Author Note: The next couple chapters are for a friend. She requested to see this. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Dembe artfully dodged a four year old little boy who was scampering around the desks playing hide and go seek with a little blonde headed girl about the same age.
The large man held a toddler in his arms out of harm's way, his smile for the children at his feet.
Red Reddington could not hear himself think above the din but he found in this instance, he did not mind the noise at all.
"Aram." Red stood quietly behind the man, looking over his shoulder, amused when the dark haired man tensed, nearly spilling his coffee.
"Yes, sir, uh," Aram cleared his throat nervously as he straightened his tie, "Mr. Reddington."
"I need you to give this to ballistics and find out where it came from." Red presented the bullet, the plastic bag dangling from his finger.
"May I ask where you...?" the computer specialist took the small bag, looking at it curiously. He lifted questioning eyes.
Reddington remained silent, his gaze a steady, unrelenting one.
"I mean, to maybe help narrow down the uh..." Aram closed his mouth, lamely pointing behind him, "I'll just take it to ballistics."
"Aram, someone shot me." Red explained. "I want to know who."
"You were shot!" the lanky man looked Red up and down, searching for unseen holes.
Red smiled, warmed by the obvious concern. "I'm fine. But I would like to know where that came from. Discreetly, of course."
"Yes, sir. I understand." Aram sprang up like wind up toy. "I'll get on it right away."
"It can wait until we're finished here." Red put a reassuring hand on the man's arm. "Just if you have some time in the next day or so."
It had waited this long, another day wouldn't make much difference. And with the full schedule they had today...
"I think we should call Liz," Samar came up beside him, "she can help out."
"Absolutely not." Red countered. "She gets one whiff of this state of affairs, she won't stop. And I'll have a house full of the little demons running around, finger painting on my priceless art collection."
Not that he would really mind. He looked over the forty some odd children dotting the floor across the way.
"Then, when she has to give them back..." Red shook his head woefully. "Is another kettle of fish all together. Do not call her under any circumstances."
He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what was on the horizon, if Elizabeth ever made contact with any of these children. Sooner or later, inevitably, she would be upset.
The matter, as it would stand, would be a no-win situation. The woman would get attached then, be forced to return the child, to it's rightful parental units. Then the tears would come, the heartbreak.
And he hated when she cried because she had cried enough for a lifetime. Perhaps, in this one instance, he could avert such a catastrophe.
Thankfully, processing the kids was moving along like a well oiled machine.
The older children, handed over their names and other info to the waiting agents. The smaller ones were being photographed for facial recognition.
Red did not know where these children... how any children maintained the level of energy they exuded.
Considering theses were scared, tired and most likely, getting hungry. The children seemed to be fairing well. But then, having been rescued from being sold to the highest bidder... this must seem like a cake walk.
Having secured a few precious hours sleep, Aram had called in the early morning hours to update Red. Agents Ressler and Navabi had lead a team to secure these children, and in the process, had taken down their newest member of the Blacklist.
Not one child or agent had been hurt in the scrimmage. So both Agents had not only done their job, they had done it exceedingly well.
All the agents on the floor had been up for hours, running on the adrenaline rush of having taken down a despicable man. Sooner rather than later, they would start crashing. One by one as the excitement tapered off, the reality that they were only human would sink in.
But until the other teams arrived, they had to keep going.
Red himself, had been on sight for a while now, assisting where he could. Even before he had arrived, his people were working on identifying the children as well. They had done eight to the Bureaus four, so far.
So, all in all, the day was shaping up well.
"Dembe..." The dark man looked up from the sleeping toddler in his arms, as Red continued. He walked over, glancing over the tiny face, his smile a genuine one.
"We should start ordering pizza. It's going to get ugly otherwise." Red glanced around the blank faces of the young children present. He momentarily wondered what could be in their heads after such a harrowing experience.
He found it impossible to empathize or understand such a situation. He sighed mentally. "It's been a long damn day."
The insistent ringing of the phone awakened Elizabeth from a deep sleep. She searched the linen for Red's warmth, but the man had already left. She reached for the annoying phone groggily.
"Yeah?" She muttered.
"Liz, hey." Samar's warm voice eased the irritation. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"It's okay." Liz propped herself on her elbow, forcing her eyes to focus. "What's going on?"
