Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards of Waverly Place or Camp Rock.

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Alex swung her legs back and forth under the table in the Torres kitchen, careful not to kick either her brother or her girlfriend. As she chewed on the eraser of her pencil, she concentrated on the math question in front of her. After some deep concentration, she looked up at Justin with an unsure look on her face.

"Is it fifty?" she asked uncertainly.

"Yes!" Justin exclaimed, a proud and excited smile on his face. "The length of the missing side is fifty meters!" He was amazed. Alex hadn't gotten a single question wrong all day.

"Good job," Mitchie said, rubbing Alex's arm slightly. She'd finished her math a little ahead of Alex and was now watching anxiously as her girlfriend completed her work. Words could not explain how proud she was of Alex. Back in October, Alex couldn't even simplify a fraction without help. But now, nearing the end of March, she was grasping trigonometry. It was amazing!

Alex smiled as she wrote down her answer, her arm still tingling from where Mitchie had touched her. Even after all the months they'd been together, she was still greatly affected by even the slightest touch.

"Well, that was the last one," Alex said with a huge grin as she put her pencil down. "I say we go out for ice cream to celebrate!"

"Alex, you still have your history chapter to read and answer questions for," Justin said, causing his sister's smile to drop.

"Can't I just do that at home, Justin?" Alex whined. "It's so pretty outside!" She gestured to the window. "It's one of the first days it isn't snowing, raining, freezing, or overcast in months. I just want to go out, get some ice cream, and eat it on a park bench with my girlfriend and favorite brother."

Mitchie smirked to herself as she watched Justin's face turn pink and his lips curl into a smile, playing right into Alex's hands.

"I'm really your favorite brother?" he asked, scuffing the toe of his shoe against the floor. Alex only raised her eyebrows and smiled at her brother. "Okay," Justin caved. "But we can't be too long. You guys have to go to work as soon as we're done."

"Fair enough," Alex said in a chipper tone as she closed her math notebook.

"Just let me go to the bathroom first," Mitchie said, putting her hands on the table and pushing herself up.

"That's going to be the tenth time since lunch!" Alex exclaimed. "You're peeing more than usual. And since I've met you, you've always been a frequent pee-er."

Mitchie fixed Alex with a playful glare. "You see what it's like to have a fetus pressing on your bladder, and then we'll talk." She finished with sticking her tongue out at her girlfriend as she waddled out of the kitchen, through the living room, and to the hallway.

"I don't see how she puts up with you." Justin chuckled as he gathered his papers and made a neat stack with them.

Alex gave her brother a blank stare. "Max is my favorite now," she said bluntly.

Justin hit his hand atop the table and stomped his foot. "Awe, come on!" He pouted at her and gave her his best pleading look.

Alex giggled as she put her last book in her bag and zipped it. "Dude, come on. Like I'd pick Max over you." Justin breathed a relieved sigh and blushed again. "I mean, Max can't give me A's." Alex cracked a grin.

"I don't give those to you! You earn them!"

"He's right, Alex," Mitchie said, reentering the room, hands on her stomach as she walked.

"I don't want to get into a sentimental conversation about how I've come so far right now," Alex said quickly, standing from her chair. She slid her wand from her boot and gave it a twirl. "Now that my homework is complete and done, send this bag home so I can have some fun." She pointed it at the bag as a blue ball of light left its tip and went straight to the bag, which disappeared an instant later.

"You could have just carried it," Justin said, commenting on his sister's laziness. "But it's nice to see that you're getting better at making up spells on the spot."

"Thank you, kind sir," Alex said in a fake British accent. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to use the bathroom as well before we leave." And with a bow, Alex exited into the hallway.

Justin smirked and shook his head, taking his light jacket from the back of the chair and shrugging it on. "Do you want a jacket, Mitchie?" he asked when he caught her eyeing his garment. "I could get it for you."

"Thanks, Justin," she said with a smile. "If you could just go in my closet, it's hanging. It's the blue sweater. I'd really appreciate it."

"Not a problem, Mitchie." He gave her shoulder a gentle pat before crossing the living room and going to the hallway, going straight to Mitchie's room. He'd only been in the room once before, but he remembered where the closet was.

