Chapter 45

Steven pulled himself up and looked around the room, Fez and Laurie were holding hands heads down, Michael and Brook had their arms around each other, both with tears in their eyes. Angie was sitting alone, looking like she was trying to hold herself together. He wanted to get out, to walk around, but he knew he needed to be there. He got up and walked over to his sister and pulled her to him, he felt her arms go around returning the hug. "I need air or something…"

Kitty walked over to him, "There is a walk out right there to a balcony, you can step out there and still be here when the doctor comes back." She pointed to a door that lead to a garden balcony, flowers and such not yet coming to life this early spring day. Steven let go of Angie and walked to the door and stepped outside, the sun was just starting to peak over Point Place, funny he could see the water tower from there looking at him, giving him the finger. Why didn't they just go back and paint over the whole thing? The markings from their senior prank stared back at him. He had gone back shortly after and covered up the Jackie that Michael had put up there that night, he changed it as a joke to Fez. Maybe coming out here was not the best idea, the door opened and Eric stepped out.

"Hey just wanted to make sure you are doing OK"

"No I am not, I thought I was going to be with her holding her had when our son was born, I don't know how men did this before just waiting here. But this is worse, the not knowing if they are both going to make it."

"Look that kid is going to be a combination of you and Jackie, he's too stubborn to give up and not fight"

"I can't lose her again man, without her I am in this dark hole with no way out. It was worse this last time, even before I realized she was not even here. I feel like this is some sort of punishment for the asshole I have been, like God is finally paying me back for how I treated her over the years. I've lied to her, I even went as far as giving her a poem telling her to die away from, I never told her when she needed to hear that I love her that I did. I couldn't even be there for her when she lost the baby last year"

Steven found a chair and sat down, leaning over and putting his head in his hands.

"Jackie lost a baby?" Eric took and pulled a chair and sat across from him.

Looking up he realized that Jackie and himself were the only ones that knew, "Last year when she was begging for me to see a future she was pregnant, she lost the baby the day before we went to the Packers game" he stood up and looked over the town, "she was so scared of losing this baby after I came back from Vegas, it was the only thing that kept her going as I shattered her heart"

"Listen, yes Jackie was crushed by everything that happened, but I know she never gave up hope that you would find your way back to her. That is what makes you two work so well, she is the eternal optimist and well you are you, but you together balance each other out. I know I once said you two were creepy and unnatural, but in truth you guys are completely opposite of that, you help ground her and she lifts you up. You guys are going to be amazing parents, you can teach him all about music and Jackie and teach him how to roller disco" That last part got the reaction he was hoping for when Steven gave him a glare.

"There is no way in hell my son is going to roller disco, Rainbow"

"Well he could always be a male cheerleader?"

"Um no"

"Well he'll have his Uncle Eric to give him Jedi training"

"Eric don't make me throw you over the side here"

About that time Kitty came out, "Steven the doctor is here"

He rushed inside, Dr. Stevens was smiling "They are cleaning up your son now, you should be able to see both Jackie and him shortly, the nurse will come in and take you up. Jackie was able to deliver the baby without us needing to operate, she did a great job and both pulled through. He weighs 7 pounds and 3 ounces and is 20 inches long, and has a full set of lungs letting everyone know he was not a happy camper. Though that is most babies leaving the comfort of their mother, he is just louder than most I have delivered."

Red was the first to break the silence after the doctors statement, "Forget Reggie, he is Loud One Jr."

Everyone was on their feet, laughing at Red's true statement and crying in relief taking turns at congratulating Steven and hugs.

Soon Karen came in, "Steven, do you have your car keys? My husband is here to take care of your car for you, and then I'll take you to Jackie's room. Everyone else I would suggest giving the new parents an hour before you bombard the room."

Steven reached into his pocket, and pulled out his keys to give to Karen, he noticed the looks, everyone knew Steven was not one to trust most to his car, especially after Fez hit Leo, "Jackie's water broke on the way here, so her husband is going to help take care of it"

Karen turned and handed the keys to the guy standing behind her. Red remembered this guy, "You bought my Corvette off me!"

"Hey Red, she's a bute still. Hear this El Camino is pretty nice too"

Steven looked at the two, "Red you want to show him the car in the parking lot, and you can hold on to the keys when he's done?"

The two men left, and Steven followed Karen to Jackie's room. "She's been pretty demanding wanting to see you and for you to see your son, but know you both need some rest and we suggest you try and get as much as possible now, because this little guy won't let you get a full nights sleep for several months, so make sure that Jackie takes advantage of having nurses around to help take care of him."

As they continued to walk, Steven could feel his exhaustion start, he had been awake over 24 hours. "How much longer are you working? You've worked all night."