"We have a little situation here..." Samar's voice was muffled for a moment. It sounded as if lovely woman was shushing someone.
"What's wrong?" Liz sat quickly, fully alert and functioning now. "Is it Red?"
"No, not exactly." Samar scratched her head aimlessly. "We followed the lead he put us on to and made the bust, but now we're stuck with a little problem."
"Well, you know. He's not telling me much about the Blacklisters," Liz grumbled, "so I'm kind of in the dark. I don't know if I'd be any help. Isn't Red answering his phone?"
"No, he's here actually. He's doing all he can..." Samar glanced at the man in question, turning her back slightly. "Look, he didn't want us to call you. He didn't want to upset you. But we really could use the help right now."
"Just tell me what's going on."
"Off the info Red gave us, we raided an operation late last night and found a little over forty displaced kids." the Agent got right to the point.
"Oh, God. That's awful." Liz felt the words and emotion. "Are they okay?"
"They're in mint condition. Seeing as they were being sold out to the highest bidder." Samar glanced hastily back over her shoulder. Red Reddington was otherwise occupied. "Based on descriptions of missing kids, we've confirmed quite a few of them so far and we're readying them for transport."
"You need help finding the other parents?"
"Well, the problem is, we have an infant here." Samar smiled gently down at the baby in her arms. "I'm guessing it's around six months old, and the descriptions are so vague for a child this young..." she dangled her necklace for the greedy little hands that reached up.
"So, you need me to look at the data base?"
"No, we need someone to watch him." Samar corrected.
"I don't understand. Isn't someone watching the other kids?"
"We have a handful of volunteers and child welfare sent down two that are watching the others, but they're older." Samar pursed her lips, sending the baby an air kiss. "Forty kids plus... they've got their hands full."
"I'll take him." Elizabeth did not hesitate one second, attempting to keep the elation from her tone.
"Are you sure?" Samar drawled.
"I'm assuming we'll need supplies?" the woman was already planning.
"We only have one bottle for him here and a couple diapers."
"Give me an hour and I'll be there."
Agent Navabi hung up her phone, smiling. "You do know Mr. Reddington will most likely kill us both." Aram wrung his hands nervously. "You know that, right?" he looked around for the dangerous felon, totally on edge.
"No he won't." Samar smiled at the sleeping infant, stroking it's small head. "He's gonna have his hands full for the next couple days, at least."
"And after that?" the computer expert needed specifics. "Then what?"
"He'll have moved on to the next distraction." Samar shrugged, unconcerned.
"Yeah, sure. His next distraction." he nodded sagely, the man's face a mask of pure unadulterated terror. "Which will most likely be where he can hide our bodies."
"Oh, Aram," the woman laughed musically, raising the baby to her shoulder, patting it's little back lovingly, "he doesn't do that menial stuff." It was scoffed.
Aram's tension eased a little and he exhaled, thankfully.
"He hires it out."
"Absolutely not." the large security guard stood, arms folded over his burly chest, his head shaking negatively, his expression set. "No way in hell... not gonna happen."
Liz moved closer, standing toe to toe with her adversary. "How can you be so mean?"
"Practice." Silas shifted a lazy stare.
"This is a tiny little baby... helpless, alone, terrified, starving, did I mention, he's totally alone in this world?" Liz presented her side of the issue.
"The kid's smelly, loud, whiney... much like you." the guard shook his head, his features set. "And I have no desire to die so young, simply because I allowed you to talk me into something for which my boss and your boyfriend, is going to kill me quite dead for."
"Young?" she could not help herself. But at Silas' flinty look, she hurried onward. "And he's not my boyfriend."
"Yeah, sure... whatever." Silas was unmoved. "There's no way in hell you are leaving this place except... over my dead body."
An hour later, Liz had finished up the shopping needed, steering her motorized cart down one last aisle. Her eyes softened, her fingers gently rubbing over the incredibly soft fabric of the baby blanket.
She showed off the tiny baby giraffes to her companion.
"That's exactly how my neck is going to look after the boss gets finished with me." Silas predicted gloomily.
"Oh look..." Liz's eyes brightened as another object caught her attention. She steered the cart in the direction needed. Silas sighed, pushing the heavy laden shopping cart down the appropriate aisle.
The woman searched the hundreds of stuffed animals lining the shelves, indecisively.
