You guys get 2 chapters in one day, because this was all supposed to be one chapter. But 9,000 words was just a bit much.

PS-Welcome to the world Alexandra Kate Swanson :)


"Wait, the vodka! I need the vodka!" I reminded everyone as we stood in the foyer. Chloe and Jesse exchanged cautious glances between each other.

"If everyone knows what's good for them, you will NOT question me right now, it is FINE to have a shot during labor! Let me assure you, when you are pushing a human out of your vagina, I will not judge your life choices. Vokda, please!"

A resigned looking Chloe, finally relented and made her way into the kitchen to retrieve the bottle of Absolut from the freezer. Yes, Jesse and I were just a couple of kids, however, at the same time, we were on our way to becoming parents. We were homeowners, and college students, and we deserved a drink from time to time. I hadn't had a drink in over 8 months, I just needed something to take the edge off.

Chloe poured the shot as Amy looked something up on her phone. "According to google..."

"Hey, Australian! I don't need to hear from the peanut gallery right now!" I barked, throwing the clear liquid back. I shook my head and coughed as it burned my throat and traveled through my body, warming me up. Yes, I was being a bit of a bitch, but I was in such intense pain, I just didn't have it in me to care.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive?" Lily quietly asked. "I can have us there in 2 minutes."

"Oh good, Scott's on call today!" Stacie siad, smiling as she looked down at her phone.

I glanced over to Ashley, who aside from Chloe, was my saving grace. "I'm going to kill our friends today." I mouthed.


"Just run the damn lights!" I cried out. Another contraction was winding its way through my body, and as I looked out onto the street, I briefly wondered if falling out of a moving vehicle would be less painful than what I was currently experiencing at the moment.

I laid in the passenger seat, trying to get air back into my lungs, as I crossed my legs and squirmed in pain and screamed. Sitting at the red light, Jesse looked over at me, looking like he himself was going to cry.

The light turned green, and he hit the gas as his phone began to ring-Julie was calling.

"Hey mom...you're there already? Okay, were on our way, were about 5 minutes away, 3 if I run every red light." He glanced over at me, and I assumed she was asking how I was holding up. "She's...uhhh, she's managing. Okay, yup, we'll meet you there."

He hung up the phone and explained to me what I already knew. Bill, Julie, and Amanda were waiting for us at the hospital.

It was 6:38pm when we finally pulled in, 4 minutes later. My contractions were coming every 6 minutes, leaving me breathless. Jesse parked the car in the front entrance to the emergency room, and got out to gather my things. I sat up front, tears streaming down my face, and the only thing I could think about in the moment was my mother.

What had her labor been like? Was she excited, did she look forward to seeing me? I wondered so much about her experience, what things had been like for her. More than anything, I wished for the first time in over 5 years that she was here with me guiding me through this.

Jesse opened the door to help get me out.

"Hey." He said, kneeling in front of me. "I'm gonna be with you every second through this. Bec I'd rip my right arm off right now if it meant I could take your pain away. I know you're hurting, and I wish I could take the pain for you. But you're doing amazing, you're giving Alexandra the best start in life possible. I love you, I love you so much it hurts, you do whatever you need to do to get through this okay? You wanna call me a fucking dick and claw my eyes out? go for it. You need to break my hand? I'm fine with it. This is my fault, I did this to you, and I can handle the pain."

I laughed through my tears as he sat in front of me declaring his love for me. We made an incredible team and it was then that I was reminded once again, I would never love another person the way I loved Jesse.

"I can't stand, I'm having another contraction..." I complained.

"I'll carry you." He quickly assured me, unbuckling my seatbelt and lifting me up into his arms effortlessly as he carried me into the Emergency Room.

"I need a wheel chair, my wife-uh girlfriend, sorry, she's in labor. Her contractions are 6 minutes apart, and her water broke about 5 hours ago." He instructed.

The receptionist started jotting things down as an orderly came over with a wheel chair and Jesse helped me into it.

"What's her doctors name?" She asked.

"Uhh, Ruckman, Julia Ruckman."

