Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Starbase 13 Sickbay And baby makes three.

Posted by Lieutenant Ian Bordeaux (Chief Diplomatic Officer) in Starbase 13 Sickbay And baby makes three.

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Starbase 13 Sickbay And baby makes three.
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf3/atlantis/notes/56745/ original post
OUTPOST 13 SICKBAY

Lexi sat in the room trying to focus as Ian filled out her paperwork. He knew enough about Lexi that the questions which needed answers from her were few and far between. They had given her some meds which considerably lessened the pain. Kate sat next to Lexi and tried to be reassuring as time seemed to crawl and also fly. Ten minutes after checking in a tall, dark-skinned man in medical blue walked up to Ian. His thick Carribean accent carried across the room making both Kate and Lexi look in his direction. Women loved men with an accent. The doctors dashing good looks and relaxed personality made him a shoe-in for the one ladies picked when asked ‘do you want to see anyone in particular?’

“So are you ready to become a dad,” the man extended his hand to Ian as his other hand reached for the PaDD Shaun was holding. Dr. Phillips knew the doctor that came in with the woman was not the father. Doctor fathers were the worst. They were anxious because they knew the million things doctors didn’t tell a patient. They also tended to want to bedside seat drive the entire time.

“No no no no… not me… the dad… is away.” Ian said as he wrung his hands looking over at Lexi. “I’m just the friend stuck in the middle once again between two grown-ass kids…”

“Really Ian. Are you really going there,” Lexi yelled at him from across the sick bay. The drugs had taken effect enough to dull the pain so Lexi was able to flip him off. “What is so wrong about having my baby? You were all willing to build a crib and paint a room fifteen minutes ago!” What she was spouting was not rational. No one ever really listened to the ramblings of a woman in labor though so the staff just went about their duties.

“And labor is progressing at the normal rate,” Dr. Phillips muttered to Grecken in a low tone. “You can always tell when the mom starts accusing and the dad or dad stand in, as in this case,” he pointed the stylus between Lexi and Ian as he talked, “begins to promise and or apologize because they are way out of thier element.” A series of small clicks on the PaDD was getting the man up to date as the couple continued to discuss the topic at hand.

“I am still going to do all of that, but I don’t need rumors spreading that I knocked you up on the week I married Kelly… even if I didn’t know I married her till a month later.” Ian countered as he gave the PaDD. “And you two are grown ass kids, you need to call him… sometime.” he said in a softer tone as he walked over to her, kissing the top of her head in hopes to comfort her. There was no way he was going to leave her side.

“Okay, so you are going to put up the crib and hold her hand while you are going to focus on meeting your baby soon” Dr. Phillips took it in stride handing out job responsibilities. Not all pregnancies were accidents or from a married couple. Dr. Phillips didn’t let things like that affect a delivery. All he needed to know was the basic facts which he apparently had gotten right by the settled tone Ian and Lexi were not exhibitng. . “Let’s see what is happening and where we are in the process,” he handed the PaDD off to the nurse walking over to Lexi.

Kate was already on her feet and heading over to Shaun at the medical check-in desk. She knew it was not uncommon for him to have to fill out some sort of paperwork when involved with a medical case but today she was not going to let him sign off. “Shaun,” Kate demanded his attention the second she was within earshot. “Stop signing off on that paperwork. You need to deliver that baby and not Phillips.” Not caring about his response, she pulled the PaDD out from under him and handed it across the desk to the waiting nurse.

“What? Cause I went to a few classes with this girl? I mean I know of her but I can’t say I know her know her. She was just the topic of one of the papers I had to write and interview I gave once.” Shaun answered as he looked over at Lexi smiling then back to Kate as he walked a bit further out with her.

“This has nothing to do with peanut girl. It is because of who the father is,” Kate rolled her eyes clearly annoyed with Shaun’s lack of connecting the dots.