"How about the beaver?" Silas offered helpfully, then grinned at Liz's expression.
She continued her search.
"If you pick Barney," Silas had seen her hesitate over the hideous purple thing, "I'll use it for target practice."
Liz retracted her hand quickly, scowling slightly then came up with something that made her coo lovingly.
"I'm going to blow chunks." he sighed heavily, tucking the enormous cat under his free arm as there was no more room in the cart. Silas halted his steps, staring quizzically at the animal for a few seconds, "Hey, I've seen this cat before."
"No, you haven't." Liz quickly denied, moving hastily to the check out line.
Silas stepped in front of her, loading the line with her treasures then halted her attempts at the card machine. He slid one of the several credit cards allotted him by Reddington.
"Oh, I don't want to do that." Liz grimaced slightly. "He's going to be upset with me as is."
"No, he won't." Silas predicted philosophically. "He'll take it out on me... as well he should." the man cast her a grumpy glance. "Why do I let you talk me into this shit?"
"It's a defenseless baby." Liz reminded. "I can pay him back. And did I mention–"
"...The baby is all alone in the world." the man finished up for her, sneering his discontent. "Red will get his revenge, one way or another." the guard mumbled dejectedly. "I'm just trying to decide which of my nuts I can live without."
Twenty minutes later, found them parked outside the Post Office. Liz with phone in hand, "Samar? I'm here. Can you bring him out?" she smiled. "Okay, I'll be waiting." the woman fidgeted about anxiously, the wait interminable.
"You do realize Red will probably kill us both for this." Silas grumbled, wringing his hands on the steering wheel. "Why do I let you talk me into this shit?"
"Don't swear around the baby." Liz snapped. "Just tell him I coerced you, I'll take all the blame." she did not see Silas's expression which was foreboding at most. "It's just for a couple days."
She craned her head, glancing this way and that. Finally Aram emerged, followed by Samar who was holding a small wrapped bundle in her arms. Aram carefully guided his charges down each step.
Silas had come around the vehicle, holding the door open, "Where's Reddington?" he questioned Aram Mojtabai.
Liz took the baby in welcoming arms, Samar leaning half in, half out of the car.
"He's still inside, with Ressler." the female Agent answered absently.
"Does he know?" Silas asked tightly.
"No. Like I said, he didn't want us to call." Samar watched Liz struggle with the buckle on the car seat, trying to open it unsuccessfully. Silas opened it for her, his features grim. "Maybe he was right. Are you sure you can do this?"
Liz took the sleeping child, steadying him with her right arm as she laid him in the car seat. "I can do this."
With Silas's help, they secured the boy, locking him in place. "When do you think Red might be home?" Liz asked.
"I'm not sure what his plans are." Samar told the truth. "He's made his plane available to transport the kids safely back home. Whether or not he was going with it..."
"I'll talk to him later." Liz shrugged the matter aside.
"Thanks for helping us out, really." Samar smiled warmly, the gesture still apparent as she included the large guard in the compliment. "It'll take a load off everyone."
Aram noticed the exchange, for the guard had smiled back. The tall thin man, suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Liz watched the baby snuffle in his sleep, shifting more comfortably in his seat. "It's no problem, really."
"Where do you want... it?" Silas asked, holding the car seat. He had engaged the assistance of several of his men, who stood loaded down and waiting instructions.
"In our room, of course." Elizabeth directed which bags went where, organizing the situation within moments.
She hobbled back to their room, the crutch starting to irritate and annoy. Silas stood by the baby, gently rocking the car seat back and forth on the bed.
"You need help getting him out?" he reluctantly relented, his manner still very much disapproving.
"Maybe unlocking the buckle." He popped it effortlessly, then stood back. He studied the woman meticulously for a long beat.
"You don't have a clue, do you?" he enquired amiably.
The woman's eyes almost misted over as she looked from the baby to the man, "No..." she confessed.
"Wait, I may have an idea." Silas left the room. "I'll be right back."
Liz sat down, looking over the sleeping baby, adjusting the thin blanket over him. His little hands felt cold. She stretched across the bed, grabbing the new plush blanket she had purchased, before placing it over him.
Keres hopped up on the bed, sniffing the carrier.
"Be good Keres." she warned and the cat backed off, sniffing at the baby with interest before laying down next to the carrier.
