His wife is a champion. Just over twelve hours of labour, once it became clear that this was it, and she's done it with barely a complaint, no crisis of faith, hardly any pain medication, and complete determination and focus. Lewis has been buzzing with a nervous energy, but Gabi has kept calm and quiet, steadily working her way through the hours at home, and then at the hospital. She's a low-key kind of woman, quiet, like he is, but he's never seen her like this. So focused. And determined. And barely talking. He's had to try hard a few times to get her attention, to ask her to drink some water, or to stop pushing, or to get on the bed for a check. It had him a little worried at first, but then he remembered the woman who took their birthing classes explaining that each woman dealt with childbirth in different ways, and it didn't always involve swearing like a sailor. And at the end of the day, he's not pushing another person out of his vagina, so it's whatever his wife wants.

He's kneeling on the floor of the delivery room on a padded mat, and Gabi is squatting in front of him, with her arms resting on his shoulders. She's pretty much naked, which Lewis thinks is brave, seeing as everyone can see everything. He doubts Gabi cares much about it, which just leaves him in awe even more. In awe of every woman who's done this. Giving birth is such an intense scenario; the birthing classes didn't really prepare him for how it really was going to be, though they did try. Lewis has his hands in Gabi's back, the two pressure point dimples, jamming his index fingers in hard to help relieve the pain of another almighty contraction. She's bathed in sweat, her face bright red, hair sticking to her neck and back. Lewis can't imagine himself going through anything like this. Total awe.

When the contraction ends, Gabi drops her head to his shoulder, pants as she rests. Lewis doesn't say anything, with his hands occupied, he finds himself less likely to use his voice. The midwife checks to see how far dilated Gabi is and then looks up to Lewis and gives a nod, before moving away again. He feels a spike of adrenaline course through his stomach and adjusts his weight slightly with the extra energy threatening to spill out. But he doesn't want to unbalance his wife. Whose thighs must be on fire, squatting as she has for at least five minutes straight. Before this standstill they had been walking around, leaning on the bed, doing the hands and knees thing (which was great for Lewis, who was able lean over her and press almost his entire body weight into those pressure points in her back. She was very happy with him in that position).

"Gabi," Lewis says, speaking loudly because he doesn't have his hands to add volume to his words. "Babe," his hands twitch against her back anyway. He moves them so he can push gently at her shoulder. When she's looking at him, dazed, he tells her that on the next contraction she can start pushing. She doesn't respond to him and so he says it again, this time giving her shoulder a squeeze, moving his right hand in a 'push' sign. "Ok?" He says and signs. She nods.

The next contraction is there quickly and Lewis reminds her again to push. This is it. It's time. And Gabi does. Her fingers digging hard into his shoulders. He puts his hands on her thighs and rubs up and down steadily and firmly. He can feel the tension in her muscles. She pushes again and again, working with each contraction and he murmurs encouragements, words he knows intellectually that he's saying, but which barely register in his own ears, even travelling along his jaw directly to his eardrums. He doesn't even know if Gabi can hear him, but it instinctively feels like the right thing to do. Gabi pushes so hard on the next one she cries out. It makes Lewis want to call time out. So he can ask her what she needs, can go and get something for her; it feels like it's happening fast now, spiralling. His heart is pounding.

The midwife tells him the baby's crowning and he feels that thrill go through him again. It's really happening; point of no return (although, to be fair, he had the same feeling when they found out Gabi was pregnant. Too late to change their minds now). He has a look himself, and yep, there it is. That's his baby. And he's nearly here. "Gabi," he gets her attention again. "I can see the head!" Gabi stares at him warily. "You're doing such a great job," he goes on, gushing, but whatever. He puts a quick kiss on his wife's forehead. "Do you want to see our son?" She nods.

The midwife passes him a little hand mirror and he positions it so she can see, his heart pounding because he wants to be quick before the next contraction. "Can you see?" He asks and Gabi nods. She looks up at him, her dark brown eyes watery and gives him a slight smile. Lewis grins back and then sees the exact moment she starts to prepare for the next contraction. He puts the mirror down, puts his hands on her hips to help steady her and she bares down.

Because Gabi stays quiet, so does Lewis. Not that he's one for loud and elaborate cheerleading. The midwife stays close by, keeping an eye on things, remind him to let the baby turn itself once the head comes clear, and to get Gabi to stop pushing while they check the baby's cord is free. The baby is kind of blue, which makes Lewis feel freaked, but the midwife is not panicked and he would figure she'd know. They've gone over different scenarios in the birthing classes, about things that can go wrong, but Lewis hasn't memorised each case so he can act. He's not a medical professional. He designs electrical systems for jet fighters. He'll take his cue from the midwife.

