July 21st, 2004

Week 40

When she was about to have Michael, she knew it was coming, but today...today Jing-Mei felt normal. She felt like she was nine months pregnant of course. She wanted have this baby today, but until this she would finish planning the wedding.

"Do you think Shakespeare would like white roses?" Jing-Mei asked as she flipped through a wedding magazine. Greg nodded as he went to the coffee maker.

"Sure. Get white roses." Greg said, "Cutting it close aren't we?" Jing-Mei giggled softly.

"No. We have plenty of time." Jing-Mei said as she hauled herself up, "Do we have any ice-cream left? I'm so hot." Greg chuckled.

"We have to a/c on full blast. It's like forty degrees in here." he said.

"Well, try being nine months pregnant." She arched her eyebrow.

"Would you like me to make you a full fledged sundae? I'll even put jimmies on it." he said.

"Chocolate not rainbow." Jing-Mei said waddling down the porch steps. She went out to the clothes line. She didn't care that she wasn't supposed to do this. She wanted to induce labour.

"Careful out there." Greg called out as he made the sundae.

"I am." She said pulling one of her shirts off of the line. "Okay, so baby Pratt, we need to have a heart to heart. your daddy is in there making a sundae for me. It isn't for you. it's for Mommy and I'm going to enjoy it."

"Here you go." Greg walked outside. "Go sit on the swing and enjoy the ice-cream. I'll finish the laundry."

"You're a great man." Jing-Mei smiled and went to the swing.

"I know. So great we'll have five kids, right?" Greg grinned.

"Four." Jing-Mei smiled, "I'm going to kill myself by marrying a young man."

"You're going to have fun though." He said as he folded some clothes. Jing-Mei giggled as she ate her sundae.

"I'm already having fun." She said. Jing-Mei stopped eating. She looked down t her legs and saw that they were getting all wet. She groaned, "I wanted to finish my sundae." She shoved a spoonful of ice-cream into her mouth, "Oh Greg?"

"You need more jimmies?" He asked. Jing-Mei shook her head.

"No. I need Coburn. My water broke." She said. Greg stared at her with wide eyes.

"What? Your water broke? Like for real?" he asked.

"yes. Could you help me up?" She asked.

"God yes." Greg nearly tripped over the laundry basket as he ran over to help her. he grabbed her hand and helped her up "Where's your hospital bag?"

"Int he back of the car. Can we go now?" She asked.

"Yes!!"

Two hours later

Greg stood there staring at Jing-Mei as she read a magazine. How could she be so calm? She had a human coming from her and she was calm.

"I think I'm going to pass out." Greg said. She looked up at him.

"You've seen babies being born before." Jing-Mei said.

"Yeah, but I've never seen my own baby being born." Greg said, "How could you be so calm?" Jing-Mei smiled.

"Why shouldn't I be? This is an amazing experience. I get to keep this baby, our baby. It's going to be so great." She said.

"Yeah it will be, but you will be in a lot of pain." Greg said.

"You don't really notice the pain when you're pushing. you're focused on the job at hand." She said.

"I'm glad it's you and not me." he said.

"me too." She mumbled as a contraction over took her body. Greg took her hand.

"Breath, baby." he said softly. Jing-Mei groaned loudly. "What was that about no pain?"

"Shut up." She grunted. She exhaled deeply and looked at him, "I don't need to hear you smart talk to me."

Two Hours Later.

John knocked on the door softly.

"Hey, deb." he said as he walked in. Jing-Mei opened her eyes and smiled.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" She sat up, slightly.

"Well, I was here when Michael was born so I figured I might as well drop some flowers off." he said as he held of a bouquet of daisies.

"They are beautiful." She said. John put them on her bedside.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"Very uncomfortable." Jing-Mei said, "Greg is calling all our family. he is so excited."

"As he should be." john said. "Are you excited?" Jing-Mei nodded.

"I'm so excited, John, and so happy." She smiled, "it's about time my life is going well."

"I know. I'm happy for you, Deb." John said, "I got the wedding invitation in the mail today."

"Oh good." She grinned, "I wanted to ask if you'd walk me down the aisle. You're my best friend and I don't think anyone else is better for the job." John smiled at her and nodded.

"I would be honoured." John said. Jing-Mei extended her arms.

"Give me a hug." She said. John smiled and engulfed Jing-Mei into a hug.

"You already cheating on me?" Greg asked as he walked into the room.

"He said he would walk me down the aisle." She grinned brightly.

"Oh. That's great." he said. "Everyone is so excited about the baby downstairs."

"Good. Hopefully in a few hours we'll have a bouncing baby girl." She smiled.

Three hours later.

It was seven o'clock at night. The sun had finally set. Jing-Mei was being such a good sport. She wanted this baby out though.

"You know, I really don't like you." Jing-Mei said. Greg looked at her with a frown.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"because I'm in a lot of pain and you're not." She said "it's not fair."

"yes it is fair." Greg said, "I got you pregnant. My job is done."

"Don't be a pig headed jerk." She frowned. Greg smiled.

"You still love me though right?" He asked.

"No." She mumbled as a contraction coursed through her, "oh fuck."

