-1Chapter 7:
By now, about half a year had passed since the night of the baby shower and much had changed in the married lives of Ryan and Gabriella. Gabriella had made the decision to leave her work permanently to raise her baby, making Ryan the sole breadwinner. In the house, the baby's bedroom had finally been completed and all furnished. All that was required was it to be painted, in the colour which best suited the sex. Every necessity such as all the baby supplies were now bought and ready for use and at the bottom of Ryan and Gabriella's bed lay a packed bag, which they had prepared for the birth. It was nearly time.
Gabriella had changed over this time to. Gone was her firm curvy figure, replaced by her bump. Her hair was now constantly tied in a bauble, no longer able to hang free like before. Gone was her sleek dress sense, replaced permanently by the laze about baggy clothes and maternity gowns. Gone was the Gabriella of old, she hardly went out now, she didn't want to risk anything. She was responsible now, she was ready for motherhood.
As ever Ryan still left early in the morning, but now he would not return until much later, as he took more and more learner drivers on to meet the rising costs of bringing up a child that awaited him. It was never going to be easy for them, but they were not going to be beaten.
"Ow, fuck sake of all the times to kick me." Gabriella groaned, bending over to pick up more of Ryan's socks. Feeling her back she sat down on the seat opposite to rest. "I can't wait till your out of me, so I can actually tell you off If you kick me." Gabriella told the baby in her stomach.
Laying back, for what would be the first of her routine pregnancy naps, Gabriella began to day dream. She had often wondered, what the baby would look like. Would it be a boy or a girl? Would it have Ryan or her hair colour? What would it grow up to be? What would they call the baby? So many questions had been asked, but luckily most of which would be answered in a matter of days. Only days remained before she was expected to give birth. How she wished that day could come sooner as she just wanted to get on with the birth. For even if it was painful for her or not, it was better over and done with. She just wanted her baby, she just wanted her family.
The doorbell rang awakening Gabriella's quick nap.
"Coming!" Gabriella yelled as she slowly and painfully got herself up off the chair and went to the door. She opened it to find Kelsi standing with two grocery bags. "Oh Kelsi, Hey! Come on in to the kitchen."
"Hey
Gabriella!" Kelsi smiled bringing the bags in with her, "How are
you today?"
"Oh you know… bloated." she giggled
"That
bad huh?" They were now found in the kitchen with Kelsi placing the
two bags on the kitchen table. Both began to unpack the
shopping.
"Yeah, just want it over and done with." Gabriella
said lifting out a couple of cans of soup from the bag.
"Sorry
Gabriella, the store ran out of that jam you like."
"It's ok
Kelsi, in a few days I won't need to eat as much of
it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, its just a craving I think."
"Oh
right." she laughed, causing Gabriella to laugh back
"I'll put the kettle on." Gabriella chuckled.
For the past month or so this had been a regular occurrence. Every Thursday afternoon, Kelsi had a driving lesson with Ryan and as Gabriella was basically housebound in the closing stages of her pregnancy, Kelsi offered to do the store run for her.
"So have you decided on names yet?" Kelsi asked as she finished unpacking the groceries.
"To be honest, no." she giggled pouring the boiled water into the kettle.
"Isn't that something you should have decided on?" Kelsi said sorting her glasses which were falling down her nose.
"Ryan did try to come up with some names, but I dunno I'd rather it be a spur of the moment thing. It'll maybe feel more natural then."
"What if you can't decide?"
"Well the baby will be known as 'The Baby' until we do." she sniggered causing them both to go into fits of laughter all over again.
"Ow." Gabriella stopped laughing sharply
"Kicking?" Kelsi got up and put her arm around her friend to support
"I
think so." Gabriella said breathing deeply, "I hope so."
"Erm
Gabriella,"
"Yes?"
"I think it was a bit more than just
a little kick?" she smiled awkwardly
"What do you mean?"
"Well
I think your water has broken."
Gabriella stared down onto the
floor to see a wet puddle beginning to form underneath.
"Oh GOD! Not now, Not like this." Gabriella began to panic.
"Sit down Gabriella." Kelsi said leading her to a kitchen stool. "Will I phone an ambulance."
"No
no no, it can't come right now, can it?"
"I'm no expert,
but I'd say so."
