Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Rider or any characters from Marvel

Chapter 1

~Prolouge~

A long time ago, Johnny Blaze never allowed himself think about having his own family. It was too tantalizing-having a wife who loved him for who he was, and children he could teach and play with all day long without putting them at any risk whatsoever. But if he did, he would have to deal with not only keeping the Rider from them, but from keeping them from seeing him as the monster of a man he turned out to be. Yet, the idea itself was wonderful fantasy; a past truth that once seemed as a very real possibility. And, like all good things in his life, it was ripped away from him before he could even see it

Or so he thought.

oOo

"Careful now, sir. And…there you go."

"Thank you…thank you so much." "Of course, and again, congratulations!"

"Yea, um...can I still go in and see her?"

"Yes, absolutely, but please keep in mind…it won't be long now."

The nurse led him down the corridor and away from the waiting room, past the delivery ward, and into one of the rooms. She knocked lightly, then opened the door to stick her head in to whisper some words and listen to an inaudible answer. She then stood straight and looked at him with a sad smile as she opened the door for him. He ignored her completely as walked into the room, holding his precious cargo close to his chest, and locked eyes with his wife. She had countless machines surrounding her bed, somehow hooked up to her one way and another. She was laid on her back, her olive skin as pale and thin as the sheets that covered her…just and as beautiful as he remembered her. She gingerly rose a wired hand toward him.

"Johnny," she whispered. "Come here."

The forgotten nurse quietly shut the door as she left the room, leaving Johnny to silently walk towards the bed. He sat down on the chair next to her head, and let her cup his face with her hand. She stroked his cheek with her thumb and looked at her daughter.

"She looks exactly like you." She said amusingly.

Johnny looked down at his daughter. She looked nothing like him, not In his eyes. Well, maybe except the chin, but she was an exact replica of her mother. She carried her mother's golden eyes and small, perked lips, as if she was about to send you a kiss. She even had her mother's wavy brown hair and button nose. He chuckled.

"Poor kid." He said anyways, earning himself a small slap on his knee.

"What are we going to name her?" Johnny asked her. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"You mean you haven't named her yet?"

"Of course not," he shifted nervously. "I wanted you to."

She gave him a watery smiled then turned her gaze to her sleepy daughter. She extended her arms as close to her spawn as she could.

"Let me hold her." She said.

"Careful now." He said as he gently placed his unnamed daughter in her mother's arms. The child whimpered as she was being moved from a warm place to another. She opened her eyes and turned toward her mother's face, staring as if she was memorizing her every detail. The baby cooed, and snuggled into her mother's chest, who hummed with happiness. She stroked her child's hair and looked at Johnny.

"I think…I think I want her name to be Jacque." She said.

"Sounds cool…but don't you think that name's a bit common? And a guys name, too?"

She smiled. "No, your thinking of Jack, as in J-a-c-k. I want her to be named Jacque, as in J-a-c-q-u-e. You know…Jacque," She pronounced with a French accent. "Short for Jacquelyn."

"I like it…All right, Jacque it is." Johnny smiled, a bit sad, but happy nonetheless. His wife opened her mouth to speak again, but began to cough violently instead of speak, miraculously not waking the now-sleeping child. It was over quick, but the nurse came back in to check on her and her vitals, and brought in a pitcher of water with two glasses, quickly leaving afterward.

"Don't scare me like that…" Johnny told his wife nervously. She looked at him seriously.

"Don't worry, I won't do it again." Johnny swallowed hard as he gave the floor a hard stare.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"I know."

Silence.

"Johnny, look at me."

He did so.

"Come closer please."

He kneeled down and put his face up to his family.

"Promise me you'll take care of her."

Johnny caught his breath.

"Promise me you'll always be there with her, that you'll protect her-"

"I can't." He cut her off harshly, and sighed. "I can't." He said in a gentler tone. "And you know why." He clutched the bedsheets of the hard mattress and stood up.

"No, I don't know why you can't. You are her father and you can't just leave her because you're…because of your condition." She responded. He nodded, and sat back down. "I won't leave her…its just…what if I hurt her?"

"You won't."

He gripped the chair as he leaned forward.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're her father." She deadpanned. She began to stroke Jacque's soft hair.

"Remember, Johnny, she doesn't have to find out in a way she doesn't have to."

Johnny nodded, and silently hugged his family as hard as he could without hurting either of them. He wanted to remember how it felt before he couldn't do it anymore.

So...this is my very first attempt at writing fan fiction! Feel free to let me know what you think; I'll add the next chapter soon (I hope) \(^/^)/

See you then!

~Chronic