Chapter 25 – Born on the Fourth of July

Just Family

Nolan 13, Ryder 9, Olivia 6

Annabelle 1, Victoria 1 (just shy of 18 months)

July 4

"Amelia, I still can't believe you two wanted to host the party. You're…well…very pregnant," Meredith shared lovingly with a soft giggle as she finished making a green salad.

Continuing to slice fruit, Amelia offered a sideways smirk, "I'm a blowfish. A whale. A manatee. An elephant… something very, very large."

Coming up from behind, Derek placed his arm around his sister and kissed her cheek, "You're adorable. But I've gotta ask, how do you waddle around like that and keep the baby in? Saying he's dropped is… well, an understatement." Derek giggled with pride as he pushed his sister's buttons.

"I suggest you leave my presence, dear brother. Women at the end of their pregnancies are prone to violence when their brothers pretend to say something loving that is actually offensive," Amelia quipped as she raised one eyebrow and pushed Derek's upper arm. "Haven't you fully trained him yet, Meredith?"

"He's untrainable," Meredith smirked, "but so damn adorable."

"Ah, that's my girl," Derek chuckled as he leaned down and kissed his wife. "I love you."

Olivia, with her red and white striped tank top and navy blue shorts, came running in and put her hands on Amelia's enormous bump, "Hi baby brother. Guess what? Our daddy just told me we could go swimming?!" Livs looked up at Amelia and beamed, "Did you hear that too, Mama? Daddy's gonna swim with us!"

"Then run up and get your swimsuit on, silly. I'll come watch in a bit," Amelia smiled as she stroked Olivia's head. "Keep your hair in that ponytail or it'll tangle!"

"I know, I know, I know, Mama," Olivia replied as she headed upstairs.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" Ryder ran in at full speed with his swim trunks and flip flops on.

"Ryder! Ryder! Ryder!" Amelia kidded in response.

"Dad, Dr. Reilly, Dr. Karev and Dr. Avery are all swimming and said us kids could swim too! Henry's already out there with his dad." Ryder celebrated.

"Then, go! Swim. Have fun!" Amelia laughed.

"Ok, I'll admit it, Amelia, your McMansion is the perfect place for a party on a 90 degree day," Addison admitted with a grin as she walked inside from the patio.

"Oh, look at that," Amelia mused as she gazed out the window.

Meredith looked up, "Mmmm, Wilson?"

"That adorably young and tiny body wearing a bikini," Addie grumbled.

"Makes you want to put her on scut for 100 years, doesn't it?" Meredith suggested.

Amelia shook her head, "She's not even half of me. And look at Karev slobbering over her from afar."

Laughing, Addison nodded, "Alex is practiced at slobbering over women. He's not going to be able to get out of the water for hours…unless he wants to be…well, obvious."

"Ha! Good!" Amelia celebrated as she grabbed the giant bowl of fruit and began to carry it outside.

"Oh no, you don't!" April insisted as she met Amelia at the door. "I've got it." Amelia tried to look gracious as she continued to walk outside and head toward Nolan and Lissa. They were sitting on the tiny beach at the edge of the water. Their starry eyes sparkled in the sunshine as they leaned on their extended arms. Nolan's arm was placed between Lissa's arms as their shoulders rubbed against one another. The newly reunited couple couldn't keep themselves away from one another after over three weeks apart.

"Are you guys having fun?" Amelia asked.

"Hey, Mom. Yeah, it's a great day, huh? It's so hot and sunny," Nolan described with his new, man sounding voice. After a few months of squeaks and cracks, Nolan now sounded more like a bass than a soprano.

"It's wonderful out here. Hey, would you go check on the twins? I'm pretty sure they're going to be waking up soon and I thought I'd let Dad take them for a little swim," Amelia smiled.

Both Lissa and Nolan stood up as Nolan pointed out, "They're gonna freak if someone puts them in the lake – that water is cold."