He nervously opened the door, feeling a tad uncomfortable to be going through a girl's clothing. Scanning the clothing items hanging, he finally spotted a blue sweater. He reached for it and tried to take it from its hanger, but accidentally made a shirt fall. Cursing slightly under his breath, he put the shirt back on the hanger and took the sweater from the closet, closing the door before he could make anything else fall.

"Is this the one you were talking about?" he asked as he walked back into the living room, holding up the garment. He stopped with a concerned look on his face when he saw how pale Mitchie was. "Are you okay?"

Mitchie nodded slowly, though she looked anything but okay. "I just feel kind of funny. I'm sure I just need some fresh air, though."

Justin shrugged, seeing this as a logical answer. He went behind Mitchie and held the sweater open for her, allowing her to slip her arms inside. Just as Justin let the sweater drop on to Mitchie's shoulders, he heard a faint splashing sound and moments later, felt a cold wetness seeping through the material of his sneaker. He looked down to see a puddle of liquid on the floor, and he was practically standing in it.

"Did you just pee on my shoe?" Justin asked, looking down at his feet with slight disgust.

"No," Mitchie said softly, staring wide eyed at the liquid that had just fallen from the bottom of her cute maternity dress.

Alex chose that moment to return to the living room, happy and whistling, ready to go to the park for some ice cream. She stopped whistling, however, when she caught sight of her brother and girlfriend looking at a puddle underneath their feet.

"What happened?" she asked with a frown.

"I don't think we can go out for ice cream, Alex," Mitchie said quietly, her voice shaking.

"Why not?" Alex asked, frowning deeper.

"Because I think my water just broke." Mitchie locked eyes with Alex, trying to maintain a sense of calm, but losing it as soon as she saw that panic on Alex's face.

"But… It's only March… March… March what?"

"Twenty-ninth," Mitchie said.

"Yeah, that!" Alex said loudly, shaking her head very quickly. "You can't be going into labor! You're not due until April twenty-fifth!"

"I don't think the baby cares," Mitchie said, right before a terrible cramping sensation shot through her back, quickly rippling around to her stomach. "Fuck!" she screamed in surprise and pain, not sure whether to grab her back or stomach as the pain continued.

Alex snapped out of her stupor and rushed to Mitchie's side, taking her girlfriend's hand in her own. "Justin, go get the car and bring it around front. I think Mitchie's having her first contraction." Mitchie's grip on her hand tightened, somewhat crushing Alex's fingers. "Ow!... Okay, I know she's having a contraction," she said through clenched teeth.

"But aren't we supposed to wait until the contractions are a certain space apart?" Justin asked frantically, flailing his hands a bit nervously. "That's what they do one TV, anyway."

"This isn't TV, Justin!" Alex said sharply. "And I don't care if we are supposed to wait. By the time we get to the hospital in the New York Traffic, we'll be lucky to get there before she has the baby in the car!"

"Right!" Justin exclaimed and turned, going straight to the door, opening it, and running out.

Alex sighed, let go of Mitchie's hand, and went over to Justin's bag. She placed her hands in one of the front pockets and pulled out his keys. When he ran back into the room, she threw them to him. He fumbled, but caught them, and ran out the door again.

Alex shook her head before looking at Mitchie again. "You have a bag packed, right?"

"Hall closet," Mitchie said, trying to get her breathing back to normal after her first contraction.

"Do your breathing like the book taught you!" Alex called over her shoulder as she went into the hall, straight to the door at the far end.

"We never actually read the book, remember?" Mitchie called after her, scared to make any sudden movements for fear of causing herself pain.

Alex grabbed the blue duffel bag from the middle shelf and closed the closet door. "Oh yeah!" She returned to the living room, bag in hand. "Okay, all set?"

"Why are you so calm?" Mitchie asked, rubbing her stomach gently in hopes of soothing it so that her next contraction wouldn't be so bad.

"Things take longer to hit me, remember?" Alex said, shouldering the bag and extending her hand. "Come on, let's go meet Justin downstairs. We've got a baby to bring into this world."

"We?" Mitchie raised an eyebrow but took Alex's hand, holding on for dear life. "You're doing nothing!"

"I'm cheering you on."

"But that is nothing compared to what I'll be doing!" Mitchie said, her breathing hitching. "I have to push this massive thing out of a very small hole! Ripping and tearing will happen. And even though I'm getting the epidural, I've been looking this up online. It hurts… A whole fucking lot!"

