A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
C POV
"What's got your attention?, I ask Ana after seeing that she's fixated on something in front of her. She looks up and hands me her phone.
"Mia sent me some more photos from Paris." Mia and Ben are currently on week two of their three week European honeymoon. Both have been regularly sending photos of their trip.
"They look like they're having the time of their lives." I swipe my hand across the screen and see a photo of Mia and Ben with the Eiffel Tower in the background. "When I talked to her last night, she said they're leaving this afternoon for Italy."
"I'd like to visit Italy some day.", Ana murmurs.
"I went to Milan for business a few years ago, and it was wonderful. You can be sure the two of us will be making a trip there sometime in the future." I settle down next to her on the sofa as the front door opens and in walk my parents with Jamison who rushes over to Ana and me. "Hey little man. Did you have fun at the zoo?" Jamison woke up yesterday morning and started talking about how much he wanted to see the animals at the zoo. Once my parents heard about it, they offered to take him.
"Uh-huh. See bear.", Jamison answers.
"You did. What else did you see?"
"Cat." My dad starts moves further into the room and chuckles.
"The cat was actually a tiger.", my dad says as he holds a bag up. "We got him a shirt with zoo animals on it."
"The sweetheart also wanted his baby sister to have one.", my mom adds. "Luckily the gift shop sells onesies exactly like the shirt Jamison got." She reaches into the bag and pulls out Jamison's shirt and Delaney's onesie. "Cute, huh?"
"Adorable.", Ana replies. "I'm glad the three of you had fun. Thank you for taking him."
"It was our pleasure.", my dad says.
"Why don't you guys have a seat?", I tell them. "Do you want something to drink or eat?"
"No but thank you. We should be getting home so we can get ready. We're attending an engagement party for my old pal Ned Stevens."
"Ned Stevens is getting married? I never thought I'd see the day." My dad and Ned Stevens have been friends for years. Ned was even one of my dad's groomsmen when he and my mom were married, but Ned's been a bachelor who once expressed that he was never getting married.
"Believe me, I was surprised myself.", my mom giggles.
"Carrick, is he marrying the woman he was dating when he attended your birthday party last year?", Ana asks as Jamison climbs between the two of us. "I can't remember her name."
"I wouldn't be shocked if Ned's forgotten her name as well.", my dad sighs. "The woman he's marrying is named Dana Gentry. She and Ned have only been dating six months or so, yet Ned is sure she's the one he wants to break his no marriage rule with."
"Carrick and I have been around the two of them a few times, and they get along well. Dana's very nice. She owns her owns her own public relations firm which is extremely successful.", my mom says. "The wedding is going to be held the end of next month at their new house."
"Please give them our congratulations and best wishes.", Ana smiles.
"We're happy for them.", I follow.
"I realize the building is going to look incredible once the remodel is complete, but the lobby is a mess.", Ros mutters after we finish a meeting with the department heads.
"It's only temporary.", I say from my seat at the end of the conference table. After completing the blueprints, Grant Sullivan and his team have officially started the physical portion of the remodel, beginning with the downstairs lobby.
"I talked to Grant Sullivan this morning when I was on my to the elevator. He seems to think the lobby will be complete in about two weeks. Two weeks isn't so bad."
"Not at all. We've got to make sure anyone coming or going through the lobby is cautious." I gather my folders and stack them before standing. "What time is our meeting in Portland in tomorrow?"
"Eleven. Have you decided on transport?", Ros asks.
"I'm going to fly us if that's ok with you."
"I've flown with you many times before so I trust you." I peer down at my phone to see if I have any missed calls or texts from Ana. "I'm going to guess that you're seeing if Ana's called or texted."
"I had my phone on silent for the meeting even though I shouldn't have. Ana's not due for another four weeks, but I want to be available for her at all times."
"As you should.", Ros says as she stands and walks with me to the conference room door. "I'm going to get back to work so my boss won't give me a hard time. He can be tough at times."
"So I've heard.", I laugh.
A POV
"It's been forever since we've gotten together.", I tell Candace and Maxie. Neither of them had classes today so they're hanging out at the house with me.
"It really has.", Candace says as she swirls her straw around in her lemonade. "This school semester has only started, but it's already kicking my tail. I was up until one thirty this morning working on homework. Although it's not due until tomorrow, I wanted to get it out of the way since I'm going to be working at the diner tonight."
"Normally, I wait until the last minute to do mine, but I'm trying to be more responsible this semester.", Maxie smiles. "Plus, I have a date tonight with Cooper."
"So that's still going strong?", I ask while Jamison hands me his teddy bear. "Thank you."
"It's going very strong. My mom is even shocked that I'm still dating him, and she's the one who set the blind date up. She originally thought I was only dating him to please her which is far from the case. I'm dating him because he's a great guy."
"He really is a nice guy.", Candace adds. "Roger, this guy in one of my classes, asked me a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure at first until Maxie suggested that she and Cooper tag along and make it a double date. We were all having a nice time until Roger went the restroom and didn't come back. I instantly started blaming myself, thinking it was something I did, but I realized it wasn't me. It was him. He had been texting on his phone the entire time prior to going to the restroom. How rude is that? Cooper, Maxie, and I ended up enjoying the rest of the dinner."
"Did Roger offer an explanation as to why he left?", I ask her.
"He may have lied about going to the restroom, but he was honest when I confronted him. He said his ex was wanting to meet with him to discuss potentially getting back together. When I asked why he couldn't just tell me that, he said he didn't want to make a scene."