"He won't put them all the way in. Just their feet so they can splash around," Amelia clarified. Ten feet away from the shore, Owen caught Amelia's eye and nodded his head before blowing a kiss. Amelia's mouth curved into a smile in response. As she headed back inside, she put her hand on her back and tried to stretch. The baby was so big and his feet seemed to get stuck in her ribs far too often. Between the baby's stuck feet and her backaches, she was more than ready to no longer be pregnant.

Callie and Sofia walked around to the back of the house and greeted everyone as they arrived. Olivia and Zola screamed with high-pitched joy when they saw their playmate. The trio of trouble began chasing each other and giggling.

Alex spotted his colleague and called out, "Hey, Torres, get your ass out here!"

"Her what, Alex?" Jo snipped with a warning look. "There are kids here, dear."

"Right, sorry everybody. Torres, get your bum out here," Alex re-attempted his command.

Callie laughed, "No matter what you call it, I'm not getting in that cold water, Karev." Callie walked over to Amelia and gently put her hand on Amelia's bump, "How are you? Just miserably, hugely pregnant?"

Amelia grinned, "A little. I'm not bad. Actually…who am I kidding? Yes, I'm uncomfortable and gigantic." She stretched her back again because the baby's foot continued to bother her. Addie, with narrowed eyes, studied Amelia's actions from afar.

"And how's my favorite patient? Looks like he's having a blast out in the water," Callie smiled.

"He is so happy to be fully cleared. No pain, no challenges, he just needs to pace himself…not his forte," Amelia shared.

A few minutes later, Nolan and Lissa came down with the twins. The girls, tiny piggy tails on the sides of their heads, were in their swimsuits and swim diapers. Anna was insisting on walking. Nolan was trying his best to convince Ria to walk as he held her hands. When she'd start to flop her leg down, Nolan would pull her up under her shoulders and tickle her. The attention and tickling was almost more fun than trying to walk. Anna ran directly past everyone toward the water, yelling, "Dada! Me sim! Me sim!"

Following right behind Anna, Lissa made sure Anna didn't go in the water alone. She warned sweetly, "Wait for your Daddy, Anna."

"Me go, Iss-uh!" Anna pouted as she shot a fiery glance back.

Graciously, Lissa bent down and said, "Yes, you go swim, but wait for your daddy or you don't get to go."

Anna turned toward Owen who was making his way to the shore. Showing her deeply furrowed brow and pouting lip, Anna attempted to convey her plight to her Dada.

"Oh mercy, what is that Annabelle?" Owen laughed as he scooped Anna up. "Thanks for watching her, Lissa. You want to come out too?"

"No way," Lissa giggled. "It's way too cold."

Owen pretended like he was going to throw her in and approached her saying, "You sure?"

Lissa stepped backward, groaning, "Nolllllaannnnnn...come save me from your dad."

"Owen Hunt!" Amelia called out sweetly as she took the salad spoon and fork out of the salad she was tossing. She waved the utensils toward him with a warning look.

"I'm just kidding, Lissa. I wouldn't throw you in," Owen promised. "Scout's honor. Really."

Nolan ran up and playfully stood between Owen and Lissa. As Owen held Anna in his right arm, Nolan pushed his dad's left shoulder in jest, "Leave my girl alone, Hunt."

"You wanna fight?" Owen chortled as he handed Anna to Karev. Alex put her feet in the water and her little teeth chattered dramatically as she squealed, "Mow! Mow!"

Owen and Nolan started wrestling as Owen backed up and pulled Nolan into the water. Nolan didn't give in. He tried to dunk his dad and actually succeeded. Ryder, not wanting to miss out on the fun, came storming into the water so he and Nolan could gang up on Owen.

"Wait, wait! I'm injured! Did you forget," Owen exclaimed with drama.

Ryder pulled down on his dad's shoulder yelling, "Nuh-uh, you told us you are all better now!"

Meanwhile, Alex was sitting in two to three inches of water playing with Anna. Jo slipped up quietly to snap pictures of him smiling widely. He shot her a playful look of warning as he returned to a slight grin before turning to Amelia to ask, "Do you have a hat for her? She's gonna fry out here."

