Life's Full of Little Surprises

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Disclaimer:

Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, Team Rocket, Persian, and all the other 250 Pokemon do not belong to me. They belong to 4Kids, etc. Please do not sue me you will have better luck trying to get water from a dry well. The base story is property of Jaelle and Orla I asked before posting it. ^_^

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Chapter 17: It's a...

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Richie is teasing Bryan about his date with May.  Misty is in labor and everyone is on their way to see them.  Only thing is they seemed to forget something as everyone ran out of the house...

"Pikapi?"  "Chikori?"  All of the pokemon looked around the darkened house from the Pokemon room.

Chikorita looked turned to the other pokemon "Chiko chikori?"  [Where is everyone?]

"Pika pi.  Pikachu pika pika pi."  [I don't know.  Let's wait for them to come back.]  Sparky shrugged and walked back into the room.

Pikachu walked up to the worried Chikorita "Pika cha!  Pikapi pika pikachu."  [Cheer up!  Ash wouldn't leave us."  He then walked back into the room leaving Chikorita out in the hall alone.

Chikorita sighed, ignored the feeling that something was going to happen as she walked back to the room with a sad "Chiko" closing the door behind her.

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Meanwhile Ash and Misty were in the delivery room at the hospital timing the contractions.  It's been an hour and her contractions are getting closer and closer.

Ash was sitting next to her bed and coaching her though the labor like they did in Lamaze class.  "Now breath in and out and one, two, three..."

One nurse was monitoring her progress and another was checking her vital signs.  "Mrs. Ketchum, your doing fine.  It shouldn't be much longer." The nurse monitoring her informed her.

Misty groaned but relaxed after the contraction pain finally stopped.  "Just get this baby out!"

The second nurse wore a similar smile and announced she would go get the doctor.  As the door closed behind her Misty experienced a hard contraction.  "Ash. Give. Me. Your. Hand."

Ash heard stories of husbands getting their hands broken and he tried to reason with her.  "Misty breathe..."

"Dang it!  I don't want to breathe!  Give me your hand!"  She was breathing hard and looked about ready to hit him.

He did the only thing he could think of, gave her his hand and pray she wouldn't break it.

She grabbed the offered hand and squeezed while the nurse tried to suppress her urge to laugh at the whole scene. 

"Ahhhh!"  Ash screamed as he felt her squeeze down on his hand.  Thankfully he didn't hear or feel any bones break.

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Out in the hall Ash's mom and Nurse Joy had a hard time controlling their urge to laugh as everyone else went as white as sheets.

Richie composed himself "W-why did Ash scream?"

"My little boy screamed because Misty probably grabbed his hand and broke it."  Sasha and Nurse Joy couldn't help but laugh at the looks of fear on the men's faces.

"That's it I'm not getting married and not having kids."  Richie declared with a shudder.

Okido sighed and hid his hands in his lab coat pockets.  "He's lucky if he only had one hand broken."

Joy stopped laughing and turned to her husband, "Brock, I hope you'll give me your hand in eight months."

"W-why?"  Brock stammered as his face drained of all color.

"Because I'm two months pregnant, I just found out t..."

"P-pregnant?" Brock fainted hitting his head on the floor.

"...day."  Joy sighed.  "I should have picked a better time to tell him."

Sasha tried to comfort her. "That's okay dear.  I think after hearing Ash scream and Okido's comment it wouldn't have mattered when you told him.  Unless it was before this whole mess started but that is in hindsight." 

"I guess your right.  Well I think I should check if he has a concussion."  She got up and went to the waiting area where Richie and Bryan put the still unconscious Brock.  "Thanks guys."

"No, problem" they replied before walking back to the hall.

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While everyone was dealing with Joy's announcement the doctor and nurse entered the room.

Misty still had Ash's hand in her grasp but wasn't trying to break or squeeze it to death much to Ash's relief.

"So Misty ready to be a mother?"  Dr. Ito asked.

Misty groaned "Yes, just get this baby out.  I want to see my feet!"

Dr. Ito laughed and continued to examine her.

While the doctor examined Misty Ash managed to retrieve his hand and was currently checking if it was broken.  After moving it around and getting the blood to circulate in the appendage again he turned his attention back to what was going on in the room.

"Well I don't think it will be much longer."  Dr. Ito "Now all we have to do is wait..."

Misty and Ash groaned.

"Mrs. Ketchum you'll be experiencing a really big contraction soon.  After that you should start to push."  One of the nurses informed her.

"Ahhhhh!"  She screamed and grabbed Ash's arm at which Ash screamed with her.

The contraction subsided "Misty let go of Ash's arm, grab your legs and push."  Dr. Ito instructed her.

