Chapter 34

3 OR 4 MORE CHAPTERS AND THIS STORY IS DONE.

It was Christmas morning, Amanda's first Christmas with them. Amanda bought a collection of graphic T-shirts for Olivia, Peter, and her new baby brother. They were all in 3 separate boxes. One set had "You're Killin me Smalls" and the onesie said "Smalls". Another said "I'm the Boss", "I'm the Real Boss", and "LOL OK". The next set had "Mommy" and "Daddy" with a low battery picture, then "Baby" with a full battery picture. She even had a set for her, "Life Goal: Survive My Teenage Daughter". The fourth box was a huge painted portrait that she had Darius make, it was a picture of painted hands of a family of four holding each other's wrist to make a circle. It was a mom, dad, daughter, and younger son's hands and arms. He even made sure to add the details of Peter's and Olivia's rings, so it looked like their hands. In the middle was a sentence, "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

Amanda snuck in their bedroom and climbed in the middle of them with four big boxes. "Merry Christmas mom and dad!" Amanda had a huge smile on her face. She passed them each a box. "I hope you like it. This box is for the baby and I'll open it for him. We really need a name."

They opened it and read every shirt and Amanda found the matching baby ones. They really loved the teenage daughter shirt, because with all sneaking around and sex stuff, she was giving them a run.

Peter had an idea, "Amanda is there a name you like?" Amanda smiled, "You would actually let me do that?" Olivia's eyes went wide, "Within reason, maybe." Amanda laughed, "I like Noah." They both smiled, "Amanda we love it!"

Amanda gave them the last box, "Open it!" Peter unwrapped and passed it to Liv. She took the top off, "Oh my gosh Amanda! Babe look!" Peter and Liv held it amazed, "Darius painted it. I told him what I wanted and he made it happen. I hope you like it." They hugged her, "We love you so much. Come on your turn." They walked into the family room, to the Christmas tree. Amanda saw lots of boxes, "Most are for you, but why don't you go get Lucy, so she can open her stuff."

They both returned and everyone opened their stuff. Amanda didn't think it was possible to get anything after her birthday. Her and Lucy both got refrigerators for their bedrooms and Apple TV's. Lucy hugged them, "Guys you shouldn't have, let me start breakfast." Amanda got tons of clothes, two pairs of Jordan's, the new iPhone and Apple Watch. "Thanks mom and dad!" Amanda enjoyed her family time.

A few days after Christmas, they planned an outing for Kat. Kat was a New Years baby, so they knew everyone would be together, but they went to see the trees and skate at Rockefeller Center. Melinda and Olivia sat in an indoor cafe and watched them skate.

"You can't skate, but at least you're here this time. Liv can you believe it's been almost a year?" Olivia had tears in her eyes, "So much has changed. Are you ready to be an official mom? Oh what about Fin?" Melinda smiled, "I am. She's been more open with me. I was a little jealous of your relationship with Amanda. She tells you everything. Kat's coming around. I'm putting her butt on birth control though. Liv I had to control my face when I heard some of the stuff. Strip poker Liv and she's not even good at it." They both laughed.

On New Year's Eve they watched the ball drop and had a blast. "Babe she fell asleep. How heavy do you think Amanda is now?" The next day, everyone gathered at Fin and Melinda's for New Year's dinner. Fin stood up and announced, "Alright birthday time! Kat we love you!"

They lowered the lights, Olivia helped Amanda bring out the cake. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" Kat blew out the candles, the lights came on, and she read the cake, "Happy birthday Kat Tamin Tutuola". She looked up, "No?" They passed her a box with papers, and Fin added "That's if you want us." Kat jumped up and hugged them. "Mom last year was good, I think this year will be even better." Olivia kissed her head, "I think you're right baby."

After the holidays, it was time to return to school and work. Amanda and Kat were excelling in school and sports and the boys were doing great with school and their job. All the parents were glad they were able to have less time together.

Peter and Fin showed up at the basketball game alone and at halftime instead of going to the locker room, Amanda asked Ms. Novak if she could speak to her dad. Melinda or Peter not showing up was one, but Liv was at every game, because she was on desk duty. "Dad where's mom?" Peter never lied to her, "Don't panic, but she's at home on bed rest. Doctor's order until she has the baby." Amanda was terrified. She heard him and it was no comfort, "I want to go home! I want to go now!"

Peter laughed, "Your mom said you would do this. Here because she promised I would FaceTime." Liv's face popped up on the phone, "Mom are you ok? I want to come home." Olivia smiled and showed her in bed with her feet up and Lucy sitting in bed beside her, "I'm fine and I want you to play your best game ever for me. He's just big and my blood pressure is a little high. I just can't work and she wants me to stay home. I can walk around the house but I can't leave until I have the baby, which might be sooner than we think." Amanda felt a little better, "Lucy will you take care of her until I get home?" Lucy smiled, "I will and since I'm not back in school yet I will be here everyday."

