(A/N: Sorry it took so long for this chapter, but I wrote all of it but the last 3 paragraphs and then my motivation was completely gone. I even had a long weekend and I did nothing on it. I'm so bad. Anyway, I anticipate 4 to 6 more chapters in the story after this one.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!)

Mary sat in pain inside the dreary hospital room in the maternity ward of Bay General Hospital. Ruthie and Lucy sat in chairs next to Mary as Annie scurried about between the nurses and the pay phone to try and get in contact with Eric. Mary had been at the hospital for upwards of an hour, nearly two now. Every so often, she would burst into tears about not being with Wilson, but her mother kept assuring her that her father said everything was going fine and he would be here before she knew it.

"No he won't," Mary would reply every time someone tried to comfort her. "He's going to miss it."

It wasn't about Wilson missing the birth of their child so much as it was about him not being with her. She needed his steady hand to hold and his comforting words to tide her through. She was positive she could not do this without him. She thought about refusing to give birth, and if that would have any chance of working. If she didn't want to have the baby now, maybe she could just wait a little while longer and have it when she was ready. However much she wanted to be able to do that, though, Mary was a rational person. She knew that, unfortunately, this baby was coming whether she was ready for it or not- and regardless of Wilson's location.

Mary sighed and another contraction began to overtake her, the third one since she had been there and probably the fourth or fifth all day. She panted and moaned, the pain almost becoming too much for her to handle. Lucy reached her hand out to her and Mary took it, but it was no help. She needed Wilson; otherwise the whole "hand-holding" process wouldn't work. She didn't trust Lucy enough for there to be any sort of comfort in her helping Mary through this. Mary looked at the clock on the wall as the pain subsided. 1:12. "Come on," she thought, "Where are you?" her eyes started to fill with tears as Lucy gazed at her big sister sympathetically.

"Are you all right?"

"No, I'm not."

"Can I do something for you? Get you anything?"

"No, I don't think so. I just need him here with me. I can't explain-"

Before Mary could finish her sentence, Wilson burst through the door. He laid eyes on Mary and grinned- she looked so beautiful at that moment. Mary smiled widely when she saw him.

"I love you," she said as he walked over to her, not caring who heard her.

"I love you, too," he said picking up her hand and sitting on the bed next to her.

The whole family, including Eric and Simon, crowded around the couple and observed how much they truly cared for each other in their presence and mannerisms. Everyone smiled, along with emotional Lucy and Annie who had tears filling in their eyes. They were the only ones who were thinking about how today would forever change their lives.

"So, how's my little girl doing?" Eric asked.

"I'm OK I guess," Mary responded.

"Are you really OK?" Wilson asked her. He was able to see what her family could not- that she wasn't telling the whole truth.

"I…uh…" Mary felt too uncomfortable to continue.

"Could we have a minute alone please? If you wouldn't mind that is," Wilson asked of the Camdens.

"Of course," Annie said.

"Come on troops, let's go," Eric stated loudly.

The family filed out and left Mary and Wilson on the bed alone. Wilson looked into her eyes and tried to read her emotions, only to find out it was near impossible.

"So, why aren't you OK?" he finally asked her.

"It's not that I'm not OK. I mean, I guess I am…it's just that-"

"Just that what?"

"It's nothing, never mind."

"It's definitely something. Talk."

"I guess it was just my nerves- being scared about you not being here and all. I'm better now that you're with me and we're alone. I need you…I…oh," Mary drew in a sharp breath and grabbed her stomach. "Ow," she said closing her eyes tightly as the pain engulfed her still tiny frame.

Wilson panicked. "Here, take my hand."

Mary grabbed Wilson shirt in her hands, tightly clenching it in pain-stricken fists, and leaned her head on his shoulder. Hand-schmand. Wilson wrapped his arms around her as she continued to breath deeply. He rubbed her back and the sharp pain returned back to a dull ache.

"Thank you," she said.

He looked at her compassionately. "When was your last contraction?"

"1:12."

Wilson looked at his watch. "That was only two minutes ago," he said sounding flabbergasted. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said firmly.

He rubbed her hand. "OK, OK. I don't doubt you. But shouldn't they be farther apart?"

Mary shrugged her shoulders. "You know more about this than I do."

"Have you talked to the doctor?" he inquired. "Did you find out why the baby is early?"

"No but I can tell you in my expert opinion that it's probably not good. Anyway, let's not think about that. How'd the trial go?"

"Well, I was found innocent and that's all you need to concern yourself with."

"That's great," she said placing a kiss on his cheek. She put her head back on his shoulder. "Wilson, do you think we'll really be able to do this? Can we raise a baby?"

"I think that together we can do anything," Wilson responded warmly, "but don't worry yourself with any of that stuff. Right now all you have to do is be calm, focused, and get through this."

Mary sighed. "I know, I know."