Amelia nodded, "Yep, I'll go get it. She has sunscreen on, but the hat is a great idea." She walked inside, pushing on her back yet again. "Holy crap…" she mumbled to herself. "Baby Boy, be nice to your mama. Oh…God…" She hobbled to the hall closet and grabbed the hat, returning to the patio with a stern look on her face, unaware of her expression. "Here," she gasped slightly at Alex as she walked up to him.

"Dude, why is your face all scrunched up?" Alex asked her.

"It's not," Amelia attempted to dismiss his observation.

Alex stood up and whispered, "Seriously, let's go inside for a sec. Mer? Here, take your niece." Nodding his head, Alex motioned Addison to come his way.

"Umm…ok," Meredith said with a puzzled look on her face. She turned to Anna and smiled, "Hello, Anna girl."

After grabbing a towel and drying off quickly, Alex threw the towel around his waist and nudged Amelia toward the kitchen. Again, she was holding her back and attempting to counter-pressure the pain.

"This monkey won't stop kicking me. My back is tired of it," Amelia grumbled as Addison walked toward her with concern.

"Dude, the baby's not doing that," Alex said as he palpated her bump. "You're in labor."

"But I'm having a C. I have to because of the cervix thing with the twins," Amelia stated flatly as if she could talk Alex out of his assessment.

Alex chuckled, "Somebody forgot to inform your body because it's getting ready to go to town."

Addison stepped up and asked, "I don't suppose with all the doctors around here, we have a stethoscope handy?"

"In my med bag, trunk of my car," Amelia stated. Alex nodded and retrieved it. Addie flipped it onto her ears and listened to the baby.

"He sounds steady, but, yeah, you are really tight. You haven't felt any contractions today?" Addison sought to confirm.

"No," Amelia shook her head casually, "just this constant backache and foot-in-the-ribs sensation."

"Lemme go get your husband. And don't worry about the party and the kids. We'll all figure that out. Hell, Kepner probably already has a plan drawn up just in case," Karev quipped.

"Sweetie, we need to get to the hospital. Not an emergency, but I'm guessing we don't want to attempt a home birth. Do you have a bag packed?" Addison inquired.

"Yeah, it's already in the car," Amelia explained, overwhelmed by Addie's assessment.

"Go sit in the car. I'll grab some towels in case your water breaks." Addison promised.

Owen was throwing Olivia, Zola, and Sofia up above his head one by one and then catching them as they giggled and descended. It was difficult to discern who was enjoying the activity more.

"Hey, Hunt!" Alex bellowed loudly.

Owen pulled Olivia to his side to hold her while he paused, "What's up?"

"Need your help in here," Alex called out.

"Ok, I'll be there in a few," Owen responded.

Alex offered his uneven grin and raised his eyebrows, "Hunt?"

"Yeah?" Owen squinted toward Alex with an expression of Didn't we just cover this?

"We need an extra set of hands," Alex stated as he attempted not to disclose the big news.

Owen sighed and promised the little girls he'd be back. He drug them up to the shore and asked Nolan to make sure they didn't get in the water without an adult. After grabbing a stray towel and starting to dry off, Owen mumbled to Alex, "What's up?"

Alex leaned close to Owen and shared quietly, "Your old lady's in labor. She's in the car waiting for you. Addison's with her. You might wanna grab a shirt."

"My shirt's right here," Owen stated plainly as he turned to one of the dining room chairs. "and I have a pair of flip flops somewhere around here…"

"Dude, go get better shoes. You might be standing awhile, you know?" Alex advised.

Owen nodded, "Good point. Yeah. Umm…our other kids…"

"I'm on it. Don't worry," Alex promised.

Owen entered the garage, calm but concerned. He looked at Amelia, "Hey, Mia…" He squatted down and caressed her hair before kissing her. "Let's get you over to the hospital, huh? Addison, do you want to ride with us or take another car?"

"We have plenty of people here with cars. I'll ride over with you and we'll sort it out later," Addison decided.

