A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers.
Chapter 103
Maddie woke with a start and looked around her bedroom trying to get a handle on what had roused her from her slumber. From what she could tell nothing out of the ordinary was going on. The red digits on the alarm clock beside her bed told her that it was five minutes past midnight. Her husband slept peacefully beside her. Every so often soft snores escaped him. She laid there for about fifteen minutes and tried to go back to sleep before she gave up on that notion.
She put her hand on her swollen belly and stroked it lovingly. "Hey, Whiskey, are you moving around in there and waking your momma up?" She spoke softly to her unborn son. "You hungry? I could eat. That's no shock to you, though. You're the one who is making me this hungry." She got out of bed and made her way down to the kitchen. Just as she opened the cabinet to get a snack a sharp pain hit her and she knew it was a contraction.
She went back upstairs and shoved JC roughly to wake him up. "Jimmy, wake up."
JC turned over and grumbled. "Maddie, let me sleep. I promise you that everythin' is ready for the baby and there's nothin' I need to get up to do right now." She had been in a nesting phase and she was driving him crazy with it. This was far from the first night she'd woke him up to do something to get things ready for the baby.
"Jimmy, you need to get up right now. I think the baby is coming for real this time. These aren't Braxton hicks. I need you to take me to the hospital." She explained to him patiently.
He jumped out of bed and got dressed quickly. "You should have said that to begin with. I'll grab the bag you go get in the truck. Are you gonna call your momma or do you want me to? I know that you want her there in the room when he's born."
"I'll call her." She replied. She left him to finish getting ready and went out to his truck.
Rayna and Deacon both met them at the hospital. They had gotten Rhett to come over and sleep on the couch to be with the kids.
"Hey, baby girl, I already got the paperwork started for you. They have just been waitin' on you to get here to do an intake exam to see what's goin' on with you and the baby." Rayna greeted her daughter.
"Thank you for doing that for us, mom." Maddie groaned from the wheelchair. She took JC's hand and gripped it tightly as another contraction hit her.
"No problem, sweetheart." Rayna kissed her head.
A nurse came out to take Maddie back for an exam.
"Jimmy, give me the bag and I will take care of it. You need to go with your wife. Don't be nervous. Everythin' is gonna be ok she has you and your momma there for her." Deacon took the bag off his shoulder.
"Thanks, dad," JC followed after Maddie and Rayna.
It didn't take long for the doctor to determine that Maddie was in labor. Deacon met them when Maddie was finally placed in a room.
Deacon kissed Maddie's forehead. "Alright, sweet girl, you're 'bout to give me my first grandchild. You lean on your momma and you lean on your husband. The next part is up to you. I can sit here, read my book, and leave the room when the doctor comes in to do exams or I can read down in the waitin' room."
"I want you in here for as long as you can be in here. Of course, you leave the room when they come in to do exams and I go into labor, but I can't do this without you too." Maddie answered him.
"That sounds good to me." Deacon bent down and kissed her belly. "Whiskey, I can't wait to meet you, little buddy. I know that your Aunt Evie is just waitin' on you."
"Tennessee, tell pawpaw that you can't wait to meet him either." Maddie put her hand on her belly.
"Maddie, I called Hailey, but I told her and Max that they don't have to rush up here just yet. Sydney will be in and out of here a few times and she can tell them when they need to come up. I also called my momma and daddy and they are gettin' on the jet to fly up here now." JC reported.
"That sounds good to me." Maddie replied.
"Sweetheart, if you need anythin' at all you let me know and I will get it for you. I want you and Jimmy focused on each other and this little boy right now. I don't want him to miss a minute of this labor." Rayna reassured her.
"You're gonna be here when he's born aren't you?" Maddie asked her.
"Of course, I am. Not even callin' security on me would keep me outta this room to see my grandson born." Rayna encouraged her.
"We wouldn't dream of havin' this baby without you bein' in this room. First of all because Maddie needs you and so do I. Secondly, because we both know how much it means to you since you couldn't have your momma with you when you had your babies." JC told her.
"Well, this means the world to me and there is nowhere else in the world I rather be right now. My first baby is havin' a baby and I couldn't be happier 'bout that." Rayna smiled at them both.
