A/N: Alright, so, dis be the labour chapter! :) I'm taking a lot of this from stories I've heard and also from television shows I've watched. So, keep that in mind.

This chapter is really long. I could have broken it up into two chapters, but it wouldn't break evenly and it'd mean that I had 31 chapters ._. and that's unacceptable. Just saying.

I hope this chapter was worth the wait, my darlings :D


"Well, well, well... this little girl isn't going to wait much longer." Doctor Katsuma said, looking at the sheet of paper coming out of one of the machines next to Marie's bedside. Marie was dressed in a hospital gown, laying back on the bed, her hair tied above her head and her face flushed. She had officially been in labour for almost ten hours, however, she hadn't had any indication as to when she would be able to push.

Marie's water had broken at about ten in the morning, and it was currently quarter to eight at night. Marie was getting impatient, to say the least.

"She's not been…waiting…for the last ten hours!" Marie exclaimed, squeezing Stein's hand.

Stein sat next to her, his hand clamped firmly underneath hers, just as he had been for the past hours. He was lucky to be there; the fact that they didn't own a car meant that Naigus had to take them to the hospital, and Stein was sure that he'd have been killed if Naigus had stopped talking to Marie during the journey. Doctor Katsuma had buzzed the waiting room for Naigus a few minutes beforehand; hopefully, that meant that something had changed.

"Ste-ei-ein!" Marie said, managing to add two syllables to her partner's name as another contraction came. She squeezed his hand tightly and threw her head back in pain; she wasn't allowed to push yet.

"Marie, you're-" Stein strained.

"Don't tell me what to do! Aaargh!" Marie screamed, going red in the face as she continued to cut off circulation to Stein's hand.

"Alright, a good, solid contraction." Doctor Katsuma said. Marie's head bolted up, glaring at her doctor with angry, dark golden eyes.

"Really? Never would have guess-Oh, Mother of-gah!" Marie yelled, as the contraction finally came to an end. Marie flopped back down onto the pillow, her breathing heavy.

"Oh... I, I can't do this!" Marie hyperventilated.

"Yes, you can." Stein said, quietly.

"Because it worked so well when you told me what to do last time." Marie said, glaring at Stein. He recoiled, going back to simply holding Marie's hand. Marie glanced over to the door as a bandaged woman poked her head around.

"Mira. You're still here." Marie said, slightly deliriously.

"Hey, Marie. Yes, I am. How long until the next contraction?" Naigus asked. Doctor Katsuma looked up.

"You've got about a minute." Doctor Katsuma said, putting her hair into a hospital cap as the nurse that was in the room did the same.

"Wait, why… why are you getting that on?" Marie asked.

"Because, if your contractions are less than two minutes apart, that means your little one is nearly ready to pop out." Doctor Katsuma said, pulling on a pair of surgical gloves.

"R-Really?" Marie asked, looking to Naigus for reassurance.

"Yeah. You're going to be alright, Marie. I'm out there with Sid, and Yumi and Spirit have said they're on their way." Naigus said.

"O-Okay." Marie gulped.

"Alright. I'm going to go back out with Sid. Good luck, Marie. You too, Franken. Take care of her." Naigus said, nodding at the couple. They nodded back as Stein sat deep in the chair, preparing for Marie's next contraction. Doctor Katsuma, who had gotten all into her surgical gear, sat at the end of Marie's bed.

"Alright, well, I think you can push with this next contraction. Are you sure you don't want any drugs?" Doctor Katsuma asked. Marie glared at the doctor over her knees.

"I'm sure." Marie said, definitively, pushing her head back, clutching Stein's hand. She felt the contraction arrive and she beared down, squeezing Stein's hand.

"Okay, take a deep breath, and hold it until the count of ten. As you do, push with all of your might. Okay? Ready?" Doctor Katsuma asked. Marie managed to squeak out something which vaguely sounded like 'Yes.'

"Alright, and... push!" Doctor Katsuma said, and Marie did that. She squeezed her eyes shut and clamped her hand around Stein's, counting to ten in her head.

"Good, good, good..." Doctor Katsuma said to Marie, who was going red in the face. She eventually let her breath go, her head dropping to the side and her breathing turning ragged.

"Hey... why don't you try the breathing thing you learnt in birthing class?" Stein asked. Marie opened her eyes only to glare at the silver-haired scientist.

"No." Marie snapped. Stein shrunk back, deciding not to suggest anything else to Marie.

"Alright, we ready to push again?" Doctor Katsuma asked. Marie nodded, before looking over at Stein, her eyes now full of fear.

"Stein...c-can you count with me?" Marie asked. Stein nodded.

"Alright, when you're ready." Doctor Katsuma said to them. Marie felt a contraction coming.