I could hear Bill's voice as I looked over to see the three of them rising from their chairs to meet us. They hugged us tightly and were all smiles while the receptionist paged Dr. Ruckman to the ER. Within seconds, her glorious face came into sight. I loved my doctor, I had a good connection with her, and I feared my entire pregnancy that she wouldn't be on call when I finally went into labor. Knowing she would be here to deliver made things slightly more bearable.

"Hi Beca, how ya holding up sweetie?" She warmly asked.

"I want drugs." I informed her, practically leaping out of my seat. She laughed, and suggested getting me checked first as she took hold of the wheel chair and wheeled me back.

Amanda stood in the middle of the waiting room, looking horrified.

"Sweetie, come on, lets go." Julie encouraged.

"Right, uh-huh, right behind you!" Amanda squeeked. This was about to be the best form of birth control this 16 year old ever received.


I was dialated to 6 1/2 centimeters and 90% effaced when they checked me in the E.R. Things were progressing beautifully according to my doctor, and they checked me into a private birthing suite shortly after.

Stupidly, I found myself listening to everyone when they suggested I hold off on the epidural. Julie reminded me that I had already made it this far, there was just a little bit longer to go. But as I progressed further and further along, the pain became more and more intense, and the contractions grew closer and closer together.

Another contraction slammed into my body like a ton of bricks as Jesse stood by, panicking, and inching his way slowly to the door.

"Where the FUCK do you think you're going?!" I screamed out, my face drenched with sweat as I leaned my body up on my elbows.

"Nowhere, absolutely nowhere." He quickly replied, running back to the chair and taking my hand.

"Good answer." I said, breathing heavily.

Julie walked in with a cup of coffee and looked over at the moniter, noting the increasing peaks in my contractions.

"Hey Jess, sweetie, why don't you go grab some coffee, hmm? I'll take over here." She suggested, rubbing a hand lovingly over his shoulder.

"I'm not leaving her." He protested.

"Jesse it's fine." I relented, knowing he needed a break. "I'll be okay for now."

Hesitating in the chair for a few moments, he sighed heavily before standing up and switching spots with Julie.

Another contraction built, and I began to scream, causing Jesse to flip around.

"Jesse, I got this, go!" Julie called out, grabbing onto my hand, and letting me squeeze.


*Jesse's POV*

My back hit the wall as I put my head in my hands. It was now 8:30 at night, and Beca was at 8 centimeters. I felt selfish for even thinking it, but I was exhausted, and I felt like nothing I said or did was right. I just wanted them to take her pain away.

I felt my dad's arms wrap around my body, and finally willed myself to let go. Hugging him back, I finally allowed myself to cry.

"I can't do this Dad."

"Yes you can, Jesse, you can." He reassured me.

"She's in so much pain, it's killing me to see her like this. I just want to take it for her, bring it on to me damnit!" I cried out. I couldn't take much more of seeing her like this and standing by helplessly.

"I know she is. This is murder on her body, I know. But the only way for her to get over this, is to get through it. Her body knows what it's doing, and though she feels like she's being split in half, this is labor, it's just how it is." He informed me.

Walking me over across the hall, we sat down in a set of chairs and he faced me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Jesse, you probably have no recolection of this whatsoever, but when Amanda was born, in February of 1997, New Hampshire had a horrific snow storm, and I had to end up delivering her at home with 911 on the phone telling me how to do it. Tree's were downed, roads were frozen over, there wasn't another option, your mother had to deliver at home. We couldn't wait for an ambulance.

And son, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, watching her go through that pain. I have been in your shoes before, I know what it's like to watch the woman you love more than anything in this world be in pain knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it. It's pure torture. But you're about to be a father Jess, you got a woman pregnant, you need to step up and be a man. Beca needs you more than ever right now. You may think she hates you more than anything in this world right now, but I assure you, it's just the pain talking. You take a minute, grab a coffee and get yourself collected, and then you go in and help do your part in delivering your daughter."

I forced myself to pull it together, and hugged my father once again.

"I'm proud of you kiddo, so damn proud of you. I know this isn't easy on you, just hang in there."


*Chloe's POV*

I sat out in the waiting room on the maternity floor, bored out of my absolute mind. It was now nearing 9pm, and Beca still wasn't even fully dialated yet. Sighing as I swung my feet, I thought about how I should have brought something to occupy myself. Hell, the way she was screaming, I thought she would have delivered in the car. I didn't realize we would be here for hours.

