a/n: Thanks to all the wonderful comments about the last chapter! And so fast too, so your reward is a quick update. I know from personal experience, it's not uncommon for a woman in hard labor to go through some type of temporary psychosis (not literal, but out of her mind for sure). I pictured Cameron going violent. I'm so glad so many people dug the dark humor. That's why I divided the chapters this way, the funny stuff first, and now the nitty-gritty. On with the rest!

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2:15 pm

Chase ran into Dr. Ades outside the room. "Did you just see her?"

"Yes, still at five centimeters."

"Did she try to kill you?"

The doctor chuckled. "Honestly, I want to tell you I've seen worse behavior to make you feel better, but I'd be lying. She's as bad as it gets. If it's any consolation, there have been others just as bad."

"Great," Chase replied, feeling rather defeated.

"Robert, her hypertension got worse there for a bit, and her little fits weren't helping. If she doesn't progress soon, we might have to consider other options."

"You mean a c-section."

"Yes, but we aren't there yet. I'm checking in with the nurse hourly. A lot of times these things work out on their own."

"So I have to find a way to prevent her outbursts? Especially since I'm the main target?"

"Actually, you might be okay there too, at least for now. She's exhausted and incoherent. It's a combination of fatigue from the pain and the second dose of medication."

Chase sighed in relief. "Sorry, that probably seems awful of me."

"You're not the first dad to do that. Go ahead, she could use you now."

"Thanks."

Chase pushed open the door cautiously. He saw Cameron on her side, asleep. He sat down next to the bed and took her hand. She lightly grasped his in kind, but didn't stir to talk to him. Her touch sent the simple message that she needed him now.

Every few minutes her breathing intensified and her grip on his hand strengthened as she worked her way through a wave of agony, all while never opening her eyes. Once it was done, she was back sleeping.

The nurse came in to check. "How's she doing?"

"She's sleeping in between contractions."

"It's rare, but not unheard of. Her body is finding a good way to cope with the exhaustion."

"It must be working. BP and heart rate are better." Chase was no specialist on the subject when labor was involved, but he saw others in the ICU like this when they were in extreme pain. The rest was the best thing for them. All he could do was make Allison aware that he was there for her. In many cases, that was all the patient needed.

Chase looked at the readouts. "I see a progression with her contractions. Chances are the hard labor is coming soon."

"Yes, it's likely." The nurse replied.

Chase cracked a sympathetic smile and brushed his hand on the top of Cameron's head. "You see, they're working things out on their own."

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3:48 pm

"Hey, I need your help with something," Foreman said to Chase. He looked at Cameron, who was gasping for air, shaking profusely and completely drenched with sweat. "Hey, is she in transition?"

"Yep," Chase replied. "Contractions are every one to two minutes, intense, and lasting for over a minute. Several are overlapping. Last OB check a half hour ago still had her at five centimeters though."

Cameron was in way too much pain to protest or shoo Foreman out. "I…can't …take…any…more," Cameron tried to stutter out.

"How long has this been going on?" Foreman asked.

"Twenty minutes."

"I won't bother you too much then. Just sign here." Chase went to sign, but was alarmed by Cameron's blood curdling scream. "That's different."

"I…want…to…push," she tried to get out.

"Now?" Chase asked. He wasted no time lifting up the sheet to see what was happening. He looked up at Foreman with complete shock. "She's got bloody discharge, bulging at the perineum and her cervix fully dilated."

"She's about to deliver," Foreman said, knowing he now had to leave. "I'll get the nurse and get out of your way. Good luck!"

Cameron screamed again as the next contraction made her feel like she was going to pop open.

"Hang in there for a few more minutes." Chase urged, running to her side to help her maintain control.

The nurse rushed in and did her check. "Holy crap, the head is crowing. She dilated five centimeters in a half hour? Hang on Allison, whatever you do, don't push. Dr. Ades is on her way."

For five agonizing minutes, Cameron fought the onslaught of pain and pressure in her birth canal. In between the frequent contractions and strain building within, she wasn't getting any relief. Chase helped by rubbing her back and telling her over and over again to hang on.

