The Vault

Ruby Tuesday's First Date - Keith Richards Fic (requested)

It's been a month since Keith got the call saying his girlfriend, Patti, went into labor. That very same day, two hours later, he got another call saying he was the proud father of a little baby girl named Alexandra Nicole, though Patti often called her Ruby Tuesday, since she was born in the middle of a ruby red sunset on Tuesday evening. 

Keith was incredibly upset that he missed being there to watch his daughter be born.

If it wasn't for this goddamn tour, he thought, maybe I could've been there.

Even though he already had four other children, three of which he had with another woman, Keith was as nervous as ever, being a new father and coming home from tour to meet his new baby girl. He felt so guilty about not being able to help care for her in her first month in the real world. 

Getting off the six and a half hour flight from New York was both a relief and a nervewracking thing for Keith - he couldn't seem to get home quickly enough. Each time he would take a step closer to the car leading him home, another round of paparazzi would stop him and ask for his picture, or for a quote. After trying his hardest to just rush to the car, he finally made it and began the journey home from Heathrow airport in London.

The entire time he couldn't help but to wonder what she looked like… Would she still look like a little alien, as all newborns do? Would she have his dark hair, or Patti's golden strands? His eyes or hers? When she grew up, would she be tall and lanky or short and stout? He didn't care - he would love her all the same as she was his daughter, but he still felt rather guilty because she needed a daddy and for the first month of her very existence, he wasn't there for her. 

His nerves grew and grew as he neared his home in the centre of London, and nearly took over his exhausted mind as the cab pulled up right in front of his door. Collecting his things, he got out of the cab and went directly to the door, clutching onto his bag for dear life. Running up to the front door, he stopped in front of it and took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking nerves before he saw the girl that, though he didn't know it yet, would become the absolute light of his life and would carry him through every rough time imaginable. 

Twisting the knob on the front door, he entered the house he'd grown so familiar too. He noticed, as he set his luggage down by the door, that the place smelled of cookies and he was sure he could hear Patti humming from somewhere in the house.

"Baby? I'm home!" Keith called out, trying to see if she was really here or if it was all a figment of his imagination - he was sure this was all just a dream. 

He could hear the steps creak slightly as his gorgeous girl made her way down them, a white fluffy blanket bundled up in her arms. He couldn't help but to stare at the blanket, almost ignoring the gorgeous woman carrying it. 

"Is… Is she…" He couldn't seem to finish his sentence, he was entirely wonderstruck by the thick light curls poking out of the top of the blanket. He couldn't even see her face, yet he could just imagine how gorgeous she is. "Is she my…"

"Yes baby," Patti smiled, walking closer towards him. "Meet your little Ruby Tuesday - Alexandra Nicole Richards."

Keith's breath hitched in his throat as his girlfriend handed him the fluffy white blanket, giving him full view of the little darling, just waking up in his arms. She was so gorgeous - the perfect mix of her mother and her father. She had thick, but light curly hair and a little button nose, just like her mother, yet she had dark, mysterious eyes and the same beautiful skin that her father had passed down to her. She was perfect in every conceivable way, and realizing this made tears well up in Keith's eyes. 

He grinned as tears dribbled down his cheeks - he never cried, not in front of anyone that is. But this was an entirely different occassion. He was with his baby girl at last and he couldn't possibly be happier. 

"Wow… She's just… She's perfect." He sniffled, kissing her forehead softly. "My own little baby girl."

"She's such a little darling," Patti giggled. "She reminds me so much of you… Her love of music is just incredible. She loves it when I play all your records."

This made Keith laugh happily and cuddle his little girl closer to him. She reached out and gripped a strand of his long hair and tugged slightly, making Keith laugh louder. 

"I've got a girl… I've got a beautiful little girl and a gorgeous wife…" He muttered, almost in disbelief. 

"You do," His girl chuckled, as Keith wrapped his free arm around Patti's waist and drew her in closer to him. "And we both love you so very much."

"And I love you, baby." Keith kissed her once more. "And I'm so sorry I couldn't be here for you when she was born. I've been shitty to you both and I'm so so sorry."

"Babe, it's alright. You're here now and that's all that matters." She assured him, intertwining her fingers with his. "Now come on, I made cookies and I'm sure you're starving and tired after a long flight."

With happy little grins on their faces, they all made their way into the kitchen, elated beyond belief and ecstatic to start their new family.