Emily was startled out of her fitful attempt at sleep by a loud bang, followed by a string of curses. She sat up suddenly, mind immediately landing on the worst case scenario, only to find Lucy bracing herself on the bedside table, having knocked everything off it in the process of enduring the contraction.
Emily moved to knead her back with her knuckles, quietly coaching her through the pain.
When she could breathe freely again, Lucy said, "You weren't supposed to wake up..."
"Why?" she asked. "What were you doing?"
"Decorating," she mumbled with a sweeping gesture at the meagre attempt at beautifying the room – red streamers and balloons and a handwritten sign that said Happy Birthday Emily (and Baby)! It was admittedly a little pathetic, but it was the best she could manage while pausing every four minutes to breathe through a contraction.
Emily smiled softly, "Oh, Ella...you're in labour, you don't have to worry about that." She paused to pick up the shards of popped balloon, the sound of which had woken her. "You're very thoughtful, though."
"No, I'm not!" She sniffled, dropping unceremoniously onto the edge of the bed. "I'm a bad wife!"
Emily knelt in front of her, squeezed Lucy's hands. "That's not true, Lucy. I don't expect you to throw me a party – hell, I'm amazed you even remembered while in the throes of labour." She smiled gently, kissed the backs of her hands. "Maybe when you're released from the hospital, we can celebrate."
"I'm sorry I've been such a bitch lately," Lucy mumbled, changing the subject. "I didn't mean to yell at you about laundry...or how loud you snore...or your coffee breath." She paused, winced. "God, how have you been putting up with me?"
Emily just smiled softly, standing to kiss her properly. "I can put up with a little bitchiness because I know you're dealing with a lot right now, all for the sake of growing our family."
Her eyes filling with tears, Lucy wrapped her in an embrace, clutching her as if her life depended on it.
"Now, would you please ask about the epidural?"
Eventually, Lucy gave in and got the epidural – after a total of twenty-eight hours of labour with no end in sight, having only gotten to six centimetres dilation. At that point, pain signals under control, she was able to sleep, for which Emily was extremely grateful.
After checking in on Clara, she placed a Facetime call to her friends overseas. "Happy Birthday!" Garcia trilled in greeting when she answered. In the background, JJ waved, opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the chance before Garcia interrupted, "I hope you're late calling because you were enjoying a little afternoon delight..." She waggled her brows for emphasis.
She just laughed, shook her head with a fond smile. "Actually, we're waiting on Baby," she said.
Garcia shrieked an ear-piercing sound. "I need to book a plane ticket!" she declared. "Ohmygosh, I can't wait to meet the little princess!"
"Don't leave just yet," Emily warned, "It's been twenty-eight hours so far and no baby yet..."
JJ winced. "Poor Lucy..." she murmured in sympathy.
"She just got an epidural, so we're hopeful that will move things along," Emily said. "My heart can't take her being in pain much longer..."
"Are you ready to be a Mommy again?" JJ asked in the hopes of distracting her. "I can't imagine what a big change it is from one to two..."
Emily smiled brilliantly. "I can't wait – I love Clara so much, I can only imagine how much I'll love having two. I'm excited to do it all again."
JJ and Garcia shared a soft smile at Emily's obvious adoration of being a mother – it was hard to believe sometimes that this woman who was so closed off, who rebuffed every attempt at getting close to anyone when they'd first met her had opened up so much, had come so far when it came to sharing parts of herself with other people...
Their conversation was interrupted by Lucy hollering, "It's time!"
"It looks like someone is about to make her entrance into the world," Emily announced. "Talk to you soon." Hanging up, she rushed to Lucy's side. "I'm here," she reassured.
Lucy just growled low in her throat as she arched her back, on all fours on the bed. "Call the doctor," she begged.
Emily pressed the call button. "Am I going to have to catch her again?" she joked, while knowing it was a distinct possibility.
"You might," she said shakily.
Emily cradled her new daughter in her arms, tears spilling down her cheeks. She looked up to meet Lucy's gaze. "I love you so much," she murmured, smiling tenderly. "And I love this little girl."
The baby blinked up at Emily with blue green eyes, little pink lips puckering in search of something to suckle.
"I think she's hungry again," she said, passing her back to Lucy. "I still can't believe how much she looks like you..." The similarities in appearance were undeniable, but seeing them side by side, it was breathtaking.
Pulling down her hospital gown to expose her breast, Lucy coaxed the baby to latch. "So, what's the little monkey's name?" she asked, looking up to meet her wife's adoring stare.
Settling next to her on the bed, leaning her head against Lucy's shoulder, she murmured, "I think she's an Aurora."
With a soft smile, Lucy said, "Aurora Emmeline...after her Mommy."
"Are you sure?" she whispered.
"Positive. She's going to be tough as nails, just like you," Lucy declared. "I can already see it in her eyes."
At that moment, Clara came rushing into the room, calling out, "Baby?"
Lucy laughed. "Come meet your little sister," she greeted, lifting her onto the bed.
Clara crawled up to stare down at the still suckling newly christened Aurora. "Baby?" she said, curious. Slowly, she reached out one finger to prod her cheek.
"Her name is Aurora," Emily told the toddler. "You can call her Rory."
"Wowa?" Clara repeated.
Emily laughed. "That's right, Rory is your baby sister."
She nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "Wuv Wowa," she announced, leaning down to kiss the baby's cheek.