"I'm just here for moral support and to read my book. I don't have time to read this book unless someone is in labor. I'm thinkin' if this boy takes too long to get here I may by accident finish it." Deacon picked up his book and began reading.
"Mom, I'm really sorry that I pulled you away from Evie." Maddie apologized tearfully.
"I have time for all my babies. Evie is a very good baby and she sleeps through the night. She already had her one feedin' and she is perfect." Rayna assured her.
"Maddie, do you want some ice chips?" Deacon asked her.
"I would love that. I think they are coming in to give me the epidural any minute now anyway." Maddie replied.
Deacon took that as his cue to leave.
"I want you to know how much you just made his day. He loves that you want him to be here with you while you're in labor even if it's just to sit here and read that awful book on Teddy Roosevelt that he reads at least once a year." Rayna kissed her forehead.
"I want him in here to read his stupid book because he wasn't there the day I was born. At least least we can have this together until it's time for me to push." Maddie responded.
Rayna held her hand. "It means the world to both of us that he can be here for this. Did you call Teddy?"
"I called him and he's on the way here. He was actually in town for a change. He can pop in to say hi and then head out to the waiting room." Maddie answered her.
"I would just like for there not to be any drama." JC sighed.
"Jimmy, nothin' is gonna happen I will make sure of that." Rayna promised him just as the doctor walked in to give Maddie the epidural.
Deacon was on his way back to Maddie's room with her ice chips when he ran into Teddy. "Teddy," he nodded in his direction.
"Deacon," Teddy returned the greeting in kind.
"I think we are stuck out here in the hall for a minute. Maddie is gettin' her epidural. I went to get her some ice chips to stay outta the way." Deacon informed him.
Teddy leaned up against the wall. "So, how's that new baby girl of yours?"
Deacon pulled up a picture of Everly on his phone and showed it to him. "She's pretty damn perfect if I don't say so myself. You can't tell I had a damn thing to do with makin' her."
"Congratulations, she is beautiful. She is the spitting image of her mother." Teddy observed.
"She really is. She has her daddy wrapped 'round her little finger just like her momma does too. Not that her three older sisters don't too. I love that my baby girl looks just like her momma. One of them had to." Deacon replied.
The doctor came out at that moment. "Ok, grandpa, it's safe for you to go back in now." She directed her comment at Deacon.
Deacon went back into the room ahead of Teddy. "Hey, y'all, look who I found in the hallway." He pointed at the other man.
"Hi, dad, I'm glad that you could make it." Maddie smiled up at him.
Teddy leaned over and kissed her temple. "I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else right now. It looks like I came at good time since they just gave you the epidural. I wanted to say hi and let you know that I will be out in the waiting room waiting for the chance to meet this little guy."
Deacon sat the ice chips down on the table beside her. "I got your ice chips and now I am goin' back to my book. Try to get some sleep, baby girl."
"I'm gonna head out to the waiting room just let me know when he's here." Teddy added. "Deacon, are you coming?"
Deacon settled into the chair he'd been in with his book. "No, I'm good right here."
"Of course, you are." Teddy grumbled and walked out the door.
"Let me go handle that." Rayna excused herself.
Teddy stood right outside the door with his face in his hands.
"Teddy, you ok?" Rayna asked him.
"How come he gets to be in there, but I don't? I was there the day she was born and I'm relegated to the waiting room, but Deacon gets to sit in there by her side. I was the one who was there for everything. I walked the floor with her when she was sick and I kissed her skinned up knees when she was learning how to ride a bike. Now it's like I'm nothing to her." Teddy demanded.
"That's why he gets to be in that room right now, Teddy. We took everythin' else from him that shoulda been his with his daughter. This is our first grandchild. Don't do this right now and don't do this to Maddie. This isn't 'bout you. If she wants her daddy in there 'til she gets ready to push then that's what she's gonna get. You let Maddie and Daphne down Deacon didn't. That is on you not him. I can't take much more of this shit from you." Rayna told him coldly furious.
"Ok, I'll be in the waiting room." Teddy shook his head and walked off.
Maddie labored for a few hours before it was time for her to push. That was all Deacon needed to hear to get out of dodge.
