Strings of Destiny

Chapter Twenty Four

Ellie woke up on her birthday.

She felt different, stronger. It was as if someone was helping her fight through the darkness. So she took the help and fought hard to wake up.

"Momma?"

Eve screamed as Ellie had spoken out of nowhere.

Nurses flooded the room.

Eve stayed outside as the team went to work on Ellie. Finally she could come back in. She was warned that Ellie could slip back under again. Eve shut the door behind the last team member and looked at the bed.

Ellie breathed deeply, exhausted. "Momma?"

Eve burst into tears and rushed to the bed. She stopped before throwing herself on her baby, scared she'd hurt her.

"Momma."

Eve broke down. "I'm here, baby."

Ellie looked straight at Eve. "Where are you?"

Eve took Ellie's hand. "I'm right here."

Ellie began crying.

"Don't cry, baby. Momma's right here. I'll never leave you alone again."

"Momma, he hurt me."

"I know, baby. I believe you." Eve knew Ellie wasn't talking about Trevor.

"Hurt."

"I know you do."

Ellie laid back, exhausted. "Hurt."

Eve wept greatly.

<<<

Nate finished cleaning up so he could visit with his son for his hour. He walked into the NICU and went to where a nurse was preparing the little boy for skin to skin contact with his father.

"Hi, Nate." The woman smiled at him. "You're just in time."

Nate took his shirt off and sat in the rocking chair. "Hello, my son."

The nurse attached the infant to his father. She covered them with a warm blanket then went to prepare for her next case.

Nate rocked his son slowly, rubbing his tiny head gently. "Hey, buddy."

The baby mewled, making greater strides than his mother. He was already up two pounds. Now he weighed to term (seven pounds, six ounces) and he was losing his newborn sickness pretty quickly.

Nate was proud of the baby that looked exactly like him but with light cappuccino skin. He never thought he could love someone so much. He never wanted to go a day without his children. Because he loved Lene, too. That was his daughter. He didn't care about bloodlines. That was his daughter.

And boy did he love their mother. He didn't know his next steps but knew he had to show her. Before he couldn't.

<<<

Nate walked into Ellie's room and was in for the shock of his life. Ellie was sitting up and had her eyes open. He raced to the bed. "Ellie!"

Ellie eyed him seriously.

He retracted his arms, not wanting to scare her. "Hey. How are you?"

She said nothing.

"You woke up, Ài Qíng."

Her eyes lowered and he felt awful until they raised again. "Ài Qíng."

"Yes." He nodded.

"Tommy."