"R-Ready?" Marie asked Stein, apprehensively.

"Okay." Stein said. Marie squeezed her eyes shut tightly and clutched Stein's hand.

"One...two...three..." Stein counted along with Marie. Tears rolled from her clenched eyes as she felt more pain than she had ever felt before.

"...nine...ten." Stein finally finished counting, letting Marie expel her breath with a loud cry.

"Alright, that was a nice solid push." Doctor Katsuma said to Marie. Marie narrowed her eyes at the doctor.

"Mmhm." She said, through gritted teeth.


Marie pushed a few more times, the contractions continually getting closer, edging closer and closer to the goal.

After one of the seemingly never-ending pushes, she looked over at Stein. Worried Marie had turned back to Angry Marie.

"This is all your fault." Marie snarled. Stein was taken aback.

"What?" Stein asked. Marie grabbed him by the front of his shirt, twisting her clenched fist and pulling Stein towards her.

"You did this to me!" Marie hissed, saying the words so quickly that they sounded like one.

"Bu- I- Yes, yes, I did." Stein said. Marie let a sharp breath out and her grip released.

"Oh my... I'm sorr- Oh, lord!" Marie said, as another contraction hit her like a wave. She grabbed Stein's hand once again, digging her nails in as Doctor Katsuma looked over at her.

"Alright, Marie, this one's going to be difficult." Doctor Katsuma said.

"The other ones weren't?" Marie exclaimed, tears falling from her eyes once again.

"You can do this, Marie." Stein said to Marie, definitively. His commanding nature must have gotten through to Marie, as she took a sharp breath in, grit her teeth and nodded.

"Ready? And... push!" Doctor Katsuma said. Marie squeezed Stein's hand with one of hers and squeezed the railing of the bed with the other, every muscle in her body tensed up, and pushed with all of her might. It was, by far, the most painful contraction she had felt.

"And ten. Breathe." Doctor Katsuma said. Marie let go, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm gonna be sick." Marie said, out of breath, the colour draining from her face . Stein looked over at her.

"Ms Mjolnir, it's highly unlikely you will-" a young nurse said, but stopped as Marie shot a piercing glare. Marie took a deep breath and leant back, sniffling.

"It's not fair." Marie choked.

"I know. I know it's not fair, but it's going to be worth it." Doctor Katsuma said. By this time, Stein was standing behind Marie's head, a firm grip on her hand. After a few more seconds, another contraction came.

"Aaargh!" Marie said.

"Oh, this is definitely it. Come on, Marie, give it all you've got left." Doctor Katsuma said. Marie nodded. She took Stein's hand in hers, squeezed it tightly and pushed with all of the energy left in her reserves. She might have screamed, she might have yelled, but when she felt she had nearly nothing left, something willed her on.

"Come on, come on, come on... I can see her." Doctor Katsuma said, as Marie gave one last almighty push. She felt all of her muscles relax as Doctor Katsuma began to fuss about at the end of the bed. Marie's head fell to the side as she tried to catch her breath, her face red and sweaty. Stein leant down and kissed her on the forehead, though she was still ever so slightly delirious.

"You did great." Stein whispered. Marie smiled.

"I love you." Marie mouthed. Stein gave a small smile and nodded. He was tired, and he wasn't the one who'd just given birth.

"Baby." Marie whispered, trying to get Stein to check on their daughter. She hadn't heard any noises yet, and that worried her. Stein turned to Doctor Katsuma.

"Is she-" Stein began, but his question was answered before he even got to ask it. An almighty screech rang out through the entire room. Marie looked over at Stein, looking up at him with weary eyes.

"Go." she whispered, a smile across her face. He nodded, wordlessly, and walked over to Doctor Katsuma with slight apprehension.

"She's perfect. Here, come and cut the cord." Doctor Katsuma beckoned Stein over, and he followed her instruction. As he did, the little girl came into view. His little girl. Doctor Katsuma asked him to cut the cord, and he did so, though the entirety of the situation hadn't quite hit him. The nurse took the little girl away, weighing her and taking hand and footprints.

However, the nurse looked shocked as she cleaned the baby off. The nurse waved over Doctor Katsuma, who chuckled and explained the situation to her, pointing to Stein in the process. The nurse sighed with relief. Marie, however, noticed the commotion, and began to stress.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Marie asked, shakily. Stein placed his hand on her shoulder.

"She's fine. I saw her." Stein said, slightly puzzled as to what the problem was. Doctor Katsuma turned around with Shelley, wrapped in a small pink blanket. They both then saw what caused the commotion. It was unmistakable.

"Oh." Marie said, giggling slightly.

Shelley had been... blessed… with Stein's silver hair. She didn't have a lot of it, but the hair she did have was unmistakably the same as her father's.