"I am getting ready to head home, just wanted to make sure Jackie and the baby were fine and she got settled in her room. She'll have another nurse that was already in the room with her when I left. The doctors will keep both of them for a few days before you can take them home."

She opened the door for him "I'll let Kitty know her room number on my way out"

Steven turned to her before she walked away, "thank you for everything"

"Just doing my job, you just take care of your family"

Steven stepped in the room to find Jackie sitting up in bed with a bundle in her arms, Jackie had been staring down at her son before she looked up and met Steven's eyes and gave him a smile.

"Reggie there is someone very important here to meet you" Steven walked over and found a spot right beside her on the bed and sat down and looked at his son nursing. "I am surprised you didn't hear him when he was born, little Reginald Willliam has a strong set of lungs"

Putting one arm around Jackie and the other hand rubbing his son's head, "Yea the doctor was telling us, Red said maybe we should call him Loud One Jr."

"Of course he would, but it's not like he is quiet at times, when he found out about Eric and Donna's engagement or when he found me in your bed, he was anything but quiet."

Steven couldn't help but laugh, "Yea he raised his voice at me after I was arrested, but he was even louder when he told me I could stay and was louder chewing me out for taking the wrap for you"

"Well would you like to hold your son?" He had stopped nursing and was dozing, Jackie handed him to Steven and covered herself up.

Steven took his son and held him like they had practiced, the only time he had held a baby was Betsey and he didn't hold her till she was a few months old and could hold her head up. "Well he's quiet now" Steven just stared at his son in his arms, "How are you feeling?"

"Sore, happy, tired"

"Karen said we have an hour just us three before the others are allowed in, not sure if they are all going to stay or what"

"I don't even know who all was here" Jackie leaned her head on Steven's shoulder as he leaned back in the bed.

"Well you know Red, Kitty, WB, Angie, and Eric. But Fez, Laurie, Michael and Brook were all here as well. Kitty called Bob and Donna with updates. Why don't you get some rest for now" He looked over and her eyes were already closed and her body looked relaxed. "So buddy looks like it's just me awake now, let's see if I can move without waking you or your mom"

He carefully moved and put his feet on the floor, looking over to Jackie still asleep he moved over to the chair next to her bed. Relief that he was able to not wake either of them up. His son was all wrapped up, he didn't know even what color his hair was, he decided he was going to try and look at his son, he didn't realize that Jackie had woken up and was laying there watching him with their son. He reached up and took off is hat, a full head of blond curly hair, he moved his hand to run it over his son's curls. He knew over the years his own hair had darkened, Reggie's probably would too. He then felt the urge to see what he looked like under all those blankets, and started to unwrap him, at first he thought he was getting away with it till Reggie started to scream. Crap, now Jackie was going to wake up, he looked up from his screaming son to see Jackie smiling at him, "You woke him up, you calm him down." She just continued to lay there and watch them.

"Hey at least I got to see his eyes" he was wrapping him back up and working on calming him back down.

"Yea I did all that work to have a mini Steven, not sure if that is fair"

He couldn't help but laugh, well he has you loudness. He began to hum held Reggie to his shoulder, Reggie instantly calmed down. "I got him calm!" he relaxed in the chair that also reclined and carefully reclined in the chair.

"My Pudding Pop is superior in everything, of course you did" Jackie was struggling to keep her eyes open.

Steven looked over at her, "I love you Jacks, and I love this little guy too, you both are everything to me"

"Love you too Puddin"

"Not sure I want you calling me that in front of our son, don't want him to think he can call me that" but Jackie had fallen back asleep, and Steven was feeling the pull of sleep himself.

In the waiting room Kitty had left to make calls, Red was with Karen's husband working on cleaning up the El Camino. Eric looked at his friends, "Guys why don't we just let mom, dad and WB go in first and spend time with Jackie and the baby and we come back later?"

Angie looked up, she wanted to see Jackie and her nephew but knew Eric was right, grandparents had first rights. "That might be best, I am sure Jackie and Steven have to feel more exhausted than we do, we have all slept even if it wasn't much but more than they did."

Brook remembering what it was like when Betsey was born, "Michael, why don't we go home get some sleep then get Betsey from your parents, we can come up tomorrow, Betsey won't be allowed up here, but maybe your mom can watch her for a little bit tomorrow."

Laurie looked at Brook, "do you think it would be better if we came several instead of taking turns?"

"it might be best for more people to visit at the same time, maybe all of you can visit later this evening, maybe make sure to bring some food up, the hospital food isn't the greatest and they might not bring anything for Steven"

"Angie do you think your dad would mind if you took his car to drive me back to my house, I need rest, food and a shower and clean clothes before I see them anyways. You can crash in Laurie's old room if you want"

About that time WB walked up, "I called over to the office and Grooves to let everyone know. Laurie, Todd said if you could come in tomorrow for a while he and Randy want to visit, but understand that today is not going to work for you. They may bring Leo too."

