Oops (General Hospital)

You Are My Sunshine

January 3rd 2019

     "Daddy, look!" Leo exclaims, pointing into the enclosure. "It's a ser-serbrian tiger."
     "I think it's pronounced Siberian, but that's great reading, Buddy." Julian praises, ruffling Leo's hair. "Can you tell me where they live?"
     "It says Russ-i-ah, Russia. From Russia."
     "Very good. Can you name something else from Russia?"
     "Communism?" Leo asks.
     "Uh, yes. How did you, where did you hear that?"
     "Oscar." Leo says, bouncing to the next enclosure, a building. They head inside, Julian going to the bench while Leo goes to where he can see the alligators. "Daddy, come see!"
     "I will, Leo. Just give me a minute, my knee hurts." He says, leaning back on the bench, rubbing his knee. He takes out his phone and presses it to his ear. "Hey, Sam. How's everything at the house?... Yes, everything is fine with Leo, I just wanted to check in... I know, I know, I'm off baby duty right now. I can't help but worry... Tomas and Abel are with Marissa and Ellie, good... Paige and Layla doing alright?... Good. How are Derek and Kenny?... Sleeping? Lucas is with them?... Everything is good. You're sure?... Don't hang up. How are you and Lucas?... Okay, goodbye honey. Take care. Call me if you need anything... I love you too."
     He works his phone back into his pocket, still rubbing his knee and watching Leo, who's taking to a blonde boy his age 
     The baby, with the woman next to him, smiles at him and waves. Julian smiles back and gives a little wave. The baby giggles and hides his face in his mother's shirt. The mother looks over. "Sorry about him. He must thing you're his father. You look like my husband."
     "It's no problem. He's a cutie. I got a couple infants at home."
     "I heard. Sounds like quite a few."
     "Five, two on the way."
     "Oh, oh wow. Was it like twins and triplets and another set of twins?" She asks.
     "No, on set of twins. The others all have different moms."
     "Oh. Oh, are you like, Moorman?" She asks.
     "No, I'm just irresponsible."
     "Sam your wife?"
     He laughs. "Sam is my daughter. I'm not married. But my girlfriend's name is Kim." He takes his phone back out and gives her a quick history.
     Leo and her son come running over, both with grins on their faces. "Daddy, this is my new friend, Austen."
     "This is Leo." Austen tells his mother. "He's my age."
     "He's gonna go to the same school as me next year." Leo tells Julian.
     "Oh, really? How fun is that. You'll have a friend going into school." Julian says, pulling Leo onto his lap.
     Leo pushes on Julian's chest. "I'm hungry, Daddy."
     "It is lunch time. Okay, we'll head to the cafe. It was nice to meet you, we'll be seeing each other again I'm assuming."
     "Take my number. We can arrange a play date for the boys. And maybe we can arrange one for Julien and your older babies."
     "That's your name, Daddy." Leo giggles, pressing his face against Julian's shirt.
     "Yeah, that's my name, Buddy. Well, my name is Julian, with an a. I think you said Julien, with an e sound, right?"
     "With an e, right. I probably should tell you my name. I'm Mary Mayweather."
     "Julian Jerome."

A Little Later

     "Yeah, a slice of cheese and a slice of pepperoni. The cheese is a kids' meal and the pepperoni is an adult meal." Julian says, taking the two drink cups and tray, walking back to the table Leo is sitting at, coloring his placemat. "I hope you're hungry, Buddy. Cause this is hel- quite the meal."
     Leo giggles. "You were gonna say a bad word."
     "I'm an adult." Julian says, poking Leo's nose. "Eat your lunch."
     They dig into their food, Julian holds back a groan. For all his healthy eating, he did love a good slice of pizza. His phone starts to buzz in his pocket. He works it out and swallows his mouthful of food. "Kim, what's going on?"
     "Rose is in labor. Don't freak out and rush over. She's a long way from delivery and things are moving slowly. You have time to stay with Leo." She tells him, hanging up.
     Julian puts his phone on the table and goes for another bite of pizza. Leo watches him, losing his appetite. "Daddy, was that Kim?"
     Julian nods. Leo shifts in his seat. "Is a baby being born?"
     Julian nods again. "It's Rose's little girl."
     "It's okay, Daddy. You can take me home and go see Rosie. We can come back to the zoo some other time." Leo says.
     Julian cups Leo's cheeks and kisses his forehead. "You're such a good boy, Leo. I love you so much."