“Because the mystery dad is Cassanova Chris,” she responded. Seeing the blank stare, Kate continued. It only made sense that she knew more about the crew than he did. Shaun was social but man social. He attended events but she was the one that did ninety percent of the couple talking as Shaun focused on the food or the excuse to leave early. “Chris Robbins. Our Chris from sciences. You know the one with the great hair and eyes you could get lost for days in,” she searched Shaun’s face for any spark of recognition. “The guy whose accent makes you want to melt into a puddle and agree to anything he asks Chris?”

Lt. Lexi Garfield

“I will take your word for most of that…” Shaun said, wondering what his accent meant. His Irish drawl was prominent but Kate never had one as much as he. Her dad, on the other hand, fit right in with his father and family. Was always a shame he married the American hillbilly and lost that sweet dulcet overtones from the homeland. Still, Shaun nodded a bit as it was coming together. “Head of Stellar Cartography right? Yeah, I remember you mentioning he was always pining after an ex… is this her?” he asked as he twisted his body to get a glance back into the room as he looked over Lexi. She was cute, he could see what he didn’t want to give up on the past but the number of women that threw themselves at him was high.

“Yes, peanut girl is Robbin’s ex. We have to do something about it,” Kate crossed her arms. Shaun would envariably point out that it was none of thier business but in times like this it had to be someone’s business. “She doesn’t seem like she wants to call him. I am not sure why but it is his baby. Well, I’m ninety percent sure he is the baby daddy so we owe it to him to let him know his kid is being born right?”

“Even if this is true, what’s that have to do with us? It’s not like we can tell him, that goes against my oath,” Shaun spoke as Kate interrupted still on her roll.

“Oath Smoath,” Kate waved her hand as if to push away the thought from her mind. “We need to be clever so we don’t get caught and even if we did get caught I am one hundred percent sure Chris would lie to cover your arse.”

“and you wouldn’t dare…” Shaun said as he looked at her as he shook his head.

“What,” Kate wrinkled up her forehead in an annoyed expression. “Of course I can’t just can’t call him up and be like yo Mr. Stargazer you chick is giving birth to your baby. You have to be subtle,” she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Shaun knew how Kate laughed, cried, pouted and got mad. He also knew how stubborn she was once Kate set her mind to something. “I can call him up and tell him I lost a copy of last month’s something something. I am doing this off the cuff so listen for meaning not exact words,” she reminded him.

“No… no… no!” Shaun said as he shook his head, he knew the look she was having and he wasn’t going to have anything to do with it.

Shaun Grecken

“Oh yes....yes…yes we are,” Kate’s happy expression was starting to become murderous. The was no way on God’s green earth she would skip contacting Chris in a situation like this. “Shaun, she is having his baby. That is not something the man should miss. It is our duty to make sure he is a part of it. That is why you need to relive Dr. Phillips. You claim since Chris is on the Odin and you are part of the medical staff, he is your patient to treat,” Kate replied firmly.

“What… he isn’t even here. I mean what’s your obsession with Chris?”

“Well…I…no…I am not obsessed with Chris,” Kate stumbled on her words a bit. Chris ‘kiss me’ Bliss. The Almond Aussie. Cadbury Chris. Resee Robbins, she recited all the nicknames for Robbins the single women used during their hen parties where they fawned over the handsome scientist. Kate blushed a bit thrown by Shuan’s question. As a security officer, she spent a lot of time in the gym. As a single guy, Chris spent a lot of time in the gym. He was more eye candy than anything else but there was no way Kate could deny she had watched him a time or two on the bench press. Who wouldn’t watch him?

” I mean we have had lunch a few times. He came to that party we threw but we don’t really follow the same circles as him. He doesn’t really have a circle I feel, he is quiet and reserved.” Shaun said as a quixotically look crossed his face. This was all too much for him right now.

