Feeling quite prolific lately. Hope everyone is enjoying the ride!

Cal was sitting at the edge of the hospital bed when the doctor approached them. "How are you both doing?" The OBGYN held out a hand to first Gillian, then

Cal. He then stood back to scrutinize the patient chart. After several long moments, he snapped it shut and gave them both a big smile. "About ready?" Dr. Chandler had been with them every step of the way throughout Gillian's pregnancy. Gil adored him and Cal begrudgingly admitted that he seemed to know what he was doing. It hadn't been an easy ride but today was the day. A caesarian section had been scheduled to avoid as much stress on mother and baby as possible.

"Well, we'll soon have you prepped and heading in. How are you feeling?"

Gillian smiled nervously. "A little scared."

Cal brushed his lips against her temple as the doctor looked on.

"Understandable, but everything looks really good. The baby has a very strong heartbeat and definitely seems ready to come out and meet mom and dad." He gave them another reassuring smile. "I'll see you both in the O.R." He nodded to them again before striding out of the room.

"How are you doing Mum?" Cal smiled at her tenderly, kissing her cheek again and resting his head against hers.

She nestled a little closer to him, comforted by the solid feel of his body against hers. "Scared, nervous, excited. Happy to finally be able to get out of bed."

The last trimester had been particularly rough. Caution dictated constant bed rest and Cal had made sure that Gillian had complied. It had been a long 3 months.

His low chuckle vibrated through his chest, causing her to relax ever so slightly. "Sounds about right darlin'. Now on to midnight feedings and no sleep." Cal looked down into her face, eyes crinkling with amusement before leaning in and taking her lips in a soft kiss.

There was a soft knock on the door just before a familiar face peeked in. "Dad? Gil?" Emily wandered in, a humungous grin plastered to her face. "Hey! Isn't that how you guys got into this?" Her dark eyes teased. "Is it almost time?"

"Did you flunk biology or somethin' girl?" Cal stood and pulled his daughter into a bear hug, as Gillian watched with a gentle smile. "Very soon. Prepping her shortly."

After her dad released her, the girl moved over to the bed to give her step mom an awkward hug as well. "I am so happy and excited for you!" Emily could barely contain herself. "I can't wait to baby-sit!"

"Well, that'll change." Cal smirked playfully. "But we'll try to hold you to it anyway."

There was another low knock and a nurse popped around the corner "Mrs. Lightman?"

Gillian immediately perked up, not bothering to correct the mistaken title. It was bound to get too confusing. "Yes?"

"We need to take care of a few things before surgery. Would it be okay if your visitors stepped out for a minute?"

"Sure." Cal leaned down, giving Gillian another brief kiss before accompanying Emily into the hallway.

"How are you doing dad?" Emily looked up at him, trying her hand at reading his expression. It wasn't hard. The whole pregnancy roller coaster had been quite effective in weakening his neutral mask, at least from a personal standpoint. Professionally, he hadn't changed a bit.

"I'm actually good Em. Going to be quite an adventure. Been a long time since I've done the diaper thing." He gave her a wink.

"You honestly don't know what it is?" She thought she'd give it a go again, raising her brows slightly.

"Didn't seem important, luv. Besides, the little bugger's shy." Gillian hadn't wanted to know but he'd been curious. It didn't matter anyway – baby had other ideas.

"Imagine that. A shy Lightman." Emily ceremoniously mused while Cal rolled his eyes. "Huh. No, can't imagine it." She giggled before going up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I really need to get to class now but I wanted to stop and check on you guys. You call me!" She had started to move away, walking backward and shaking a finger at him. "I mean it, Dad!"

"Yes officer."

She turned around, quick flashed another grin over her shoulder and ducked into the nearest elevator.

Gazing after her, he had a brief bout of nostalgia. Almost 19 years old. Didn't seem like that much time had passed. Hadn't she just been 7 the other day? Crap. He shook his head ever so slightly. Happily, she had decided to attend University in DC, but he knew that she had transfer plans on the horizon ready to take her away from him. And here he was, about ready to have another little one. It was dizzying.

"Dr. Lightman?'

He spun around to face the nurse. "Yeah?"

"We're just about ready to take your wife down. You just need to change." She handed him a bundle. Scrubs. This was really happening.

Cal changed quickly in the Gillian's tiny bathroom. He even had a mask to cover his scruff and paper coverings for his boots. Trembling slightly, he accompanied Gillian down to the operating room, holding her hand the whole way.

(BREAK)

Butterflies were attempting to break free from Gillian's stomach on the ride down. She clutched Cal's hand almost too firmly but he just gave her an encouraging smile from behind his surgical mask.

She was pushed through one pair of double doors and then another pair where they all were waiting for her on the other side.

Once in the O.R., Gillian wiggled herself onto the table with some assistance before being told to sit completely still and curl forward as much as possible to separate her vertebrae. The epidural was just a quick bee sting and it was only moments before she felt the coldness sweep down her back followed by numbness.

As they positioned her on the table, spreading out her arms on either side of her and securing the drapes, she lost her husband in a sea of green. Heart thumping, she looked around in a panic. "Cal?"

"I'm here darlin'." He appeared near her head, brushing her cheek lightly with his fingertips.

She immediately started to relax, unsure whether it was his presence or all the meds currently being pumped into her. Gillian gave him a dopey smile while he beamed down at her. "I love you."

"Love you too." She could see his eyes twinkling as the words quietly left his lips.

"Comfortable?"

Dr. Chandler was addressing Gillian. It took her a second to notice. "What? Yes, of course."

"Okay, mom and dad, let's get this little one out of there."

Gillian gasped at the sudden feeling of being 'unzipped.' There was no pain, but she could feel a lot of pressure as the doctor maneuvered within and did his job. Despite the oxygen mask, she was having a hard time catching her breath. She had been warned about the possibility but it was still an unnerving feeling. Looking up, she caught Cal's eye. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze while his eyes left hers to peek over the drapery. There was a tiny little window for her, but of course it was angled in such a way that she couldn't initially see what was going on.

A lot more pressure caused her to give a low grunt and then suddenly there was nothing. She looked up into Cal's face, noting the widened eyes that seemed brighter than usual and his slack jaw. Everything was quiet for just a moment before a small face was pushed up against the window in the drapery, immediately followed by the sound of applause and the squeal of one very angry child.

"Oh My God!" Gillian's voice cracked as the baby's face disappeared in a flood of tears.

"You did it luv!" Cal's voice breathed into her ear. He pulled down his mask and kissed her tenderly. "You did it!"