Gabi gives a final push and the baby almost slides free easily. Lewis is ready and gently catches the little guy in a towel, guiding him out and then bringing him in against his chest. Gabi relaxes against him, her knees dropping to rest on top of his and he can feel her hands slide from his shoulders. The midwife checks the baby's airway is clear and that he's generally ok and not in immediate distress, and then the little guy takes a great lungful of air and then lets out a massive cry. Lewis passes the baby to his mother but stays close, so they sit on the floor together, huddled over their new born son while he squawks.

Lewis presses a kiss to his wife's cheek and thanks her. He tells her she's amazing, and that he loves her so much, making one handed signs, while his left hand is still tucked beneath his son's head. His son. He's a daddy. And he has a son. A first born son, just like he is. He was born thirty years ago today, just a few days before father's day weekend, just like his son, also born today, just a few days before father's day weekend.

"Happy birthday baby Lightman," he says and signs to his son, doing a one-handed 'happy' by moving his flat hand backwards so it brushes against his chest, and then 'birthday' by touching the tip of his middle finger against his chin, then down to his heart.

PJPJPJPJ

Lewis taps his foot against the floor while he waits for the call to pick up. He's slept a bit, but has been tasked with making all the phone calls and can't wait to do it; he's excited to tell everyone about his new son. He did Gabi's parents first, and she talked to them for a while and now it's time to call his parents. His mother answers with a smile. "Hi Lewis."

"Hi Mum," he responds, waving a hand. "We have some news." (Finger-spelt). "Meet your new grandson," he, he gets through the 'grand' sign and half of the 'son' sign before just moving his phone so Gabi and the baby appear in the camera; the second half of the 'son' sign requires two hands, and he can't do that if he's also holding his phone. The sight of the baby says it all anyway.

"Lewis!" Gillian exclaims.

Lewis moves his phone so it's right over his sleeping son's face, laying in his mother's arms, so his mother can get a really good look. He can hear her exclaiming (he thinks) some more, but doesn't quite pick up the words. He looks to Gabi. "She said he's adorable. And that he looks like you," Gabi murmurs to Lewis with a smile, he nods his acknowledgement that he's heard her. He moves his phone back up, so that the three of them are within the shot and finds his mother with a silly grin and tears in her eyes. Lewis grins back, pride pushing up in his chest.

"What's his name?" Gillian asks, tapping her index and middle fingers on top of each other. She must have picked up on the laptop.

"Adam," Lewis fingerspells. "James."

"Aw," Gillian gushes. "Those are beautiful names." She moves her hand around her face, and then taps her fingers together again. "How old is he?" She uses 'age' with a questioning expression. "How big is he?" She uses 'heavy', gesturing like she's weighing something up in her hands. "And how is everyone doing?"

"He's three kilograms," Lewis signs 'three' and 'kilogram' (a 'K' hand tipping over towards his mother). "And about four hours old." He does 'four' and a one handed version of 'hour' (using a raised index finger to go around in a circle like a clock, which he would normally do against the flat palm of his left hand, but that one is holding the camera).

Gabi answers that she's fine (she signs 'ok'), and Adam's doing fine. He's feeding well already and they'll probably be able to go home later today. Her parents are going to come down to see them in a few days and then she looks to Lewis and he takes over.

"We thought about coming to see you tomorrow?" Lewis asks.

"Sure," Gillian smiles widely, "Tomorrow will be great. Or should we come to you?"

Lewis shakes his head a little. "No, it's ok. We'll come to you." He uses one hand to sign 'meet', directional towards the screen of the phone.

He knows how his Dad is.

"Is Dad there?" He uses 'Dad' and 'where?'

Gillian's expression falls slightly. So slightly, that if Lewis didn't already spend so much time looking at faces (not because his father did, but to understand what they were saying, which, actually, kind of is why his father did), and hadn't had thirty years staring at his mother's face, he might not have noticed it. She's a master liar when she wants to be. He was convinced for a long time that his father had taught her how to lie, but he denied it. He denied it with a laugh though, so Lewis was never really sure. Those two were always in cahoots.

"No," she answers seamlessly. "He's taking a nap."

Which is often her excuse for when Cal is having a bad day. Lewis isn't sure if that's meant to protect him, Cal, or her. He kind of wishes she would just say 'no, it's a bad day today'. Denial isn't going to help them in the long run.

"I'll tell him you called. He'll be thrilled to hear about little Adam."

"Yeah," Lewis smiles, but it fails to reach his eyes (he might have read his Dad's books once…) This is the end of the call, because if his father is having a bad day, then Gillian can't be away from him for too long. "I'll call you tomorrow before we head over then."

"Yes, do that," she agrees. "Ok, you guys take care." She uses 'safe', raising two 'S' hands, crossing them in front of her face, them pulling them apart at the same height." All of you. Oh Lewis, honey, congratulations, and you too Gabi. And happy father's day. Love you all." She signs rapidly and blows kisses at the screen and they all say goodbye. Lewis puts his phone down on his thigh and Gabi reaches to take his hand. She squeezes his fingers, but she doesn't say anything.