They both arrived at the law firm, under minutes, Daniel's hands wrapped protectively around Faith's shoulders as they walked.

       "I can't believe this is it!" Faith beamed, with a wide grin.

Daniel reassuringly squeezed her shoulders. "You better believe it baby," he softly said, reaching down to place a small kiss on the top of her head.

They strutted to Jason's office on the fourth floor of the building. It wasn't until a year ago, did Jason venture in the court room. He had his practical studies in the profession, but at one point, was more enthused about managing a business rather that fighting cases.

    However, his long lost passion for helping out others, was rekindled when he formed a relationship with Faith. She had often questioned him on the subject, saying he would be a good lawyer, because he had a good heart and could talk a lot. He had laughed at that, but further contemplated on the possibility of doing what he really set out to do in the first place.

Now here he was, the owner of a budding law firm that improved on it's quality on a daily basis.

Faith slightly knocked on the door, peaking around to find him at his desk with his head basically buried in paperwork.

    "Hey, big head!" she whisper-yelled, shooting him a grin.

He looked up, a grin instantly smearing his face as he quickly took off his glasses.

    "You're here," he said as he rose from his chair, immediately moving around his desk to address her.

Daniel stepped in and Jason seemingly slowed his pace, the smile slightly fading. He nevertheless approached Faith and enclosed her in warm hug, breathing in the scent of her much favored, vanilla perfume. Her hair smelled like fresh peaches and so did her skin, as far as he could tell from her exposed neck. Her entire body seemed edible, he thought but scolded himself before his mind had a chance to expand on the thought.

She pulled apart, smiling up at him, with her blue eyes, so filled with so much happiness it was unexplainable. She had patted a little makeup on, although was never a real fan of it. Jason noticed, although any man would, if they knew Faith. It gave her a gently glow, adding to beauty that was astounding with or without. With her smile, she looked like a teenager...a happy one.

Daniel cleared his throat. "So, is everything ready?" he asked, wanting to have Jason's attention.

  He quickly scratched the back of his neck, clearing his throat in the process. "Yes, my secretary is getting the boardroom ready as we speak. The candidates have arrived and well...my secretary is organizing everything so we can begin," he informed, noticing the gleam that lighted up her eyes.

    "Perfect!" Daniel exclaimed cheerfully, turning to Faith to plant a firm kiss on her lips.

Jason immediately averted his gaze, forcing a smile, before he moved to his desk.

     "I think Amanda is done now," he said, as he moved past them with a folder in hand.

Daniel smirked as Faith moved behind Jason, as happy as a lark.

____________

Nervousness didn't come close to what Faith was feeling when they arrived upon the door to the boardroom. She closed her eyes, inhaling a deep breath in an attempt to fill her lungs so she wouldn't have a possible panic attack. She then exhaled, hoping that all her nervousness went along with it.

Jason  gently squeezed her shoulders reassuringly. Faith opened her eyes to find him smiling up at her with something in his eyes she'd never quite seen before.

        "No need to be so nervous, everything will be fine, trust me," he regarded her softly.

Faith nodded. "Yeah, thanks Jase," she said, breaking his gaze my stepping inside.

Amanda – Jason's secretary – was inside, a smile tipping her lips when she saw them enter. "Oh, hello!" She exclaimed quite cheerfully.

They all greeted her with the mutual kindness that she shared.

     "Thanks Amanda, that will be all," Jason informed with a brief smile.

The girl nodded. "Yes sir." She was gone from the room in a matter of seconds, leaving only the three of them in the room, which was only occupied with a huge, long, polished desk with chairs surrounding it. Ahead of them was a huge flat screen TV that was attached to the plain white walls.

      "I thought we were going to meet the candidates now," Faith confusedly stated.

     "They're in another room. I earlier conducted a small interview with all of them; there I analysed their personalities and behavior even though the decision is solely dependent on you guys," he informed, as he reached for the remote control.

    "You guys can ask them questions later if you wish, but I thought this would be easier," he informed in hopes that they wouldn't be offended by his efforts.

Daniel nodded. "Anything is OK," he shrugged in nonchalance, looking to see Faith's reaction. "As long as we have a surrogate by the end of the day, I'm fine."

     "Yeah, you're right," Faith agreed.

Jason gave his best smile. "Good. Now that all of that is settled, why don't we take a seat," he said as he switched on the television.

Faith rubbed her hands in eager anticipation for what was to come, reaching out for Daniel's, where she held it tightly. He used his thumb to massage the top, while throwing her a small smile.

._________.

Jason began to play the recorded interview he had done with the candidates and as he the first woman appeared on the screen, Faith's heart soared.

   Jason asked her the basic questions, such as her age and profession etc, then he went into asking them the intricate questions, like why she wanted to be a surrogate. Her answer was like what anyone could have guessed. She wanted to help out a small family who wasn't able to have a child. Her reply was as intelligent and composed as her stature, but Faith wasn't really feeling her. She seemed too rehearsed for her liking.