“Exactly,” Kate agreed even though Shaun’s reply was not seeking or posing a question. A long half-second hung in the air before she waved her hands between her and Shaun in a swirling motion like she was scrubbing a spot on the smeared glass. Kate needed Shaun to focus on the task at hand and not her reaction to her friendship with Chris.

“You need to do this because he is not here but his baby is here. I am not going to get into their business, Shaun. We just need to make sure he isn’t missing out on something he will regret forever. I mean there is a chance she wants us to comm him and is just busy doing that breathing thing. How bad would you feel if after the baby comes she regrets not calling him? Now on the off chance, she is totally evil, we need to protect Chris and be proactive in capturing the birth of his child.” Kate quickly scanned Shaun’s face to see how on board her fiance was with the plan. The neutral expression Shaun wore did not bode well so Kate quickly continued wth the logisitics of the plan instead of the reasoning. “Baby, worst-case scenario is he doesn’t answer the call and I just film it all for posterity. ” Reaching into her back pocket, Kate extracted her personal communicator. “Tirri, send comm call to lieutenant Robbins, Chris of the USS Odin,” Kate requested from her comm device.

“Call will connect it two minutes,” the tinny artificial voice called out with the desired information.

“What are you doing! This isn’t our family, Chris… he is just acquittance, a nice guy but we don’t owe him anything here!”

“We owe him the camaraderie and solidarity that comes from being an Odinite,” Kate began what Shaun often called the patriotic plug. “The Odin stands for loyalty, friendship, solidarity,”

“Call will connect it one minute,” the tinny artificial voice called out with an update.

“Pluck me,” Kate groaned seeing time slipping farther and farther away as she argued with Shaun. “You know what. Pluck it.” she took on a fiesty tone.

“Shaun I am not going to bend on this. Think about us. What if they were us? What if I was pregnant and that is why I left you and ran halfway across the galaxy to some podunk assignment, had our baby, and they never told you. Wouldn’t you want someone to let you know it was happening or at the very least send you a memory of it? We don’t know this chick from Adam but we know Chris?” Kate’s tone was getting more high pitched. She was moving to the point of becoming difficult or would be difficult if Shaun didn’t do what she was suggesting. “So get over there and start patient stealing.”

“You know I hate you right now right? Like so much…” he said with a snarl as he moved away as he began talking to the Doctor Phillips.

“But I love you so much,” Kate snarled back but in a completely different context. His growl might be mad but her growl was completely for arousal. Chris might make you miss pouring your coffee into your cup if he smiled at you the right way but Shaun made Kate’s heart melt. Her mind drifted to the gym but this time it was Shaun on the bench press, in a desert gym.

At that moment the comm call clicked through and Lexi was connected to Chris. Moving to a corner of the room she quietly said hello only to find that the call connected but not to a person just an account. This wasn’t unusual with personal comm calls just inconvenient or was it. Clearing her voice, Kate put on an overly exaggerated southern twang and said. =/\= Lt. Robbins. We have a Lt. Alexandra Garfield in the hospital on Starbase 13. You are listed as next of kin. Please call back at your earliest convenience. Ask for Nurse Gervonne Washington.=/\= Then she hung up. The drama of not leaving any more information should spur the hot stellar stargazer to all back immediately. This would also clear her and Shaun of any wrongdoing or impropriety. Chris would be responding to a random call from the duty nurse. Who knew how paperwork got screwed up. At least Chris would be aware of what was going on.

While all deliveries were different, this delivery felt more like a circus especially as he heard Dr. Grecken asking for a word. No one else was in sickbay so it wasn’t like they needed to pull him for another patient. Patting Lexi’s leg and giving her an easy smile.

“I will be right back. You are doing fine,” Dr. Phillips assured Lexi as he stood up not sure why Dr. Grecken wanted to talk to him now. Time was not critical but there wasn’t time for something like coffee.

Looking back at Kate as she talked Shaun shook his head as he talked to Phillips, he wasn’t sure why he was doing this. He loved Kate yes but this was a breach on so many levels. “See… we kind of know her… family friend and all. Figured it would be best to keep her treatment between us.”