     Julian rushes into the waiting room outside Rose's room. Kim walks out just as he gets there. "You may wanna get comfortable." She tells him. "We're in for a long wait. This little girl is in no rush."

The Next Morning

     Oscar sits on the other end of the seats from Wayne and Bruce. The twins look at each other and move over to him, one sitting on either side. "So, spill the juice. You still going out with obnoxious blonde chick?" Wayne asks.
     "Josslyn? Yeah, I mean, we haven't broken up. Why are you asking?"
     "We overheard that she was yelling at Julian so her dad took her back to her mom's. Is that all? Like, what'd she say?"
     "She was just angry. She doesn't like Julian to begin with. It's this whole thing with her mom and stepdad and Julian and his sister, Ava. I don't really wanna talk about it. What about your girlfriends?"
     "I don't have one." Wayne says, a snarky smile on his face. "Cause I'm gay."
     Bruce rolls his eyes and pushes Wayne off the chair he's crouching on. "I have a girlfriend. She's the most beautiful girl in the whole world. Name's Becca. We been together since seventh grade. When we graduate high school, I'm gonna ask her to marry me."
     Oscar smiles down. "That sounds nice. When did you guys first, you know?"
     "Last year. Have you guys?" Bruce asks him.
     Oscar nods, burning with embarrassment. "She really wanted to. I didn't. She wants to do it again, but I don't wanna. She said there's something wrong with me if wanna have sex. Is she right?"
     "No." Wayne states. "She cray. Dump her ass. Find yo' self a nice girl."
     "Way, what the Hell? Just cause your cynical ass don't have anyone doesn't mean you can be mean. But he's right. You should dump her. No one should pressure you into having sex. That's a special thing, a physical mutual connection fueled by your emotional relationship. Not just something you do if you're bored. Not with someone you really care about."
     "The problem is, I do care about Joss. I don't wanna leave her. I just don't wanna be having sex."
     "If she's gonna go stuff like this now, it'll only get worse." Bruce warns him. "No one is worth emotional abuse."
     "You guys are right. Plus, I think she's already looking for my replacement."

     Matilda walks over from Rose's bed to where Gerald is sitting, looking over at their sleeping daughter. "How long's it been now?" He asks.
     "Almost twenty three hours. Kim says at thirty hours they're going to do a c-section. Martha Rose was very upset. She wants to have this baby naturally." Matilda tells him, holding his hands. "I'm worried about her, Gerry."
     "Dr. Nero will take good care of her."
     "Oh, I know that. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about her and Julian. I think she still loves him."
     "You think?"
     Matilda nods. "The way she looks at him. I used to look at a certain young bartender that way. Now we're welcoming our first grandchild together."
     "I hope she's able to move on once the baby's born. This poor girl is gonna have so much confusion, she don't need this too."
     Rose stirs, whimpering pitifully. Matilda and Gerald both get up and go to her.

Late Afternoon

     "Good news, Rose." Kim says, standing at the end of her bed. "You're finally in hard labor. On the next contraction I'm gonna need you to push."
     Rose let's out a low moan, wiping his sweaty forehead on her mother's shirt. "I'm tired."
     Matilda gives her head soft kisses and hushes. "I know you're tired, dear. But your daughter wants to be born now. Just a little while longer, then you can sleep all you want."
     "My baby?" Rose asks, tears streaming down her pretty, young face.
     "That's right, your baby. Your daughter." Matilda says.
     Rose smiles and looks at Julian, standing to her other side. "Our daughter."
     He nods, a smile across his face. But it's not aimed at her. While his eyes are towards her, he's watching Kim get ready for the delivery out of the corner of his eye.
     As they had with the rest of the situation, things drag out to what feels like hours. When Julian looks out the window, there's hardly any daylight left. He sighs and looks back at Rose, who's expression has changed. Kim looks to Rose. "When she's born, who do you want me to give her to first?"
     "Julian. I want Julian to hold her."
     Kim nods and goes back to her work. Julian finds himself getting uneasy at this part, again. A tiny gasping makes him open his eyes again. Kim works the tiny bundle into his arms. He starts to rock her just as her first cries come out.
     He sits with her, holding her head to his lips. Matilda and Gerald comfort Rose, each in their own way.
     Julian stops rocking her just long enough to look over at them. "Do you wanna know her name?"
     All three nod, though Rose is fading. Julian looks down at the newest addition to his family. "Martha Elizabeth Jerome, Marti for short."