Ok, here it is, chapter ten, and – I'm surprised none of you noticed – Brooke's in labour! Will we be hearing the patter of tiny Cheery feet? All will be revealed… And please review – I'm aiming to break the 100 mark with this one!

Chapter 10

October

Peyton rushes to my side as I clutch my back. I know it's still early in the labour but it really, really hurts.

"Brooke, are you alright? Is it the baby?" she fusses.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just need to rest for a while." I head for the nearest bench. But, just as I go to sit down, something happens. I've been told countless times how it'll feel and I don't even need to check. I just know.

My waters have broken.

"Peyt, I think you need to call an ambulance. I – I'm in labour." I say breathlessly, looking at her with pleading eyes, not quite believing it myself. Peyton takes a sharp breath and raises her eyebrows, but then she comes to her senses and dials 911.

This can't be happening. She's not supposed to come yet; I've still got two weeks to go. Is she ok? There must be something wrong. Oh god.

She's coming now. And I'm so scared.

October – 15 hours later

I woke up to see everyone sitting around my bed. And I mean everyone – Penny, Mom, Daddy, Peyton, Jake, Haley and Nathan were all there, smiling at me. When I came round, Peyton whispered, "Hey, B Davis. You just looked so peaceful, we didn't want to wake you."

"What happened? I don't remember anything after the ambulance came." I struggled to sit up but had to lie down again because I was too dizzy.

I couldn't work out the look on all their faces; whether it was good or bad news, I couldn't tell.

"The labour was taking a while and they found out the baby was the wrong way up, so they gave you a Caesarean section." Penny reached over and clasped my hands. The anaesthetic is still wearing off, so you'll still feel a little tired."

After I'd got over the fact that they'd just cut me up and pulled a baby out of me, I started to panic. Where was my Bean?

"Where is she? My baby? Is she alright?"

"The nurse said she'd bring her in–" Mom was cut off by the nurse, Marie, wheeling a tiny bed into the room. "– a minute or two."

"Hello again Brooke. So, do you want to see your gorgeous baby girl?" I nodded eagerly.

I smiled as Marie lifted a little bundle off the bed and handed it to me. I cradled her in my arms carefully and pushed back the blanket and there she was – my baby. She was so little, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with her.

She's so, so beautiful. She has a gorgeous little button nose, and a mop of dark brown hair, like mine, but it's curly, in tiny ringlets. And her eyes – Lucas' eyes. Blue-grey, like a stormy sea. They made me cry small silent tears, because I'm so ashamed that I haven't told him yet. But I'm not ready to right now.

"Whoa, Brooke," Jake pushed back her blanket further and stroked her hair, then laughed. "Are you sure she's not Peyton's baby?"

Peyton and I glanced at each other, then giggled. "Oh god, Brooke, he found out!" she smiled, and hit Jake playfully on the shoulder.

Bean started to make cute little gurgling sounds, and my mom asked if she could hold her. I nodded and passed her up, careful not to break her or anything; she looked so fragile.

Peyton saw an opportunity and pulled out a bag. "Ok, B Davis, presents!" she handed me it. "This is from me and Jake."

I undid the crepe paper wrapping the present ad held up an orange and black striped babygro. I was puzzled as to what it was, until Peyton pulled up the hood to reveal two little ears, and grinned.

"It's an outfit for Tigger junior," she explained, and everyone in the room either laughed or cringed at the cliché.

"And," Jake passed me a shoebox. "Peyton said she saw you eyeing these up last week."

I slowly lifted the lid to find a brand new pair of Jimmy Choo wedges. I wasn't sure before whether Peyton had noticed me picking them up like a hundred times, and saying just how gorgeous they were, but she'd obviously got the hint.

"Oh, thank you so much, you two!" I tried to reach to hug them, but I ended up just pulling on my stitches, so I resorted to a friendly smile. "They are absolutely perfect. Oh, and the babygro is alright, too." I joked.

By this time, Bean had gone all the way round to the bed to Haley, who passed her to me and held out a white envelope. I lay Bean down carefully on the bed and slip it open, then pulled out a cream card with an actual knitted pink bootie on the front. Opening it, I read aloud what it said.

"Dear Brooke and (insert name here), Well done! You're going to be a great mom. Lots of love, Haley and Nathan. PS–" I paused when I read the postscript. There's a cheque taped to the inside of the envelope. I opened the envelope to out the card back in and there it was, but it was obvious that Nathan didn't want me to tell, so I improvised. "PS, don't worry, it'll all be fine. Thanks."

I bent over and picked up Bean, cradled her in my arms again. I was amazed that she hadn't started crying yet, but she was just looking up at me with those big blue eyes and sucking her thumb. I still couldn't quite believe that she was my baby.

"So, about the name." Peyton sat down on the bed and stuck out her finger for Bean to hold. "What's my little girl going to be called?"

Ah, the name. I've had one picked out for almost five months, but I didn't want to start using it or tell anyone until I saw her, in case it didn't suit her. But they fit so well.

"Her name is Riley." I smiled. "Riley Marie Davis. And I'd like you four–" I looked at Haley, Nathan. Peyton and Jake, "–to be her godparents, if you want to be."

"Wow, Brooke, that means so much." Jake put his arm round Peyton's waist and Haley placed her hand on mine.

"Thank you, Brooke."

I looked up and smiled, then looked back down at Riley.

Riley Bean.

Baby Bean Davis.

My baby girl.

And I just take one look into those beautiful eyes, and I want to hold her in my arms forever.