Dr. Ades burst through the door, followed by a doctor from the neonatal team and a pediatric nurse. "Let's see what we've got."

She breathed a little sigh of relief. "The top of the head went back in, but its close. Let's get you on your back. You're going to have to push on the next big contraction."

The nurse pulled back the sheet, exposing Cameron's lower half and adjusted the mirror above the bed. "Watch the mirror Allison, you'll be able to see it all."

Chase got her in position for delivery. He rolled her over, slid her to the edge of the bed and propped her up. Once she was in position, he grabbed her hand and kissed her forehead. "It's going to happen."

"I'm…too…tired…to…do…more." She protested in between heavy gasps.

"You can do it." Chase encouraged her. "I'll help you."

She tried desperately to catch her breath and get prepared for the task ahead. He mind was in a deep fog and she could barely process what was going on. It was coming on too fast, even though she had been waiting for this all day. Finally, another huge jolt hit her. "It's…happen…ing."

"Okay Allison, we're ready. Push!"

She clenched her teeth, took in a deep breath, bore down and gave a big push. The pressure was unbearable. She and Chase saw the top of the head pop out in the mirror.

"Okay stop." Dr. Ades did a quick exam. "Lucky for you, this baby is small enough where I don't need to do an episiotomy."

Cameron was still reeling and desperately wanted to keep pushing. She was way too uncomfortable. She anxiously waited for the next contraction, needing to get this thing out now. Her chance came thirty seconds later.

"Okay Allison, push!"

She gave it all she had for a good minute. She and Chase watched the mirror, seeing that her efforts were helping, but the advancement was slow. She collapsed backward in exhaustion when she couldn't do anymore.

"That was good." Dr. Ades was now holding the head, which was face down, and one shoulder had slipped out. "It doesn't look like the baby is caught on anything. You can push again next contraction."

Cameron was still too overcome by fatigue. "I can't. I don't have anything left."

"You can't stop now," Chase told her. "You're so close. Just relax."

She tried to relax, but another thirty seconds later, it happened again.

"Okay Allison, let's try again. Push!"

She screamed loudly and poured every inch of energy she could into one more effort. She clenched her teeth and closed her eyes tight to focus all her strength.

"It's working," Chase told her, whose hand was practically crushed by now with her grip. He was too caught up in the moment to notice.

After a minute she fell back again and didn't hear crying. She was too afraid to open her eyes and see how much further the baby got that time. She wanted to tell the doctor to just yank it out now, for she had nothing left.

"Allison, open your eyes." Chase said calmly.

She opened her eyes and saw her overjoyed husband, who was near tears. She glanced at Dr. Ades next, who was holding and inspecting a perfectly healthy baby. "Baby girl, born at 4:12 pm." She announced for the official record.

Chase and Cameron had no time to share a reaction before Dr. Ades clamped down the umbilical cord and grabbed a pair of scissors. "Robert, your turn." He gave Cameron a kiss, and smiled with pride as he cut the cord.

The neonatologist immediately took the child. Chase followed her to offer whatever assistance he could.

"Robert, she isn't crying, please tell me she's healthy." Cameron said, not feeling any pain or pressure at the moment. Just worry.

Chase was too absorbed in the examination to answer right away. "Two large beautiful blue eyes are staring right at me." A minute into the examination, the baby started crying.

Cameron started weeping with happiness. "That's better."

The neonatologist liked the breath sounds, and handed Chase the stethoscope. He listened and let loose a big smile. "No respiratory distress. She's fine."

That made Cameron sob harder. While she was preoccupied, the nurse came over and pressed down her stomach. "We don't want the other baby to turn."

Dr. Ades pulled out the ultrasound machine. "I need to see where the other baby is. I don't see it in the birth canal yet."

Cameron wanted to see the ultrasound, but too much was distracting her. Instead, she watched the neonatologist and Chase finish up with their daughter.

"He's still vertex, but far up," Dr. Ades announced. "It looks like I need to break his membranes." She wasted no time in grabbing a hook and pushing it through the cervix. Cameron felt the familiar gush of fluid.