"I bring food and baby booze." Silas said as he returned, carrying the bags from the kitchen and other supplies. "I found the electric kettle and some jugs of water." Joe came in, carrying four gallons of water, sitting them beside the marble top bureau.
"Won't it be too hot for him?"
Silas sighed ever so heavily. "Okay," he instructed, "see this line?" he showed her a low point on the bottle. "Fill it to here, then mix it with cold water."
"How do you know all this stuff?" Liz was mystified.
"I am the oldest of four." the man filled the kettle with water, letting it heat. "This thing only needs a few minutes to heat, so when you aren't using it..." he unplugged it from the socket. "Okay, you're set up. When you run low on water, give a yell."
"Thank you, Silas," she smiled warmly over at the man as well, "Joe."
"Okay, we're going to go make our rounds, if you need anything..." Silas left the sentence unfinished. "Oh yeah, and one more thing... I want roses for my funeral, you know the one I'm going to have as soon as your boyfriend kills me?"
Liz smiled. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Yeah, sure... whatever."
Liz shifted her eyes, scowling slightly. It had not been Silas who had made the remark, but Joe. Silas hit the man's shoulder roughly, both sharing in the private joke.
"Get out... both of you." she pointed towards the door. "Buttheads." she murmured her belief.
Which again, seemed to amuse both men greatly.
The silence of the room after the guards departure was deafening. Liz stared at the infant at once both beguiled, and yet terrified.
Taking Silas's suggestion, she got up, unloading her bounty where she thought it would best serve her. After a little rearranging, she lined up the bottles, formula and baby food on the bureau.
On her night stand, she laid out a thick towel, some diapers, baby wipes and as an after thought, some powder she had seen in the bathroom.
Sitting down, she turned the car seat toward her, pulling the warm slumbering body from it's nest.
"Hey there, little guy. You gonna wake up for me?" She sat back against the pillows, settling the baby on her bent legs. The dark blue eyes slowly opened. "Hi, there..." She smiled at the sleepy blueness.
His little face scrunched up unhappily as he fussed, but she was ready, stroking his lips with the bottle. He latched on, suckling hungrily.
"Wow, look at you go." she made an impressed sound. "You were hungry."
Perhaps she should have made another? She second guessed herself as she watched the bottle emptying pretty rapidly. But as he got down to the last bit of it, the baby slowed, then stopped, sighing.
"All done?" She crooned. Turning him on her legs, she supported him with her right arm, while tapping his back gently, gaining a hearty burp.
She chuckled at the sound, stroking his back soothingly. After a spell, she felt warmth on her stomach where his bottom was settled.
"Somebody needs a diaper change, I think?" She lowered her legs, working him over to the edge of the bed then lay him on her makeshift changing table, pulling the snaps between his legs.
As she removed the tabs on his diaper, she vaguely remembered that you should be ready to cover a boy in case he peed again, so she readied herself. And with good reason... suddenly a strong stream filled the air and Liz found herself giggling with delight.
"And Silas thought I wouldn't be prepared." she quipped.
Making quick work of drying and changing the little one, she snapped his onesie back in place.
She laid the baby back into the soft covers of the bed, perusing the new outfits she had... well, Silas had bought this afternoon.
She decided on the one she liked best, struggling with the now wide awake baby to fit the squirmy little bundle into sleeves and legs that just did not want to cooperate. The baby was cooing, gurgling and trying so hard to say... something.
Once dressed, she beamed happily, not only that the fit was perfect, but that he looked so damned adorable.
"Red's gonna have to let me take care of you, he can't possibly turn you away when you look so sharp." She giggled at the little sailor suit he was wearing.
The baby kicked his legs, smiling. "Give me your feet, don't want your little toes getting cold." She kissed the bottom of the pudgy foot before slipping on the white sock. "There, now, would you like to play?"
She sat with the baby for the next two hours, playing with him, talking to him.
"I have to call you something." she finally decided. "The baby just isn't going to cut it." She cocked her head, looking down at the little guy. He was making a good effort in his attempts to scale the huge stuffed cat purchased today.
All at once the little head jerked around, the blue eyes making contact with hers, a big gaping smile was offered then rather unceremoniously, a loud poot echoed in the silent room.
Elizabeth laughed out loud, rubbing the little guy's back. "If your name isn't Sam, it should be."
