Chapter 23: The Delivery
Disclaimer: Joss owns everything, but this story.
When the contraction was over, Spike pushed the stop button on the stopwatch.
"Okay luv, take a cleansing breathe."
Buffy did as she was told. Spike helped her out of the vehicle and, together, they went into the hospital and up to the nurse's station.
"My wife's in labor. Dr. Ryan is her doctor," Spike told the nurse.
"Name?"
"Buffy Summers."
The nurse looked down at a sheet of paper on the desk.
"Okay, Labor Room One has been reserved for you and Dr. Ryan will be here shortly."
The nurse flagged an orderly, with a wheelchair, over. Buffy sat down and was whisked away, with Spike in tow.
***
Once she was in the room, two nurses helped her get changed and into bed, while Spike stood back from the flurry of activity and simply watched. After Buffy was settled, one of the nurses checked her, to see how far she had dilated.
"How far apart are the contractions?" she asked.
"About twenty minutes."
"You're three centimeters dilated," the other nurse stated.
After they left, Spike pulled a chair over to Buffy's bed.
"How are you feeling, luv?"
"I'm okay. Do you think that the gang are here yet?" Buffy asked, anxiously.
"I'm sure they are, luv. But I could go check, if you like."
"Would you please?"
"Okay."
"Thanks sweetheart."
"You're welcome, luv. Are you going to be alright while I'm gone?"
"I'll be fine."
"Okay, I'll be right back."
Spike went back out into the waiting area. He spotted Giles and the Scoobies, hanging around, waiting for any news they could get. Dawn ran up to him, with everyone following her.
"Well, what's happening?" she asked.
"Buffy is fine. She is three centimeters dilated and her contractions are twenty minutes apart, so far."
"When will we be able to see her?"
"Well, I can take one of you back in with me right now."
"Dawn, you go ahead," Willow said.
"Come on, Niblet."
As Spike and Dawn got to the door, Buffy began having another contraction. Dawn ran over to hold her hand.
"Spike! Here comes another one," she said, gripping the bedrail with her other hand and bending it.
He pulled the stopwatch out of his pocket and began timing her, encouraging her to do her breathing exercises.
"Breathe, luv."
"Hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow."
"OUCH! OUCH! BUFFY! AHHHH!" Dawn screamed when Buffy squeezed her hand too hard, causing her to sink to her knees.
Spike jumped up and pried Dawn's hand from her sister's grasp.
"Are you alright, bit?"
"I'll live. Ouch."
Buffy began to relax after a few minutes and her breathing began to slow down. Spike noticed this and asked, "Is it over?"
Buffy nodded.
Spike pushed the button on the stopwatch and rubbed her belly.
"Okay luv, cleansing breathe."
Buffy did as he asked.
"That's good baby, relax."
"Hey Buffy," Dawn said meekly, still wincing from the pain in her hand.
"Hey Dawnie," Buffy panted. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'll live."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to . . ."
"Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Dawn replied, "even though you nearly pulled my hand off; remind me to never have kids."
"Labor is no picnic."
"Well, I just came in, to see how you're doing. I can't wait to see my niece or nephew," Dawn said, enthusiastically.
"We can't wait for you to see the baby either, Lil Bit."
"I am so ready for this to be over," Buffy said.
"I know kitten."
"Well, I'm going to get out of your way. I'll see you guys again when you're parents."
"Okay, Niblet."
Dawn scampered out of the room and headed for the waiting area, eager to share what she knew with the others.
***
Twenty minutes later . . .
Spike was coaching Buffy through another contraction when Dr. Ryan came in, followed by a nurse.
"How are we doing in here?" Dr. Ryan asked.
"We are fine, doctor."
"Speak for yourself William, you're not the one in pain," Buffy panted.
Dr. Ryan smiled at Buffy's statement.
"Alright, let's see how much you've dilated."
Dr. Ryan pulled the sheet back, at the end of the bed and examined Buffy.
"Well, Buffy, you've dilated another two centimeters," he said as he pulled the sheet back down.
"Dr. Ryan, how much longer?" Buffy asked.
