I lay in the hospital bed, watching as they began to prep me for a C-section. Due to the size of my baby, they didn't want to me to give birth vaginally. Akisame sat at my side, waiting. I had been scheduled for a C-section later that week, closer to my due date. I was worried, but the doctor assured me that everything was fine.

"Nurse," I called. "I feel a lot of pressure." She walked over and lifted up my hospital gown, putting her hand between my legs and checking me. Her eyes went wide and she rushed out of the room. I looked at Akisame, alarmed.

I heard a gentle knock on the door and looked up to see Sakaki standing there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Behind him, Apachai carried brightly colored balloons that said, 'It's a girl!', Shugure who held a large stuffed bear, Kensei who had a soft receiving blanket printed with bunnies, Hayato who held the car seat we had forgotten with a little pink hat inside and Kenichi and Miu who held a camera and a stuffed bunny.

"Come in," I said with a smile.

"How's it going?" Sakaki asked, setting the flowers on my bedside table.

"Is baby here yet?" Apachai asked.

"Not yet," I said. "We're waiting for the doctor." Everyone positioned themselves around the room, Sakaki, Apachai, Miu and Kenichi in the chairs set around and Hayato by the door while Shugure perched on the dresser and Kensei stood by the window.

The doctor walked in and looked around surprised.

"Is this…all your family?" he asked.

"Yup," I told him with a smile.

"Uh huh," he replied. "Well, it seems that we won't be doing a C-section today."

"Why not?" I asked, alarmed.

"The baby isn't going to wait long enough for us to prep the room," he replied. "You're fully dilated. You're going to have to push."

"Can I get an epidural?" I asked.

"We can't," he replied. "Not with you being this far along."

"Well fuck," I said. "Dammit, Kimiko, you just couldn't wait!" Akisame took my hand and squeezed it.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asked. I sighed and nodded, sitting up more.

"Okay, let's get going," I said. The doctor nodded and put on a mask and gloves, putting my legs up and checking me.

"Okay, who's the daddy?" he asked. Akisame held up his hand while everyone else pointed at him.

"Okay, Daddy," the Doctor said. "You're going to be holding up one of her legs, who else wants to hold her other leg. I need someone strong."

"Apachai will do it!" Apachai cried and moved over to the bed.

"Okay, Daddy, Apachai, you're going to keep her from breaking my stir-ups by holding her legs under the knee," the doctor explained. "And Mommy, when I say push, push, okay?"

"Got it," I said, giving him a thumbs up. Akisame and Apachai did as the doctor said, each holding a leg while the doctor got everything ready. He moved between my legs, seated on the rolling stool and pushed my gown back.

"Okay, Mama, push," he said. I did, clenching my muscles and baring down. I gasped and took a breath, then began pushing again.

"Damn," Akisame cursed.

"She strong," Apachai said. I opened my eyes to see the men were sliding across the floor from the force of my legs.

"Hold them tighter, guys," the doctor said. "You'll have to push against her."

"OUW!" I cried. "Apachai!"

"Sorry," Apachai said.

"Let me do it," Sakaki said, taking Apachai's place and gripping my leg. I began pushing again, feeling the baby slowly making her way through the birth canal. It hurt and I screamed in pain.

"Shit, woman, you're strong!" Sakaki grunted, pushing back against my leg.

"FUCKING HELL!" I cried as the baby pushed against my opening.

"Here she comes," the doctor announced. "Keep pushing."

"FUCKING GOD DAMMIT ALL TO HELL!" I screamed as the baby's head breeched. I was sweating buckets; drenching the bed and making it harder for Akisame and Sakaki told hold my legs. I kept pushing, feeling the shoulders make their way through. That was the most painful part and I heard the doctor swear. After that, the baby came through easily. The doctor handed her to a nurse who wrapped her in a towel.

"Do you hand to cut the cord, Daddy?" she asked as she tied it off. Akisame took the scissors and cut the umbilical cord with a smile. The nurse then took Kimiko away to clean her. I pushed out the placenta, which was disposed of, then the doctor pulled out a needle, thread and a spray bottle.

"You tore a little," he said. "I'm going to have to stich you up."

"Fuck," I swore, flopping back on the bed. The doctor applied the anesthetic and began stitching me up.

"Almost done," he said.

"I shouldn't have to tell you that you're not getting sex for a good while," I told Akisame. He chuckled and leaned over, kissing me.

"Of course, dear," he said.

I sighed as he wiped the sweat from my face and neck, giving me sweet kisses the whole time. I looked over at him, smiling.

"Are you crying?" I asked. He nodded, brushing the stray tears from his eyes.

"A little," he admitted. I hugged him, letting him press his face into my neck.

"Hunny," I cooed.

"You were great," he said, more tears wetting my neck. "It was beautiful."

"Baby," I sighed, tilting his face up and kissing him. I pulled back and saw tears flowing down his cheeks. I looked over at everyone to find more than a few wet eyes.

Miu, Sakaki and Apachai were bawling like babies while Kensei, Hayato and Kenichi were discreetly wiping there tears away. Shugure was smiling at me, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. The nurse brought Kimiko over, wrapped in the blanket Kensei had brought, wearing the hat the Elder had gifted. I held her against my breast, unwrapping the blanket to inspect her.

"How much does she weigh?" I asked the nurse.

"4309.1 grams," the nurse replied. Sakaki whistled. I counted ten fingers and toes, two perfect arms, two strong legs and a sweet face with a thatch of wild black hair, striking black eyebrows, a cupids bow mouth and a cute button nose. Everyone leaned over the bed, cooing at her. As if sensing she had an audience, she opened her eyes and looked around. She had my eye color, though her pupil was a strange navy blue color.

"Is she blind?" I asked.

"No," the nurse said. "She's in perfect health." She looked around at the sea of faces leaning over her and turned to nuzzle into my breast.

"She's beautiful," Akisame sighed. Kimiko jerked her head towards the sound of his voice. He reached over and held her hand, letting her little fingers curl around his index finger.

"Hello little one," he said. "I'm your Papa." Kimiko gripped his finger tightly.