You Took My Life

Chapter 7

Shane's POV

Eve came back into the room. Her mother was following behind her. 'If it is true then I have a right to be in there. That would be my grandchild.' Mrs Rosser spoke. Oh so she wanted to see Claire.

'Yeah a grandchild born of rape! He raped her mom and now she has a constant living reminder of that day. No matter what it'll always be there.' Eve answered. Michael moved across the room over to stand behind Eve. He whispered something in her ear. It must have been something to do with Claire seeing as Eve looked over at her for a second. Claire was gripping on to me for dear life, obviously not liking the conversation going on in the room.

'So, she's keeping it?' Mrs Rosser asked quietly.

'NO! No. Not if it's his. She may be having it but she's not keeping it. The next six months are going to be hard, especially for her. Now I suggest you leave.' Finally listening to Eve, Mrs Rosser left. Hopefully we wouldn't see her again.

That hope was short lived as the next day we got a call from the court saying the case was suspended until the baby was born and the results of the paternity came through. As the weeks went by Claire began to get bigger and rounded. Things began to get more and more strained between us. It wasn't helped by Claire's hormones either.

Eve's mom had been around again but we kept turning her away. We'd just got word that Amelie had her decision on the adoption. In Morganville you had to get permission from the Founder before an adoption goes ahead and we were sitting waiting on her to arrive.

When she did arrive, Mrs Rosser was following behind her. 'Hello. Claire, how are you?' Claire didn't answer.

'What is she doing here?' Eve asked reffering to her mom.

'Well Miss Rosser, as you know I came here to discuss the adoption of Miss Danvers child.' She turned to Claire. 'Now the problem we face is that you are asking for an adoption outside of town. Now I would under normal circumstances given your situation allow this. However I have some concerns. Mr Collins, there is a possibility the child is yours, correct?' I just gave a nod. 'And Michael has told me that you wish to keep the child, if it does turn out to be yours?' Again I gave a nod.

Claire looked at me. 'Shane, do you really?' I turned and faced her. 'Of course I do. There is nothing I've wanted more than to have a family with you. Sure it might have happened sooner that we'd have liked, but that still doesn't change the fact that it is what I want. So yeah, if it's mine then I want us to raise it and bea family. You, me, and the baby.'

'And that is where my problem lies. If an adoption outside of town is granted, then it would have to go ahead, no matter who's child it is.' Amelie cut in. 'Now this is where Mrs Rosser comes in. If the child turns out to be Mr Rossers, then she has agreed that she will take on the child. None of you will have anything to do with it. It means that the child will go somewhere it would be looked after and you can all carry on with your lives.'

More time went by and soon it was almost time for the baby to be born. Things had been getting better between Claire and me. There was a scary moment when her parents found out. They came back and demanded to speak to Claire alone. When she came back she'd been so stressed adn upset, that when I tried to talk to her we got into an argument so bad that it had felt like it was the end for us. When I'd left I was scared stiff of losing her. She came to find me hours later and broke down apologising profusely. I'd told her to forget it and we'd cuddled on the sofa a for while later.

We had the last check up today before the baby was born. We were sitting in the waiting room, waiting for Claire's name to be called. I'd went with Claire to all her appointments not wanting to miss anything in my possible kids develpoment. When the nurse called out Claires name and we were rested in our room I thought of the we have more kids? If this was mine. When would we start, if it wasn't? One thing was for sure. I wanted to be with her for the rest of her life.

The doctor came in just then. 'Hello, how are we feeling today?' he asked.

'Fine.' We answered.

'Well, shall we?' The doctor questioned.

'Yes, please.' After a few seconds the screen came on and gave us the picture of the baby. The doctor was checking things over. After another minute he was still looking closely at the screen and our worry was growing mroe and more with each passing second.

'Doctor, is everything okay?' I asked him hoping for an answer.

'Okay we'll have to wait on the blood and urine tests but the signs point to you having pre-eclampsia. Now it could have been fatal if not picked up however it looks like we might just have got it in time. Now the best course of action is to deliver the baby as soon as possible. Unfortunately that means that we are looking at a C-Section. I'm going to go see when we can get you into theatre okay so you guys just stay here.'

Claire started whimpering as the doctor left. I came and sat by her and wrapped her in my arms. She began to cry in earnest. 'I'm scared Shane.' She whimpered.

'I know sweetheart, but everythings going to be fine. You heard what the doctor said. Just focus okay. You can get through this and I'll be right there I promise.' I told her. Just then the doctor came back.

'Okay, we were in luck. Theres a slot open in a few hours time. That's enough for you to be admitted and get everything sorted. Now don't worry, I know its quick but it's how we have to do this. Would you like to be with her when we deliver.' The doctor asked me.

'Please.'

