(Continuation from that oneshot I did quite a while ago now - 'Good news came too late'. Someone suggested they might like to see it continue, so here's a part 2!)
Connie sighed as she placed a hand on her stomach, where a rounded bump was now clearly visible, evidence of the little life that was forming inside of her.
She rubbed her hand in a gentle circular motion and the coarse material of her black blouse scratched lightly against her palm.
It had been 7 months now, since Jacob had passed away, 7 months, that their baby had been growing inside.
The passing of time didn't make it any easier though, in fact, Connie missed him more everyday.
But knowing that they were still connected by the life they had formed together helped her feel close to him again, she knew that he was with her, always. Their little girl, who was almost ready to enter the world, was the last thing she had and could hold onto of Jacob. It was something that was always going to be in her life, a memory of Jacob that was going to be with her everyday.
Connie felt a small kick and smiled down at her bump. "Getting restless now, are we?" She whispered.
"Let's get back to work then." She muttered as she rose from her desk and strode back out into the department.
---
2 months later
Connie watched her daughter as she lay sleeping peacefully in her arms. Her small breaths were so soft and gentle that they could barely be heard, her body was so small she looked lost in her arms.
"Knock knock" Charlie announced quietly as he entered Connie's hospital room, holding a large bouquet of flowers in his arms.
Connie gave him a warm smile as he made his way across the room.
"Say hello to Charlotte." Connie whispered as he reached her bedside.
"Charlotte...I like it." Charlie smiled as he sat down in the chair beside Connie's bed.
"You're looking a lot better today." Charlie smiled noticing colour had returned to Connie's face and she didn't look as tired as she had when he last saw her, a few days ago, after Charlotte was born.
Connie nodded. "I'm doing well. We both are."
"I'm taking her to see her dad today." Connie told him.
Charlie looked at her in concern. There had been complications with the birth and a Caesarian section had been necessary to deliver Charlotte, something which Connie had not been happy about due to the extended stay in hospital it required, not forgetting that it meant now Connie couldn't drive for a few weeks.
"You're not allowed to drive Connie. You know that." Charlie said gently.
Connie rolled her eyes and placed Charlotte in the cot on the other side of her bed. "I promised him that I was going to come the day she was born Charlie." Connie said quietly, as she felt tears stinging in her eyes. She had promised herself that she was going to visit Jacob's grave as soon as his daughter was born. But she hadn't been able to, and she wasn't prepared to leave it any longer.
"Connie I-"
But Connie shook her head to stop him. "I'm going today Charlie. Charlotte needs to go and see her dad."
Charlie nodded, he knew how difficult this had been for Connie. "Okay. But I'm driving." He smiled.
"But your shift..." Connie frowned, knowing that this was only a short visit before he started work.
"I will sort it with Rita. I know you Connie, if I don't take you now, you'll just go anyway."
Connie gave him a small smile. "Thank you." She said quietly.
Charlie stopped the car beside the iron gates which bordered the small graveyard where Jacob rested.
Since Connie wasn't allowed to lift anything, she allowed Charlie to carry Charlotte in her car seat as they weaved their way to Jacob's grave.
Charlie lifted Charlotte out of her carrier and placed her gently into her mother's awaiting arms. Connie looked down at the bundle of blankets that her perfect little daughter was encased in and smiled as Charlotte's tiny fingers slowly curled around one of hers.
Connie made her way nearer to Jacob's grave and stopped just before the headstone, letting out a deep breath.
"Look Jay, it's your daughter." Connie whispered, as a single tear dropped from her eye, falling onto the white blanket covering Charlotte. "And this, this is your daddy Charlotte. He wishes he could be here to see you...he loves you so very much though..."
Connie looked down at her daughter and smiled, letting silence surround them for a moment.
"She's finally here. The last 9 months seemed to go so slow and it was lonely without you Jacob...you missed the chance to feel her little feet kicking inside, you missed the scans, seeing our little girl grow before our eyes. We did it though didn't we? Now she's finally here and I couldn't be happier." Connie spoke quietly.
Connie looked back toward the headstone and scanned her eyes over the words engraved in the marble.
"I wish you were here to hold her Jacob." Connie whispered. "I wish you could hold her and experience that special moment... of what it feels like to become a father and how proud it feels to be a dad. She's perfect isn't she, our daughter...she's everything that you wanted and could have imagined, she's just beautiful, in every way." Connie whispered as she ran a finger under her eyes to wipe away she tears.
"I miss you... I, I-." Connie barely managed to say, as the words stuck in her throat and the tears threatened to overwhelm her.
"Why don't I take Charlotte back to the car, give you a little time alone?" Charlie suggested gently as he slowly approached her.
Connie took a deep breath before nodding and watched helplessly as Charlie took her daughter from her arms and returned her to her car seat, buckling the straps, before making his way back towards the car.
Connie waited until Charlie had fitted the car seat back in the car and returned to his seat before turning her attention back to Jacob.
"I don't know if I can do this, on my own." She whispered. "It's not fair Jacob, that she's never going to meet her dad. She needs you...I need you."
Connie closed her eyes and listened to the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees and a distant chirping of birds.
"I'm going to do my best for you." She whispered quietly. I'm going to try and be a good mother to her, I will look after her for you...and you're always going to be there for us, aren't you? You're going to stay with us and watch over us everyday..."
Connie looked back over to the car and took a few deep breaths.
"I should still be in hospital right now...but you know me, I never was one to always stick to the rules." She smiled.
Connie exhaled. "I will bring her everyday for you, I promise....and I love you Jacob, always, and forever."
Connie wiped either cheek while taking one last look, before turning away and slowly making her way back to the car.
It was going to be hard, she knew that. The last 9 months had been hard, but she had done it. She had to stay strong for Charlotte, for Jacob.
