XXXIV



"Push!" The doctor ordered. Sweating profusely with pain shooting through her, Lindsay pushed with all her might. She screamed and squeezed Justin's hand as she made her endeavor.

"One more~" The doctor encouraged. "Just one more."

Lindsay took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "You can do it~" She heard Justin say. "Just one more~"

"One more," Lindsay mumbled as she pushed with all the strength she had left. She leaned back exhausted when the room filled with an infant's first cry. Lindsay laughed as tears streamed down her face. Her baby's wails were music to her ears.

"It's a boy," The doctor smiled. "Congratulations you two."

Justin kissed Lindsay on the forehead. "You did wonderful," He whispered in her ear.

Lindsay smiled weakly. "You didn't do so bad yourself. I thought you would pass out."

"Me? Pass out? Nah~" Justin grinned.

Lindsay laughed. "Can I hold my baby?" She asked as she lifted her head slightly.

"Here you go," One of the nurses said softly as she handed the now quiet baby boy to his mother.

"Hi," Lindsay said in a soft voice. The little boy stirred slightly and snuggled against Lindsay. "Welcome to the world Carter James Hammond."

Justin leaned over and kissed his son. "I'm a dad," He said with tears already filling his eyes.

"And I'm a mommy" Lindsay said.

"We're a family." Justin said softly as he wrapped his arms around his wife and son. "Finally," Justin thought. His mind went back to the scene he witnessed with Theresa, Fox, and Ethan Martin. Justin recalled the yearning he felt when he watched the family embrace that one day. "I finally have it," Justin thought thankfully. "I finally have my family. I'm not alone anymore."

~*~



Gwen shakily dialed the Bennett's number and waited impatiently for someone to answer.

"Hello?" She heard Grace answer.

"Uh-hi, is Ethan there?" Gwen said with an unsteady voice.

"Ethan, it's for you," Gwen heard Grace say.

"Hello?" Ethan answered.

Gwen froze. She could hear Ethan's breathing through the telephone. "Hello?" She heard Ethan ask.

"Ethan." Gwen said with her voice full of emotion. It was Ethan's turn to freeze up. Surprise, bewilderment, and some relief surged through him when he heard Gwen's voice. "Gwen," He swallowed hard. "Is-is something wrong with the baby?"

"She won't stop crying," Gwen found herself saying with a teary voice. "I've tried everything, and I didn't know what to do so I called and I don't even think you can help so I'm~"

"Gwen," Ethan interrupted. "It's okay."

"How is it okay? I don't know what to do!" Gwen wailed.

"Put the receiver to Sarah's ear." Ethan said.

"Ethan- I don't think that's~"

"Do it~" Ethan insisted.

Gwen placed the receiver towards Sarah's ear. She continued to cry with a full voice. Ethan winced on his end of the line from the loud cries. "Sarah," Ethan said in a soft voice. "It's Daddy. You remember me don't you?" Sarah seemed to quiet a little. Gwen began to sigh in relief. "Sarah, daddy misses you so much," Ethan said his voice breaking a little. "Why are you crying so much my little princess? Are you sad? Don't be sad. You have a mommy and daddy that love you very much." Ethan paused. He only heard whimpering coming from Sarah. "Don't cry anymore, sweetie." Ethan then began singing a soft lullaby. Soon, Sarah was fast asleep in Gwen's arms. "I don't know what you did," Gwen said quietly to Ethan, "But it worked. She stopped crying."

"Good," Ethan replied. Awkward silence followed. Ethan cleared his throat, while Gwen sighed.

"Look, Gwen," Ethan began. "I got the divorce papers."

"Oh." Gwen replied. "Did you sign them?"

Ethan paused. "Truthfully, no."

"Why not?" Gwen asked.

"I can't bring myself to do it. Gwen, can't we start over? Can't you and me and our baby be a family? I hate for us to be broken up. Please, Gwen. Can't we just try to make it work?"

"Ethan, how can it work when you're still in love with another woman?" Gwen asked.

"Theresa's off limits now. She's already established herself as a wife, and mother. I~ I'm not going to pursue her. It wouldn't be right. She~ she loves Fox, and she won't give up the family she's made now. I~I still have a place for her in my heart, but- but I'll bury that part of me if you come back to me. Please, Gwen. Please come back to me."

"But you don't love me," Gwen replied. "You said you loved Theresa."

"I know what I said." Ethan replied. "And I'm sorry I ever said it. I know it hurt you deeply."

"Yeah, you're damn right it did." Gwen responded as tears stung her eyes.

"Gwen, you and I go way back. Before Theresa we did love each other, and I'm willing to work to rediscover what we once shared. Please, Gwen, won't you come back to Harmony?"

"I don't know~" Gwen sighed. "Ethan~ I just don't know if I can do that."

"Think about it." Ethan said. "Think about it and call me when you've made a decision."

"Okay," Gwen replied. "Goodbye Ethan." Gwen hung up the phone and got up to place Sarah in her crib. She rubbed her eyes and sat in the rocking chair in the room. Gwen watched her daughter sleep as Ethan's words swirled through her mind. Her mind was saying to stay in New York and to forget Ethan, but her heart yearned for that love she felt before she and Ethan had ever broken up. It was there once, and for some reason Gwen felt that it could be found again. Gwen just wasn't sure if she was capable of trusting Ethan again. He had hurt her deeply, and her wounds were going to take a long while to heal.

~*~