“He’s my cousin,” Kate interjected. Shaun was a big boy but even they at times needed help. “I’m calling him now,” she pointed at the phone but made sure her volume was low enough for only her and the two doctors to hear. She also kept her actions in front of her body making sure Ian or Lexi didn’t catch on.

Lexi nodded and gave the doctor a forced smile as he walked away. Closing her eyes slightly she tried to quiet her mind. Feasibly in the next few minutes, she would be meeting her baby. Lexi took this time to think between contractions. Labor wasn’t as bad as she thought. It was uncomfortable but the drugs took just about everything away except for the pressure. “Ian,” Lexi held her friend’s hand tightly. “I know I said I didn’t need you but I don’t want to do this alone.”

“I would never let you do this alone Doll, just don’t break all my bones okay?” he said as he offered him her hand. He wasn’t about to leave her, no matter what she said as he knew this was going to be the beginning of a long day.

“Thank you,” she loosened her grip some as the contractions cycled through. They were getting closer and her nervousness was increasing at the same interval. “Ian,” she said looking up at him with a desperate expression on her face. “Should I have called him? Should I call him?” Ian could tell this choice weighed heavy on her mind. As the contraction started again Lexi closed her eyes not caring about his answer for the next few seconds. Ian wasn’t going anywhere.

“You Lt. Garfield,” Nurse Washington strode up to the bed. Her pace was not fast by any stretch of the imagination and neither was the tone of her voice. It had a definite drawl to it yet could not be claimed easily from any geographic location. One might best describe it as a city-southern. It used the cadence of someone from the deep south but had a sharpness to it one might experience when conversing with someone from New York. “I got a Lt. Robbins on the line and he is getting his blood pressure because he was told you were here,” Gervonne Washington looked at the two people on the bed. She knew the woman wasn’t making any comm calls so it had to be the guy. Ugh huh you think you’re slick. I got your number. You ain’t the daddy but you shore got some connection to him so this is either a buddy I got your back call or yo dude I got your girl. Gervonne ain’t gonna play no games so it had better be the first, she silently monologued in her head. Labor took hours. They were not going to need her anytime soon and Lavonne and Shareonne were waiting on her own comm call to talk about the latest episode of Risan Vice.

“Ian,” Lexi snapped opening her eyes wide. “I said not to call him. Not! Did you call him? I don’t want him knowing I am here?”

“How could I have called him I have been by your side this entire time woman!”

“I told him FIPA says he ain’t getting any information so he is demanding to talk to you. Should I put him through?”

“No! Yes,” Lexi looked at Ian and then let out a grunt as the contractions seemed to be coming faster and faster. “Ian, do something,” Lexi bellowed. It was not clear what situation Alexandra Garfield expected Ian to address first. He was a diplomat by training however so the academy must have taught him to prioritize on the run.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

Looking back at Lexi he knew her answer, or answers. She would have fought him both to let Chris talk and not let Chris talk. “Look, I will… this isn’t the time I think to say anything. Just… let this Shaun guy help. We kinda know him right? You got this I… I’ll distract Chris.” Ian said as he nodded for Shaun to head over as he left the side of Doctor Phillips.

It was then when Lexi looked at the handsome doctor about to deliver her baby she realized how she knew him. “You are the one that listed in my file I have an IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reaction to eating peanuts,” Lexi spat out the official diagnosis for her ban on peanuts. Ever since that day at the academy, the diagnosis of an IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity had caused her to trade in peanuts and peanut products like she was a prison hustler. Most people found it hysterical that the replicators program could not override the medical doctor’s orders. At this point, she had finally convinced the Aquarius’ CMO that she was not allergic but chief engineer Brian McCaughey could not override the Starfleet Medical HQ’s ban which meant she had to ask someone to get her peanut butter like she was a child.