Sam used to do the same thing, grinning big before letting one rip. She had always taken it as a warning to run from the room when she saw that mischievous grin.
Sometimes she made it, sometimes she didn't.
After the baby feel asleep to her soft crooning lullaby.
She sat reading her book, rubbing the tiny back absently. All of a sudden, just out of nowhere, he started fussing.
Liz looked around instinctively for help then dismissed the notion. She hopped from the bed, plugging in the kettle. Just about then, all hell broke loose.
That baby had a set of lungs on him. She stuck a pacifier in his mouth, which held him for all of thirty seconds before he pushed it out with his tongue.
She checked his diaper, finding him dry, but the kettle had finally warmed up.
Mixing a quick bottle, Liz brought it back, sticking it in the wide open mouth. Lifting the baby with difficulty, she swiveled him about, shifting comfortably into the pillows.
"You can be pretty loud when you want to be, huh?"
Sam sucked the bottle ferociously, clenching his hands into tiny fists. "Now was there really a need for all that noise?" Liz stroked the small hands then his furrowed brow. "No need to be so upset. I don't know your schedule yet, but I'll figure it out."
He finished off his bottle, letting out a satisfying belch. Seconds later, he got fussy again. Liz cocked her head, staring at him. "You can't be hungry still, can you?"
A thought occurred to her. "Oh, hey, how about some dessert?"
She laid him down, a little upset when he started crying harder.
"How about some bananas?" She grabbed a spoon, a soft cloth and went back to him, opening the jar when she got them both situated.
Spooning up some of the creamy mush, she stuck it in the wailing mouth, stopping his crying. "You like that?" He smacked his rosebud mouth, which opened wider when the small spoon came back into view. "It's pretty yummy."
They had made it through half the jar when he turned his head. "Full tummy, gotcha."
The baby settled against her stomach, kicking his feet oddly, his little face grimaced in a pout. Seconds later the baby began crying in earnest.
"Well, you've got a full stomach, you're dry, I'm cuddling you. What's wrong?" She asked as he let out a wail. The woman held the baby closer, rocking him soothingly. "I don't know what's wrong." she admitted her failings, feeling miserable for the little one. "I wish you could tell me."
She shifted over to the edge of the bed, holding him more upright, letting his feet kick freely as she bounced him. Feeling his diaper again and finding it dry, she was at a loss.
"Sam, I don't know what you want." She rubbed her cheek on his warm head, frowning.
"Lizzy, what have you done?" a male voice startled her for a second, so focused her efforts had been elsewhere. But it was unmistakable, that low silky accusation.
Red Reddington stood at the doorway, his head shaking back and forth, his tone more than exasperated.
"I don't know?" she bounced the baby, frowning at the man across the room, "I fed him, changed him, cuddled him. I don't know what I'm doing wrong!"
Red came further into the room, his manner clearly perturbed. "That is not what I meant and you know perfectly well."
Liz sat up straighter as he got closer, holding the baby out for him to take. Red took the squalling infant, looking it over objectively, his brow furrowed deeply.
He patted it on the back, only garnering a small burp. Nothing to cause this much ado.
She gripped Red's arm, looking down at the upset child. "What's wrong with him? Is he sick?" She frowned, kissing the baby's temple.
Red laid the small head in his hand, cupping it's bottom in the other. He bent over, feeling Sam's forehead with his lips. "He's warm, but not too bad."
He readjusted the baby, setting him against his chest, walking away. Liz hopped after him as he entered the bathroom.
Red washed his hand, then reset Sam's head in the palm of his hand, resting the tiny bottom on his stomach.
Sticking his finger in the wide open mouth, Red pressed on one part and Sam bit down. "No wonder you're pissed." Red chuckled. "He's teething." The baby grabbed Red's finger, biting down on the thick digit.
He gummed it like a dog with his favorite bone.
Liz craned her head over Red's arm watching the baby chomp down on the man's finger, "Doesn't that hurt?"
"Him, yes." he curled his finger, letting the kid bite to it's heart's content. "Go sit down, I'll be right back."
She went back to the bed, waiting anxiously for the man to return. She could hear him speaking softly to Sam.
"There," the soothing tone calmed her nerves as well, "now does that feel better?"
The child had quieted, the room silent again.
"What did you do?" she demanded as Red came into view, baby in tow.
