2-1/2 months later
It was a beautiful May morning. Everything was in bloom and summer was just around the corner. Hyde had just arrived to work about an hour earlier. Now he was sitting at his desk thinking to himself, just one more month to go and the new baby would be here. He couldn't believe how excited he was about the new baby. He had been excited when Kaitlyn was born, but that had been more like sheer terror. He had been so afraid he would be a terrible father, but the minute Kaitlyn was put in his arms for the first time all doubts vanished. She grabbed his finger and that was it, he was hooked. He still couldn't get over how much he loved his daughter and how she had strengthened his love for Jackie.
He thought back on the old days when he couldn't stand Jackie and here now several years later she was his wife and the mother of his child, soon to be children plural. It was unfathomable how much she had changed since she first joined the gang down in the basement. She had been so annoying, spoiled, and bossy. Ok, she was still bossy but maturity had cured the rest.
He was expecting her to call him any minute to tell him how her Dr.'s appointment had gone. She had woken up this morning with a very bad headache and stomach ache so he had arranged a doctor's appointment for her and had Mrs. Forman take her since he couldn't and didn't want her driving in her condition.
Just then the overhead P.A system announced "Steven Hyde, line 2. Steven Hyde, line 2."
He picked up the line and said "Jackie, it's about time." but was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"Steven, its Kitty, honey."
"Mrs. Forman? Is everything alright?" Jackie was supposed to call me after her appointment." said Hyde, with a gut feeling something was wrong.
"I know honey, she asked me to call you. Steven, they're admitting her to the hospital right now. Her blood pressure is dangerously high and they're going to induce her labor within the hour." said Kitty, who was trying desperately to sound calm.
"Oh God, is she going to be alright?! Is the baby ok?" said Hyde, who was already quite distraught.
"Steven, Calm down, everything is going to be fine. Jackie and the baby are in no immediate danger." soothed Kitty.
"Then why are they admitting her?" asked Hyde.
"The Dr. thinks its too dangerous to let the pregnancy continue and the only cure for toxemia is delivery. She's 36 weeks now, so the baby will be fine. She wants you here right away though. But first she wants you to go home and get her hospital bag and to please not forget her make up bag." explained Kitty.
"I can't believe her! She's being admitted to the hospital and all she's worried about is her makeup bag!?" exclaimed Steven.
"You know Jackie" said Kitty.
In the background Hyde heard Kaitlyn crying heartbreakingly.
"Mrs. Forman is that Katie I hear?" asked Hyde.
"Yes, she's been like this ever since they wheeled Jackie up to her room."
"Let me talk to her." requested Hyde.
Mrs. Forman put the phone up to Kaitlyn's ear and said "talk to daddy".
Kaitlyn momentarily stopped her flood of tears "Daddy" she said in her still babyish voice.
"Hi pumpkin, Its Daddy. Don't cry baby. Mommy's fine. Daddy will be there in a few minutes. You be good for Kitty." said Hyde, trying to soothe the child.
Kaitlyn shook her little head and said "tay Daddy"
Mrs. Forman got back on the phone. "Steven, she's in room 214, but as soon as you get here you're going to need to check in at the nurses station where they'll get your outfitted to go into see her."
"Mrs. Forman, Thanks so much for taking care of Katie. I've got to go tell my boss I'm leaving, then run home real quick. I should be up there in less than half an hour."
"Steven, Jackie said to drive carefully and not to get in accident trying to get here."
"Mrs. Forman, I've got to go. Tell her I love her and I'll be there as soon as I can."
Hyde ran into his boss's office. "Bill, I've got to go. They're admitting Jackie to the hospital and they're going to induce her labor right now." explained Hyde who was definitely in a panic.
His boss could see the unadulterated terror in Hyde's eyes. "Get going, we'll cover your department for you. Good luck buddy! Call us if you need anything."
"Thanks man, I appreciate it." And Hyde was out the door and ran to his car as quickly as his legs would carry him. He made record time to his apartment, grabbed everything Jackie had packed to take to the hospital, including her "all important" makeup bag. He arrived at the hospital about 5 minutes later and checked in at the nurse's station where they gave him scrubs and a mask.
