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Tiffany sighs dramatically and flips her dark hair over her back. "Mommy," she says, sighing loudly, "I forgot how hot it is in California. It's liiike.. a million degrees out."
"It isn't a million degrees out sweetie," Summer says patiently. "Maybe if you went into the water you'd cool off-"
"Noo Mommy. I can't go into the water. Never ever ever."
"Why not?" Summer asks, adjusting the straps on her bikini.
"Because.. there are sharks in the water," Tiffany says.
"But the sharks aren't in the part of the water where you swim hon. They're way far out. They won't hurt you," Summer assures Tiffany.
"But they might."
"Tiff, you've never worried about the sharks before. Why now?"
"Alright.. but you gotta promise you won't tell anyone 'kay Mommy? Not even Tory or Daddy, 'cause they'll think I'm a baby, like Jackson.. promise Mommy."
"I promise."
"Cross your heart and hope to die, stick a needle in your eye?" Tiffany says seriously.
"Yup."
"Do it!"
"Alright, alright. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye," Summer says. "Now c'mon. Spill it."
"Well," Tiffany sits down on the blanket beside Summer, "Aunt Marissa and Uncle Ryan are real super sad 'bout Blythe dying. They pretend like they're not, but you can tell they really miss her. And if Blythe comed alive again, then they'd be happy. And I don't like it when you and Daddy are sad. So I don't want to die because then you would miss me like Aunt Marissa and Uncle Ryan miss Blythe and that wouldn't be good.. and I don't wanna die like Blythe did 'cause she was only little. Littler than me even. And that's too little to die. And I also don't wanna leave you guys either. 'Cause I bet heaven is real nice and everything, and probably God and me would have a hoot of a time, but I don't wanna leave you and Daddy and Tory and Jackson and everyone else I love. Not just yet."
Tiffany bites her lip nervously, surveying Summer for a reaction. "Oh sweetheart," Summer whispers. She touches Tiffany's cheek and pushes a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Tiffany looks up at Summer, her eyes big and sad. "So you gotta promise Mommy, that you'll never leave me okay? Never ever. So we'll make a deal. I won't swim in the ocean or cross the road without looking if you won't go away for real long and drive over the speed limit. Okay?"
"Okay," Summer says sadly. Tiffany sticks out her hand and Summer shakes it.
"I love you," Summer tells Tiffany.
"Not as much as I love you," Tiffany assures Summer, lying back on her towel and closing her eyes.
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Ryan wakes up in the middle of the night. He's been doing this a lot recently. Normally he creeps out of bed, careful not to wake Marissa, and goes downstairs. Sometimes he watches infomercials. Sometimes he has a sandwich. And sometimes he just sits there, on the couch. This night is no different, except for when Ryan wakes up, Marissa isn't beside him. He stares around the room, as though maybe Marissa's lying on the floor or hiding in the closet.
He gets out of bed, arches his back and walks out of the bedroom, wincing every time the floor creaks. He checks the bathroom, then Blythe's room and then what will soon become the baby's room. Marissa's not there.
Ryan then goes downstairs and enters the kitchen. She's not there either. He chekcs the living room and finds Marissa huddled on the floor, her head leaning against the love seat. "Marissa?" He says quietly. She jumps and looks back at him.
"Hey," she says.
"Are you okay?" Ryan bends down beside Marissa.
"I"m not sure.."
"Okay.. do you feel sick or something?"
Marissa laughs wryly. "You could say that.. I just.. I think it's the baby."
"Is she okay?"
"There's nothing wrong with her.. I think she's coming," Marissa says this in a surprisingly calm voice.
"You do?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Ryan asks.
"I don't know.. I'm sorry. I was already up, watching a movie, and then I just.. I realized what was going on," Marissa's face twists in a slight expression of pain for a few seconds and then she relaxes again.
"Well do you want to go to the hospital?" Ryan asks nervously, putting his hand on Marissa's back.
"I don't know.. not right now. They'd probably just send me home. We can wait a little longer.. maybe an hour or two," Marissa breathes deeply through her nose.
"Okay.. can I do anything?"
Marissa smiles. "Unless you know how to give birth to a baby? No, you're pretty much useless. You can call Summer though," Marissa offers.
"Right on it," Ryan practically dives for the phone and dials Summer's number. There's a few rings and a groggy voice picks up.
"Huh-lo?"
"Hey Tiffany, it's Uncle Ryan."
"Hey Uncle Ryan!" Tiffany's voice immediately perks up. "I'm glad you called 'cause I wanted to see you but it's sorta late don't cha think.. normally I'm in bed right about now... but that's alright. I'm flexible. So what's up? You and me and Tory should definitely go see the new Dr. Seuss movie on Friday! The one about.. the guy? Who lives in a forest of somethin'.. the Lorax!" Tiffany exclaims.
"Tiff?"
"Yeaah?"
"That sounds great, we'll have lots of fun.. we can throw popcorn at the screen during the bad parts.. but could I speak to your Mom?"
