The baby was restless as Joey tried to sleep and it was after 3am when she finally dropped off. The phone rang shrilly at 6:30 and she was jolted awake, Pacey reached over her and answered it.
He was quiet as he listened to the caller and Joey could tell something was wrong by the look in his eyes, she grabbed the arm that was behind her head 'Pace?' She crooked her head closer to him and tried to listen to the caller's side of the conversation.
'I'm sorry man, is there anything we can do?' Pacey closed his eyes and rubbed his hand over his forehead 'Ok, give her our love' he said his goodbyes and slowly placed the phone back in its cradle.
'Pacey what is it?'.
He looked at her, hesitating as if unsure whether to tell her 'Jen had a miscarriage this morning'.
'Oh god' she could feel the tears start swimming in her eyes. 'Is she ok?'
'Dawson said she's fine' he sighed, leaning back against the pillow 'They're going to let her out of the hospital later on today'.
She didn't know what to say, her first instinct was to rush over to the hospital to see her but she knew that she would be the last person Jen would want to see at the moment, given her condition 'Do you think we should go and see her?'.
Pacey shook his head 'I don't think so Jo, as much she loves you, I don't think she could handle seeing another pregnant woman at the moment. Dawson said he would pop over in a couple of days to let us know how they are doing'.
'I can't imagine how she must feel Pace'.
'Me neither' he placed a hand on her stomach 'If I think of something ever happening to you or the baby, or Megan, my throat just closes and I can't breathe'.
She nodded and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand 'We're fine Pacey'. She abruptly got up off the bed and padded out of the room.
'Where are you going?'.
She returned moments later with an asleep Megan in her arms 'I just wanted to make sure'.
He nodded at her and motioned her to get back onto the bed 'try and get some more sleep Jo'. She lay on her side facing Pacey with Megan asleep against her chest and Pacey facing them both, lightly caressing her stomach with his hand. She nodded off to sleep quite quickly but he was quite content merely watching them.
Megan woke up half an hour later and began to fidget, trying to extricate herself from Joey's grip. Pacey brought a finger to his lips and she immediately stilled, watching him with her big blue eyes. He carefully lifted Joey's arm that was laying over Megan, freezing as she mumbled something in her sleep. Megan edged off of the bed and she and Pacey headed downstairs for breakfast.
He relished these moments with his daughter, they were only too rare during the week when he worked from 8am to 8pm so when he had the opportunity to spend time alone with her he was in heaven.
She was gazing up at him expectantly from his side and he lifted her up onto the counter beside the cooker. 'What shall we make mommy for breakfast??'.
She removed her thumb from her mouth and pointed at something behind him, he turned round 'Eggs?'. She nodded and he put the egg basket in front of her, allowing her to pick out three eggs to use 'What else?'.
'Bed'
'Bed??' he tried to figure out what she meant and turned to see her reaching behind herself for a loaf of bread. 'Ahh bread, good idea, scrambled eggs on toast'.
He picked her up and together they prepared breakfast, making a ridiculous amount of mess and somehow using every imaginable plate and bowl in the house.
Joey emerged in her nightgown half an hour later just as they were finishing up and watched them from the hallway. She gazed around the kitchen at the counters covered in debris and the egg that was splattered on the walls and in Megan's hair and cleared her throat.
They both turned round guiltily, smiling upon seeing the grin on her face 'Morning kids'.
Megan giggled and held out her arms to be held 'Mommy'.
Joey bent over and picked out some of the congealed egg from her daughter's hair 'Mommy can't pick you up babe, mommy's back hurts'.
'We made breakfast'.
Joey placed her hand behind Megan's head as she surveyed the kitchen, the other rubbing her back 'So I see, what are we having?'
'Scrambled eggs on toast' Pacey said from the other side of the kitchen, noting the uncomfortable statement on her face. He stood next to her and gently replaced her hand with his own, massaging her lower back 'still hurt?'.
She mumbled something unintelligent as the pain seeped away and she leaned her head against her shoulder 'Mmm, I'm in heaven'.
He grinned and continued for a minute more 'Go and sit down, I'll bring it over to you'. She nodded and lowered herself onto one of the dining chairs.
They were all quiet over breakfast, Joey and Pacey's thoughts still with Dawson and Jen and Megan engrossed in a cartoon that was playing on the small monitor in the kitchen.
'I still want to see her Pace'.
