CHARACTER SWAP

[Raine Mulow]

Raine smiled and looked at Jake and the baby who finished the bottle. Raine picked her up gently and burped her, the baby then fell right to sleep on her mother's shoulder. "Do you want to hold her?" She asked Jake putting the baby back cradling in my arms.

"I'll be back, Forgot the teddy bear in Raine's room." Markus said leaving really quick.

Raine smiled at the sleeping infant who was cooing lightly in her sleep. She was beautiful.

Markus came back with the small teddy bear, it was purple and soft. He put it in the corner of the incubator.

[Fulfiller]

Jake gave a soft nod before Raine handed Rebecca Laurie to Jake's waiting arms. He cradled her so carefully as he looked into her golden eyes. She was so delicate, yet so beautiful. Soon, she will be beautiful and powerful with her skills and abilities. One can imagine what would happen if she was stood up on her first date.

Jake gave the baby another kiss on her forehead, smiled, and said some things to her. "The shadows will always be with you, as will your mom and myself. Be strong and be free. Always fight and always love. Be yourself and never hide from anything. Soon, you will be a very powerful woman, and you're going to turn a lot of heads, just like your mom. Just know that we love you, and we will always be there for you."

As Markus placed the teddy bear in the incubator, Jake walked towards it and placed the baby gently back inside. A small tear left his eye as he knows that this was an once-in-a-lifetime moment, and it will be something that he will never forget.

This post has been edited by Fulfiller on Jun 1 2012, 02:34 PM

[Raine Mulow]

Raine smiled and stood, her head pounding and she doubled over. Her nose started to bleed and her vision started going blurry and the doctors rushed over. They took her back to her room and checked her vitals.

"Miss Mulow, your blood pressure is high, you need to relax," The doctor said and gave her a shot and she was now to sleep.

Raine drifted off with relatively pleasant dreams.

Markus sighed and held his head, "It seemed like before with Laurie..." He said happy his daughter was going to be okay.

The doctor came back with a portable crib and Rebecca Laurie sleeping still, "There is no reason for her to be in the NICU, she can be in here." He said and smiled at the new family.

[Fulfiller]

Jake and Markus turned and raced back into the room with the doctors, knowing that Raine's condition has taken a turn for the worst. This was why Jake continued to insist that she got her rest, for he saw something like this happening. There was no way that he was going to go on alone like this.

Once everyone was in the room, Jake moved his chair towards the crib and took watch over his kid while Raine was sleeping. He smiled as he looked at his daughter, Markus smiling as he took another picture. Jake still couldn't believe that he has a daughter, but it was great to know that he does.

[Raine Mulow]

"Laurie kept bleeding, I kept by her side watching over her..they tried to stop the blood. It just kept coming.." Markus said tearing up. "And that bastard didn't care, he was in some other country...didn't know his wife was dying in my arms." He said. "Take care of Raine...you don't know how and when something terrible can rip her from you." Markus said looking at the baby. "I have to go take care of some things," He said leaving.

Raine snored lightly content that Rebecca Laurie was going to be okay.

The baby awoke and cooed at her father.

[Fulfiller]

Jake listened closely as he heard Markus's recollection of the day that the love of his life died while giving birth to Raine. It was sad to see the picture of the doctors and nurses do everything that they could so save Laurie from dying, and it was to no avail. Watching her die must have been devastating on Markus, and he knew that he would leave the same way if Raine would have left him.

Jake nodded to Markus and gave him a hug for comfort. "I will. She, and the baby, will be in the best of hands." He nodded to Markus as he left the room, leaving Jake alone with the his love and his baby. He went to sit back down on the chair when he heard Rebecca Laurie starting up. He smiled at her as he picked her up slowly from her crib and cradled her in his arms. "Hello. How are you doing? You look so beautiful, just like your mom. I can't wait for you to see your new home in the nursery. You're going to love it there. I'll read you a lot of stories and sing lots of songs to you. I will never let you go. I promise."

[Raine Mulow]

Raine awoke hearing Jake's promise to Rebecca and smiled, "You were right...you are ready to be a dad..." She groan tiredly.

Rebecca looked up at her father and yawned so wide. She continued making little whining noises. She was just starting to fall asleep again looking at her father, they already had a special Daddy/ Daughter bond due to the shadows.

