Tango

"Oh, Darling."

Jefferson zoned out, his head, empty, as he looked at the old ultrasound photo he kept in his sun visor. He looked at the nose and in his mind, compared it to the one he had seen earlier that morning. She really did have his nose. He wiped a calloused hand down his face as his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi Thomas, I just wanted to ask; At what time do you think you guys will be back? I wanted to come and see Alex after work but he's not picking up." The Frenchman's voice was cheery. It was indeed the day they were supposed to drive back.

"We're here." Thomas shot back, dryly.

"What do you mean?" Confusion sounded on the other line.

"We're back. She's here Gilbert. I'm a dad." The older man choked up, the thought not having truly sunk in yet.

"You're here? The baby is here? She's born? Mon D-" His words were cut off by loud thuds and the sound of limbs hitting a carpeted floor accompanied by a string of french curse words. "Congratulations, I-ah, I'm on my way!"

"Gil?" Jefferson's voice was quiet.

"Oui, mon ami?"

The air had stilled on both sides of the conversation.

"Could you..." He sniffled as his eyes darted to his ruined, blood-stained hoodie in the passenger seat. "...could you, pick up a change of clothes, for a couple of days for me and Alex on your way here?" He sighed, exhausted.

"Certainly... Did something happen, Thomas?" Concern was audible in Lafayette's voice.

"NO, no. I just... I haven't slept, is all."

"Alright. You hang in there, and I'll be there soon, good?"

"Yes, thanks..." He wiped at his runny nose. "Later." And hung up.

The Virginian shuddered, calming himself down before he parked the car in a better spot and threw his hoodie into the trash before going back inside.

***

On his way back up to the room, Dr. Hosack took him aside.

"Right, so. Alexander is back in the room. He still hasn't woken from the sedative we gave him but he should come around soon. And don't be alarmed that the baby isn't there, we just took her for a thorough examination, and we'll bring her back as soon as we're done with her. In the meantime, I have her paperwork for you to fill out." She informed as she handed him, a clipboard with documents.

As if on autopilot, he took the papers and went back into the room, Hamilton's sleeping form, so calm and serene, despite the whole ordeal. He sat in the same armchair he held his daughter not even forty minutes ago, and scanned the charts and documents in his hands.

full name:_______________
date of birth: Saturday, August 6th, 2022 time: 6:58 a.m.
weight: 6 pounds 10 ounces
length: 18.5 inches head circumference: 13.4 inches
APGAR: 7/10

All things considered, it amazed him how small she truly was. It had never occurred to him, that someone could be this small, and it was going to take time to get used to it. He kept filling in all the blank spaces, he could, with the little knowledge, Alex had told him about himself. Insane. They had a baby together, and he couldn't even properly fill in the paperwork because they hadn't shared enough information. Mental.

His eyes jumped from paper to paper, seeing the exorbitant amount there was, and because they weren't married, it required an extra set, just to acknowledge that he was the dad. What an insult. Like people had to be married to have children together. Or as if married people didn't cheat... Bullshit. Once he'd had everything sorted he pulled out the birth certificate. Inserting the date... father's name... mother's name... He couldn't help but chuckle, at how complicated this all was. And what a shit show it was going to be when explaining it at registration.