A/n, taking a bit of a time jump here. Greg is now eight months along. Please read and review. Expect a mass update on a lot of my stories today. It's raining for like the zillionth day in a row and I don't want to go outside. So please R/R! --------------------
"I'm coming out to stay with you for a while, and that's final." Jillian's voice cut across the phone line. Greg was relaxing on the couch on his first day of maternity leave. Grissom had finally kicked him out of the lab at the beginning of his eighth month.
"Most women take leave at six months. I only let you keep working because we had a huge back log in DNA. Now it's caught up and you're off until six weeks after the baby is born. Do I make myself clear?" Greg nodded and headed from Grissom's office. Back in the present. Turning to the phone he said,
"You don't have to come out here Jillian."
"I want to. You and Nicky need me. First babies can come early. I know Nick has to work until she's born so he can take a couple of weeks off to stay with you and the baby."
"Well, thank you. I can't wait to see you."
"I can't wait either. I've booked my flight. I'll get in tomorrow at 9:00 AM. I talked to Nicky and he said he would pick me up from the airport after he got off shift." A yawn came from Greg's mouth. "I'll let you go so you can rest. Take good care of yourself and that granddaughter of mine. Love you, sweetie."
"Love you to, Jillian." Hanging up the phone Greg settled more into the couch closing his eyes ready for a nap. Unfortunately his little girl was wide awake and kicking up a storm. Rubbing his swollen stomach he talked softly to his unborn baby girl.
"C'mon, let Daddy sleep for a bit. Please baby girl?" Hearing her father's voice the baby settled down much to Greg's relief. Thinking about how much Nick's family loved him and their granddaughter brought a pang of sadness to Greg's heart. His parents still hadn't come around. His father had left a couple more threatening messages after the one that had sent him into a panic attack but the last one had been two months ago. Nick had told him to forget about is parents. It was their loss. They would never have the pleasure of knowing their granddaughter but that in no way was Greg's fault. He knew Nick was right. Jillian, Bill, and all of Nick's siblings loved them and were anxious to meet the newest member of the family and that meant the world to both men. ----------------------------
The next couple of weeks went by uneventfully.
"See you both in the morning," Nick said as he kissed first his boyfriend then his mother as he headed out the door to work.
"I love you and be careful," Greg said kissing him back.
"I love you to and I'll be careful."
"Go on, we'll be fine, son," Jillian assured her youngest child.
"You have Dr. Gray's number, don't you? I'll have my cell on if you need me. If you can't reach m–"
"I have all the numbers I could ever need. We'll be fine. Now go before you're late," Jillian scolded lightly.
"Okay, but…
"Go to work, babe. I'm fine. I mean it," Greg swore. Sighing reluctantly Nick nodded and headed off for his shift wishing he didn't have to. -------------------------
July 9th started out like any other day. Greg and Nick spent sometime snuggling with each other once Nick got home from work before Greg got up and spent time with Jillian watching TV and putting the finishing touches on the nursery. The team had given him and Nick a baby shower the week before and now they had everything they could ever need and then some.
"Two more weeks, are you excited?" Jillian asked as they played a game of Scrabble.
"Yeah," Greg responded softly not meeting her eyes. Stopping as she began to draw more tiles Jillian stared at her son's boyfriend.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing," Greg answered automatically.
"I'm a mother to seven children and a grandmother to many more so I can tell when someone's lying. It's not nothing. Talk to me."
"I'm scared," he whispered softly. "What if something goes wrong during the delivery? What if something's wrong with the baby? Nicky and I aren't ready to be parents! What if we screw up?" Smiling softly Jillian pulled the young man into a tight hug or at least as tight as his large stomach would allow.
"Everything you're feeling is normal," she assured him.
"It is?"
"Of course it is. I was terrified during each of my pregnancies."
"Does that fear ever go away?"
"Yes, but then the fear and worry about whether you're kids are safe and happy takes over. The important thing to remember is that as long as she knows how much you and Nicky love her she will be just fine. You're healthy and the baby is healthy. There's no reason to think that anything will go wrong."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. As for the being good parents part, you'll mess up its part of parenting. As long as you love her everything will be fine."
They continued to play a bit longer until the mother could tell Greg was fading.
"What do you say we call it a game?" she suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Greg agreed. The game had just ended with Jillian being declared the winner. Needing to use the bathroom Greg shifted trying to lever himself off the couch. Holding out a hand Jillian smiled at him.
"Need some help?"
"Yes, please. Apparently this little girl thinks my bladder is a soccer ball." Laughing Jillian helped him to his feet and kept an arm around him until she was sure he was steady. He was almost to the hallway when a pain ripped through him and liquid came gushing out of him.
"Aaaaah!" he cried out. The mother of seven was on her feet and across the room in an instant. Greg was doubled over in pain clutching his stomach. Noting the growing puddle on the floor she realized what had happened.
"It h-h-hurts," Greg whimpered.
