Infinity || Dan Smith

Forty-Nine.

Ten minutes later and Lacey is set to go home if she wants, but of course that isn't happening any time soon. Instead Dan stands outside of the hospital's entrance, waiting to see whether he can spot Aubrey's car or his parents. He simply does not want to be alone...but he doesn't want to leave the hospital grounds either. He's afraid Charlie is aware that she's alone, so he wants to be there when she gets out.

Another minute or two passes and Dan decides to move into the corridor in fear that Lacey might catch a cold, although she seems peaceful. Her small body is wrapped up in her soft blankets. From time to time Dan rests his forehead against hers, their connect is like magic. It calms him down...

Then Aubrey's car pulls up. Her door opens up wide, nearly hitting the other car, but she doesn't care. She throws her body out of the car and dramatically running towards Dan.

Dan on the other hand remains standing in the inside corridor. "Where is she?!" Aubrey almost shouts before realising Dan is holding his baby.

"No..." the director shakes her head in denial, thinking about the worst. "Please tell me she's okay?" Aubrey will never be able to forgive herself for not being at the hospital in time, although she doesn't know that Charlie's barely alive.

"She's alive." Dan whispers with tears running down his face while Aubrey drops to the floor in relief. Since the hospital called her up Aubrey has been preparing herself for the worse. But now she's in a state of relief.

"The baby..." Aubrey points towards the bundle of blankets.

"She's okay. She's perfect." Dan sobs while trying to smile at his little girl, although he physically can't.

"Has Charlie held-" Dan shakes his head vigorously. He doesn't want to psychically say 'no' because it'll pain him even more.

"Where is Charlie now?" Aubrey dries her eyes and stands up slowly, although Dan notices her limping forwards slightly. Aubrey will never let anyone know what she goes through, with her own health. Apart from her wife, whose currently on the way to the hospital herself.

"Surgery, probably. They can't tell us anything yet until...they find whatever it is that they're looking for." Aubrey closes her eyes feeing the acidic sick feeling claw it's way up her throat.

Aubrey then nods her head towards Lacey. "Does she look like her mama?" Dan smiles while looking down, admiring his sleepy baby.

"Splitting image." Dan replies while she tosses and turns a little. Lacey clearly isn't used to all of this commotion, but she's slowly adjusting to all the new sounds and feelings. She's also hungry, but Dan's hoping that Charlie can tell him what to do. He was actually planning on actually reading those books for new fathers this week, although his plans have all changed now.

Unlike most men, Dan isn't angry at Lacey's presence and Charlie's absence. Many fathers in this situation blame their offspring for causing pain to their loved one...it's what causes them to be distant with the child. But Dan's thankful that Lacey indicated that something bad was happening, not that she could help it either way.

"Sorry...I should offer...do you want to hold her?" Dan's completely new to this parenting business, so new that he does know how to get other people to hold his daughter. He doesn't want to let go of her but he can trust Aubrey despite her wrong doing in the past.

   Aubrey nods her head ecstatically while the tears continue to fall down her pale cheeks. She doesn't care about showing her human emotions, despite being like Charlie and trying to block them out. Dan then shuffles forwards and places his daughter in her slender arms.

   "This is the second Everett woman I've held. She has the exact same energy as Charlie had." With that Aubrey cracks a smile through her tears, one hand then brushes the side of the babies cheek.

   "Charlie's gonna be a mess when she sees her baby, you do know that right? I know she's tried not to post about her pregnancy...but that's fucked now. She has a photogenic kid." Dan then cracks a laugh at Aubrey's truth. They both know that it's exactly how it's going to go when Charlie wakes up.

   "I'm waiting for 'this is the best day of my life' comment." Dan adds. While it sounds sad, Charlie's stubbornness is managing to cheer them both up.

   "Oh my god, don't." Aubrey smiles shaking her head.

   "She's always wanted a family...and now she finally has one." Dan nods his head while Aubrey cradles Lacey.

   "Bet you fifty quid Charlie will put Lace in a pageant of some sort." Dan mumbles under his breath while he spots his parents silver car pulling up in the car park.

To which Aubrey smiles, "bet accepted." While Dan then quickly walks out of the reception corridor and straight into his own mother's loving arms.