So, here ya go. The baby makes her first ACTUAL appearance in this one.

Enjoy!

Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

Ash's head jerked up, the screeching sound shocking him out of deep thought. His eyes snapped to the woman lying in front of him; her eyes were clenched closed, her face as red as her fiery hair, and damp with perspiration. Her breathing was shallow, and he glanced wildly around for somebody. Anybody. Finally he called out, "Nurse!" A white-uniformed woman ran in and dashed to the redhead's side, taking pulse and checking screens. Ash just sat, numb, staring at his wife's delicate face and clutching her thin hand like it was all he had. He wasn't sure what was going on. All he knew was that something was wrong. And that he could lose his love, right then.

May chewed on her lip nervously as she stared down at the ground, leaned up against the hospital wall. Dawn, asleep, was sitting on the floor, leaned up against the brunette's legs, her own sprawled out in front of her.

"It's been nearly four hours since we've heard anything from Ash."

May looked up at the low, quiet voice. Brock was looking at her, a worried expression on his face.

"That long?" she replied tiredly, taking a glance around at the others gathered. Dawn was asleep at her feet. Directly across the narrow hall from her was the bench Brock was sitting on. Amilla and Trevor were both asleep, his arms wrapped gently around her body, and sat on the same bench. Just feet down, along the same wall May leaned on, another bench. Delia was on the close end, just barely awake, eyes slowly blinking; open, shut. Pikachu had relocated to her arms and slept soundly. On the other end of the bench, Misty's three sisters were slumped in a cluster of arms and legs.

May sighed as Delia finally let her eyes slide shut. "What time is it?"

"About two in the morning." The brunette groaned quietly and then snapped to attention as a door opened and the tired figure of a raven-haired man stepped out and faced them.

"Ash." she whispered. "What's going on?"

He took in the sleeping group and muttered, "I'm a father."

Brock and May exchanged a brief look, weary smiles on their faces. Then the brunette noticed Ash's somber manner. Her eyes filled with concern as she asked breathlessly; "Is something wrong?"

"The baby was born about five minutes ago." he replied mechanically. "Something freaked out on Misty's monitors. I think she almost...died." he choked up as tears made their way to his eyes; the full impact of his words hit him all at once like a punch to the gut. He doubled over, and Brock jumped up and rushed to his friend.

"It's okay, Ash. Come here." He took the shaken man into his arms. May, gently shaking off her blue-haired attachment, walked over and laid her hand on Ash's arm.

"Is she okay now?" she asked under her breath. Ash pulled back from Brock and nodded.

"She's okay. She's fine."

A nurse stepped out of the room and addressed Ash. "I thought I'd find you out here. Misty's awake. I need to talk to the both of you."

Entering the room, Ash's head cleared significantly when he saw Misty smiling weakly at him from the bed. He walked over and gave her a light kiss on the cheek and sat on the chair beside her again. The nurse cleared her throat and they both looked at her.

"Your baby is in the infirmary. There were no complications with the birth that we can see, but she was having trouble breathing on her own, so we put her in an oxygen crib. She'll only need it for a couple of hours, and then we can bring her in to you. We need to observe her for a while."

Ash and Misty exchanged worried looks.

"Don't worry, please. She's fine. It's more common than it seems. I think you both should try to get some sleep."

Now the couple's eyelids drifted closed, despite any weak efforts to try to stay awake.

"Ash. Ash? Ash, wake up!"

The man's eyes flitted open at his wife's voice.

"Huh? What's going on?" he mumbled wearily, lifting his head from where it had rested on his arms on the bed and straightening up in the chair.

"The nurse is back, Ash." He turned his head to where she motioned.

"Good morning." she greeted them tiredly. "Good news. Your baby's been out of the oxygen for an hour and is doing fantastic. No heart or breathing problems. She's perfectly healthy now."

"What time is it?" Ash slurred.

"About seven." the nurse replied. "Would you like us to bring her in?"

"Yes!" Misty chimed. Ash wondered how she could be so energetic. He was about to fall asleep again.

And then he knew. The nurse left and quickly reentered, carrying a small bundle swaddled in a pale pink receiving blanket. She handed it to Misty, who carefully took the bundle in her arms, and left. Ash saw his wife's emerald eyes twinkle as her face broke out into a glowing smile. He stood and peered over her shoulder.