"Contraction?" he asked. Jing-Mei nodded and grunted through gritted teeth. Greg bit his lip. he was glad that she was doing this. he wouldn't be able to handle it. "Should I get Coburn?"

"Yes." She whimpered. Greg walked out into the hallway spotting Coburn.

"Dr. Coburn, Jing-Mei really needs you." He said.

"All right." Janet smiled. "How is she doing?"

"She's cursing me so pretty normal, I think." Greg said as they walked back into the room, "Here she is."

"Janet, I have to have this baby." She whimpered.

"Well, let's see how far dilated you are." Janet smiled as she snapped her gloves on.

"I better be at ten. I better be at ten." Jing-Mei muttered as Janet examined her.

"You're at six." She said.

"No! I'm ten!" Jing-Mei cried.

"you will be soon. Just hold on." Janet gave her a reassuring smile.

three hours later.

Greg started to doze off. It was a little after ten and he was tired. he didn't dare say that though.

"Greg, massage my back." She groaned.

"All right." he mumbled and sat on the bed. Greg ran his hands down her back.

"She's going to make her grand entrance soon." Jing-Mei mumbled. Greg chuckled.

"Just like a star." he said. "Have I told you recently how much I appreciate you and how I thank the lord everyday you entered my life?" Jing-Mei smiled weakly.

"I'm the one who should be thanking you." She said.

"When I first started working here, did you ever think we'd end up here?" He asked.

"No..." Jing-Mei groaned, "God...Oh god." She gritted her teeth, "Gotta push."

"What? No. Not yet." Greg said getting off of the bed.

"I need to push!" She moaned.

"Just wait." Greg ran into the hallway, "She needs to push!! She needs to push!" he cried. The nurses all laughed at him.

"I'll get Dr. Coburn." Coburn said. Greg ran into the room.

"They're getting Coburn." he said.

"Can't wait." Jing-Mei moaned.

"You need to, baby." he said. tears rolled down Jing-Mei's face.

"I cant." She whispered.

"Yes you can." Greg whispered as Janet walked in.

"I hear you've been trying to push." She said.

"I have to. Please." Jing-Mei groaned. Janet sat between Jing-Mei's legs.

"well, let's see." She said, examining Jing-Mei, "Well, it does look like your daughter is on her way."

"I'm ten?" Jing-Mei asked.

"you're at ten." Janet said. Greg gasped.

"This is it." Greg whispered.

"Finally.' She smiled, "Can I push?"

"Yup. On the next contraction, bear down and push." Janet said.

"Oh God. Oh god." Greg whispered. This was it. he was becoming a father. he took Jing-Mei's hand and kissed her knuckles, "You can do it."

"Yup." Jing-Mei groaned as she started to push.

"Good girl." Greg whispered. Jing-Mei squeezed his hand tightly. Greg grunted.

"Fuck." Jing-Mei cursed loudly. She exhaled and lay her head back on the pillow. "Oh God. This sucks."

"You're doing great." Janet smiled.

"Why don't you have kids, Janet?" Jing-Mei asked. Janet chuckled.

"Because I see the paint he mothers go through. I much rather birth them then give birth to them." Janet smiled.

"Honest answer. Jing-Mei said. Greg looked at her.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Need...to push again." Jing-Mei tightened her grip on Greg's hand.

"Christ, Jing-Mei." he groaned.

"Shut up!" She cried.

"you're doing wonderful." Janet said, "The baby is crowning. I can see her hair."

"Good." Jing-Mei pushed harder.

"Beautiful." Greg gasped.

"Shut up." Jing-Mei groaned. Greg smiled weakly.

"Good job." Janet said again. Jing-Mei exhaled. "You're doing great. just keep focused."

"Trying." Jing-Mei said, "So ready to have this over with."

"In a couple more pushes, Jing-Mei." Janet said. Jing-Mei took a deep breath and started to push again.

"I love you." Greg whispered. he rubbed Jing-Mei's back. This was it. They were having a baby.

"Oh god." Jing-Mei cried.

"Beautiful head of curly black hair." Janet smiled softly.

"She's going to be gorgeous." Greg whispered. Jing-Mei moaned loudly. "That's it."

"Her head is out." Janet said as she begant o clean out the baby's nose and mouth.

"Her head is out." Greg said with a proud smile. Jing-Mei smiled weakly.

"Good." She said softly. She was already so tired. Jing-Mei breathed through her nose and out her mouth.

"Okay, push, Jing-Mei." Janet encouraged her. Jing-Mei squeezed Greg's hand tightly.

"GOD!!" She cried pushing even harder. Then in one moment, Janet gently pulled the baby from her.

"It's a girl." Janet smiled as she held up the screaming baby. Greg and Jing-Mei both looked down in utter amazement.

"OH God." Greg whispered as the baby was put on Jing-Mei's chest, "She's my girl."

"She's perfect." Jing-Mei said as she made sure there was ten toes and ten fingers. Greg kissed her curls.

"What is her name?" Janet asked.

"Portia Juliet." Greg whispered, "Hello, PJ." He couldn't believe this little creature was his daughter. he had made it. He and his fiancée had made Portia out of love. it was one of the most amazing feelings in the world.

* * *

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