Chapter 11:

"Darien? What is it?"
"Sa…. Se…Serena…"
"What is it? What's wrong with Serena…"
"Pre…pregnant…"
"WHAT!?"
"Yes…"
"When? How long? When's she due?"
"I dunno…I dunno… 3 weeks…"
"Oh my god!"
"Yours?"
"Yes…"
"OH MY GOD!"
Everyone got up and hugged each other.
"Looks like we're making a trip back to Texas!"
"Yee-haw!"
Everyone laughed at Mina.
"Howdy partner…ready to wrestle up some grub?"
"Mina…"
"Stop it…"
They laughed and Ray got on the phone with the travel agent.
"Ok… the best she could do was 2 weeks…"
"Fine…as long as I'm there…"

~~~

Savannah brushed out Serena's hair.
"Figure he's told everyone?"
"I wouldn't doubt it!"
They heard the door slam.
"MOM! I'M HOME!"
"No need to yell…"
"Sorry!"
Emma came running up the stairs.
"Hey Rena! Everyone says hi!"
Emma walked to Serena and rubbed her belly.
"Rub 'da belly fer luck!"
"Emma…careful…"
"Sorry!"
"What did you guys do today?"
"Nothing really…went into town and had lunch…I honestly think Serena should be pregnant all the time."
"Why do you say that?"
"She eats healthy!"
"Don't forget our bet!"
"I won't…take a nap…"

~~~

Darien didn't know what to do. He didn't know what he should take.
"Darien…it's ok. She'll be fine!"
"What about for the names?"
"Darien…girl it's Rini…you know that…and if it's a boy…I don't know…"
Ray patted Darien's arm.
"3 more days…just 3 more…"

~~~

Well those 3 days went by quickly for Serena. She woke up the day that everyone was coming, feeling like she had never felt before. She was in a good mood, and the baby was fairly quiet.
"You're up!"
Serena nodded.
"Yeah…"
Savannah was shocked to see that Serena was up and showered before noon.
"How do you feel?"
"Like a walking blimp…but other than that…like a million bucks."
"Oh…really?"
"Yeah! It's like… I haven't even been pregnant…it's great! Now if this baby would hurry up…"
"Don't try to rush it…the baby is due in 4 days…"
"I know…I know."
Serena sat down with Savannah, and talked while they ate lunch.

~~~

Darien kept fidgeting with his seatbelt.
"Darien Shields…stop it! We'll be there in a few hours!"
"I can't help it RAY! She's having a baby…and I have to be there!"
"Darien…you'll be there…"

~~~

Andrew waited at the luggage claim for them to arrive. He knew that Darien would be in a harsh panic.

~~~

Serena gasped in pain as she felt a sharp pain.
"Are you ok?"
She nodded.
"You sure?"
"Yeah…the baby's not due for another 4 days…"
No sooner had the words left her mouth, warm liquid came running down her leg.
"MOM!"
Savannah came onto the porch.
"What?"
"SERENA'S WATER BROKE!"
"WHAT?"
Savannah ran to Serena, and looked at the girl.
"It's time to go…"
Emma ran into the house to grab Serena's bag, and threw it into the back of the truck. Her mother helped Serena into the truck. She doubled over in pain.
"1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10…" Savannah counted.
They took birthing class together, and Savannah knew what to do.
"Let's go."
Serena was seated in the truck, and Emma took off down the driveway.
"Did you call Andrew?" Emma asked.
"Not yet…I'm doing that now."
Savannah took out her cell phone, and punched in Andrew's cell number.

~~~

Andrew smiled and waved to his friends as they came walking to him. Then his phone ran.
"Hello?"
"It's time…"
"What? Already?"
Mina looked at Andrew. He turned white.
"Yes…"
"Where you taking he?"
"To Austin General…"
* I don't know…I just made it up…*
"Ok…we'll meet you here."

~~~

Savannah turned her phone off.
"Right. They'll be there…"
She punched in the hospital's number, and told them that they were on the way.
"Serena, there will be a wheelchair for you…"
Emma pulled into the emergency wing, and cut the engine off.
"Hey…that didn't take too long…" Serena said, trying to lighten up the mood.
"We cut through people's fields…and took short-cuts…not to mention speeding way over the limit…"
They opened the door, and heard the pounding footsteps of doctors and nurses as they came running out. Serena soon found herself sitting in a wheelchair, and flying into the hospital. Savannah ran to the front desk.
"If a group of around 7 people come in, tell them which room Serena Moon will be in ok?"
"Sure suggah. Baby due?"
"Yes." She called over her shoulder, and ran to catch up with Serena.

~~~

He wasn't ready. He didn't know what to think, what to do, or what to say. He kept running his hands through his hair.
"Hey man, calm down…we'll be there soon…"
Andrew wailed on the horn. What a bad time. Rush hour…
"We're never going to get there!"
"Yes we will!"
"No…no we won't I'll miss it…she's going to hate me…"
"Ray…slap him…"
Ray went to slap him, when Ami beat her too it.
"Darien! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

