Chapter Twenty One

A/N: Thank you to storyteller angel for reviewing the last chapter.

Emily remembered the day that Anna gave birth at Hotel Babylon. It had been over two years now, but it still seemed like yesterday. She had stood outside the bedroom door, listening as the woman screamed and swore her way through the lengthy labour. She had always thought the receptionist was just being melodramatic, playing up for attention a little bit as she always tried to do. She would have to remember to apologise for that, because she could not have been more wrong.

The wave of pain passed once again, giving the blonde a chance to breathe for a second or two. Her head was spinning, like the roundabouts she had played on as a child, when her father had sent her across to the park opposite one of his many hotels to play. She remembered it vividly, laughing and joking with the children of her father's business partners, looking over her shoulder every minute or two to see if her father would come and play as well. He never did.

The memory only strengthened Emily's resolve more, her desperation to prove to herself and her child that she would be better, and when the next contraction came, she pushed with a strength she did not know she had within her. It was not enough to bring the ordeal to an end, of course, but it was satisfying to think she had made a dent in it.

At the far side of the hospital room, the door inched open, revealing a rather panicked looking Sam. "How are you doing, Milly?"

The young woman took a minute to calm herself, just to minimise the risk of biting his head off for such a stupid question. After all, he was the only person she had at the moment. In the end, she tried to force a smile, which came out more like a grimace. "I've been better."

"Of course, yeah." Sam ran a hand through his hair, approaching the bed and settling down in the chair beside it, clasping his hands together as if in prayer. She had never thought Sam would be religious- he always seemed more the type to make his own luck- but he had always been full of surprises.

"It shouldn't be too long now." Emily stated. She did not know why she was trying to comfort him- surely it should have been the other way around right about now- but the more he sat by her side, the more he looked like a frightened little boy. She could not bear to see it any longer.

Sam did not answer, only nodded, but at least he found the strength to look at her. For a second, his eyes glazed over, like he was not really seeing her at all. Emily frowned, confused, but had no time to dwell on it, as another contraction took over her body.

The young woman clamped her lips tight shut, desperate not to cry out again. It seemed like all she had done these last few hours was shout, her throat aching from its constant abuse. If this did not end soon, she did not know what she was going to do.

Emily was so focused on getting through the contraction, she did not realise until it was over that Sam had taken her hand, holding it as tightly as he could, as if he was wishing some of her pain onto himself. His eyes were fixed on her face, searching for any sign of… anything.

"I'm okay." she breathed, through the last of the pain. "I just… I suppose I never really thought about this bit. I'd barely come to terms with the idea I was pregnant, and now this baby's coming, and I'm about to be a mum, and… Sam, I'm scared."

"Milly, I'd be amazed if you weren't." Sam commented. It was not the most reassuring thing he could have said, and Emily could not help but look up at him in irritation. "This isn't a little thing, it's going to change your life. But if you're worried about having to bring up the baby on your own, you won't have to. I'm going to be here for both of you, I promise."

Emily's mouth fell open a little, the whole world seeming to slow on its axis. "Do you really mean it?"

Sam squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Of course I do."

An hour or two went by- neither were quite sure how much time had passed since their conversation- but the subject of it was finally safe and sound in her mother's arms. Emily's face was red, shining with sweat that matted her hair, and yet Sam was not sure she had ever looked more beautiful.

"You see?" the man smiled, leaning over to get a better look at the child hidden amongst the blankets. "I told you it would all be worth it. Look at her."

It was a pointless instruction, really; for the few minutes since it had all been over, Emily had not done anything else. She could not bring herself to tear her eyes away from the perfect little girl cradled in her arms. Somehow, it all still felt like a dream, and she was terrified that she could still wake up.

"What do you think we should call her?" Sam asked. For a man who had discovered his impending fatherhood just a few hours ago, he was coping remarkably well.

"Well, I never really thought about it." Emily confessed, unable to believe she had overlooked something so key. "But I think I'd like to name her after my mother. She would have loved her, I know she would, and this way she still gets to be a part of her life."

The baby wriggled a little in her mother's arms, as if she was drawing the woman's attention to the important secret that would be only theirs for a few seconds longer. Emily chuckled, adjusting her arms so that she could catch the baby's tiny hand on her finger, the first embrace of many they would share in life.

"She looks happy about something." Sam smiled, his eyes drifting from the girl to his friend. "She must like her name. So, go on then. What is it?"

"Grace." The moment she spoke the word, a golden calm seemed to settle among the three of them. Sam and Emily were new parents, like so many had been before them and so many would be after. In that precious quiet, it was easy to pretend that everything was alright. And so they would do, for the rest of that day at least. They could face their problems in the morning.

A/N: Aw, they finally have their little one. But there's one pretty big obstacle to face… Hope you enjoyed, and please review!