Love Is Happiness (sequel to Love Does Exist)

Chapter 26 Fathers

The next few hours were filled with hugs, Ross' snoring and Riker's reassuring words. When Mark and Stormie showed up, I talked to them. I finally was able to get sleep. Riker had his arm over my shoulder the whole time, he didn't move. I could tell he was tired, and I told him over and over to trade places back with Ross, but he wouldn't do it. By now, I had gotten the epidural, so that is why I was finally able to sleep.

I wake up to a very odd feeling. Stormie runs to my side. "Please wake up Ross." She looked at me with excitement in her eyes. I looked at Riker. "Can you go get the doctor please?"

Riker was up off the bed and in the hallway before I finished the sentence, and Ross was by my side. When the doctor came in, I told him the feeling I was having. He smiles and sends everyone out of the room.

Less than an hour later, Ross and I were the only ones in the room besides the doctor and three nurses. Oh yeah, and a little baby girl in my arms. Riker must have told everyone what was going on. My phone started ringing, and I handed Ross our beautiful daughter.

"Hi Riker."

"Please tell me the mob can come back now! I'm under attack here!" I laughed to myself.

"Yeah, come back!" Ross looked at me and smiled. I hung up the phone.

I reached for Angela, but he turned around. "Not a chance!" He playfully smiled. A few seconds later there was a knock on the door, with a line led by Riker walked through the door. Ross stood up from the bed. Nobody looked at me, I felt hurt. "Everyone, meet Angela Nikki Rose Lynch!"

Wait, where did the Nikki come from. A tear slipped down. Riker came and sat in the same spot he was for four three hours before. "He added that a few days ago." When Riker said that Ross looked at me after handing my little angel to his mom and smiled at me.

I watched as everyone had a turn holding her, besides Riker, who wasn't jumping for a turn. I looked at Ross, we had a surprise for him. Everyone went to leave, but I grabbed Riker's hand. He looked confused, but looked at Ross who was smiling at him. He sat back down. "What's going on?"

I looked at Ross, and he nodded at me. We had agreed that I would be the one to ask him, and I knew exactly how I was going to do it. I looked back at Riker, he looked confused. "Do you want to hold your god-daughter?" I smiled at him.

He looked really shocked for a moment, but than a smile came across his face. "My-my-my god-daughter?" I looked at Ross and we both nodded. Riker looked like he was about to cry. He couldn't stop it fast enough before one tear drop fell. He nodded, and I handed Angela to him. He looked at her, and a few more drops fell.

"You have always been for me, since I met you. And when Ross hasn't been around, you have been there through this." He looked at me. Ross put his arm around me. "We want you to be her god-father!"

He looked up at us, landing on me last. He nodded. I hugged his waist and he laid his head on mine. "I love you sis!"

"Love you too bro!" I hugged tighter. Just than Ross' phone rang, and he rolled his eyes, walking to the corner. I knew what the call was. It was his call to leave. I frowned, watching him try to argue. He was defeated. "I still don't want him to leave." I said it quietly, but apparently Riker heard me. He shifted Angela in one arm, and wrapped the other around me.

Ross hung up the phone and Riker got up, handing Angela to him. He looked like he wanted to cry. I was right, it was harder now. I cant imagine a week without him. I had never been away from him that long, and now that Angela is hours old, it was harder to watch him. He looked at our daughter, about to break down. I started to cry watching him. It was sad. He handed her to me.

He handed the phone to Riker, and sat on the bed next to me. He knew exactly what Ross wanted. He took a few pictures, different poses every time. When he handed him the phone back, Ross sat there for a few minutes saying good bye and holding Angela before he left. Riker respectfully moved to the couch. Ross' phone started ringing again. He sighed and answered it. "Okay," was all he said, than hung up. He kissed Angela one more time, than handed her back to me. He leaned down, kissing me softly and passionately, not caring that his brother was ten foot away. When he stopped, he laid his forehead against mine. I opened my eyes to see his closed tightly, fighting the urge to cry.

"I'll see you next week. I love you so much Heather!" He kissed me one more time. He leaned down, kissing Angela's soft head. "I love you too baby girl!" He smiled, kissing again. "Be good for mommy." A tear slipped down my cheek. He picked his head up looked at me. "I'll call you when I land. I love you!"

"I love you too!" Ending with a sob. I was about to be left alone with a newborn baby only two hours old. Part of me wished she hadn't arrived yet, although it was a relief it wasn't while Ross was gone. Judging my the look in Ross' eyes, he was thinking the same thing.

He stood up and walked over to Riker. He got up off of the couch. They shared a short hug. "Keep an eye on them, please bro?"

Riker just nodded. It almost looked like he wanted to cry too. Riker came and sat next to me as Ross left the room, turning around to get one last glance before leaving. I started in shock after he left, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Riker could tell. He took Angela from my arms, and gently laid her into the baby bed, and came back to the bed, sitting back down. He wrapped both arms around me as tight as he could, and I couldn't fight it anymore.

My tears fell fast and hard. I was scared badly now. I had no idea what I was doing, and having Ross there to make me feel a little better in the worse parts would help. "Shh!" Riker is literally the big brother I always wish I had had.

When I finally calmed down, I fell asleep in his chest. It has been a long time since I truly cried myself to sleep. Riker kept rubbing my back in soothing circles. Maybe I'm not alone. I could always count on Riker, I have always been able to. When things were at their worse, when my father died, he was my main shoulder for tears besides Ross. And every time Ross leaves, he has been my midnight shoulder to cry on when I am missing him.

Riker is truly my brother!