Unexpected

Chapter 13: Babysitting

They released Norman after a few days. He was ready to be home, but relaxing was going to be hard- especially when his agent keeps calling him about TWD interviews and everything else under the sun. Laying in his bed, his body aches and it's like it is on fire. His stomach basically is being eaten away and all he can do, is try and relax. On the bright side, cuddled into his side is Emily. She hasn't left him since the hospital- and he's pretty sure he'll never get rid of her. Which is fine for him. Looking at her, hair strewn across her face and his chest, arms hugging him tightly and legs intertwined with his, he feels perfect.

"Hey...Emmy..." He sweetly calls to her and kisses her head. Yawning, she rubs her eyes and soon smiles at him.

"Mhmm, hi. How are you feeling?"

"Perfect with you beside me." He kisses her and she moans happily as his tongue meets hers.

"Mhmm, I missed that."

"I've missed you....Em..."

"Yeah?"

"How are you feeling?" He curiously asks her and she sinks a bit.

"What do you mean?" She yawns and he just pushes her hair from her face.

"Ya know....about everything? You don't feel...depressed, or like ya...ya know..." He doesn't want to think aboit her hurting herself or worse- killing herself. She's too dilicate and innocent for that. It would crush him- destroy him.

"I thought about it a lot when you were recovering- I lost someone who wasn't even born- I knew them, but I didn't. When they told me you flat lined- I realized that's the worse possible thing that could ever happen to me. Because I know you. I love you. Yes, I love our unborn child, but it was stupid of me to do what I did. Cause I was hurting you. And I don't wanna hurt you Norman. Ever." Kissing his chest, she lays her head against it and listens to his heart beat.

"I'm glad I convinced myself to stay."

"What?" She sits up and looks at Norman- confused and hurt at the same time.

"This wasn't the first time I saw the pearly gates Em. The first time was in Germany when I had my car accident- it's why I have a metal eye socket...I died in that accident and told God to spare me- the next time I'm all his." Emily's eyes raise and tears want to spring into them. "But seeing you cry, meeting your Grandpa- I didn't want to leave you. I couldn't leave Mingus either, but I didn't want to hurt you. I asked God to let me take back my promise. He's very forgiving and understanding know."

"Did you....did you see..."

"Yeah. She was beautiful Em. Looked just like you. But, ya know, she told me she was a little sad that we never gave her a name. She said- Daddy, I'm sorry I left you and Mommy, but I had too. So you to would really love each other. Why didn't Mommy name me? She was talking to me in the hospital when I left, but she never told me my name." Emily cries very hard and covers her mouth with her hand. She remembers telling her baby that she loved her and that she wished it was all a dream. "Please don't cry...Please, Emmy."

"Our baby...." Kissing her temple and holding her close, Norman was sad too when he spoke with the baby.

"She and Emily Rose are good friends, Em. She wants a pretty name that means something to you." Wiping her eyes, Emily looks up to the ceiling as if their baby's there and smiles through her pain.

"She's Beth.... Beth Elysse." Norman smiles and kisses her lips.

"That's perfect for her. I know she loves it."

They hold each other for a few more hours before Emily gets up to make Norman lunch. As she works, she thinks about what Norman said to her in the hospital.

My life goal is to marry you.

Her heart flutters as she replays it over and over in her mind. She loves Norman deeply. He's the first man who makes her feel like she's worth something.

I will marry that man.