Judy started crying, "Oh Johnny look at her!" Baby Violet had medium brown hair, like her mom. She made a cooing noise and opened her grayish blue eyes at her parents. Johnny was speechless, she was absolutely beautiful. He reached his hand out and touched the side of her face.
"Judy, she's beautiful."
Judy snuggled her little bundle. Violet squirmed and cuddled next to her mom. Violet opened her little hand towards her father.
"Damn, she has five fingers. Oh well." Immediately Johnny was over his disappointment and he smiled at his daughter.
A helpful nurse entered the room and took some pictures. The next day Johnny came to the hospital to visit his wife and daughter. He placed a bouquet of flowers near Judy and placed a magazine in her lap.
"What's this?"
"Look at the cover."
Judy held up the magazine, on the cover was a picture of her green haired husband, complete with eyebrow ring, mohawk, and tattoos holding a his new daughter. There were a few other headlines, an interview with Miley Cyrus was inside, Brittney spears punched a photographer, and Madonna had a new boyfriend. People Magazine put all of that on the back burner and had the main article about newly sober Johnny Napalm and his wife Judy Nails and the long road that let to the birth of Violet.
Johnny sat next to Judy as they read the article. Laughing at the funny parts, Judy cried at the sad parts. Both of them cussed when the found inaccurate parts in the article. They put the magazine away when the nurse brought Violet in the room. All of their attention focused to her new daughter.
"Judy, let me hold her."
Judy handed the warm bundle over. Johnny cuddled her and kissed her. "Johnny, how does it feel? Holding your new daughter."
He smiled at her, "Like holding a new guitar. A very new, one of a kind, expensive, irreplaceable guitar." He looked at his daughter and smiled at her, "A Violet colored guitar."
They were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. A nurse came in, probably the same one that leaked those pictures to the press. "Mr. Napalm. There's an older couple outside that wants to see you. I know that you said that you don't want visitors but they said that they came all the way from England to see you."
Johnny's eyebrows arched. "What are they're names?"
"Margret and Harry. They're an older couple and…" Johnny placed Violet in Judy's arms. He sped out the door. As soon as he was out of sight Judy heard excited screams. She had no idea what was going on. Violet started fussing and Judy rocked her.
Johnny ran into the arms of the older couple. Margret cried and buried her face in her long lost son's shoulder.
"Oh dearest Jonathan, it's been so long!" Margret was in tears of joy. "I haven't seen you in years!"
"Mum, it's nice to see you."
"It's nice to see you sober." Harry looked at his son with a critical eye. "You're sober, right?"
Johnny looked up at his ever critical dad, "Yes dad, I'm sober now. I've been sober for a year now, and I've given up cigarettes too."
"That's good to hear." Harry smiled and gave his son a nod of approval.
Margret grabbed her son's arm, "Johnny, when I heard news of your sobriety I was so excited. Then I heard about the birth of your baby and I just had to come see if it was true."
"Your mother dragged me out of the office just to see you."
"Harry, aren't you glad to see your son? Never mind, Johnny can we see the baby?"
Memories from Johnny's childhood came back to him. His mum was always crazy about babies, and his dad was always a workaholic. "Well, let me ask Judy. She's got Violet right now." Johnny tenderly opened the door to Judy's hospital room and entered. "Judy, you'll never believe it, my parents came to see us and the baby. Is it okay if I let them in?"
Judy looked toward the partially opened door. "Sure, they can come in."
Johnny left the room and entered with an older British couple. His mom, Margret, was short and somewhat plump. Her hair was grayish white and was in neat curls. Through her glasses, Judy could see her gray eyes. Harry on the other hand was tall and lanky. He had brownish-grey hair and Johnny had all of his facial features. Harry looked stern even when he was wearing khaki pants and a tan sweater. Margret smiled and pulled a chair by Judy instantly. She told Judy how pretty she and her baby was and immediately she started fussing over Violet. Margret seemed like the kind of mom who would always have a pate of cookies waiting on the table after school. Harry on the other hand stood on the edge of the room. He closely examined his new daughter in law and his granddaughter. Judy could feel his cold eyes examining her, looking her over like she was a new car he was interested in buying.
"Oh Jonathan, she's gorgeous! She's prettier than all the Queen's gems! Judy, may I hold her."
Judy smiled at her mother in law, "Sure, but be careful."
She tenderly handed over her most precious belonging. Margret smiled at Violet and rocked her gently. She looked at her husband "Ha ha Harry, I get to hold the baby first."
Harry approached the bundle, "She sure is a pretty baby." Harry leaned toward Violet, "Pretty Baby," he cooed. Maybe his heart was starting to warm up after all. He looked up at his son and Judy, "Are you two married?" it sounded more like a command than a question.
"Yes dad, Judy and I are married." Margret looked up at Harry, "Now, be nice. I told you they were married. We didn't come all the way across the bleedin' ocean to criticize our son."
Harry sat down in a chair, "Well if Miss Judy is my new daughter in law, I would like to know how you two met." He leaned back, "G'head I won't bite."
Johnny and Judy took turns explaining about how the met. Johnny started at his break up with Plum, his decent into alcoholism, the tour with Violet Eyes, his coma, how Judy and him became friends and fell in love, and finally about his citizenship and his new daughter. They told everything to Johnny's parents, well…everything except for that night in Vegas and that romantic week in London. Halfway between the conversation Margret could tell that her husband was disapproving. She handed Violet to him, and by the time the story was over, his heart was softened. When they finished he smiled at his son and his wife.
"Well, that was entertaining. Judy, I think you're going to be a good mum."
Judy was pleased, "Thank you."
"The reason I'm saying that is because if you can make Johnny behave, you can make any kid behave." everybody laughed, "Johnny, I think you've got yourself a keeper."
Judy blushed, and Johnny looked at his dad. For the first time in his life, he had gained his father's approval.