Outside Jackie's hospital room Mrs. Forman and Kaitlyn were waiting for him. Kate practically leaped into Hyde's arms. Mrs. Forman explained "Poor little thing is worried about her mommy being in the hospital. Jackie tried to tell her everything is ok but Katie's just not buying it."
"Pumpkin, Mommy's fine. Nothing bad is going to happen to your mommy. Daddy's here and mommy will be fine. Okay?" asked Hyde.
Kate hugged him even harder and hiccupped "tay".
Mrs. Forman took her back from Hyde and said "Steven, I'm going to take her home with me and Eric and Donna are on their way now. Call as soon as you know anything."
Hyde hugged Mrs. Forman and whispered in her ear "Thank you" and gave Kaitlyn a quick kiss and went in with the nurse to Jackie's room.
Jackie's face lit up as soon as she saw Steven. "How bad were you speeding to get here this quick!?" said Jackie, shocked that he was here already.
"Never mind about that, what's going on?" demanded Hyde.
Jackie had tears in her eyes and it was obvious she had been crying for some time now. "They're putting me on a pitocin IV drip to get the contractions started. The baby's head down though, so no c-section thank God!" said Jackie, trying to hide how scared she was.
"Mrs. Forman said your blood pressure shot up really high again?" asked Hyde.
"Yes, apparently that's why my head and stomach hurt so bad this morning."
"Is it better now?"
"A little bit"
"So its just a waiting game now?" asked Hyde, wondering how long it was going to take for their baby to be born.
"Yep. The nurse will be back in a few minutes to start the pitocin, so it'll be an hour or so before I even start having contractions. The doctor said contractions with pitocin are harder and stronger than normal ones so I apologize in advance for anything I might say or do to you later." said Jackie ruefully. They were interrupted by the nurse coming into the room to start Jackie's IV. "Mrs. Hyde, this should start the contractions within the next half hour. I'll be back in an hour to check your cervix and to make sure your contractions are starting. You're already 2 centimeters dilated so it shouldn't take too much to get you going."
Jackie nodded tensely.
About 2 hours later Donna and Eric popped in to say hello and to see how Jackie was doing. They could tell Hyde was a nervous wreck. Donna and Eric gave Jackie a quick hug and went back to wait in the hall.
Jackie was in an excruciating amount of pain. Her contractions were coming very hard and fast. The doctor hadn't lied about the pitocin. Hyde held her hand and helped her focus her attention and breathe through each contraction.
The doctor came in "Jackie, Do you feel ok to walk a little bit? That should help get your dilated the rest of the way." Jackie halfheartedly agreed. Hyde and the nurse helped her put her robe on which was difficult with the IV in her arm. She and Hyde walked down the hospital ward halls for a few minutes before going back to her room because Jackie was exhausted and in a lot of pain.
The nurse came back to check her and told her she was dilated to 8 centimeters. "You're almost there, probably another hour and you'll be ready to go to the delivery room." Jackie made a sigh of relief. She held Steven's hand tightly and he squeezed back and kissed her cheek and put his arm around her. "You're doing so good baby, just a little bit longer, and it'll all be over." He thought for a minute and then said "So what are we going to name him?" Jackie just shook her head, amused at how convinced he was that this baby was a boy. "I was thinking Stacey Leanne if it's a girl, and Jacob Steven if it's a boy."
"I like the girls name, but Steven as a middle name?" questioned Hyde.
"Steven, I know you don't like kids being Jr's and all but it would just be his middle name. I think it has a nice ring to it, don't you?" asked Jackie.
Hyde smiled and nodded. He couldn't argue with her when she was the one doing all the hard work to bring their baby into the world.
An hour later the nurse came back to check Jackie's progress. "Well Mrs. Hyde, You're fully dilated. We'll be moving you to the delivery room in just a few minutes."
"Thank God, because this baby wants out now!" groaned Jackie. Jackie's contractions were nearly unbearable and she was feeling a lot of pressure and the need to push.