Meanwhile, on the patio, Alex quietly spread the word among the adults. Jackson and April agreed to spend the night and take care of the melee until other plans could be put in place. Alex asked Mer what they should do about telling the Shepherd-Hunt kids. Meredith agreed to gather them together and announce the news.

She approached Nolan and Lissa and requested, "Nolan, could you get your brother and sisters over here for a minute?" Nolan nodded, not thinking anything was odd about his aunt's request. After all, his part time job in life was to help gather his brother and sisters.

As they assembled on the tiny beach, Meredith announced, "Guess what? Your parents just left for the hospital. Your baby brother is going to be born today." Lissa and the boys cheered and Olivia badgered her auntie for details. The twins kept exclaiming, "Baby!" Meredith explained that Jackson and April would spend the night and that the party would keep going while they waited for news.

~~~~~~~~~~'

When they arrived at Labor and Delivery, the nurse assigned Amelia and Owen to a room. She met them there a few minutes later to place monitors and leads and to begin prepping Amelia for the C. An orderly wheeled Amelia to the OR while Owen and Addie changed and scrubbed in. The anesthesiologist inserted Amelia's epidural. One of the nurses inserted an IV and began fluids. The whole process unfolded smoothly and swiftly.

Owen and Addison, fully gowned and gloved, stepped in and Addie announced, "Ready to have a baby, Amy?"

Amelia, on the table with her hair in a cap, joked, "Do I have a choice?"

Grasping Amelia's shoulder, Owen leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Mia." Amelia kissed the outside of Owen's mask and smiled.

"Here we go with the first incision. Do you want me to walk you through verbally step by step or just do my job?" Addison asked.

"Cut 'em out and hand 'em over," Amelia quipped. "I don't need the details. Just give us our boy."

Owen stroked Amelia's cheek. Although he had a mask on, Amelia could tell he was smiling at her.

Addison made the second incision, ruptured the amniotic sac, and delivered the newest Hunt. "Just like you expected, a little boy!" Addison joyfully announced as she set the crying baby on his mama.

The baby immediately began rooting and tears fell from Amelia's eyes. "Hi, handsome," Amelia sniffled as she held him and admired his curly red hair. Owen cut the cord and then leaned down to rub the baby's back.

Amelia looked up at Owen and observed, "He looks like his daddy. Look at all that wavy red hair."

"He looks great," Addison declared. "Well done, Mom and Dad. Do you have a name?"

Their eyes met and Amelia kidded her husband, "Does he pass the 'he looks like his name' test or are we going to go through that whole name swap routine again?"

"Nope. He's definitely a Lucas," Owen beamed. Owen looked at Addison and announced, "Lucas Owen Hunt."

"Wonderful," Addison smiled under her mask. "Welcome to the world, Lucas Owen Hunt. You're a lucky kid to have these two as parents. Just wait and see."

The five minute birth was followed by 40 minutes of suturing. After some cuddling, Amelia entrusted the baby to the pediatrician on call. He and a nurse spent 10 minutes cleaning, measuring, and assessing the baby as Owen snapped pictures of each moment. Once their work was completed, Owen held his son. The Daddy fluctuated between choking up and beaming. He insisted on staying in the OR until Amelia's incisions were closed.

As the two boys waited for Addison to finish, Owen told his boy all about the OR. "See up there?" Owen stated as he cooed at Lucas. "That's where people sit so they can watch surgeries and learn. And over here, that's where the instruments are kept. This is where the gloves are stored and over here are extra robes. And look who is over there…it's your gorgeous, beautiful Mama. She's the most amazing person you'll ever meet, Lucas. You will never find another woman as amazing as Amelia Shepherd."

Amelia, listening to the introductory tour, offered, "You're building my pedestal pretty high there, Hunt. Watch out or there'll be nowhere for me to go but down."

In baby talk, Owen responded, "That's just not the case. No, it isn't." Owen dreamily strolled through the room, occasionally sneaking a glimpse at Addison's work. He sat back down by Amelia's head and cooed, "Should we keep your mama company? I'll bet she's pretty bored just lying here." Owen leaned down, pulled his mask off and kissed his wife.

