Mary smiled as she saw the sight that resided in Lila's room. She motioned for Ann to come closer, "Look at this."
Ann poked her head in, a smile crossing her face, "That's adorable."
"Least she's finally sleeping comfortably."
"True. And I bet he's worn out tryin' to get here."
Mary nodded, "They're cute together."
"And they have no clue."
"Mother's intuition, but I think Kevin's good for Lila."
"Me too..."
"And I think Scott would want that."
Ann looked at Mary, "Really?"
"Yeah..Scott loved Lila, but he also loved Kevin like a brother and he would want Lila to move on."
Ann watched as the door to the room closed softly and the two women walked towards the elevators to go to the cafeteria, "I think he'd want that too..."
"This is so hard for her...in the span of just a few months, she lost Scott and now has a baby.."
"I know.."
Ann smiled, "I think we'll just have to let this whole thing run it's course..and for now? Let's go get some food."
Mary smiled as well, "Sounds good to me."
Kevin opened his eyes as a sharp pain jolted through his neck. He groaned, reaching up to rub the sore spot. He looked at the clock on the wall, he had been asleep for nearly two hours. He stood up to stretch his legs and walked to the window.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when Lila's soft voice said, "You can open the blinds a little."
"Jesus Christ, woman! Don't give me a heart attack!"
She laughed, "Sorry! But hey, you ARE in a hospital."
He laughed but did as she said and opened the blinds to let the sunlight filter through. "How do you feel now?"
"Still very sore."
"I bet...how'd it go?"
Her eyes followed him as he walked back over and sat down next to her. "It was hard...I don't think I've EVER been that scared in my life...and an epiderayl is my best friend now."
He smiled, "So, no pain?"
"For awhile, yes. And now, yes. But then, no."
"I can't believe he's here.."
"He's perfect?"
"From what I could see, yep."
She smiled, "I can't believe I have son, Kevin. This is..all just so surreal."
"Yeah...it is."
She looked past him, "Sometimes, I think I'm going to wake up and I'm going to be in Texas and Scott's going to be there and he's going to be talking about his best friend who is in the Backstreet Boys and how he's going to come for a visit...I can't believe I now have to be responsible for someone other than myself. I don't think I can do it.."
"Sure you can..you've gotten this far Lila.."
She bit her lip, "But I don't think I can do it by myself...and there's no way I can stay with Mary and Jack forever...but I wouldn't know where to go."
Kevin sighed, "Look, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it...just get through these first couple days with the baby..then decide where to go from there. Mary and Jack love you like you're their daughter, they're going to love you any way you choose."
"I guess you're right..."
"That's right..I AM the daddy of the group."
She smiled, "True."
Alison appeared just then, pushing the incubator that held Justin in the door, "Someone's awake, so I thought this would be a good time for you two to bond. That ok?"
Lila nodded, "Sure..that's fine.."
Alison pushed the incubator closer to the bed and handed the small bundle to Lila. Alison left them alone then, telling Lila to call if she needed anything. Lila put Justin down on the bed in front of her and carefully un-did the blanket. The baby stretched and yawned real big before settling down. "I'm guessing already he likes to sleep."
She smiled, "I guess so...seems he can sleep through most anything."
Kevin watched as Lila delicately counted all of Justin's fingers and toes. He said quietly, "Is everything there?"
She laughed softly, "Yep..I counted. Ten fingers, ten toes."
"Well that's good."
"He's so...cute. And he's mine, Kevin."
"Can I?"
"Sure..," She said wrapping the baby back up and then handing him to Kevin carefully.
The baby moved and made one of the little baby sounds that are so cute, then settled against Kevin's arms. Lila smiled, "You okay?"
Kevin nodded, "Yeah..I can't believe..he's here...."
Lila reached over into the table beside the bed, "Look at this, Mary brought this. He looks exactly like Scott."
Kevin took the picture with one hand and then compared it with Justin lying in his arms. "Whoa..he does.."
"I know..I just stared at that picture...it's uncanny.."
Kevin cradled Justin in his large arms, "It is...God..he's just..perfect."
She smiled and wiped at her eyes, "And I'm convinced there's something wrong with me...I keep crying....I thought the hormone thing was supposed to stop after the baby was born."
Kevin smiled and looked at her, a few tears in his own eyes, "You're going to be just fine Lila..."
"I hope you're right Kevin...I hope you're right."
Lila put Justin back into the incubator and tried to manuever herself so she could get out of the bed and head towards the bathroom. Kevin had left her alone to go get something to eat and let his bandmates know he had made it okay. She stood up gingerly, her hands on the bedside table for support. She wasn't prepared for the pain that shot through her and she groaned, knowing this wouldn't be easy.
There was a knock and she looked up as Kevin let himself back into the room. "What are you doing out of bed?," He asked.
She rolled her eyes as she finally stood up, "What does it look like I'm doing, Kevin, running a marathon?"
He smiled and put his cup of coffee down before reaching for her hand, "Well, I should hope not."
"Just help me to the bathroom and my life will be SO much easier."
"Ok..ok..let's just take it one step at a time, ok?"
