Chapter 86
Lying on the operating table, Tyler stared into Kevin’s eyes. Kevin sat at her head stroking her hair back and talking softly to her. His eyes and voice were like tranquilizers calming her completely.
"I love you so much, Tyler," whispered Kevin.
Tyler smiled a drug-induced grin. "You look funny with that cap and mask on."
She couldn’t see his face but Kevin’s eyes told her that he was smiling under the mask. He whispered, "Shhhh....don’t tell anyone."
"I need to get a picture and post it on the internet. The fans would die to see you and Howie both like this," said Tyler as she looked at Howie standing beside her.
Because of who they were, the doctor had agreed to let both men go into the operation room with Tyler. Kevin was at her head while Howie was standing beside her video taping everything.
Howie looked down at her, "I’m the one with the camera."
"Okay, Mrs. Richardson, we’re almost ready. In just a minute, you’ll feel us removing the baby," said Dr. Edwards as she continued working.
A nurse asked, "Have you got names picked out?"
"Dwaine Scott," said Tyler looking at Kevin and Howie.
"What if it’s a girl?"
"It’s not."
"Oh, so you already know it’s a boy?"
Kevin laughed, "No, she just THINKS she knows."
With that, they all heard the sounds of the baby making its first cries and Kevin kissed Tyler on the forehead as tears rolled down both their cheeks. Howie focused the camera first on Tyler and Kevin and then on the doctor holding the baby.
"Mr. Dorough, you’re welcome to follow the nurses with the baby," said Dr. Edwards. "Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, you have a very healthy baby boy."
Tyler grinned, "My turn to say I told you so."
Kevin and Howie both laughed but it was cut short as Tyler suddenly paled. "Tyler, what’s wrong?" panicked Kevin.
A wave of nausea had hit Tyler and she struggled to say, "I.....feel....like...."
The nurse realized what was wrong and handed Tyler a pain. "She’s having a reaction to the morphine in her IV. We’ll give her something for the nausea but it’s going to make her extremely groggy."
"How long will this last?" asked Kevin.
"About 24 hours."
Howie wandered over to get pictures of the baby and to make sure they got the name right. That’s when he got into a heated exchange with the nurses over the baby’s last name.
"I know what her name is. She doesn’t need to be upset by all this."
Kevin heard Howie and gave Tyler a kiss. "Baby, hang tight. I’m going to see Scott."
"I want to hold him, ‘Boo’."
"I’ll bring him to you."
Kevin went over to where Howie was and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"I was putting your son’s name on the certificate and he tells me I have it wrong."
Howie said, "I told you....it’s Fatone."
Kevin said, "Look, I’m not the biological father and I’m not going to get into it with you here. The baby’s last name is Fatone...for now."
"But we have Baby Boy Richardson on the bracelet."
"Put whatever you want on the name bracelet, just be sure that Fatone is on the birth certificate though. And I want to add," said Kevin in a hushed voice. "I WILL have somebody’s job if my wife is upset by all this. Now, she wants to hold her son."
The nurse carefully handed Scott to Kevin making sure that he supported the baby’s head correctly. As he took the baby, Howie stepped back and got it all on video. He followed Kevin over to Tyler and got him placing the baby in her arms.
As Tyler saw Kevin coming towards her, tears began to stream down her cheeks. Kevin placed Scott in her arms and wiped the tears away.
"Your son, my beautiful lady. Stop your tears. You’re going to get him all wet."
Tyler grinned through the tears and corrected him, "OUR son. Oh, Kevin, he’s so perfect....and so little."
"He’s beautiful, just like his mother."
Tyler and Kevin sat together looking at Scott. Neither had to say anything; their eyes and their tears said enough and Howie got every minute of it.
Tyler looked up at Howie. "’D’, you want to hold him?"
"Give me the camera," said Kevin.
Kevin took the camera from Howie and they traded places. Tyler handed Scott to him and watched lovingly.
The look in Howie’s eyes was amazing. It was pure love for Scott and Tyler. He looked at his cousin and said softly, "I know what you went through and all the hurt, but he’s a miracle. He’s brought so much love to two of the people I love the most."
"And he has the most amazing godfather," said Tyler as she put her hand on Howie’s arm. "Thank you for everything."
Leaning over his cousin, Howie gave her a kiss. "You’re welcome."
"Mrs. Richardson, we need to take the baby now," said a nurse.
"Where are you taking him?" asked Kevin.
