Ten minutes later, Ashley and Robert were looking at Emma. Dr. A looked at the monitors and then looked at Ashley.
"Ashley, I need you to push so we can deliver the placenta" Dr. A said.
Ashley nodded. She took a deep breath and pushed. Ashley then looked at Dr. A, who looked concerned.
"What's wrong?" Ashley asked.
"Ashley, the placenta is not coming out. We need to do surgery to deliver it" Ashley said.
Ashley looked at Robert, who looked at her.
"It will be alright. We talked about this" Robert said smoothing Ashley's sweaty hair back.
Ashley looked down at Emma and kissed her head softly. She then looked at Dr. A.
"Okay, let's do it" Ashley said.
Dr. A smiled softly. Ashley placed Emma into a nurses' arms so that she could be looked at by a pediatrician. Dr. A then prepared Ashley for surgery. An hour later, Dr. A and two nurses were wheeling Ashley's hospital bed to the operating room. Once they got to the surgical floor, Dr. A looked at Robert and Ashley.
"Rob, this is as far as you can go" Dr. A said.
Robert nodded. He leaned down to Ashley's level and kissed her lips softly. Ashley held Robert's face in her hands.
"I love you" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"I love you too, baby" Robert said.
"Check on Emma and see if the pediatrician is done testing" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"I will" Robert said.
Ashley leaned in and kissed Robert's lips one last time. She then was wheeled through entrance of the surgical floor. Robert walked to the waiting room of the labor and delivery floor and saw his and Ashley's family. Everyone looked at Robert as he entered.
"Rob" Everly said.
Robert looked at Everly and swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. Everly stood up and walked over to her older brother and wrapped her arms around him.
"Are Ashley and the baby okay?" Everly asked.
"I have a daughter" Robert said.
Everly smiled. She tightened her grip on her brother.
"How is Ash?" Everly asked.
"She's in surgery. Dr. A is removing the placenta" Robert said.
"Are you okay?" Everly asked.
"I think I am on an adrenaline rush" Robert said.
Everly smiled. Robert sat down with his family and waited to hear any news on Ashley's surgery. Ten minutes later, the nurse that was working with the pediatrician came into the waiting room.
"Robert Bolton?" the nurse called.
Robert stood up and walked toward the nurse.
"Would you like to meet your daughter?" the nurse asked.
Robert smiled. He looked at his and Ashley's family, who nodded. Robert turned back to the nurse and nodded. Forty-five minutes later, Ashley was wheeled back into a new hospital room. Robert was holding Emma in his arms. He looked up from Emma when he heard movement coming from the hospital bed. Ashley opened her eyes slowly and looked at her husband and Emma.
"Hi mama" Robert said.
Ashley's eyes filled with tears.
"Is she okay?" Ashley asked softly.
Robert smiled and nodded.
"Perfectly healthy. She was six pounds, six ounces, and nineteen inches long. Would you like to hold your daughter, sweetheart?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded. Robert walked over to the hospital bed and placed Emma carefully into Ashley's arms. Ashley looked down at her daughter and smiled.
"Emma" Ashley breathed.
Robert smiled. Ashley looked up.
"Did you tell our families?" Ashley asked.
"I told Ev. She probably told everyone else" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. She leaned down and kissed Emma's head softly.
"How are you feeling?" Robert asked.
"A little sore. But, nothing major" Ashley said.
"When Dr. A came in to talk to me about the surgery, she said that you will have to stay an extra day before going home" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. She was focused on the newborn in her arms.
"Is everyone still in the waiting room?" Ashley asked looking up at her husband.
"Yeah" Robert said.
"Can you bring Ev and Eli? They should meet Emma first" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"Okay. I will go bring them back here" Robert said.
Robert was about to leave the room when Ashley called his name. He looked at his wife.
"I love you. Thanks for making me a mommy" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. He walked back to Ashley's hospital bed.
"I love you too. Thanks for making me a daddy" Robert said.
Ashley smiled.
"Go, before everyone starts asking questions" Ashley said.
Robert nodded. He walked out of the hospital room and went to the waiting room. Everyone looked at Robert.
"Ev and Eli. Ashley is asking for you" Robert said.
Eli and Everly stood up and followed Robert to Ashley's hospital room. They walked into the hospital room.
"Do you guys want to meet your goddaughter?" Ashley asked.
Everly and Eli both nodded.
"Who wants to hold her first?" Robert asked.
Everly and Eli looked at each other and then looked at Robert and Ashley.
"Ev should go first. She is her aunt" Eli said.
Everly smiled softly.
Everly sat in the chair that Robert had previously sitting in. Robert carefully picked up Emma and carried her over to Everly. He placed his daughter into Everly's arms. Everly looked down and smiled.
"What's her name?" Eli asked.
"Emma Hope Bolton" Ashley said.
Everly was silent. Robert watched his sister hold Emma. He heard Everly sniffle. That's when Robert lost it. Tears ran down his cheeks. Everly looked up at her brother with tears running down her face.