"This
isn't right, Ryan was meant to be here."
"Well he will be in
a couple of minutes." Kelsi said turning at the kitchen clock to
see it was now 2pm.
"We'll
wait for him." Gabriella quivered in the pain, "Owww for fuck
sake!"
"You're having contractions, we need to get you to
hospital."
"No, I'll b ok for a few more minutes."
Gabriella squealed. "Kelsi do me a favour?"
"Yes?"
"Go upstairs into my room, you'll see the bag we packed for this, sitting at the bottom of the bed, Bring it down."
"Ok." Kelsi hurried upstairs.
Meanwhile Ryan was now on the path up to the front door, singing the Star Wars theme to himself. Today had flown by in comparison to the rest of the week, with only 3 more lessons to give until he could be alone with his wife. He opened the door.
"Hey guys, Kelsi time for your…" he called
"Ryan!"
came a cry from the kitchen, he rushed to see what was happening.
"Gabriella?" he said, shocked to see his wife sweating and in
obvious pain
"Oh
Ryan, thank god you're here, it's time."
"Sweetheart."
he exclaimed going to her side, "We better get you off to
hospital."
"About fucking time!" she winced as Ryan tried to help lift her up, struggling to hold her weight he took out his car keys and threw them at Kelsi.
"Don't you need these?" she asked
"Yeah
we do, but you'll need to go start the car while I help her get
in." he groaned as he started to walk Gabriella out towards the
car. "Remember to lock the door please Kelsi."
"But, but…
but I'm only a learner!" she yelled
"Well this is the best time to learn." he said helping Gabriella into the back seat of the car and closing the door, "It's going to be fine pet." he said blowing her a kiss as he jumped into the opposite door sitting beside her.
"Right.
I can do this!" Kelsi said jumping into the drivers seat and
starting the engine. Selecting drive, she was off.
"Remember to
check your blind spot in future before you set off." Ryan called
from behind her
"Oh, I'm sorry…" Kelsi said turning around.
"Keep the car straight women! Keep it straight! Look straight ahead!" Ryan yelled, nervous about Kelsi's driving
"Ryan will you stop it!" Gabriella shouted as she went through another contraction.
"Speed
up Kelsi!" Ryan exclaimed making random arm movements in the
back.
"I can't exceed the speed limit."
"Ah!" Ryan
yelled in frustration, "Do it just this once."
After a tense 10 minute drive, they finally reached the hospital. Darting about in his usual theatrical fashion, Ryan went to fetch the medics in the hospital, leaving Gabriella with Kelsi in the car.
"I'm
sorry about that. But I'll make sure that lesson is on us, and if I
do say so myself I don't think it was that bad." Gabriella was
acting her usual self, trying to ride through the pain. "Thanks for
the groceries today, I'll need to… pay… shit!"
"We can
talk about this later Gabriella, I think we better get you inside."
Kelsi was miffed by Gabriella's attempts to act oblivious to the
pain.
"Mrs Evans we're just going to escort you into the hospital." came a voice from the medic as he opened the door and tried to lift her into a wheel chair. Soon they would have her safe inside, being wheeled into a ward on a trolley bed.
"Ryan" she panted through the pain staring at him with those big, now worried, eyes of hers. "Things will be ok won't they?"
"Yes, I'm sure they will. I'll be right behind you all the way." he smiled at her, stopping as the female nurses went to dress her.
"Hey what's wrong?" Kelsi said putting her arm around Ryan
"I just can't believe this is happening is all."
"What
do you mean?"
"Well we've planned for this whole event for
weeks. We got everything ready as perfect as Gabriella wanted, but
was it really enough? What if we aren't ready?"
"Ryan, just
look at you. You're more than capable of being a Father, don't
you think otherwise."
"Thanks
Kelsi." he smiled taking a deep breath before hugging her, "Sorry
about the panic lesson earlier."
"It's ok, Gabriella already
apologised."
"She did? What a gem." he pulled out his cell
phone and handed it to her
"Listen
can you do us one more favour?"
"Sure, anything?" she said
taking the phone off him
"Can you go outside and use this. Can
you call our moms please."
"Sure I'll go do that now."
"And
Sharpay… if you can. If you don't get through first time, then
don't bother she'll be out."