Amy sat next to me filling her nails with Stacie's nail file, Ashley, Jessica, Reagan & Emily sat on the floor playing Apples to Apples, Aubrey flipped through a magazine, and Cynthia Rose and Lily sat next to each other, sharing headphones while Lily knitted a baby blanket.

"Hey Red, how pissed do you think she would be if I just bust in there pumping Push it by Salt n Pepa?" Amy asked, stifling a laugh.

I glanced over at her, as I began to laugh. "She would murder you six different ways. I'm surprised she hasn't already."

"Ehh, I like pushing her buttons, it's fun."

My head hit the back of the chair as I looked up at the ceiling, suddenly counting the dots on the tile seemed like the best form of entertainment.

"God I am so bored, please let her have this baby soon." I huffed.

"Hey gorgeous..."

I would recognize that southern accent anywhere, and looked up to see Luke standing in front of me in khakis, and a green polo shirt. I jumped up immediately into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Baby what are you doing here? I thought you were gonna be tied up all evening trying to help with that case?"

"I headed out a little bit early and didn't feel like spending the night in an empty house. How's Beca holding up?"

I explained everything, the water breaking, the contractions, the screaming, and how she still wasn't quite there yet. He in return talked to me about the high profile murder case happening in Stamford that he and his law class were helping to assist.

"Hey, you know what we've never done before..." He whispered into my ear, his hands gently skimming my sides. My face broke out into a smile as I pulled back to look at him.

"Yeah?"

He nodded his head and I took him by the hand, turning to Amy as we walked away.

"Later Ames!" I called out.

She dramatically slumped her shoulders and whined. "Damnit, you too? Forget this, I'm calling Bumper."


*Beca's POV*

10:27pm

"You better have some good lotion, you and your hand about to become really good friends here soon because if you think you are EVER touching me again, you are sorely mistaken!" I screamed, so loudly I was convinced the entire labor and delivery floor could hear me.

I was sweating, no-that was an understatement. I was drenched, and every single part of me ached.

"Fuck this!" I cried out as I began clawing at the gown. Jesse's eyes narrowed in concern.

"Beca...what are you doing?" He questioned.

"Baking bread, dumbass, what the fuck does it look like I'm doing?"

Even the fabric hurt my skin, as contraction after contraction continued to assualt my body. I now only had about 30 seconds to breathe in between each one if I was lucky.

Laying on the bed, completely naked, in the middle of labor, and miserable, Jesse sat in a chair next to me, his hand covering his mouth.

"We having fun yet?" I asked, my breathing heavy, and my eyes wild. He looked back at me, speechless and bewildered.

"Oh, well look at this, just makes my job that much easier." The nurse mused as she made her way into the room. "Legs up kiddo, you know the drill."

I put my legs into the stirrups as she snapped her gloves on and prepared to examine me.

"Hey Nina, lemme ask you something, have you ever been in so much pain that you literally just do not give a fuck anymore?" I asked, laying back. She bust out laughing at the comment.

"Oh honey, with every one of my five kids. You get to a certain point, and your inhabitions go completely out the window. It's like alcohol, only not..." She explained, snapping her gloves off and throwing them into the trash. "But the good news is, your fully dialated sweetheart, it's time to have this baby."

I sat up on my elbows in a state of shock. "Now?"

"Mmm-hmm, you're at 10 centimeters, and 100% effaced. I'm gonna give Jesse some scrubs to change into, and were gonna prepare the room for delivery. I'll let Julia know." She explained, walking out of the room.

I turned to face Jesse, both of us with shocked expressions. We knew it was coming, but now it was actually here.

I cleaned the sweat off of my body with a wet washcloth and instructed him to hand me my cover up to change into. It was one thing to labor naked, but for whatever reason, I did not feel like giving birth naked. The nurse then walked in and gave Jesse his clothes before walking over to the baby warmer and getting out a fresh blanket and all the necesarry equipment ready.

"I'll be right back, I'm gonna go change and let everybody know what's happening." He informed me, kissing the top of my head. Suddenly, it was me, and my nurse, Nina.