"It may be hours yet. It all depends on how fast your labor progresses. You have to dilate a few more centimeters before you can push."
Dr. Ryan peeled off his rubber gloves and went to the sink. Once he finished washing his hands, he picked up her chart and started writing.
"I have to go because I have another patient who just came in, but, I'll be back soon to check on you," he said as he left the room.
Spike stood at his wife's side and brushed her wet hair back from her sweaty forehead. Kissing her lightly on the lips, he admired how beautiful Buffy was through all of this, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her moans, as another contraction hit her.
"Spike!"
"I know, luv. Breathe," he instructed, while he timed the contraction.
"Unh! Hee , hee, blow, hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow . . ."
Buffy gripped the bedrail again, nearly pulling it off the bed.
"Hold on luv, it's almost over. Breathe," he said, watching the stopwatch.
As the pain subsided, Buffy did her cleansing breath and tried to slow her breathing down.
"Spike, I don't want to do this anymore, let's just call the whole thing off," Buffy said tiredly.
"We can't do that, sweetness. It has to happen for you to have the baby."
"I guess so."
Spike kissed her forehead, walked into the bathroom and got a washcloth. He ran it under the cold water and brought it back to Buffy, wiping the sweat off her face and wrapping it around her neck, to cool her down.
"Thank you, honey, that feels good."
"You're more than welcome, kitten. God, you are so beautiful. I love you more than life itself."
Spike reached down to kiss her again and she kissed him back.
"Remember, that's how we got into this predicament in the first place," she said, breaking it off.
Spike pulled back and smiled at her; then he began to sing a verse of a familiar song that came to mind.
"Having my baby, what a lovely way to show me that you love me . . ."
When he sang, it brought a smile to Buffy's face.
Ten hours later . . .
Buffy was pretty worn out from being in labor for so many hours. Dr. Ryan had been back and forth between Buffy and his other patient during this time and on one of his stops, he checked her to see how much more she had dilated.
"Buffy, you're eight centimeters now. We're almost there. You'll be going into the delivery room soon. I'll be back in a little bit," he said, as he left the room again.
Buffy's contractions were now coming every five minutes and Dr. Ryan, knowing this, had his staff prepare her for the delivery. His other patient wasn't as advanced as Buffy, so his main focus was on her. Spike had also noticed that her behavior (towards him) had begun to change. She'd gone from declaring her love to him to saying that she hated him.
"Spike, this all your fault, I wouldn't be going through this if it weren't for you. You're never coming near me again!"
"Take it easy, luv. It's just the pain talking; you don't mean what you're saying."
"I am SO going to stake you when this is over! You bleached blond moron!" Buffy yelled.
Spike tried very hard to ignore her angry comments and insults, but then she began to resist his instructions to do her breathing exercises during each contraction.
"Oh! Bloody Hell, here it comes again!" she yelled.
"Breathe luv, breathe."
"Shut the hell up! *You* breathe! AHHH! Get this thing out of me!" she yelled, gritting her teeth.
When the contraction was over, Spike pushed the button on the stopwatch.
"Okay kitten, that was three minutes."
"I'm going to push, I can't take this anymore!"
"No luv, not yet."
"How are you going to stop me?!" Buffy dared him.
Just as that statement came out of Buffy's mouth, Dr. Ryan came in to check on her. Upon examining her, he found her fully dilated. He instructed the nurses to move her to Delivery Room One for the big moment. When they got Buffy there, she was prepped for the delivery.
Spike had time to put on some hospital scrubs and then quickly get back to her. Dr. Ryan sat at the end of the bed, and with the nurse's help, pulled on his gloves.
"Okay folks, let's have a baby."
Spike stood up at the head of the bed, so that he would be able to help her push when the time came.
"Alright Buffy, push with the next contraction."
"Here comes one."
"Okay, push."
Buffy drew air into her mouth and held it as she pushed. Spike stood behind her, holding onto the pillow at her back and giving her words of encouragement.
"Come on luv, push. You can do it."
"When the contraction is over, stop pushing," Dr. Ryan instructed her.
