The Space Between

"How can she be so perfect?" Garrett asked as he stared in awe at the small baby in his arms.

Jenna chuckled and John smiled from his seat, "Well she is an O'Callaghan so..."

Garrett rolled his eyes and Jenna couldn't help but laugh even if she was still exhausted. They had only been home from the hospital two days, but Garrett couldn't seem to stay away. He had grown fond of the small life in his arms more than he thought he would.

John on the other hand couldn't stop smiling from his seat. The past few months had been wonderful. He had gotten Jenna a ring (even if they did decide to wait to have a wedding until after the baby) and before he knew what was happening he was painting the walls in their use to be spare bedroom to a light pink for their baby. It seemed all so foreign to him at the time, but now with the baby here it was all different. He could literally sit here all day and hold her. It was the strangest thing to understand. How could he love someone so much that he just met?

"I'm going to be your favorite uncle you know? The cool one that was in a rock band and toured the world."

"Um, hello, I'm the dad and I did that as well."

"Yeah, but it never is cool when it's your dad. I'm going to be it. Sorry." Garrett said causing John to chuckle, "Right."

"And then you know, I'll also be that uncle who threatens teenage boys for you when that time comes." Garrett said to the baby and Jenna laughed, "I know you will."

"Ok, I've really got to go. Layton is going to kill me." Garrett said passing the baby to John before kissing his sister's head. Something else had changed in the past few months. That was Garrett getting a girlfriend which pleased Jenna to know end. She wanted him to be happy. He deserved to be happy.

"Ok, see you later."

"I'm sure. Love you." He said and John spoke, "Love you too, man." He teased causing Garrett to laugh as he left. Jenna chuckled and John moved beside Jenna on the couch.

"Apparently our daughter is going to have everyone wrapped around her finger." John mused and Jenna laughed, "Poor Gar doesn't stand a chance."

"Not at all." He chuckled as he kissed her cheek.

"Must get that from you though."

"Does not."

"Ha! You are delusional!"

She rolled her eyes and he brought his free hand to her cheek, "I love you so much. You and our daughter mean the world to me. Do you understand that? There is nothing I wouldn't do for you two." He whispered kissing over her face.

"And it's going to get hard and we're going to be frustrated, but I only want you. Forever. It will never change and we can get through anything." He added and she cuddled into his side, "I know and I love you."

"I love you more." He whispered kissing her head before looking back at the baby in his arms.

"She's so beautiful." He said, "Maybe I'm bias a bit, but she is."

Jenna laughed, "Well we can be."

"Right. It's just hard to believe that we created this. That she is us. You know?"

"I know."

"And she's so perfect. I don't know. I just can't grasp it all and the fact that I literally love her so much it hurts."

Jenna couldn't help but grin at the cute boy, "I know what you mean."

"Like, I never thought I'd love someone as much as I love you and now it's just overwhelming and I hear it never goes away. I'm in some shit."

Jenna couldn't help but laugh, "You are, O'Callaghan."

"This is karma because you know, if our baby would have been a boy it would be different. Like, do you know how stressed out I'm going to be?"

Jenna giggled, "Relax. You have a lot of time before that happens."

"Nuh uh. She's going to be in school in 5 years! And what if someone's mean to her? What if some stupid, little boy pushes her down on the playground and then I'm going to have to punch a five year old, Jen." He said with a serious look and she went into another fit of giggles.

"You can't punch a five year old."

"But I'll want to because he hurt her!"

"Well you'll have to take up boxing or something."

John groaned and relaxed in his seat, "I'm not prepared for this."

"Clearly."

He looked over at the smiling girl, "Don't laugh at me."

"I can't help it! It's funny and so freaking cute all at the same time!"

John glared at her and she leaned in kissing his cheek, "I love you."

"Mhm. Love you."

"You know you can go lay her down."

John shook his head no, "I'd rather just hold her."

"Sure, spoil her. Why not?"

He grinned, "I'm suppose to. She's daddy's little girl." He mumbled kissing the baby's forehead, "Yes she is." He said in a baby voice and she smiled once again.

She loved the two in front of her more than she thought possible. It was odd really how things had changed in the last 3 years. She thought she would never get over Eric. That what she had with him would never be replaced. Of course in a way it never would. He held a big part of her life, but now she smiled when a certain song came on the radio or she found an old picture. It didn't make her sad anymore or curl up in bed and cry for days. If anything it made her happy remembering how wonderful he was. It took her a long time to get past the hurt to where she was now. She knew a part of it was thinks to John, but mostly it was true what they said, time healed everything. Not that she would ever not love Eric because she knew a part of her would always belong to the sweet, dark headed boy, that made her feel things she knew knew existed. He was her first love afterall, but now she felt like she was officially moved on. Having John and now their daughter made her certain that her life was right where it needed to be.

"Do you think Eric is happy for us?" John asked looking at the girl with a serious look.

The room grew quiet and a smile hit her lips, "I do."

John nodded, "He really has no choice. I mean, we named our fucking kid after him."

"We did not." She said laughing.

"Well sort of...inspiration is the same thing!"

She laughed, "You're right."

"Exactly."

"And watch your language."

John groaned, "I've gotta watch that for real."

"Yeah that's why you need to start now."

"Yeah, imagine, Erica dropping the 'f' bomb in pre-school."

Yeah maybe it was a bit cheesy, but the pair loved the boy so much that they both felt the need to incorporate him into their new lives and both found this as the perfect way to do so.

The two laughed at John's statement before Jenna spoke, "Wouldn't be good."

"No, I'll try not to. I promise." He mumbled before kissing her lips.

She grinned and he stood from his seat with the baby in his arms.

"Let's go put her down."

"Oh now you want to?"

"Yeah. She'll probably be up in an hour anyways and I kind of just want to cuddle with her mother for a moment."

"Yeah, her mother is pretty exhausted."

He chuckled, "I know, ladybug. Come on."

She smiled as she followed him to the baby's room. He gently laid her down and covered her up as she turned on the baby monitor before he pulled her to their room. The pair laid on the bed and he wrapped her up in his arms.

John let out a sigh as he shut his eyes, "I love you, Jenna. I just want you to know how happy I am right now. You and Erica complete me in ways I never thought possible."

"You complete us, O'Callaghan." She mumbled into his shirt as she clung to him. A comfortable silence filled the room as Jenna closed her eyes in happiness.

Throughout all the fighting, uncertainty and every obstacle put in their way, they both knew that right here, right now, is where they were meant to be and as long as they had each other this is how it would stay.