Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Part 8
March 2004....
Justin held his daughter in his arms. Britney stared at the picture before her and her heart felt warm and tingly.
"Is she sleeping?" she asked.
He scooted closer to her so she could see her.
"Yeah....that feeding did the trick," he said.
She moved the blanket a little so she could see her face. She smiled and let her head rest against the bed.
"I can't believe she's finally here," she sighed.
"I can't either," he said, still staring at her. "She's literally the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.....ever," he said shaking his head.
Britney giggled and closed her eyes. "I'd have to agree with you."
"I'm Mary Hart, welcome to Entertainment Tonight. Tonight's top story.....Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears are now proud parents of a baby girl. The official statement from their publicists said that Britney gave birth late last night at Cedars Sinai. Both are said to be in good health and both mom and dad are very proud and happy. No word the the name of the baby.......or on a wedding date...."
"I guess we have to name her soon," Justin said.
He was still looking at her, touching her face as his eyes roamed over her. She started to pucker her lips together when his finger reached her mouth so he let her suck on the tip of his finger.
"What were the two girl names we ended up with?" Britney asked, rubbing her head. "I think she sucked all my brains out."
"Uhhhh I think it was Justina or Justine...."
She smacked his free arm as he laughed. "Justina? Lordy. Well, I remember Mackenzie and I think it suits her, don't you?" she asked, trying to stretch her neck to see her daughter again.
Justin lowered his arms a little and Britney started to play with the baby's feet.
"Mackenzie, huh?"
He turned his head a little and looked her over. "I think it fits perfectly."
Britney smiled and then giggled.
"What?" he asked.
"I can't stop smiling."
"Me either."
Finally he tore his eyes away from his daughter to look at Britney.
"Does this feel weird?" he asked as he scooted onto the bed a little more and stretched out next to her.
"Does what feel weird? There's quite a few things about my body that feel weird right now," she said.
"This.....us being here with a baby. With our baby," he said softly.
She reached over and took Mackenzie from him, giving her a kiss on the cheek as she did.
"It's kinda strange if you think about it. I mean since it's you and me......but maybe it...." She let her voice trail off and just when Justin was going to ask her what she was going to say, there was a knock on the door and then it opened.
Lynn poked her head in.
"Hey you two....I mean three," she said slowly making her way into the room. "I got here as soon as I could. How are ya'll doing?" she asked, greeting her son with a hug, as he met her halfway across the room.
"We're all good, mom." He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
He took her hand and led his mother over to the bed to meet her granddaughter for the first time.
"Grandma, meet Mackenzie...." he said.
Lynn stood as close to the bed as she could and put her arm around Britney's back as she studied the baby. She ran her finger up and down the baby's cheek.
When Lynn didn't say anything Britney looked up into her eyes and saw the tears.
"She's so.....more than beautiful," she said, laughing. "She's perfect."
"You want to hold her?" Britney asked.
"Of course," she said, putting her purse down next to the bed.
Britney gently handed her over to Lynn. The baby stirred a little from the movement.
"Here mom....sit down," Justin said, pulling a chair up for her to sit on.
Lynn sat down and stared at her granddaughter.
"How are you feeling Britney?" she asked, looking up.
"I feel fine...." she shrugged.
Justin rested against the edge of the bed as he watched his mother.
"She was excellent last night.....she only cursed me out a couple of times," he laughed.
"I said I was sorry," she teased.
Lynn watched the flirting and teasing going on between the two of them and her heart smiled. She knew Justin had been happier in the last couple of months than he had been in a long time and it was because he was close to Britney again. And she noticed something different in Britney's eyes now too.
"I think I injured your daddy when I gave birth to you," Lynn said. "Words weren't enough."
All three of them laughed.
"Is your mama on her way here?" Lynn asked.
Britney nodded. "Yeah, it was weird because she was actually coming out tomorrow so she could be here when the baby was born but Mackenzie got a little antsy and joined us a week early."
After a little while Lynn decided to leave the hospital and get things ready at Justin's home for them so Justin walked her out to her car.
"Britney seems different," she said as they walked through the lobby of the hospital.
"Well, she did just have a baby," he laughed.
"I don't mean in that way....I mean around you. Have you two discussed longer term plans yet?"
He shook his head. "Not recently, the farthest we got was deciding that she would come home with me once the baby was born. We haven't really looked beyond that. I'm not sure if I want to."
Lynn nodded. "When do you start promoting?"
They stopped when they reached the front door.
"In a couple of months....it's going to be so hard," he said, rubbing his face. "I'm trying not to think about it. And of course right at the same time Britney starts rehearsals for her tour and then goes right into touring, but hopefully we'll be done with most of the promotion by then."
"Then when do you guys tour?"
"This summer. I don't know how Joey did it," he said, shaking his head.
"Well, things were a little different with Joey and Kelly than they are with you and Britney. Kelly was able to travel more with you guys and it will be harder with you and Britney."
"I just thought maybe....." he started.
"Maybe what?" she asked, touching his arm.
"I'm being selfish....I just thought once the baby was born she might change her mind about doing this tour.....post pone it or something," he shrugged.
"It will all work out, you just wait and see," she said, touching his arm. "Now, you stay in here so the media doesn't disturb you, okay?"
He leaned down and gave her a hug before kissing her cheek.
"Okay. I love you."
She touched his cheek. "I love you too....I can't believe you're a daddy."
He chuckled. "Yeah, neither can I."
On his way up to the room he decided to stop in the gift shop and buy Britney a little something. He found a cute little charm with a pink baby booty on it. It wasn't a lot but it was cute.
When he returned to the room he saw Mackenzie asleep in her crib, which was next to Britney's bed and saw that Britney was asleep. He yawned and decided he was a little tired himself so he looked around and realized there wasn't any convenient place for him to rest so he scooted in next to Britney on the bed. There wasn't anyplace for his hand to rest so he wrapped an arm around her and closed his eyes.