~~~

She breathed. Her brow was sweaty, and her lungs hurt. She smiled weakly at Savannah and Emma.
"You're doing great…"
"Keep going…"
"Ok Serena…push again…"
She followed the doctor's order.
"Stop…"
She stopped, and collapsed on her pillow. A nurse wiped at her brow with a cool cloth. Her contractions came again.
"OK! A big push this time!"

~~~

Darien ran into the hospital, and collided with the nurses desk.
"Hi…can I help you?"
"Serena…Moon…" he panted.
The nurse looked up to see the group that the lady told her to watch out for.
"You're all here for the expecting mother right? Now…let me guess, you're the father?" she asked Darien.
"Yes he his. How'd you know?"
"Every man that comes running in here, is either looking for help, or is becoming a father. Serena is on floor 3, room 365."
Darien took off towards the elevator.
"Thank you!" everyone called over his or her shoulders.
"C'mon…c'mon!"
Darien was hysterically pressing the up button, and jumped into the elevator when the doors opened. Everyone squeezed into the elevator, and waited for it to go to the designated floor.

~~~

Serena was in immense pain. The baby just didn't want to come out. She relaxed a little bit, and waited for the next contraction to hit. Everyone in the room heard the hammering of shoes against the floor outside. Serena closed her eyes, and opened them seconds later when Savannah and Emma started to laugh. She looked at what they were laughing at. Darien had his face plastered to the small window of the room. Her smile was replaced with a groan of pain.
"Just a soft push Serena…"
She did as was told to, and soon the contraction eased off.
"Should I let them in doctor?" a nurse asked.
"I don't know…Serena?"
She nodded, and the nurse let the door open. Darien flew in, and rushed to the bedside.
"Here…you can take over now…" Savannah said.
She handed over Serena's hand, and tried to move her fingers.
"I'll go get you some ice…" a nurse said, as she left the room.
Mina took her other hand, reliving Emma of the job.
"Thanks…but be prepared for a sore hand…"
Serena smiled at her friends.
"You're doing great…"
"Oh…god…" she groaned.
"PUSH! HARD!"
Serena gripped the hands she was holding.
"Ok…the baby's crowned. You're almost there…"
Savannah smiled, and Emma crossed her fingers. Serena screamed, and pushed. She felt the object leave her body, and heard the glass-breaking cry of an infant. Serena fell against her pillow in sheer exhaustion. She slackened her grip on the hands, and closed her eyes.
"It's a girl!" the doctor exclaimed.
"A girl. You hear that Serena? You have a baby girl!" Mina cried.
Serena opened her eyes, and saw Darien leaning over her.
"Hey princess. You did wonderful." He leaned down, and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Serena…would you like to hold her?"
"Oh yes please…"
She sat up with the help of Savannah, and held a tiny wrapped up bundle against her breast.
"Hello there! I'm your mommy. My name's Serena…that's your daddy. His name is Darien."
The baby raised her arm in the air, and Darien let her clamp onto his finger.
"Little princess…that's what you are."
Everyone looked upon the scene with awe. Savannah hugged her daughter, and Andrew put his arm around Mina's shoulders.
"Baby, your name is Rini. Rini Selenity Moon Shields."
"Serena?"
"Yes…Darien?"
"Marry me?"
Everyone laughed.
"Yes. But the next time, you're the one pushing out the football…and Savannah?"
"Yes?"
"You owe me ice cream!"
They all laughed again.
"I guess I do. You both have a beautiful daughter. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Serena yawned.
"Ok," the doctor said. "Everyone out. The new mother needs to sleep. Darien, you can stay with her, if you want…"
Serena held Rini to Darien. She saw that he was a little hesitant to take her.
"It's ok. You won't break her…"
He gulped, and placed the baby in the nook of arm. Serena sighed, and placed her head on the pillow. She didn't know when she fell asleep, or how long she was asleep for, but when she awoke, Darien was slouched in a chair, head on chest, sleeping.

****

Ok… what did you think? Toss it right? That's what I thought…so yeah…I'm going to uh…go toss it now! *walks to the garbage can and starts to toss it*. Right, *coughs professionally* I have some more things piled up in my head, also, another chapter to my novel, which is still without a title…and a lot more things that are starting to clutter up my mind…