From: Koo <ddis2hot@hotmail.com>
Date: 4 May 2003 01:25:46 -0700
Subject: A Mother's Promise (Babyfic) by Jenna
Source: atxc

TITLE:                     A Mother's Promise
AUTHOR:                    Jenna (jennasxffic@lycos.com)
SPOILERS:                  None
CATEGORY:                  Babyfic
RATING:                    G
DISCLAIMER:                Fox/Carter/1013...you  bunch of lucky bums.
ARCHIVE:                   Anywhere...just let me know first.
SUMMARY:                   Advice for the one you love.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:            Okay...so it's not exactly an unborn child,
                           but it is 310 words exactly...not counting
                           the header!  ;)
DEDICATION:                Obfusc8er for the idea!  You rock, lady!
WEBSITE:                   http://jennasxffic.tripod.com/

*************************************************************

He lays in my arms squalling.  I bring him up to my breast, and he finds 
the source of nourishment he has craved.  His hiccuped sobs soon subside 
and he latches on with a suction a Hoover vacuum would envy.  I begin to 
sing quietly to him as he drinks his fill.  "Hush little baby, don't you 
cry.  Mama's gonna sing you a lullaby."  I rise to place him in his crib, 
gently rubbing the downy hairs on his head.  Just as he is about to drift 
off into a deep sleep, all of his needs taken care of, a clatter from the 
kitchen awakens his screams once more.  I sit back down in the rocker to 
once again lull him to sleep.

I hear muttered cursing coming from the kitchen about how we can't afford 
to feed, clothe and educate a child at the present time.  Soon, I hear the 
clanking of ice into a glass and I sigh against his soft baby skin.  His 
father has had a rough week at work and has evidently decided that he 
needs a drink or two...or as many as it takes to forget.  He's becoming 
just like his own father and it frightens me. I begin to think about our 
baby's future and tell him what I want for him.

I cringe, hearing him stomp through the house and slam the door to his 
office with the Scotch bottle.  "I fear for you little one, but I promise 
I won't let him hurt you.  I want to make sure you grow up with the things 
we didn't even know existed.  Love, faith, hope.  Hope for a future so 
bright with promise.  It's what I see in your eyes.  Don't let anyone take 
that away from you, Fox, especially the man you might one day come to know 
as your true father."

-The End-