Hi guys, I am so so sorry for the long wait. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I am thinking of doing another chapter where they bring the baby home so let me know if you guys would like to read that.
Gale was exhausted. Her due date had passed 2 days, and her baby was still showing no signs of wanting to make her grand appearance. She felt bloated and huge, and every time the baby moved she felt a nagging at the back of her mind. Little Tatum seemed to love to let her mother know she was still living carefree inside her.
Dewey was working the night shift, so Gale decided to try and take her mind off her feeling of uncomfort and write. Sitting in her comfy chair in the computer room, Gale was surprised that for some reason her mind was racing with ideas. God knows once the baby came the writing would be delayed, so she was trying to get the creative juices flowing and write as much as she can. She had written a decent amount in a short span of time, so she was feeling proud of herself.
Her cell phone rang loudly, the noise blaring in her ears. Looking at the phone Gale saw it was Dewey. She smiled softly and slid the bar over to answer the call.
"Hi honey." she spoke into the phone softly, running a hand over a swollen bump.
"Hey baby. How you feeling?"
"I'm tired and exhausted. And feel huge. She's been moving around like she's taunting me."
Dewey laughed and Gale rolled her eyes, she could see his smug face in her mind.
"It's not funny! You don't even know how uncomfortable I am." Gale whined out the last couple words and then groaned at the sound of herself. It was quiet over the phone for a few seconds. Dewey must think he annoyed her.
"I'm sorry," she sighed "I'm not really angry. Just impatient. I wanna hold her so bad."
"Me too. Listen, I'll be home soon. Maybe we can go for a walk or something to help jumpstart the labor like the Doctor said."
"A walk at midnight?"
"I'll be with you, I'll keep you safe."
Gale smiled and again caressed her belly. She gripped the edges of the desk the computer sat on and tried to maneuver herself out of the chair. Finally she got up, and felt a rush of wetness around her thighs, heard it hit the floor below her.
"No fucking way…" Gale said, holding the phone close to her ear and looking down at the floor. She must have zoned out for a few moments because when came to, she heard Dewey on the phone questioning what the issue was.
"Gale? Gale...are you okay?"
"Dewey...get home soon. My water just broke."
It was quiet over the phone for several moments before Dewey answered "I'm leaving right now." He then hung up.
Gale slowly tread away from the water, taking her time and heading to the closet where the towels were. She retrieved a towel and brought it back to the study, placing it over the puddle of water and muttering "that's disgusting." before walking out of the room. A sharp pain hit her and she held onto the doorframe, the contraction lasted about a minute before it ended. Gale took a deep breath and tried to keep walking, eventually making it to the nursery.
She grabbed the bag with the baby's coming home clothes along with her bag. She was currently in her flannel pajama pants and one of Dewey's larger t-shirts, so she decided against changing into another outfit. She took the two bags and made her way downstairs to wait for Dewey in the living room. She had another contraction sitting on the couch, groaning her way through the pain.
The front door flew open and in came Dewey with the funniest look of panic on his face. Gale laughed and motioned for him to come over.
"I'm okay. I had two contractions, they're like seven minutes apart. It's gonna be okay." She reassured him as he had a particular knack for worrying about her. She watched as Dewey visibly took a deep breath before he eyed the two bags. He looked back at her and brushed some hair out of her face before he kissed her and Gale immediately responded, cupping his cheek and smiling into the loving kiss.
He broke the kiss and stood up, grabbing bother her hands to help her up as well.
"Okay, let's go meet our baby." he said, bending over to grab both bags. "Are you sure everything is in here?"
"Yes I went through it at least 50 times in the past two weeks."
Dewey led her to the front door, helping her down their front porch steps and into the car, and with that they were off to the hospital.
Apparently their daughter had heard all their complaints about her lateness, because she was keen on trying to make her appearance as soon as she could. Once she got checked into the hospital she was greeted by Doctor Russo who told her she was about 7 centimeters dilated.
"So that means she should be here soon! I'll be back in about a half hour and we'll see where we can go from there." Dr. Russo smiled and walked out of the room.
Dewey himself was feeling a little nauseous. As much as he could not stand to see his wife in pain, his heart was racing with the excitement of getting to meet his little girl. Gale was softly holding his hand, squeezing tightly when she was hit with contractions, which were appearing every 3 minutes or so now. Dewey focused on his own breathing, and willed himself not to pass out during the upcoming events.
Gale opened her eyes after another breathtaking contraction and smiled up at Dewey. He again brushed a few strands of sweaty hair out of her face.
"She's gonna come out and look so scary." Gale laughed softly, watching as Dewey's eyes lit up.
"All babies are a little scary when they're boring I guess, hopefully she looks like you."
"She's gonna look exactly like you. I already know."
"Hopefully without the mustache."
They both laughed before Gale went into another contraction. Dewey watched as her face scrunched up in pain, felt her squeezing the life out of his hand before it ended.
Suddenly Dr. Russo came into the room, a bright smile on her face.
"Alright! Lets deliver a baby." said Dr. Russo.
Gale and Dewey eyed each other anxiously, watching the doctor prep for the next step of the labor process.
After an hour of pushing and Gale's groans of pain, Dewey was finally greeted with the most beautiful noise he had ever heard. His daughter screeching her little lungs out, finally making her entrance for the entire world to hear. Dewey watched as the nurses plopped their little girl onto Gale's chest, probably for warmth and comfort. He was in a daze until the nurse asked him if he wanted to cut her umbilical cord. Gale looked up at him finally, with the biggest smile on her face and nodded at him to take the surgical scissors. He cut the cord and then the nurses whisked the baby off to be cleaned.
He took his chance to grab the abandoned chair in the back of the room and pull it up next to the hospital bed. Grabbing Gale's clammy hand he asked her "Are you okay?"
"I'm perfect. I hope they bring her back soon."
"Did you see how much hair she had? All black, just like you."
Gale smiled, taking a deep breath and trying to relax into the bed. Finally, a nurse came back holding their now swaddled daughter.
"Here's your baby." she smiled widely at the new parents. "7 pounds 5 ounces and 19 inches long. She is quite the cutie" The nurse extended her arms and gently placed the baby into Gale's. Once she was in her arms, Gale felt like her entire world had just restarted. Her babygirl was finally here, and she was absolutely perfect.
Dewey stood back up again to look at their baby, and he fell in love immediately.
"Look Dewey," Gale said softly "She's ours." She looked up at him, tears in her eyes and then back down at their baby.
"Hi Tatum." Dewey said, getting choked up at the name honoring his late sister.
"She's the cutest baby ever."
"I think we might be a little bit biased but I agree." Dewey chuckled, still in awe of their perfect daughter.
"Here, do you remember how they taught us to hold her?" Gale maneuvered the baby so Dewey could hold her. He grabbed the baby and held her close to him, tears streaming down his face as he observed her squished face, the tiny wisps of hair peeking out of the tiny pink cap on her head.
"My little Tatum…you are the best thing to ever happen to me." He spoke to her softly. The baby yawned and did a little stretch and Dewey laughed yet again.
Gale smiled watching father and daughter bond. She knew Dewey had waited for this day for months, years even. She always knew he would be an amazing father. Watching them together Gale tried to relax, knowing her life would now be changed forever, but in the best way possible.