from her daughter as she laid against her mother's chest.
"Oh Ray-ray. Your dad would be so proud of you both" Hiram sighed, reaching for the camera and taking some pictures of Rachel and Lyla to show his husband at a later date. Leroy had spoken to the doctor and been told that Lyla would more than likely be discharged within the next few weeks, as they were just waiting for her to gain few extra pounds, and so Leroy had flown back to Ohio to prepare the house for Lyla's arrival.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Hiram asked, placing the mail he'd picked up from Rachel's apartment beside his daughter.
"Amazing" she sighed, "absolutely amazing" her eyes still fixed on her daughter.
"I told you it was the best feeling." Hannah grinned, placing a hand lightly on Rachel's shoulder, "if she keeps going like this she'll be out before Charlie, and we can't have that" she joked, her and Rachel becoming firm friends over the past few weeks, supporting each other as their children grew both bigger and stronger. "Just make sure I get a cuddle before you whisk her back to Ohio" she smiled, greeting Hiram before walking over to Charlie's bedside.
"How's she doing?" the doctor asked, approaching Rachel almost half an hour had passed since Lyla had been taken from her incubator.
"She's asleep" Rachel told him, "she fed for a while, but I don't think she took much, she was sort of just lying there for a while."
The doctor nodded, "She'll get the hang of it eventually, once she's got the hang of atcing on, and she realises tht that's where her food is she'll start taking more"
It took almost three weeks for Lyla to get the hang of breast feeding, "She's doing well" the doctor smiled as the nurse removed Lyla's feeding tube for the last time, "she's getting everything she needs from you now" he explained, "she doesn't need to be supplemented any more. Just three more pounds and I'll be happy to sign discharge papers"
Rachel couldn't tear the grin from her face as she check the straps on Lyla's car seat were secure before saying goodbye to the nurses and carrying her out of the hospital for the first time. Hiram carried their bags out to the car, Lyla's paediatrician waking alongside them. He waited for Rachel to click the car seat into the base before leaning over the sleeping child, "and while it was lovely to meet you Lyla, I hope our paths never have to cross again" he shook her tiny fist before turning his attention to Rachel, "I'll make sure Doctor Tayler has Lyla's notes, then you just give her a ring and make an appointment, I trained with her, she's a good doctor."
"Thank you" Rachel smiled, wrapping her arms around the tall man, "for everything., I don't know how I can ever thank you."
"Just take care of yourselves" the doctor smiled, "and if you ever get on Broadway send some tickets in my direction."
Rachel nodded, "front row of my first show, you'll be there" she promised.
The doctor smiled and turned his attention to Hiram, "and you look after these two, drive carefully" he warned.
"I will" Hiram nodded, "I've got precious cargo to take care of. And thank you, for everything you've done for them both"
"Hey" the doctor saw the tears in Hiram's eyes, "I was just doing my job. Now you get them back home where they belong, I bet Leroy's waiting for you."
The adults said their final goodbyes before Rachel climbed in beside Lyla, "Come on baby" she smiled, "let's go home"
Leroy flung the door open as he saw Hiram's car pull up in front of the house, "Rachel, Hiram, what's. . .I wasn't expecting you for another week or so."
"She passed the minimum weight for her car seat, she feeds well" Rachel explained, lifting Lyla from the car "so they let her come home"
"Oh my Lylaberry" Leroy took Lyla from Rachel, "she's so big" he grinned, even though Lyla was still considerably smaller than the average newborn, she was a lot bigger than when Leroy last saw her.
"Four pounds and nine ounces" Rachel smiled proudly, kissing Leroy's cheek before yawning.
"Come on" Leroy wrapped his free arm around Rachel, "I'll watch Lyla, you have a lie down." He guided her into the house, glad to have his daughter and his granddaughter back home where they belonged.
Coming Next Time: Rachel bumps into Lyla's father. . .