A voice stirred Eric from his sleep as he felt familiar fingers stroke his cheek. He frowned, opening his eyes to find Calleigh's sleepy eyes staring back at him from the side of the bed.
"You okay?"
"I'm having contractions."
His frown deepened as he rubbed his eye with one hand and grasped Calleigh's fingers from his cheek, bringing them to his lips for a kiss.
"You in pain?"
"My back is cramping," Calleigh sighed and shifted her weight.
"C'mere," Eric said as he sat up and gently pulled her hips closer. His hands tickled up her arms as he guided them around his shoulders so he could bare her weight. Calleigh slipped between his thighs and sighed in relief as she felt his thumbs at the base of his spine.
"I'm sorry it's so early," Calleigh brought a hand to the back of his neck.
Eric's chuckle rumbled low in his throat.
"She's three days late and she chooses 2:30 in the morning to start the show. She does things her way. Just like her momma," he says with a smile and a kiss to her belly.
Calleigh's laughed turned into a whimper and her hand latched onto Eric's sleeve.
Eric shifted to brace her waist as she swayed back and forth.
"Breathe, Cal, c'mon." Eric noticed her breathing was shallow and shaky. Her eyebrows furrowed as she murmured something almost silently. "I know it hurts, baby." He ran his hands firmly up and down her sides.
"I love you," Calleigh whispered as she stood upright, balancing herself on Eric's shoulders.
"I love you, too. Come lay down with me." He said as he stood and guided her to the living room.
Eric sat down on the love seat and guided Calleigh by the hips, supporting her as she bent to sit between his legs. Once she was securely sitting down, he guided her shoulders back into his chest. He kissed her temple and watched as she drifted off.
It wasn't until Calleigh woke up groaning, grasping for Eric's hand, that he suggested they make their way to the birthing center.
"I'll make you coffee while you load up?"
"I don't want to drink it in front of you," Eric frowned as he lifted a hand to stroke her cheek.
"Go load the car, silly." Calleigh leaned into his touch before rolling her eyes and patting his hand.
By the time Eric had all of their necessities packed, Calleigh was waiting next to the passenger side door. Eric quickly sat the coffee in the holder before wrapping an arm behind her back and holding her hand, guiding her into her seat.
"Ready, momma?"
"Nervous." She threw him look of worry.
Eric moved his right hand from the wheel to hold her left one. He didn't need many words to reassure her.
"Let's have us a baby, baby," Eric couldn't resist as he pulled into a parking spot. Calleigh snorted a short laugh and squeezed his hand.
As Eric was guiding her legs over the edge of the door, Calleigh gasped. Making sure she was in a comfortable position, he helped her feet find the concrete from her sitting position. Her fists opened and closed as she searched for his hands.
Letting her grip his fingers, he spoke softly, "Breathe, nice and even, there we go," Eric continued to breathe for her as he brought his arms under her armpits and gently lifted.
"Let's do this."
Eric chuckled as he followed the ever-independent Calleigh through the doors.
Calleigh pulled at the sides of his shirt as she groaned into his shoulder where her head rested. Eric moved to accommodate Calleigh's kneeling position with one hand cradling her head and the other rubbing softly up and down her arm.
When the contraction ended, Eric guided her to her side and brushed some damp locks from her forehead. Calleigh turned to press a kiss against his forearm.
"Go get lunch."
I can't leave you."
"You already missed breakfast," Calleigh frowned as tears welled in her eyes.
"And I'll miss dinner if I have to," Tears welled in his eyes as he watched her face contort in pain and a tear rolled down the bridge of her nose, mixing with the sweat.
"Go get food. Send Natalia in, I'll be okay, baby."
"Okay." Eric kissed her gently.
Eric walked in to see Calleigh propped up, with Natalia gently running her fingers through her hair. She pulled the sweaty locks into a high bun. Natalia glanced up and smiled at Eric as he made his way to the chair in the corner of the room. He laid the food down to hug Natalia and then to hand Calleigh a cup of ice chips he picked up along the way.
Calleigh's face crumpled and she tried to old her sob.
"What's wrong?" Eric's eyes danced back and forth between the monitors and her face.
"I didn't even ask for ice chips. What did I do to deserve you?" Eric and Natalia stifled chuckles as they made eye contact.
"Baby, shh, it's okay," Eric trailed kisses from her forehead to her chin when she turned her head in his neck.
Eric nuzzled her neck as the midwives prepared the bed, sliding one hand to her upper back to push her up. His other hand caressed the slick skin of her thigh as he pulled her leg back. Calleigh fisted Eric's shirt with her left hand and gripped the bed rail with her right.
"Okay, Calleigh, rest your chin on your chest and push," the midwife said with a smile. Eric could feel her muscles tense as she pushed through his ten-count.
"Catch your breath, sweetie. We'll push on the next contraction."
"I need to push," her face scrunched as the next contraction rolled in.
"Listen to your body, you're doing great."
Her face strained as she growled through Eric's counting and she pulled harder at his shirt. He slowly released her leg to hold her hand.
"You're doing so, so well, Querida. Breathe."
"Fucking hell," Calleigh grunted as she wiped the tears and sweat tickling her cheek.