Once they got her settled in the delivery room the doctor instructed her to push with the contractions. After an hour of pushing she was exhausted and sweaty. "Come on Jackie, just a couple of more pushes. Your baby is almost out." her doctor instructed. Jackie pushed as hard as she could. "Ok Jackie, We've got the shoulders almost out. Push one more time." She put every bit of strength she had into that last push. "Ok Jackie, stop pushing." her doctor quickly instructed. The baby slid out the rest of the way and gave a hearty scream. The doctor held the baby up for Jackie and Steven to see "It's a boy!" announced the doctor joyfully. Jackie cried tears of joy at the sight of her son being put on her stomach while the doctor and nurses cleaned him up a bit. Steven even had a little bit of moisture in his eyes, though he would never admit they were tears.
The doctor turned to Hyde "Would you like to cut the cord?" Hyde hesitated but took the scissors and cut where the doctor showed him to. The nurses took their son to get weighed, measured, and foot printed. The nurse announced "6lbs 3oz and he's 17 inches long."
The nurse handed Hyde his son. Hyde was choked up with emotion and said "Hey troublemaker" to the tiny bundle in his arms and handed him to Jackie. Jackie promptly did what all mothers do with their new babies and counted fingers and toes. Jackie was ecstatic that her ordeal was finally over but it had been worth it. Her baby was healthy and that was all she cared about.
"Hello Jacob" Jackie whispered to the tiny baby in her arms. He opened his eyes and looked at Jackie and Hyde. He had the most beautiful blue eyes either of them had ever seen.
Hyde kissed Jackie on the lips and told her "I love you so much." She kissed him back and whispered "I love you too" "Steven, Can you believe how beautiful our babies are? But no more though for a long, long time" she laughingly told him. Hyde shook his head in agreement.
They took Jackie back to her hospital room which was already filled with balloons and flowers from family, friends, and well-wishers. Eric and Donna, Red and Kitty, Kelso, Fez, and even Edna were there to see the new baby and visit with the proud new parents. Jackie's parents were on a cruise but were headed back home as soon as they could get a flight out on the ships next docking.
Kaitlyn didn't quite know what to think of her baby brother but told her daddy "cute baby" which they took as sign he was a keeper.
As far as Jackie and Hyde were concerned all was right in the world and they were happier than anybody had a right to be.
**Continued, See "Trouble in Paradise"**
It was a beautiful May morning. Everything was in bloom and summer was just around the corner. Hyde had just arrived to work about an hour earlier. Now he was sitting at his desk thinking to himself, just one more month to go and the new baby would be here. He couldn't believe how excited he was about the new baby. He had been excited when Kaitlyn was born, but that had been more like sheer terror. He had been so afraid he would be a terrible father, but the minute Kaitlyn was put in his arms for the first time all doubts vanished. She grabbed his finger and that was it, he was hooked. He still couldn't get over how much he loved his daughter and how she had strengthened his love for Jackie.
He thought back on the old days when he couldn't stand Jackie and here now several years later she was his wife and the mother of his child, soon to be children plural. It was unfathomable how much she had changed since she first joined the gang down in the basement. She had been so annoying, spoiled, and bossy. Ok, she was still bossy but maturity had cured the rest.
He was expecting her to call him any minute to tell him how her Dr.'s appointment had gone. She had woken up this morning with a very bad headache and stomach ache so he had arranged a doctor's appointment for her and had Mrs. Forman take her since he couldn't and didn't want her driving in her condition.
Just then the overhead P.A system announced "Steven Hyde, line 2. Steven Hyde, line 2."
He picked up the line and said "Jackie, it's about time." but was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"Steven, its Kitty, honey."
"Mrs. Forman? Is everything alright?" Jackie was supposed to call me after her appointment." said Hyde, with a gut feeling something was wrong.
"I know honey, she asked me to call you. Steven, they're admitting her to the hospital right now. Her blood pressure is dangerously high and they're going to induce her labor within the hour." said Kitty, who was trying desperately to sound calm.
"Oh God, is she going to be alright?! Is the baby ok?" said Hyde, who was already quite distraught.
"Steven, Calm down, everything is going to be fine. Jackie and the baby are in no immediate danger." soothed Kitty.
"Then why are they admitting her?" asked Hyde.
"The Dr. thinks its too dangerous to let the pregnancy continue and the only cure for toxemia is delivery. She's 36 weeks now, so the baby will be fine. She wants you here right away though. But first she wants you to go home and get her hospital bag and to please not forget her make up bag." explained Kitty.
