I know it's been too long. Sorry. The holidays and everything. But I'm back and I hope you are still with me and will let me know. We're almost done with this story and then I'll start another. So, on we go.
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Chapter 31
And so, the night did come when in the middle of a sound sleep Addison was awakened by the gush of fluid. Her water had broken, and her first thought was so very Addison. 'I'm glad we changed to the least nice sheet set because now they're ruined, and I would have hated to ruin any of the nice sets'
The second thought was 'Holy Shit! I'm going into labor!'
Derek stirred. "What is it?' came his sleepy vice.
"I'm sorry to wake you up but my water just broke."
That woke him up in a hurry. "Holy shit! We've got to get you to the hospital."
"Yeah, that would be good. Do you want to call Nancy or should I?"
"I'll do it. You just grab your bag and then we'll go." He was already reaching for his phone and pressing Nancy's number on speed dial. "Hello. Nancy. Addie's water just broke. I'm going to take her to the hospital now."
"All right, Derek. I'm on my way and I'll see you there." Then the connection was broken.
"She's going to meet us there. So, let's get going." He paused, noting the look of terror on Addison's face. "It's going to be all right, Addie. You got this and Nancy and I will be with you every step of the way."
"I know…it's just…"
He smiled at her. "I know. It will be fine. Come on. Let's just go."
And so they went. Nancy was there and Addison was admitted promptly.
Once Addison was in her hospital gown and all situated Nancy smiled at her. "I don't have to tell you that we're going to be here awhile since it's your first baby, but you'll be all right. Derek and I will be with you every step of the way."
Addison smiled weakly but still looked terror stricken. "Nancy, I don't think I can do this."
"But Addie, you're an expert at this. Of course you can." Derek was shocked.
"Derek can I see you over here for a minute? We'll be right back, Addison." Nancy pulled him aside.
"Derek, it doesn't matter how much of an expert in this field she is; right now, she isn't; that expert; right now she's just a patient and it's her first time going through this. You're an expert brain surgeon, tops in your field too and you want to tell me that if you needed brain surgery, you'd be all cool, calm and collected and not scared and terrified out of your mind."
"You're right. I didn't think of it that way. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, just go back there and be there for her, giving her the reassurance, she needs. Because she can do it and it's your job to make her see that. Got it?'
"Got it. Let's go." And they went back to Addison.
"How are you doing, Addison?" Derek asked.
"Not good. I hurt and I'm uncomfortable. I know I'm supposed to be an expert in all of this, but I'm really scared."
"It's different when it's you, Addie and you've never done this before. At least not as the patient. But you are doing very well. It will be all right." Nancy was very confident and reassuring.
"All right. You're right. I can do this. It won't be easy bit I can do this."
Labor was very intense. Often Addison wanted to just push and get it over with but she knew she wasn't dilated yet. If she was, Nancy would tell her. There's no way Nancy would unnecessarily torture her. The actual torture was wanting to push and knowing she couldn't and why.
Finally. "You can push now, Addie."
"Really?"
"Yes."
But at this point Addison was so tired she couldn't. "I can't do it."
"Yes, you can." Derek's voice came from behind her where he was holding her up. He kissed the top of her head. "You can and you will bring our little girl into the world. She's counting on you, Mommy."
And that did it. "Here goes." And she screamed and she cried and she pushed and it seemed to take forever but at long last it was done. A cry was heard.
"Congratulations Mommy and Daddy. You have a brand new baby girl." And just like that everything she had gone through was totally worth it to Addison.