Alex reached a hand up to cup her girlfriend's cheek. "Mitchie…"

"I can't do it, Alex…" Mitchie shook her head. "I can't. I'm not ready. It's not supposed to be coming yet. I need more time… I… I don't want to do this anymore. I want to take it back, all of it. That night, the sex. I don't want to be a parent. I want to be a kid. I can't do this!" She was now frantic with tears in her eyes. She was also shaking. Fear was settling in, reality once again crushing her.

"But if you take it all back, then you don't get me in the end," Alex said gently.

Mitchie pouted and blinked rapidly as a few tears fell. "But I want you."

"Then things have to stay the same." Alex placed the duffle bag on the floor and looked Mitchie dead in the eye. "Look, Mitch… You can do this. It's nature. Sure, it's gonna hurt, but think about the outcome. We're gonna have a little baby to love, hold, and tell about the world. You may not be completely ready, but you've got your parents, me, and Caitlyn to help you out. We'll figure this out. I promise that everything's going to be okay."

To give her girlfriend reassurance, Alex wrapped her arms around Mitchie, Mitchie's going to Alex's neck instantly− the way they always hugged. Mitchie sniffled as she calmed a little, but the fears were still there.

"I'm scared," she admitted.

Alex pulled out of the hug and gave Mitchie a gentle smile. "Don't be. I'll be with you every step of the way."

Mitchie took a deep breath and tried to muster up some courage. "Let's go, I guess. I don't want to have a baby in the car."

"I was born in a cab," Alex commented, picking up the duffel bag again. "And then fifteen years later I accidentally brought the same cab to life with magic."

Mitchie opened her mouth to say something but decided not to, shaking her head instead. "Ya know, I really don't want to know right now."

"Oh come on, it's a fun story!" Alex said, closing the apartment door behind her.

Justin's car inched forward in traffic. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. He was hunched forward in the driver's seat, while Alex and Mitchie were in the back.

"Yes, Mrs. Torres, finally!" Alex said into her cell phone. She'd been trying to get a hold of Mitchie's mom for nearly ten minutes, but some snooty French guy put her on hold. "We're on the way to the hospital. Mitchie's having the baby." She paused while listening to Mrs. Torres. "Yes, I know it's a month early, but I don't think the kid cares…" Pause. "Your mom wants to know how you're doing, Mitchie."

Mitchie didn't answer, just let out a loud scream as another contraction rippled through her stomach. She clutched Alex's hand tightly (though Alex's hand was now numb to all sensation so it didn't hurt) and screamed again.

"Ahh!" went Mitchie.

"Ahh!" screamed Justin in return, freaking out over Mitchie having a contraction.

"Ahh!" Mitchie.

"Ahh!" Justin.

"Ahh!" Mitchie.

"Ahh!" Justin.

"Justin, stop it! I'm on the phone!" Alex yelled at her brother crossly as her girlfriend continued to grunt beside her. She put the phone back to her ear. "She's experiencing some slight discomfort right now."

"Slight?" Mitchie hissed through clenched teeth.

"You're going to meet us at the hospital? Okay, see you there." She hung up. "She's calling your dad and they're going to meet us at the hospital," she told Mitchie.

"Great," Mitchie said, breathing out through her nose as her contraction finally ended. "How long did that one last?" she asked Alex breathlessly.

"What one?" Alex stared at her blankly.

"The contraction!"

"Oh." Alex shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't time it."

"Why not?" Mitchie exclaimed.

"Was I supposed to?"

"Yes!"

"No one told me that."

"I'm gonna hit you!" Mitchie said in exasperation.

"No you're not because I've got your hands!" Alex said, grabbing Mitchie's hand that she wasn't holding so that she couldn't be hit with either. "Justin, put on some music to calm her!"

Justin reached over quickly and switched on the radio.

"You're the voice I hear inside my head−"

"Turn it off!" Mitchie exclaimed upon hearing the lyrics to the Connect 3 song Shane had written for her during their summer at Camp Rock. That was the last thing she needed to hear at that moment. She hadn't even known he'd released that song. Then again, she hadn't expected him to. It was about her, and he clearly didn't give a shit about her. She felt more tears sting at her eyes and knew that if she wasn't in labor, she'd probably be nauseous. Her heart felt heavy and her face twisted into a grimace.

