A Delicate Decision

Justin's POV

The pain that is coursing through my body is almost blinding, and I just want it to be over with. Something is wrong with the baby, I know it. Part of me knows that this will be the end of one of us. That same part of me, wants the baby to live.

But the other part of me wants for me to live. I know it's selfish, and what kind of father am I if I want to live, more than I want my baby to live? I feel a wetness on my cheek, and I realize that I'm crying, but I just can't help it.

Those last rational thoughts fly out of my head, as the pain only gets worse with each passing second. The next thing I know, Brian, Dr. Landry, and several nurses quickly fill the room. After that, I feel a needle being stuck into me, and darkness takes me.

I don't know what time it is, when I come to again, later. I'm still in a little bit of pain, but not as much as I was before the surgery. I slowly open my eyes, and everything is a bit blurry. I open and close my eyes a few more times.

Then, when I can finally focus on things, I look for Brian. To my surprise, he's sitting in a chair nearby, with a baby in his arms. Looking around, I realize that I'm in a hospital room, and not on the operating table anymore.

I quickly look back at Brian, who seems to finally notice that I'm awake again. He tightens his grip a little on the baby, and then gets up. Brian walks over to me and says, "Do you want to hold her?" I nod, and then it hits me.

"So the baby made it?" Brian pauses for a moment, and then sighs. When I'm about to ask him to explain, he starts to, as if he had read my mind. "The doctor knew that you were pregnant with a boy. He didn't know we were having twins though."

When Brian doesn't continue, I urge him to. "Go on." I look around again, and then say, "If I had twins, then where is our son?" Turning back to Brian, I'm surprised when I see a tear fall down his cheek, and I wonder what caused it.

He is silent for a moment, and then says, "We were going to have twins. Our son didn't make it. They needed a name on the birth certificates and his death certificate. So I named them. Our little boy's named Drake, and our little girl is Daphne."

I feel the tears start, and they fall from my eyes and down my cheeks. I'm crying because I'm happy and sad. I'm happy that Brian chose to name our daughter after Daphne, my best friend. But I'm also sad, because like my best friend, our son is dead.

Brian hands Daphne to me, and I ask him which of our last names he put on all three certificates. Brian smiles at me, and then shocks me with his next words. "I put both of our names." I feel my mouth drop open, and then ask, "What do you mean?"

Brian rolls his eyes, and then explains. "I put their names as Drake Taylor-Kinney, and Daphne Taylor-Kinney." I can't stop the strange bubble of laughter that comes from deep within me, when I hear him say the kids names.

Brian stare at me. "What the fuck are you laughing for? I'm completely serious." Another funny thing, is that I know he is. But anyway, I look at Brian, and explain to him. "Since you named our daughter after my best friend Daphne, I bet she is loving it."

After a moment Brian gets it, and he smirks. "Well, Daphne always did want me. Now she gets someone to carry on her name, and gets to have my name with it, in a way." I laugh softly, and then give all my attention to our daughter.

Her blonde hair and hazel eyes make her look so beautiful. I gently press a kiss to the top of her head. My arms are getting tired, so I ask Brian if he would hold Daphne now. He nods, and then takes our daughter lovingly into his arms.

Dreading the question that I have to ask, I ask it anyway. "Where are the vultures? Uh, I mean the family." Brian laughs at my words, but after a moment, he falls silent again. "Brian, is the family here?" Brian nods, and rolls his lips into his mouth.

Then he says, "Emmett was hysterical, as was Debbie. They had to be escorted off the hospital grounds. The doctor said that you can have visitors when you awaken, but that they can't upset you, or they will be told to get lost."

I nod, and think for a moment. Then I tell Brian to let the family in, in small groups. The first group is a calm one, thank God. It's Debbie, Carl, and Emmett. Debbie walks in and hugs me, saying softly, that she's glad I'm okay.

Carl smiles at me, and says the same. Emmett stands next to me for a moment, tears streaming down his cheeks, and then he kisses me on the cheek. "I'm glad you're okay, baby." We talk for a few minutes, and then Brian kicks them out.

The second group comes in, and it's my mom and Molly. My mom kisses my cheek and asks if I'm okay. I tell her I am, and then turn to Molly. She stands several feet away from the bed, and says that she loves me.

"Molly, give me a hug." My words are soft and serious, and she shakes her head no, not wanting to hurt me. "Molly, give me a hug." I repeat myself, and she finally agrees. Stepping forward, Molly is careful of all the machines and wires.

"I love you, Jus." Her words warm me, and so I hug her and then say, "I love you too, Mollusk." Molly smiles a watery smile at me, and then Brian kicks them out as well. Michael, Ben, and Hunter walk in next. Their visit is short and to the point.

Michael and Ben tell me that they are glad everything is okay. Hunter looks at me, and then mutters, "I'm glad you're still alive... Blondie." Then Hunter smirks, and I smile, as they leave the room. Last but not least, the munchers and Gus come in.

Lindsay walks over to me, with Gus in her arms. She does the same as everyone else. She asks me if I'm okay, and when I say yes, she says she's glad. Melanie kisses my cheek, and then Lindsay let's Gus a little close to me.

Gus reaches me, and kisses my cheek. Then he pulls back and says, "I love you, Jus." My heart soars at his words, and even though Brian and I lost our little boy, we at least still have Daphne and Gus to brighten our lives.

I swallow the large lump in my throat, and then reply to Gus. "I love you too, Gus." Then Brian kicks the last group out, and the family leaves. When they are gone, he closes the door behind himself. Then Brian says he has to take Daphne back to the nurse's station.

I nod, and Brian brings Daphne to me, so that I can kiss her cheek. Then he brings our daughter to the nurse's station, so they can care for her right now. When Brian returns, he kisses my lips gently and sweetly, and then tells me to get some more rest.

I nod again, and then get comfortable in the hospital bed. I look over at Brian, who is trying his very best, to get comfortable in the ugly hospital chair. Then my head hits the pillow, and my body relaxes. I find myself falling asleep.