Nine months later...
- They're waiting for you.
Mad with impatience and nervousness, Goren wasted no time in rushing to Eames' room.
He had been so worried about Eames and the baby, wondering how it had all happened, and whether there had been any risk at all.
Just because Eames had already given birth to his sister's child didn't mean there would be no risk this time.
Especially if the baby was large and corpulent.
Even if the doctors said it was very rare to lose the mother, there was always a risk.
A risk he didn't want to run.
Crazy with worry, he didn't bother knocking, and hurried into the room, but didn't forget to close the door behind him.
He moved away from the door to step forward, but stopped short at the vision unfolding before his eyes.
Eames was there, in a little white blouse, her back leaning against the pillow, gazing adoringly at something small and fragile she was holding delicately in her arms, cradling it.
Name of God...
Goren could never regret this little being who had turned his life upside down, and who at this moment was making his mother the happiest in the world.
Thanks to this child, he had finally stopped behaving like a coward, and instead of running away, had accepted his feelings for Eames.
Strangely enough…
Despite the hours of childbirth, which had lasted an eternity for him, and the fear of losing them both, Eames didn't seem so exhausted.
It was as if this little being had given him back his strength.
And thinking about that little being...
Goren still remembered that shortly after his discovery, and Eames's release from hospital, he'd made a big decision, proposing that she come and live with him.
But he'd been afraid she'd turn him down.
After all, Brooklyn wasn't a very safe place for a woman and child.
But Eames had told her that no matter where he went, she would follow him, as long as she had his love, nothing mattered to her, not even where they lived.
So they moved in together, and began a new stage in their lives as a couple.
It had also been necessary to break the news to Deakins, and for him to try and find a solution for them.
And Deakins easily solved the problem.
He simply swapped the two partnerships, Goren/Eames and Logan/Barek.
And so Goren ended up with Barek.
And Eames with Logan.
Goren and Eames wouldn't have thought it so simple.
But they had to rely on Deakins, who was not only their captain, but also a great friend.
They should have known he'd make the change easy for them.
And so, for the past nine months, they had no longer been a team, which had been difficult at first, because despite everything, they were used to each other's way of working, but in the evening, when they got together again, they quickly forgot about the separation, and thought about the future.
And especially of the baby's arrival.
Thinking about the baby.
Was it a girl...
Or a boy.
Would the child love him.
Would he be a good father, a good spouse, for this child's mother.
So many questions raced through her mind.
But one in particular.
He'd never considered marrying Eames.
Not because he didn't want to.
He wanted Eames with him for the rest of his life.
But remembering his parents' marriage fiasco, he didn't want to go through that again.
But who knows...
Maybe it was time to forget the failure of his parents' marriage, and give him and Eames, the child, a chance at a normal family life.
- Bobby...
At Eames' soft voice, Goren snapped out of his thoughts and walked towards her and the baby.
When she reached Eames, she gave him a big smile, and tilted the baby slightly so that he could see her face.
- Meet Lili... your daughter. She turned her gaze from her daughter to the child's father. That is, if the name suits you.
Of course it suited her.
Everything Eames did, and everything she would do for their daughters, would always be validated.
And she really didn't need his consent.
- Lili... is a lovely name.
It really is.
Goren loved the name she had just given their daughter.
A huge cheek rose up inside her.
She'd been afraid of offending him without asking his opinion.
But not at all.
How she loved this man.
She put her big hazel eyes on her daughter, who gave her a big smile, where two small dimples appeared identical to her father's, and who looked at her with her big brown eyes open, staring at her intensely.
The only thing she didn't take after her father was the hair she already had on her head.
It was slightly wavy and golden.
And so, this hair was hers.
Lili was also small for a baby, but rather slender.
Their daughter was a breathtaking blend of the two of them.
And Eames loved her even more.
She couldn't wait to see what she'd look like when she grew up.
It was going to be a surprise.
She turned her gaze from her daughter to Goren, and handed him the infant.
But instinctively, Goren stepped back and put his hands in front of him.
- She's too small... too fragile.
Too small...
Too fragile.
Eames surit, tenderized.
What was Goren thinking.
That he would break his daughter if he took her in his arms.
He was a very gentle man.
On the contrary, Lili would be safe in his arms.
- Lili risked nothing with her dad... who was gentleness itself.
Lili was safe...
Was Eames really sure of that.
Could he really take her in his arms, without the risk of hurting her.
- Lili wants to go into her daddy's arms.
Daddy...
Good God...
It felt so strange to be called that.
And yet, he liked it.
So to please Eames, and more importantly, seeing that she was going to insist until he gave in, he stepped forward a few millimeters from Eames, held out his arms, and gently, she laid Lili down for him, whom he lifted, and squeezed gently.
He looked down at his daughter, who gazed up at him with her big brown eyes, staring intently at him, and who began to gurgle, a big smile spread across her lips, and with her tiny fingers, she clutched the sleeve of his shirt.
At this affection, Goren felt himself melt.
My God...
He hadn't expected such a warm, affectionate welcome.
Lili was so smiling, and very chirpy.
But she was so small in his arms, and so light.
And instinctively, he had only one thought at that moment, to protect her.
Eames had given him a wonderful little girl, and for that reason alone, he decided to drop his preconceptions about marriage.
Yes...
He had to stop thinking about his parents' marriage fiasco, and give him and Eames a chance.
Lili had made up her mind.
Eames had just given him the greatest gift of his life, and for that, he wanted more than anything to be close to Eames, to have his love in his life, and those before God.
- Alex... Eames couldn't take her eyes off him, shining with adoration. She nodded, inviting him to continue. Did...
Good God...
How was he going to phrase this.
In addition, would she even accept his proposal.
Eames had already been married.
And so, for that reason alone, she could refuse.
But he had to try, or risk disappointment, and a formal no.
- I'd like you to carry my name.
Pardon...
Goren wanted her to carry his name.
Had she heard him right.
Could it be that this was a marriage proposal?
But if it was, it was really badly worded.
But knowing Goren, it could be.
He was so clumsy when it came to this sort of thing.
- I wanted to say...
- ... Yes... I'll be your wife. She raised her hand to her head, huffed in exasperation, and turned to him. But it's so badly worded.
So badly worded...
Yes...
He wasn't good at this sort of thing.
But from there...
Seeing a small, mocking smile spread across Eames's lips, he realized she was mocking him.
Name of God...
He couldn't stop running at full gallop every time she played him.
Eames had definitely understood everything about him.
And she was far from a stupid woman.
- Bobby... I said yes.
At her words, he snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Eames, who was smiling.
- You'll see, Lili... Eames looked at his daughter. Your father's a bit slow on the uptake for a super-smart guy.
Pardon...
A bit slow.
He opened his mouth only to close it again, stunned by Eames's words.
Eames wouldn't say that about a certain subject.
In fact, on the subject he was thinking of, it would be quite the opposite, much to the little lady's delight.
- You don't say that when you and I...
At this allusion in front of his daughter, Eames blushed violently.
My God...
But even in front of his daughter, Goren couldn't hold his tongue on a certain subject.
Name of God...
Eames was going to have to remind him that you don't say certain things in front of a child.
- Bobby... You mustn't...
She stopped in her tracks, seeing Goren lowering his face to hers, and gently placed her forehead against his, brushing against him.
At this gesture, Eames felt her heart beat with infinite love for this man.
Despite his way of speaking, which could sometimes be excessive on certain subjects, he was a tender, affectionate man.
And Eames easily forgave him for his lapses.