Amanda gave Peter his phone, "Ok I love you." Olivia smiled, "Hey I love you too and I want more points and you need to stop fouling." Amanda smiled, "How did you know that?" Olivia winked "Your dad is recording live for me." Amanda explained to Ms. Novak and Peter gave her a thumbs up. Amanda finished with 23 points, 13 assists, and 5 steals. She didn't pick up one more foul.

When she got home she went straight to the bedroom. "Come here." She took off her stuff and climbed in bed. Olivia held her, she was still her baby, "I feel him kicking mom. Can I sleep with you tonight?" Peter heard her, "No we aren't starting that Amanda. She's fine." Olivia felt her heart speed up and she grabbed her tight. "Baby go change, let's eat dinner, and you get to pick the TV show tonight in this bed."

Amanda got up and stuck her tongue out at Peter, "Nice baby, did you see that?" Olivia sat up, "I did! You know she's sensitive and if you felt her heart race you would relax. Let her lay in here, fall asleep and put her in her room. Pick your battles, because I'm reducing stress. Now give me a kiss." Peter kissed her, "She's such a cock blocker." Olivia laughed, "Well great, now you will have two."

They ate dinner, and Peter helped Olivia to the bathroom, after they found Amanda sitting in the middle of their bed with the remote. She jumped up to help Olivia lay on the bed. "Babe isn't Amanda sweet for helping me in the bed?" Peter agreed, "Yeah sweet. If she sticks her tongue out at me again, I'm getting my belt." Amanda picked the show and was out for count before it ended. "See babe, the games wear her out. How hard was that? Now put her in her bed."

Getting Amanda to go to school, once Lucy went back to school was more than difficult. Olivia actually had to get her belt and threaten her within an inch of her life. "Amanda get your stuff and go to school, Lucy is only gone today for three hours." They promised she could be in the delivery room, but that was about to be taken away. "Ok! I'm gone."

On February 4th at 3AM Liv woke up screaming. She woke the entire house. Amanda ran in the room and Peter rolled his eyes, "Amanda hold it together I don't need you freaking out." Amanda was so excited, she had been sleeping fully clothed and ready to go, "It's ok Amanda my water broke." Amanda had been reading up on the birth, she was so helpful while Peter and Lucy gathered everything. "Amanda take the bag for me." She listened very carefully to everything Peter said and was surprisingly calm.

They got to the hospital and Liv was admitted. Peter gave her directions, "Ok Amanda they are going to get her in the room, start the IV, give her meds, and when all that's done I'm going to come out and get you. I love you. Stay with Lucy until then." Lucy sent out the text to everyone, but told them not to rush. Peter came to get Amanda who fell asleep in Lucy's lap about 2 hours later. "Hey wake up sleepyhead."

Amanda rubbed her eyes, "Did I miss it?" Peter shook his head, "Not a chance! Come on." Amanda walked in, "Hi Dr. Roberts! His name is gonna be Noah." She gave Liv a kiss. "Ok everything looks good, but we still have a while. Keep breathing ok."

Amanda slept in between the screams and curse words. At one point she told Peter, "Get the fuck away from me." Peter looked at Amanda who's eyes were really big. Then Olivia looked at Amanda, "Come here baby, sit beside me." Amanda hopped on the stool, brushed hair away from her face and put a cool towel on her head. She waited for the contraction to stop "Mom, I know you're mad at dad, but I might have to get your ruler, because Noah can't hear those words." Olivia laughed, "I needed that laugh, but you just remember when he's actually here."

At 8AM, Dr. Roberts said it was time to push. Amanda was on one side and Peter was on the other. Olivia pushed and Noah was ready to come out. "Ok Olivia, this may be hard, but don't push, because he's a little big and I don't want you to tear ok?" Dr. Roberts was doing something, then she told her to push again.

The next thing everyone heard was crying. Dr. Roberts held him up, "Here's Noah! Dad, do you want to cut the cord?" Olivia was smiling, "Mom, look he has your brown hair." Amanda watched them carry Noah to this table, they took footprints, fingerprints, stuck him with a needle, and cleaned him off. They brought him back swaddled in a blanket and handed him to Olivia. "Hi Noah!" Olivia cried. Peter held him while they finished with Olivia, "Come here Amanda and hold him." Once everything calmed down, breastfeeding was done, Peter went out to tell everyone the news, "Guys Noah Benson Stone was born at 8:34AM." Everyone hugged him.

You can start coming in two at a time, but she needs to rest. Kat perked up, "Where's Amanda?" Peter laughed, "Taking care of her mom and brother. I couldn't get her to come out. Everyone was rotating in and out, Melinda and Fin were last and the snuck Kat in, "Congratulations! We're Godparents." Lucy stopped in before going home. "You want me to take her?" Pointing to a sleeping Amanda. Peter looked, "No, she'll have a fit. We've got her. Thanks Lucy."