When it was over, she blew the rest of the air out and fell back on the pillow.
"Good job, honey, you're doing fine," Spike said to her, wiping the sweat from her face.
"Now, with the next contraction, I want you to push."
Buffy nodded.
"Here it comes!" Buffy said, as she drew air into her lungs and held it. She grunted, pushing as hard as she could, with Spike's constant verbal support.
"Come on baby, push, you can do it."
"I see the baby's head. Push a little bit more."
"Okay, stop pushing," Dr. Ryan instructed her.
Buffy fell back on the bed, panting, trying to catch her breath.
"Good job, sweetheart. I love you," Spike said, kissing her sweaty forehead, and holding her hand.
"I love . . .you . . .too."
The baby's head was completely out of her body and turned, so its little face could be seen. Spike peered down between Buffy's legs to see his child's face, as the doctor cleared out the baby's mouth and nose; the baby then made a small whimpering sound.
"Alright Buffy, we're almost there. Now, just one more big push."
She drew in air again and pushed one last time, gripping the bedrail.
"Unh . . .Unh . . .ahh!"
"You have a beautiful baby girl!" Dr. Ryan said to the new parents.
"You did it, luv."
The doctor held the baby up for them to see and they heard their daughter's first cry. Buffy fell back still, puffing and blowing. Dr. Ryan placed the baby on her stomach, while he cut the cord. Buffy held her baby against her warm body and she and Spike marveled at the miracle that they had created together.
At that moment, Buffy began to cry and Spike comforted her, wiping her tears away.
"Spike, she's beautiful."
"Just like her mum," he said proudly.
The baby opened her eyes and stared up at her parents. They both saw that she had her father's beautiful blue eyes. One of the nurses came over and gently took the baby from Buffy so that she could be cleaned up, weighed and measured.
"Spike, I'm sorry that I was so mean to you. I love you."
"Think nothing of it, pet. I knew it was the pain talking. I love you too, kitten," he said, kissing her.
The nurse brought the baby back to them, wrapped in a pink blanket, with a little hat on her head and deposited her in Spike's arms.
"There's Daddy's girl," he said to the baby.
The baby made mewling sounds while he held her. Spike couldn't take his eyes off his daughter, he couldn't believe the miracle before him. This was his child and in his one hundred plus years as a vampire, he never thought it would be possible, but here she was. Tears formed in his eyes.
"It sounds like someone is hungry," Buffy said, in regards to the baby, breaking Spike's train of thought.
Buffy began tugging at the snaps on the shoulder of her gown; Spike helped her, lowering one side and exposing her left breast. He gently handed the baby to her and Buffy held her to her breast, where she immediately took Buffy's nipple into her mouth and began suckling hungrily.
"You're just like your father," she said jokingly to her daughter.
"Hey!" Spike protested.
"I'm just teasing, honey. Spike what are we going to name her?"
"I don't know luv. You said that you wanted a 'B' name."
After some thought, Buffy remembered a name from the baby name book that she'd considered before.
"I know what we'll name her - Brianna Joyce Summers."
"I like that name luv, it fits her."
"Yes, it does."
In the meantime, Dr. Ryan was finished suturing Buffy's perineum. He helped her out of the stirrups and then covered her back up. After cleaning up, he addressed the happy couple, "Congratulations, Buffy, William, she is a beauty. Buffy you're going to be moved to a regular room in a few minutes; then your family and friends will be able to visit with you."
"Okay Dr. Ryan, thank you."
"Again, congratulations," he said as he left the room.
Spike said, "Buffy, I'll be right back, I'm going to let everyone know that the baby is here."
"Alright, but hurry back," she said, holding her daughter and staring down into her little face while she nursed.
The baby's birth certificate would read:
Name: Brianna Joyce Summers Sex: Female DOB: May 3, 2002 Weight: 12lbs, 3oz. Height: 21 inches Mother's Name: Buffy Anne Summers Father's Name: William Summers Time of Birth: 2:40 PM Place of Birth: Sunnydale, CA
Brianna's tiny footprints were stamped on the bottom of the page.