"Dad we decided we would let you and the Foremans go visit first, Eric and I will come back later, Eric needs to get home and showered and changed. Do you mind if I take your car and take him and his stuff home, maybe Red can give you a ride back to Jackie and Steven's."

"that should work, it will be nice not to have to share my grandson with everyone right away."

Red and Kitty made their way to the group. "Bob and Donna were both ecstatic to hear the news, Bob said he was going to be sending something and Donna said she was going to come visit as soon as her semester is over. It sounded like Bob might come up to visit as well."

A nurse came into the waiting area, "I am looking for the Barnett family?"

"That's us" WB said.

"Ok, Mrs. Barnett is ready for visitors now, are you all coming?"

Eric stood up, "No just the grandparents for now, us uncles and aunts will are going to go home and be back later." He gave his parents a push to follow the nurse with WB. "Angie is going to take me home, we will be up later, I need a shower and clothes that haven't been in another country. Go start spoiling that first grandchild."

It had been decided that the aunts and uncles would come up later together, and Brook and Michael would come the next day after some rest and spending time with Betsey that hadn't been away from her mother this long.

Steven had woken up, to Jackie taking Reggie who had woken up rooting for food.

"I guess this is something I need to get used to"

"Yea, how about I feed him and you change him?"

"I don't know about all that, it's not like I can feed him. But we both can change him."

After he was fed and Jackie helped Steven change him, the nurse knocked on the door, "I have I believe three grandparents out here?"

Steven looked down at his son, "Are you ready to be spoiled more than any child should be?" Reggie just looked up at his father and gurgled. "Grandma Kitty gets a hold of you I am afraid she might not let anyone else hold you"

Kitty, Red and WB all walked in the room and right to where they had Reggie laying on the bed.

Jackie looked at them, "Where is everyone else?"

"Well Eric needed a shower and clean clothes, they all needed some rest and food, they should be up here later this evening." Kitty told them as she scooped Reggie up without a thought to the other two men in the room. "Oh my word, Steven he looks just like you!"

"Looks like me, sounds like Jackie"

"Oh Red our first grandchild, and he's named after both his grandfathers, I forgot how tiny they are"

"Kitty you can't hog him, I am sure WB would like to hold him as well." Red scolded his wife. "Jackie how are you doing sweetheart?"

"Better, it's a little overwhelming but fantastic at the same time."

"It is, you just relax and let the nurses take care of you and Reggie" Kitty said as she handed Reggie to WB.

WB was overcome, he didn't even know about his own son till just over a year ago, and now he was holding his grandson, that carried on the Barnett name. He just held him quietly.

Red reached into his pocket and pulled out Steven's keys, "Here you go Steven, your car is all clean, now that you have this little guy it may never be this clean again."

"Thanks, Red. Can you guys make sure that Eric brings his camera when he comes up, I want him to take Reggie's first pictures"

"Will do, we won't stay too long, you guys need your rest."

Steven walked over to where WB was sitting, "Hey dad"

"Son you and Jackie did good work on this one. He's perfect."

"Thanks dad"

"You cherish this time, you didn't have to wait 20 years to hold your son"

WB looked up, "Red I think it's your turn" He stood up and handed the baby to Red.

"I forgot how small they are" Red found himself lost for words and just stood there looking at his namesake. All of a sudden Reggie woke up and proproved to everyone he was Jackie's son and he wasn't happy. "Ok Loud One Jr time to go back to momma" He handed him to Jackie and started to root.

"I believe he's hungry, and these men are too, so we should be going" Kitty leaned over and kissed Reggie's cheek. "We might come back this evening"

After everyone left, Jackie started to nurse Reggie, Steven took a seat on the chair by the bed. "Maybe we should ler the nurse take him to the nursery so you can get some sleep"

"As long as you stay here"

"I'll be here till they kick me out"

The nurse came in to check on Jackie and Reggie just as hhe was finishing nursing. "Mrs. Barnett do you want me to take him to the nursery and let you rest?"

"Yes please i am afraid I am gonna fall asleep and it might be best"

The nurse took him and laid him down in the bassinet and wheeled him out of the room. Jackie moved over and motioned Steven to join her. He reached down and took off his boots and laid down with her pulling her into his arms.

"You have been amazing Doll, thank you for everything I love you"

"I love you too"

AN: i didn't want to leave anyone waiting too long. it was my birth that my dad had to choose, he chose my mom, we both pulled through. it was traumatic enough that I am an only child my parents both afraid to go through that again.