“If it makes you feel better I didn’t know what I was getting into that day. Everyone ranted about these heroes and you needed protection, my supervisors insisted to stamp you and move on. I don’t just listen to the higher ups anymore like that, and I will take care of you I promise.” Shaun said in a quiet confident tone. “Now, I need to go scrub up, I will keep you safe… you have my word. If my fiance’ comes in here and asks you too many questions I do understand if you have to break her arm to get her to leave… just don’t mess with her face please.

Coming over to the door Ian looked at the Nurse, “I got this… where is he calling from?” he asked as he moved just outside the door as the nurse handed over the com unit as he held it in his hand. “Hey, Chris… how are you?” Ian answered with a nervous anxious tone as he began to tap his foot on the floor. He wasn’t sure what he was doing here, his life was so much easier before Chris became his roommate so many moons ago.

Kate shifted in the doorway so that it appeared she was just relaxing but her attention was fixated on the comm call.

“Who is this? Ian? Ian is that you?” Chris asked, his voice seemed to have this mix of concern and confusion as Ian felt himself pacing as he heard his friend’s voice.

“You,” she glared at him grabbing the empty plastic cup of water and throwing it at him. “Grecken, Shaun P,” she read out his official name. “If I could get up I would kih,” Lexi stopped talking as a slew of profanity spilled from her lips.

“Yeah buddy this is Ian, look I don’t know how you heard but yes… Lexi … she just fell. You somehow were listed as next of kin but.... it’s … it’s gonna be perfectly fine.” came back Ian’s lie, bold and wobbling as he grimaced as he wondered why he said she fell. Fell how? Where? What was he going to say if Chris asked more.

I can tell you what she fell on buy my momma raised me right. And its referred to as stubbing your toe in public. Tell him about the baby, Kate inserted herself into the conversation silently

“Fell? I mean… is she okay? How am I her emergency contact?” Chris asked as Ian’s eyes widened as he thought about what to say. Why was he her emergency contact? How the hell did he even find out?

Kate, do not scream out hey doc is Baby Garfield a boy or girl, she fought to set the story right. Shaun would kill her and he had the tools to do it and make it look like an accident. Her gaze settled into a thousand-yard stare as O’Neill worked the angles trying to find a way to get Chris on the right page but have plausible deniability.

“Look… I don’t.... it’s not important… everything… everything’s‘ fine fine… just fine… how are you?” Ian said as he looked to his side as he saw this Kate girl he just meet. She seemed to be listening as he looked at her with a questioning look. You he mouthed at her as his brow tightened. He could kill her, they were in a hospital they could probably bring her back to life and he would only get attempted murder.

Yes me, she mouthed back. She did not fall. You tell him, she mouthed back but with far more animated gestures. Chris needs to know!

“Ian,” Lexi’s voice carried through the room followed but a loud moan.

“Where did the drugs go? I need more drugs,” Lexi belted out in a far deeper tone than she normally spoke with. It had a rumbling quality like Satan himself had possessed her and was demanding attention.

“You need to tell him. That’s his bay,” Kate hissed in a low enough tone to be heard but for her voice not to carry.

“Look buddy lot of paperwork… I can talk to later you… you just get back to whatever it is the Odin has you doing… I’ll… I’ll call you back… just… just give me a moment.” Ian said as he put his finger up to get Kate to silence before he closed the com call as he pocketed the device as he looked at her sharply.

“What the living hell did you do that for? Are you mentally deficient woman?” Ian nearly shouted out as he moved over to her feeling his rage boiling. The truth was, despite the awkward call Ian had thought about doing the very same thing. He wasn’t sure if he was angry at her, or himself for not doing it first. “Well?”