She nodded as they finally took a step. Kevin noticed her grip tightened on his hand, "Maybe you should go back to the bed and I'll go get a nurse."
She sighed and they stopped, "I don't want to feel like a baby!"
"Lila, you just HAD a baby, I think you're entitled to just lie in bed for a day or so!"
That was when the waterworks started, again. She put her head in her hands and Kevin hurriedly helped her back into bed. "Lila?? What's wrong? Lila, talk to me, oh please stop cryin'!"
"It's just...not fair! I..I can do things on my own and now all of a sudden I can't!"
"Lila, you'll only be sore for a few days or so, I don't know nothing about this kinda stuff! Should I go get a nurse, or your doctor?"
She shook her head and began to wipe at her eyes, "No, no..I'm okay...really.."
"Let me go get my mom and Mary, ok?"
She nodded, "Ok...I feel stupid now.."
Kevin smiled before planting a friendly kiss on her forehead, "Don't. I know new mothers go through mood swings, remember I was there when you would be laughing one minute and pissed off the next. Let me go find my mom and Mary, k?"
"Okay..."
Kevin stood up and left the room, finding his mom and Mary in the waiting room, talking and laughing about something. They looked up when Kevin appeared. "Umm..Lila's real upset about something..and I don't know anything about this whole sort of thing, so I told her I'd come get you two..."
The two older women stood up and Kevin led them to Lila's room. He was about to follow when Ann put a hand on her son's chest to stop him, "You wait out here, ok?"
"You sure?"
"Positive..," Ann said with a smile.
Kevin shrugged, "Alright..I'm going to go get something to snack on..I'll be in the waiting room."
"I'll come get you Kevin."
"ok."
Ann then, still smiling, turned and entered Lila's room.
Ann sat on one side of the bed, rocking Justin back and forth in her arms. Mary was on the other, listening to all the worries and frustrations Lila had built up inside of her, holding her hand. The two women just let her get it all out.
Lila finally took in a deep breath and sighed, "I sound so ungrateful and I'm really not..."
"It's okay Lila.."
She nodded, still sniffling a little bit, "I'm sorry you two.."
Ann smiled, still rocking Justin, "We understand honey, we've been there, done that. I think you're just feeling a little too overwhelmed right now. You've been through alot these past months and I think it's just now all coming out."
Lila nodded, "I guess so..."
Ann handed Justin to Lila and stood up, "I think I'm going to go join Kevin in the cafeteria, can I get you anything?"
Lila shook her head, "No..thanks though.."
"How about you Mary?"
Mary shook her head and getting up, "No, but I think I'll join you and leave Lila and the baby alone..."
Both women gave Lila hugs before leaving. "Can you..umm..send Kevin in? When he gets a chance..or whatever?"
Mary nodded, "We'll tell him.."
"Thanks."
Kevin stayed near Lila until visiting hours were up and the nurses had to practically kick him out. Ann finally had to come and get him herself.
"I'll be back tomorrow morning.."
"To pick me up?," Lila asked, yawning.
Kevin grinned, "Yep..I have some surprises for you when we get home too.."
"What?"
"If I told you Lila, it wouldn't be a surprise."
Lila rolled her eyes, "Okay, okay..I'll play along."
"You'll have to. But yeah, I'll come pick you up since Mary and Jack both have to go back to work.."
Lila nodded, "Ok..you don't mind?"
"Nope..I don't have anything else to do Lila..I don't mind at all."
She smiled, "Thank you Kevin...for everything."
"It's the least I can do..now, get some rest, because I'm sure it'll end after tonight."
Lila smiled again, sleepily, "I will...have a good night Kevin.."
"I'll try...you too.."
Kevin nodded before leaving the room.
The ride to his mother's house was a long, quiet one. Ann smiled knowingly at her youngest son, "So..you're picking Lila up?"
"Yeah..tomorrow morning."
She nodded, "Ohhhh..."
"Moooom!"
"What??"
"There was that ANNOYING 'oooooh' that you do."
"Kevin!"
"Mom..whatever you are thinking, just stop."
"What am I thinking Kevin?"
"That I like Lila alot more than a friend."
"And what if I said you were right?"
Kevin groaned and rubbed his forehead as a headache tried to form, "Mom.....she doesn't need a guy right now. She lost her fiancee and had a baby within the span of nine months..."
"That can't stop your feelings.."
"Why are you trying to hook me up with her?"
"I'm not. But me and Mary both noticed that you two have become very close during her pregnancy.."
"I feel like I should..because of..Scott."
"You don't have to feel obligated to be her friend.."
His mom parked the car and they both got out. Kevin sighed, "mom...I don't feel obligated to be her friend, I want to be her friend. She's a great person. And yes, I think that I DO like her as more than a friend, but I can't do anything about that..she's beautiful on the inside as well as the outside..."
"What are you so afraid of Kevin?"
Kevin groaned and threw his hands to his sides in frustration, "I'm afraid her feelings won't be reciprocated...but if they are mom, where do we go from there? Everyone'll think that we're just forgetting about Scott and I'll feel as if I'm betraying him by taking his woman!"
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