Chapter Text
When Will walked onto his porch that morning to let his dogs out. The last thing he expected was to find a familiar woman sitting in his chair. Let alone the bundle in her arms.
Overcome by curiosity, Will furrowed his brows and called his dogs to heel, when he noticed they started to crowd the woman and babe.
“Can I help you?” Will said in an unsure voice. He didn’t understand the proper etiquette when a passed one-night stand shows up, especially with a child in tow.
He couldn’t even recall the woman’s name. just that she left right after the deed had been done and never bothered to keep in contact. Not that Will had been complaining, he had been drunk at the time.
As he took a few steps closer he noticed the woman looked pale. Far to pale to be healthy.
When she looked up at Will, there was despair and regret in her eyes, along with pure terror.
It took her a moment to gather herself to answer Wills question, she sat and stared at him for a minute, then looked down at the babe in her arms.
A Moment later she finally spoke. Soft and trembling.
“This is your child. I cannot care for her. Please take her. She is not safe with me,” she said. Will froze at her words. Overcome with complete disbelief and horror. He knew he was drunk. But he had thought himself smart enough to prevent something like this.
“How do you know the babe is mine?” Will spoke after a few moments of staring at the mother in shock.
The woman looked up again and looking deep into wills eyes, causing will to realize he hadn’t put his glasses on. The awareness of his lack of barrier causing him to tense more and avert his eyes.
That’s when she spoke again. In a voice so sure, so tense and remorseful. “I made sure it happened, I needed a child, but I needed a male child. I’m sorry but she is not safe with me. I’m sorry I did this to you.” She looked to the side and a single tear fell down her face. “If you cannot take her, I can bring her to an orphanage. I just thought you had a right to know about her and give you a chance to choose.”
Will stood, trying to process what was happening. His world was turning on it axsis. He was terrified. He never wanted a child. To terrified of his ability would be passed on. He like isolation. When he had his moment of weakness nine months ago, he had been in a weekend mindset. Had just moved to Baltimore. His father had just passed due to cancer.
He thought for what felt like moments. Thinking of his childhood. The constant moving, always the new kid in school. Never having any friends, his peers calling him weird and proving them right over and over.
Then he thought of his dad. Beau Graham was tough man. Hardly showing any emotion, but when he did, it was strictly for will, and will only. He was caring father. Even with all his faults, a heavy drinker. Chain smoked all day every day, in the end it was his downfall.
The lung cancer had hit him hard. He refused chemo. Said it was too far along for him. So wil watch and he got thinner and thinner. Until he started hacking up blood. Held his hand as he took his final breath.
He didn’t know how to be a good father, but he could try.
When he finally looked back at the woman, he held his hands out. Asking for the small bundle in her arms. She looked relieved and sad at the same time. She held the bundle out, supporting the tiny head.
“Her birthday is December 20th; she was born exactly one week ago. She hasn’t been to a hospital. I had her in secret.” She said in such a resigned voice.
Will was holding the bundle, his daughter, to his chest. Looking at her face with a sort of disbelief reverence.
He looked up when he saw the woman stand. She started taking small steps back. Off the porch. She was looking at the bundle with such sadness.
Will started to panic. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t even know the mother’s name.
“Wait. I don’t even know your name. what should I tell her?” will says in a hurry as she was walking away faster toward a car will just noticed parked down his driveway.
She paused for a moment contemplating, it took a moment, but she finally steeled herself and looked right into wills eyes. He fought not to look away.
“Tell her I love her, but I couldn’t take care of her. It’s safer she doesn’t know who I am.” She said with such sadness, holding back tears as she turns away and hurries to the car. Will couldn’t make out the license plate, it was parked too far away.
Will stood for a minute in complete shock and wonder. Not know what to do. When he felt the tiny being in his arms squirm and open her eyes.
He looked down and had to catch his breath. Deep blue eyes stared back at him.
She looked angry, will was concerned until he smelt it. The baby face smoothed out into one of tired relaxation then discomfort.
How did he change a diaper?
Grabbing the bag, he just noticed next to the chair he went inside calling his dogs back inside as he did so.
Going to his bed he set the bag down then the bundle in his arms, he’s not ashamed to admit he had to google how to change a diaper. It took over fifteen minutes of searching and going through the bag at his side to find wipes and a fresh diaper, small whimpers had started, and he was on the verge of a panic attack, but he willed it away by sheer force.
Finally with a new diaper in place and a clean bottom, he looked at what else was in the bag.
There was a tin of baby formula, along with three bottles already filled with water. A pacifier was found in a side pocket along with a teddy bear. It was a rag like bear. Long and pink, a yellow ribbon at its neck and buttons for eyes. It was hideous but he held it up, then set it aside to explore more. He found a small baby blanket at the bottom along with a few sets of onesies. All basic in style. he found a paper in another pocket explaining how to make a bottle.
Will searched the bag some more but couldn’t find anything else. She left him with the bare minimum. Will jerked when he heard a small whimper. Barely discernable over the dogs panting in the corner. They lost interest in the child soon when they realized will wouldn’t let them near.
Will picked the baby up and held her to his chest and as gently as he could started rocking her. After a few moments of this only for her to start crying more. He decided to try a bottle. to see if it would help.
He set her down again and read the instructions left and attempted the first bottle. Realizing it had to be warm. He got up after shaking the bottle and grabbed the baby, terrified she would roll off the bed, he went to his small kitchen and stuck the bottle in the microwave for thirty seconds and when it beeped, he opened it and shook some onto his skin, deeming it not to hot he stuck it into the child mouth, instantly stopping the quiet whimpers.
The volume of which concerned him, he thought babies were supposed to be louder. Deciding to figure it out. He called a cap and waited.
He didn’t have a car seat, so he was going to have to make do.
He brought her back into the living room and sat on his bed. Holding the bottle as she drank. It took a while to finish but when she was done, he set it aside and held her to his shoulder. He had seen mothers do it before when he saw then on stores or at parks when he took his dogs. He assumed it was for something.
After a few minutes of gently patting her back he heard a burp. Surprised he layed her down on his bed and stood up. Figuring it would be another thirty minutes before a cab showed up since he lived so far from society, he decided to get dressed. Forgoing a shower not knowing what to do with the child.
As he got dressed, eyes on the baby every step. He thought of what to do. He had to get her registered. Along with a paternity test, but first a checkup. Just to make sure she was ok.
Realizing she didn’t have a name. he thought on it for a while. Only stopping when he hears a honk outside.
He didn’t even hear the cab pull up when he was in lost in thought. Grabbing his daughter and the bag. Making sure the dogs where fed and watered. He grabbed his coat and left the house.
On the way to the hospital. The cab driver kept stealing unsure glances in the mirror. Clearly worried for the bundle held tight in his arms.
They didn’t say anything though. Clearly not wanting to get involved.
Will was thankful.
When they stopped in front of the hospital. He paid and got out; thankful nothing had happened.
Walking into the building he went to the front desk and waited to be acknowledged,
When he was finally noticed, he walked up to the lady who motioned to him and stated why he was there.
After explaining a few times how he got the babe in his arms, it finally came to her asking a name.
He stood for a moment, thinking, finally he found a nice one. He had heard it before. If he remembered correctly, it was Russian, meaning; who is like God? He felt it fitting. Considering he knows he’s going to worship this child in his arms.
He wouldn’t be able to help it.
Finally deciding, he said “Her name will be, Mischa Graham.” He exclaimed with finality.