Previous Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 56

The ladies arrived at the hospital, Olivia pulled up to the emergency entrance. There were a couple of nurses waiting for them with a wheelchair. They got Natalia out of the car and Olivia went to park. Olivia grabbed their bags and made a mad dash into the hospital. She caught up to Natalia as they were about to get on the elevator.

"How are you doing Princess?" Asked Olivia as they entered the elevator.

"OK. Contractions are still a bit apart."

"Good. Good." Said Olivia as she gave a squeeze to her wife's hand which she had not let go of since entering the elevator.

The elevator dinged on the Maternity floor. The ladies and the nurse exited toward the nurses station. There they saw a waiting Dr. Butler.

"How are my favorite two moms to be?" Asked Dr. Butler.

"I'm fine, but this one here is a nervous ninny." Replied Natalia pointing to Olivia.

"Don't worry so much Olivia. She's in good hands. Come on, we have your labor room ready."

The doctor led them to Natalia's labor room. There, the nurse and Olivia helped Natalia change and get settle on the bed. Olivia was putting there bags out of the way while the nurse was taking Natalia's vitals and hooking her up to the fetal monitor.

"There we go; all set for now. The doctor will be in shortly. Use the call button if you need anything." Said the nurse.

"Thank you." Replied Natalia.

Olivia finished settling things in and returned to her wife's side.

"Well, we made it. You still doing OK?" Asked Olivia.

"I'm fine, Sweetheart. Just tired. I didn't get much sleep before the contractions started."

"OK, then you try and relax some. Once you these guys start to come, you won't have much time to rest."

"I know. You think Dr. Butler would be upset if you were to join me in bed, at least for a little while. I just don't sleep or rest very well unless you are beside me."

"As big as you are, Princess, I don't think we'll both fit."

"Oh? Watch this."

Natalia turned onto her side and move over to the edge, making sure not to dislodge the fetal monitor. She left enough room for Olivia to spoon her behind. Olivia gently sat on the bed then turned to spoon Natalia. Olivia then pulled the additional blanket up to their waists; she slipped one arm under the pillow that Natalia was resting her head on and the other draped across her wife's stomach to lie on her very pregnant abdomen. Olivia nuzzled the back of her wife's neck, through the black locks of hair. Finally reaching skin she gave her wife a chaste kiss.

"I love you, Princess."

"I love you too, Olivia."

Olivia wasn't sure how much time had passed when she heard the door open and the doctor and nurse came in. Olivia slowly got out of the bed and Natalia returned to her back as the doctor spoke.

"OK, Natalia. Let's take a look and see how much longer it will be." Said Dr. Butler.

The doctor reviewed the readout from the fetal monitor then did an external exam.

"OK, ladies. Not much longer. We probably have enough time for your epidural and a few minutes for you to see your visitors before you deliver."

"Visitors? They got here quick." Said Olivia.

"Would you send them in?" Asked Natalia.

"Just as soon as we get the epidural going."

The anesthesiologist came and put in the epidural; then helped settle Natalia back in bed and left. Rosita and Rafe came in first.

"Ma, you doing OK?"

"Fine, Rafe. Ready to have your new baby brother and sister."

"OK, well, you've got a line of folks waiting to see you, so I'm gonna go. I love you." Said Rafe as he gave his Ma a kiss and a hug, then a hug to his Mom before he left.

"I love you too, Rafe."

"Tali? I am so glad to be here now. I wish we hadn't lost those 20 years, but your Papa and I are going to be the best grandma and grandpa we can be for the next 20 years plus." Said Rosita as she leaned down to kiss her daughter.

"Thank you Mama."

"I've talked to your Papa. He and Tony are on their way."

Rosita stepped over to Olivia and gave her a hug as well before exiting the labor room. Next came in Sam with Ava and Emma. Emma ran straight over to her Ma.

"Ma! How long before Rolo and Reese are here? Asked Emma.

"Not too long Jellybean. Come here."

Sam lifted Emma onto the hospital bed to sit beside Natalia.

"Emma, you know you will always be my Jellybean. My heart is plenty big enough to love all my children, no matter how many your Mom and I have. Each one of you has a special place in my heart that only you can fill." Said Natalia as her eyes diverted from Ava to Emma.

"I know Ma; I love you too. I can't wait to help with Rolo and Reese and play with them and teach them."

"What are you going to teach them Bean?" Asked Olivia.

"Well, I want to teach them about the ducks and how to feed them. I want to teach them how to make cookies like Ma. I want to teach them all the neat hiding places in the farmhouse. I want to teach them which stairs creak."

"Emma?" Replied Natalia with a disapproving tone.

"What? So they won't wake up you and Mom when you fall asleep on the sofa and they want to go to their room." Responded Emma in a not so convincing manner.

"OK you, let's go. Let's give Ava and minute with her moms." Said Sam as he gave Natalia a quick kiss.

"Sis, I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to meet my new niece and nephew." Said Sam to Olivia as he and Emma headed towards the door.

"Mom, I brought my art kit. I'm going to make "Welcome to the Spencer-Rivera family" cards for Rolo and Reese. Can we hang them in the nursery?" Asked Emma to Olivia.

"You bet Jellybean. Now, you go with Uncle Sam. As soon as your brother and sister arrive, I'll come find you, OK?"

"OK, I love you Mommy."

"I love you too Em."

Sam and Emma left leaving the ladies with their oldest daughter.

"You both know how happy I am for you, that you found happiness with each other. After I lost my adoptive parents, I never thought I would feel part of a family again. Then I found you, Mom. I had you, Emma and Sam; but now it is so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I just wanted you both to know that and how much I love you."

