Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Except Sophie and Grace.

Author's Note: Look for Gracie's story in the future.
CHAPTER 13 -

"We shouldn't have come," Alex said, holding the door open for Ty. She hadn't been to the house for the last two months. She had been sent home after she had passed out in the middle of a shift one day. She'd been rushed to the hospital where her doctor didn't like the increase in her blood pressure and promptly put her on bed rest. That had been a trial for Ty - keeping Alex from doing much of anything was enough to try the patience of a saint.

"Al, I'm sorry, How many times am I gonna have to say it?" Ty adjusted his grip on the box he was carrying and faced Alex. "You look great."

"Ty, I'm in a dress!" She pointed out. "And I look like a big, blue whale!"

"Yes, I know what you're wearing and no, you don't look like a big, blue whale. You look great."

Alex rolled her eyes. He wasn't getting the point. All she'd asked him to do was to put the clothes in the dryer. That's it, nothing else. Just put the clothes in the dryer. And did he? No. Her only pair of maternity jeans were still sitting in the washer when she'd went to change clothes for dinner. Which meant that she'd had to break down and go through some of the clothes Sophie had loaned to her. Unfortunately, the only thing that hadn't been overly feminine was a simple navy maternity dress. And while the color set off her blue eyes, Alex felt incredibly out of her comfort zone in the thing. "Ty, the guys have never seen me in a dress before."

He finally understood. She was worried about being treated differently. As if pregnancy hadn't taken care of that. "Al, let's just go upstairs and if anyone pisses you off, I'll take care of them, okay?"

She stared at him. He obviously wasn't taking this seriously.

"Go. Sophie and Bosco are here already. Everyone's probably waiting on us," He nudged her up the stairs ahead of him.

She climbed the stairs as slowly as she could, which wasn't too difficult considering her advanced state of pregnancy. She was not looking forward to this.

When Sophie discovered that the squad had to work on Thanksgiving, she'd taken it upon herself to cook dinner for everyone and extracted promises from Alex and Ty to attend. Alex had thought she would have delivered by then. Instead, she was huge, cranky and miserable. Sophie, who had uneventfully delivered her second child two months ago, was in the process of kneading dough and the rest of the house was gathered around the television watching a game. D.K. noticed their arrival first and Alex quickly became the center of attention.

She had been prepared for initially being the center of attention having been off for the past few weeks but the beached whale remarks, however good natured, got old really fast. After two minutes of every hand in the firehouse being on her stomach, she was ready to do some bodily harm.

Seeing the irritation beneath the surface, Sophie laid a towel over the bowl of rising dough and shouldered her way to Alex's side, firmly declaring that anyone left in the kitchen in the next thirty seconds had better be prepared to clean it up after dinner.

The kitchen cleared out in two seconds, leaving Sophie, Ty and Alex, who was lowering herself into a chair, leaning back with a sigh of relief.

"Everything okay, Al?" Ty asked, watching her for any sign of labor. He been especially attentive for the past few weeks.

"Get away from me," she grumbled. She was tired of him hovering over her.

Sophie smiled sympathetically. She felt sorry for Ty, who was just trying to help, but also knew what Alex was feeling. There just got to be a point during pregnancy when enough was enough. Apparently, Alex had passed that point.

Catching Ty's attention, Sophie jerked her head to the gathering at the television in the next room indicating he was to join the others. He took the advise and vacated the kitchen for friendlier territory.

"It's about time," Alex muttered, watching him leave.

"Alex," Sophie reprimanded before she could stop herself. "He's only trying to help."

Alex instantly felt guilty. "It just makes me crazy when he gets like this."

Sophie took the chair next to her. "He loves you. How are you feeling?"

Grace burst into the room before she could answer and headed straight to Alex, hand out, ready to feel the baby move. She couldn't wait to see Alex and Ty's baby - if it were a girl, that is, cause boys were icky.

Alex informed the little girl that the baby was at the moment sleeping and disappointed, she soon wandered into the next room. D.K and Jimmy were always fun to play with.

Watching Alex as she rolled out dough for rolls, Sophie suggested she go upstairs and rest. She'd set some food aside if she wanted to wait to eat. Alex didn't have to be told twice. She hauled herself up the stairs as quickly as she could.

CHAPTER 14 -

"MaMa," Gracie was tugging on her mother's sleeve to gain her attention. "Alex said for you to come upstairs." Lowering her voice, she added, "I think she had a accident."

Sophie instantly put two and two together and ordered her daughter to stay with her daddy.

Alex stood braced against the sink, breathing deeply.

"Alex?"

"My water broke," she said.

Sophie calmly replied. "Yes, I see that. Have you had any contractions?

Alex shrugged a little. "I haven't felt right all day. Maybe some this morning."

Sophie gaped at her. "And you're a paramedic?"