"Can you say loser?", Maxie mutters. "Ana, how have been feeling?"
"Great. I had the scare earlier in the pregnancy, but things are going well now. I'm a little nervous today though. Christian had a meeting in Portland, and he decided to fly there. He's an expert pilot, but I still worry." On cue, I hear my phone ring and see Christian's name on the screen. "It's him. Can you guys watch Jamison while I take this?"
"Sure.", Candace answers. I stand and walk into the kitchen where I answer the phone.
"Hi."
"I was getting worried when it took so long for you to answer.", Christian says.
"I was in the living room with Candace and Maxie, and I decided to answer the call in the kicthen. On the subject of worrying, please tell me you're ok."
"I'm ok. Ros and I have just finished our meeting, and we're going to be getting ready to take off for our return trip to Seattle. The weather is picture perfect with no clouds in sight."
"Promise me you're going to be careful.", I sniffle.
"Ana, I promise you I'm going to be careful. I'll be home before you know it."
"Hi Ana!", I hear Ros shout in the background.
"Tell Ros hi for me." Christian sighs and then tells Ros I said hi. "I'll let you get ready for takeoff. Be safe. Jamison, Delaney, and I love you."
"I love you guys too."
"Ana, did you have a nice nap?", Nancy asks as I walk downstairs. After Candace and Maxie left, both Jamison and I laid down for a nap. I just woke up, but Jamison's still sleeping.
"It wasn't long enough.", I scoff. "I tried to go back to sleep, but I kept having some small pains in my lower abdomen."
"Uh oh.", Gail says. She and Sophie have just walked into the living room and are looking at me with concern. "Do you think it's possible you might be in labor?"
"I have another four weeks to go. It's probably only Braxton HIcks."
"Didn't you say the same thing when you were pregnant with Jamison? Only it turned out to be labor. How strong and far apart are these pains?"
"Every five minutes. They're not too..." I stop in the middle of my sentence and grab my stomach as another pain radiates through my body. This one is even sharper than the previous ones. "It might be a good idea if we go to the hospital. Oh no. Christian's not here. I need him here."
"He and my dad just pulled into the driveway.", Sophie says. She opens the front door and shouts for Christian and Taylor. Sawyer, who's been in the security room, runs out to see what's going on.
"Is everything ok?", he asks but the expression on my face tells him things aren't ok. "Baby time?"
"Baby time?", Christian repeats, beaming on his way inside the house.
"I'm not sure.", I reply. "It's possible." I blow out a breath while feeling another pain.
"You guys go on, and I'll watch Jamison.", Nancy says.
"Mama. Dada.", Jamison whines. Christian picks him up and kisses his cheek.
"Mama and Dada are going to the hospital. Your sister might be on the way. Miss Nancy's going to watch you, but we're going to be checking in with you."
C POV
"Ana, this is the real thing. You're in labor.", Dr. Greene informs us after she examines Ana. "You're already dilated to seven."
"It's too early. She's not due for another four weeks.", Ana murmurs.
"She's going to be fine. Trust me."
"Dr. Greene's right.", I assure Ana. "Delaney's got her mom's will power and strength. She's going to come out roaring."
"Oh my god!", Ana screams as she grips my left hand. She breathes through the contraction which lasts close to a minute. "That wasn't so bad. Did I hurt you?"
"No, but fortunately I'm right handed.", I joke. She frowns and then bursts into a smile. "There's that beautiful smile." Ana's smile fades as the fetal monitor starts beeping. Dr. Greens puts down her chart and rushes over to see what's going on.
"The baby's heart rate is dropping. We're going to need to do a c-section. Ana, Christian, I'm going to make sure both mom and baby are ok."
"I'm scared.", Ana says.
"Don't be. You and Delaney are going to be fine.", I tell her. Dr. Greene steps out of the room briefly and returns with two nurses.
"We've got a baby to deliver. Let's go.", Dr. Greene announces. I hold on to Ana's hand while she's taken from the room and toward the operating room. Am I scared? Yes. I can't show my fear in front of Ana. I need to be calm for her sake.
"Don't leave me.", Ana pleads with me. "He can be in there, right?"
"Of course.", Dr. Greene answers. "Christian, you can get prepped while we prep Ana. I nod and bend down, kissing Ana on the lips.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"We're ready.", one of the nurses says. A drape has been placed at the foot of the gurney. Ana's eyes are on mine as the Dr. Greene begins.
"Our family is in the waiting room and as anxious as we are to meet Delaney.", I whisper. "Well, maybe not as anxious since I feel like doing cartwheels." I'm hoping my talking will help keep Ana in good spirits.
"All is looking good.", Dr. Greene says from where she's working. "I can see the head."
"She's almost here.", Ana smiles. The beautiful sound of our daughter crying fills the room.
"Ana, Christian, you have a daughter."
"We did it it.", I tell her, letting my tears fall. I look up and see Dr. Greene holding Delaney. "Ana, she's precious."
"Is she ok?", Ana asks.
"She's perfect.", Dr. Greene replies over Delaney's cries. "Her lungs are defintely working. Christian, care to do the honor of cutting the umblical cord?"
"Hi sweet baby. We've been waiting to meet you. We love you.", I tell my newborn daughter while cutting the umbilical cord. One of the nurses takes her from Dr. Greene and starts cleaning her up. Moments later, Delaney is placed in my arms. I step around so Ana can see our miracle. "Hi Mommy."
"Hi Delaney Grace Grey."