"Okay."  Misty did as instructed and Ash nursed his arm.

"I can see the head.  Give it another push."

"Ugh!"  Misty did as told but had to lie back in the bed after.

"Ash, I'm going to kill you!"

Ash backed away from the bed with a look of fear on his face and the nurse laughed.  "Don't worry she doesn't really mean that."

"Who says I don't?"

"Push again."

Misty did as she was told.

"Okay, about one more push like that should do it."

Misty groaned and fell back again.

Ash got curious and moved to see what was going on.  He almost fainted when he looked.

"Now Misty this is should be the last one."

She did as told and fell back again afterwards.  "I want to go to sleep."

A baby's cry was heard a little while after.

"It's a girl.  Misty you can sleep after but you need to push out the afterbirth."  Dr. Ito handed the crying baby to a nurse.

"I thought you said that was the last one?" she groaned but did as told.

Ash watched the nurses clean and bundle his daughter in a trance.

"Would you like to hold your daughter Mr. Ketchum?"  The nurse holding the now cleaned and bundled up baby asked.

"Huh?  Can I?"  A big goofy grin appeared on his face as he was handed his daughter.  He moved to Misty's side holding her gently.  He whispered, "Hi, little one I'm your dad."

Misty was tired and Dr. Ito finished cleaning her up.  "I'll let you three rest a little while before letting everyone in."  He and the nurses left the room.

Misty turned to look at her husband and daughter.  Ash still had the goofy grin on his face as he examined his daughter.

"Thank you."  He croaked out as he turned his gaze to his wife.

"Can I hold her?"

Ash got up from the chair and handed the yawning bundle to its mother.  He sat on the edge of the bed and kissed Misty's forehead.  "She's beautiful just like her mother."

Misty was doing her own examination of her daughter.  She had soft black spiky fuzz on the top of her head but her facial features resembled Misty's.  "So, you were the one who was kicking me and doing flips in my stomach.  Hi, little one I'm your mom."  She turned to Ash "She is but she has your hair.  Ash, I didn't really mean it when I said I..."

Ash pecked her on the lips to quiet her.  "I know but you were really scary for a second."

"Well you experience that much pain and not make death threats.  I guess I didn't break your hand or arm."

"No, but it sure felt like you were trying to."

"Well what you felt was nothing compared to what I was going through..."

A soft whimper stopped their conversation.  The two new parents looked on in wonder at their daughter as she opened her eyes after a big yawn.  They were surprised that her eyes were a deeper shade of Misty's eye color.

A soft knock was heard at the door as Dr. Ito and the nurse with the birth certificate entered.  "So what are you going to name this little one?"

Misty looked at Ash they said at the same time, "Sarah Ketchum"

"How do you spell that?"

Ash answered her "S-a-r-a-h and K-e-t-c-h-u-m."

She wrote the information down "Now all we need is Dr. Ito's signature."

Dr. Ito took the form and signed and gave it back to the nurse.  "I'll go let your visitors know they can come in."  He left the room with the nurse.

A minute later he came back with almost everyone.  "You can stay for five minutes as long as you're quiet."

Everyone nodded their heads and moved to see the sleeping baby who was now in her father's arms.

"Can I hold her?"  Sasha asked.

Ash handed his daughter over to his mom as she cooed over her granddaughter.  "She's so cute."

Sarah squirmed and woke up realizing she wasn't in her father's arms anymore.

"Wow she looks like Misty with black hair."  Richie observed.

Snap asked "Want me to take pictures?"

"Sure"

Joy and Brock entered the room while everyone was examining the latest member of the Ketchum family.  "She's so cute.  Can I hold her?"

*****

Ash went to greet his friend, "You don't look so good.  What happened to you?"

"Joy said she's p-pregnant."

Ash laughed "Well congratulations!"

"I need to sit down."

Ash let Brock to a chair in the corner and went to take his daughter from Joy.

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Richie and Bryan were talking with Misty who looked ready to fall asleep any minute.

Bryan had a big grin on his face "So how was it?"

"Exhausting!"

Richie looked nervous "You didn't break Ash's hand did you?"

"No, but I wanted to."

"That does it I am defiantly not getting married or having any kids." 

That outburst woke her up "What do you mean?"

"I don't want anyone trying to break my hand."

Misty laughed "Well see..."

"It wasn't that bad."  Ash came over with Sarah to see what the commotion was about.

"I don't care I'm still not getting married."  Richie shook his head.

"Well I want to get married but I don't know about kids.  I'll just come over and spoil yours."  Bryan smiled.

"You will not!"  Misty glared at him.

