CHAPTER 25. Screams & Smiles
Love is like a mountain, hard to climb, but once you get to the top, the view is beautiful.
- Daniel Monroe Tuttle
Booth came running into the waiting room and he was met by an ecstatic, albeit rather tired looking Angela.
"How's she doing?" he asked, smoothing his hand through his hair.
"She's just about to be wheeled down to the delivery room. She dilated really quickly," Angela grinned, wrapping a loose curl around her finger and twisting it.
Booth smiled but his panic was evident to Angela. "Where is she?" he panted, surveying the area and staring at the large array of doors before him.
"Through there," Angela breathed, gesturing to one of the closest doors to the right of them, "and that's the doctor she is seeing." She pointed to a man stood over by the reception desk in the corner.
"Okay," he nodded, trying to properly organise his thoughts into a rational order.
"So, Ange, you and Hodgins are going to pick up Parker later and he'll stay with you guys for tonight. Then, providing everything is okay, you'll stop by with him in the morning," he said, chewing his lip.
Angela nodded and stood up to hug him. "Yes, Booth, don't worry, everything is going to be fine," she smiled, "Parker and I will swing by to see Bren tomorrow and then Hodge and I will take him home with us, while you guys settle the new baby into the house. I have a spare key so I can grab some clothes and things for Parker on the way over there."
Booth nodded. "Thanks, Angela," he grinned, stooping down to give her a grateful kiss on the cheek.
She laughed and hit him lightly on the arm. "No problem, now get in there and look after our girls," she grinned, giving him a light shove towards Brennan's doctor.
Booth turned and marched over to the doctor to await instructions.
He had to change into a set of hospital robes that were far too big for him before they would let him into the unit. He felt ridiculous, but he hoped that the odd clothing might provide Brennan with a little amusement.
Brennan was already being set up in the delivery room when Booth came bursting through the doors, crossing the room to stand by her side.
She was panting heavily and her face was flushed. Beads of perspiration had formed on her forehead and her hair was sticking to it.
"Hey, beautiful," he whispered, brushing the strands of hair away from her forehead gently. She laughed softly, fairly certain that in reality she looked a state.
She reached her hand out to Booth and he took it, squeezing it tightly. He knew that she was terrified; but this was Brennan, and he therefore he also knew that she would never admit it.
"I'm glad you're here, Booth," she whispered, closing her eyes and wincing as another wave of pain hit her.
He stroked her hair gently with his free hand. "We're in this together, all the way, Bones," he soothed. Her eyes were glassy as she nodded and he could see that she knew he meant it.
Her hand tightened around his as she stifled a scream, her chest moving up and down erratically.
The midwife walked back into the room and gave the thumbs up to the rest of the nursing staff, turning to Booth and nodding.
He inhaled deeply and leaned down, kissing Brennan tenderly on the lips.
"Okay, Tempe, are you ready?" he asked her, running his thumb over her soft knuckles. She nodded at him, biting down hard on her lip.
"Remember your breathing," he reminded, breathing in a similar fashion so that she could follow his lead.
"Now, on the count of three I'm going to need you to push your hardest," spoke the nurse clearly, "we need to get this baby out as quickly as possible."
Brennan nodded and focused on breathing in time with Booth.
"One… two… three," shouted the nurse. Brennan screamed as she pushed, tears running down her face from the sheer effort of it.
Booth kissed her forehead lovingly, allowing her to squeeze his hand until he thought he might actually need to get it checked out. He didn't care though; he'd do anything she needed.
"Good," sounded the nurse, "I'm going to need you to push again, even harder this time."
Brennan groaned and her eyes shot open, looking up at Booth for reassurance as she pushed with all her strength.
The nurse smiled. "Okay, love, I need you to give one last strong push, this time a really long, hard one," she called to Brennan.
Brennan lifted out of the bed as she gave one final, strained push. With one more tiny push, it was over, and Brennan fell back against the pillow exhausted.
The nurse took the baby away to clean up for a moment and Booth bent down, kissing Brennan softly on the lips, trailing his mouth up to her cheek.
"You did it, Tempe," he smiled, stroking her face tenderly, "I've never been prouder in my life. She's perfect."
She looked at him and grinned, pulling his hand to her mouth and kissing it gently, before resting it on her cheek.
"What about when Rebecca had Parker?" she asked, letting her eyelids flutter closed for a second.
He trailed his finger down her nose and smiled again. "That was amazing, Bones, but this time it was you," he whispered.
"What difference does that make?" she smiled, kissing his finger tips as they trailed past her mouth.
"Well, Bones, you are the love of my life, so it makes it quite a bit more spectacular," he grinned, kissing her cheek again.
She beamed and the nurse came back over to Booth, handing him the tiny bundle, wrapped up snugly in a little pink blanket.
He held the little baby in his arms and he felt his heart filling with love. A tear, birthed from pure pride found its way down his cheek.
She had a light dusting of brown hair on the top of her head, with tiny brown eyes just like Booth's. It was unusual for a newborn to have any eye colour other than blue at birth, which only made him prouder.
"She has your nose," laughed Booth through tears.
"You are such a softie," smiled Brennan, propping herself up on her elbows so she could look at her daughter properly.
"She's beautiful," she beamed, reaching out her finger to touch the little girl's hand.
"Do you want to hold her?" asked Booth, shifting his gaze to look at Brennan. Brennan snatched her hand away quickly and looked terrified.
Her eyes were wide with panic. "No, I can't. I'll hurt her," she exclaimed, biting her lip sadly.
"Of course you won't, Bones. It's okay, I'll help you," he smiled, gently moving closer to the bed and sliding the baby into Brennan's arms, still holding her.
"Okay, now slip your hand under her head," Booth whispered. Brennan followed his instructions and he smiled, moving his hands away slowly.
"See, Bones, you're doing it," he beamed proudly, wrapping his arm around Brennan's shoulder.
Brennan couldn't take her eyes off the tiny bundle that lay in her arms. Booth was right; she did have her nose, and she had Booth's eyes. She was both of them; a little miracle that they had made.
"Hello, Violet," she whispered, "I'm your mommy, and I'm going to take care of you." Somehow it didn't feel stupid to talk to her; Brennan's experience with Andy had taught her that in their own way, on some level, babies understood.
Despite all medical arguments, at that moment Brennan was certain beyond all doubt, that Violet had smiled.
This chapter is dedicated to: AlwaysRemembered
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