Chapter 11: The Night Has Come

Part 24: Hanna-Twelve Hours Later/ Comforting Emily

I never thought it was going to be this hard, watching her suffer this way. Emily has been in labor for just over twelve hours, and The Night Has Come. Hopefully our baby will be here soon, because I don't think my innocent little Emily can take much more of this. "Oh, Hanna bear, I can't do this anymore, it hurts too much!" I suddenly hear her cry out, and I know I'm right. She's too fragile, this is taking every ounce of her energy and every shred of her pain tolerance. It's all running out now. I soon speak to her, trying to be strong. "Emmy, you can do it, champ. You're doing great! I'm sure we'll get to meet our little girl soon." I say, trying my best to comfort my love. I'm not even sure if I really believe what I just told her, though.

I turn to the doctor now, and quietly whisper in his ear. "Is she getting any closer?" I ask him. I think he sees the worry in my eyes, because he smiles at me reassuringly. "Oh yes, I know it's been hard on her, but she's near the end. The baby's crowning right now in fact." The statement brings a rush of relief to me as I see what he's talking about. I can see the baby's head now! I rush back to my Emily's side. "Sweetie, the baby's crowning! I can see her head, just a few more pushes Em!" I then see my girl smile through the pain as hope comes flooding back to her. With one earth shattering scream, and three more pushes, Emily gives birth to our tiny baby.

"It's a girl, and she's very lively!" The doctor exclaims, as a nurse wipes the baby clean and carries her over to be weighed. I get a washcloth to wipe the sweat from Emily's forehead as I read the meter. Little Chloe's exact weight is three pounds, two ounces. The number scares me. She's very premature, and I think it scares us all, that's why no one says it out loud. Whatever the case may be though, she's here. As the nurse wraps here up in a little pink blanket, and lays her on Emily's chest, I'm in awe. I see so much of myself in the tiny bundle, and though she has Emily's beautiful black hair, those greenish-blue eyes are mine. The sperm donor used to create Chloe could've been Emily's twin brother, but it's amazing how the baby still looks like an adorable mix of both Emily and I. Soon, the doctor and nurse step outside, giving us time alone as a new little family.

"She's so beautiful." My Emily says as she holds our daughter in her arms. Em is already so good with her, cuddling her gently, as if she's done this her whole life. I can't help but think what a stunning mother she's going to be. "Yes, love, she's perfect, you did so good." I say to my glowing fiancée, kissing her lips sweetly. Nothing could be more perfect then it is right now. I have my Emily and our daughter, both safe and healthy, and I know for certain that everything is going to be okay.

After about fifteen minutes of this perfect scene, the nurse steps back inside the room. "I hate to interrupt, but we're going to need to take your little one down for some testing." Worry crosses the features of both Emily and I at the words. "Is everything alright?" We both ask, in harmony. "Yes, we just might have to give her a breathing tube. Being only just over three pounds, her lungs aren't fully developed." The nurse replies, and I can tell she's being careful not to reflect any uncertainty in her tone. Emily looks to me, and I can tell we're both thinking the same thing. I'm the one to give voice to it. "Can we please let my Grandmother and our friends see her before you take her?" I ask, slightly pleading. "Oh yes, certainly, but only for about a minute. Good breathing is crucial for premature babies." She tells us.

Emily and I nod in agreement as the nurse goes to get the others from the waiting room. The first person to poke her head through the doorway is Aria. She smiles widely at the sight before her. "Awe, you guys! A baby girl?" I nod, a bit mischievously. "Yup." I say. "She's so adorable, why didn't you tell me you guys were having a girl?" Aria asks me, in a still very excited tone. "We've been over this, Ari, Emily and I wanted it to be a surprise." I tell her, faking playful aggravation. "Well, I really am surprised. What's her name?" My best friend questions me again as she leans over to stroke the baby's cheek. Emily speaks to her then. "Where are Spencer and Gram? We should tell all of you together."

Suddenly, we all three here a voice from behind. "You mean us?" The voice belongs to my Grandma. She smiles, walking in as Spencer pipes up. "We're right here." Spence says. Emmy and I both smile back once again. "Well, it's about time ya'll showed up." I tease them, in my best southern accent. We all laugh now, in the way we haven't since before Ali went missing. God, it's been a long time.

When our moment of childish giggles and reminiscence subsides, I remember the matter at hand, the baby's name. "So, you guys wanna know her name, huh?" I ask them all. "Well, Obviously, Sherlock." Spencer teases me. It's funny, the friendship between Spence and I, she always manages to one-up me, yet all I can think to do is come up with a comeback. It's very amusing. I should give everyone what they're waiting for though. Wait, I have a better idea. "Why don't you tell them, Emmy?" My girl smiles at me then, agreeing. After taking a deep breath, she speaks. "Clarissa Alison Marin." With the words, everyone bursts into smiles again.

"Ali would be so honored, you guys." Aria says, happily. "I agree, it's perfect." Spencer chimes in as well. After a few moments, Spencer speaks again. "Where did her first name come from?" She asks. "It's my name." Grandma answers, as if she's known all along. "Thank you so much girls, I'm flattered." Gram says again, looking at from her great-granddaughter, to Emily, to me. "No need to thank us, Grandma Marin, it fit her perfectly." Emily says, as gracious as ever. She's always been so polite, that's another thing I love about her. Soon, I add in one last thing. "We're going to call her 'Chloe' for short." My best friends and Grandma all repeat the name in unison. "Chloe." And as they say this, the nurse comes in to take our little one away, but we know she'll soon be back.