Chapter 22

Lucas

Currently I'm being wheeled to the incubator my baby has been held in for the past few days . I couldn't meet him for a while due to the fact that I was recovering, especially the stitches below my belly button, a line that will always remind me of the beautiful life I brought into this world .

" Are you ready to meet him?" The nurse, Sarah asks with a warm smile on her face .

" Yes" I say, my voice cracking a little when I see his sleeping form in the incubator, so small yet so precious . The different types of tubes on his body break my heart a little .

I look over Nathan, who's standing beside me, looking at the nurse as she gently takes the baby out of the incubator . His eyes full of curiosity and wonder .

" I want you  to sit here, and I will need you to take your shirt off for me Lucas ." Nurse Sarah instructs me , pointing to the couch next to the incubator .

Nathan gladly helps me take off my shirt and sit down on the couch . He has been by my side since , I don't know. Since forever.

" There we go!" The nurse places the baby over my chest, his skin on mine feels so perfectly right .

He's breathing softly, his eyes closed. I stare in awe at the small creature . He has a small blue hat on, and only in his diaper . He looks nothing like me, that's for sure but when he suddenly opens his eyes like he can sense that it's me holding him, the most beautiful eyes meet mine . His father's eyes, green as ever.

" I'm starting to like this little guy" Nathan smirks besides me , I can only pout in disappointment but deep down, I'm glad he didn't take after my boring brown eyes.

" Isn't he a charmer?" Nathan teases when the baby starts making this 'not so cute face' like he's about to cry .

" Shhh, it's okay !" I hum softly, sighing in relief when he just settles.Going back to staring in space .

His caramel skin is smooth to touch, his short dark brown hair is so soft and silky, his green eyes glow in the afternoon light that shines through the curtains. I have never seen such small hands, such delicate and tiny feet , precious nails . He looks a lot like Nathan, so perfect . I wouldn't trade him for anything . Even though he came out just like the person who didn't carry him for nine months! .

" He's perfect" I whisper, staring down at the little guy who's staring back at me like he can see me .

" Thought of a name yet?" Nathan asks besides me . Him , too , with a warm smile plastered on his face .

"Tobias Warren Creed. " I look up at Nathan whose face goes slack with emotions .

He wasn't exactly expecting this . We talked about names, not so often but he once mentioned that his father was the best, according to the little he can recall of him . To make matters greater is that, his name was Tobias,  so to name our boy after his father was something I was planning on surprising him with .

" That's ... that's..." He sniffles a little, looking away . Trying to hide his face . I place my hand on top of his on the couch arm , squeezing a little .

" I know, I know ." I mumble . Rubbing the back of his hand gently . Nathan sighs heavily then looks down at me, his eyes glistening with tears.

" I love this ." He places a small kiss over my forehead then over Toby's too. Toby's face scrunches up immediately .

" Aww , he hates your kisses!" I laugh softly when Tobias starts to fuss and cry a little .

" So much for having my own little clone ." Nathan grumbles . I quickly place my hand over Toby's back, shushing him softly .

***

" He's so cute!" Summer sniffles . Holding my little boy in her arms .

I'm still stuck in the hospital, me and Tobias . I have lost count of how many days I have been here . Just waking up , every single day holding my baby has made the stay at the hospital more bearable .

" He's too cute to be Nathan's baby" Cam chimes in, I give him a playful dead stare . "it is true, have you seen the guy?"

" Of course he has, he had a baby with him for chris sakes, huge respect for that ." Tyron saves my ass once again, giving me a fist pump when he reaches the side of my bed .

I have been healing alright, although i can't really get up without some help from the rope by my bed or a nurse, even Nathan helps sometimes when he's around, and the best part is, he's always around . Literally, taking care of me and Tobias . It's crazy what we both went through to get to this part in our lives, so many sacrifices but yet it was all worth it in the end .

" Yeah, he definitely looks like a mini copy of Nathan ." Josh comments when he finally gets a chance to hold the baby .

" Yeah, so much for being the carrier!" I groan, and everybody just guffaws at me .

" You are so handsome though!" Josh coos, cuddling the baby . We all stare at him in surprise  .

" Didn't know you were a baby person ." Summer mutters, taking a seat beside Cam on the couch a few feet beside my bed.

" He's too precious, makes me wanna have one of my own!" Josh bellows . This goes on for a while, and I allow it . I mean, who wouldn't want a baby after seeing how precious Tobias is! .

" Guysss.." I groan, all attention turns to me . " Give me my Tobias back ." My arms are starting to feel cold without him in them . This Nagging feeling of wanting him close to me is getting stronger.

" But he's not crying or anything, he loves me! Right little Tobi!"

" It's Tobias, you ass!" Cam snaps to Josh playfully.

" I gave him a nice cute name, jealous?" Josh bickers, then yeah . Another round of bickering starts.

Oh well I'm never inviting them over here . Being in one room is hard with all of them at once, moreover when Tobias is involved .

" Are you okay?" Tyron sits by my bed, looking at me with nothing but worry in his eyes .

" I will be, once they are all out of here ."

" Haha, let me get them out of here then.Chop chop, come on everyone! You have overwhelmed the baby and Lucas needs to rest . Josh, give Lucas his baby ." Tryon beckons, Josh pouts .

" But I'm still-"

" Joshua!" Everybody says all at once . It is a funny moment to witness, for a while I forget that I'm in pain .

" Okay okay!" Josh looks hesitant , trying to win us over with his puppy eyes , when he realises that isn't working, he sighs heavily . " Alright!" He slowly walks towards me, looking down at Tobias in his arms .

Tryon helps me sit up comfortably on the bed, with a few pillows behind me . I smile at him gratefully, he just hugs me and steps away . Josh gently places Tobias in my arms . That warm feeling spreading in my heart when I finally get to see his little face .

Tobias is a very quiet baby, he mostly spends his time awake observing every sound around him . With every little sound, his eyes move and it's amazing how he hardly ever cries unless there's something really wrong .

" He looks nothing like me, right?" I chuckle , it seems like there's no trace of me in his physical appearance . Nothing .

" Well..." Tryon chuckles " He's still a baby . Maybe something will come up when he's a little older ."

" Though , I must say, he looks way better than Nathan . " Summer Snickers, making everyone crack up .

" Where's that guy anyways?" Cam questions, glancing around the room .

" Had work I think ." I mumble  . I hate that his work has been demanding him more since I gave birth .

" Why didn't you tell us that he was the fath-"

" Not now Josh . We talked about this ." Summer interrupts Josh . I wish I could talk to them about everything but now, I'm not feeling like doing anything but appreciate the precious human being in my arms .

" Let's give Lucas some alone time . See you tomorrow!" Tryon waves bye to me . Everybody follows until there's only Josh left .

" I wish you could have told me the truth ."

" Doesn't matter anymore ."

" It matters to me Lucas . At least I wouldn't have been worried about you 24 hours . Thinking how you are going to do this parenting thing alone ."

" Sorry for worrying you too much but now things are okay . " I look over Josh who simply runs his hand over his face .

He stands by the door, staring at Tobias in my arms . " I'm not sure if things are okay now . No shade but Nathan? You could have done better. Tobias deserves more than a father like Nathan . " Before I could reply, he walked out of the room .

I look down at Tobias, who's slowly falling asleep.  A part of me knows that Nathan is not perfect, but I know, I know that he's different now . He has shown me that side of him throughout my time here and during the last few weeks before I gave birth . Almost everyone being against this is starting to make me question if I made the right decision with Nathan.

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