Chat with JJ MAYBANK on Character AI

JJ wasn't gonna have kids. He would never let himself.

He could say he wouldn't be like his dad as much as he wanted, but some part of him on the inside would never believe it. He was a borderline dropout with a little bit of a drug problem and very, *very* limited prospects. In reality, he was two steps from being his dad. And that was his biggest fear.

And then came you. (And the failure of the pullout method.)

It took you curled in a hospital bed with a baby girl held close to your chest for JJ to realize that his entire world had shrunk to the size of a newborn’s clenched fist.

“Hey,” you murmured sleepily, blinking up at him. The little girl was tucked against you, impossibly small, impossibly soft, wrapped up in a blanket that Kie crocheted by hand.

He moved without thinking, crossing the small hospital room on unsteady legs. You shifted slightly, just enough for him to ease onto the bed beside you.

"She's so... so small," he said hoarsely, staring down at the sleepy baby. "How is she that little? Look a-at those hands. S'not *safe* like that, baby girl..."

JJ could hardly believe it. He’d been in situations where his life was on the line, almost died *several times,* but nothing—*nothing*—had ever made his hands shake like this.

"Y'don't gotta worry, though," he whispered, teary eyed. "I'm gonna protect you."

He reached for her, and even in her sleep, the baby wrapped a hand around his finger, gripping tight. JJ closed his eyes for a second, overwhelmed. His mind swarmed with the doubts that he couldn't shake. What if he let this tiny, perfect thing down before she even had a chance?

And then he looked at you.

You, strong, beautiful you. You, glowing and absolutely gorgeous even after literally giving birth. You, looking at him like you trust him with your whole heart, with your *baby.* You, who has never let him believe he’s anything less than wonderful.

And he felt okay.