When she looked back to her girlfriend, she saw that she was getting a blank expression from the other girl.

Mitchie cleared her throat. "I don't like that song… It reminds me of someone I don't like."

Alex shrugged, not pushing the matter. "I don't like it either. It's Connect 3. They suck."

"Yes," Mitchie muttered, gazing out the window. "Yes, they do."

Two hours later found Mitchie in a hospital bed, gripping Alex's hand in one hand and her mother's hand in the other. Her father stood in the corner of the room, squirming and wincing as he watched his daughter convulse during yet another contraction.

"Breathe, Mitchie, breathe!" Connie instructed, cheering like a coach would a player.

"I don't know how to do the fucking breathing, Mom! I told you this already!" Mitchie spat back at her, ending with a final scream as she let herself fall back onto the bed as the pain subsided.

"They're coming at almost two minutes apart now," Alex said, her eyes on the clock on the wall.

"Oh, now you decide to time them!" Mitchie snapped.

"Why are you being so mean to me?" Alex said, genuinely hurt. She'd heard that mothers in labor could be harsh, but she didn't think Mitchie was capable of such cruelty.

"Don't take it personally, Alex," Connie said, flexing her sore hand. "She's never even said 'damn' in front of me, and she just directed the F word at me."

Alex cast her eyes to the ground, not reassured. "I think I'm gonna go take a walk. Go get Mitchie some ice chips or something."

"I'll go!" Steve said, eager to get the hell out of there.

Before Alex could protest, Steve was up and out the door. Alex grumbled incoherently under her breath. Mitchie's father had stolen her escape.

"Alex, please don't go," Mitchie said gently, reaching for Alex's swollen hand. "Stay. I need you here."

Alex looked down at Mitchie, at those big brown eyes which she loved so much. She was smiling at her so sweetly. No one would ever guess the venom that could come from those lips the moment a contraction started. But Alex also knew the sweet nothings those lips could whisper and knew that the venom wasn't really Mitchie talking. It was the pain. She'd promised to be with Mitchie every step of the way and damn it, she was going to keep that promise.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said quietly.

Mitchie smiled right before her face twisted painfully and she groaned loudly as another wave of immense pain went through her stomach. She wrapped both of her hands around Alex's and squeezed. She kept her eyes locked with the raven haired girl standing above her, grinding her teeth together in determination not to say anything mean.

After what seemed like forever, the contraction finally stopped. The machine measuring Mitchie's heart rate began to beep a little slower and Mitchie fell back onto the pillows. Alex took the wet towel the nurse had left in the room from the railing of the bed and used it to wipe some of the sweat from Mitchie's forehead.

Mitchie was so glad Alex had helped her to tie her hair back into a pony tail before she began sweating too badly. She could only imagine how annoyed she'd be if her hair was sticking to her neck.

"How much longer?" she asked her mother wearily.

"I don't know, Mitchie," her mother said, stroking her daughter's damp head. "You've only been in labor for two hours. First babies can take a while. Sometimes days."

"Days?" Mitchie exclaimed, near tears. "I want it over now!" She looked at her stomach. "Get out!"

"I think it's trying, Mitch," Alex said. "It did decide to come a whole four weeks early. I don't think it'll be too much longer."

"That's a relief," Steve said from the door, walking in with a cup of ice chips.

Alex walked over and took the cup from him, going over to Mitchie with it and handing her a small spoonful. Mitchie let Alex drop the cold shards into her mouth. They melted on her tongue and she swallowed.

"Yum. Appetizing," she said sarcastically. Alex only chuckled.

"Alex, can I have a word?" Steve asked, gesturing to the door. He saw Mitchie's eyes grow wide as she tried to nonchalantly grab part of Alex's shirt so she couldn't leave. "I'll only keep her for a minute," he assured his daughter gently.

Mitchie was still tense, but let go of Alex nonetheless. Alex handed off the cup of ice chips to Mrs. Torres as Steve led her out the door. Just as she was leaving, however, she heard Mitchie cry out in pain. Alex spun around quickly to dash back into the room, but Steve caught her.

"She can survive one contraction without you," he said, pushing her softly out the doorway and closing the door behind him. He felt bad for doing it, but this was important, and he didn't think he could handle seeing Mitchie in that much pain again. If it was hurting him, he knew it had to be hurting Alex too.

