My brother's best friend

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I'm sitting in the rocking chair, Daniel finally finished putting together, while he's on his back on the floor. I slowly rock back and forth. "Why can't we just pick a name already?" He asks, irritated and sits up to look at me. It's been a month and we still haven't decided on a name and baby is due any day now.

Luckily for us, most of the people gave us baby things for Christmas so we are stocked up for a while. The room still has a few gifts that aren't packed away. Amanda and Dwayne gave us little fairies to put on the wall, which Daniel did despite my protest. What if it's a boy? I rub my belly absentmindedly.

"Because it has to be the right name." I grumble, striking out another name we decided against. "Peter? Lilian?" Daniel asks, looking down at his paper. "No, it doesn't sound right." He scribbles over the names, then looks up at me, "Linds, can we please give it a rest? I'm sure the baby can wait another day for a name." I shake my head, "No, we have to find it tonight."

"Then why don't you say a few names since you keep shooting mine down." He retorts, dropping his little book onto the floor. I look down at my paper, names scribbled all over the page. I've been trying to play around with our names, trying to make a combination of all the letter. "What else do you have? After Lilian and Peter?" I ask pressing my own book to my chest, my brain running with one of the name ideas I had.

He rolls his eyes and falls back onto his back, "Tristan? Amy?" I bite my lip and shake my head. I scribble again and wait for him to go on. He gives me an irritated look before reading the next two, "Morgan, it can work for both or Kate?" When I shake my head again he gets to his feet, "I need a break." Before I can stop him he's out the door.

"I'm making coffee!" He yells. I shake my head; he knows I can't drink coffee. A moment later he yells, "I'll make you some tea." I get up from the chair and walk over to where he left his paper.

As I bend down I notice the wetness on the floor. "Daniel!" I yell before making my way to my room. I call his name again when he doesn't respond. I grab the overnight bag I've had packed weeks ago. "Daniel!" I yell again as I waddle down the steps. I'm going to kill him. When I reach the kitchen I see him with his head inside the fridge.

"Daniel." I say through clenched teeth. "You know, I was thinking, maybe you should just-" He turns around, "Why do you have your overnight bag?" I raise a brow at him. His eyes grow wide, "Now?" I nod. "I'll go get my keys." He runs past me and up the stairs.

I start making my way through the front door. Before I reach it a contraction makes me stop and let out a low groan. "What the hell is taking so long? I'm in labour Daniel. This isn't a drill!" I yell once the pain is gone and I can move and breathe again.

I hear him run down the stairs, skipping the last ones by jumping. He runs to the door and pulls it open. He hurries to the car and turns it on. Is he going to leave me here? I shut the door behind me and make my way down the porch steps. Daniel finally remembers he actually needs me to be in the car before leaving and came to help me to the car.

I feel a hand in mine, I open my eyes and see Daniel standing at the side of the bed. "What happened?" I ask, a little out of it. Then images of the doctor flash in my mind. He's demanding an ER. "Where's my baby?" I try to get up but Daniel pushes me down, "He's fine." "I want to see my baby." I demand. "You will, he's just sleeping. I'll go get him if you'd like?" I stop, "He? It's a boy?" He smiles, "Yes, a beautiful baby boy. He's strong and healthy."

I let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against the pillows. A baby boy. I smile to myself when I remember all the prepping everyone was doing for a girl. Apart of me wants to save all the things for when I do have a baby girl, but will Daniel see it as me hoping for another kid with him?

I look up at him, "Did you decide on a name?" He smiles at me, "I found your little book when I went to get my keys." He pulls the book from his pocket and waves it at me. He opens it up and hands it to me. In the top right corner are three names circled in one big loop. Aiden Flynn Moore. I smile when I see a black line circling the names as well. "I didn't think you'd like it."

He cups my cheek with his hand, "It's perfect." My heart aches at the thought of my parents. I look away as a tear escapes down my cheek. "Linds, are you alright? Should I call the nurse?" Daniel brushes hair away from my forehead. I shake my head.

"I just miss them, Daniel. I know they would have hated this. But I miss them." He sits down next to me and pulls me to his chest. He rocks me ever so slightly from side to side, trying to calm me. He kisses the top of my head quite a few times, mumbling things into my hair.

I pull away slightly too look at him, his breath fans my face and I am suddenly very aware of our closeness. "Would they have loved him? I mean if they did come to see him by any chance." He smiles slightly, "There's no way you can walk away once you've seen him." He uses his index finger to tuck away a strand of hair behind my ear. The light touch sends a shiver down my spine. "Sorry." He whispers, but his hand doesn't move away. His blue eyes seem to grow larger the longer I stare at them.

I feel myself shifting slightly forward. His eyes dart to my lips and for a second I wish he'd kiss me. Just as I was sure he was going to do it, there's a knock at the door and we jolt apart. He gets to his feet and stands against the wall, as far away from me as possible. Then everyone came into the room. Amanda and Dwayne first, followed by all the kids and Abby.

I sink back into the pillows, sending everyone a large smile even though all I want to do is cry. Not just for my parents, but for what is happening between Daniel and I. I want to cry for what it could have been. I want to cry for what it can become. I want to cry for what it will never be.