Disclaimer: The Last Ship belongs to TNT is it summer 2015 yet?

AN: When I first thought of this fic it was a long one shot then I decided it would be better if it was multiple chapters that way I could explore each event in their lives together. Unbeated so all errors are mine.

Chapter One December 2019

Rachel cried out as sheer white hot pain radiated in her back and lower back how long she'd been lying on the infirmary bed in labor she had no idea.

She had thought the two times in her life when she'd gotten shot were the most painful she could ever experience but what she was going through now actually took first place.

She grabbed her husband's hand and held on tight, Tom squeezed back and with his other hand used a wet cloth to wipe her sweaty forehead, he'd been through this experience twice before and had done his best to soothe her.

She screamed as another spasm of pain hit her, "Damn you, Thomas Chandler, I hate you!"

Tom grinned, dimples and all. "Love you back sweetheart."

Doctor Rios looked up from his position at the foot of the bed. "I can see the head Mrs. Chandler I need you to push as hard as you can."

"I have been pushing asshole!" She felt shocked by the words that had been coming out of her mouth, she'd helped to deliver babies before and seen women act that way, but at the time she hadn't been able to fully understand what they were going through.

She pushed as hard as she could while Tom encouraged her she was so exhausted.

"One more push Mrs. Chandler you're nearly there."

Rachel screamed her loudest scream yet and pushed as hard as she could she felt an intense pressure then a rush of relief.

She fell back as Doctor Rios caught her baby and then she heard the sweetest sound ever.

Her child crying for the first time.

Doctor Rios showed her a messy squirming bundle. "It's a girl."

Rachel cried as Tom embraced her, "You did it sweetheart I'm so proud of you."

Doctor Rios cleaned and checked the baby over then wrapped her in a gray blanket and brought her to them.

"Here you are baby girl meet your mom and dad."

Rachel stared at the wrinkled little bundle unable to believe such a tiny perfect person had come from her all the pain was rapidly being forgotten.

She looked at her husband staring enthralled at his new daughter.

"She's beautiful" He whispered.

"Thank you Tom" She whispered, "For everything."

He kissed her, "You did a lot more than I did Mrs. Chandler."

They stared at their daughter as she began to nurse from Rachel's breast.

Tom let the baby's tiny finger grip one of his finally she finished nursing and soon fell asleep.

"She has your beautiful face I can already tell". Tom told her.

Rachel smiled; her husband always knew the right thing to say. "She has your blue eyes; I saw them before she went to sleep."

Doctor Rios came in, "Do you have a name for her? I promised the bridge updates."

"Hope" Chandler replied.

"Hope Darien Chandler" Rachel finished.

Doctor Rios smiled, "That's a beautiful name."

"I feel ready to know how long have I been here?" Rachel asked.

"You truly want to know?" Doctor Rios asked.

"I do" Rachel replied.

"Its 0230 now and when the Captain brought you here yesterday it was 0630."

Rachel's mouth dropped open, "Unbelievable" She smiled down at Hope, "Took your sweet didn't you?" She cooed. "But you are worth it."

"I'll leave the three of you alone." Doctor Rios headed out to call the bridge.

They sat quietly until Rachel spoke, "Do you think Jed and the kids might be awake?"

They had visited a couple of times in the beginning but as the hours had stretched and her pain had increased Tom had decided they should wait in his cabin.

"I'll go see" Tom replied, "You sure the two of you will be alright?"

Rachel grinned lovingly her husband always overprotective, "We'll be fine."

Tom kissed both of them, Rachel on her lips, Hope on the forehead before heading out.

Rachel to touched Hope's hand and the sleeping baby gripped her finger.

So many events had led to this moment both joyful and painful and as she waited for Tom to return let her mind drift back in time to when it had all began.

TBC