"Shh, I know it does, baby. Your water just broke." The expectant father stared at her in wide-eyed panic. All the noise woke Nick and he came stumbling down the hall.
"Mom, Greg what's going on?" Seeing his boyfriend doubled over in pain clutching his stomach while leaning on his mother and the pool of liquid on the floor brought Nick to complete wakefulness instantly.
"Greg's in labor. We need to head to the hospital and Dr. Gray needs to be notified," Jillian spoke calmly but with authority. Another contraction hit and Greg cried out.
"Nicky…" Reaching out Nick allowed Greg to lean on him as well.
"I need to call Dr. Gray and get your bag, are you going to be okay with Mom for a sec?" Greg nodded in too much pain to speak. Placing a quick kiss on his sweaty forehead Nick ran off to make the call and grab the bag they'd packed. Five minutes later he was back and they were helping Greg to the car. Jillian drove while Nick sat in back with Greg coaching him on his breathing and doing whatever he could to ease his pain. ---------------------------
"Call the team, will you?" Nick requested handing his mother his phone. They had gotten Greg settled in a room and now were waiting on Dr. Gray to get there.
"Of course I will. I'll call the family to. Love you both. See you in a little while," Jillian said kissing them both before making her exit Nick's phone clutched in her hand. -----------------------
"Looks like a good day to have a baby," Dr. Emily Gray greeted cheerfully as she walked into the hospital room. Both men nodded as Greg gripped Nick's hand tightly through another contraction. "I've looked at the ultrasound and I think it's time for that c-section. I'm going to send a nurse into prep you for surgery. By later today you will be holding your little girl in your arms."
"I had some eggs and toast around 7:00 this morning should that be a problem?" Greg wondered. Glancing at her watch the doctor shook her head.
"No, it's already 2:00. I think you'll be fine. The nurse should be here soon." Half an hour later Greg was being wheeled to the OR having been given something to numb him from the waste down. He would be awake but he wouldn't feel anything.
"I've called everyone," Jillian told them as they rolled by. "The team will stop by before work. Your father and siblings will be waiting anxiously for news."
"Thanks, Jillian," Greg said with a smile.
"No problem, see you in a little while. Nodding Greg gripped Nick's hand anxiously. He couldn't believe they were about to meet there daughter for the first time. --------------------
"Can you feel this?" Dr. Gray questioned tapping on Greg's stomach. Greg shook his head. "Okay, let's have us a baby," she said as she made the first cut. Nick stood by Greg's head holding tightly to his hand. Time seemed to move slowly but in reality it moved at a normal pace.
"You're doin' so good G," Nick crooned.
"You're going to feel some pressure," Dr. Gray informed him.
"Yes, lots," Greg responded.
"And we have a baby! It's a girl!" the doctor announced lifting the baby into the air. Cleaning her mouth the doctor smiled as the newborn gave her first lusty cry. At the sound of their newborns first cry tears of joy filled both father's eyes.
"She's here," Greg breathed.
"Yes she is," Nick whispered in awe. He couldn't take his eyes off his baby daughter.
"Do you want to cut the chord, Dad?" the nurse asked. Nodding Nick walked over to the nurse and cut where she instructed.
"Do you have a name?" Dr. Gray asked.
"Not yet, we're still deciding," Nick answered. "Her last name will be Sanders-Stokes that we know for sure."
"Okay, Baby Girl Sanders-Stokes, born July 9, 2010 at 2:47 PM 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 19 inches long. She's perfectly healthy. Would you like to hold her, Dad?" she asked walking to where Nick stood. The surgical team was working on stitching Greg up. Nick nodded silently to overcome with emotion to speak. Gently he took his daughter into his arms. Looking at her she could tell she was a mix of him and Greg.
"She has your hair," Nick whispered.
"She has your eyes," Greg agreed staring at the tiny infant. Noticing they were done working on him Nick smiled at his boyfriend.
"Do you want to hold our daughter?"
"Yes, please." Smiling broadly Nick helped Greg settle the baby in his arms.
"Hey there, sweetheart. I'm your daddy. The other man holding you is your other Daddy. We both love you very much."
"She's perfect," Nick said running a finger down the baby soft cheek.
"Yes she is."
"I hate to interrupt, but we need to take her to run some routine tests and Greg needs to be settled into his room," a nurse informed them.
"All the tests are routine? There's nothing wrong?" Greg asked anxiously.
"They're all routine. Nothing to worry about," she assured the new parents. Nodding Greg handed the baby to the nurse and allowed himself to drift relaxing due to the pain meds they had just given him for his incision. A few minutes later Greg was settled in his room and the baby was being wheeled in by a nurse.
"We'll let you get to know your daughter. We'll keep visitors out for the first hour or so."
"Thank you," Nick said as he lifted the baby from the hospital crib and settled on the bed next to Greg allowing them both a chance to bond with their daughter.
TBC?
A/n, The guys actually have decided on a name, but they want to wait until everyone is with them to announce it. Please read and review.