Author Note – Even though I said I was leaving Second Chances where it was, this has been playing through my head for a few weeks now. I thought I would post it now, as I probably won't be posting anything till after Christmas, whatever you guys are doing I hope you all have a lovely time. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think. There is going to be at least another chapter to this. Happy Holidays.
New Beginning
Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything
William MacNeile Dixon
September 2016
The team sat in the waiting room, trying not to focus their attention on the door. They heard a loud shout of something in Italian, and Rossi chuckled in response. A few seconds later, Morgan emerged from the doors looking suitably chastised for whatever he had done. He looked surprised to see everyone sat in the waiting room.
Making eye contact with the younger man, Rossi smirked. "Need a translation?"
Morgan grinned nervously. "Nah, I think I got the gist," he told him and the others didn't bother to hide their smiles. He turned his attention to JJ, hoping that she would take pity on him. "JJ…" Morgan didn't get any further as the blonde stood, rolling her eyes at him before giving him a sympathetic smile and patting his arm as she passed him to go into the hospital room, followed by an overly eager Penelope.
"Don't worry Morgan; she'll let you back in soon," Hotch told Morgan as he continued to pace in front of them, fondly remembering Hayley giving birth.
After a few more minutes of pacing, he collapsed into the plastic chair next to Reid, who had been entertaining Henry. Glancing in Henry's direction, he saw the look of confusion on his face. "Hey Henry you were really brave today," he told him. 'Braver than I was.'
The little boys' face lit up. "Really?" He questioned and Morgan nodded. "Is my cousin going to be here soon?"
"Yep, but you know they're going to be too small to play with for a while." Henry's face dropped slightly as he thought.
"That's okay. I can have lots of cuddles till there big enough to play. Then I can teach them lots of cool games." Morgan smiled at his enthusiasm, he had been proud of how well Henry had behaved all day. "Why did Aunt Emi pee on the floor?" Morgan bit back his laughter when Henry questioned Spencer in a loud whisper.
The young boy had had the day off school, and with both his parents at work and their babysitter out of town, Emily offered to watch him, happy for the company during her maternity leave. Morgan sighed as he leant his head back against the wall, closing his eyes as he listened to Reid explaining about waters breaking to Henry in words that the boy wouldn't be able to understand, trying to relax before venturing back to Emily.
It was too early. She wasn't due for a month. He had been in a state of panic since her phone number on the screen of his phone and when he'd answered, Henry had told him that Emily needed to go to the doctor. The pregnancy had been fairly smooth, but with her history the doctors had wanted her to take extra precautions and had ordered her to take maternity at the end of her seventh month when Emily had wanted to work for a few weeks longer.
His panic was what had gotten him kicked out by Emily. Morgan mentally kicked himself for worrying so much when Emily needed the support and reassurance. According to the nurse she still had a while to go yet, and he knew that when the time came she would let him back in. He hoped JJ and Penelope would be able to calm her, although he seemed to be the one who had been stressing her out. Now that he thought about it, she had been coping amazingly well while he had freaked out. Eventually she had grown tired of his behaviour.
Morgan felt Rossi take the seat next to him. "They're going to be fine," the older profiler told him.
Morgan pushed himself forward as his eyes opened and hunched over his lap, hands rubbing nervously together. As he glanced around the waiting room, he was grateful that his friends had rallied round when the call came. Silence had fallen upon the group after Morgan disconnected the call, JJ and Reid sprang into action first, steering the shell shocked father-to-be out to the car park and driven him to the hospital. They located Emily and Henry in the waiting room. While JJ had tried to convince Henry to go home with her, the boy had insisted that he wanted to meet his cousin.
At some point when Morgan and Emily had been in with the doctor, the others arrived at the hospital, taking root in the waiting room.
"I know," Morgan replied. "She's early."
"It can happen at any time, and she's in the best place."
"I know," Morgan tapped his fingers on his chin. He glanced at the door, willing it to open and for JJ or someone to call him back into the room.
"Have you told your mothers yet?"
Morgan's eyebrows rose as he realised that he had completely forgotten to ring his mother or Elizabeth. He shook his head and Rossi smiled knowingly. "Why don't you grab a cup of coffee, make those phone calls, and then go see Emily?"
"Think she'll let me back in?"
"Sure," Rossi drawled. "That particular term of endearment is only used for those closest to us. Besides, I'm pretty certain she likes you."
Morgan lips lifted as he nodded. "Most of the time," he agreed and he heard the rest of his team chuckle. Feeling more relaxed he scratched the back of his head as he stood up. "Right, I'm going to phone my mom and Emily's mom, and then go see my wife."
….
Poking his head around the door he heard Emily laugh lightly as she spoke with JJ and Penelope. Morgan watched, unnoticed for a few more minutes, taking in the sight of Emily as she stroked her protruding stomach gasping every once in a while as a contraction hit her. He winced as she breathed through the pain, not complaining, like she always had whenever she was hurt. Their mother's had been ecstatic when he spoke to them. Guilt washed over him as they both asked how Emily was progressing, and he told them she was fine. They both saw through the falter in his voice, but it was his mother who told him to man up and go welcome his child into the world.
Clearing his throat, Morgan stepped further into the room as the occupants turned their attention to him. His heart swelled as he saw the relief in Emily's eyes. JJ kissed Emily on the cheek before walking over to do the same to Morgan.
"Good luck Daddy," she said into his ear before holding the door open while waiting for Penelope to say her goodbyes.
Penelope rubbed her hand along the Bump, cooing. "I can't wait to meet you. Be nice to Mommy and come out quickly. I want a cuddle, but only after your Mommy and Daddy." She too placed a kiss on Emily's cheek and moved to Derek, who she engulfed in hug. "Take care of them."
"I will," he promised as the two women left, his gaze never shifting from the bed or its' occupant. The door clicked behind him and there was silence as Emily stared back at him, her hand still stroking the Bump, they had been referring to the baby that way since she had started showing. They had decided not to find out the sex, much to the annoyance of Penelope. "I'm sorry I was panicking. I should have been concentrating on you," he apologised.
"I know that you're worried. But we both knew it could happen at any day," she said calmly. She gasped and her fingers flexed, reaching out to Morgan as a strong contraction hit her. He was at her side in a flash, their hands grabbing hold of one another as Emily rode out the pain. "That was the biggest one yet," she commented as she dropped back onto the pillow, their still joined hands falling to her stomach.
Morgan perched on the edge of the bed as he leant to place a kiss on her forehead. "Everything's okay?" He was asked as his lips brushed her skin.
She smiled again at his worry. "Yes, the doctor said the heart beat is strong and healthy. The Bump has decided to meet us a little earlier than expected."
His hand stilled as he leant down to address the swollen abdomen. "Good, 'cause we've been waiting to meet you too," he made eye contact with Emily as she smiled down to him. Her hand moved to the back of his head, pulling him up to her and their lips met in a quick, loving kiss.
"I'm glad you're here." She doubled over in pain as another contraction hit her, her hand squeezing his tightly, her nails leaving half-moon marks. "They're getting closer together," Emily told him as the pain passed.
"Do you want me to get the nurse?"
Another contraction hit and Emily nodded. Morgan quickly retrieved the nurse he had seen earlier, and returned to the room. She checked Emily over and called for the doctor to examine her. Looking up from his inspection, the Doctor asked, "Looks like we're almost there," he said snapping off his gloves. "Are you ready to meet the little one?"