Ian Bordeaux

“It is not about him or her. It’s about a baby. His baby being born. I know you are close to her but we are from the Odin! How are we supposed to sit back and listen to him pine away about his great Wondertwin Garfield and know he has no idea she was pregnant,” Kate held her ground. “I don’t know why they are not together but that guy is lost without her and this,” she swirled her finger, “this is a mistake. Some mistakes turn to regret and regret is not easily fixed or forgiven. She has said half a dozen times to call him so it’s not like she is hell bent on the guy never knowing. You are a diplomat,” her tone got softer. “Find the solution for all parties. That is what you get paid for. Whatever happened to have him across the galaxy to miss this had to be huge, just don’t let her compound a mistake with a mistake,” Kate sighed and walked to the medical bed.

Lt.Lexi Garfield

“You don’t know half about Chris if this is your take away. I love that man like a brother, spent four years as my room mate and I have spent ten years being a perpetual chaperone between these two. Trust me I want him to know as much as the next person but it isn’t as easy as that. That guy bails faster than a fat man in a sinking boat.” Ian grunted slightly as he looked into the room, Shaun seemed to have taking over and ready as he was checking over Lexi.

“If Chris had wanted to be here, he would have. It was his choices that led to this separation, even if Lexi may have made some bad choices. The two seem to go through moments of love and hate, but they always come back to love. Look… Lexi might kill me for getting you to do this, but I need to be by her side. What I need you, is to make sure when the moment comes that Chris gets to know, he can see this first hand. They have to sell a film set in the lobby… do that for Chris will you?” Ian pleaded, knowing he couldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t at least do that for his friend.

“Of course,” Kate nodded turning to leave. After a few steps she slowly turned back to face Ian. “Thanks,” she waggled her head back and forth in a conceding, playful gesture. “You seem to have more of a claim to either of them. I just wanted to do right by Chris. He seems like a good guy. Thanks for letting me.”

Ian Bordeaux

Three hours later

Alexandra Garfield could not stop looking at the small infant in her arms. The second the baby was born all she could focus on was holding her daughter. The voices were just white noise. All she could hear with any clarity was the sound of the small cry in the room before the baby was given to her. After Lexi heard none of the ambient room sounds as she spoke softly to her baby. “You are so perfect,” she adjusted the small knit hat on the baby’s head as she spoke. Lexi couldn’t help fiddling with her like she was a doll. Doll. Ian had called Lexi that since the day he met her. Glancing across the room Ian was taking care of the details. That is what he did and always did in their little trio. Lexi cast him a half-smile wondering if the reason he called her that was the same reason that Lexi saw her daughter that way.

Hearing a small contented sigh drew Lexi’s attention back to the baby. “You have no idea how much I love you. There hasn’t been a second since I found out I was going to be your mommy that I hadn’t wanted to hold you.” Gently stroking the top of the baby’s fingers caused her to flex her fingers to which Lexi positioned her finger so they curled around it. Using her thumb, Lexi continued to gently rub the tops of the baby’s fingers as they talked. “I am going to admit that I am not sure how this mommy-daughter thing is going to work out but I am going to try my hardest and love you every step of the way.”

People commented that babies looked like one parent or another but you would have to be blind not to see Lexi in the tiny wrapped bundle. The dark hair, which there was a lot of, was in stark contrast to the pale white skin making it seem far more dramatic. She was also petite even for an infant. Her features and even her reflexive motions were gentle and delicate. “You gonna wake up for me pretty girl,” Lexi asked. Being swaddled, after what had to be a very hectic few hours for a newborn had exhausted the baby.

“Come on lovebug,” Lexi coaxed her in a soft and gentle tone. “Wake up for mommy for just a minute?” As if the baby understood, she opened her eyes looking up at her mother. The site took Lexi’s breath away. “You have your daddy’s eyes,” she said almost in an awed tone. There was no denying the blue eyes looking at Lexi Garfield belonged to the baby’s daddy. Raising her alone was going to be a lot harder than Lexi imagined. Chris might not know and miss out on things with Ruth’s life but Lexi was going to now spend the rest of her life looking at what could be. In a way, it felt poetic. She and Chris might be over yet in her arms was the hope and dreams of Chris and her. Lexi’s chest burned slightly as it constricted in emotion. She should have called Chris. She should have offered him the chance to be here. One could not change the past but only build on the future.