She glanced at Daniel, who scolded in displeasure. He shook his head, his sentiments towards the woman clearly mutual as Faith's. She glanced at Jason who seemed to agree with them both.

Faith hoped the others weren't as mechanical as the first woman, but to her absolute chagrin, they were all the same – too stiff, too mechanical, too fake. She was feeling disappointed and hopeless when the sixth woman they listened to were like the others who had been before.

Seeing her flattened demeanor, Daniel turned to her and offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry honey, maybe the best is last," he said, trying to build up her hope, even though he too seemed hopeless.

Faith sighed in resignation, lazily looking at the screen as the seventh woman appeared. Her fairness was what got Faith to stop slouching in her chair. Her hair was a dull blonde that fell loosely to her shoulders, seemingly trying to conceal the perfectly oval shaped face beneath. Dazzling blue eyes, that was like anything Faith had ever seen and a flawlessly white complexion. The yellow top she was wearing only served as an addition to the beautiful aura that she carried. She seemed like a breath of fresh air, and when she began to talk, Faith seemed captivated.

She was so soft spoken that you would have to listen closely to hear. It was like a gentle lullaby that soothed the spirits of those who heard it. Her name was asked – Lilly she provided with a smile that could win a thousand hearts.

Tears pooled in Faith's eyes she listened, the whole aura of the woman like a magnet, gravitating her towards her, telling her, she was the one, but Faith kept that little kindle of hope bottled up inside her, silently praying that she wouldn't be like the others.

The question came that she dreaded as well as anticipated and Faith held her breath as she watched.

The woman– Lilly – smiled as she hung her head briefly before bringing back her gaze to Jason.

      "I..." She started out saying. "When I was fifteen years old, my aunt– she fell pregnant..." she trailed off, inhaling a deep breath. "It was the happiest day of her life, I've never seen someone so happy in my entire life. She would brag about what she would do for the baby, what she would do when he or she got here; everything," she managed a shaky laugh that left her lips trembling and her eyes watering.

     "She got into labour when she was only eight months. We prayed for a miracle, but she wasn't so lucky..." Hanging her head, she tightly closed her eyes. "The baby didn't survive and my aunt was left with the startling revelation that she wasn't able to have children after what happened. She got pregnant four times after though, all of which she miscarried. She finally reached the point when all of those would- be lives rested on her head, daily reminding her of her bitter truth..." A tear fell from her eyes. "She killed herself."

Faith gasped, her hand subconsciously going to her mouth in an attempt to hide her shock. Her own heart seemed constricted with the woman's declaration.

      "I told myself that if she was introduced to surrogacy back then, she would still be here, nestling a bundle of joy in her loving arms. I would never wish to see that happen to another woman and so I considered the possibility of being a surrogate for a couple whose baby could give them life. I want to see the smile on a mother's face as she revels in the prospect of having a miracle baby, I want to see the kind of love I had seen in my aunt's eyes and seeing that I couldn't offer her this at the time, I would like to offer myself as a vessel for someone else's child."

A tear slipped from Faith's eyes as joy consumed her body. She found it utterly so surreal that one woman would be so perfect.

    "Her," she croaked. "She's the one."

Daniel turned to her, with tears shimmering in his own eyes. He nodded before he choked out a muffled laugh, pulling Faith into his arms. They laughed and cried together, happiness profoundly understated.

Jason smiled, watching the display for some passing seconds before he got up.

      He cleared his throat. "I'll go get her." Faith and Daniel barely acknowledged his words, too overwhelmed to be anything but such.

___________

   Approximately five minutes later, Jason reentered the room with a smiling woman at his side.

        "Faith, Daniel, I'd like you to meet your surrogate Lilly Henderson."

Faith smiled broadly, earning one from the woman. "Hello," she  said.

     "Hi," Faith chirped. "It's so nice to meet you."

    "Likewise," she retorted, glancing from Faith to Daniel.

      "Well, I'll give the three of you some time to better get acquainted before we get down to some serious business," he informed before strolling off.

Faith dashed towards him when he was almost on the outside, and threw her arms around him in a hug. Her actions slightly surprised Jason, but he nevertheless, allowed it.

     "She is the best, isn't she?" she wanted confirmation from her friend.

He nodded. "She is."

She smiled. "You're happy for me, right?"

       "Are you happy, Faith?" he asked, holding her gaze.

         "I am," she said almost breathlessly.

He smiled and kissed her tentatively on the cheek. "Then I'm happy," he said before walking off and leaving her in that very spot, smiling.

She clasped her hands and held her head up to the sky. "Thank you," she whispered before rejoining Daniel and Lilly in the room.

_____________

Author's note:

So, what did you guys think? Please let me know.

Until next time..
Eat, pray...love ;)
Laters baby
Xoxo
Juju