A weary looking man in green scrubs opened the door. It was almost 10 hours that he saw his beloved wife and Bill had the sinking feeling that he would never see her alive. It was too long.

He still clung to the coffee mug like a life saving line. The coffee long cold and now he felt this cold seeping into his whole being. He loved her so much and he didn’t know what to do without her. For ten hours he couldn’t tear away his gaze from the closed door where is family was fighting for their life.

The man looked around, obviously looking for somebody and the nurse nodded in Bills direction. With a deep breath that spiked up Bills anxiety even more he approached him. Blinking away the tears, Bill braced himself for the final blow. He heard a soft sob from the side, his mother-in-law.

Finally he stood in front of him. “Mr. Gutierrez?” he asked, tiredness clearly at his face. When he saw the man close to tears, looking like a warrior to receive the final blow he immediately recognized his mistake. “Sorry, it was a long day. My name is Dr. Warner. Do you want to see your wife?”

Bill stared at him hopelessly, his throat closed, but somehow he was able to squeeze out the words. “What about the baby?” Dr. Warner hesitated a bit. “It is a son. He is fine.” he left out a tiny detail, but he decided that this can wait. “Mr. Gutierrez, your wife asked for you.” he told the man gently. Bill froze. She was dead, right? How…?

Dr. Warner smiled at the man indulgently. “It was a long fight. But both are fine. Your family is waiting for you.” He pointed to the door. “You can get in. She will get on her regular room soon. We need to watch her for a few days, but it’s all fine.”

Bill made one hesitant step, looked back to the doctor who nodded encouragingly. A second step, a third and then he was running. He barreled through the door, just to stop dead in his tracks. Kerry laid in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and IVs. But what caught his eye was the sheer beauty of her smile. And the little bundle in her arms. She looked up to him, her smile got even wider.

Slowly Bill approached her side. “Hey Daddy. Come, meet your son.” With those words she gave him the wrapped up bundle. Carefully, like he was carrying a fine porcelain cup who could burst at any time he took it in his arms like he learned it from his nieces. His eyes glued to his little perfect man, the button nose, the open eyes with a blurry gaze, looking into eternity.

His heart went to this little boy. And a fierce feeling of protectiveness. Nobody would be allowed to mess with this little precious, he swore. He was admiring his little newborn when he suddenly sneezed and got terrified by his own sound. Hastily Bill handed the crying bundle back. It was Mommy he needed now, right?

Kerry took the bundle and both parents bonded together and with their newborn. It was a peaceful atmosphere after the dreadful birth, but Kerry was grateful that everything went alright.

A nurse came in, paperwork in her hands. “We have some papers for you to sign. Shots and vaccines and for his circumcision.” Bill skimmed through the papers and ripped the form for the circumcision. “Over my dead body.” There was no discussion. Both parents signed the consent form for the vaccination and the necessary shots. The nurse looked taken aback, but let it slide.

Kerry finally fell asleep and Bill couldn’t stop to look at her and their son. He felt the hand of his mother-in-law at his shoulder. When he looked up he saw her smiling at him. “You did well son.”

Kerry got wheeled out of the room to the regular hospital room. She didn’t like the nursery, so a little bassinet was already set up in the room. Kerry was dead to the world when the nurse laid the little baby in the bassinet and left with a smile.

Bill couldn’t believe his luck. The second he thought he lost everything he gained more than he ever dared to dream.

“I am a Dad.” he whispered and caressed gently the fragile cheek of his newborn son. “I am a Dad.” He looked to his mother-in-law. “I am a Dad.” Both beamed like a sunbeam. “And I am a Granny now. Oh god, that sound so old.” both laughed but stilled when they hear a little hiccup from the bassinet which went into a full blown scream attack. Son and mother looked at each other. “Oooops.”

Kerrys mom went to the bassinet and picked the wrapped kid up and cradled her in her arms. “That’s what you have to learn.” Bill looked warily at them both, afraid that the baby might fell apart. “Becka, he’s so tiny.” His voice was full of awe. “He will grow.” Becka went to Bill and gave him his son. “Here, he needs some reassurance.” Bill cradled his newborn and rocked him gently.

Soon the baby stopped crying and Bill realized that the skin color changed from almost white to a light pink. He looked at his mother in law. “This isn’t normal, Becka, is it?” Becka went to the baby who laid content in the arms of his father. “His skin is a bit pinkish, but nothing unusual.” she said when the color changed again to a darker shade. The baby started to scream and the light pink shades changed to a deep, almost black shade. Becka raised her eyebrow. “THIS is definitely not normal. I’ll call the doctor.”

She hurried out of the room when Kerry woke up from the cries of her newborn son. She sat up in her bed. “I think he is hungry” she said sleepily and stretched her arms to get her son. Bill didn’t want her to panic so he turned his back to her, despite the almost desperate cries of his son. The black shades were now shot with grey streaks matching the desperation which now got to Kerry. “Bill, give me my son. NOW.” she ordered firmly. Bill hesitated another moment when he heard his wife.”I said NOW, Bill. Give him to me.” he turned around and Kerry gasped. “Oh my god.” she stretched her arms a bit further. Hurriedly she opened her gown and offered her son his first meal.

Greedily he started to suckle at his mothers breast, the cries calming down immediately and the shades went back to the light pink, so he looked almost normal. Both parents looked at each other with terrified eyes.

The door opened and Dr. Warner rushed in. He saw the baby at his mothers breast and the shocked look in the faces of the parents and he stopped dead in his tracks. His hand went through his hair and he took a deep breath. “I guess I don’t have to tell you that your son is not exactly like the other children?”

Bill shook himself out of his stupor. “No, you didn’t. What’s wrong with my son?” Dr. Warner shook his head. “We don’t know. Really. All we know by now is, that his emotions obviously are showing up in the color of his skin. We don’t know why, we don’t know how. If you give the consent we want to run some more tes…”

Kerry looked up. Her face furious. “Is this condition endangering him?” she asked and Dr. Warner shook his head. “As far as I can say: No. It’s just his emotions showing up at his skin.” Kerry shook her head vigorously. “Then you can kiss any consent goodbye. My son is no guinea pig. And nobody will run any “tests” on him. Did I make myself clear?” Dr. Warner stiffened but nodded. “I understand Madam.” and left the hospital room without a word.

Kerry took the blanket back. “Give me my clothes. We are going home.” Bill got anxious. “But you just had a difficult birth, don’t you think you should stay a few day…” he saw the glare his wife shot him and caved in immediately. “Did you see the gaze he shot to our baby? There is no way that I am staying within the reach of this man.” Becka nudged him. “She has a point here. Come on, let’s get the family home and your doctor on a nightly visit.” she smiled.

The nurse outright refused to let them go. “You are in no condition to leave. Nor is the baby.” Kerry raised an eyebrow. “Oh sorry, I thought this was a hospital and not a prison?” Becka stepped in. “May I introduce myself: Becka Larson, Lawyer. And if you are not releasing my daughter and her family in an instant I sue your sorry ass until there is no tomorrow.”

Ten minutes later they were on their way home. The sleeping baby in a carseat safely tucked away. At a red traffic light Bill looked at his wife questioningly. “Baby?” Kerry turned her gaze to him. “Yes, dear?”

“Well, um, it’s clearly not a Fiona. How should we name him?” they looked at each other and laughed. They were so sure that they would’ve had a daughter that they refused to check the gender during the ultrasounds. Kerry finally calmed down. “No I don’t think that he would appreciate if we call him Fiona.” She pondered a second when her face lit up like a torch. “Connor.” Bill nodded slowly. Connor, her long lost brother. Connor. A good name.

A good name for a fighter.