"She's beautiful" Everly said softly.
Ashley smiled. Everly leaned down and kissed Emma's head softly. She then looked at Eli.
"Let's switch so Eli can hold her" Everly said.
Robert carefully lifted Emma into his arms so that Everly could get up from the chair. Eli then took her place. Robert placed Emma into Eli's arms. Once Emma was out of his arms, Robert walked over to his sister and hugged her.
"You okay?" Everly asked.
Robert nodded.
"It reminded me of when I held you for the first time" Robert said.
Everly smiled. Eli and Everly left the room and the rest of the families came in to see Emma. Two days later, Ashley and Emma were being discharged from the hospital. Once they got home, Robert carried Emma into the living room and sat down on the couch carefully, laying his daughter on his chest.
"I'm going to take a shower. Will you be okay for ten minutes?" Ashley asked.
Robert smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. I got her. Go take a shower, baby" Robert said.
"Okay" Ashley said.
Ashley walked into their bedroom and picked out her clothes and took a shower. Ten minutes later, Ashley came out of the bathroom and smiled when she saw Robert still laying on the couch with Emma. She walked into the living room.
"Did she cry?" Ashley asked.
"A little bit. I think she's hungry" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"I can take her" Ashley said holding out her arms.
Robert carefully placed Emma into Ashley's arms. Robert sat up so that Ashley could sit down next to him. Ashley pulled down her shirt and brought Emma up to her breast and watched her eat her afternoon meal.
"Your parents' leave tomorrow?" Robert confirmed.
"Yeah. They probably will want to see Emma one last time before they leave" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Maybe they can come over for a little while tomorrow" Ashley said.
"Yeah" Robert said.
The next day, Ashley's parents left to go back home to Las Cruces. They told the couple to update them on how Emma was doing. Robert was changing Emma's diaper when the doorbell rang. Ashley walked to the door and opened it, revealing Gabriella.
"Hi Gabi, come on in" Ashley said.
Gabriella walked into the apartment. Ashley shut the front door behind them.
"How are you feeling, honey?" Gabriella asked as she hugged her daughter-in-law.
"Tired. We were up all night with Emma" Ashley said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I remember that feeling" Gabriella said.
The two women walked into the living room and smiled when they saw Robert holding Emma.
"Hi Rob, how is she doing?" Gabriella asked kissing her son's cheek.
"She's doing okay. I think she is going to fall asleep" Robert said.
"Why don't we put her in the pack and play?" Ashley suggested.
Robert shook his head.
"I want to hold her" Robert said.
The two women smiled.
"She would be a lot more comfortable and you could have a break, bud" Gabriella said.
Robert sighed and walked over to the pack and play and carefully laid his daughter in it. He made sure that Emma wouldn't cry and then looked up at Gabriella and Ashley.
"So, how has it been so far?" Gabriella asked.
"Fine. It reminds me a lot of when Ev and East were born" Robert said.
Ashley smiled.
"He doesn't put her down at all. I have to ask him to hold her" Ashley said.
Gabriella smiled sympathetically.
"You've got eighteen years to hold her" Gabriella said.
"I know. I just love holding her" Robert said.
Emma started to cry. Ashley walked to the pack and play and lifted Emma.
"I'm going to go feed her" Ashley said.
"Okay" Robert said.
Ashley walked into the bedroom and shut the door so that she could have some privacy.
"How do you feel, daddy?" Gabriella asked.
Robert chuckled.
"I'm so happy that she's here. I love her so much" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I want to protect her from everything" Robert said.
Gabriella looked at her eldest son.
"I know. But, you need to let others be in her life too, bud" Gabriella said.
Robert nodded guiltily.
"I know that your dad's stuff is coming up and you want to be there for everything, but you need to relax a little bit" Gabriella said.
"I know. I just don't want to blink and she's four years old" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled. She patted the seat next to her. Robert walked over to the couch and sat down next to his mother.
"Your daughter is going to be the apple of your eye. You are and will continue to be in her life. She's going to coming running home to you when she's happy, sad, mad, and everything in between when she's older" Gabriella said.
Robert smiled.
"I hope she does" Robert said.
Gabriella smiled.
"She will" Gabriella said.
Ashley came out of the bedroom and Robert looked up at her.
"I just put her down" Ashley said.
Robert nodded. A week later, Robert walked into his parents' house holding Emma in his arms. He walked into the living room and Easton smiled.
"Hey Uncle East, Emma wanted to say hi" Robert said.
Easton stood up and walked over to his older brother and niece. He held his arms out and Robert carefully placed his daughter into Easton's arms. Easton looked at Emma and smiled.
"Hi Emma" Easton said.
"She's a little sleepy from going to the pediatrician today" Robert said.
"Why did she have to go? Is she okay?" Easton asked looking up at Robert.
"She had to get a couple of shots, which was so painful to watch. Ash cried" Robert said.