"I can't believe her! She's being admitted to the hospital and all she's worried about is her makeup bag!?" exclaimed Steven.
"You know Jackie" said Kitty.
In the background Hyde heard Kaitlyn crying heartbreakingly.
"Mrs. Forman is that Katie I hear?" asked Hyde.
"Yes, she's been like this ever since they wheeled Jackie up to her room."
"Let me talk to her." requested Hyde.
Mrs. Forman put the phone up to Kaitlyn's ear and said "talk to daddy".
Kaitlyn momentarily stopped her flood of tears "Daddy" she said in her still babyish voice.
"Hi pumpkin, Its Daddy. Don't cry baby. Mommy's fine. Daddy will be there in a few minutes. You be good for Kitty." said Hyde, trying to soothe the child.
Kaitlyn shook her little head and said "tay Daddy"
Mrs. Forman got back on the phone. "Steven, she's in room 214, but as soon as you get here you're going to need to check in at the nurses station where they'll get your outfitted to go into see her."
"Mrs. Forman, Thanks so much for taking care of Katie. I've got to go tell my boss I'm leaving, then run home real quick. I should be up there in less than half an hour."
"Steven, Jackie said to drive carefully and not to get in accident trying to get here."
"Mrs. Forman, I've got to go. Tell her I love her and I'll be there as soon as I can."
Hyde ran into his boss's office. "Bill, I've got to go. They're admitting Jackie to the hospital and they're going to induce her labor right now." explained Hyde who was definitely in a panic.
His boss could see the unadulterated terror in Hyde's eyes. "Get going, we'll cover your department for you. Good luck buddy! Call us if you need anything."
"Thanks man, I appreciate it." And Hyde was out the door and ran to his car as quickly as his legs would carry him. He made record time to his apartment, grabbed everything Jackie had packed to take to the hospital, including her "all important" makeup bag. He arrived at the hospital about 5 minutes later and checked in at the nurse's station where they gave him scrubs and a mask.
Outside Jackie's hospital room Mrs. Forman and Kaitlyn were waiting for him. Kate practically leaped into Hyde's arms. Mrs. Forman explained "Poor little thing is worried about her mommy being in the hospital. Jackie tried to tell her everything is ok but Katie's just not buying it."
"Pumpkin, Mommy's fine. Nothing bad is going to happen to your mommy. Daddy's here and mommy will be fine. Okay?" asked Hyde.
Kate hugged him even harder and hiccupped "tay".
Mrs. Forman took her back from Hyde and said "Steven, I'm going to take her home with me and Eric and Donna are on their way now. Call as soon as you know anything."
Hyde hugged Mrs. Forman and whispered in her ear "Thank you" and gave Kaitlyn a quick kiss and went in with the nurse to Jackie's room.
Jackie's face lit up as soon as she saw Steven. "How bad were you speeding to get here this quick!?" said Jackie, shocked that he was here already.
"Never mind about that, what's going on?" demanded Hyde.
Jackie had tears in her eyes and it was obvious she had been crying for some time now. "They're putting me on a pitocin IV drip to get the contractions started. The baby's head down though, so no c-section thank God!" said Jackie, trying to hide how scared she was.
"Mrs. Forman said your blood pressure shot up really high again?" asked Hyde.
"Yes, apparently that's why my head and stomach hurt so bad this morning."
"Is it better now?"
"A little bit"
"So its just a waiting game now?" asked Hyde, wondering how long it was going to take for their baby to be born.
"Yep. The nurse will be back in a few minutes to start the pitocin, so it'll be an hour or so before I even start having contractions. The doctor said contractions with pitocin are harder and stronger than normal ones so I apologize in advance for anything I might say or do to you later." said Jackie ruefully. They were interrupted by the nurse coming into the room to start Jackie's IV. "Mrs. Hyde, this should start the contractions within the next half hour. I'll be back in an hour to check your cervix and to make sure your contractions are starting. You're already 2 centimeters dilated so it shouldn't take too much to get you going."
Jackie nodded tensely.