Natalia held her arms opens inviting Ava for a hug. As they came together Natalia kept one arm open for her wife to join them. As they pulled away, they each were fighting to hold back tears.

"Ava, I'm so proud and thankful that you are my daughter too. Having you in our lives and back home, well, you've made your Mom so very happy and me too. I know Rolo and Reese are going to be so blessed to have you as their big sister, to watch over them and protect them. I couldn't ask for a better person to be their big sister."

Ava fought a blush; not something that is easily accomplished for the Spencer side of the Spencer-Rivera family.

"OK. I'm going to go now. As soon as Grandpa and Tony get here, I'll let you know. So if you have time, you can see them."

"Thank you Ava."

Ava left and the ladies were left by themselves.

"How are you doing?" Asked Olivia.

"OK, the epidural is kicking in."

"It probably won't be long now."

The nurse came back in and checked the read out from the monitor again and left. Shortly Dr. Butler returned. She said it was time. They got Natalia ready and before long she was in full labor, pushing, breathing and screaming.

"OK, Natalia. You are doing great. I can see the head. Push on the next contraction and you should pass the head and maybe the shoulders." Said Dr. Butler.

"AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!"

"You are doing great Princess! Just great. Breathe." Said Olivia.

"Great Natalia one more and the first baby will be out. Come on. Then you can rest until the next one is ready. Big push! Big push! Now!" Added the doctor.

Natalia bared down and pushed all the while with Olivia right there, encouraging her, loving her. The next sound heard was that of a newborn baby announcing itself to the world.

"It's a boy! Olivia would you like to do the honors?" Said the doctor.

The nurse assisted Olivia as she cut the cord. Olivia got a quick peak at him before the nurses took him to clean him up and check him over.

"Wow what a set of lungs?" Said Natalia.

"He is beautiful, Princess. Wait till you see." Said Olivia who was half hugging her wife.

Then Dr. Butler brought their beautiful baby boy over to them.

"Here you go moms. Meet your son." Said the doctor as she placed the newborn into Natalia's waiting arms.

"Look Olivia. Our son."

"He's perfect. Look at that full head of black hair."

"He's got your nose Olivia."

Just then the baby somewhat smiled.

"Oh my God. Look! He's got your dimples!"

"Oh, my sweet baby boy. I love you so much and your Mom loves you so much."

Natalia passed the baby to Olivia.

"Hey there Rolo. Welcome to the world. Your Ma and I promise to be the best moms we can be and make sure you grow up to be a strong and loving man ready to rule the world, just like your big sister Emma."

Just then the monitor beeped alerting everyone that Reese was now ready to make her appearance. A nurse took Rolo and helped prepare Natalia for baby number two.

"How do you feel Natalia? Ready to do this again?" Asked Dr. Butler.

"Not really, but I don't have much of a choice. I could have used a few more minutes of rest."

"Alright on the next one you can push."

Natalia felt the contraction coming and she began to push. The doctor saw she was crowning. A couple more pushes and Reese will be here.

"Let's try and get the head on this next one." Said the doctor.

Natalia pushed and pushed harder than she ever had before; but this didn't seem to be happening the same as it did with Rolo. She had tried twice to pass the head but it wasn't working.

"OK, Natalia. Relax just a moment for me." Asked the doctor.

"What's wrong?" Asked Olivia.

"Just a moment Olivia." Replied Dr. Butler.

The doctor was exploring the birth canal around the baby's head.

"Alert the OR, let them know to prep for an emergency C-section and that we are on our way."

"Gail, what is it?" Asked Olivia near in tears.

"Ladies, the umbilical cord is around your daughter's neck. We have to take the baby by C-section or risk choking her during birth. It's going to be OK. Trust me!"

The entourage quickly filed out of the labor room on the way to the OR. Baby Boy Spencer-Rivera was taken to the nursery.

"Can Olivia come with me?"

"No, I'm sorry." Replied a nurse.

"Gail, please. I'm familiar with a sterile environment. The whole time Natalia was in a coma, I had to scrub in and glove up. Please!"

"OK, but won't be close enough to hold her hand, but you can talk to her."

There were settled into the OR. Olivia kept giving words of encouragement to her wife as the doctors and nurses performed the C-section. In just a few short seconds, newborn cries filled the OR. It was the most wonderful sound the women had ever heard. They took the baby and cleaned her up. They gave her to Olivia first, so they could finish up with Natalia and close her up.

"Oh, look at you my gorgeous little girl." Said Olivia as she walked over to Natalia.

"Baby girl, this is your Ma." Added Olivia as she held the baby for Natalia to see.

"Hey there, little one. I'm so glad you are here and are OK. You are very special to me and your Mom." Said Natalia as she played with the baby's fingers.

A nurse took Baby Girl Spencer-Rivera to the nursery. The doctors still had to finished up with Natalia and she told Olivia to go tell the family about the new additions to the family. Olivia gave her wife a quick kiss.

"I love you Princess. I was so scared…"

"Ssshhh. Sweetheart. I'm fine. Our babies are fine."

"I don't know what I would do if I lost…"

"You aren't going to! Now go tell our family and I'll meet you back in my room with our son and daughter."

"OK. I love you."

"I love you too, Olivia."

Olivia left the OR and stepped into the adjacent room to discard the scrubs and gloves. Afterwards, she stepped over into the corner and slid down the wall in tears. Tears for what almost happened; she almost lost her daughter and her wife.

TBC…