"I don't think I can go through this again. I'm wiped." Then she noticed something. "I'm not feeling any contractions."

"They tend to stop for a few minutes, sometimes up to ten. Don't get too comfortable though, they'll be back." The nurse said.

"This might help you pass the time." Chase stood next to her, holding their swaddled baby girl in his arms. "5 lbs, 6 oz."

Cameron took the child gently and was overcome with joy. "Hello there. You're so tiny, so beautiful." For the next several minutes they were completely mesmerized by their infant, lost in her beautiful eyes and face.

Their family moment was short lived when Cameron felt a contraction. "It looks like your brother wants out now." She said to the baby.

"Pushing won't be as hard the second time through." Dr. Ades said.

Chase saw the pediatric nurse standing by. "The baby can go to the nursery and be checked out while we finish up here." He took her from Cameron, gave one more adoring gaze to his beautiful girl, and handed the baby off.

"Bye sweetheart," Cameron said watching the child be taken away. She felt two powerful and long contractions on top of each other, followed by the familiar pressure. "Oh, not again."

After those two though, the contractions weren't as intense as when she delivered the first. They certainly weren't happening one on top of another. She was surprised five minutes later when should could announce this without overbearing agony. "I feel like pushing."

Dr. Ades took her place and Chase took his.

The pressure kept getting worse. Unlike the first time though, she felt a new surge in energy. She was anxious to see her son now, and finally be done with this.

"I see the top of the head Allison. Next big contraction you can push."

She felt like an old pro at this now. She knew she could get through this. "I'm ready," she told Chase confidently. She felt the pain hit her, and clutched onto his hand for dear life.

"Push!"

She did, and made this one good and strong. She didn't know how long it took, but didn't care. Her eyes again were clenched closed, but this time when she was finished she heard crying. Loud crying. Absolute bawling. She opened them to see Dr. Ades again holding another healthy but hysterical child.

"One push. I told you it would be easier. Baby boy, born at 4:28 pm."

Cameron cried again while Chase cut the cord, and joined the neonatologist. "He's a cutie," Chase told her. "Tons of hair."

The neonatologist checked the lungs, and then let Chase listen. He nodded in agreement. She covered up the baby with a blanket and rolled the crib out.

"What's the matter?" A startled Cameron asked.

Chase gave her a warm smile, not wanting to worry her. "He's fine, but he has mild respiratory distress. They can check him out better in the NICU and give him some oxygen. Don't worry, it's nothing unusual for 35 weeks. He's very strong otherwise"

"What was the weight?"

"4 lbs, 12 oz." He proudly announced.

Cameron smiled, glad to hear such a healthy weight. She knew Robert was right, and was going to be positive. Besides, her work wasn't done. She still had to deliver the placenta.

"Why are you still here with me?" Cameron lightly scolded Chase. "Get to the NICU with your son and put all those years of Intensivist training to good use."

He happily gave her a kiss. "Yes ma'am. I'll check on our girl too. See you in post delivery."

Cameron sighed. "I thought he'd never leave. Now I can get some sleep."

"Rest for now, Allison." Dr. Ades instructed. "The next part will be very easy."

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4:45 pm

Fifteen minutes after feeling very light contractions that were almost laughable compared to what she felt earlier, she was ready for the next step.

"Okay Allison, we'll know in a minute if the two placentas fused together. When I tell you, push."

Cameron didn't feel any more pain, so she could easily do what the doctor asked. "Now Allison." She pushed and a placenta easily fell out.

Dr. Ades examined the placenta and attached membranes, looking satisfied with the results. "Good. The two placentas did fuse together. All the pieces look like they're here too." She felt the outside of the uterus. "It's contracting hard and I don't see any excessive bleeding. You are finally done."

The doctor tore off her gloves and took in a huge breath of relief. "Congratulations Allison. After everything, you got the best possible outcome. Two healthy babies."

"Thanks." Cameron said, thankful it was all out of her.

