A/N: Phish Tacko beta'd this. Go check out her page, she's an awesome author!

Chapter 36

As Tarrant and Edward were talking about Sweeney, the man himself was upstairs talking to Gilbert. The conversation had turned to education, and Gilbert was talking about how he wanted to go to college one day.

"I was valedictorian of my graduating class," Gilbert explained. "And I was going to go to state university."

"Why didn't you go? As valedictorian, you surely would've gotten a free ride." Sweeney asked.

"Well, I wanted to go, and I actually started the first semester, but it was too much, trying to take care of Arnie and working and around that time, Mama was just starting to have… difficulties… so I dropped out."

"Hmm. Well, you could always go back, after the baby is born."

"I was considering it. If Becky could help me with the baby, and if Arnie stays with my sisters, then I might be able to go. Maybe I can go to a community college since it'll be closer."

"Seems like a good idea," Sweeney said. "Hey, can you hand me that Sharpie over there?" He asked, pointing towards the marker that was sitting on his nightstand. Gilbert reached over and handed it to him, and then watched as Sweeney began to draw on his cast. With surprising skill, he drew up "Sweeney Todd" in graffiti-like handwriting and drew a brick wall around it.

"You can do graffiti art?" Gilbert asked, surprised at how well it turned out.

"Hell yes, I can."

"Wow. You get more interesting every day. Oh…!" Gilbert groaned suddenly, bending over in pain.

Sweeney capped the marker. "What happened?"

"I think… I think my water just broke."

"Uh… Did you just…?!" Sweeney asked, noticing the dark spot near Gilbert's legs.

"I JUST TOLD YOU THAT MY WATER BROKE! GO GET HELP, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"

"Okay, okay." Sweeney picked up the phone near his bed, and dialed the number 9. Ashley had put her cell phone number on speed dial for him.

After three rings, she picked up. "What is it, Mr. Todd?"

"I think Gilbert's going into labor. He's up here with me and his water just broke!"

"I'll get the doctor and we'll be right up," Ashley said, hanging up before Sweeney could reply.

Sweeney hung up the phone and turned his attention back to Gilbert, who was beginning to hyperventilate.

"Gilbert. Breathe! Normally, I mean," He said, watching as the redhead tried to control his breathing. "There you go. In and out. They'll be up here soon to take care of you."

Gilbert took a deep breath and nodded.

Sure enough, Ashley and Dr. Schnabel appeared within two minutes.

"We're going to take you to the exam room down the hall," Dr. Schnabel explained. Ashley came up behind the bed with a wheelchair, and she and the doctor helped Gilbert get in.

"Have fun," Sweeney called as they took Gilbert out of the room. He then looked

once again at the dark spot on his comforter.

"Ick."

00

Gilbert was continuing to try to control his breathing as Ashley and Dr. Schnabel helped him onto a bed and hooked him up to various pieces of equipment. He tried to ignore the sense of embarrassment he felt when Ashley began to undress him to get him into a hospital gown. To an extent, he was grateful that the pain from the contractions was so distracting.

Once he was all set up, Ashley spoke up. "I'm going to call Becky and tell her what's going on."

"Ask her if Arnie can come too," Gilbert said, gripping the blankets on the bed as he tried to control the pain.

"Sure. You look like you're in a lot of pain… Why don't we administer the epidural now?" Ashley suggested.

Gilbert shook his head. "No, no. It's okay. It's only like… a 2 out of 10," He lied. "I'll take it if it gets worse."

Ashley didn't seem convinced, but agreed. "If that's what you'd prefer."

She walked out of the room to make her phone calls.

She returned a few minutes later, finding Gilbert to be much calmer.

"The pain of the contractions seems to have subsided for now," Dr. Schnabel explained.

"Okay. Becky says she'll be here in a little bit, and she's going to bring Arnie, and that your mom wishes you good luck."

"Thanks."

"For now, it's just a waiting game. You're only at 2 cm, so there's a while to go before you deliver," Dr. Schnabel explained. "You'll begin having contractions more frequently soon though."

"Great," Gilbert groaned.

Every hour for the next few hours, Gilbert managed to dilate another 2cm, but overall, it was a boring experience.

Becky and Arnie showed up, and the three of them were watching television when the contractions started again. This time, Gilbert couldn't help but cry out and show the horrible pain he was experiencing.

"I'll go get the doctor," Becky said, getting up from the chair she was sitting on. She pulled Dr. Schnabel into the room a few minutes later.

"I just need to see where he's at," Schnabel explained. Becky cast her gaze to the ground, to avoid staring at Gilbert, and pulled Arnie over with her, telling him to look away.

"You're fully dilated," Dr. Schnabel explained. "The baby will come very soon."

Sure enough, the contractions came on full-force very quickly. Gilbert held onto Becky's hand as he pushed and he felt like he was being ripped in two. He'd refused an epidural up until that point, for some reason wanting to give birth as naturally as possible. He couldn't explain it, it just seemed like the right way to do it.

"Go hold your brother's other hand," Becky said, noticing that Arnie was starting to wander around.

"Okay."

Arnie walked to the other side of the bed, and took hold of Gilbert's hand.

"You'll be okay, Gilbert," Arnie said, smiling at his brother.

Gilbert just groaned, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Okay, just one or two more pushes and the baby will be out," The doctor said. "I can already see its head."

"Ugh…" Gilbert groaned, gripping Arnie and Becky's hands with all of his strength.

"Okay, push."

Gilbert did as he was told, and couldn't help but let out a scream. It wasn't horribly loud, but loud enough to startle everyone in the room. He'd been taking the pain fairly well up until that point.

"One more…"

Gilbert pushed again, and the baby was finally out.

"It's a little boy," Dr. Schnabel said, taking the infant in his hands.

He showed it to Gilbert, whose face was pale and covered in perspiration. He just nodded and rested his head on his pillow, breathing heavily. Becky and Arnie were still holding his hands.

"You did great, Gilbert!" Becky said, kissing Gilbert's hand.

"It hurt…"

"I know, but you did a great job. Wait 'til you get to hold him!"

Gilbert nodded, still panting.

Dr. Schnabel cleaned the baby up, cut the umbilical cord, then again showed him to Gilbert. "Ten fingers and ten toes, he's perfectly healthy. And huge, too. 9 pounds, 10 ounces. You're a trooper for going through that without an epidural."

"Never again…" was all Gilbert said, closing his eyes as exhaustion finally won out over him.