Everyone stood around Kim Ann's hospital bed. They all linked hands and said a prayer of thanks.
"Our all mighty Lord, thank you for blessing our family with our newest member, thank you for keeping Kim Ann and the baby safe on their journey and thank you for allowing us all to be here to witness this blessed event"
Kim Ann caught Nick's eye and smiled. She was happy that he had put his concerns and feelings about the pregnancy behind him and joined his friends in the celebration.
"So have you chosen a name for the baby?" Mrs. Dorough asked her son and daughter in law anxiously.
Howie and Jessi looked at each other and smiled "Caroline Kimberley Ann"
Kim Ann burst into tears and hugged her two friends. "You didn't have to do that"
"You are the reason that she is here and we want her to know and have a reminder about the remarkable woman who brought her into the world"
~~**~~
"Momma, Caroline is beautiful" Molly was curled up with Kim Ann talking excitedly about her new cousin.
"She is isn't she?" Kim Ann kissed her daughter's hair. "Where's your father?"
"He is in the nursery looking at Caroline, momma are you and daddy going to have another baby?"
Kim Ann swallowed, not knowing how to answer that question.
"Molly, Alex and Auntie Denise want to go and see the baby, why don't you go with them" Nick smiled at his daughter and looked sadly at Kim Ann.
"Bye Momma" Molly hopped off the bed and joined Denise who winked at Kim Ann before she walked away.
"Nick I am so proud of you, it took a lot for you to show up and welcome Caroline. Howie was really touched."
"And what about you?" Nick asked nervously.
"I am very happy to see you, I am a bit nervous of your intentions and I am holding my breath that you don't say something to hurt me but I am happy"
Nick stared at his beautiful girlfriend, the first woman he had ever loved, and the woman who he was afraid of losing. "Sweet Pea, I am so sorry, god I am so sorry for everything I have done."
Kim Ann stroked the blonde hair that she loved "Nick this isn't the time or the place to discuss this." Kim Ann looked up to see Howie and Jessi in the doorway, holding Caroline.
"Someone wants to see their aunt" Howie whispered as he laid the perfect pink bundle in her arms. "Come on Nick, there is some bonding about to take place" and the three of them walked out of the room, leaving Kim Ann and the little girl she carried for 9 months, alone.
"Hi Caroline, it's your Aunt Kim Ann, I never imagined that you would be this beautiful." Kim Ann stared down at the perfect round face and big brown eyes and cried "You are going to make your mommy and daddy so proud, though I am sure your daddy will have ulcers from all the boys who will be camped out on the doorstep trying to date you. Your daddy is a worrywart so be patient with him and know that he is only doing it because he loves you so much. They have waited a long time for you, the whole family has, and we are so happy to finally have you with us. Caroline I want you to never forget how much you are loved and that if you ever have problems someone is always around to talk to you. Your uncle AJ would fall in love with you instantly if he could see you." Kim Ann kissed her neice "I love you so much"
~~*~~
( 2 days later)
Jessi was helping Kim Ann get dressed. She was leaving the hospital to go and recover at home. Her cesarian would keep her off her feet for a few weeks to let her body heal. She had decided to stay at Denise's while she healed. "Is the happy aunt ready to go home?" Kevin knocked on the door and handed Kim Ann a bouquet of flowers "Hi my love" he bent down to kiss her "Bet you are excited to be leaving this place huh?"
"I cannot wait to get out of here, I thought you had a meeting at Jive, what are you doing here?"
" I wanted to celebrate your welcome home, Denise and I cleaned all day and set up your room."
"I told her she didn't have to go to all that trouble, I won't be there for very long, just long enough to let my stitches heal, Kevin I thought we both agreed to cool it until I could sit down with Nick, baby I can't risk hurting him, amidst all the stuff we have been through I do love him and I WON'T hurt him" Kim Ann traced Kevin's lips with her fingers.
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright, god Kim Ann I love you and I care about you" Kevin's voice cracked.
"Well then wait for me, wait for me to clear things with Nick, please" Kim Ann pleaded with Kevin. "We have waited 11 years to be together surely a couple of days cannot hurt us"
"I will wait forever" Kevin kissed her deeply and turned to Jessi "Take care of her, please"
Jessi smiled and helped Kim Ann into the wheel chair "He loves you, you know"
"Kevin? I know that"
"Nick, Nick loves you...Kim Ann as much as Howie and everyone else think you and Kevin are meant to be together I cannot get over how happy you and Nick have been for 6 years. You turned that boy into a loving and caring man.I still see the look of love in your eyes when you look at him, when you talk to him. The way you two touch, that isn't made up." Jessi sat down on the bed and faced Kim Ann "He might have been a real prick this last year but he loves you so much. I stopped to pick up Molly and Alex yesterday and I found them sound asleep on Nick, who was clutching your picture, I have heard him talk to them about you, he is so proud of you. Kymmi he kicked his mother out of his life twice for you, he gave up his career to be the proper father and husband."
"Jessi I am so confused, I do love Nick and even after all the hurtful things he has said to me I still love him and want to make things work with him. But then on the other side there is Kevin. He has been there for me whenever I needed him, all he wants to be is a father and a husband. He treats me so delicatly and he understands me, maybe I was a fool to fall in love with Nick, maybe I did it because I was sick of being alone, or I went with the flow, everyone else was falling in love with a Backstreet Boy so why shouldn't I? God Jessi I cannot imagine my life without Nick in it, but I can't think of my life without Kevin either" Kim Ann burst into tears.
"Those had better be tears of happiness because I don't want to see you upset on the day you are finally going home" Howie knelt down in front of Kim Ann and squeezed her hands. "Come on Red, what's wrong?"
Jessi flashed him a look that said "Not now, I will tell you at home" "Umm
Howie I think she is just overwhelmed, why don't we get her home and let her
sleep for a while"
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