"So, what's going on?" Alex asked, darting glances over Steve's shoulder to the door, obviously anxious to get back to Mitchie.

"I just wanted to warn you," he said seriously, gaining Alex's full attention. "Mitchie hasn't exactly been sweet to you since her labor started, and it's only going to get worse as it gets closer and closer to it being time for her to push. And then when's she's pushing, she may say things that make you cry."

"I know," Alex said. "And I know she's not going to mean them. You just have to take them with a grain of salt."

"Good attitude," Steve commented. "But you'd be surprised how hard that is to do. You're lucky because you're not the reason she's here." His face darkened. "But that Shawn kid wouldn't be here anyway because if I'd gotten the chance to get my hands on him, I would have killed him by now."

Alex stared at her girlfriend's father, a bit frightened. She'd never seen him look anything but kind, but in that moment, he looked almost evil. She hated Shawn−er, Shane−too, but she didn't think her face got that scary when she thought about how much she wanted to hurt him.

"Anyway." Steve shook his head and his face returned to normal. "I also wanted to warn you about after the baby's born, after she brings it home… Those first few months can put a strain on marital relationships. I can only imagine how much harder it will be for the two of you."

"What do you mean?" Alex shifted uncomfortably on her leg, letting her weight lean more to one side.

"A married couple usually tries to stay together for the sake of the child and because getting a divorce is such a hassle. And eventually once they get settled and used to having the baby around, things go back to normal," Steve explained. "But in your case, you're not even the father. You have no ties and do not have to stay. I'm just warning you that Mitchie may be depressed after the baby is born. A lot of mothers go through depression. Connie's only lasted about a week after she had Mitchie, but it was hard. And with a baby who has such odd sleeping habits and feeding times, Mitchie could not get the amount of sleep she'd used to getting. She may be snappy and irritable with you. I don't want that to drive you away." He locked eyes with the teenage girl, hoping she was getting the point.

"Are you trying to tell me not to leave if things get rough?" Alex asked slowly.

"I'm telling you not to hurt my daughter," he said. "She's been through enough. And you've been great so far. But the real test is after the baby's born."

"Mr. Torres, you have my word that I never intend to hurt Mitchie," Alex said honestly, looking the man straight in the eyes. "I know it's going to be hard, but I'm up for it. I love her, sir. And I love the baby. I never thought I could love someone I've never even met so much, but I do. And I'm not going to bail when she needs me most."

The two stared at each other intently for a few moments before their staring contest was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.

Alex and Steve looked away from each other to see Dr. Ramirez, Mitchie's doctor, standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. A nurse stood behind him.

"Can I get through?" the doctor asked, nodding towards the door.

Steve nodded quickly, opening the door for the man, who brushed past them. Alex, Steve, and the nurse followed him inside.

"It's about time!" Mitchie said, her voice strained.

From the machine beeping and Mitchie's breathing and just the overall tone in her girlfriend's voice, Alex could tell she was having yet another contraction. How many had she had since she left the room? And how far apart were they now?

"Good to see you too, Mitchie," Dr. Ramirez said good-naturedly. Obviously he was used to this.

He wasted no time as he lifted the sheet covering the bottom half of Mitchie's body and stuck his head under. Alex glared at him, not liking it one bit. He'd done this earlier when he'd come to check on Mitchie. Alex had looked away.

Dr. Ramirez pulled on a pair of latex gloves before putting his hands under the sheet. Alex's stomach twisted unpleasantly. He was sticking his fingers in her territory. Not that she'd even gotten that far, but still.

"Oh my gosh," the doctor said in surprise, which did not please Alex at all. He pulled his head from under the sheet and looked to the young woman in the bed. "You're almost fully dilated."

"What?" Mitchie exclaimed.

"No, no, no," Connie said, shaking her head. "She was only at three centimeters last time you checked."

"I know." Dr. Ramirez nodded. "But she's a little past nine right now."

"How?" Connie's eyes widened.

"What does that mean?" Alex interjected.

"The baby has to be in a certain position in order to be born," Dr. Ramirez explained. "Mitchie is almost to ten. At ten, she pushes."

"But I haven't had the epidural yet!" Mitchie said loudly.

"Those are given around four to five centimeter dilations," the doctor said. "We thought we'd have more time. I didn't think your labor would progress so quickly−I was only in here an hour ago! I'm afraid it's too late now."

