In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 28

Rose Cadence Markes was born into the world. Happy. Healthy. Just like her parents were. The amazement and proudness shined off of their faces. A look that couldn't be matched by anyone and a feeling that was so personal and intimate that would make anyone feel like they were invading a moment that wasn't meant to be walked in on.

"You did good, babe." Joey couldn't keep the smile off of his face as he held their daughter for the first time. She was so small in his hands. So fragile. Her fingers reached out toward him. One hand barely could wrap itself around a single one of his fingers. The little form of life was his new pride and joy. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. Ever.

"We both did good." She smiled, her eyes never straying from their baby in his arms. Exhaustion seemed to be her new best friend as it overwhelmed her. She didn't want to miss anything though.

"Can I show her to Jimmy?" He asked her quickly. He looked up at her briefly then back down to Rose. A child-like excitement lit up his face.

Evelina let out a quiet laugh, taking the time to fully take in the scene before her. She had a new admiration for her husband. He seemed so good with her. She wished her parents would be there to see them now; to meet their grandchild. Wishes were just that though — wishes. "Yeah, you can show him. He should see the reason why he made sure I got to the hospital in time."

He began to leave the room with their new bundle of joy. She was all wrapped up tight in a blanket in his arms. A new life that gave them what they needed to start yet another new chapter in their lives.

"But only if it's okay with the doctor." She called out after him.

"I'll ask him." He reassured her, turning back toward the hallway and away from the room. "If I see him." He added quietly, mischievousness still in his voice.

Evelina smiled at the proud daddy as he left the room in a possible search for Doctor Wiley, whom she was sure was around somewhere close. He had stepped out for a cup of coffee and had promised to be back shortly.

Joey wandered down the hallway in his unmotivated search of the doctor. He nearly bumped into several nurses along the way due to not watching where he was going. He rocked Rose back and forth, talking to her as her eyes fluttered open and shut. She was flirting with sleep, but seemed too entertained with his funny faces to actually let her eyes close.

"Our little patient should probably get some rest here pretty soon." Doctor Wiley popped out of a room and stood in front of Joey. He had a paper cup of coffee in one hand and a file in the other.

Joey stopped abruptly, nearly bumping into the doctor. "I just want to show her to a friend really quick. Please?" His eyes pleaded with Doctor Wiley. He was really hoping that he'd be able to show Jimmy. After all, it was his best friend — and, very likely, his only real friend.

Doctor Wiley stared intently at Joey. He watched Rose and him for a second longer as he weighed out his decisions and the effect that those decisions could have on the little girl in her daddy's arms. He sighed, finally deciding to give in to Joey's plea. "Okay, but be quick about it. She needs her rest, too. She's been through a lot just like her mother."

"Thank you." Joey spoke fast as the doctor turned to go check on his other patients. A huge grin filled his face as he continued on his mission. He made it down the hallway toward the waiting room, successfully not bumping into anyone on his way. He stopped slowly, eyes still focused on his little girl.

"Congratulations." The voice startled Joey, still too concentrated on his daughter. He looked up at Jimmy with a blank expression, too lost in his own thoughts. It took a moment to register what his mission had been, but seeing Jimmy sitting in the waiting room chair with Nakita sleeping on his shoulder quickly brought him back to reality.

Jimmy laughed, trying not to move too much and wake the sleeping waitress. He shook his head at Joey with the smile remaining in place. "Lost in the clouds, are ya?"

Joey smiled again. "I guess so. It's hard not to be with her."

Jimmy watched the pride radiating off of his friend. Seeing this side of him made it seem that much sweeter that things had worked out the way that they did. He stared at Joey a moment longer before fixing his gaze on the tiny miracle child.

"You wanna hold her?" Joey's question caught Jimmy by surprise.

He hesitantly looked at the baby. He'd never held one before, but she was so small and cute that the idea of holding her for just a second sounded appealing, yet borderline scary. "Sure." He replied slowly, unsure of what to do.

Joey could tell he wasn't sure how to hold Rose. He explained to him how to hold the baby as he handed her over to him. Also remaining careful not to wake Nakita up. If he didn't know any better he'd think Jimmy enjoyed having her leaning against him for protection and comfort.

"I'm assuming it's a girl?" Jimmy smiled at the tiny newborn in his arms. Holding new life was eye opening to how things should be. It hit him like an epiphany. He took life away to frequently. To see this new beginning, it made him rethink some of his past decisions. It made him feel something that he hadn't felt in years. Remorse. It's a feeling that had been seared out of him. He pushed the feeling away, embracing the amazement of this event in front of him.

"Yep, she is. Isn't she beautiful?" Joey's smile couldn't possibly get any wider than it already was. He would be a good poster child for happiness right about now. A perfect, unfaltering example of a new father.

"She has a name, doesn't she?" Jimmy asked as his harder exterior warmed up quickly to the little bundle in his arms.

"Rose Cadence Markes." Joey beamed.

"It suits her." Jimmy smiled. Rose had finally fallen asleep. "She looks like a Rose."

"She definitely does." Joey had to agree. "Ev picked out just the right name for her."

"She sure did." Jimmy was inclined to agree. The baby felt so small and vulnerable in his arms. He didn't want to hold her too tightly, just in case he were to crush her fragile body in his strong grip. Honestly, he wasn't sure how he wasn't crushing her, she just seemed so vulnerable and breakable right now.

"Here." He began handing her back to Joey. "You better put her back before one of the wardens here tries to whisk her away from us."

"Or before Jimmy, here, reveals too much emotion and can't give her back." Nakita pulled herself up from leaning against him. She yawned, quickly allowing a smile to plaster itself on her face. She reached over and gently plucked the sleeping baby away from him.

"You don't know what your talking about, lady." He rolled his eyes, being as careful as possible to hand the baby over to her. He knew there was truth to her statement but there was no way in hell that he'd admit that.

"Mhmm." Nakita glanced at him, tucking the baby as close to herself as possible. "She is beautiful, Joey." She held Rose like she knew exactly how a baby was to be held. There was only quiet confidence as she stroked Rose's soft, fuzzy head.

"Show off." Jimmy grumpily mumbled, but amazement revealed the falseness of his attitude.

"A few more times holding this little angel and you will be a natural, too, Jimmy." She smiled at him, averting her attention back to Joey. "How is Evelina doing?"

"I don't know how she did it, but she's doing amazing." Joey's brows arched in emphasis to his statement. Honestly, he didn't know how she had gotten through having a baby and still seemed just as strong as ever. He had seen the exhaustion in her eyes, heard it in her voice, but it hadn't seemed to affect her ability to still show him and their daughter the love that was within her. He was truly amazed with her. There was no doubt that she was his anchor. An unyielding force that kept him sane and stable. She showed him daily what he had been missing and now she'd provided him with a gift that he would have never imagined to be possible with this life. The gift of fatherhood.

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Awwww!!!

Some good Joey and Jimmy moments <3

Jimmy's come a long way from where he was at with everyone. I'm loving it! What do you guys think?

LIKE, COMMENT, VOTE :)