"To the nursery where he’ll be cleaned and weighed. It’ll be a little while and once your wife is in her room, we’ll bring him to you."
Howie leaned over with the baby for Tyler to give him a kiss. She whispered, "I’ll see you in a little while."
Then Howie gave him a kiss and said, "I’ll see you later, little one."
Kevin was now standing by Howie and reached over to take the baby’s hand. Scott wrapped his tiny fingers around Kevin’s. "Hey, Scotty. Your mom and I love you very much."
The nurse took Scott from Howie and left with him.
The doctor said, "Tyler, we’re just about done and we’ll be taking you to recovery."
Howie said, "I’m going to go out and let everybody know about Scott."
"Howie, would you see if you can find Joey and let him know?"
Howie looked up at Kevin who nodded his head to let him know it was okay. He looked back at Tyler, "Sure, ‘Sunshine’."
*****************
It was almost dawn when a lone figure made his way down the hall. He went straight to the nursery and looked at the babies. A nurse recognized him and came out to speak to him.
"Can I help you?"
"I’m looking for my son."
The nurse shook her head, "I don’t recall any Fatones in the nursery."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive. I'm a huge ‘NSync fan and I’d remember THAT name."
Joey smiled, "Thank you. What about Dorough or Richardson."
"We have a Richardson but....YOU are the father?"
"Where is he?"
"They requested he be left in the room with the mother."
Joey looked around and spotted ‘Bull" and Carlos standing by a door and AJ sitting in a chair across from the room. "Thanks."
He made his way down to Tyler’s room but AJ had already spotted him and met him in the hall.
"Exactly where do you think you’re going?" asked AJ as he got in Joey’s face.
"To see my son. Get out of my way McLean," said Joey as he tried to get around AJ.
AJ, Brian, and Nick had decided that since Joey hadn’t been interested in the baby until Howie had called to tell him it was a boy, they were going to keep Joey away form Scott, Tyler, and Kevin. Each one would take a turn until Tyler was out of the hospital and AJ had elected to take the first watch. Now, with Carlos behind him, AJ said, "Look Fatone...you have been a complete jackass about this whole thing and you had plenty of time to get here after Tyler called you. The only reason you’re here now is because Howie called to tell you that you have a son. I’ll be damned if I’m letting you in that room."
"That’s my son and I WILL see him."
Kevin had told ‘Bull’ to let him know if Joey showed up and he had. Kevin appeared at the door now and said, "AJ, back off. Joey, the baby is in here but he and Tyler are both asleep. Keep quiet."
Joey walked smugly around AJ and Kevin stepped aside to let him in the room.
AJ looked at Kevin, "What are you doing?"
"Letting him see his son. Thanks for looking out for us but we can’t keep him away."
"Why not, Kevin? All he does is upset Tyler."
Kevin motioned for AJ to step away from the room as he said, "’Bull’, keep an eye on them."
‘Bull’ nodded and went into the room with Tyler.
"Okay, Kevin. What the hell are you doing letting Joey in?"
"Look, we’re letting Joey have complete access so that when it comes time to go to court, he has NOTHING to hold over us."
"Man, I’m sorry..."
Tiredly, Kevin shook his head. "It’s okay, ‘Bone’. Tyler and I really haven’t discussed all this in quite some time."
"Are you okay?"
"No, I’m tired, Alex. I want all of this over with so Tyler and I can get on with our lives."
"Have you let go...told Tyler how you feel?"
"No, she’s had so much on her mind with the baby, the tour, and Tiffany. Speaking of which, who took Tiffany?"
"Howie took her back to the hotel for you."
Kevin ran his hands through his hair, "Go on, Alex. There’s no need for you to stay here."
AJ looked at Kevin. "You need to tell Tyler. She’s going to know, especially when you snap because you’re tired."
Kevin ran his hands through his hair. "No, I’m not going to unload my feelings on Tyler....not now. Come on in and see Scott before you leave, while it’s quiet."
Kevin and AJ headed into the room where they found Tyler still sound asleep and Joey holding the baby.
Joey looked up at Kevin and said, "He’s so small and so perfect."
With Scott in Joey’s arms, all the tension and ill-feelings of the last nine months between the two melted away. Kevin grinned as he stood beside Joey looking down at Scott.
Joey glanced over at Tyler. "Did she have any problems?"
Kevin, Joey, and AJ spent the next hour talking about the birth and Scott. Kevin never once gave away what his intentions of adoption and Tyler slept the entire time.