TBC
Disclaimer: Joss owns everything, but this story.
When the contraction was over, Spike pushed the stop button on the stopwatch.
"Okay luv, take a cleansing breathe."
Buffy did as she was told. Spike helped her out of the vehicle and, together, they went into the hospital and up to the nurse's station.
"My wife's in labor. Dr. Ryan is her doctor," Spike told the nurse.
"Name?"
"Buffy Summers."
The nurse looked down at a sheet of paper on the desk.
"Okay, Labor Room One has been reserved for you and Dr. Ryan will be here shortly."
The nurse flagged an orderly, with a wheelchair, over. Buffy sat down and was whisked away, with Spike in tow.
***
Once she was in the room, two nurses helped her get changed and into bed, while Spike stood back from the flurry of activity and simply watched. After Buffy was settled, one of the nurses checked her, to see how far she had dilated.
"How far apart are the contractions?" she asked.
"About twenty minutes."
"You're three centimeters dilated," the other nurse stated.
After they left, Spike pulled a chair over to Buffy's bed.
"How are you feeling, luv?"
"I'm okay. Do you think that the gang are here yet?" Buffy asked, anxiously.
"I'm sure they are, luv. But I could go check, if you like."
"Would you please?"
"Okay."
"Thanks sweetheart."
"You're welcome, luv. Are you going to be alright while I'm gone?"
"I'll be fine."
"Okay, I'll be right back."
Spike went back out into the waiting area. He spotted Giles and the Scoobies, hanging around, waiting for any news they could get. Dawn ran up to him, with everyone following her.
"Well, what's happening?" she asked.
"Buffy is fine. She is three centimeters dilated and her contractions are twenty minutes apart, so far."
"When will we be able to see her?"
"Well, I can take one of you back in with me right now."
"Dawn, you go ahead," Willow said.
"Come on, Niblet."
As Spike and Dawn got to the door, Buffy began having another contraction. Dawn ran over to hold her hand.
"Spike! Here comes another one," she said, gripping the bedrail with her other hand and bending it.
He pulled the stopwatch out of his pocket and began timing her, encouraging her to do her breathing exercises.
"Breathe, luv."
"Hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow."
"OUCH! OUCH! BUFFY! AHHHH!" Dawn screamed when Buffy squeezed her hand too hard, causing her to sink to her knees.
Spike jumped up and pried Dawn's hand from her sister's grasp.
"Are you alright, bit?"
"I'll live. Ouch."
Buffy began to relax after a few minutes and her breathing began to slow down. Spike noticed this and asked, "Is it over?"
Buffy nodded.
Spike pushed the button on the stopwatch and rubbed her belly.
"Okay luv, cleansing breathe."
Buffy did as he asked.
"That's good baby, relax."
"Hey Buffy," Dawn said meekly, still wincing from the pain in her hand.
"Hey Dawnie," Buffy panted. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'll live."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to . . ."
"Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Dawn replied, "even though you nearly pulled my hand off; remind me to never have kids."
"Labor is no picnic."
"Well, I just came in, to see how you're doing. I can't wait to see my niece or nephew," Dawn said, enthusiastically.
"We can't wait for you to see the baby either, Lil Bit."
"I am so ready for this to be over," Buffy said.
"I know kitten."
"Well, I'm going to get out of your way. I'll see you guys again when you're parents."
"Okay, Niblet."
Dawn scampered out of the room and headed for the waiting area, eager to share what she knew with the others.
***
Twenty minutes later . . .
Spike was coaching Buffy through another contraction when Dr. Ryan came in, followed by a nurse.
"How are we doing in here?" Dr. Ryan asked.
"We are fine, doctor."
"Speak for yourself William, you're not the one in pain," Buffy panted.
Dr. Ryan smiled at Buffy's statement.
"Alright, let's see how much you've dilated."
Dr. Ryan pulled the sheet back, at the end of the bed and examined Buffy.
"Well, Buffy, you've dilated another two centimeters," he said as he pulled the sheet back down.
"Dr. Ryan, how much longer?" Buffy asked.
