Chapter 17: Nine Long Months!

Disclaimer: I do not own charmed or any of its characters all rights go to that evil bastard who sooooo doesn't deserve it!

A/N: chapter 17 hmm I'm gonna try and make this one a bit longer but I can't promise, I don't have many ideas going through a bit of a writers block again, I blame school! I'm just gonna sit here and write what I can! And I know I haven't updated in aggggggggggggeeeeeeeeessssssssss I've just been sooo busy with work! Thanks for all the reviews!

"Well from the look of these scans the baby seems to be growing just fine and everything appears to be going well" The Doctor informed Piper as she sat in front of his desk in the hospital for her pregnancy check up when she was about four months gone. Leo was sitting next to her and gripping her hand tightly for support. "Do you want to know the sex of the baby?"

Piper and Leo turned to each other at this question. They hadn't actually spoken about that yet. "I'll tell you what?" The Doctor said handing them a large brown envelope. "I'll give you this. All of the details are printed in there and it is completely your choice what you do with them" He finished

Piper took it with shaking hands. Was the sex of her first child really contained in this envelope? They both decided that it would be best if they waited until their minds were settled and in the best place to find out.

'&!"($£/).-,?

That evening as they sat at home still staring at the envelope, wishing that they had the courage to read one of two words, knowing that they would be happy with either. They finally decided to open it. They both knew that the other wanted to so hand in hand, Leo jumped up tearing it open with a huge grin spreading across his face.

"It's a girl!" He exclaimed still clutching the paper in his hands.

"What?" Piper asked excitedly looking at Leo who just nodded and drew his pregnant wife into a passionate embrace.

"I guess this means that you don't have any excuse to put off decorating the nursery now huh?" she said with a sarcastic grin.

They both went to bed contented with the news knowing that this was still the easy part and they had another tough few months to follow.

'&!"($£/).-,?

As predicted, the next months were hard on both expecting parents. Piper's stomach was swelling fast creating the reality of the life growing inside of her. The mood swings didn't help much either! On many occasions, she became known to bite Leo's head off over tiny details. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time! (You wouldn't want to be around either if you happened to pick up an unripe auberjine by mistake!) Piper was also taking lamas classes in preparation for their new arrival. 'Why is it that she can control her mood swings around those guys?' Leo thought to himself after one session when Piper remained calm even after one of the other couples stepped on her foot. If it had been him, he'd be sleeping on the couch for the next week (or until she got lonely or needed help getting up to go to the bathroom).

Over the next few weeks, Piper and Leo made many trips to baby stores accumulating large numbers of teddies and clothes, mainly just because they looked so cute and tiny- well that was Piper's excuse anyway.

"Aww, look how cute!" Piper squealed picking up a baby booty.

"I think we have enough 'cute' stuff! Don't you think we ought to get more practical stuff?" Leo said trying to be rational and adult, Piper merely looked at him pouting. "Ah OK but this is the last time!" He gave in after learning not to mess with a pregnant woman.

Leo was great around the house. Preparing everything in time for the new arrival: painting the room, building the cot, putting in shelves and filling them with all the cute stuffed toys that Piper had insisted on buying even though they both knew how a new born baby could make absolutely no use of all of this stuff until she was at least a few months old!

Piper stood silently by the door watching her husband working on putting everything into place, thinking just how lucky she was. The growing baby happened to choose this moment to kick forcing Piper to sigh in shock. Although this wasn't the first time it had happened, it took a while to get used to.

At this noise, Leo turned around.

"What are you doing here?" He asked walking up to Piper placing his hand on her stomach and smiling. "The room's not completely dry yet. All these fumes can't be good on the baby."

"I got lonely downstairs." Came her reply, leaning in slightly towards Leo. "And you've been working so hard, you deserve a break! Think you can drag yourself away for just a little bit to keep me company?"

"That seems doable" He said still smiling. "In fact, I can't think of anything better that I'd rather be doing right now." He took her hand allowing her to lead the way back into the living room and lay on the couch with Piper, weaving his fingers gently through hers.

Whilst Piper was on her billionth bathroom break of the evening, Leo heard noises coming from the bathroom and ran in to investigate.

"What's wrong?" He asked in a state of panic.

"I think my waters just broke" Piper replied breathlessly.

"Are you sure? She's not due for another 3 weeks!" Leo was now catching up with Piper's panic. "It's OK baby" He sat her down on the edge of the bath tub. "I'll go and get your bag ready and you just sit here and breathe and we're gonna get you to the hospital." He was trying to be calm, but inside the excitement and fear all joined together was almost too much to handle. He had to keep it together, for Piper. He came back a few moments later with everything that she would need: a pillow -they always seemed to need one even though hospitals had them anyway, a bag full of stuff -spare clothes for Piper, baby clothes for when they brought her home and Piper's jacket. He walked her down to the car holding her and breathing along with her heavily and in sync. After fumbling for car keys, they were on their way to the hospital with Leo giving the occasional words of encouragement but focusing more on getting there. The drive was short and they had practiced the procedure a few times, however it didn't seem to relate to the real thing anymore. Inside the hospital Piper was wheeled to a delivery room.

Leo stood in the hot, white room smelling strongly of disinfectant but not wanting to mention anything- he was confident that they knew what they were doing. Even with doctors and nurses constantly rushing past him, he couldn't help but feel that him and Piper were the only people there and this baby was the only thing that mattered. After a while, these faces became blurred, in a matter of hours, he was going to be a father. The whole time he stood by Piper's side, it happened so quickly. From trying to calm Pipers screams and helping her to breathe one minute to hearing the beautiful sound of his perfect, new born baby crying the next.

"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt. You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl!" Said the nurse handing the tiny, wrinkley pink bundle into the arms of her eagerly awaiting father who was fighting back the tears and looking down at his wife whilst stroking the mass of dark brown hair on the baby's head.

"She's beautiful." Was all he could manage to squeak out under all the emotion.

"So do you have a name for her yet?" The doctor asked smiling at the family before him. Piper and Leo looked to each other and in spoke in unison.

"Melinda, Patricia"

"Well then," Continued the doctor. "Welcome to the world, Melinda Patricia Wyatt!"

And with that, a family was born. Mother, father and daughter all brought together in this one place to look forward to the rest of their lives together, through the good and the bad!

Ta da!! Here she is! Awww lol ive been trying to write something decent for ages and then all of a sudden that just came out! That again seems like another good ending point. However, I do have more chapters planned so if youre interested in reading, im willing to write! Lemme know what you think! :D