Part 17.



"It's too soon," Max argued weakly, as a contraction shot through her stomach, "Oh god. No one told me it would be like this."

"Deep breaths," Jill said soothingly, "You're going to the hospital, and we're going to deliver this baby!"

"I can't," Max cried, as she doubled over in pain, "They're coming so fast!"

"Ssh," Kenny said, coming out of his shock, "Listen to her sweetheart. We're going now. You wanted to get out of here right?"

Max looked up at him, as Jill dialed the hospital as she walked toward the door. I can't, she thought, what did I do to have this baby so soon? I did everything I was supposed to! Why is this happening?

"Come on," Jill said, nodding over at them as Kenny scooped up Max in his arms like she weighed nothing at all, "There is a room waiting for us, but we've got to go now."

Max buried her head in Kenny's chest, as another contraction shot through her mid-section, "Kenny?"

"Ssh," he said again, as they made their way to the car, "You're going to be fine. Just stay calm. It'll be over soon."



"They're going to be shocked," Jimmy said, shaking his head, "They need something positive after everything they've been through lately. And even Jill thinks it will be okay for one night."

Skeeter nodded, as he skimmed down the list of wedding preparations, "I've got the flowers, food and band ordered. Lisa found a cute little white maternity dress for Max. The minister isn't a criminal. This is going to be great Jimmy."

Jimmy couldn't help but grin , "I can't quite believe that this is happening. This is Kenny and Max after all. Their wedding. And baby."

"It changes things," Skeeter agreed, "Three days. I'm not sure I can keep this a secret for three more days."



"Push," Jill demanded, watching Max's vital signs on the monitor, "Now, go!"

Max gritted her teeth, and pushed with everything in her as Jill counted down from ten, "Oh shit this hurts."

"You're doing great," Kenny said encouragingly, as he wiped the sweat from her face, "Max, this is incredible."

"Yeah? You want to try?"

"Get ready," Jill said, hoping that her blood pressure remained stable, "Push."

Kenny tried not to wince as Max crushed his hand with her grip. She's having a baby, he thought, that's gotta be worse then this. Concentrate on that for now.

"I can see the head," Jill cried, watching as her blood pressure began to creep up.

"Kenny?," Max asked hoarsely, "I need to tell you something."

He leaned in closer so that he could hear her, "What? This isn't the best time sweetheart."

She shook her head, "I know you wanted to get married before I had the baby . . . I'm sorry."

"You couldn't have known it would come so early," Kenny countered, watching as another contraction hit her, "We've got time."

"Push, one more! You're almost done," Jill promised, "I see shoulders. Keep going Max! A few more seconds."

"Ah!," Max cried, as she heard the cries of a baby in the air around her, "Oh."

"It's a girl," Jill announced, looking at the tiny infant in her hands carefully, "I need a bag valve mask!"

"What's wrong?," Max asked, struggling to sit up, "Jill?"

Jill shook her head, as she continued to work on the premature baby in front of her, "Stay back . . . Got it! She's breathing again!"

"We've got to get her into ICU," a nurse said, "Now!"

"I'll keep you updated," Jill promised, as she rushed out of the room.

"Where are they taking her?," Max asked, looking up at Kenny, "Is she okay?"

He shook his head, "She's so small Max. They're probably just going to run some tests and stuff. She's premature, and . . . She'll be fine."

Max swallowed, as she tried to fight the drowsiness overtaking her. So sleepy, she thought, watching as a nurse came back in. I can't keep my eyes open.



"Kenny," Jill called, rapping on the door of Max's hospital room, "She's going to sleep through the night. We gave her enough sedatives to make sure of that, and to give her body some time to recover. Would you like to come and meet your daughter?"

"Is she okay? You rushed her out so quickly," Kenny trailed off, reluctant to leave Max, but itching to meet their daughter.

Jill paused, "She's in ICU for now. She was two months early, and needs to gain some weight before we release her. We have her in isolation too because her immune system isn't fully developed yet. We're going to monitor her closely."

Kenny nodded, looking back at Max, "I'd like to go see her."

Jill smiled, "She's beautiful, but tiny. You two made an amazing looking baby."

Kenny nodded, as he followed her down the hall, "If she looks like anything like Max she should be. She thought it was a girl, almost from the day we found out."

Jill suppressed a smile, as they paused in front of the nursery, "There, see?"

Kenny inhaled sharply, looking at the tiny infant in the room in front of him, "Wow. I don't know what to say . . . She's so little. Is she okay in that thing? Does she need anything?"

"She's fine," Jill insisted, seeing the intense look on his face as he looked at his daughter for the first time, "I know it's hard not to touch her or hold her now, but it's for her own good."

Kenny felt a grin creep across his face, "She's incredible. I can't believe it . . ."

"Believe it. Congratulations Dad."


Jimmy shook his head as he walked into the station the next morning, "I need everyone's attention! Now!"

Work stopped around him, as his staff turned towards him. Trying to stay stern, he couldn't help but smile as he looked around.

"I have an announcement to make," he began, "Last night Max had the baby. A girl."

"She wasn't due yet," Skeeter blurted out, "Is everyone okay?"

Jimmy nodded, "So far."



"She's perfect Max," Kenny said quietly, intertwining his fingers with hers, "So tiny, but perfect."

Max smiled, "Even though she came almost two months early? I was so worried . . . She's okay?"