All he could see was a face. The baby's features were soft and relaxed, and he figured she was asleep. Misty stroked the top of her head gently, and he could make out the color of a few wispy hairs; black as midnight with an orange streak down the right side of her head. He smiled. A perfect, tiny mix of the both of them.

"Do you want to hold her?" Misty asked almost reluctantly. Ash nodded and leaned over to retrieve the baby.

Once she was in his arms, she started to squirm. Ash's eyes widened as he struggled to hold her.

"Whoa there, sweetie. You don't have to do that; it's just me. It's just Daddy." At the sound of his voice, the baby calmed. After a minute, her eyes started to flicker, just a little bit. "Uh, Mist?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"Is it...normal for her to open her eyes?"

"Let me see." Ash sat on the chair and moved it so they could both see her face. "Talk to her, Ash. She seems to respond to your voice."

"Um...okay." he paused uncertainly. "Hey, baby girl. It's Daddy. Do you want to open your eyes for me? Let Mommy and Daddy see those pretty eyes. I bet they're pretty, just like Mommy's." Misty smiled and blushed.

Finally, she did open her eyes. Both parents gasped.

"Ash, they're - they're gorgeous!" Misty's hand flew to her mouth.

"You don't have to tell me that."

The baby's eyes were wide open as she stared directly at her father. They were blue-green; the bright cyan color of the sky whirled with shades of green the color of summer grass.

"But I was right." Ash boasted proudly. "They are as beautiful as her Mommy's."

A multitude of faces whipped around to face Ash as he stepped out of the hospital room.

"Hey, guys." he greeted them, russet eyes wide with excitement. "Guess what?"

Tired faces turned to each other, now brimming with joyful anticipation, but nobody had the energy to speak what they were thinking. So he told them.

"I'm now the father of a very beautiful baby girl."

A mass of people attacked him all at once, hugging him and squealing congratulations. Ash struggled to break free, and eventually managed to wriggle out of the bubble of euphoria he hadn't even known the lethargic group could possess. He found himself in front of his mother, who was grasping a struggling Pikachu.

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Pikachu. Wanna see her?" he asked.

"Pika! Pika pi!" the yellow creature cried, finally escaping the woman's hold to sit on his trainer's shoulder. Delia simply nodded.

He lead them into the room. Misty looked up from the baby and smiled. "Hello, Delia."

"Hello, Misty." she greeted the new mother. "How are you?"

"Exhausted." she replied with a laugh, handing the sleeping baby to Ash.

"Better get used to it." Delia turned her attention to her son. "Oh, careful, Pikachu."

The Pokémon was staring at the little thing in his trainer's arms, his black eyes as wide as they could be, his ears and tail pricked high. "Pika! Chu." he chirped in approval.

"I think she probably smells like you, Ash." Misty suggested. Ash glanced at her, then at Pikachu, who climbed from his shoulder to his head, let his ears and tail droop, and closed his eyes with a content sigh.

"I guess he approves." The raven-haired man chuckled, passing the child on to his mother.

"Oh, she's so cute!" She chimed. "Have you two decided on a name?"

The couple's heads whipped around to face each other so fast Pikachu almost slid off of Ash's with a startled squeak. The looks of shared horror on their faces told Delia everything.

"We...didn't even narrow the names down that far..." Misty murmured, her face reddening with a blush. "We just didn't have time."

"Well, you'll have to figure that out, then!" Delia said, returning the newborn to her father. "Now, I know that not a single person out there is going to leave and rest in the comfort of their own homes until they see the baby. Do you want me to send someone in?"

Ash nodded. "Send in Brock, would you?" His mother smiled and placed a light kiss on her son's forehead before leaving the room.

Ash and Misty exchanged a look, and Misty smiled. Pikachu, deciding Ash's head moved too much for him, jumped down to the hospital bed and climbed up into the arms of the human he loved second-best. Or, maybe, all three of the family members tied for first in the electric Pokémon's heart.

Meh, not sure I like the way it ends. This happens too often. Either I love it, or I hate it.

But leave a review if you liked it, this hospital part's going to take a few chapters because I wanna go slowly. So onto the next! *waves sword*