"How is he?" Kevin asked Brian as he watched Jane and Aaron come out of Nick's room, being replaced by a very eager Howie and AJ.
"He's fine." Brian replied with a tired smile, he couldn't quite bring himself to be horrible to the man sitting in front of him. He had no idea what he'd missed witnessing. Kevin looked tired as did everybody else who's been waiting since 7 PM the previous day but Kevin also looked drawn and haunted whereas everybody else was now chatting happily about the new arrival.
"And the baby?" Kevin asked.
"He's gorgeous." Brian sighed. "But he always was going to be wasn't he? With Nick as his father."
"Is he healthy? What did he weigh?"
"6 pounds 4 ounces, which is quite big according to the midwife. He's very healthy. You want to know what he's called him?"
"Please."
"Jake."
"Jake?" Kevin repeated, sounding quite pleased. "Jake, that's cute. What about a middle name?"
"Brian." Brian replied proudly. "Jake Brian Carter. It's got a pretty good ring to it don't you think?" Kevin nodded but his eyes had gone dark again.
"The fans'll be pleased to hear he's called him something normal, and not showbizzy." Kevin commented.
"I know, so will my mom, he was teasing her telling her he was gonna call him Tallulah."
"Isn't that a girls name?" Kevin laughed.
"Probably, but you know Nick. I'm just glad he didn't. Poor kid'd have hell growing up when he started school." Brian smiled. "Are you gonna go in and see him?"
"Does Nick want me in there?" Kevin asked sceptically.
"I don't know but the least you can do is try. He wanted us to let you know when he went into labour so that you could come." Brian replied.
"I thought Howie just took it upon himself to phone me." Kevin admitted.
"No, Nick asked him to. Yesterday actually, just before he went into labour." Brian sighed, he didn't want to say this but he knew he had to. "Don't upset him if you go in, Kevin. You're both tired and he's pretty emotional right now. You're walking on thin ice with all of us after the way you've treated him but he's willing to forgive you, for Jake's sake. I don't know whether you still want a paternity test but I'm pretty sure of what the outcome's going to be so if I were you I'd keep him on my good side."
"I wouldn't hurt him." Kevin replied.
"You already have, Kev, more than you could ever imagine. It's going to take a lot to redeem yourself not only in his eyes, in fact, I think he'll forgive you the easiest, he worships you." AJ said, coming out of Nick's room. "If you want to go in, now's the best time to do it because he wants to see Brian before they take Jake away and let Nick get some rest."
"Ok." Kevin stood up and walked towards the door, unbelievably nervous about seeing somebody that he usually saw practically every day.
"Remember, Kevin, try and be at least a little understanding." Brian warned. Kevin nodded and entered Nick's room without looking back, knowing that if he didn't go in then he'd never go in. "Nick?" He said quietly. Nick looked up from where he was sitting on the bed with Jake in his arms, smiling happily and cooing at his baby who was looking up at him with big unblinking eyes.
"Kevin?" Nick looked shocked to see him.
"Hey. How you doin'?" Kevin asked.
"I'm ok, a little tired and sore." He replied with a smile. "They're gonna take him away in a minute so that I can have a bath and then get some sleep."
"That's good. How long are they going to keep you in here?" Kevin asked.
"About 5 days, just until I get the hang of bathing him and making up bottles and changing diapers." Nick crinkled up his nose comically and Kevin had to smile.
"Brian tells me you've named him Jake." Kevin said smiling softly. "It's cute, it suits him much better than Tallulah would have."
"Brian told you about that, huh?" Nick asked blushing. "I was only playing, I'm not that cruel. Do you want to hold him?"
"Sure." Kevin took Jake from Nick's arms and sat down on the chair by the bed, supporting the baby's head with his arm. "He's beautiful, Nick." He said sincerely. Jake yawned widely at the same time Nick did and Kevin laughed. "And he looks just like his daddy. I'd better go so that Brian can get in here before they take Jake and send us all home." Kevin stood and handed Jake back to Nick carefully.
"Will you come back later. There are some things that we need to talk about and I'm too tired to do it now." Nick asked, looking up at Kevin nervously, unsure of what Kevin's reaction would be.
"Of course I will." Kevin smiled. "What are the visiting hours?"
"I don't know? Ask Brian, he's got everything about this hospital memorised, including the fire escape routes from the 7th floor even though we're on the fourth, he's been here with me that often." Nick smiled.
"Ok, well, I'll see you two later." Kevin leant down to kiss Jake softly. "Bye, little man." He left the room. Nick wasn't sure who the last part had been aimed at.
"Hey." Brian greeted as he entered the room. "How did it go?"
"It went ok, he's coming back later." Nick replied.
"Yeah, he asked me about the visiting hours. I told if he comes at 3 o'clock I'll make sure everybody knows to give you two some space."
"Thanks a lot, Bri, I honestly don't know what I'd have done without you. I know I keep saying it but it's the truth."
"I know, you're welcome. I know you'd do the same thing for me if I was where you are." Brian smiled as Nick handed Jake to him without a word.
"I was thinking about getting him christened." Nick admitted. "I know it's early but my mom's been on at me about it. I wanted to ask you...Would you be his god father?"
"I'd be honoured, Nick." Brian said, clearly delighted.
"Do you think LeighAnne would be his god mother? He's gonna need some kind of mom figure in his life other than my mom of course."
"I'm sure she'd love to. You can ask her yourself later, she's coming with me. She really wanted to be here for the birth but her flight was delayed."
"That's ok." Nick smiled. "Hey, Lacey." He greeted, yawning as Lacey came in to take Jake. She took him from Brian and passed him to Nick.
"Say goodbye to Daddy." She smiled as Nick kissed Jake softly and then placed him in the small clear cot that was on wheels. "We'll take care of him tonight for you but tomorrow he's all yours. Don't worry about it though, there's always somebody on hand to help out. Your bath's waiting for you, and if you're planning on coming in at all later, Brian, you'd better get home and get some rest too or visiting hours'll be over before you've woken up, it's 5 am."
"My wife'll make sure I'm up but I'm going anyway. Have a good sleep, Nick. You need it and you definitely deserve it. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?" He leaned in to kiss Nick on the cheek softly.
"Don't feel like you have to come in the second it hits 9 o'clock and you're allowed to. You need some sleep too and I don't think I'll be awake then." Nick said yawning again as he stood to go for his bath.
"You don't need to worry about that, you're not allowed any visitors until 12 tomorrow anyway, Lacey told me. You're dad's bringing the girls then so I'll probably come about 1.30 and slip off before Kevin gets here. Enjoy your bath." He smiled and left the room.
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