About 2 hours later Donna and Eric popped in to say hello and to see how Jackie was doing. They could tell Hyde was a nervous wreck. Donna and Eric gave Jackie a quick hug and went back to wait in the hall.
Jackie was in an excruciating amount of pain. Her contractions were coming very hard and fast. The doctor hadn't lied about the pitocin. Hyde held her hand and helped her focus her attention and breathe through each contraction.
The doctor came in "Jackie, Do you feel ok to walk a little bit? That should help get your dilated the rest of the way." Jackie halfheartedly agreed. Hyde and the nurse helped her put her robe on which was difficult with the IV in her arm. She and Hyde walked down the hospital ward halls for a few minutes before going back to her room because Jackie was exhausted and in a lot of pain.
The nurse came back to check her and told her she was dilated to 8 centimeters. "You're almost there, probably another hour and you'll be ready to go to the delivery room." Jackie made a sigh of relief. She held Steven's hand tightly and he squeezed back and kissed her cheek and put his arm around her. "You're doing so good baby, just a little bit longer, and it'll all be over." He thought for a minute and then said "So what are we going to name him?" Jackie just shook her head, amused at how convinced he was that this baby was a boy. "I was thinking Stacey Leanne if it's a girl, and Jacob Steven if it's a boy."
"I like the girls name, but Steven as a middle name?" questioned Hyde.
"Steven, I know you don't like kids being Jr's and all but it would just be his middle name. I think it has a nice ring to it, don't you?" asked Jackie.
Hyde smiled and nodded. He couldn't argue with her when she was the one doing all the hard work to bring their baby into the world.
An hour later the nurse came back to check Jackie's progress. "Well Mrs. Hyde, You're fully dilated. We'll be moving you to the delivery room in just a few minutes."
"Thank God, because this baby wants out now!" groaned Jackie. Jackie's contractions were nearly unbearable and she was feeling a lot of pressure and the need to push.
Once they got her settled in the delivery room the doctor instructed her to push with the contractions. After an hour of pushing she was exhausted and sweaty. "Come on Jackie, just a couple of more pushes. Your baby is almost out." her doctor instructed. Jackie pushed as hard as she could. "Ok Jackie, We've got the shoulders almost out. Push one more time." She put every bit of strength she had into that last push. "Ok Jackie, stop pushing." her doctor quickly instructed. The baby slid out the rest of the way and gave a hearty scream. The doctor held the baby up for Jackie and Steven to see "It's a boy!" announced the doctor joyfully. Jackie cried tears of joy at the sight of her son being put on her stomach while the doctor and nurses cleaned him up a bit. Steven even had a little bit of moisture in his eyes, though he would never admit they were tears.
The doctor turned to Hyde "Would you like to cut the cord?" Hyde hesitated but took the scissors and cut where the doctor showed him to. The nurses took their son to get weighed, measured, and foot printed. The nurse announced "6lbs 3oz and he's 17 inches long."
The nurse handed Hyde his son. Hyde was choked up with emotion and said "Hey troublemaker" to the tiny bundle in his arms and handed him to Jackie. Jackie promptly did what all mothers do with their new babies and counted fingers and toes. Jackie was ecstatic that her ordeal was finally over but it had been worth it. Her baby was healthy and that was all she cared about.
"Hello Jacob" Jackie whispered to the tiny baby in her arms. He opened his eyes and looked at Jackie and Hyde. He had the most beautiful blue eyes either of them had ever seen.
Hyde kissed Jackie on the lips and told her "I love you so much." She kissed him back and whispered "I love you too" "Steven, Can you believe how beautiful our babies are? But no more though for a long, long time" she laughingly told him. Hyde shook his head in agreement.
They took Jackie back to her hospital room which was already filled with balloons and flowers from family, friends, and well-wishers. Eric and Donna, Red and Kitty, Kelso, Fez, and even Edna were there to see the new baby and visit with the proud new parents. Jackie's parents were on a cruise but were headed back home as soon as they could get a flight out on the ships next docking.
Kaitlyn didn't quite know what to think of her baby brother but told her daddy "cute baby" which they took as sign he was a keeper.
As far as Jackie and Hyde were concerned all was right in the world and they were happier than anybody had a right to be.
**Continued, See "Trouble in Paradise"**