The Act of Forgiveness

4

"Her fever seems to have gone down a considerable amount." Dr. Lambert smiled as Evelyn pulled on his stethoscope.

"Evelyn, stop it baby." I gently pried the instrument from her chubby fingers.

She pouted but grabbed her blanket and settled on the white bed.

"She can probably be discharged later tonight or tomorrow morning, we want to keep watching how her body reacts to the medicine." He smiled genuinely as he ruffled her bed-hair. "Such a strong little girl."

"Yes she is." I smiled and ran my finger tips over her arms and legs.

Dr. Lambert walked out and I sighed at the good news. She had improved drastically over night. When she woke up she demanded milk and her Cheerios and I happily fed her, glad that she was feeling more like herself. She had a nasty cough though, but it didn't seem to bother her.

"We can go home soon baby doll." I kissed her forehead and she grinned at me. "That's my happy baby."

"Momma!" There was still a slight wheeze when she spoke but it was a lot less noticeable.

"Yes baby." I tickled her softly and she squirmed a little before laying her body down on my lap. "Are you sleepy peanut?"

She rolled over and looked up at me with her gorgeous blue eyes and sniffled a little. I played with her hair as she closed her eyes and little snores started to slip out of her mouth. Because she's sick, she falls asleep at the drop of a hat and i thought it was adorable, I also took it as a sign that her body needed to heal.

"Poppy?" I looked up quickly and my body froze, once again. Mary Kate stood next to Jasper and he looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"Yes?" I whispered, holding onto Evelyn tighter, she whimpered in her sleep but quickly got comfortable, throwing her arm across my chest and sighing contently.

"Jasper told me about his little stay last night. He had so many question and I know it's not my place, but I told Jasper everything, I'm so sorry." Mary Kate nudged Jasper into the room and quickly ran through the waiting to disappear from my line of sight.

"I-... I don't know." Was all Jasper said as my chest constricted and tears welled in my eyes.

I stared blankly but flinched as he took a step towards us. He looked so broken but he deserved a little bit of pain after everything Evelyn and I had gone through.

"Please." He breathed out, walking forward again. "I can be here."

"No, you actually can't." I shook my head violently as tears slipped down my face, completely against my will. "You're only here for a weekend. Whats gonna happen when you have to go back to L.A?"

"I'll... I'll quit!" He fumbled around for words.

"You can't Jasper! You have fans, a life and a house out there. You can't quit life!" I yelled, holding Eve as her eyes fluttered open.

"Calm down Pop, I'll get kicked out." He muttered, raising a hand in a motion to quiet me.

"Maybe I want you to leave!" I growled as Evelyn started hiccuping in my arms. She held onto my neck with scared arms and she watched Jasper with knowing eyes.

"Please leave, you're scaring my daughter." I muttered, pulling the blanket around her small body.

"But she's mine too." Jasper's voice cracked and his lower lip shook as I rocked my baby slowly.

"Jasper, please just leave." I sighed as he left the room, a little concerned that he didn't put that much of a fight up.

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