He grabbed her hand 'Give them some time hon. Dawson said that he would be over as soon as he felt Jen was okay to be left' He released her hand and continued with his breakfast 'I'm sure they know we are thinking about them'.
She nodded glumly.
'What shall we all do today?' he said, trying to change the subject 'Who's up for a visit to the park?'.
Megan's ears pricked at this 'Can I go on my new bike?'.
Pacey nodded 'As long as you give me a hand clearing up all this mess'.
Joey watched them as they began to clear away the pile of dirty dishes, pots and pans. They were so funny together. Megan was sitting on the counter drying the cutlery and other non-breakable items as Pacey washed them. Every now and then she would reach into the bowl and scoop up a handful of the soap suds and stick them onto Pacey's face, he would pretend not to notice and before long the lower half of his face was covered in a sudsy beard and Megan was giggling.
Joey rose out of the chair and helped with the drying up. She couldn't help but grin at Pacey's face as he continued with the washing with a straight face.
Within half an hour they kitchen was immaculate and they were both bundling Megan into her boots, coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Her new shiny bike, complete with stabilisers, had been their present to her for Christmas and this was to be her first practice on it. She was a typical child once out in the park, no fear of danger or speed and before long she was making her parents hearts lurch at the speed at which she was travelling at. They were laughing once they caught up with her and the rein that came with the bike was promptly attached so she couldn't get more than five feet ahead at any one time.
Joey and Pacey were also bundled up against the cold, both donning thick winter coats, hats and gloves. He held her hand tightly as they negotiated the twists and turns of the park path and they smiled at one another as they watched Megan's attempts to get further ahead than the leash would allow. Pacey frequently finding himself being yanked further forward as she put on a burst of speed.
They made a detour to spend most of the day at the park's petting zoo and on the spur of the moment decided to have dinner out. Joey and Megan waited outside the house as Pacey put the bike back indoors and grabbed his wallet from upstairs. He heard Megan run back inside the house 'Daddy!'.
'What is it Meg?'
'Mommy hurt'.
He grabbed her hand and ran out of the house to find Joey seated on the steps 'Jo?'.
'The baby's coming'. She panted.
'Are you sure?'.
She glared up at him, but the statement was suddenly lost when her stomach contracted, he crouched next to her, hand on her back. She took a deep breath as the contraction finished 'Pace' her eyes filled with tears and he felt his heart clench.
'Let's get you inside' He helped her up and they negotiated the steep steps into the house. Once she was seated on one of the chairs he sprang into action. Her bag had already been packed and he called Megan's babysitter whilst he threw the last few items into it. Mrs Gallagher, the babysitter, had been placed 'on call' for the final months and was ready to be on babysitting service when the baby made an appearance.
They dropped Megan off on the way to the hospital and by the time they reached there the contractions were coming every few minutes. Leaving Joey in the passenger seat of the car Pacey dashed into the hospital and emerged seconds later with a nurse and a wheelchair.
She was growing panicky with each contraction, she had been in labour with Megan for over six hours and this one seemed to not be able to wait until she even got to the hospital. Pacey's hand squeezed hers tightly as they rushed through the hospital corridors and into the elevator to reach the maternity ward.
'Pace I don't think there's time. It's coming now' she panted.
He glanced at the nurse worriedly 'We're almost there Jo, two more minutes'.
She threw her head back against the chair as another contraction rocketed through her 'I can't help it'.
She was finally helped onto a bed, a midwife waiting until she was settled before beginning her examination 'You're almost fully dilated Joey'.
'No kidding' Joey glared at her before another contraction hit and she began pushing.
Pacey watched her from the side of the room, not being able to get near her for a minute while various nurses hooked her up to several machines. His heart was hammering in his chest and he tried to gain control. Joey was scared, he could see it in her eyes. She caught his gaze across the room, reaching out a hand to him, although knowing the pain that his fingers were likely to be subjected to he was at her side in an instant, perching on the side of the bed and ignoring the glare of the nurse that was still trying to attend to Joey.
'Hey' he whispered. He reached over and brushed some of her damp hair away from her forehead.
He felt her tense against his side and squeeze his hand tighter as her body reacted to the contraction. She followed the instructions of the midwife for the next few contractions, panting and pushing when she was told. Once a particularly nasty one was over she relaxed back onto the bed, her hand rising to cover her eyes 'God Pace'.
He kissed her forehead 'I know Jo, not much longer now'.