She walked over to me and took my hand in hers. "Your body already knows what to do, I promise. I'm gonna help you through it, get you started, and then after you start making progress, Dr. Ruckman will finish the delivery. You've done a hell of a job tonight Beca, the worst is almost over."

Jesse and Julie then walked in together, with Julie's eyes expectedly filled with tears.

"We're gonna be right outside, okay? I have complete faith in you, sweetheart." She whispered, hugging me tightly. She then kissed Jesse on the cheek, hugged him, and wished him good luck before leaving the room.

Nina pushed a rolly chair over, and instructed me to put my legs up into the stirrups.

Jesse, standing right by head, took my hand in his, and kissed the top of my head. "I'm right here, right here."

"Alright Beca, are you listening to me?" Nina asked.

"Yeah." I responded.

"When you feel a contraction hit, you're gonna push. We wanna see you trying to push for at least 10 seconds at a time, Jesse will count. I need you to take a deep breath in, put you chin to your chest and bare down like you're having a bowel movement, okay? Then you'll take a breath and we'll get started again. Her heads nice and low, you can do this. It looks like a conctraction is starting, let's give it a try."

The contraction began, and I did as instructed, bearing down as hard as I could while Jesse counted.

"1, 2, 3, 4..good work Bec, 5, 6, 7,..."

"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKK!" I screamed out, before collapsing back onto the bed.

"That was good Beca, nicely done, let's go again, come on."

"1...2...3...4...5..."

"SEX IS BADDDDDDD!"

"Push, Beca, you can do this, push!" The nurse encouraged.

"I am pushing damnit!" I yelled as I continued to force my body to work. I was quickly growing exhausted, and the pain, if it was even possible, was only getting worse. It was like I was being split in half.

"I can't do it, I can't! The games over, give me the fucking drugs, I need the drugs!" I cried out, growing aggrivated and upset.

"Just give her the drugs, she's been through enough already." Jesse agreed. The nurse shook her head.

"She's too far along, there's no time for an epidural." She explained, as she got up and checked the fetal moniter while I laid in the bed crying in agony and misery. I tired to calm my breathing, but failed miserably. I was quickly becoming hysterical.

"What's happening?" Jesse questioned, not liking the look on her face.

She walked over and picked up the phone. "Dr. Ruckman to room 8126, Dr. Ruckman, assistance is needed in room 8126."

"Jesse, I need you to calm her down immediately. The baby can't handle all the stress and her heart rate is starting to accelerate. Beca, this is important, I need you to move onto your side, I'm gonna grab an oxygyn mask."

The doctor walked into the room and assessed the fetal monitor as I moved onto my side and they placed an oxygyn mask on me to help me breathe better. I tried to stop the panic rising up in me, but it wasn't working. I looked over to Jesse helplessly as he sat in the chair next to me and began to sing.

"And your heart's against my chest, your lips pressed to my neck

I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet

And with a feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now.

Kiss me like you wanna be loved

you wanna be loved

you wanna be loved

this feels like falling in love

were falling in love

were falling in love"

It worked, as I stared up at him, tears in my eyes, trying to breathe as I listened to his voice. I could hear her heartbeat begin to come back down to a normal range.

"You can do this babe, I have faith in you. I need you to have faith in yourself." He whispered, as he planted kisses all along my face.

I had to do this, there wasn't another option. Alexandra was depending on me to bring her into the world.

"Lets do this." I said, as I resumed my position.

"Beca, it looks like you're preparing to start crowning, Alexandra's gonna be here most likely within the next 30 minutes. But this is the most painful part of labor, so I need you to be strong, can you do that for me?" Dr. Ruckman asked as she assumed position. I nodded my head as I prepared to muster up all the strength I had inside of me.

"Deep breath in, annnd push Beca." She instructed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed out, gripping Jesse's hand tightly. This fucking burned, oh holy shit this burned!

"It's burning, it's burning!" I screamed. It was a sensation so horrific, it took my breath away.

"It's supposed to burn, sweetie, she's making her way out and stretching you. Her head is really low Beca, just a couple more pushes and her head will be out. Do you wanna look?"

"NO!" I screamed forcefully. I swore I would pass out if I had to see that image.

