Continuing "Next Generation"

"Let me carry her" RL Rod smiled as he carried his baby girls on his arms and tickled her nose "Hello there, little one, i am your daddy" he whispered "Me and your mama are gonna take care of you"

"Daddy!" the baby giggled as she bit him on the nose and laughed while grinning at her mother. "Mama! Dadda! Mama! Dada!"

"What brings you here, Doug?" Lee growled as she glared at him fiercely and Doug glanced at a stern and stone-faced Julie before turning back in Lee's direction.

"Well, Julie and I have been talking and we decide that it is best to forgive you right now. I know that we still have some issues to work out and perhaps we can eventually resolve them, but it is no use to maintain a grudge when so many years have passed already and you have proved your worth to the team on more than one occasion. I hope you will have the grace to accept our apology."

"Ow!" RL Rod laughed "Your a little nene" he whispered as he nuzzled her, then turned to Michelle "How are we gonan name her? Like your mother?" he smiled

"And you said that i was lying" Rod laughed as he elbowed Lee "You see? They got to forgive you!"

"I suppose I could name her like my mother," Michelle shrugged.

"You are right, but now it is up to Renee," Lee replied with a shrug. "I only wonder where she is."

"Esperanza will be" RL Rod smiled as he turned to is newly named newborn girl "You little baby will be our daughter" he whispered as he nuzzled her, then handed her back to Michelle "SHe might be hungry"

"I dunno, but i hope she's thinking about what did she told to you and me" Rod grumbled

"Mama," Esperanza squeaked as she lay her head on top of her mother's chest and closed her eyes to sleep.

"Not really," Michelle shrugged.

"Yeah; that girl can be very stubborn at times," Lee sighed sadly. "And very strong willed."

RL Rod then smiled as he picked up Esperanzqa and began to sing her a lullaby, he then put her on a nearby crib and covered her with a mantle "Good night, my little baby" he whispered as he kissed her on the nose

"Yeah" Rod nodded "But at least she'll forgive you soon"

Esperanza then yawned as she drifted off to sleep.

"I would hope so, for your sake," Lee sighed as Marlena nodded and turned to the gang. "Let's head back to our seats. We need to allow Michelle some rest for the time being so she can recuperate."

Everyone then nodded in agreement as they all filed out of the room and returned to their former positions. Lee then turned to Rod with a sigh. "I think you should have a talk with Renee; maybe try to get on her good side," she suggested.

"Hy do you say... for my sake?" Rod asked nervously

"I don't know, Rod, but I do know that Renee needs to let go of her anger towards me and you, and maybe you can speak with her," Lee mused thoughtfully.

"And what can i do to help? I always screw everything! Like my attempt to make mom, dad and Renee to forgive you" Rod sobbed as he covered his face in shame

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Rod; they were too stubborn to forgive me, that's all. It was not your fault," Lee reassured him calmly. "I'll go talk with Renee if it makes you feel better."

"No" Rod grumbled "I'll do it" he said with determination

"You sure, Rod?" Lee frowned worriedly.

RL Rod then smiled as he licked Michelle's face "She's cute, ain't it?" he smiled

-

"Yeah" Rod nodded "I'll do it"

"Yeah; she is adorable. Maybe we can introduce her to your parents," Michelle smiled.

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"All right; I'll go and see Rhonda and you'll go talk with Renee," Lee nodded as she walked away.

"No" RL Rod sighed "My parents were very mean towards me, they do not deserve to see her"

-

"Okay" Rod nodded as he headed towards to where Renee was

"Well, what about my parents? They might like to see her?" Michelle shrugged.

------

Renee was sitting by herself away from Tony and the kids as she was staring blankly at the window with a cigarette in hand. She then sighed dejectedly as she mulled over her conflicted feelings over her mother.

"Yeah" RL Rod smiled

-

"Renee, we have to talk" Rod told his step-daughter grimly as he entered the room she was

"I think she'd like to meet her grandparents too," Michelle smiled as she tickled her daughter gently.

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"What is it, Rod?" Renee growled darkly as she took a brief drag of her cigarette while glaring at him.

"Yeah" RL Rod nodded as he nuzzled Esperanza

-

"You HAVE to forgive Lee" Rod growled

"Mama! Dada! Grandma! Grandpa!" Esperanza giggled while kicking her legs actively.as Michelle smiled at her little girl. "I think I need to get some rest," she yawned.

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"But how can I, Rod? She has done nothing but deceive and hurt me for most of my life! She led me to believe that she was my sister and she allowed me to be abused by the man I thought was my father! To top it off, she wouldn't even allow me to be with Tony!" Renee growled angrily as she stomped her foot in irritation.

"Okay, i'll play with Esperanza" RL Rod smiled as he took Esperanza in his arms and tickled her on the nose

-

"She does" Rod sighed "Believe me, she does, and she loves you very much, so why not giving her another chance?" Rod sighed

Esperanza giggled as she pawed playfully on her father's face while laughing gaily.

------

"Maybe; I suppose she does have a funny way of showing it," Renee shrugged as she tapped on her cigarette and took another drag. "I could give her another chance, but it won't be easy reconciling with her. We always had a bumpy road together trying to mend our rocky relationship."

"Oh, you little scamp" RL Rod smirked as he began to blow on her tummy

-

"Well then, do it" Rod sighed grimly with a glare