"How's Mary Ellen?" Emma said to Grandma as she burst into the house with Ben and Jason.
"She's all right, in a lot of pain though." Grandma shook her head sadly before soaking some towels. Emma began helping her. Grandma nodded thankfully at her, before bringing them into her and Grandpa's room where Mary Ellen was giving birth. "Zeb and the others are God knows where, and I say that in reverence."
Emma bit her lip when she saw Mary Ellen on the bed, in obvious pain. "Where's Curt?" Mary Ellen moaned, holding her stomach in discomfort.
"Jason is on his way to find him and tell him, next." Emma said, going to help Grandma with the towels.
Hours of labour went on, and finally Jason arrived with Curt and Erin. Curt reluctantly stood outside the door, protesting that he was a doctor. But Grandma stood her ground, wanting her first grandchild born the traditional way. Jim Bob and Elizabeth had finally appeared after ten minutes, and were scolded and sent to bed. John and Grandpa had also arrived, and after hearing the news, felt extremely guilty for being away at such an important time.
"Ahh!" Mary Ellen screamed. Erin went white and backed out of the door, her hands wringing behind her back. Emma felt sick and tired.
Ben paced the kitchen. "Do you think she's all right?"
Curt swallowed hard. "She's Mary Ellen. She'll be fine." John sat on the couch, frowning. He did not like the idea of his eldest daughter in any pain, never mind childbirth.
Finally a baby's cry filled the room. Mary Ellen rubbed her forehead, and leaned back on the bed at last. Emma glanced over at Olivia who had just cleaned the baby and was handing it over to Mary Ellen, and now Curt, who had ran as fast as he could into the room.
"It's a boy." Olivia smiled, her own forehead streaked with sweat. John smiled and wrapped her in his arms.
Curt grinned and kissed his wife's head, looking down in awe at his baby boy. "What're you gonna call him?" Emma smiled.
"We decided on John for a boy." Curt said.
Mary Ellen pecked his lips. "John Curtis Willard."
Ben, Emma and Erin walked out of the room happily and floated up the stairs. "I feel like I'm walking on air." Erin said dreamily.
"Night." Ben waved at them, and headed into his room to change.
Emma yawned. "Night."
"John Curtis Willard. John Curtis Willard." Elizabeth repeated to herself over and over.
Emma smiled over at her. "Excited?"
"Very! But mama said we aren't allowed in there until they wake up." Elizabeth sighed.
"Well it does make sense." Jim Bob grinned.
"Think about it. John, John Boy and John Curtis. I wonder what the next generation's first boy will be? John James?" Erin giggled.