Chapter 24

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Taryn's POV

As I lie in the hospital bed of the very building that Katherine is in, I can't help but think about my baby and what happened with him/her. The doctors performed the C-Section so fast that we didn't even get to find out if we had a son or daughter. 

"I have a feeling that it's a boy." Michael says and I smile nervously, but say nothing. Michael's smile fades as he places his hand on my knee.

"The children are on their way," he says softly. "everything will be alright, my love."

And right on cue, our four existing children stumble into the room and crowd around my bed, showering Michael and I in hugs and kisses. 

"So," Natalie says happily and I try to stare up at her without crying. "what is it?" she asks and my heart sinks. "Do we have a brother or a sister?"

"I don't know baby," I say and her face falls. "they took it away so fast, we didn't even get to see."

"Oh." she says under her breath and I look between the other three children. I try to smile, but fail tremendously, and don't even try to cover it up.

"Everything's alright, momma. I'm sure the baby is fine, they're just taking care of it." Paris says and I smile, allowing the built up tears to fall from my glossy eyes. I nod and she hugs me once again.

"Is there room for two more?" Joseph's deep voice echoes throughout the room and everyone turns toward the door where we find him wheeling Katherine into my room.

"Grandma!" the kids cheer and hug her gently as well. 

"Careful, children." Katherine says and the kids back away slowly. 

"So," Joe says and everyone silences. "how's everything going?"

"We don't know yet." Michael says and the kids take a seat at the already set out empty chairs across from my bed. 

"How long ago did you birth?" Katherine asks and I shrug, looking to Michael in hopes that he would remember.

"Around eleven thirty." he says and she nods. 

"Well it's roughly lunch time, we should be getting some news here soon." I say and the grandparents nod. "So until then," I continue through a sigh, "we wait."

**IN THE NICU** Nurse Cara's POV

"Is the incubator ready?" doctor Alec asks and I nod. 

"Yes, we have to get the tubes and monitors attached and it'll be time." nurse Jack says.

"We have to hurry, the air out here isn't safe for the baby." doctor Alec says and the rest of us nurses and doctors work as fast as we can to make sure that the incubator is well prepared and safe enough for the tiny infant.

"Okay, ready. Attach the tubes." I say and the doctors do so. They place the smallest diaper we have on the baby along with a tiny hat and socks, then place the tiny human into the warm enclosed incubator; then quickly close the door to ensure warmth and comfort. 

"When should we bring the parents in?" doctor Kal asks and doctor Alec shakes his head. 

"We have to leave the baby in there for at least a half hour before family should come in; to ensure safety and closure." he says and everyone slowly nods. 

"And we also have to make sure that the mother is okay and healthy enough to be walking around. She just gave birth barely an hour ago and was only just recently sewn up from the procedure." nurse Alaya adds.

"But I think it would be a good time to go in and tell them the news." I suggest and the doctors and nurses nod in agreement.

***BACK IN TARYN'S ROOM*** Blanket's POV

"We've been sitting her for a whole hour, where are they?" I complain and dad rubs my back. 

"Just be patient, son." grandpa Joe says and I sigh, sitting back in my chair.

"Hello!" a nurse finally walks in and says cheerfully and we all say "Hi" back monotonously. Mom sits up quickly, holding her stomach tightly, but smiling impatiently.

"So, we've got some good news, and we've got some bad news." the nurse says and we all stare at her blankly.

"Okay, so?" mom asks impatiently and the nurse moves to sit down. Mom keeps her eyes locked on the nurse, waiting for her to say something. 

"Well, the good news is, you have a beautiful, tiny, baby girl." the nurse says and I smile wide, then look at Natalie who is smiling as well. 

"Knew it." I mumble under my breath and Paris nudges me. 

"Awh!" mom shrieks and looks at dad with nothing but love and hope in her eyes. The nurse then sighs and looks down at the floor, then back up at mom. 

"The bad news is... your daughter- she's so awfully premature; her heart and one of her lungs is underdeveloped. The lung will be fine in time, but she is going to need a heart transplant." nurse Cara says and my heart sinks, along with everyone else's, I'm sure. 

"Babies born at roughly twenty-three weeks have less than thirty-five percent chance of surviving, and your baby was born at eighteen and three-fourths. As of right now, we aren't one-hundred percent sure there is anything we can do to help your daughter besides help her grow and take our chances on the transplant." Cara adds and mom cannot stop crying. Dad tears up, trying to stay strong but fails. I look over at my brother, who is crying as well, and I cannot manage the emotion. 

I don't know what to feel.

"But we can't do any of this without your permission." Cara says softly.

The room falls silent and everyone stares at mom and dad. They try to manage words, but all that comes out is tears and sobs.

"She is doing fine right now," Cara says softly, and I stare at the wall angrily, allowing tears to freely fall from my eyes.  "she has to grow a little before we can do any procedures. We are going to do everything we can for your daughter; I promise."

"Do we have any news?" another nurse, a male one, walks in and asks. His face falls when he sees that everyone is crying, and he slowly steps in and takes a seat next to Cara.

Suddenly, everyone starts to calm down and we find that the male nurse's name is Alan.

"Did you pick out a name for your baby yet?" he asks and mom nods.

"Michelle." mom sobs and Cara smiles. 

"That's beautiful." she says and I shake my head. 

Honestly, I hate the name, but it is mom's decision, and nobody is in the place to state their opinion against her right now.

"We can call her Ellie." Natalie says and Paris smiles.

"I think we should go through with it." dad says and everyone looks at him.

"We have to have legal consent from both parents, Mr. Jackson." Alan says and dad looks at mom with hope in his eyes. She breathes in deeply, then nods quickly.

"I think that would be best," mom says slowly, sniffling. "for her... for Ellie."

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