A few hours later and the doctor was leading me to the operating theatres. He gave me a set of scrubs to change into. Once I changed into them I walked into the theatre to see them preping Claire for the surgery. I went over to where she was lying, and sat right by her where they placed a chair for me. I stroked her head calming her a little. As the doctors were working they kept telling us what they were doing. I kept whispering encouragment to her. Then all of a sudden a piercing cry was heard.

'Congratulations Miss Danvers, its a lovely healthy boy.' The doctor called.

A while later once Claire was finished in surgery she was brought back to her room. The baby had been placed inside the nursery with the others. I had gone too see him. It didn't matter to me right now that he might not be mine, it mattered that I wanted him to be. I'd dreamed about if and when Claire and I got married and started a family. I'd pictured us having a little boy first, before maybe habing a little girl. I'd even thought about what we'd name our son. I'd always liked and hoped we'd name him Carter. If the baby was mine then I hoped Claire liked the name too. I hated how we didn't know who his father is. At least tomorrow we could put the pieces together to find out.

The next day the samples were taken for the test. They took a swab from me and the baby. I didn't know if they were getting Jason to provide a sample. I doubted it seeing as Claire had only ever been with me and was raped with Jason. There could only be me or him.

A few hours later and the results were dur back any minute. I had to leave Claire's room because I was too anxious. I kept looking around waiting for the doctor or nurse that held the envelope with the results. The had been brought into the room for the results. Eve's mother had also arrived but was yet to hold the baby. That was Eve's request. She knew Claire and I would not want her mother having handled our child. Finally I spotted a nurse come through the doors into the ward holding an envelope. Is that it? Please let that be it? This wait is killing me. The woman was coming closer towards me and Claire's room.

She went into the room. Oh Thank god. I took a deep, fortifying breath before going in. 'Are you, Mr Collins.' The nurse asked. I nodded in answer. 'Great well I have the results here, do one of you want to open them.'

'Could I?' I really wanted to open them and find out, my hands were twitching. They just wanted the results. She handed the envelope to me and with hands shaking I opened it.

RESULTS OF DNA TEST FOR SHANE COLLINS & BABY DOE

RESULTS SHOW 99.9% POSITIVE MATCH

I let out the breath I was holding. I walked over to the cot and lifted and lifted my son. MY son. 'Well, Shane. What did it say?' Michael questioned. I ignored him and walked continued my journey across the room to Claire.

'Do you want to hold our son.'

she looked up at me. 'He ours?' She asked tentatively. I just nodded. She held out her arms and I handed our son over to her. The dam inside her broke as she looked at him. I sat right there next to her holding my family in my arms.

'What are you going to name him?' Eve asked excitedly.

'Carter Mason Collins?' I spoke looking over at Claire.

'It's perfect.' She said. The nurse who handed us the results turned and asked if we wanted her to update the hospital records for us. Let them know the name. We decided to let her do it. Just as she left Eve's mom walked back into the room. She saw us and the envelope sitting on the bed.

'You got the results then?'

'Yeah.' Eve told her flatly.

'Did you not think to wait. Not think that I had a right to be here and find out with you.'

'Well seeing as he's nothing to do with you, no. That is Shane's son, not Jason's. You are nothing to him. Now leave. And don't think about coming back. You leave us all alone. This whole thing is over and done with now so you have no reason to be here.' Eve's mom just turned and left.

2 weeks later

Today is the day Carter and Claire come home. I couldn't wait to have them home. I'd spoken to my boss and managed to get some paternity leave so I could be home to set up Carter's room and be here to help Claire with him. Having Carter was helping Claire over her ordeal with Jason.

Over the past week Mike and I had been busy re-decorating my room. Claire and I had decided that I would move rooms to hers while mine was converted into Carter's nursary. Upon hearing of Cater all of our friends banded together. There help meant we had everything we needed for Carter. The best gift was from our friend Rad. For a while I'd been helping to pay off a car he'd helped me get. Knowing how much I'd need the car now I had Carter Rad decided to give it to me and had even paid the next years insurance. If that wasn't enough he'd even got us a car seat with the car.

Now that we had the nursary finished and everything was ready I was anxious to have my baby home. I took the car and drove to the hospital to pick up my family. When I got there Claire was sleeping and Carter was lying awake in the cot right next to her.

'Hey buddy. You ready to go home, huh? Go see Aunty Eve and Uncle Mike, yeah?' I spoke softly as I lifted Carter in my arms.

'There's my boys. How is he.' Claire said having woken up.

'Hey, sorry did I wake you.'

'Yeah, but I'm glad you did. I can't wait to get home.'

'Good cause I'm here to spring you. Just going to see if the nurse has everything so we can go.'

A little while later and the doctor had been in too see Claire and checked over Carter. With the all clear I took all our things down to the car. When I got back Claire had changed Carter into his going home clothes. I had got a wheelchair for Claire. 'You ready babe?' I asked her.

'Yeah, lets go.'

The end.