"Get some rest tonight. You've earned it. I'll see you when I do rounds tomorrow morning."

"Thanks Dr. Ades. For everything."

"Make sure you thank your husband too. His efforts through this entire pregnancy have been invaluable."

"I will, once I'm done hating him for doing this to me."

Dr. Ades laughed at her joke. "The sense of humor is back. Good sign. Enjoy your evening with your new family."

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5:30 pm

"Congratulations Dr. Cameron. You are now officially in the fourth stage of labor." The nurse delivered her to her maternity suite that would be home for the next two days.

"You can call me Allison since I'm a patient. I don't mind."

"Okay Allison." The nurse helped her out of the wheelchair and into the bed. "The cafeteria is sending up a meal for you. Your job right now is to eat and then get some sleep. You should be all set for now. I'll be back later to go over post-delivery care."

The nurse left, leaving Cameron all alone. The isolation felt so weird. After all the commotion, the hours of delivery and myriad of visitors, she was alone. She should be enjoying this moment. For the first time in eight months, she didn't feel sickly or nauseous. She didn't feel like her body was a giant incubator. She didn't feel like she wanted to explode.

She sighed though, realizing she missed her family. She wanted her babies and husband in the worst way. After ten minutes of depressing isolation, there was a knock on the door. It was someone from the cafeteria, delivering her meal.

"You're a pretty lucky VIP today. One call from administration and a special meal was prepared just for you." She took off the plate cover. Cameron's eyes bulged out of her head in surprise.

"Pancakes? Oh that's perfect."

"There's a note too." She handed it to her.

Apparently this sorry ass cafeteria doesn't serve pure maple syrup. I'll be fixing that. You'll have to live with the fake stuff tonight. - Pamela.

Cameron laughed. "Give my compliments to the chef."

The delivery person snarled and left. She apparently wasn't fond of special requests.

Cameron paused for a few seconds before tearing into her dinner. She had a lot to be thankful for. Of all the things that could have gone wrong, everything went right for once. She'd have to remember to tell Robert to thank that God of his.

"Screw that, it's time to eat." She dug in.

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7:18 pm

Chase quietly pushed open the room door. He saw Cameron rolled on her side, chest rising and falling in relaxed intervals. He gingerly rolled in the hospital crib, careful not to make any noises.

Cameron must not have been sleeping that heavily, because as soon as he sat beside her she stirred. She instantly melted at the sight of dad holding his baby girl.

"Gimme." She said, sitting up and stretching out her arms.

Chase smiled and carefully handed the baby to her as if she were a piece of china. "The nursery's all done with her. She gets to stay in here for the time being."

Cameron made cute little faces at her baby, surprised that she felt so natural in her arms. The child seemed perfectly content. "How's our son?"

"He's great. He has to stay isolated for 24 hours, but only because it's standard procedure. They've got him on supplemental oxygen, but he doesn't need a respirator."

Cameron gave a bittersweet smile. It was good he was going to be okay, but she so wanted him there now. They didn't feel like a complete family.

"I can take you to him later. He needs to bond with his mother so he can learn how to breastfeed. As a matter of fact, the nurse will be in soon to help you start with her."

Cameron couldn't keep her eyes off of the baby. "You hungry honey? Mom won't have any milk for you for a couple of days. You'll have to make do with colostrum." She kissed the child's forehead. "You are so perfect, Emily Amanda Chase."

Chase's face lit up in surprise. "Not the other way around?"

"No, you were right to wait and see what the baby looks like. She looks more like an Emily."

Chase moved closer to join in on the adoration of his infant daughter. "I'll just call her baby doll."

"That won't work when she's twelve."

"Tough. I'm daddy, I get the right to embarrass her."

Cameron grinned, picturing Robert in the future with a shotgun protecting his teenage daughter. "I can't believe it. Look what we made."

"We made two of them. Wait until you hold your son, it's really something."

The nurse came in. "Okay Allison, ready to try breastfeeding? It's going to hurt at first until your nipples toughen up."

"Bring it on. After what I've been through, there is no amount of pain that can compare."