Easton kissed his niece's head.
"But, she is okay otherwise?" Easton asked.
"Yeah. She's perfect" Robert said.
Easton smiled. Emma started to cry. Easton's eyes widened.
"Just gently bounce her, East. She will calm down" Robert said.
Easton gently bounced Emma in his arms. Emma's cries stopped.
"It's just Uncle East, Emma. I'm going to give you back to your daddy, okay? I love you" Easton said.
Robert smiled. He walked closer to his brother and lifted Emma from his arms.
"Is Ev home?" Robert asked.
Easton nodded.
"But, only for a little while. She has a date tonight" Easton said.
"A date? With who?" Robert asked.
Easton shrugged.
"Do you want me to go upstairs and get her?" Easton asked.
"No, we will walk upstairs" Robert said.
Robert walked upstairs with Emma in his arms. He walked to Everly's bedroom door, which was closed, and knocked. Everly opened the door and smiled.
"Hi Emma" Everly said.
Robert carefully placed Emma into his sister's arms. Everly looked at her niece and kissed her head softly.
"I heard that you have a date tonight" Robert said.
Everly smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. Do you want me to call you after, dad?" Everly asked jokingly.
Robert laughed.
"No. I just didn't know that you were starting to date again" Robert said.
"It's been two years since Luke. I think that I need to meet someone new" Everly said.
Robert smiled.
"I'm happy for you, Ev. If you need back up, you can always call your girl, Emma" Robert said.
Everly smiled. She kissed Emma's head softly.
"She's never going to be allowed to date" Everly said.
Robert shook his head.
"Daddy has to approve of every guy she meets" Robert said.
Everly giggled.
"Auntie Ev has to approve too. But, I'll make sure to call you and tell you how it goes" Everly said.
"Good. You know that I live vicariously through you" Robert said.
Everly smiled. She looked down at her niece.
"How's dad life been?" Everly asked.
"It's been amazing so far. Everyone keeps telling me that it looks like I'm holding a baby Everly in my arms" Robert said.
Everly smiled.
"We were the original duo. No one can top our relationship" Everly said.
Robert smiled. Everly and Robert talked for a little while until Robert left the house with Emma. At two in the morning, Robert was holding a crying Emma in his arms. He tried to soothe her, but nothing was working. Robert checked his daughter's diaper and brought her to the changing table. He quickly changed his daughter's diaper and lifted her back into his arms. Robert threw the dirty diaper into the trash can that was next to the changing table. Emma's cries gradually became whimpers, which then turned into silence. Robert kissed Emma's head softly and brought her back to his and Ashley's bedroom. He carefully placed their daughter into her pack and play and smiled when she fell asleep. Robert climbed back into bed. Ashley felt the bed shift and opened her eyes.
"What happened?" Ashley asked sleepily.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep" Robert said.
"Did she cry?" Ashley asked.
"I changed her diaper and put her back to bed" Robert said.
Ashley placed her head on Robert's chest.
"I have to get up soon to feed her" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Go to sleep, baby. You are still recovering" Robert said.
Ashley kissed Robert's cheek and fell asleep. An hour later, Ashley was sitting on the glider in Emma's room with Emma in her arms. She looked down and smiled as she watched her daughter eat her late-night meal.
"Is she okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley almost jumped out of the chair.
"Sorry" Robert said.
Ashley sighed. She looked up at Robert and smiled softly.
"She's hungry" Ashley said.
Robert nodded. He sat down on the ottoman that was across from the glider.
"I was going to take her over to my parents' house tomorrow so that they could spend some time together and we can catch up on sleep" Robert said.
"Was that a question or were you telling me that you were doing it?" Ashley asked.
Robert looked down. Ashley's face softened.
"I'm sorry" Ashley said.
Robert shook his head.
"You are her mother. She's our child. We both need to make decisions" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"To answer your question, it's okay if you take her to your parents' house" Ashley said.
"Okay" Robert said.
Ashley looked down at Emma, who was now laying her head against her chest. She gently patted Emma's back until she burped. Ashley stood up and walked closer to Robert, who was now standing. Robert leaned down and kissed his daughter's head softly.
"Good night, baby" Robert said.
Ashley smiled. She then kissed Emma's head and walked back to the master bedroom, with Robert following. Once in the bedroom, Ashley placed a now sleeping Emma into the pack and play. The couple climbed into bed. Ashley snuggled into Robert's chest.
"I didn't mean to snap at you like that" Ashley said.
"It's okay, Ash. I understand. I'm not mad. We are both her parents. We both need to know where she is" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"I should have phrased it as a question rather than telling you" Robert said.
Ashley leaned in and kissed Robert's lips softly. Robert kissed Ashley back. Ashley pulled away slowly.
"But, catching up on sleep sounds nice. Thank you" Ashley said.
Robert nodded. The couple fell asleep. Parenthood has started with a bang.