Title: "In The Night"

Author: AliBee

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I don't own ER, Carter, or Abby.

Author's Note: Written in response to the challenge to write a one-page (or more) mood fic (a challenge posted on the Carby board), centered around the mood 'calm'. Follows "In The Afternoon."

Calm: Not excited or agitated; composed.

Abby was jolted out of a sound sleep by pain in her back. Must have been the baby kicking she thought. She was 8 1/2 months pregnant now and more than ready for this baby to be born. Abby had been on maternity leave for three weeks, and was going stir crazy. She wasn't used to this much inactivity. Abby slowly rolled onto her other side. Just as she started to drift off, she felt a twinge in her back again. Maybe it was sore muscles from mopping the kitchen floor. It had been a good thing that she finished before John got home; he would have had a fit to see her on her hands and knees in the kitchen. For some strange reason, it was really important to Abby that the floor be clean tonight.

Abby dozed a little while; then again she was awakened by pain in her back, only this time it was much stronger. Abby looked at the clock. It was almost 2 A.M. Again Abby felt the pain, but this time it started in her back and wrapped around to the front of her stomach. She looked at the clock again. 2:07. Then again she felt the pain. Duh, Abby thought, this must be labor. She wondered how long she should let John sleep. Before she could really think about it, she had another contraction. Better wake him now.

"John," she said. He didn't move.

"John," Abby said a bit louder, as she shook his shoulder. "Wake up. I think I'm in labor."

"That's nice, sweetie," John murmured, still mostly asleep.

Before Abby could call his name again, John's eyes flew open and he sat straight up.

"What did you just say?" John asked.

" I said, I think I'm in labor, but I don't think anymore." Abby said. "My water just broke."

John jumped out of bed, dressing as fast as he could in the dark. Abby heard a thud, then John swear.

"Are you ok?" Abby asked, as she pulled herself out of bed.

"I'm fine," John said. "It wasn't anything important, just my head."

"Let me just go to the bathroom, then we can head to the hospital." Abby said, "Why don't you call and let them know we are on our way."

"Ok, I can do that," John said, still rubbing his forehead. He picked up the phone and dialed the hospital. "Labor and delivery please. This is John Carter, my wife Abby Carter is in labor, membranes ruptured. We will be there soon."

"Do you think you could check me," Abby said as she came out of the bathroom. "Because I feel like I need to push."

"You need to what?" John asked, feeling his anxiety level rise.

"Just calm down, and check me," Abby said, as she lay back down on the bed.

"Oh God, Baby," John exclaimed. "The baby is crowning. We aren't going to make it to the hospital."

"We can do this," Abby said. "We have to, because I'm going to push now!"

Abby pushed with all she had in her. She took a deep breath and pushed again. John couldn't believe how calm Abby was. She was doing great. "Just one more push, sweetie. You can do it"

With one more push the newest Carter child came into the world, into her father's waiting arms.

"It's a girl, Abby," John said, as one tear ran down his cheek. "We have a daughter."

John laid their baby into Abby's arms. Abby was the picture of calm as she smiled at their baby.

"Welcome to the world Margaret Millicent." Abby said as she cuddled the baby to her breast.

"Our little Emmy." John said, "Who entered our lives at 3:33 in the middle of the night."