Raine smiled, "She's so perfect..." She said with a big smile. They were parents, real parents. Bonded together through the little sleeping baby

[Fulfiller]

Jake smiled as he heard Raine's words to him, validating what he had always been saying to her. It was very satisfying to see Rebecca Laurie in his arms, and the fact that she was a healthy made it a lot better. He kissed the baby on the forehead as he watched her start to fall asleep. She looked so cute as she wanted to stay awake and see her father, but the tiredness overtook her. Jake gently placed Rebecca Laurie back in her crib and placed a blanket over her, letting her fall quietly to sleep.

Jake sat back down on his chair and looked at Raine, smiling as he did so. "Yes, she is. We are so lucky to have her here with us. Are you sure that you don't want another?" Jake said that last part in jest as he knew that a pillow was going to be aimed at him shortly.

[Raine Mulow]

Raine didn't get upset, "Maybe someday..maybe have another child someday." She said looking over at Jake and the baby. She reached over and took Jake's hand. The baby snored lightly kicking her legs gently in her sleep.

Raine kissed his hand gently her eyes closing gently. Her stomach growled and she groaned. "When can we go home?" She asked seriously.

[Fulfiller]

Jake felt the kiss upon his hand and smiled as he looked at Raine. It was, at that moment, that he made an executive decision. He got up from the chair and locked the door to the room, making sure that no one would disturb them for a little while. If they wanted to come in, they would have to have the keys with them. Jake smiled as he walked back towards Raine's bed and decided to climb in with her, taking his shoes off in the process as he scooted himself next to Raine.

Luckily, the bed was large enough enough for two, and Jake was satisfied as he was back to laying next to the woman that he loved. He wouldn't try anything as far as intercourse because of her condition, but just being with her put him at ease. "The doctor says that you have to stay here for a couple of days for observation, just until you get your rest and feel better. Once they evaluate you and see that you're okay, then we all can go home. All three of us.

Jake smiled as he wrapped his arms gently around Raine's waist, giving her a kiss on her nose. "I love you, Raine, and thank you for giving me a gift that I will never forget."

[Raine Mulow]

Raine smiled and cuddled him. "We need to get formula, I thought I would breastfeed," She said sadly, she had wanted that intimate connection with their baby but she wasn't producing milk yet. She still could, but with the baby being premature it would take some time and work with a breast pump for her milk to come in.

She nuzzled Jake and heard Rebecca cry, it wasn't a loud screeching cry but a soft whining cry. She wanted someone's attention.

[Fulfiller]

Jake nodded to Raine's suggestion and knew that it would be one of the priorities to take care of once they left the hospital. Along with that, some diapers, wipes, and some toys wouldn't be bad on that list either. It was definitely going to a new experience for them, trading their guns temporarily for pacifiers. He smiled at Raine as he gave her another kiss on her nose, loving her to death at this point as he made himself comfortable in the bed.

However, Rebecca's little cry broke that up instantly. Jake smiled as he got out of bed and went to the crib to see her, looking at her pretty face as she had woken from her brief nap. He picked her up from the crib and carried her to Raine, knowing that she would love to see her mom. "I think that someone wants to say hello to you, Raine."

[Raine Mulow]

Raine smiled and took Rebecca Laurie into her arms holding her close. The baby closed her eyes to the rhythmic sounds of her mother's heartbeat and fell asleep once more. She cooed in her sleep and Raine just smiled at Jake. "She just wants someone to hold her.." She said looking up at Jake thoughtfully.

"You have given me the best gift..I know you didn't want this at first but you are going to be an amazing father to her." Raine said petting the baby's head gently.

[Fulfiller]

Raine was right about one thing. Jake had given her the best gift. For too long, Raine had been longing to become a mother, and every time, it ended in disaster. Now, with Rebecca Laurie in her arms, her dreams have finally come true. A little baby girl was now in her life, and she was going to stay there.

Jake smiled at Raine when she made the comment that she did, knowing that being a father wasn't going to be easy, but it would be a memorable experience. "Thank you." He leaned forward to kiss her again, but this time, not on the nose. It was towards her lips that he craved to touch once again, and now that Rebecca Laurie was born, it would be business as usual back in the bed. That definitely made Jake happy.

[Raine Mulow]

Raine kissed him back knowing what he was thinking. "We have to wait at least 6 weeks ya know?" She said seriously. The baby kept sleeping soundly and Raine smiled at her. She truly was a little miracle. Then Raine thought of some thing that made tears fall from her eyes, they'd still lost a child and by some miracle Rebecca Laurie survived. She kissed the top of the baby's head and sniffled.