"It may be hours yet. It all depends on how fast your labor progresses. You have to dilate a few more centimeters before you can push."
Dr. Ryan peeled off his rubber gloves and went to the sink. Once he finished washing his hands, he picked up her chart and started writing.
"I have to go because I have another patient who just came in, but, I'll be back soon to check on you," he said as he left the room.
Spike stood at his wife's side and brushed her wet hair back from her sweaty forehead. Kissing her lightly on the lips, he admired how beautiful Buffy was through all of this, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her moans, as another contraction hit her.
"Spike!"
"I know, luv. Breathe," he instructed, while he timed the contraction.
"Unh! Hee , hee, blow, hee, hee, blow, hee, hee, blow . . ."
Buffy gripped the bedrail again, nearly pulling it off the bed.
"Hold on luv, it's almost over. Breathe," he said, watching the stopwatch.
As the pain subsided, Buffy did her cleansing breath and tried to slow her breathing down.
"Spike, I don't want to do this anymore, let's just call the whole thing off," Buffy said tiredly.
"We can't do that, sweetness. It has to happen for you to have the baby."
"I guess so."
Spike kissed her forehead, walked into the bathroom and got a washcloth. He ran it under the cold water and brought it back to Buffy, wiping the sweat off her face and wrapping it around her neck, to cool her down.
"Thank you, honey, that feels good."
"You're more than welcome, kitten. God, you are so beautiful. I love you more than life itself."
Spike reached down to kiss her again and she kissed him back.
"Remember, that's how we got into this predicament in the first place," she said, breaking it off.
Spike pulled back and smiled at her; then he began to sing a verse of a familiar song that came to mind.
"Having my baby, what a lovely way to show me that you love me . . ."
When he sang, it brought a smile to Buffy's face.
Ten hours later . . .
Buffy was pretty worn out from being in labor for so many hours. Dr. Ryan had been back and forth between Buffy and his other patient during this time and on one of his stops, he checked her to see how much more she had dilated.
"Buffy, you're eight centimeters now. We're almost there. You'll be going into the delivery room soon. I'll be back in a little bit," he said, as he left the room again.
Buffy's contractions were now coming every five minutes and Dr. Ryan, knowing this, had his staff prepare her for the delivery. His other patient wasn't as advanced as Buffy, so his main focus was on her. Spike had also noticed that her behavior (towards him) had begun to change. She'd gone from declaring her love to him to saying that she hated him.
"Spike, this all your fault, I wouldn't be going through this if it weren't for you. You're never coming near me again!"
"Take it easy, luv. It's just the pain talking; you don't mean what you're saying."
"I am SO going to stake you when this is over! You bleached blond moron!" Buffy yelled.
Spike tried very hard to ignore her angry comments and insults, but then she began to resist his instructions to do her breathing exercises during each contraction.
"Oh! Bloody Hell, here it comes again!" she yelled.
"Breathe luv, breathe."
"Shut the hell up! *You* breathe! AHHH! Get this thing out of me!" she yelled, gritting her teeth.
When the contraction was over, Spike pushed the button on the stopwatch.
"Okay kitten, that was three minutes."
"I'm going to push, I can't take this anymore!"
"No luv, not yet."
"How are you going to stop me?!" Buffy dared him.
Just as that statement came out of Buffy's mouth, Dr. Ryan came in to check on her. Upon examining her, he found her fully dilated. He instructed the nurses to move her to Delivery Room One for the big moment. When they got Buffy there, she was prepped for the delivery.
Spike had time to put on some hospital scrubs and then quickly get back to her. Dr. Ryan sat at the end of the bed, and with the nurse's help, pulled on his gloves.
"Okay folks, let's have a baby."
Spike stood up at the head of the bed, so that he would be able to help her push when the time came.
"Alright Buffy, push with the next contraction."
"Here comes one."
"Okay, push."
Buffy drew air into her mouth and held it as she pushed. Spike stood behind her, holding onto the pillow at her back and giving her words of encouragement.
"Come on luv, push. You can do it."
"When the contraction is over, stop pushing," Dr. Ryan instructed her.