At this time, Mary's doctor entered the room and thumbed through Mary's chart like he had an hour and a half ago. He looked up from the manila folder and looked at Wilson strangely.

"I'm the father," Wilson said.

"Oh, OK. Well, I'm Dr. Ramsden." He turned to Mary. "So, how are you doing?"

"Not too bad," she responded.

"Excuse Me, Dr. Ramsden," said Wilson, "how far apart should her contractions be?"

"Three to four minutes, why?"

"Because the last ones were barely 2 minutes apart."

"Oh?" he said curiously. He went over to the machine attached to Mary and read the output information. "Can I check you again?" Mary made a face but obliged anyway. He pulled up a stool near her feet and examined Mary, finishing by flipping off his gloves into the nearby wastebasket. "You're still only dilated about 4 ½, 5 centimeters and almost 50% effaced."

"What do I have to go up to?" Mary asked.

Wilson kissed the top of Mary's head. "Ten sweetheart."

Mary lied back on the bed frustrated. "How much longer is that going to take?"

"A long time, at least 4 hours but probably more," the doctor told her.

"Over four hours?! I can't go through another four hours of this!" she wailed.

"Is there any reason why the baby is so early?" Wilson asked.

"Well, the first baby born to a woman is usually a bit earlier than the clichéd nine months."

"Two months early?"

"Well, I'll be frank. That's kind of early."

"Is the baby going to be OK?" Mary asked quietly.

"Everything looks good, so everything will most likely be fine."

Mary nodded and looked in Wilson's direction. Although Dr. Ramsden was not a doctor of emotions, he knew that Mary was upset.

"Well, I'll leave you be if you have everything you need," he said trying not to disturb them.

Mary nodded once more and Dr. Ramsden left. Mary went to say something to Wilson, but by the time she opened her mouth the door opened again and Annie walked in.

"Mom," Mary asked, "how much is it going to hurt?"

Annie walked over and touched her daughters face with her hand. "You'll be fine. You're body is built for this."

"Not my body," Mary commented.

"Time for a mother-daughter talk?"

Mary nodded shyly.

"I'll leave you two ladies alone to talk." Wilson squeezed Mary's hand and went toward the door.

"The rest of the family is in the waiting room," Annie told him.

Just as Wilson reached the door, Mary called out to Wilson. "What is it?" he asked concerned. "Another contraction?"

Mary didn't have to answer. When she reached out for him and clung to him like a wet t-shirt, he knew that was what was going on. Tears formed in her eyes as she buried her head in his chest. The pain was becoming even more intense and less bearable by the second. She truly felt like she was about to die. Luckily, Wilson knew exactly how to treat her. He let her hang on him and came at her beckon call. He did things at her speed and didn't make her being in pain a bigger deal than it needed to be. He knew how to comfortingly touch her and did so in all of the right places.

The contraction ended 30 seconds later and Mary pulled back from Wilson. He looked at his watch- 1:17. He gazed into Mary's eyes, not needing to verbally ask her if she was OK. He then kissed her forehead and left without another word.

"He's amazing," Mary said out loud, completely forgetting that her mother was sitting in front of her.

"Yeah, he really is something," Annie commented.

Outside, Wilson walked into the waiting room and snuck into the chair beside Lucy, going almost completely unnoticed.

"How is she?"

"So far so good," Wilson told Lucy.

"I want to see her," she confessed.

"Well, you can go back in with me when your mom's done talking with her."

"Why is Mom talking to her?"

"They're having some sort of mother-daughter talk."

Lucy giggled. "About what?"

"Not quite sure. I think it's about giving birth though."

Lucy looked sad. "Maybe I could ask her for a sister to sister talk?"

"What do you want to talk about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't know. I just wanted to talk to her before she has the baby and everything changes."

"Yeah, everything is going to change, isn't it?" Wilson said forlornly.

Lucy leaned against Wilson. "You'll be fine."

"I hope so. I'm more worried about her though."

"Aren't we all?" Simon chimed in.

Wilson attempted to smile, but he couldn't get what Lucy said out of his mind. Everything was going to change. "I think I'm in need of a father-son talk."

"Talk to our Dad. I think of you as a big brother. Therefore, me Dad es su Dad."

"Thanks," Wilson said smiling, "but I don't think I'd feel comfortable talking with your Dad. At least, not like that anyways."

"Talking with me about what?" Eric asked.

"Oh, nothing," Wilson said in a quick attempt to cover.

Lucy nudged Wilson with her elbow. "Talk to him," she muttered under her breath.

"I…uh…I" Wilson muttered as Annie slipped in the door. She walked over to Wilson and put her hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Mary needs you Wilson."

"Needs or wants?" Eric asked.

"Needs," Annie answered.

"Is she OK?" Lucy asked.

"I'm sure she's fine."

"Come on Luce, I'll take you in with me."