"You mean I have to deliver naturally? No! That's going to hurt! I need drugs!" Mitchie grabbed Alex by the shirt collar and pulled her down so that their faces were close. "Get me drugs," she said fiercely.

"She can't, Mitchie. No one can," Dr. Ramirez said sternly. "And everyone who isn't going to be here for the delivery needs to leave. This baby is coming out."

"Bye!" Steve said, exiting quickly into the hall.

"Steve!" Connie called after him, even though she knew it was no use. He hated hospitals to begin with. Blood, needles, and pain were not his favorite things. She knew for a fact that if she would have allowed him, he wouldn't have even been present for Mitchie's birth.

The petit blond nurse walked over with two pairs of scrubs. "You'll need to put these on if you're staying," she said, handing Alex and Connie each a pair. "You may change in the bathroom."

"You can go first," Mrs. Torres said to Alex.

The girl nodded. "I'll be right back," she told Mitchie, giving the other girl's hand a squeeze before walking to the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.

Once she was in there, away from the machines and the talking, she was finally able to breathe. She put the scrubs on the edge of the sink and placed her hands on either side of the porcelain dish. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing the nerves on her face that she wouldn't dare let anyone out there see. She had too much pride. She couldn't let them see how shaken she really was. All this time she'd put on a brave front. But now, as she was alone with her thoughts, she let her fears overtake her.

She turned on the faucet and stuck her hands under, bending over the basin. She splashed cold water on her face several times, trying to get her bearings. Then she turned off the water again and placed her hands on the edges of the sink again, leaning all her weight on it. She was shaking.

She tried to steady herself, taking gasps of air whenever her lungs would allow her. Looking up at her dripping face in the mirror, Alex didn't see the seventeen year-old who once thought she was up for anything. All she saw was a scared little girl with water running down her cheeks.

But she was more than that, she realized. She was the other half of a parenting team. She and Mitchie were a unit, were one. And though she was terrified, she knew her worries were nothing compared to what Mitchie was going through. After all, all she had to do was sit and watch. Mitchie had to actually shove a baby out of the lower half of her body.

Alex took a deep breath and stared herself dead in the eye in the mirror. She gave herself a slight nod before grabbing the shirt of the scrubs off the counter and pulling it over her grey t-shirt. Next she slipped each of her legs into the scrub pants, pulling them up. They were a little too big for her, but that didn't matter. She took the rubber band from her wrist and used it to pull up her hair into a quick pony tail. Then she washed her hands in the sink for good measure.

"Your future's outside that door, Russo," she said quietly to herself. "Go get it."

She opened the door in a swift motion and walked back into the room, straight to Mitchie's side. She grabbed the other girl's hand and gave her a confident, calming smile.

As Connie got dressed, the doctor and nurse prepared everything for the delivery.

"As soon as your mother is ready, you're going to need to start pushing, Mitchie," Dr. Ramirez said, peeking at Mitchie over the sheet.

"Okay." She nodded quickly, trying to mentally and physically prepare herself.

Alex leaned over and gave Mitchie's temple a sweet kiss, not caring it was full of sweat. "You can do this, baby," she muttered against Mitchie's skin, giving her hand a slight squeeze.

Mitchie turned her head, her eyes meeting with Alex's. She looked into those brown eyes and saw the love and devotion, and though she was still scared, she knew Alex was right. She could do this.

"I love you," she said softly but with emotion.

"I love you too, Mitchie," Alex said before placing a gentle kiss on Mitchie's lips. When she pulled away, she looked up to see Connie returning to Mitchie's side. "Ready?" she asked the girl beneath her.

Mitchie let out an extremely tiny laugh. "No, but I don't think I have a choice." She took a breath, prepping as she took her mother's outstretched hand. "Let's do this."

"Alright, you're fully dilated," Dr. Ramirez said, removing his hand from Alex's territory and Mitchie's private area. "One the count of three, okay?" He received a nod from the girl. "One… Two… Three!"

With all of the force and energy she could muster, Mitchie pushed. She screamed out louder than ever as the worst pain she'd ever experienced washed over her body. Tears pricked at her eyes as she stopped pushing, nearly spent.

"I can't," she gasped. "I can't… Don't make me do that again."

"You have to, Mitchie," Dr. Ramirez said. "Come on, give me another."

