The Baby Between Them

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hunter turned away from the kitchen and started walking back towards the stairs that would take him up to the room he'd been staying in.

"Get back in there so we can tell them all what happened." Mitch said as he walked through the front door with Thomas and Sylvie. Hunter eyed the stairs.

"Come on baby. Everything will work out how it's meant to in the end. I promise." Sylvie said, holding onto his arm and leading him back to the kitchen.

"Mum! Dad!" Nash ran over and threw his arms around his parents, who held him like they hadn't seen him for years, rather than a couple of weeks.

"No more running away. Alright?" Mitch said, walking over, leaning down and kissing Rae on the top of her head. She nodded, but stayed quiet, not trusting herself to not break down into tears if she tried to talk.

"You're lucky we love you both so damned much!" Sylvie said, walking over to Rae, who stood up and gave her a hug.

"Sorry." Rae managed, as she ducked her head to hide the tears and sat back down in her chair.

Hunter watched her, wishing he could walk over, wrap her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be alright now, but she didn't want him. She'd made that very clear. As if she could feel his eyes on her, Rae looked up and caught him staring, as all the parents chose a seat and sat down at the round table.

Almost like they'd done it on purpose, the only seat left, was the one directly next to Rae. Hunter was walking to one of the bar stools, not knowing if he could handle being so close to her, without touching her, but his father had other idea's.

"Come sit at the table please Hunter." Thomas said, nodding towards the seat. Rae looked up at him through her eyelashes and Hunter saw the blush on her cheeks, before she ducked her head back down again.

Hunter walked over, grabbed the chair, spun it around and sat on it backwards. He stared at the table, having decided the best plan of attack was to ignore her and the way his heart was trying to thump it's way out of his chest at how close she was.

"Alright." Mitch said loudly.

"Mitchell, the baby is sleeping!" Abi growled and everyone around the table snickered.

"Shit! Sorry." He looked towards the doorway, like he was listening for her cries, before he turned back to everyone. "I'm guessing everyone knows now, that Rick woke up this morning." Nods and murmurs confirmed. "Good. Hunter and I rushed over to the prison as soon as we found out, in the hopes that he would be well enough to sign all the paperwork in regards to Amelia." Mitch took a deep breath and Rae's stomach felt like lead again.

Hunter watched her out of the corner of his eye as she started nibbling on her fingernails, concern written all over her face.

"He's still very sick and he has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but he's doing alright." A sob escaped Rae and it was the last straw for Hunter. He reached out, grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, keeping hold of it on top of her thigh. He refused to look at her still, but could feel her eyes on him.

He looked up and saw his mother giving him a small smile, but he gave her a small shake of his head and lowered his eyes again.

"Was he able to sign the papers?" Rae asked quietly.

"As of half an hour ago, when a judge signed off on it, Hunter became Amelia's legal guardian."

"Oh my God!" Rae burst into tears. "That's amazing!"

"The only thing is, that it's not temporary." Mitch said and all eyes snapped to him.

"What do you mean?" Rae asked.