Wilson stood up with Lucy and walked out of the waiting room. As they approached Mary's private room, they could hear her crying from the hallway. Wilson rushed in to find out what was going on with her.

The door opened and Mary looked up at Wilson and Lucy. When she saw him, she couldn't help but do anything besides crying harder. The pain was unbearable, she had just had a fight with her mother, and the contractions seemed to have no real beginning or ending. Needless to say, Mary was getting concerned.

"Wilson," was all she could manage to let out.

He approached her cautiously with the sole thought of needing to help her. He stood beside her bed with Lucy as Mary pulled her legs into her chest, doubling over in pain, and rolled onto her side. "She really must be in a lot of pain for her to be acting this way," he thought, "unless is she's just getting 'hormonal'."

Lucy looked at her big sister and was terrified. "I should go."

"No," Mary said, "please stay."

Lucy sat down in a chair and Wilson sat on the edge of the bed. Mary composed herself long enough to reach Wilson's ear and whisper something to him. He nodded and lied down next to Mary. She curled up against him, her skin exposed behind them from being in the hospital gown. Lucy got up and stood next to them, her arms shaking at her sides. "Please God," she asked silently, "make sure that Mary is OK. She's a great sister and a wonderful person…and I don't want to loose her."

A nurse walked into the room- the answer to Lucy's prayers. "So, how is everything?" she asked politely as she looked in Mary's direction.

"Uh…not good," Wilson responded.

"How so?"

"She's in so much pain that she's dizzy; she feels like she's going to black out."

"Oh my," said the 30-something redhead. "Shall I get the doctor?"

"Please," Wilson responded.

Lucy looked at the both of them questioningly. Mary had barely said two words, how could Wilson have known what was wrong with her? Lucy opened her mouth to ask them but stopped herself. She really didn't want to hear another one of their mushy, puppy-love answers. "The part in her hair is a little to the left and I know that means that at quarter past 3 on Tuesdays she likes bananas." "Bleh!" thought Lucy.

Wilson looked up at Lucy and grinned widely, hoping to keep her there for a few seconds longer.

"Mare," he said tucking her hair behind her ear, "I think Lucy wanted to talk to you."

"No, that's OK, really," Lucy said quickly. "You're busy, I'll just go."

"I think I can manage a quick talk," Mary said sitting up and leaning against Wilson for support. Lucy stared back at her sister blankly. She didn't really know what she wanted to say. "Look Lucy," Mary said finally, "let me just give you some sisterly advice. Make sure you fall in love. Make sure it's true love, real love, because being in love is the greatest thing in the world. And, most importantly, if you ever have to question whether or not you love someone, I mean really question it, then you don't, because being in love isn't a state of mind or a decision you make, but more of an undying devotion you have for that person. True love can't be bought or sold or won or lost…it just stays inside of you and you always know where to find it."

Lucy and Mary both got teary eyed. Even though Lucy often made fun of Mary and Wilson's "mushy" love for one another, inside she always had envied it. She wanted to someone to share her life with, or even a measly day or hour.

Dr. Ramsden entered the room and looked disapprovingly in the direction of Wilson. Wilson smiled sheepishly and got off the bed.

"So, what seems to be the problem?"

"I'm in a lot of pain…I feel like I'm going to pass out."

"Let me check you." The doctor examined Mary for the third time today and finished looking pleasantly surprised. "Well, I have some good news for you. You're 100% effaced and 10 centimeters dilated."

"So?" Mary said.

"You're ready to push."

Mary collapsed back on the bed. "Thank God." Lucy glared at Mary for using the name of God in vain. "What? You think this happened without some divine intervention?"

Lucy shook her head at Mary and smiled. "I'll go tell everyone."

A half hour later, Mary had just begun physically pushing. Her face scrunched up as she used all of her strength to push out the baby making its descent inside of her. Mary and Wilson were concentrating so intently on the fact that Mary was giving birth that they didn't notice anything going on around them. One of the nurses was trying to say something to Dr. Ramsden, but he kept brushing her off with a chauvinistic attitude. She would run back and forth between one of the machines and the doctor, seemingly fretting over something the doctor deemed unimportant.

"Excuse me!" she finally screamed loud enough to get everyone's attention. The whole room looked at her, even Dr. Ramsden. "Um," she finally said in a demure voice, "I thought you might like to know that the baby's heart rate has been steadily dropping."

Dr. Ramsden got up and walked over to one of the monitors and confirmed what the nurse said- the baby's heart rate was declining at an alarming rate.

"What's going on?" Wilson asked.

"Nothing," he said sitting back down near Mary's feet. "This just might be a little bit more difficult than we thought, but I'm sure everything will be fine."

A frightened Mary turned to Wilson. "It's going to be fine. The doctor said so. He said," Wilson said reassuringly. He truly believed it was all going to be all right.

Please review!