She could hear the beeping of the machines in the corner of the room and the saw the midwife's face as she listened to them. The nurse finally started them all up.
She crossed to the other side of the room and examined the printout from the fetal heartbeat monitor. She was quick to respond, barking out an order for the nurses to alert an Operating Room.
'Joey, Pacey your baby seems to be in some kind of distress and we may need to take you into the OR to do a Caesarean'.
'Wh..what's wrong?' Joey stammered, rising up in the bed in panic' What's wrong with her?'.
The nurse was at the foot of the bed, performing a pelvic exam before she answered Joey 'I think the cord is wrapped around it's neck and every time you are pushing you are pulling it tighter'.
Pacey's heart lurched in his chest, soothingly rubbing Joey's back 'What does this mean?'
'I'll tell you on the way, we need every second we can get.'
Joey's gurney was pushed out into the corridor, Pacey running alongside it trying to keep up, refusing to let go of her hand.
The doctor turned to face them both as they ran 'We'd normally do an epidural to numb the lower part of your body so you can be awake but I'm afraid that we haven't got time for one' She hesitated as Joey's gurney was manoeuvred into the OR 'We're going to have to give you a general anaesthetic so we can get the baby out almost immediately' she looked down at Joey sympathetically 'I know this isn't how we planned it but is there anything you don't understand?'.
Joey shook her head and allowed herself to be shunted over to the bed 'Where's Pacey?'
'I'm afraid he can't be in here during the procedure. He's outside and we'll take him down to the waiting room in a moment.' She got up on her elbows and could see him staring at her through the window.
He took a deep shuddering breath and tried to calm himself for Joey's sake. They were prepping her for the surgery, wrapping her hair up in a cap and exposing her stomach.
'Can I see him quickly?' The nurse looked hesitant 'Please?'. The nurse nodded her assent and beckoned him inside.
He was at her side in an instant, standing back briefly as the anaesthetist prepared the cannuler and was inserting the drugs into her vein. God he barely had time to say anything to her. He placed a hand on her cheek and turned her face to him, staring into her scared eyes 'Everything's going to be ok Jo, I'll be here when you wake up' He stroked her cheek with his thumb 'I love you'.
She nodded and he watched her fight the effects of the anaesthetic for a couple of minutes before her eyes slowly closed and she was asleep. The nurse gently led him outside and to the waiting room that was adjoining the OR. He'd thought that Megan's birth would have prepared him for this but he was expecting the same again, the long arduous hours of pushing and panting but this.. He wanted to be by her side but she was alone in there. He spotted the payphones down the hall and decided to call Bessie, knowing that she would want to be here as soon as possible and it was at least an hours drive from their new home on the outskirts of Boston. He could hear their new baby Amber crying in the background as she answered the phone, promising to be there as she as she could.
As he was walking back to the waiting room he stopped in his tracks as he saw the midwife emerge from the OR down the hall. She was looking for him and he increased his pace.
'Mr Witter?'
He nodded 'How is she?'
'You have a healthy baby girl'
He couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face, not even noticing the nurses bemused statement 'How's my wife?'
'She's doing fine, they're just stitching her up and you'll be able to see her in the recovery room in a few minutes'
He hesitated before calling Jen and Dawson, not knowing if this was going to upset them more. He shook his head, remembering promising Dawson that he would call them as soon as she had the baby. Their machine picked up the call and he waited until Jen's voice had stopped speaking before talking 'Hey guys, uh, just calling to let you know that Joey has had the baby. It's a little girl, she was delivered by Caesarean in the end but they are both doing fine. Anyway, I hope you are both holding up ok and we are both thinking about you. Speak to you soon' He put the phone down and closed his eyes, mentally thanking God that he and Joey had not had to go through something like that. He began the ring round, calling various friends and family giving the good news.
A nurse beckoned him into the recovery room twenty minutes later. He stood at the doorway for a moment just watching her as she struggled to emerge from her unconscious. He slowly walked over to her and sat on the chair beside the bed. Her eyelids were fluttering and he could see her trying to swallow.
She reached down and touched her stomach, feeling it flatter than before. She struggled to open her eyes, praying that it would be Pacey in the room with her. She finally opened her eyes and tried to focus on the room, Pacey placed a hand on her chin and turned her head towards him.
'Hey' he smiled, watching as she focused her eyes on his 'How are you feeling?'
'Thirsty' she croaked.