"Okay, okay just stop glaring at me."  Bryan backed away from her bed and went to find his girlfriend.

Joy managed to get Brock out of the chair and they came over to give Sarah a small Pikachu plushy.

Misty smiled, "I heard we'll be visiting you here in about eight months, congratulations."

Joy smiled back and Brock cringed.

"Don't worry Brock Misty didn't break any of my bones.  You'll be fine you were a father to your siblings till your father came home.  You'll be fine."  Ash grinned at his friend.

"Let's let them get some rest.  Oh, I almost forgot what did you name her?"

Everyone gathered around the bed to find out.

Misty yawned then answered "We decided on Sarah."

"Sarah Ketchum that's nice.  Well I think we had all better go."  Joy and Brock left.

"Misty, get some rest and we will be around to help out when you need us.  Ash take care of my granddaughter."

"I will mom."  Ash hugged his mom, she and Professor Oak left.

"I'll see you at your house.  Now all I have to do is drag Bryan away from his girlfriend."  Richie snickered and left.

Muffled sounds of an argument were heard from the hall and a flustered Bryan popped in to place a flower arrangement with a balloon tied to it.  "See you later."

Ash shook his head and sat at the edge of Misty's bed as Sarah chose that time to cry.

"Ash, what's wrong with her?"

"I don't know but she sure has a strong set of lungs."  Ash cradled her in one arm and used a finger to plug an ear.

"Well hand her to me."

Ash complied with her request but Sarah wouldn't stop crying.

A nurse came in because Ash accidentally hit the call button.  "Well it seems someone is unhappy."  She examined the baby "She seems to be hungry.  Do you know how to feed her?"

Misty shook her head no so the nurse instructed her on what to do.  "Now remember that when she finishes to sit her up on your shoulder, rub and pat her back gently.  I'll be back to take her to the nursery when you call."

Misty watched her daughter eat amazed at the responsibility they now shared.

"Do you think we're ready?"

"Well it's kind of late now.  I think we'll do fine especially with your mom around to help.  With Richie and Bryan are around they will try to spoil her rotten."  Misty frowned.

He laughed "Well they'll try but how much can they do with a newborn?  But aren't you more afraid that we won't let you do anything."

She groaned and Sarah whimpered.  "I'm not helpless!"

"I don't think she likes it when you get upset."

Sarah snuggled into Misty and continued to eat.  "Well I know whose appetite she got.  She may look like me but I think she'll be Daddy's little girl."

Ash looked sheepishly at his family "I'll love every minute of it well until she starts going out on dates."

Misty laughed "Well if she is anything like you, you don't have anything to worry about."

"Hey!"

"Why are you worrying about that now?  She's only a newborn."

"I guess your right.  I love you."

"I love you too.  Now do me a favor and burp your daughter I'm going to sleep."  Misty handed Sarah to him and fell asleep.

"Well it looks like it's just you and me."  Ash propped her up on his shoulder and supported her head as he rubbed her back.

After a little while she let out what sounded like a small burp, yawned and fell asleep.  Ash brought her down so she was nestled in the crook of one arm.  Ash buzzed for the nurse then sat down to admire his family.

The nurse came in pushing a bassinet with a little card with her name at one end.  "Mr. Ketchum you can lay her down if you want to."

Ash put his daughter in the bassinet and yawned.

"You should go home and get some sleep it's almost midnight.  You'll be able to take her home in two days."  With that the nurse wheeled the cart out of the room.

Ash yawned again and decided to take the nurse's advice.  He kissed Misty's forehead and whispered that he would be back tomorrow morning.  He then went home to get a few hours of sleep before coming back.  By then Gary and Misty's sisters would be in town and he would have to get there before they made his wife nuts.

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To be continued…

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Happy Holidays everyone!  I'm sorry I didn't make my deadline of Christmas but I had to go to the Hawaii Bowl, one pep rally, a Basketball game, a band rehearsal for the bowl game, and meet friends on Christmas Eve.  It's been a busy start to my winter break.  Only one more chapter left, still haven't decided if I'll continue.  It depends on what you guys want.  Thanks for sticking with me, your support means a lot to me.  Hopefully I got everything right as far as the birth process.  Sorry, never experienced it myself so I can't write from experience just some things I've heard from others.  If there are any major errors please let me know.

I'm drawing a few scenes from the story so if you have any requests just send an email or say so in your review.  They will be posted on my page:

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/kitcat

If you want to be added to the update notification list let me know.  Ash's Angel/Myst please let me know your new email address. (Well if you still want update notifications.  This is the last time I'll ask.) 

Thanks for reading…please review.

Until next chapter,

Kitcat ^_^

kitcat-hp@hawaii.rr.com