"I've never given birth before," Alex defended herself. Knowing the facts was completely different than going through the actual experience.

"Sorry," Sophie took her arm, assisting her. "Let's get you to the hospital. Can you walk or do I need to get Ty?"

"Do we really have to tell him we're going?" Alex closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

Sophie resisted the urge to shake her head. "Well, I think he'd want to be present for his firstborn's birth. Can you walk?"

Alex nodded and headed for the stairs. Halfway down, she paused as another contraction began. Taking deep breaths for the duration, Alex gripped the bannister and Sophie's hand. She was both terrified and excited.

Sophie left her in the kitchen and went to get Ty, who was gathering around the ever-present football game with her husband and every other man in the firehouse. Gracie had settled herself between D.K. and Jimmy. Bosco was holding two month old Vivienne Belle as she slept in his arms.

"Excuse me."

Seeing she was ignored, Sophie stepped in front of the television, effecting blocking whatever was going on and prompting numerous protests. "I just wanted to let you know I was going to the hospital with Alex. If any of you were interested, that is." Sophie managed to reach Alex's side as she heard the stampede behind her. Evidently, the game wasn't that important anymore.

"Alex?' Ty asked hesitantly for her acknowledgment.

She nodded. "My water broke."

Oh boy, it was time. Ty took a deep breath to remain calm.. "Okay. Well, let's go the hospital. Can you walk or should I carry you?"

CHAPTER 15 -

Alex had been settled in and pronounced to be "progressing nicely" by the time Sophie, Bosco, Gracie and Belle arrived. Sophie settled her husband and daughters in the waiting room and went to visit Alex. She met Ty walking down the hall looking dejected.

Alex had told him to leave; he had listened.

Sophie shook her head in disbelief. How could men be so stupid? "Ty, go sit with Bosco and the girls. Have you called your families?"

"No, we decided not to call until after it was over. They couldn't do anything anyway," Ty was staring blankly at her.

Sophie nodded in understanding. In the hope that Bosco would be able to give him some sympathy, she again ordered, "Ty, go sit with Bosco and the girls."

Alex was staring out the window, feeling guilty about having told Ty to leave with such force that he'd actually left.

"So, did you really want to do this alone?" Sophie asked, taking the chair next to the bed.

"You saw Ty," Alex stated. "No, I don't want to do this alone. He just -"

The remark was left unsaid. She was being unreasonable. She needed Ty with her. That was the problem. She wasn't used to needing anything.

"Alexandra," Sophie interrupted. "The man loves you. He wants to be here and you want him here."

She knew Sophie spoke the truth. Maybe Ty understood that women made no sense during childbirth and couldn't be held accountable for their actions.

Sophie watched the play of emotions cross her face and knew Alex was regretting her outburst. She also knew Alex wanted Ty back in the room with her whether she'd admit it or not. "So - can I send Ty in without fearing for his safety?"

Abashed, Alex nodded her head.

Sophie stood to leave. "Do you want me to call anyone? I know Ty said you were going to wait until after but -"

She shook her head. "No, they'd just be pacing. You don't have to stay. I'm sure Bosco's bored," He hands moved to either side of her stomach as she felt a contraction begin.

Recognizing the reflective action, Sophie reminded her to breathe and continued the conversation. "Are you kidding? I settled him in the waiting room with Grace and Belle. We're not going anywhere till you deliver."

***************

After five hours of labor, Jackson Taylor Davis came into the world weighing eight pounds, five ounces and screaming. He did not like this process of being born and was making it known.

As a beaming Ty was notifying the grandmothers, as well as the firehouse and precinct, Sophie and Bosco got their first glimpse of Jackson Taylor. Gracie took one look at the little bundle, agreed he was 'kinda cute' but instantly stated, 'I still think boys are icky."

Her matter of fact statement brought chuckles from the adults and while she wondered what she said that was so funny, Bosco picked her up saying, " You just keep thinking that Gracie-girl and we'll both rest easy."

Seeing the fatigue on Alex's face, Sophie promised to visit the next day and herded her family out. Ty and Alex needed to be alone with their son, who they'd been told would be called 'Taylor', an honor to Alex's family.

Left alone, Ty and Alex watched him sleep in silence.

Ty broke the silence. "So, you disappointed it's a boy?"

Alex glared. "Am I supposed to be?"

"I just - you know- women usually want girls and we have a boy and -I -" Ty stammered.

"I wanted a healthy baby, Ty," she adjusted the baby in her arms and grinned when he made a face. "Besides, what would I do with a girl?" "Point taken," Ty grinned, seeing this side of Alex. This utterly feminine side she tried so hard to hide. He sobered, taking his son in his arms. "Thank you, Alex, for Taylor."

Alex smiled back at him. "Sophie's right, ya know? We are blessed." Ty leaned down to drop a kiss on her lips. "Yes, we are."