“Your daddy has the most amazing eyes. When he looks at you, whatever feeling you are experiencing is twice as much. Love, happiness, security,” Lexi let out a small contented sigh thinking about all the things she loved about Chris. “Your daddy is a good man. I love him so much. We just,” Lexi stopped talking in mid-sentence. she had no idea how to explain to Ruth why Chris wasn’t here now. Luckily that would be a conversation way in the future. “One day you will meet him and he is going to be so proud of you. He will take you out for ice cream and listen to your problems. Your daddy will be there every time you need him. He just needs some time to get stuff together okay. Just for know though, my sweet sweet baby Ruth, he loves you more than he ever thought was possible.” Kissing the top of the baby’s head, Lexi realized she had been selfish. Chris needed to know he was a daddy and just how perfect his daughter was. Once things settled down, Lexi would comm him. Whatever happened next was in Chris’ court. As Lexi moved the baby from her kiss, she could see Ruth smile slightly. The books all said this was impossible but most of the people that wrote those books never had kids. Alexandra Garfield knew what she saw. It was a happy and loved baby who understood her words.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

Shaun and Ian walked over, having finished everything for Lexi that he could Ian was feeling a bit exhausted himself and he didn’t have to do any of the work. Shaun simply smiled at her and the baby.

“Okay, I am all settled here, Doctor Phillips can take the rest. By the way, I did make a brief correction on your file, so if you wanna celebrate with a peanut butter cup after knock yourself out.” Shaun said with a wink as he patted Ian on the back. Looking to his left he saw Kate with the camera. “We will leave that here for you, congratulations again!” Shaun said once more waving at Lexi as he nodded for Kate to follow suit.

Leaving left that quiet moment as Ian and Lexi were alone. All those years ago when Chris first brought her by and introduced her as the girl he got kicked out of class with she had been a huge fixture of his life. Chris and Lexi were some of his best mates, yes he had quite a few back in Louisiana as well and he saw them too but there is some experiences that permanently tie you to someone. The Academy was one of those experiences.

Grabbing a chair he pulled up next to her as he flopped down. “You know… Kelly has never talked about if she wanted this… I wasn’t even sure if I did… but…” Ian paused as he looked over at the small child Lexi held and couldn’t help but feel himself smiling ear to ear. “I think I cold get behind this. May I?” he asked her as he held out his arms wishing to hold the baby.

Carefully and gently Ian took the baby from Lexi as he held her tight, gazing at her he couldn’t help but feel this sense of wonder. “I am Uncle Ian, I am the cool Uncle… don’t let your mum tell you otherwise.” he said as the small child seemed to just stare back at him with the eyes of his best friend as he took a deep breath. “I know little one things are strange, you are just born and life has all kinds of tossy turvy things coming your way. Your dad isn’t here…but he loves you… even if he doesn’t know it yet. And despite what they may think, they love each other too… so much they seem to hurt each other instead but they will figure things out, trust me baby doll… you will have them give you the galaxy on a platter…” Ian finished as he leaned in and kissed the small child.

“Okay… if you want…” Ian said as he looked over at Lexi but found her solidly asleep. “Guess it’s just you and me then Ruth… that’s what she called you now isn’t it… her little baby Ruth, ironic… though you wouldn’t know about that story, but your name is cause your dad loves candies… I need to tell you about your dad… someone needs to let you know how amazing he is… and even if I am wrong… and he doesn’t find that happily ever after, it isn’t cause he won’t love you.” he said as he placed the small child on his shoulder as she melted into his chest as Ian began to ramble, telling her stories she would never remember about his two best friends.

Ian Bordeaux