Kenny paused, "I think she's going to be in the hospital for awhile, at least until she gains some weight. You have to go see her though. It's unbelievable. How are you feeling?"

"Okay. We're parents . . . that's weirding me out though."

Kenny kissed her forehead, as Jill came in, "I'm glad to see that you're awake. How are you feeling? You should be well rested."

Max nodded, sitting up slightly, "I'm fine. How is she?"

"She's doing great," Jill insisted, as she explained what she told Kenny last night, "Would you like to go see her?"

Max nodded, "More then anything."


"A girl," Skeeter mused, joining Jimmy in his office, "Does this mean that the wedding is off? Or at least postponed? It was going to be so perfect."

Jimmy nodded, feeling thrilled for his deputies, "I don't know how they're even going to do this. Kenny's been living at her place more or less since Jill ordered her to bed. They don't have enough room for a baby, at either of their places."

"I guess they'll have to figure that out too."



"She looks like you," Kenny said, laying his hand on Max's shoulder, "Look at that hair."

"She's so little," she practically whispered, aching to touch her, "Is she supposed to be that tiny?"

Jill smiled, "She'll get bigger. The nurses have been feeding her, and when she's stronger I'm sure you'll want to feed her as well."

"I can't wait," Max agreed, tearing her gaze away from the infant, "She's perfect."

Jill nodded, "I'm going to leave you two alone for a bit. I'll be back soon."

"What do you think Mom?," Kenny asked, "Any names in mind?"

Max read the card on the front of the bed, "Other then baby girl Lacos?"

Kenny paused, looking down at her, "You okay with the last name?"

"I didn't really think about it . . . I guess I am then. I mean you're her father after all."

"And you're her mother," Kenny added, "Does that make the three of us a family then?"

Max nodded, "I guess it does."

"Even without the marriage thing? I know I pushed it on you a lot, and I was sort of afraid that we wouldn't be one if we didn't. Dumb I guess."

"No, it wasn't," she replied softly, "And we will. Soon. I want to make this all official, although I don't need a piece of paper to know that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you."

Kenny smiled at her and couldn't think of a better way to spend the future then with Max, "You're amazing, I love you."

"I love you too. What about that name?"



"Kylie Lacos," Jill said, joining her husband on the couch, "You have to go see her Jimmy. She's breathtaking. Kenny and Max certainly made a pretty baby."

"How's she doing? I know she was early."

"She's gaining weight, and getting stronger. Her parents are pretty tough, and I don't think she's going anywhere without a fight."

"She comes from good people," Jimmy agreed, thinking of the past weeks, "And they're moving into together? Finally? I know it's a rental house, but it's a step in the right direction."

"They'll get married," Jill predicted, "I guess your and Skeeter's plans are put on hold then?"

"For now."

"They've got a lot on their plates right now," Jill cautioned him, "With moving, and Kylie isn't going home from the hospital for a few more weeks. I think getting married is the farthest thing from either of their minds right now."

Jimmy shook his head, "Maybe, but I doubt it'll stay that way long."



"Wow," Max practically whispered, as she held Kylie for the first time a few weeks later, "I don't ever want to put her down now."

Kenny smiled as he watched the two together. She's a natural, he thought, looking at their auburn haired daughter in Max's arms, "I hear she's hungry."

Max paused, looking up at him, "I've never done that before. I'm not really sure how it's supposed to work."

Kenny grinned at her, joining her on the bench, "Well you probably have a better idea then I do. They're your breasts."

Max took a deep breath, "Here it goes. Oh."

Kenny kissed her on the top of her head, as Jill observed them from the hallway. They're a family, she thought, watching the enchanted expressions on both of their faces. It happened so quickly too. I don't think that they believe it either. Knocking on the door frame, she stuck her head in, "Hi. How's it going in here?"

Kenny shook his head, "Okay. I can't believe we get to touch her."

Jill smiled, "She's gained enough weight so you can bring her home in a few days."

"Really?," Max asked, watching in wonder as Kylie suckled on her breast, "Are you sure? She still seems so small."

Jill smiled indulgently, as she watched Max and Kylie together, "I'm sure. She's doing great, so I'm guessing at the end of the week."

Kenny nodded, "I guess I better start unpacking all of those boxes then. Her room is all set though."

Jill couldn't wipe the grin off of her face as she watched the three of them, "That's a start. I'll come back and check on you three later."

"I think she's done," Kenny observed as Jill left, "That was incredible."

Max smiled up at him, as she looked down at a drowsy Kylie, "It felt so weird. Not in a bad way, but still . . . I didn't think it would feel like this. Having a kid and all. Everything is different now."

"Not everything," he countered, pressing his lips to hers quickly, as she handed him Kylie, "She looks like you."

"I can't believe we get to bring her home," Max trailed off, thinking of the cottage they had rented, "I'm not sure what to do with her. It's so easy here, with all of the nurses and doctors around . . . What if we break her or something?"

"Break her?"

"You know what I mean," she sighed, "I'm absolutely terrified."

"Me too," he agreed, looking over at her, "We're gonna make mistakes, that's a given. But I'd do anything to protect her, keep her safe. We're going to give her a wonderful life sweetheart."

Max nodded, "I know you're going to be an incredible father because you're so patient, warm hearted and kind. I can't imagine having a child with anyone else but you. She's a lucky little girl."

"That she is," he agreed, looking over at her and he felt a little choked up by her statement, "And she has a loving and caring mother too."

Smiling at each other, they turned back to their daughter.



To be continued.