Centre of His World

Chapter 11

Luke was woken up by the cries of Kelly echoing off the walls of his home. He slowly slid out of bed and made his way to the nursery. When he reached into the crib to pick her up, Kelly cried even louder, refusing him. Luke sighed and took his phone out of his pocket and found the video of May, it still did nothing to calm her down.

He threw his phone down and sat on the floor against a wall. "I'm trying so fucking hard! I can't do this! I'm a terrible father!" Luke screamed out. "I lose the love of my life, I'm afraid of being a terrible father to yet another kid... I just can't do this anymore! I want out!"

Kelly was still crying in the background. Luke didn't know what to do. His own daughter didn't want him, but who did she want. Luke just continued to cry, doubting himself. Then his phone suddenly rang, causing Kelly to cry louder and Luke to jerk his head up.

He slowly got up and grabbed his phone, smiling as he flipped it over and saw Caroline's name. "Baby? I'm so sorry, I'm having a horrible night right now."

"Luke, have you been crying?" Caroline asked, worried. "Honey, please don't be sorry. I should be the sorry one. I just sprang all this news on you and we're not even official."

Luke shook his head it wiped his eyes. "I can't do this, Caroline. I know I'm the father, I don't think otherwise whatsoever, but I can't raise our baby. I can't even raise May's. I don't know what she wants. She's refusing me. I can't take care of her."

"Yes, you can, Luke. If you give up, I could never forgive myself. I want to help, I really do. I love Kelly and I love you. I don't want to see y'all suffer. I know being a single parent is hard, but you're not a single parent anymore. You have me. I want to be Kelly's mother. I can't let you suffer through losing her."

"Thank you, but I-" Luke stopped himself, suddenly realizing what Kelly wants. "She wants you."

"Luke..."

Luke felt tears well up in his eyes. His daughter thought of Caroline as her mother. His baby wanted Caroline, the love of his life. If that wasn't beautiful, he didn't know what was. "Baby, I am sorry for lashing out at you. I'll explain everything, but Kelly wants you. Kelly wants her mommy. Please. For her, not me."

Caroline thought for a moment. She thought that calling Luke would help. He didn't have a very long time off and she didn't want to leave things off on a bad note again when he left. Now, him apologizing, wanting her to see Kelly, it made Caroline see how much he really loved her.

But it also devastated Caroline to hear that he was about ready to give up on Kelly and refuse father-ship to his son or daughter. Did Caroline blame him? Hell no! How could she? He was left to care for a newborn on his own. Besides, the news of a new baby with a woman he wasn't even dating worried him. It scared him. How could it not?

"Okay, but we also need to talk," Caroline told him. "You need to explain why you got so mad and why you feel the need to give up on that beautiful baby of yours."

"Thank you, Caroline. I love you so much and I'll talk to you later."

"And you'll explain?"

"I'll explain," Luke promised.

Caroline smiled with satisfaction. "Good. I love you, Luke. See you in a few."

She couldn't help but be excited to see Luke. But she was also nervous. Would the fight really be over? All she wanted to do was kiss his lips, tell him that everything would be okay, and that she was and will be there for him. No matter what they go through, no matter how many times they fight, she will always love him. She had to be real. All couples fight. It was in its nature. But, couples who fight didn't necessarily love each other any less.

Would they be okay? Sure. Luke was still missing May. He still had it in his head that he couldn't raise a child on his own. But that wasn't the case. Caroline was helping him. He wasn't alone. And he wasn't a single father anymore, either. Sure, they weren't official, but they would be soon.

Luke finally got Kelly to come down when he played Caroline's voicemail. She would coo at the phone whenever Caroline's voice sounded. A smile crept onto his face. He was glad Kelly had a bond with Caroline. He wouldn't want his daughter not liking who he was dating. Luke was set on making Caroline his girlfriend tonight. He had to. He knew it looked like he was moving on too fast, but it was like love at first sight. Besides, love made people do crazy things. He didn't want to live another day without her and him being official. He wanted his label. All it looked like right now was a "friends with benefits" type thing. He wanted more. He wanted to be Caroline's boyfriend, more than anything else in the world. He was crazy in love.

He turned as he saw light peek through and gradually get wider. Caroline was standing in the doorway. "Whenever you tell me you want to give up, I always come find you and Kelly like this. Luke, you're an amazing father, how in the world is it possible for you to think you're not?"

"It just is," Luke said, looking down. "I can't do anything right."

Caroline made her way across the room and rubbed Luke's shoulder. "You're just scared, I get it, and it's only making it worse to know that I'm pregnant."

Luke flinched at Caroline's words. He turned from Kelly and looked at Caroline, placing his hand over her abdomen. "No. I'm excited for this baby. I'm just scared of losing you. Like how I lost May."

Caroline reached down for Luke's hands and squeezed them tight, kneeling on the floor next to him. She looked him directly in his brown eyes and saw all the fear that was eating him up. "Is that what this is about? Luke, I can promise you, I PROMISE you, that you will never EVER have to go through that again. I'll be here. I love you, Luke. I won't leave you or Kelly or our baby for a long, long time."

Luke sighed. "I know, but I just can't help but think that this is a cycle that will forever go on in my life."

"Okay, I'm not trying to sound full of myself, Luke, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to love again after me. Losing two wives would hit you so hard," Caroline laughed. "But anyways, the likelihood of that happening to you a second time is pretty slim."

"You're probably right, but I can't help but think-"

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll make sure I'm safe to have this baby. I'll make sure that I live through this, okay? I don't want to see you hurt. I can't stand to see you hurt."

Luke smiled. "Thank you, that makes me feel a little better. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Luke," Caroline whispered, leaning in to kiss him.

"Hey, Caroline?" Luke asked.

Caroline giggled. "Yeah, baby?"

Luke began to nervously shuffle. "Er, will you, um, be my- be my girlfriend?"

"I have no clue why you're so nervous. Of course, I'll be your girlfriend!" Caroline laughed and kissed his face. After that, Caroline slowly got up to tend to Kelly, Luke watching lovingly as she rocked and sang to his daughter. His two favourite girls together in one room, in one moment. What more could a man ask for?"

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A/N: So, what did y'all think about this chapter? So, you think they both kinda regret the fight? It kinda ended pretty fast. What do you think about Kelly's bond with Caroline? Is she Kelly's mother figure? Are you happy that they're finally official? I think you are. More drama on the way! I have Spring Break for the next TWO WEEKS! So, I can update a lot. School won't be distraction! Yay! Hope y'all liked the update! ~Kelsea