"Sure.. why? Am I in trouble?"
"No Tiff... Marissa's having the baby," Ryan explains.
"Wow!! REALLY! Right this minute? I have to go come over right away Uncle Ryan! I got a doctor's kit yesterday! I'll slice open her belly button and take the baby out all by myself! Please can I? I'm a real good doctor, it won't hurt a bit!" Tiffany promises.
Ryan laughs. "Well Doctor Cohen, that sounds great except I think we'll go for a real doctor this time. You can be the baby's nurse though how 'bout that?"
"Alright.. dealy-o. I'll get Mommy now. Be riiight back! MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYY!!" Tiffany screams.
Ryan pulls the phone back from his ear. There is a lot of loud noises followed by a delighted giggle and a nervous scream. And then Summer picks up the phone. "Hey.. Ryan?" She sounds tired.
"Hey Sum.. sorry to call so late."
"It's okay, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Marissa's having the baby," Ryan says.
"Ohmigod! Seriously?!"
"Yeah," Ryan smiles.
"Is she okay?" Summer asks. Ryan looks over at Marissa. She's gripping the strings on her dressing gown very tightly and her face is slightly pale.
"I'm not sure... I'm not exactly an expert at these things," Ryan says.
"Do you want me to come over?"
"Sure," Ryan shrugs.
"Alright.. I'll be right over."
Summer hangs up the phone and Ryan flicks on a light, then crawls back to Marissa. "Summer's coming over," he informs her.
"Okay, that's good," she smiles meekly.
Ryan settles Marissa into his arms and plays with her hair. "So do you have any names?" He asks her.
"Well.. I had one name.. but I don't think you'll like it," Marissa says.
"Hm? What?"
"Noo," Marissa smiles. "You'll hate it."
"C'mon.. it can't be that bad." Ryan brings out his fingers and heads towards Marissa's stomach, ready to tickle her.
"Ry-an! I'm in labor!"
"So.. I can still tickle you."
"Alright! Okay fine. Marlo."
"Marlo? As in like.. my dog Marlo?" Ryan laughs. Marissa pouts. "I'm just kidding Riss.. you know what. I like it. It's a nice name.. unusual."
Marissa's face brightens, as her hand tightens on Ryan's. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. Seriously. I like it."
"Good," Marissa smiles. "Cause you know, it's not like you really get a say in it all."
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"Daddy," Tiffany informs her father, "baby's aren't apposed to take this long! I bet I took three seconds. This baby's takin' ninety katrillion hours," Tiffany says. She pokes her father to make a point.
"I know sweetie. But for all babies it's different. You and Tory took a very long time to come, but Jackson was really quick. This time I guess the order's reversed.. Blythe was a quick baby, but this one takes a long time."
Tiffany makes angry eyes and looks up at the ceiling. "Maybe there was a traffic jam in the sky," she suggests. "And the stork is sittin' behind a bunch o' cars and that's why he isn't here yet."
"Probably," Seth says, smiling.
"No Daddy, definitely. I'm always right ya know," she tells Seth.
"Really? I dont' think so."
"Yes. I am. I'm a genuis that's why Daddy."
"Sure you are," Seth rolls his eyes dramatically. "And I'm a girl who-"
"DADDY! EWWWW!! You're not a guh-rl!"
"Exactly. You're not a genuis," Seth smiles smugly.
Summer comes out at that moment and Tiffany jumps out of her chair happily. "Hahahahahahahah! Mommy! Tell Daddy I'm a genuis please. He doesn't believe me!"
Summer looks as though she doesn't hear Tiffany. "Sum?" Seth asks, standing up quickly. "What's wrong? Is everything okay."
"It's fine it's just.." Summer's voice breaks off. "It's just they can't find a heartbeat for the baby." Summer's eyes fill up with tears and she lets out a sob. "It doesn't mean anything, I'm sure she's okay but.. it's just no fair Seth. They've.. they already lost Blythe and Marissa wants this so bad.. and if this baby doesn't make it, I don't know what they're going to do."
"Oh Sum." Seth takes Summer's hand and kisses it gently. "Go back in there okay. I know that Ryan isn't great in a crisis. And everything is going to be alright. Remember when they lost Jackson's heartbeat? And we thought he was gone. They found it and look." Seth gestures, to where Jackson is smashng trucks together and yelling wildly. "He's alive, he's healthy. Tell Marissa we love her."
Summer nods shakily and starts down the hallway. Tiffany approaches Seth, all traces of laughter gone from her eyes. "Daddy? The baby's gonna be okay.. right?"
"Yes sweetie.. remember what I said? I'm a genuis," Seth pulles Tiffany onto his lap.
"Nuh-uh.. I said I was a genuis. YOU said you wera girl... are Grandma and Grandpa gonna come? With Tory?"
"They'll be here soon, they called earlier to say they would be here after Tory had ice cream."