Dryly, Addison grumbled, "Watch out there, Daddy. If anyone tells the Chief of Surgery that you broke protocol and kissed a patient, there could be hell to pay."

Owen turned to Lucas and baby talked, "She may be a brilliant surgeon and a true friend, but she's also very silly, isn't she? Yes, she is. She is indeed."

"You know, somebody should be recording this. When he strikes the fear of God into interns and residents, someone could replay this and completely blow his act," Addison teased. "There we go, Amy. Last stitch. Complimentary tummy tuck included. Everything looks great, vitals are steady, you paid your dues last time. This time, you deserve a textbook experience."

"Thanks, Addie," Amelia croaked out in teary gratitude.

"You want me to call the house?" Addison offered.

"Please. And let them know the kids can come up. How long, Owen? What do you think?" Amelia inquired.

"Let's wait a couple hours. How often will the three of us get to be alone together?" Owen pointed out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

Jackson and April stayed at the house while Alex and Jo took the kids to the hospital. Alex wanted to check the baby out medically, even though Lucas' condition didn't warrant Alex's level of expertise. Jo had all the kids stop and wash their hands before entering the room, explaining that babies can become sick more easily than big kids. She giggled as she watched Ria and Anna's pudgy hands splash in the soapy water.

Knocking softly, Alex opened the door a crack and said softly, "We have a huge melee wanting to meet their newest partner in crime."

Amelia was angled up in bed and Owen was holding the baby. Amelia responded softly, "Come on in, melee."

Ryder immediately approached Amelia while Anna, Olivia and Nolan walked to Owen and Lucas. Alex held Ria in his arms and approached the baby as well. Wrapping his arms around his mama, Ryder exclaimed sweetly, "Hi, Mommy. You look so pretty." Amelia smiled, not agreeing, but touched by the heartfelt sentiment nonetheless. "Can I climb up and sit with you?"

"Absolutely, but don't you want to meet your baby brother?" Amelia asked.

"If he wants to meet me," Ryder responded playfully, "he can come to me. He's got a whole fan club around him right now anyway. I'm gonna be your fan club." Ryder rested his head on Amelia's shoulder and gently raised her hand, examining her IV. "Doesn't that hurt?"

"Nope. It hurts a little when it's put in, but it doesn't hurt once it's in unless you touch it or try to move it," she explained.

Nolan carried Lucas over and shared, "Dad thought you might want to hold him, Ry. He's a lot bigger than the twins were. He's Gigantor Baby."

Owen stepped over with the melee in tow and disclosed, "He's a stocky guy. 9 pounds 4 ounces and 22 ½ inches. I'd say he was fully cooked."

"And then some," Amelia chuckled. "I'm glad he was a C. I think he would've broken me otherwise."

Alex handed Ria to Owen and mentioned with a grin, "I think Nolan's right. He is Gigantor. I'm so used to preemies."

"Do you want to check him out? Is the doctor in you ready to burst?" Amelia teased.

"I won't say no if you hand him to me," Alex grinned. Cradling Lucas in his arms, Alex chatted with Lucas and took him over to the bassinet. The twins were intrigued and glanced that direction. Anna attempted to stretch high enough to see and Ria kept pulling toward the bassinet. Owen and Nolan walked over to hold the girls so they could watch Alex examine the baby.

Anna kept reaching for Lucas' binky and whispering, "bin-y. Anna bin-y."

Ria joined in, deciding her sister couldn't have the binky, "No. Wee- uh bin-y."

Anna pointed at her sister in defiance and offered a clarification, "No."

Nolan firmly but gently advised, "Anna…stop. That's Luke's binky. Baby's binky." Anna met her brother's words with lowered eyebrows. She continued to open and close her hand, hoping to grasp the new binky.

When Alex completed his exam and declared Lucas up to par, Jo gathered the family around Amelia's bed for a family picture. As she'd done when the twins were born, she took a series of shots that filled the phone with plenty of poses.

The Shepherd-Hunt Family, with eight shining faces, was now complete.

The End

Story continues in Adventures of the Melee, which begins 3 years later