He picked up the beaker of water from beside the bed and placed the straw to her lips, she swallowed gratefully, blinking several times before closing her eyes again trying to wake her body and mind up again 'How is she?' she whispered, almost scared to find out the answer.
Pacey grinned 'She's beautiful' he ran a finger down her cheek 'Just like her mother'.
Joey snorted softly and smiled 'Yeah, I've never felt more beautiful Pace' She opened her eyes to look at him 'But she's ok?'.
'She's fine, she's up on the paediatric ward at the moment so they can check her over but she was screaming like the Witter she is when she was born'.
He could tell that she was still feeling a little groggy, unable to open her eyes for more than a couple of minutes 'Try and get some rest Jo. You'll be able to see her when we get upstairs' He began to leave, rising up off the chair and kissing her softly on the forehead. He was stopped by her grabbing his hand 'Pace, can you just stay with me for a while'.
'Sure, do you feel ok?' he wasn't sure if she was supposed to be alert by now, the nurse had asked him to tell her if she said she wasn't feeling well.
'Mmm, sleepy'.
He grinned 'Any excuse for a couple more hours in bed huh?'
She smiled 'It's not the same without you in here with me'.
'As much as I'd love to Potter, I think we'd probably end up disconnecting several tubes if I tried to get up there with you'.
She turned to face him and opened her eyes, squinting at the brightness from the window behind him. Her eyes finally focused on him 'You look like hell Witter'.
'Gee thanks, you know how to make a guy feel good' He unconsciously ran a hand through his ruffled hair, stilling when she grabbed his hand.
'Don't, I like you ruffled'.
He grabbed her hand from his head 'You had me scared for a while there Potter' He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb 'It happened so quickly, much quicker than Megs'.
'I know' she swallowed and took a sip of the water that he was holding out again 'When they said she was in distress my heart stopped'.
He nodded, closing him eyes, trying to block out the image of that moment from his head. He wanted to tell her how he was feeling but his throat suddenly constricted when he thought of the idea of losing either of them.
She saw his struggle and tilted his head so she could meet his eyes, conveying to him that she knew what he was trying to say, she knew. He reached across the bed instead, needing to touch her, he gently wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck breathing her in 'I love you' he whispered, almost so quiet she didn't hear it. She tried to rise up more off of the bed and pull him closer, hissing when the tightness in her stomach stopped her.
He pulled back, she winced as she lowered herself back down. 'You're going to be sore for a while'.
He glanced up when a nurse entered the room, releasing her hand and stepping back from the bed as the nurse asked Joey several questions to make sure she hadn't been affected by the anaesthesia unduly. Satisfied that she was ok she motioned for another nurse and Joey was wheeled back through the corridors to her room.
Once back in her own bed she stubbornly refused to remain laying on her back so with Pacey's help the back of the bed was changed into a more upright position and she could see around her again. He sat next to her on the bed, praying that she hadn't damaged her stitches during all the exertions and knowing that the midwife would not approve when she saw her upright position.
He grabbed her hand and watched her as she struggled to get comfortable on the bed, he could tell she was in pain and wondered whether they were able to give any medication to her to help. He was about to call for a nurse to request just this when her arm stilled him 'What are you doing?'
'I was going to see if they could give you any medication to help with the pain Jo'.
She shook her head 'I told the nurse I didn't want any - if I take something then I won't be able to breastfeed'.
'You've already got drugs in your system Jo' she looked at him confused. 'From the anaesthetic'.
Tears filled her eyes as this dawned on her 'This is why I never wanted any drugs during childbirth'.
He wiped away a tear that had made its way down her cheek 'They had to Jo, you were both in danger'.
She nodded 'I know, it's just that's what I loved most about when I had Megan. I was able to feed her straight away.' She glanced down at her hands 'It's a bonding moment Pace'.
She smiled and her gaze went to the side of the ward when a nurse emerged carrying her baby 'Speak of the devil'.
The nurse carrying the baby smiled widely as she placed her in her mothers arms. She had been with them as Joey had been wheeled from the maternity ward and into the OR and was thrilled to see a happy ending to something that could, and sometimes did, end badly.
Pacey sat on the bed next to Joey as his daughter gurgled up at them from her arms. Her eyes opened and they were treated to a half smile before she yawned widely. Joey grinned up at him 'Just like her father'.
He swatted her arm playfully and reached out and held one of her tiny hands in his 'She's beautiful.'