Marie failed to stifle tears as her bright red infant daughter was laid down on her chest. She gently placed one of her hands on her daughter's back. Stein looked up at Marie.

"Is she still my fault?" Stein asked. Marie giggled again.

"Well, if there was ever any doubt you were the father..." Marie smiled, her eyes still fixed on her daughter.

"Never." Stein shook his head, quietly, still looking at Shelley.

"Ten fingers?" Marie asked, weakly, counting the sprawled digits of the little girl. She smiled when she counted more than nine but less than eleven.

"Hey, Shelley." Marie said, looking at the little girl. She then looked over at Stein.

"D-Do you want to hold her?" Marie asked. Stein nodded. The nurse walked over to Marie, taking Shelley from her and turned to Stein.

"Wait." Stein said.

"What's wrong?" Marie asked, wearily.

"I don't know how to...you know...hold the baby." Stein said, slightly embarrassedly. Marie looked over at him with sympathetic eyes. She mouthed an 'aww,'which would have usually been followed by a glare from Stein, but he decided that an 'aww' was acceptable from a woman who had just pushed out a baby. Marie began to wearily instruct him.

"You hold her head with one arm, her lower back with the other. Make sure you keep her head up." Marie said. Stein nodded as the nurse lowered Shelley into his arms. Stein took a hold of her. She was 7 pounds, a fact which should probably never be told to Kid if he met her, but she was tiny in Stein's arms. Stein didn't quite know what to do. He simply stared down at her when her petite, reddened eyes cracked open slightly.

"That's odd." Stein said.

"What?" Marie asked, her eyelids heavy.

"Her eyes... they're already coloured. Babies are usually born with grey or blue eyes." Stein said, looking down at his rather inquisitive looking daughter.

"Wh-What colour are they?" Marie asked. Stein looked up at Marie and couldn't help but smile.

"They're exactly like yours." Stein said, quietly. Marie smiled widely and took a deep breath in, pulling a recently acquired blanket over her frame.

"Do you want to go and introduce the new addition?" Doctor Katsuma asked. Stein looked over at Marie.

"Go. I'm just going to fall asleep for a few days." Marie said. As Stein stood up gently with his newborn daughter, Marie grabbed at the back of his labcoat.

"I love you." She mouthed.

"I love you too." Stein said back. Marie closed her eyes and her head fell to the side. As she did, the nurse led Stein out to the waiting room, where a group of tired looking people all lit up as they saw the little girl in Stein's arms.

Azusa, Naigus, Sid and Spirit were all there, and Maka was in tow with her father. Azusa and Naigus stood up, their faces uncharacteristically bright.

"Oh my..." Azusa began, looking at the baby girl.

"How's Marie?" Naigus asked.

"Tired. But she's alright." Stein said.

"She's got Marie's eyes. And your hair," Azusa began, "Does she have a name?"

"Marie didn't tell you?" Stein asked.

"If she'd told me, would I be asking you?" Azusa asked. Stein rolled his eyes.

"Shelley Yumi." Stein said. Azusa looked at him through her frames.

"What did you just say?" Azusa asked, taken slightly aback.

"You heard me." Stein replied. Azusa atypically blushed, before standing to the side to let Sid, Spirit and Maka see the little girl. Maka stood next to her father and couldn't help but smile. She also didn't have the heart to tell Stein that she knew about his baby before he did. Stein looked up at Spirit.

"I know what you mean now, senpai." Stein said to his former weapon.

"What?" Spirit asked, looking away from Shelley. Stein glanced back down at his daughter and felt feelings he had never done so before. Not to mention the fact that he lacked feelings, such as the want to dissect, that he usually possessed.

"Happiest day of my life. Wouldn't change a thing."


The next morning, Stein, Marie and the new addition had hordes of visitors through. Shelley's Aunt Yumi came through first, Azusa's personality noticeably changing whilst holding the baby. Stein was out of the room as Marie and Azusa conversed.

"She's very cute, Marie." Azusa said. Marie's eyes widened.

"Did you just say 'cute'?" Marie asked. Azusa laughed slightly.

"Why didn't you tell me about her middle name?" Azusa asked, Shelley still asleep in her arms. Marie smiled slightly.

"I wanted to keep it a surprise." Marie said.

"I'm honoured." Azusa smiled.

"To tell you the truth, it was Franken's idea." Marie said. Azusa turned to Marie, bespectacled eyes wide.

"No." Azusa said. Marie nodded.

"It was, I swear." Marie said. Azusa smiled slightly and looked back down at the baby girl.

"Even so, he'd never admit it." Azusa said. Marie sighed and smiled as Stein walked back into the room, taking a seat across from Azusa. Azusa looked up at him and sighed.