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10:02 pm

Chase clutched in his arms his bawling wife. He had tried for ten minutes now to calm her down, but wasn't getting anywhere. "I didn't want to leave him." She tearfully said.

"He's in good hands. They'll release him into the nursery tomorrow morning. He should be with us by the afternoon."

The NICU had always been hard on her. Many of the babies were so small and struggling so much. She was so relieved when her son proved to be bigger, stronger, and healthier than any of the children in there. He was sound asleep, happy, and didn't need oxygen anymore. Despite all that, it killed her to see him in there.

"He's so sweet. He needs his momma."

"I know. He'll be with us soon."

She remembered when the young infant cracked his eyes open thinly and gazed at her as if she was warmly familiar to him. It seemed like he missed her when she held him close. Robert told her the babies know the heartbeat. That memory clung in her head, and made her cry harder.

"He took to breastfeeding pretty easily, didn't he?" Chase said with pride.

"He's a natural with nipples, just like his dad."

Chase laughed. "Yes, I'm going to have to get used to not being the only one lusting after your boobs."

Cameron cheered up a bit with their shared laughter. She sat up, wiped her eyes, and lovingly gazed into Robert's eyes. "The name is perfect by the way. There's no way I could have done better."

"Knock knock," a voice said from the door.

"How did you get in there? Visiting hours are over." Cameron asked.

Pamela was shocked she would get such a question. "You obviously underestimate my influence and power around here."

"You look like you've been through hell." Foreman honestly said to Cameron. He was glad he could ditch the fake sincerity routine now. Then he noticed Chase. "I take that back. He actually looks worse."

"He didn't get a nap like I did. Then again, he didn't agonizingly have to push two human beings through a small hole." Cameron teased.

Pamela was too busy fawning all over the new baby to pay attention to their comments. "Baby Girl Chase?" She noticed the name tag on the side of the crib. "Don't you have a name yet?"

"Yes, we just haven't made it official yet. Pamela, Eric, meet Emily Amanda."

"Aww, that's adorable." Pamela looked around. "Didn't you have two?"

"He's in the NICU," Chase said. "Mild respiratory distress. He's off oxygen now and should be with us by tomorrow."

"Let me guess, his name is Baby Boy Chase." Foreman said.

Cameron and Chase both smiled at each other. "Ethan Christopher." Cameron announced.

Chase pulled out his cell phone and shared the photos they snapped earlier in the NICU, including a couple of mom and dad each proudly holding their boy.

"Damn is he cute." Pamela said. "What hair. I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Come on," Foreman said to Chase. "We'll let the ladies catch up. You and I are having a cigar in House's office. Wilson is there too. We might want to get there before they smoke them all without us."

They left without hesitation, knowing asking for permission would only doom them.

"Who needs them anyway?" Pamela said. "It's girl bonding time."

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2:15 am

"Robert! Wake up!"

Chase stirred, realizing he was hearing the cries of their baby girl. "Welcome to parenthood," he sleepily said, rolling off of the bench near the window that was meant to be a bed for fathers. "I'll get her for you."

"This kid needs to learn which side of 2:00 to be on." Cameron complained. "Two nights in a row."

Chase picked up Emily, and rested her on his shoulder for a few pats before delivering her to mom. Cameron offered her nipple, and the child lightly chomped on it, not getting the most out of it she could.

"I don't know how she can be so happy with so little." She said, noticing that it would take both of them a while to get this feeding this down.

"Yum, delicious antibodies." Chase said, flopping back down on his bed.

"How am I going to do this with two?"

"You have two breasts, right?"

"Will it be enough?"

"Why don't you ask the lactation specialist tomorrow?"

Cameron shook her head while watching the infant struggle to latch on. "We're in for some surprises, aren't we?"

"Questions I can hardly ponder at 2:15 in the morning." He replied.

"We're new parents. Face it, 2:15 am is the new family bonding hour. Ethan might want a different time too."

Chase let out a big yawn and reluctantly accepted that for a while anyway, hope of a full night's sleep was gone. "Yep, we're in trouble."