Rayna took one of her daughter's hands. "Ok, baby girl, it's time for you to become a momma. You've got this. I'm right here for you."
JC kissed Maddie's forehead and took her other hand. "Let's bring our little boy into world, babe. It's 'bout ready to be three of us instead of two of us."
"I'm so ready for this." Maddie squeezed both their hands tightly.
"Go on and push." The doctor told her.
It didn't take long at all before the loud ringing cries of their newborn son filled the room. JC cut the cord when the doctor asked him if he wanted to. The baby was cleaned up, weighed, and bundled up and put on Maddie's chest.
"Oh my God. Hi, my baby, you are so damn perfect. Your momma loves you so much." Maddie kissed his little face.
JC put his hand over his mouth and tears filled his eyes. "He is so damn perfect."
"Did, you wanna hold your son, daddy?" Maddie offered the baby up to him.
"I really do." JC took the baby from her. He held him close to his chest. "Hi, little man, I'm your daddy and I love you more than I will ever be able to say. You are without a doubt your momma's boy already. That's fine with me. I've waited my whole life for you and you were worth the wait." He kissed his son's head. "Mawmaw, you ready to meet your grandson?"
Rayna had tears running down her face. "I sure am."
JC placed the baby in her arms.
Rayna cradled the baby in her arms and rocked him gently. "Little boy, you look like a Claybourne. You are the spittin' image of your momma. You're gonna look just like your pawpaw when you grow up. Listen up, buddy boy, you're my very first grandson and the bond we have ain't no one ever gonna be able to break. Just know that I know all your tricks. I raised your momma and I know what she's like. I've never felt a love like the love I feel for you right now."
"Mom, can you go get daddy to meet his grandson now?" Maddie asked once the doctor had finished up with her.
"I can do that." Rayna told her.
Deacon was sitting in a chair with his head thrown back snoring.
Rayna woke him up with a soft kiss on his lips.
Deacon opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Hey, babe, what's up?"
"Your daughter wants you to come meet your grandson." Rayna kissed him again.
"Lead the way then." Deacon followed her back into Maddie's room.
Maddie was sitting up in bed holding the baby and JC was sitting beside them.
"Maddie, he is beautiful." Deacon just caught a glimpse of him and he knew he was totally in love with his grandson.
"Come hold him." Maddie told him.
"He's really excited to meet you." JC added.
Deacon took the baby from Maddie and just stared at him in awe. "Oh, my man, you are one of the great loves of your pawpaw's life and I just met you."
"Daddy, JC and I are honored for you to meet Deacon John Tennessee Claybourne-Grayson." Maddie announced.
Deacon put his hands over his eyes and started crying. "You didn't have to do that for me. I am beyond honored to have this little boy share a name with me. His Uncle Deac is gonna get a kick out this too." He held his grandson to his chest. "Listen up, Whiskey, pawpaw has never known a love like the one he has for you before. You share a first name with a great man, a flawed man, and an ok man. You are gonna be so much more than me, your great-grandfather, and your great-great-grandfather. If your daddy is willin' to share you with me I can't wait to give you your first guitar lesson. I have so many plans for us together."
"Dad, Maddie and I wouldn't have it any other way. We both want you to give Tennessee his first guitar lesson. We want him to learn from the best of the best. I think he has the innate talent too. He looks just like you and his momma." JC spoke up.
Deacon smiled from ear to ear. "I do see the Claybourne is this boy. But, and this is a scary thought I see Vince in him too. We are all gonna have to watch out for this one. I know Vince is lookin' down right now and smilin'. I have one thing to say to him. Vinny, the first grandchild was named after me, I win." He looked up toward the sky.
"Will you do us the honor of tellin' him 'bout his granddaddy?" JC sniffled trying to hold back tears.
"I sure will." Deacon put his hand behind the baby's head and held him up to his face. "Tennessee, let pawpaw tell you 'bout your granddaddy. He would have been so happy and proud to meet you. You see he was my very best friend, he can't be here with us now, but he is your guardian angel. It's my job to love you for the both of us. I was hell on wheels and he was a demon between the two of us you have some bad genetics to get past, but you have so many people who love you that it won't be a problem for you. You're gonna have to give your mawmaw some hell on your granddaddy's behalf. He loved her like he was her big brother, but he loved to tease her too. One day when you're old enough to understand and there ain't other people 'round I will tell you a good story 'bout Vinny. I can't wait for you to meet my momma and daddy. Your great-granddaddy is named Deacon too. I'm so proud to be able to call you my grandson. I hope that in the years to come you and I are very close."