"Well, I'd best be off." Azusa said, lying Shelley back down in Marie's arms and leaving her with baby talk. She walked out of the room and Marie looked over at Stein, a small smile on her face.

Shelley proceeded to wake up with a wide, noisy yawn. Marie looked down at Shelley and smiled widely.

"Good morning." Marie said, cradling the back of Shelley's head and gently brushing her cheek. Golden eyes stared intently up at her as yet another set of guests walked in.

"Spirit, Maka, how are you?" Marie asked, looking over at them. Spirit chuckled and shook his head.

"You had a baby about twelve hours ago and you're asking how we are?" Spirit asked, walking over to the head of the bed and looking down at the little girl. Maka followed behind, holding a small, white rabbit in her hands. Marie smiled at the girl.

"For Shelley, Marie-sensei." Maka said, smiling slightly at the infant.

"Thank you very much, Maka. It's adorable." Marie said, taking the rabbit with one hand and settling it at the side of the bed. Spirit and Maka sat down, Spirit next to Stein and Maka opposite them.

"So, Stein, d'you feel any different?" Spirit asked. Stein raised an eyebrow.

"Should I?" Stein asked. Spirit smirked slightly.

"Normal people should. You, maybe not." Spirit said. Marie rolled her eyes and glared at Spirit.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Spirit." Marie said. Spirit crossed his arms and grinned.

"You guys'll be fine." Spirit said.

"Says the parenting oracle." Stein remarked. Spirit narrowed his eyes and Maka stifled a giggle. Marie turned to the intently watching Maka.

"Would you like to hold her?" Marie asked, causing Maka to smile slightly.

"If I'm allowed." she said, quietly. Marie looked over at Stein who stood up, taking Shelley in his arms and walking over to Maka, laying Shelley down in her arms. Marie couldn't help but smile.

"I think she likes you." Marie said quietly, Maka looking up at her.

"She's very cute, Marie-sensei." Maka smiled. Marie smiled back and sat up in bed. After a little while longer, Maka and Spirit left the hospital room. After receiving visits from Naigus, Sid and even a rare out-of-Shibusen appearance from Shinigami-sama, visiting hours were over. Stein sat back with the little girl in his arms, Marie lying on her side, facing them, in the bed.

"You can go home if you want, Stein. You'll wreck your back if you keep sleeping on that tiny couch." Marie said. Stein shrugged.

"I'll live." Stein replied, resting the infant over his shoulder and rubbing small circles into her back. Marie smiled and shook her head.

"Did you ever think you were going to be a father?" Marie asked. Stein smirked.

"Not in a million years, Marie." Stein said. Marie sighed slightly.

"Well, in that case, I'm glad our contraception failed." Marie said, her voice small. Stein raised an eyebrow.

"You would have become a mother, one way or another, with or without me." Stein said. Marie shook her head.

"Not without you." she said, quietly. Stein's eyes widened slightly.

"Really?" Stein asked. Marie nodded.

"There never was anyone but you." Marie said, quietly and solemnly. Stein, taken slightly aback, chuckled to himself and smiled.

"I love you, Stein." Marie said, quietly.

"And, for the life o me, I can't work out why." Stein replied.

"Honey, an 'I love you too' would suffice." Marie said, a small smile on her face.

"I love you too, Marie." he replied. Marie smiled even wider and readjusted herself to lay on her back, a more comfortable position.

"You should talk to her. They say it's good for the baby. Bonding and such." Marie said, tiredly. Stein rolled his eyes and looked at Marie.

"Really?" he asked. Marie sighed and shrugged.

"I don't know. It might be an idea." Marie smiled. Stein sighed and looked down at the little girl; his little girl. Marie had fallen asleep by this point, Stein switching off the overhead light above her bed

If a child is abandoned by its own parents, who will it be able to trust?

His daughter was going to have someone to trust.

Stein swallowed his pride and looked down at his daughter. He held her in front of him, sitting her up to the extent that a one-day-old could.

"I'm sorry, but you don't have grandparents. But, that's okay. Because your mother and I… Well, our families weren't the best, let's leave it there. But we're going to stay with you. I can promise you that." Stein said, quietly. The little girl blinked at him, her cheeks red and her eyes staring intently.

"We've not had a chance to be properly introduced. I'm Franken Stein." Stein began. And with the next words Stein uttered, a small, proud, sleepy smile appeared on Marie's face.

"I'm your dad. And now, you and Marie are my family."

A/N: Alright, alright, so, Stein was a little OOC in this chapter.

(Though technically we don't know that he's OOC, because he's never actually had a baby with Marie *damn, shakes fists, prays for SteinxMarie to be canon* :P)

But, it's freaking adorable and I regret nothing.

Sorry that chapter's so long, I just had so much I needed to put in :D