The day had come. The reason why all of this had started in the first place. The baby was coming.

Sam got dressed quicker than he ever had before, getting his pre-packed bag of supplies from under his bed and rushing to his desk, where he'd written a list of things to do on the fateful day weeks ago.

- Call Kurt and Blaine

- Gather supply bag, keys and blankets

- Make sure Rachel is okay

- Make sure Deano has enough food and water

Sam nodded as he read the list, and looked at the fifth thing he'd written intensely.

- If you haven't already, tell her how you feel.

…

Kurt and Blaine had been called and were on their way to the hospital, everything was gathered together and Deano had been fed and watered to last him at least 18 hours, by Sam's estimation.

Rachel was sat on the couch breathing heavily.

"MIRACLE OF LIFE? THE MIRACLE OF LIFE CAN GO F-"

"-Rach, you're gonna be fine!" Sam said as he looked around the room in case he had missed anything. Deciding he hadn't, he walked over to Rachel and knelt down in front of her.

"Sam, I don't like it." Rachel said, weeping through her pain. It killed Sam inside to see her in so much pain.

"Rachel, remember what you're doing this for. It'll all be over soon, I promise. We need to go now, okay? Kurt and Blaine will meet us at the hospital." Sam explained calmly. Rachel grabbed Sam's hands and held them tight.

"I'm not ready, I can't do this." Rachel cried.

"Yes you can. You're incredible."

"I'M SCARED."

"Well I'm petrified, so you're already doing better than me. Scared is good, remember?" Sam said. Rachel forced a smile and nodded, wrapping her arm around Sam as he helped her stand up.

"You can do this. I'm believing in you now. So are Kurt and Blaine and everyone. Everyone believes in you, Rachel Barbra Berry. And I'm gonna spend the next few hours listening to you call me every name under the sun, and you know what? There is NOTHING I'd rather be doing right now than holding your hand to remind you the world hasn't ended." Sam said meaningfully, wiping tears from Rachel's face.

"One final hurdle, yeah? Just one more, that's easy, right?" Sam said. Rachel nodded.

"Yeah." She whispered.

"Okay then. Time to give Klaine their baby." Sam said, opening the door to let Rachel walk out as he picked up all the supplies and closed the door as he left.

The weight of all the supplies on his back was killing Sam, but all he cared about was Rachel as he had his arm supporting her all the way down to the car, helping her in the seat and putting everything in the trunk. He got in and started the car, squeezing Rachel's hand once more.

"Ready?"

"No."

"Me neither."

The two shared a slight giggle before a contraption kicked in.

"CRAPPING HELL, JUST DRIVE!" Rachel screamed. Sam obeyed instantly.

…

They parked outside the hospital, where Sam helped Rachel out of the car and got the supplies out. He took Rachel's hand and they began walking.

"Take your time. Don't worry." Sam whispered.

"Thank you." Rachel whispered.

"Don't thank me yet." Sam smiled.

"You'd done more than enough for me after the first week, but you're still by my side nine months later." Rachel said as they reached the hospital door.

"Of course I am." Sam said.

…

A midwife helped Rachel into a wheelchair and took her into her own room, Sam following right behind.

"I'm Penny, and I'll be helping you through today. Are you the father?" The nurse asked, looking at Sam.

"No, I'm just a friend. She's a surrogate." Sam explained. Penny nodded understandingly.

"But I want him to stay with me, even after Kurt and Blaine get here, I need him to stay with me. Is that okay? It BETTER BE OKAY." Rachel wailed through another contraption as Sam took her hand and was surprised at the extent to which she was crushing his.

"I'm sure we'll be able to allow it. Now, are you ready for me to check how far dilated you are?" Penny asked and Rachel nodded.

"OH, BLOODY HELLFIRE THIS HURTS." Rachel shouted. Sam tried to hide his short smirk unsuccessfully.

"WHAT ARE YOU SMILING AT?"

"Nothing, Rachel."

"YOUR MOUTH IS A RIDICULOUS SIZE."

"Okay Rachel, I need you to open your legs." Penny said calmly.

"You need to her do wha-OH WOW." Sam said, looking away at the sight in front of him.

"…Okay, five centimetres. You're doing really well. I'll be right back, okay?" Penny said reassuringly before walking out.

"Holy crap, this HURTS. Sam, make the pain go away!" Rachel squealed.

"Rach, I can't. You have to fight it. You're doing really well."

"I know, Penny LITERALLY JUST SAID THAT!" Rachel wailed.

"You know when Kurt said you were a bitchy diva in High School? For the first time I can see it." Sam joked. Rachel proceeded to bite his hand.

"OW! You bit me!"

"DEAL WITH IT, BITCH."