"You can do it, Mitchie," Alex said. "Squeeze my hand until you break it if it helps."

"Just remember you offered," Mitchie told her.

Mitchie began to push again, this time crushing Alex's fingers with all her might. Though if a bone cracked, no one heard it over Mitchie's scream.

"Good," Dr. Ramirez said. "The head is coming. Keep pushing."

"You keep pushing!" Mitchie yelled at him, though that made no sense.

But she pushed again anyway, though she stopped quickly after, trying to catch her breath.

"I know it hurts, sweetie, but the more you push the quicker it can be over," Connie told her.

"It's coming fast, Mitchie," Dr. Ramirez said. "I think one more big push and we can meet this baby."

"Okay," Mitchie whimpered.

She braced herself right before pushing harder than she knew she was capable. She strained and groaned, letting go of her mother's hand to push it against the mattress and prop herself up. She leaned forward and pushed with all her might, her face nearly turning purple until finally, relief…

There was a moment's silence before a sharp yet tiny cry was heard through the delivery room. Mitchie closed her eyes and leaned back on the pillows, too exhausted to even sit up any longer. Alex, on the other hand, was standing on her tippy toes, trying to get a glimpse of the baby.

"It's a boy!" Dr. Ramirez announced over the baby's cries.

"It's a boy, Mitchie!" Alex said, giving her girlfriend a gentle shake.

Mitchie's eyes opened instantly, though they were so dark with fatigue. "Let me see him," she said weakly.

Alex stared as Dr. Ramirez held the baby up a little. He was nothing like she expected. He was purple and crying, his tiny face scrunched up unpleasantly, and he was completely covered in a white coating. Where his belly button should be was a wet, shiny thing that looked too much like a white worm for Alex's liking.

Alex looked away as she saw the nurse bring out a pair of scissors, Alex knew to cut the umbilical cord. She had tears in her eyes. Purple, crying, covered in white goo, and so very tiny, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen (besides Mitchie, that is).

When she looked back, the nurse was wrapping the baby in a blanket. Swaddled and secure, the next thing the nurse did was start walking towards the door with him.

"Wait!" Alex cried. "Doesn't Mitchie get to hold him?"

The nurse ignored her, just kept walking until she was in the hallway.

"The baby must be put in an incubator," Dr. Ramirez told her, his hands covered with blood as well as the front of his scrubs. "He was very small, being nearly a month premature. He must be put in an incubator for a certain amount of time or he could die."

Alex's heart nearly stopped.

He could die?

But he couldn't. He just came into the world.

Alex choked back a few tears as she turned back to Mitchie, whose eyes were barely open. Alex smoothed Mitchie's damp hair and smiled down at her to reassure her.

"It's a boy," Mitchie said weakly.

"I know, I saw him." Alex chuckled slightly, tears spilling out over her eyelids. She sniffled and brought the back of her hand up to her nose, trying to stop it from running.

"He was so small," Connie commented, taking her daughter's hand again. "But beautiful."

"When can I see him?" Mitchie asked, looking to Dr. Ramirez.

"It will be an hour or so most likely," he answered. "In the meantime, I need to sew you up. There was some tearing. You shouldn't feel it too much. You can try to get some sleep if you want."

Mitchie nodded, closing her eyes and resting her head back on the pillows.

Alex smiled down at Mitchie's relaxed face before looking to the door anxiously, wanting nothing more than the nurse to walk in with that pretty little baby boy and say that he didn't need to be in an incubator after all, that he was just fine and in no danger… That everything was okay.

"Samuel."

Alex snapped her head back at the sound of Mitchie's voice. "What was that, Mitchie?" she asked softly.

Mitchie opened her eyes long enough to lock them with Alex's. "Samuel," she said in a voice not above a whisper before her eyes drooped shut again and she slipped into blackness.

I had this thing going on twitter (username: xxmusicxspazzxx) asking people what they thought the baby would be. One said boy, three said girl, one hoped for a boy, and one said she didn't know. Guess I fooled the majority of you ;)

Oh, and for anyone who thinks the birth was unrealistic or "too fast," I've heard the story of my birth. It was very similar. So, owned.

Update: I started taking my medicine and so far, it's working. I feel much less anxious and don't worry about stuff as much. I'm in a much better place already. I'm loving it.

Now wanna REALLY make me happy? REVIEW!