Maddie wiped a tear away from her eye. "Daddy, you have got to stop talking to him so sweetly. My hormones and emotions can't handle that."
"Well, he's my first grandchild and I love him so much. You're just gonna have to deal with that." Deacon shrugged his shoulders.
Will and Mack walked into Maddie's room. Will was carrying a gigantic Teddy bear.
"Hey there, momma, you look gorgeous for a woman who just had a baby." Mack was quick to shower Maddie with compliments and kiss her cheek.
"Mack, I'm a momma now." Maddie put her arms around his neck and kissed his forehead.
Will sat the Teddy bear down for her. "Where is the new daddy?"
"He is off getting me a snack. He will be back any minute." Maddie answered him.
Will looked down at the baby sleeping in his bassinet. "Can I?" He washed his hands with sanitizer.
"Not only can you, you better." Maddie told him.
Will picked the baby up. "Hey, little dude, I'm your Uncle Will. Thank God, you look just like your momma. I'm so happy to get to meet you. You are gonna give your Uncle Mack baby fever."
Mack laid in the bed beside Maddie. "How you doing?" He cuddled with her. "Will, don't you tell that baby lies. You want another child just as much as I do."
"I'm ok. I feel like I was hit by a truck, but Deacon John Tennessee was worth every bit of it. And y'all should give me another niece or nephew. Baby Tennessee needs a friend his age." Maddie hugged Mack.
"I love his name. He is named after one of my favorite people in the world. And he is the son of my best friend." Will teased her.
"My sister is so up for another pay day. We are just waiting for a minute." Mack told Maddie. "Will, let me see our nephew." He held his arms out.
"Go see your Uncle Mack, but know I'm way cooler than the hockey player." Will handed the baby to Mack.
"Hello, baby Tennessee. Uncle Mack is very happy to meet you. Your momma is one of my very best friends in the world. So, baby boy, you can always count on me to be there for you. You can always tell me your secrets and I will keep them for you." Mack spoke to the baby.
"Oh God, I leave the room for one minute and two thirds of the super friends have had a chance to talk to my son. The only way this could be worse is if Casey were here." JC came back with food for Maddie.
"If it makes you feel any better I talked to him too. He's had a chance to talk to two thirds of the Texas trio." Will reassured him.
"Well, that's somethin' to be thankful for." JC shrugged and laughed.
"Come here, man," Will hugged JC tightly. "He is beautiful, congratulations. He's his momma's son. You and Mack will be able to bond over that. He's salty 'cause our kids look like me instead of him."
"I love that he looks like his momma. I love her and I love him even more 'cause he's hers and 'cause he looks like her." JC smiled deliriously happy.
"For what it's worth that's how I feel about that smart mouth and our kids." Mack chimed in.
"Those two really are trouble together. I don't know why they try to make us get on to them." Maddie rolled her eyes.
"I do know why they do that to us. They like to get a rise outta us." Mack laughed.
"Just so y'all are aware Tennessee is gonna be Lacey's baby. She loves babies." Will pointed out to them.
"She likes every baby, but Billy." JC pointed out to him.
"She's over that she loves her baby brother now. She no longer wants us to sell him." Mack informed him.
"That's good. I can't believe you didn't bring your two house apes up here with you." Maddie told them.
"Daddy needed a break. I've been alone with them for way too long. Mack has been on a road trip and I haven't been on tour. We don't have a nanny when one of us is home." Will told her.
"I know, Will. You are poor and abused and you husband makes you watch your kids by yourself." JC teased him.
"Make fun of now, but in just a few months when that one gets a little more independent that's gonna be you." Will clapped him on the back.
"I think I'll be able to handle him just fine." JC retorted.
"That's what you think now, but trust me you will change your tune." Mack cut in.
"I'm up for all the help we can get." Maddie wasn't about to think that she could do it all without some help.
A/N: Here is the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Until next time please review.