Eric shifted to brace Calleigh from the front, one hand holding her tightly and the other cradling the side of her head. Calleigh's free hand latched onto his shoulder as she bore down through his coaching.
"Push, push, push. One more and she'll be crowning." The midwife rubbed Calleigh's knee.
Eric smiled and rest his forehead against hers.
"You hear that, baby?"
Calleigh nodded against him as she growled through the new sensations. Her breaths, as the contraction and pushing ceased, were shallow.
"Blow, Calleigh. I see lots of black hair."
"I need to push again." Her voice strained but her confidence was strong.
"Give me all you've got. She's almost here." The midwife looked at the couple with a smile.
Calleigh was already growling, pushing as hard as she could before Eric could encourage her. He smiled as he heard the sound of crinkling blankets as the midwife worked.
"Don't push, sweetie," the midwife quickly suctioned the baby's mouth and nose. She guided Calleigh to push for the shoulders. "You wanna see, daddy?"
Calleigh nodded and prodded Eric out of his position. Once she knew she was okay, he moved to watch just as his daughter's shoulders slip free, Calleigh's hand still holding his in a death grip.
"She's so beautiful, baby," Eric sniffled and squeezed her hand.
"Last push, Calleigh. Make it big," the midwife smiled at Eric as she braced the baby's shoulders. Calleigh grunted and bore down as both Eric and the midwife counted excitedly for her.
Calleigh released a sob of relief, collapsing into the mattress, as her daughter let out a shrill cry. The midwife gently laid her on Calleigh's abdomen.
"Oh, my god. Hi, baby girl." Her hands moved to cradle her tiny body. Her fingers caressed the slick, black curls on her daughter's precious head. Calleigh felt tears on her forehead as Eric leaned down to kiss it. Seeing tears falling from his eyes only made her lean up for his lips.
"I love you so much, Cal." Eric's fingers found his daughter's back before watching her grip his finger.
"Ready to cut the cord, daddy?"
"Are you kidding me?" Eric joked as the midwife showed him what to do.
"Ready to see your papi?" Calleigh looked up at him like he was the lost wonder of the world.
Calleigh smiled down at the sight of their daughter being lifted into the safety of her husband's arms. The baby's mouth gaped and her brow scrunched as Eric's finger tickled from her hair down to her cheek. Her glossy eyes blinked up at him as he took a seat in the chair the midwife slid up to the bed. Calleigh was now lying comfortably under her blanket, her sparkling eyes still not wandering from the tiny being grunting and squirming in her father's arms. He leaned down to kiss her deeply as a tiny arm broke free between them.
"I think she wants her momma," Eric whispered against her lips as the midwife and the latching specialist joined them.
"Okay, Calleigh, you ready to try feeding?"
She nodded, smiling as the specialist showed Eric how to angle the baby. He helped unbutton her nightgown and push it aside as he laid their daughter against her. The specialist showed her how to coax the baby to latch. Calleigh's chin came down to rest on her chest as she brought her hand to the suckling baby's head. She barely noticed Eric snapping pictures with their camera.
Calleigh cleared her throat and leaned into his touch as he brushed matted hair from her face.
"I still love the name we chose. You think it suits her, daddy?"
"Amelia Faith, daddy loves you so much," Eric whispered as he ran his fingers down the tiny arm lying across his wife's collarbone.
"I think she's sleepy," Calleigh laughed as Amelia released her nipple and her mouth hung wide open as she fell asleep.
"She's worked hard today."
Calleigh hummed in response as her fingers brushed against her daughter's mouth and nose.
"I don't want to put her down," Calleigh breathed.
"I know, baby. She'll be safe with me while you shower," Eric brushed his thumb across the worry lines in her forehead.
"Food would be nice, though," she closed her eyes and sighed happily as her hand caressed her cheek.
"How about you shower while I watch her, and then I'll get you anything you want to eat," Eric smiled at his wife, who, after nineteen hours of natural labor, was still glowing and smiling.
"Promise you'll eat, too?" Calleigh asked with a frown as he laid their baby down. Once she was secure, he moved to lie next to Calleigh, pulling her close. He kissed her hair, "I promise, baby. You ready to shower?"
She nodded as he helped her shift into a sitting position. She gasped as her hips and bottom took her full weight.
"Easy," Eric spoke softly as Calleigh tried to shift. "I'll ask H to watch her while we shower."
Calleigh nodded, but her eyes teared over as the exhaustion finally set in, Calleigh leaned into his chest and let him rock her until she was ready to move to the bathroom.
"I did't want to leave her," she sniffled as Eric helped her under the spray.
"I know, Querida, but you'll feel better once you're clean."
She hummed in response as Eric ran his fingers through her hair.
"I just want her in my arms."
"C'mere," he wrapped her in a soft towel and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.
"Looks like momma's back," Amelia scrunched her face, tongue poking out, as Horatio brushed a few dark curls. Calleigh smiled at the sight as Eric guided her to the rocking chair Horatio was getting up from.
"Hi, baby girl," she sighed as her daughter was laid in her arms again. Calleigh disappeared into her own little world as her baby's eyes stared back up at her. Horatio gripped Eric's shoulder and smiled as the two watched their Bullet Girl rock their entire world to sleep.
