Spark in the Dark

Chapter 174

"Can you feel this?" The doctor asked Shawn.

"No, I don't feel anything," she told him.

"Alright, let's get started," he said to the people working with him.

Shawn looked up to Juice, who was very close to her head.

"Still doing okay?" He asked her.

"Yeah. Just, you know, trying not to think about how I'm basically being cut in half right now."

"Who do you think she's going to look like?" Juice asked next, trying to distract her.

"I'm not sure. All I know is she's got to be a brunette."

"For sure. Probably isn't going to have blue eyes either," Juice chuckled. "I bet she'll look like you since you look just like your mom. Those are some crazy good genes."

"I want her to have your smile, though. She might surprise us with the eyes. My dad has blue eyes."

"That will be the only thing she's allowed to get from Tig," Juice told her seriously, making her laugh. Shawn stopped a moment later and made an uncomfortable looking face. "What's wrong? Does it hurt?"

"No," she assured him. "I'm just being pulled around a lot."

"Here we go," the doctor announced. "And... it's a girl!"

A moment later they heard their daughter cry for the first time. Shawn's eyes became teary as she smiled at Juice, who was beaming at her. He kissed her forehead.

"Here you go, Dad," a nurse as she handed Juice the newborn wrapped in a blanket.

He stood up straight to take the tiny baby into his arms and stared at her in wonder. She had stopped crying. Her eyes were closed and her little lips were moving, but just barely, as she breathed. Juice smiled at the dark, curly hair that was wet and stuck to her head.

"Hi Alejandra," he greeted her as his eyes filled with tears. She peaked one eye open for a moment before closing it, again. Juice smiled broadly at the tiny movement. He knew it was probably just a coincidence, but he liked to think she heard his voice and was looking for him.

"Juice? Let me see her," Shawn requested.

"Oh, sorry, yeah of course," he said and lowered her so she was right next to Shawn's face. "There's Mommy."

"Hi baby girl," Shawn said with a smile as a tear escaped her eye. "Oh, my God. She's so small."

"She's beautiful just like her Mama."

"I should have kept her in longer."

"She's the one who decided to come out, not you," Juice assured her. "She just wanted Daddy."

"I'm sorry," a nurse interrupted them, "but we should get her to NICU. She may not be getting enough oxygen."

"Okay," Juice nodded. "Say bye to Mommy."

"Bye, Ally. I love you," Shawn whispered to her and kissed her tiny forehead.

Juice kissed her next. "I love you, sweetie. See you soon."

He handed Ally to the nurse, who put her in a clear plastic bassinet and began to roll her away.

"Go with her," Shawn told him.

"What about you?" Juice asked.

"I'm fine. See where she's going, please?"

He could her the anxiety in her voice and nodded. "Of course. I love you so much."