The Way It Should Be

"Justin...let her sleep." He heard his mother say in a quiet voice. She was standing by the doorway of the hospital room as she watched her son softly stroke his young daughter's cheek.

He looked over behind his shoulder so he could come eye to eye with his mother. "I know ma, but it's so hard, and i feel so helpless." He said, trying with all his will not to burst into tears as he studied his daughter's face.

"Really? Who?" Justin questioned, then there was a soft knock on the door. His mouth dropped open when he saw her. "Brit?" He said, his voice slightly cracking from surprisement.

"So..." Britney was the first to speak. She had her head down, and her leg would jump a few times from nervousness.

"Well I heard about the accident, so I wanted to see if everything was okay. How is she?" Britney asked, referring to Justin's daughter.

"I've been good, Cameron and I are very happy. She's a miracle." He said, glancing over at his sleeping angel and smiling. "How have you been?" He said, looking back in Britney's direction.

"Pretty good, Sean starts school next week, and that's all he talks about anymore." She said giggling, referring to her son.

"Yeah, can't wait til this one starts school."He said sarcastically, laughing along with her. Then there was silence. "And Kevin?" Justin asked, breaking the silence.

"He's good, a little disappointed that his solo album didn't do as well, but he's good." She said, nodding her head.

"Hey sweetie." Justin said, smiling at his daughter. She looked so tired and confused, how cute he thought.

"Mommy's down in the cafeteria talking with grandma, she'll be back." He told her, the little girl nodded her head, and looked in Britney's direction. She stared blankly at her.

"How ya feeling?" Justin asked, walking over to the bed. The little girl nodded her head again, never taking her eyes off Britney. Britney just stood there feeling dumbfounded, not knowing what to do or say.

"This is Britney sweetie." Justin said to his daughter, when realized her eyes were not moving from the lady in front of her. Britney gently smiled.

Justin smiled. "Britney and I used to be really close friends a few years ago." He told his daughter. Kaleigh nodded her head one more time, this time not so much because she was ready to fall asleep again. Justin kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek. "You okay?" He asked Britney when he saw she had a few tears staining her cheek.

"Yes, I'm fine." She said wiping her eyes. "I better get going, I snuck away from the house and left Jamielynn with Sean. She's not gonna be to happy if she finds out I left." She said again, slightly laughing.

Justin chuckled. "Alright, It was good seeing you Brit, tell Jamielynn and the rest of the family I said hi." He said, getting up from the bed and walking towards Britney.

Britney smiled. "Will do, and it was good seeing you too Justin." She said, reaching up to give him a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and sighed. This is where I should be, she thought to herself. She qiuckly shook the thought away and unlocked her arms from around Justin's neck. She kissed his cheek and walked out the door.

Justin stood there for a minute to take it all in. He thought about what he and Britney would have had if they hadn't broken each other's hearts a few years back. He thought about how Kaleigh could be Britney's if they were together and had childern. He thought about how his life would be without Cameron and Kaliegh and how it would be with Britney. He heard two woman laughing as they walked down the hall. Justin smiled as he knew it was his mother and Cameron. The thought in his head just moments ago seemed to fade away rather quickly.

"Hey." He heard Cameron say coming in the room with a smile. "Has she woke up yet?" Cameron asked, both staring at their daughter.

"She woke up once, and asked where you were. I told her you were down in the cafeteria talking with my mom." Justin answered her.

She smiled back before making her way over to the bed. There she stood quietly observing her daughter who was sleeping ever so softly.

Justin's eyes went to his mom and she smiled. "Um yea, she left a few minutes before you got here." Justin said, trying not to make a big deal of it, even though he knew his mother was going to.

"Yea." Justin sighed. "We did. Everyone in her family is doing well, just like evryone in my family's doing well." He stated, in a monotone.

"Ah, well that's good." Lynn paued. "Do you miss her?" She asked, a question that has been on her mind for sometime now.

Justin sighed again. "I do, but things wouldn't be the same if we got back together. This is where I'm supposed to be. This is my family, and I'm happy." He said looking over at Camron and smiling.

Lynn smiled as well. "Well I'm glad to hear your happy baby." She said. She then took her son's hand and they walked together over to Cameron and Kaleigh.

Both forgetting that Britney was ever there at the hospital that day and finally moving on with their lives.