When it was over, she blew the rest of the air out and fell back on the pillow.
"Good job, honey, you're doing fine," Spike said to her, wiping the sweat from her face.
"Now, with the next contraction, I want you to push."
Buffy nodded.
"Here it comes!" Buffy said, as she drew air into her lungs and held it. She grunted, pushing as hard as she could, with Spike's constant verbal support.
"Come on baby, push, you can do it."
"I see the baby's head. Push a little bit more."
"Okay, stop pushing," Dr. Ryan instructed her.
Buffy fell back on the bed, panting, trying to catch her breath.
"Good job, sweetheart. I love you," Spike said, kissing her sweaty forehead, and holding her hand.
"I love . . .you . . .too."
The baby's head was completely out of her body and turned, so its little face could be seen. Spike peered down between Buffy's legs to see his child's face, as the doctor cleared out the baby's mouth and nose; the baby then made a small whimpering sound.
"Alright Buffy, we're almost there. Now, just one more big push."
She drew in air again and pushed one last time, gripping the bedrail.
"Unh . . .Unh . . .ahh!"
"You have a beautiful baby girl!" Dr. Ryan said to the new parents.
"You did it, luv."
The doctor held the baby up for them to see and they heard their daughter's first cry. Buffy fell back still, puffing and blowing. Dr. Ryan placed the baby on her stomach, while he cut the cord. Buffy held her baby against her warm body and she and Spike marveled at the miracle that they had created together.
At that moment, Buffy began to cry and Spike comforted her, wiping her tears away.
"Spike, she's beautiful."
"Just like her mum," he said proudly.
The baby opened her eyes and stared up at her parents. They both saw that she had her father's beautiful blue eyes. One of the nurses came over and gently took the baby from Buffy so that she could be cleaned up, weighed and measured.
"Spike, I'm sorry that I was so mean to you. I love you."
"Think nothing of it, pet. I knew it was the pain talking. I love you too, kitten," he said, kissing her.
The nurse brought the baby back to them, wrapped in a pink blanket, with a little hat on her head and deposited her in Spike's arms.
"There's Daddy's girl," he said to the baby.
The baby made mewling sounds while he held her. Spike couldn't take his eyes off his daughter, he couldn't believe the miracle before him. This was his child and in his one hundred plus years as a vampire, he never thought it would be possible, but here she was. Tears formed in his eyes.
"It sounds like someone is hungry," Buffy said, in regards to the baby, breaking Spike's train of thought.
Buffy began tugging at the snaps on the shoulder of her gown; Spike helped her, lowering one side and exposing her left breast. He gently handed the baby to her and Buffy held her to her breast, where she immediately took Buffy's nipple into her mouth and began suckling hungrily.
"You're just like your father," she said jokingly to her daughter.
"Hey!" Spike protested.
"I'm just teasing, honey. Spike what are we going to name her?"
"I don't know luv. You said that you wanted a 'B' name."
After some thought, Buffy remembered a name from the baby name book that she'd considered before.
"I know what we'll name her - Brianna Joyce Summers."
"I like that name luv, it fits her."
"Yes, it does."
In the meantime, Dr. Ryan was finished suturing Buffy's perineum. He helped her out of the stirrups and then covered her back up. After cleaning up, he addressed the happy couple, "Congratulations, Buffy, William, she is a beauty. Buffy you're going to be moved to a regular room in a few minutes; then your family and friends will be able to visit with you."
"Okay Dr. Ryan, thank you."
"Again, congratulations," he said as he left the room.
Spike said, "Buffy, I'll be right back, I'm going to let everyone know that the baby is here."
"Alright, but hurry back," she said, holding her daughter and staring down into her little face while she nursed.
The baby's birth certificate would read:
Name: Brianna Joyce Summers Sex: Female DOB: May 3, 2002 Weight: 12lbs, 3oz. Height: 21 inches Mother's Name: Buffy Anne Summers Father's Name: William Summers Time of Birth: 2:40 PM Place of Birth: Sunnydale, CA
Brianna's tiny footprints were stamped on the bottom of the page.
TBC