"Gave him some crushed ice in a damp cloth." he swayed the kid gently, then looked at her. "Now, you want to tell me how you got your hands on him?"
"Samar called..."
"I explicitly told her not to involve you."
"Why would you do that? He's just a baby, Red!"
"A baby that's going to need to depend on you for everything, that you're going to get very attached to," his face darkened somewhat, "then have to give back to the parents."
She dropped her head, frowning. "Even so, they needed help."
"I was going to hire someone, Lizzy."
"That's so impersonal."
"Exactly."
"How can you say that? He's so alone, so defenseless..."
"Yeah, Silas told me." he halted her tirade. "One thing is for certain, he won't remember this time, but you will."
She looked away, folding the baby blanket. "Did you find his parents yet?"
"No, there are more missing babies than you realize." he looked down at the content infant. "And at this age, they're hard to distinguish, especially when they've disappeared from the Post Office and you can't stare at the kid to match them up with the descriptions."
"When did you figure it out?"
"Ressler and I went off in search of him. One of the sitters said that an Agent had taken him." Red's brow crooked upward. "Which explains why Samar suddenly vanished... the little coward."
"Why were you looking for him? Did he match a description?"
"I don't know, since he wasn't there." Red set the kid down, about to pull the snaps on his outfit when he stopped, really looking at the baby but more so, it's outfit. "Well, ahoy there, Sailor."
The baby kicked his legs, grinning wide, showing his pink gums as if he knew how adorable he was.
Liz smiled, straightening the necktie on the baby's chest. "We thought you might like this outfit best."
Endearing the kid to me, no doubt. Red pulled the snaps, unveiling the diaper.
"What are you doing?" she questioned, totally confused.
"The baby that matched his description wasn't circumcised."
"I didn't even notice, to be honest." She lamely admitted, then defended herself. "I was trying not to get peed on."
He pulled the tabs on the diaper, uncovering then hastily re-covering the area. "New diaper." he instructed.
Liz held her grin, "I have a changing table set up." she offered.
Red placed his thumb over the top of the diaper, cradling the baby in his large hands as he moved Sam. Lifting the diaper cautiously, he pulled it back completely. "Damn."
"It's not him?"
"No, he's been snipped."
He pulled the soiled covering away, drying the tiny bottom, then diapered the baby. Closing the snaps, he handed the little boy back to Liz. "Here, I'm going to change."
"You're not going back out are you?" she panicked.
"No, they were going to finish feeding the kids then put them down for the night before we start transporting them tomorrow." He pulled the tie at his neck, heading for the bathroom. "I'm going to try and get some sleep..." He glanced at the baby, "I hope."
A few minutes later, he reentered the room quietly, stopping in his tracks. He watched her for a long moment, cradling the boy.
She looked natural with a baby in her arms. He listened while she talked quietly to the infant, all the while damning Samar.
"I told you he'd like this outfit, Sam."
"Sam?" His low voice rumbled.
"I couldn't keep calling him 'the baby."
"Why, Sam?"
She stroked the downy hair on the tiny skull, smiling, "He's got a gas problem."
Red chortled, well remembering grown Sam's 'gas problem'.
"Did you have dinner?" she asked, sparing him a glance. "I could heat up some–"
"We ate at the Blacksite."
"I'll pay you back, Red."
"For what?"
"Silas put all the equipment today on your account, I'll pay you back for your trouble."
"Like hell you will." He held up a silencing hand. "We're not going to discuss this." Pulling back the blankets, he climbed inside, then stared at the pair. "Lizzy, let me hire someone."
"No..."
"You'll have to give him back at some point."
"I know..." She kissed the tiny forehead, nuzzling the baby with her nose.
He knew she did, and it didn't really matter now, the damage was all ready done.
He inched closer to them, wrapping his arm around the hurting woman. Liz rested her head on his shoulder, playing with the small fingers.
Red stroked his finger over hers, hesitating when he saw how large his finger was against hers and Sam's. He felt her smile against his shoulder, even as she sniffled.
The woman grabbed his finger, slipping it under the baby's hand, the small fingers instinctively curling over the large thick one.
She chuckled wetly, "His fingers can't wrap around yours."
He squeezed her, kissing the top of her head. For the time being, he would leave her be.
If she needed to cry and just spend this moment with the baby, he would allow it. He silently prepared himself for the fallout that he knew was coming.