Chapter Thirty-Three: Lauren Meets Her One True Love, Part Two

Matthew De Clermont's Lab, 2009

As Lauren wandered through the labyrinth of Matthew De Clermont's lab, her eyes were drawn to the intricate displays of scientific wonders. Glass containers filled with vibrant liquids bubbled softly, while machines whirred and beeped with a life of their own. Lost in her thoughts, she marveled at the brilliance of the work around her, unaware of her surroundings.

Suddenly, with a soft thud, she collided with someone. Stumbling back, Lauren looked up, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Standing before her was Matthew himself, a bemused smile playing on his lips. "Careful there," he said gently, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and concern as he extended a hand to steady her.

Lauren took his hand, feeling a rush of warmth at his touch. "I guess I was a bit too lost in my thoughts," she admitted, her heart racing as their eyes met.

Matthew chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "It's easy to get distracted when you're daydreaming about something exciting," he teased, and Lauren couldn't help but wonder if he knew just how much his presence affected her.

Then she remembered this was the same man from her dreams, as Fülane, and the realization sent a shiver down her spine. How was this even possible?

As she stood there, time seemed to stand still. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them in that moment, suspended in the air. Her heart raced as she took in every detail of his face, the way his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and the warmth of his smile. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring them together, and she felt an inexplicable connection that she had never experienced before.

"Lauren?" Matthew's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.

Lauren was about to respond, her mind racing with possibilities, when suddenly, a voice called out from across the lab.

"Hey, Lauren! Come over here and look at this!" It was Margaret, waving her hand excitedly.

Lauren turned her head, momentarily distracted from her thoughts about Matthew. As she made her way over to Margaret, she couldn't shake off the feeling of that mysterious connection. But curiosity got the better of her, and she approached her friend, eager to see what had captured Margaret's attention so completely.

Mariam turned to Matthew, a determined look in her eyes. "We need to continue the tour," she said, her voice firm.

Matthew nodded, still processing the earlier conversation.

Matthew then tells the class, Let's continue on with the tour.

As the students moved along, Matthew couldn't help but steal glances at Lauren, his eyes filled with affection. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as they explored their surroundings, but Matthew's thoughts were solely focused on her, enhancing the day's experience in an unexpected way.

A while later, Diana and her students were preparing to leave. As they gathered their belongings.

Matthew walked over and asked Diana if her student Lauren would stay behind for a moment.

Diana raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in the air, but nodded in agreement.

"Of course," she replied.

Diana called Lauren over, her curiosity aroused. "Lauren, could you stay back for just a minute?" she asked, her tone light yet inquisitive.

Lauren, slightly apprehensive but intrigued, nodded and stepped away from the group.

As the others continued to leave, Lauren approached Diana, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. Diana offered a reassuring smile, hoping to ease her student's unease. "Yes, everything is fine.

Lauren's expression brightened by the reassurance, but before she could respond, she hesitated. "What is it then? Is there something specific you wanted to discuss, professor?"

Diana took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "Dr. De Clermont just needs a moment of your time. It's nothing to worry about, but he would like to speak with you privately."

Lauren still felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. She took a deep breath and said, "Yes, of course."

Diana nodded, her expression encouraging. "It's just a brief conversation. You'll be fine."

Lauren appreciated her professor's support, but the uncertainty lingered. She glanced around the room, trying to shake off her apprehension as she prepared to meet Dr. De Clermont.

Then Mariam walked over to Lauren and said, "Dr. De Clermont will see you now in his office."

Lauren nodded her head and said, "Okay."

With that, she made her way to Matthew's office, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

Lauren took a deep breath as she approached the door to Dr. De Clermont's office. She knocked gently, her heart racing with a mix of nerves and anticipation. "Come in," a voice called from inside.

She opened the door and stepped inside, finding Dr. De Clermont seated at his desk, reviewing some papers. He looked up and smiled warmly.

"Hi, Dr. De Clermont," Lauren said, her voice steady despite her nerves. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

"Not at all, Lauren," he replied, gesturing for her to take a seat.

As she settled into the chair across from him, Lauren couldn't shake the feeling that they had crossed paths before. "Have we seen each other before?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as she searched his face for a hint of recognition.

"Yes, we have met before," Matthew said with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting a sense of familiarity.

"Where have we met before?" Lauren inquired, her curiosity growing.

"Well," Matthew began, leaning back slightly in his chair, "we've met a few times throughout your life, though you might not remember all of those encounters."

Lauren raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I don't recall any of them," she admitted, her mind racing to piece together any vague memories.

"Well," Matthew continued, a hint of nostalgia in his voice, "the first time we met was."

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Saint Luke's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 1993

The neonatal doctor then said, "You want to hold baby Anderson, Dr. Jones?"

Dr. Jones's hands trembled slightly as he approached the incubator, his gaze fixed on the tiny, fragile figure swaddled within.

"Absolutely," he said, feeling a surge of emotion as he reached out to gently lift baby Anderson, overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility and hope of protecting his one true love.

Instantly, the baby settled down in his arms, overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility and the hope of protecting his one true love.

"You're a natural with her, Dr. Jones." The nurse says with a smile.

Dr. Jones smiled back, his heart swelling with pride. "Thank you, and why do you say that?" he replied with a curious tone.

The nurse chuckled softly, adjusting the blanket around the baby. "You have a way of calming her that most people can't manage," she said, her eyes twinkling with warmth.

"Thank you," Dr. Jones replied, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

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The nurse replied, "Her parents chose the name Lauren Faith Anderson."

Matthew nodded, appreciating the beauty of the name. "That's lovely," he said, his voice warm with admiration. The nurse smiled, her eyes reflecting the joy of new beginnings. "It suits her perfectly," she added, watching the baby peacefully sleeping in the blanket.

The nurse replied, "I agree."

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Then Matthew leaned closer, captivated by the tiny features of the infant. "I can't wait to see the kind of person she will grow up to be, and I promise that I will always protect you," he murmured, his heart swelling with hope for the future for his one true love.

The nurse carefully cradled the baby in her arms and smiled gently at Matthew. "It's time to take her to her birth parents," she said softly.

With a final glance at the precious child, Matthew felt a mix of emotions—sadness from the impending separation and joy for the new family that awaited her. He took a deep breath, knowing that this moment, while bittersweet, was a step toward the baby's bright future.

Matthew said goodbye to Lauren, and then the nurse left the room, carefully cradling the baby in her arms.

As he watched them go, Matthew couldn't help but whisper, "I'll see you again someday."he words hung in the air, a promise and a hope for the future.