Secret Lovers (A Jordan Knight Fanfiction)

29

It's another two days before Harper fully wakes up. She'd fluttered her eyes once or twice but never actually woke up.

"Hudson?" Her voice is quiet and weak, but her brother hears it. He lifts his head off her bed. He smiles when their eyes meet. "What are you doing here Hud?"

"I'm here to see you baby sister. You gave us all quite a scare. How are you feeling?" Hudson takes his sister's hand. She squeezes it.

"I feel tired and sore. What happened? Why am I in the hospital?" She takes her hand from her brothers and it goes to her lack of baby bump. "My baby? Where's my baby?" She begins to cry.

Hudson takes her hand again. "She's fine. She was early but she's strong. She's doing really good. You're in the hospital because you fell and hit your head. You had a small brain bleed that required a surgery. You broke your wrist. And you had a placental abruption, the doctors tried to fix it but you lost a lot of blood and they had to deliver the baby."

"Did you say she's fine? I have a daughter?"

"Yes, my dear sister, you have a daughter. And she is beautiful. She's got a head of hair, dark brown, almost black. Her eyes, are grayish blue, but the nurse said her eyes will change color. Did you know you won't know her true eye color until she's closer to two or three?"

"Take me to see my daughter please." She starts to get out of her bed, but Hudson tells her to slow down and he'll go get a nurse. When he returns he's got a wheelchair and a nurse.

"Well hello there Miss Harper. I'm happy to see you're awake. And you're feeling okay? You think you're up for a visit?" She checks Harper's eyes, her bandage that she still has around her head. "You're healing up very nicely. We'll take you in to see your daughter. But only briefly, you can stay longer once the doctor checks you out and gives the okay."

Harper nods, "Okay. When can I see the doctor? I'm not going to be okay leaving my daughter alone, I need to be with her. She needs her mother to be the one taking care of her. I've already missed days of bonding with her. I don't want her bonded to a stranger." Hudson helps her get out of bed and into the wheelchair. She snaps at him, "Hud, I can do it myself."

"Hey sis, don't get short with me, I know  you're frustrated, having so much information thrown at you all at once. But I didn't do anything. I'm here to help. So don't bite the hand that's trying to help ya." Harper laughs at her older brother. He always knows how to calm her. And bring her back to herself when she gets out of sorts. "Sorry Hud, it's just a lot. I hate that a bunch of strangers have been holding my daughter. She needs her family."

"Oh don't worry about that sis, she's had plenty of family. We've been taking shifts sitting with her. Talking to her, reading to her. I even played a few of my voicemails I have from you so she could hear your voice."

"Well that does make me feel better. Who else has been taking shifts?"

They gown up and go through the NICU doors. Hudson rattles off a short list, but Harper stops paying attention to Hudson the moment she spots Jordan sitting shirtless, holding their daughter against his chest. His eyes are closed, his head leans back against a pillow. Both hands securely on the tiny little girl. Harper reaches back for Hudson and whispers for him to give her his phone. She has to capture this beautiful moment.

Harper feels like her heart is going to explode, she's never felt so much love for anything or anyone in her whole life. Her emotions are overwhelming and she can't seem to control her tears. Hudson comes around in front of her and kneels down to look her in the eyes. "Hey Harp, its okay. You've got to calm down. The nurse told you, you can't get worked up. You're still healing. They won't let you come back in to see the baby if you get to worked up. So calm down."

"Harper?" Jordan says her name in a low, raspy voice. Keeping his voice low so he won't wake up the baby. "Oh my God, Harper, you're awake." She stops crying when she sees his eyes on her. Those beautiful dark brown eyes bring her comfort, they calm her. He stands up and comes towards her. "Someone's been waiting to meet you, Momma." Hudson moves so Jordan can stand in front of her. "Meet our daughter." He leans forward and places her in Harper's arms. "Its time for her bottle, do you want to give it to her?"

"Yes, I'd love to. Oh Jordan, she's so beautiful. She's perfect. And we made her. How did we make something so perfect?" Jordan kneels beside her and puts an arm around her shoulders. They both stare down at their little girl. Jordan kisses Harper's temple and finally lets out the breath he's been holding since he first saw her in her hospital bed. "Thank you Harper. Thank you for giving me such a beautiful gift. You've made me the happiest man in the world."

Jordan helps Harper move into the rocking chair to feed the baby. Hudson leaves so they can have some time alone as a family. "Harps, she needs a name. Baby Girl Evans just isn't cutting it for this beauty. Do you have any preferences for girls names? We never really got a chance to talk about it."

Harper stares down at her daughter as she eats. Happy to see she's got a very good appetite. "Honestly, no I haven't really thought about any girl names. I was kind of expecting a boy. Maybe we could name her after our mom's."

Jordan gives her a look, "I love my mom, but Marlene isn't a very modern name. What's your mom's name?"

Harper laughs quietly at the face he makes, "Her name is Carla. So I was thinking we could name her Marla." Jordan thinks about it and smiles. "I like it. Marla Lynn Knight. It's got a nice ring to it."

"Knight? I think she should have my last name. I think it would keep there from being any confusion. It just seems like it would be easier for her to have my name?"

Jordan's hurt by her decision. But he doesn't want to argue with her. "Okay, if that's what you want. My mom will be happy she's named after her. I better head home. I need to take a shower. I've been here all night and most of yesterday." Jordan stands up. "I'll be back later this afternoon. I'm really so glad you're okay. I've been so worried about you. I'm so sorry for everything that night. I do hope you know I'd never do anything to hurt you. I love you. And I love our daughter, Marla. We're a family now. I'm sorry this isn't what you need to be thinking about now. Just enjoy Marla. You've got a few days of catching up to do." He leans down and kisses Marla in the forehead, the turns his head to face Harper. He inches closer and kisses her lips softly. "I love you." Then he turns and goes. Leaving Harper with the words "I love you too" hanging off her lips.