"Tory got ICE CREAM!" Tiffany shouts. "Tory gets ice cream and I'm stuck at the smelly hospital," Tiffany sighs and shakes her head. "Story of my life," she says wisely.
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Summer doesn't even want to step back into the hospital room. Because if she does, and Marissa and Ryan just have that.. look on their face, she doesn't know what she'll do. Blythe was as close as one of her own kid's and she misses her almost as much as Marissa and Ryan. If they lose this baby, this little girl, Summer doesn't know what's going to happen to them.
She closes her eyes and pushes open the door, sees Marissa sitting up on the hospital bed, sees Ryan gripping her hand. She swallows, her throat dry like sandpaper. "Is.. do you know?" Summer asks, sitting down in the chair opposite Ryan.
"They're getting a machine.. or something," Ryan says, trailing off as a team of doctors rush into the room. After a few moments, a general sigh of relief is breahted.
"Mrs. Atwood, your baby is alive," a doctor tells Marissa. "Her heart rate is slowing down and if it drops any further, we may have to perfrom a cesarean section." He informs them.
"Okay," Marissa murmurs, her eyes closing.
Ryan is pale and shaking, his legs jostling up and down. "Atwood," Summer says, "you can go if you want, get a coffee or something. I'll stay for a while."
Ryan looks gratefully at Summer, bends down to kiss Marissa's forehead, and leaves the room.
"I'm scared Summer.. I'm so scare and it hurts.. so bad," Marissa's voice shakes.
"I know sweetie," Summer says softly.
"I'm scared.. what if the baby gets sick? What if she dies, just like Blythe. What if her heart rate goes even lower?"
Summer sighs and Marissa makes a spot on the bed for Marissa. Summer take Marissa's hand. "I can't promise that that won't happen, I can't. But I just know this.. I've never been like, a religious person or whatever. But I have my beliefs and I do honestly believe that God wouldn't let you lose two baby girls. He wouldn't let it happen."
"You sure?" Marissa asks, reaching up with her free hand to wipe away a trail of tears.
"Yes. Positive," Summer says immediately.
"Okay."
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Ryan is trying to remember if Marissa was in this much pain with Blythe. He doesn't think so, and he keeps wondering if this is bad, if it means that the baby isn't well. The doctor keeps telling him Marissa's fine, the baby is fine, everything is so goddamn fine. Then why wasn't it like this with Blythe? Why didn't Marissa cry and scream and do all the things she was doing now.
Ryan was used to being able to kiss Mariss and make everything go away. This was something he couldn't do, especially now. He was fairly certain if he tried to kiss Marissa right now she'd kill him.
"Alright Marissa," the doctor says, smiling. The light is making his bald spot shine. "You're ten centimetres dialated, so you can push whenever you feel ready."
This part seemed to go so fast, even though Ryan knew it didn't. Marissa squeezed the hell out of his hand, he encouraged her, the doctors fetched cold wash cloths. It was forty minutes, maybe more. But all of a sudden, the doctors got this excited look on their face. "I can see your daughter's head, Marissa. Just two more pushes and you'll have your daughter." Marissa was shaking hard and it killed Ryan to see her like this. "I know it hurts Marissa, I know. But two more pushes and it'll all be over."
And just like that the doctor has this baby in his arms and the baby is crying and breathing. She's alive and she's beautiful. She looks like Blythe did when she was born, she really does. Ryan can feel a lump forming in his throat and his cheeks are wet. Marissa looks up at Ryan, the baby in her arms. "Ryan," she says. And this is enough.
"She's.. she's. Can I hold her?" Ryan asks, sitting next to Marissa, his hand on her shoulder. And a few minutes later, he has his daughter in his arms.
And everything is okay. It's not like this baby being born erases Blythe's death or makes it any easier. But Ryan's certain that it's going to help make things okay. It has to.
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"She's gorgeous," Tory says in awe of Adrienne (Ryan and Marissa settled on this name as apposed to Marlo.) "She's.. she's so pretty. I love her," Tory says, matter of factly.
"Yeah, she's something," Summer says tearfully.
"Mommy, you silly goose, it's happy! We're happy the baby's born."
It's true. They're happy, they really are. But it's a bittersweet kind of happiness. When Marissa holds her daughter in her arms, she gets this immense kind of joy that she can't explain. But when she looks at Adrienne, she can't help be reminded so much of Blythe. And this makes her feel like someone's cut a hole in her heart.
When Summer looks at Adrienne, she can't help but feel grateful for her three children, who are all alive and well. Seth just thinks its a miracle that this baby made it at all, that Ryan and Marissa have another daughter.
And Ryan? Ryan want to take this baby in his arms and protect her from the world. From sickness, from other kids, from all the bad things in the world. He wants this baby to grow up the way he never did.
He doesn't want Adrienne to be sixteen years old when she discovers that she's worth something, that she has people who love her. Because all the people that love her the most are in this room right now. And Blythe. He can't forget Blythe, who's probably already so proud of her little sister.