Joey ran a finger down her cheek, not being able to stop staring at her. She started crying and Joey looked desperately at the nurse and then Pacey 'Pace I can't feed..'
The nurse disappeared then reappeared again with a bottle of formula in her hand 'Is she hungry?'
Joey nodded, unable to stop the tears that formed in her eyes. She took the bottle from her nurse and held it gently to her daughter's lips, she fumbled for a moment before taking the nipple between her lips and sucking greedily. Pacey rubbed Joey's shoulder comfortingly. She caught the nurse's attention before she walked off. 'When will I be able to breastfeed safely?'
'The drugs should be out of your system in 48 hours, it should be ok then'.
Joey nodded and turned her attention back to her daughter who was still suckling. She reached up and kissed Pacey softly 'Thank you'.
He shook his head 'I didn't do anything. Well apart from the fun part.' He wiggled his eyebrows at her 'You had to do all the work Jo' . He brushed her hair back from her forehead, suddenly wishing that they weren't in the busy ward so he could take her in his arms and kiss and hug her properly.
He heard some commotion at the end of the hallway. Peering his head round the curtain at Joey's bed and seeing her family demanding to be allowed through. 'It's Bess'.
Joey grinned 'Did you ask them to pick up Meg on their way through?'
He nodded, standing on tiptoes so he could see below waist level and sure enough he could see her dark head standing next to Bodie, holding his hand and gazing round at the hospital with wide eyes as her family bickered with the nursing staff. He imagined that she would feel pretty bewildered, seeing her mother rushed into hospital, being left at the babysitters and then being picked up by her aunt, uncle and cousin.
He stepped out into hallway to greet them all and somehow bring an end to the battle of wills that seemed to be going on between the Head Nurse and Bessie.
'Megan' he whispered, from next to her ear after having sneaked up behind in all the commotion. She turned round in shock, fully prepared to start crying until she recognized him 'Daddy'.
He grinned 'Hey baby girl.' She hugged him quickly and looked up at him with her wide eyes.
'Where's mommy?'.
He grabbed her by the waist and settled her on one of his hips 'She's in there, with your baby sister'.
She scrunched her nose up at this. He laughed, ruffling her hair, Bessie and Bodie had stopped arguing with the nurse upon noticing this exchange and they were smiling at them, peace had been restored. The nurse allowed them all through and kisses and hugs were exchanged between them all in Joey's room.
He stood back once in the room, allowing Joey a moment with Bessie and Bodie, and himself time to take stock of the events of today. Megan was fidgeting in his arms, not liking not being the centre of attention, something that he knew may become a problem in the future with the baby. He made a mental note to shower more attention than he normally did on her. He looked down and her and saw that she was bordering on a temper tantrum so her decided to take her for a walk to avoid this. 'Come on Megs. I'm sure there is a playroom for you somewhere around here'.
She stuck her thumb in her mouth and relaxed against his shoulder. It was now past dusk and was dark outside, meaning the outside playground he spotted through the window was out of the question.
They returned to Joey's room half an hour later, complete with a balloon for her and a new doll for Megan. He placed Megan on the floor, trying in vain to stop her from doing a running leap onto Joey's bed. She landed on Joey mid high, causing a pained 'oomph' from her mother.
He quickly plucked Megan from the bed, glancing at Joey quickly 'You ok?'.
She nodded, patting the bed beside her 'Come and sit here Megs'. She shifted the baby to her other arm allowing her daughter to settle on the other side. 'I'd like you to meet your baby sister'.
Megan stared at the face buried in blankets and seemed uninterested, choosing instead to gaze back up at her mother. Ten minutes later Pacey could tell that both his daughters and wife were ready for sleep, noting Joey was having difficulty keeping her eyes open. He took the sleeping baby from her arms 'I think it's time I got Megan home and let you get some sleep hon'.
She nodded, rubbing her eyes blearily, laughing as Megan mimicked her actions from her other side 'Okay' she looked back at Pacey 'I wish you could stay'.
He nodded, perching on the bed next to her 'I think visiting time is almost over.' The nurse appeared in the doorway confirming this fact 'I feel I've hardly spoken to you this evening'. He brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek 'It's going to be horrible at home tonight without you'.
'The doctor said I should be able to go home in a couple of days'.
'Do you think they'd let me move in here with you?' he grinned.
'I love you Pace'.
His face was serious 'I love you.' He leaned down and kissed her gently 'try and get some sleep.'