"I can't believe you bit me!" Sam exclaimed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, do you WANNA SWAP?" Rachel shouted.

"…You know what? I'm good." Sam conceded as Rachel continued screaming.

"WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS? THIS BETTER BE A FRICKIN' BEAUTIFUL BABY!" Rachel shouted.

"All babies are beautiful, Rach."

"Clearly you don't watch Teen Mom, SAMUEL!"

At that moment, Kurt and Blaine rushed into the room.

"We're here Rachel, we're here! Don't worr-WOAH. Well if I didn't know I was gay before I do now." Blaine said.

"SCREW YOU, MR TOO MUCH GEL." Rachel yelled. Kurt and Sam smirked as Kurt took Rachel's free hand in his.

"She's not taking the pain too well." Sam said.

"Says the man who cried when I BIT HIM."

"I did NOT cry!" Sam exclaimed.

"Sweetie, you're doing amazingly well! Not long to go now!" Kurt said, smiling at Blaine, who smiled back.

"Do you need anything?" Blaine asked.

"WATER!" Rachel shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Sorry, couldn't quite catch that." Blaine said with a smile. Rachel let go of Kurt's hand, gave him the finger and took Kurt's hand again.

"I'll get some, don't worry." Sam said, going to walk away. Rachel grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him back.

"NO, STAY! I'm fine; I don't need water." Rachel said.

"You just said you wanted some." Sam said.

"I want you to stay more." Rachel replied. Sam smiled, moving some of Rachel's hair out of her face.

"I'll get some. I'll be right back." Blaine said, rushing out. Kurt followed him quickly.

"BLAINE, WAIT!" Kurt shouted.

"Yeah?"

Kurt pulled his husband close and kissed him with all the passion he could muster.

"We're having a baby." Kurt whispered, resting his forehead against Blaine's.

"I know." Blaine whispered back with a smile.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"EXCUSE ME? I CAN SEE YOU STILL STANDING THERE!" Rachel shouted from the room.

"Right, I need to go before Rachel unleashes her inner Hannibal." Blaine said, kissing Kurt again and walking quickly off.

"Blaine, if you happen to pass the soup machine-" Kurt began.

"-I'll get everyone soup, honey!"

…

An hour and a half went by, but for everyone it felt like an eternity.

"COME ON, IT'S A LITTLE BABY. WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?" Rachel squealed. Penny came back in.

"Okay, let's check again. You're doing great, Rachel. I'm sure they'll have been movement by now." Penny said. She began her inspection again.

"We're definitely on our way. We're probably about…"

Penny didn't finish her sentence but Sam noticed a worried look emerge on her face.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Kurt asked.

"I think the baby might be in an awkward position. This might make things more complicated." Penny said.

"Well, what does that mean? They'll both be fine though, right?" Blaine asked urgently. Sam sat forward as Rachel grew wearier, the drugs in her system leaving her out of it.

Dear God, don't take her from me now.

"We may have to go into theatre. It's a standard procedure, but the baby might struggle to breath in this position." Penny explained.

"But Rachel will be okay too, right?" Sam asked.

"I'm sure she will. This is the best chance we have of making sure they're both as healthy as possible." Penny said.

…

A while later a group of nurses came in and prepared Rachel for theatre, beginning to roll her bed down the corridor. Kurt, Blaine and Sam followed closely behind.

"She'll be fine. They'll both be fine." Blaine whispered to a teary Kurt as they went. Sam was fixated on Rachel.

"Wait, Sam…Sam." Rachel said. Sam moved forward to join her as they neared the theatre.

"Rach, I'm here. I'm gonna be right here. Always. Until the very end."

"…Thank you, Sam." Rachel whispered. Sam kissed her forehead.

"Rach, I…I um…"

They reached the theatre.

"…I…I'll see you soon." Sam choked as the nurses took Rachel into theatre. Kurt and Blaine hugged as Sam stayed fixated on the theatre doors.

"…I love you." Sam whispered.

…

"Okay, let's get both of them out of here safely."

"We need suction here."

"Both heartbeats still stable."

"Yeah, definitely a C-section."

"Making the first incision."

"Still stable."

…

"BP's dropping!"

"Final incision now."

"Here comes the baby now."

"Mother's lost a lot of blood."

"BP's still dropping!"

"Welcome to the world, little one."

"We're losing her."

"Her heartrate's slowing."

"Emergency resuscitation!"

"Come on, you can do it! Come on! Stay with me!"

"Flat lining, she's flat lining!"

"Come on, Rachel, come on!"

"It's not your time yet, girl. There are people out there who really wanna see you."

"Please, Rachel…stay."

…

TO BE CONTINUED…