"It'll be fine Ryan! You
better go." she pointed behind him so show Gabriella now on the bed
and whining in pain.
"Right.
Thanks again Kelsi. Stick around if you want, If not see you
later."
"What about once I'm done with your cell
phone."
"You'll still need it!"
"What?"
"Someone's
gotta cancel those two last customers, when they phone up demanding
to know where I am." he laughed as he walked into the ward, leaving
Kelsi speechless.
"Ryan."
Gabriella cried as she was instructed to push. "This is so
painful!"
"I know Gabby, I know."
"When will it
end."
"Shhhh." he said holding her hand, "It will soon, I
promise. I'm so proud of you."
"Ryan,
you won't leave me will you?"
"Of course not, we're a
team."
"I… love… you…" her contractions were now coming more frequent and sorer.
"Don't
worry about me, just concentrate on you, ok?"
"Ok." she
smiled through the pain. He really did love her, she could tell by
the look in his eyes.
For the half an hour, Ryan sat with his wife as experiences pain after pain with every attempt to push out the baby. He was always there in support, always squeezing her hand to let her know he was there. That it would be fine in the end.
"I can see a head. I just need one more massive push from you Mrs Evans." the doctor said, "You've been fantastic so far!"
"I can't do this." Gabriella shrieked.
"Come on Gabby, just one more push." Ryan said willing her on.
Gabriella pushed with every last remaining bit of strength, falling backwards onto the bed. Right away there came a cry as the little baby took it's first breathes of air in the outside world.
"Congratulations, It's a boy!" the doctor smiled holding the child aloft, after cutting the umbilical cord. The last biological link to his mother.
"Wow. Oh freaking wow!" Ryan shouted
"Would you like to hold him?" the doctor said as the nurse wrapped the baby in a warm blanket.
"Of course." Ryan stuttered as the nurse handed the baby to him.
Gabriella let out a soft giggle as she lay there, exhausted and motionless.
"My god, hey there little man." Ryan smiled as he let the baby play with his small finger. "Welcome to the world." tears began to fill his eyes. Just then the baby once again began to cry. They were crying together.
"Oh shush, my little darling." Ryan said cradling his new born tight. "Everything is going to be fine now. Mommy and Daddy are here for you. We'll always be, because there is nobody who can love you more."
Gabriella smiled as she looked on gasping for breath. The whole ordeal had been so draining for her, so much so that all she could do was smile and look on for now, while Ryan went through a rollercoaster of emotions with the baby.
"Do
you want to hold him?" asked Ryan as he handed the baby towards
her.
Reluctant at first, Gabriella sat up panting.
"Don't worry he won't bite." Ryan laughed.
"I know that. I just don't want to drop him that's all. " she said taking her son from Ryan and holding him in her arms for the very first time. "My darling little baby. My darling little baby!" she whispered quietly
Ryan kissed Gabriella's forehead as she put his arms around her waist.
"I'm so proud of you. I love you so much Gabby, we now have everything we ever wanted. All that we've talked about. We're a family now."
Gabriella kissed him, only to be interrupted by the baby squirming and wriggling between the blanket. This cause both Ryan and Gabriella to smile.
"I think he's going to be a little bit of an attention seeker." she giggled, "Just like his daddy."
"Well maybe so. At least he's got his mother's looks."
"And his daddy's hair"
"And his mommy's eyes."
"He's just so perfect Ryan." she sighed weakly, already drowsing. "He's just so perfect."
"What should we call him?" Ryan leaned his head close into Gabriella.
"Douglas." she spoke softly.
"Douglas?"
"Yeah."
"We've
never talked about that name before?"
"Yeah I know. I just
thought of it when I first seen him. I dunno why, it just seems
right. Don't you think?"
"What ever suits you my love." he said kissing her cheek. "Douglas… very Scottish."
"Yeah,
but I like it."
"Then so do I."
A/N: There we go, two quick chapters to make up for the lack of updates. Hope you guys have enjoyed the story as much I've have when writing it for you so far. Thanks again for all the nice reviews. They really help. Yikes I've really done it on word count, but ah well. Sorry if there hasn't been much drama so far in the story, but I needed to use these chapters to establish the character in the story. Thing will get interesting in a few chapters time, so continue reading. Thanks again.