I began to push again. The faster I pushed, the faster she was here. I just needed her here!

"Good job, keep going, keep going, there it is, right there!"

"FUCKING EVE AND HER CHOICE TO EAT THE FUCKING APPLE! FUCKKKKKKK!"

It was getting close, I could feel it, Jesse was right next to me, looking fearful, bewildered, and shocked.

"Beca listen to me, one more push, and her head is out, you're almost there."

I nodded my head, and took in a deep breath as I sat up in bed and pushed with all my might, screaming hysterically the whole way.

"Okay stop!" I heard Dr. Ruckman instruct. "Her heads out, Nina-suction?"

The nurse handed her the suction, and she cleaned out her nose and mouth. She stopped, and looked up at me.

"This is the last stage before she arrives, alright? I need small, gentle, pushes. Her body is going to rotate, and once you pass the shoulders, she's out. 2 more pushes tops, and you will have delivered your baby 100% naturally Beca."

I laughed through the tears as the realization hit me that she was almost here. The hardest part of this was over.

Another deep breath was taken, and I pushed, feeling her move further and further down.

"Right there, go, go, go, right there Beca!"

"GAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed out, one last time.

And that was it.

"Wahhhhh, wahhhhhh!" I heard a loud cat like cry, and looked down.

"Way to go mama, you did it!"

They pulled her out, and placed her onto my chest, drying her off with a towel as she screamed.

My head hit the back of the pillow as I openly began to sob.

Alex was here.

"Oh my G-G-God" I cried, sitting up and looking at her. She was here, oh my God she was here. My body was covered in sweat, tears, and blood, but none of it even mattered, my baby was here.

"Time of Birth-May 19th, 2013, 12:10am"

Jesse's head fell to mine, as we both stood there, crying hysterically.

"I love you so much, I'm so proud of you." He cried, kissing all over me. "Oh my God, she's so perfect, you did it Bec, you did it."

"Alexandra..." I cried. She laid on my chest, starting to calm down as I checked her all over. Light amounts of chocolate brown hair covered her head, 2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth, 2 ears, 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 arms, 2 legs, she was perfect. The entire moment was perfect as I laid in the bed, all of the pain gone, as Jesse leaned on me, and I held our daughter. She was here, and she was ours. I was completely overwhelmed with a love I had never before experienced.

"Jesse, would you like to cut her cord?" The nurse asked, handing him the scissors. He nodded his head, as he wiped away the tears from his eyes.

Gently cutting, she was officially released from me, and they took her over to be cleaned off as I prepared to deliver the placenta.

"Go, go check on her." I insisted.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, go take pictures."

I watched as Jesse walked over, and Alex was all taken care off.

"Alexandra Kate Swanson" Jesse answered, when the nurse asked if a name had been picked out.

"Alright, Miss. Alexandra is 18 inches long, and 6 pounds 2 oz. A perfect 10 for APGAR. A perfectly healthy baby all around."

That was my daughter. That was the little person I housed for 10 months. Here was the little girl who craved strawberry milkshakes & chocolate, who kicked me from the inside, whose image I had seen on the ultrasound. I just wanted to die for her, she was everything to me.

They wrapped her up, put a cap on her, and handed her over to Jesse, who broke down crying even harder if that was possible. He looked over to me.

"Bec, our daughter is so perfect." He sobbed as he made his way over to me. "She's so perfect."

We kissed, and cried, marvling over the miracle we had just created, as Bill, Julie, and Amanda made their way in.

Bill and Jesse took one look at each other before both grown men burst into tears and hugged. Sobbing about how beautiful our daughter was, and how incredible I had been.

I held her in my arms as Julie made her way over to me.

"I am so proud of you, oh God I love you so much." She cried, hugging me tightly. "You do it sweet girl, you did it."

Kissing my cheeks, she looked down to Alex. "Hello precious girl, Mimi loves you already."

I looked over to my doctor, and smiled brightly, mouthing thank you to her.

"Beca, you kicked ass today, way to go."

Looking over to Jesse from across the room, I instantly feel in love with him all over again.

"I love you nerd." I mouthed.

With tears streaming down his face, he looked back at me.

"You're everything to me weirdo."