Okay, I see a lot of you are excited to see I'm going to be doing a sequel for this! I'm excited too. This is the next to last chapter of 'Better Than Paradise'. The next chapter is an epilogue of sorts. Hope you guys enjoy the last two chapters!
Chapter Twenty: Welcome
December 21
The Pace's house was silent as for it was 4:00 in the morning and everyone was asleep. Claire was asleep on her side with one hand on her huge stomach. Charlie was lying on his back snoring lightly, his left arm was linked through Claire's right arm.
Claire roused out of sleep needing to go to the bathroom. She climbed out of bed softly not to wake Charlie and went to the bathroom. She proceeded to do her business and then washed her hands only to grab her stomach as a pain shot through her abdomen.
She grabbed onto her stomach as she supported herself by holding onto the sink. She grunted in pain and then looked up into the mirror. She knew she was going into labor, and good thing too, she was already two days late.
Claire waddled back to the bedroom and sat next to Charlie poking and prodding him. She knew he was going to wake up cranky, something he usually did.
"Claire, stop," Charlie whined and buried his head in the pillow. Claire sighed and brought her lips to his, kissing him passionately to wake him up. Charlie sat up in the midst of the kiss and placed his arms around Claire. She pulled away and looked at him.
"Good morning to you too," he said smiling. He then looked at the clock. "Claire, it's 4:00."
"I know. Charlie, I think the baby is ready to come," she said. Charlie's eyes widened.
"Now!" Charlie asked frantically. Claire giggled. He was like this when she went into labor with Aidan. Claire's giggle was interrupted when she doubled over in pain in Charlie's arms.
"Okay," Charlie said supporting her in his arms. "Take breaths." Claire took breaths as Charlie held her still.
Claire breathed deep. "Okay, it's over." Charlie pulled away. "We have to go to the hospital."
"Yeah, you're contractions are six minutes apart, I counted," Charlie said. The two stood and got dressed quickly.
Charlie helped Claire to the living room with her bag and helped her sit on the couch.
"Charlie, call Kate, see if she can come over and watch Aidan," Claire said. Charlie nodded. "And if she can't call Jack or Liam and Karen." Charlie nodded frantically again wondering how Claire could be so calm through all this.
Charlie grabbed the phone and dialed Kate's number as fast as he could. Kate had bought the apartment off Charlie and Claire when they moved a few months ago.
"Okay, whoever is calling me at 4:17 in the morning better have a good reason!" Kate said over the line.
"Kate! Look don't be mad, but Claire's in labor right now. We were wondering if you could come over and watch Aidan?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you need me to do," Kate said sounding more reasonable and awake.
"Thanks," Charlie said.
"I'll be over in just a few minutes," Kate said. Charlie could hear her rustling around her apartment. Charlie heard talking.
"Kate, who is there with you?" Charlie asked.
"Um...Sawyer. He says hi by the way. Can he come over too?" Kate asked. Charlie laughed. So that was the secret Claire and Kate had been hiding from him.
"Charlie?" Claire asked from the couch.
"Yeah, just don't have sex with Aidan around. Keep it G, please?" Charlie asked.
"Like you and Claire don't keep things G?" Kate asked. Charlie laughed sarcastically. "We'll be over in a few minutes."
"Thanks Kate, I owe you," Charlie said.
"Hey no problem, I'll put it on your tab," Kate said. They said good bye and Charlie hung up. He raced back to Claire who was in the midst of another contraction.
"They're on their way," Charlie said. Claire looked at him breathing heavily.
"Who's on their way?" Claire asked.
"Um...Kate and Sawyer. Sorry, your secret is out," Charlie said. Claire smiled as the contraction passed.
"Oh well, it's about time someone else found out," Claire said.
At the hospital...
13 hours later
"Time to push Claire," the doctor said.
"Now? But I'm so tired," Claire said as memories of Aidan's birth came back.
"Love, just push and soon we'll have our new baby with us," Charlie said. Claire nodded and pushed hard while squeezing onto Charlie's hand. Charlie tried to smile, but kept making short grimaces when Claire wasn't looking.
"The head's out Claire," the doctor said after two more times of pushing. "If you can just give us one more big push then your son or daughter will be out."
"Okay," Claire said. She looked at Charlie. "You ready?"
"I'm always ready," he said kissing her hand. Claire smiled and then pushed. She screamed out in pain, which made Charlie grimace, he hated seeing her like this.
A second later, a baby cry came from the doctor's arms. Charlie and Claire looked at each other and then towards the doctor for the results.
"Claire, you have a very healthy baby girl," he said placing her on the blanket on Claire's chest. Claire smiled and started crying. Charlie smiled and looked at his daughter on Claire's chest. She was bloody and had fluid on her, but to Charlie she was beautiful.
"Oh, Charlie, you're crying," Claire said reaching out to wipe the tear running down his face. He didn't even know he was crying.
"You are too," Charlie said. Claire smiled.
"Charlie," she whispered. He looked at her. "I love you," she mouthed. He smiled.
"I love you too," he mouthed back. Charlie leaned over and kissed his wife.
An hour later...
Charlie watched as Claire slept in the bed. She had fallen into a mildly deep sleep after being in labor. Charlie was just waiting for the nurse to bring the baby in. Charlie rubbed his eyes and yawned wishing he could crawl into bed and fall asleep.
Charlie watched as Claire's chest rose and fell with every breath, he couldn't believe how strong she was. She had brought two kids into the world, their kids. He took her hand and kissed it, she stirred a little but went back to sleep.
"Mr. Pace?" Charlie turned to see the nurse wheel in the little bassinet holding his daughter. "Here she is." The nurse wheeled it in front of Charlie, who finally got a good look at his daughter.
"Thank you," Charlie said. The nurse nodded and left them alone. Charlie looked at her and smiled. She had Claire's nose, blonde hair, and his blue gray eyes.
"Hey little one," Charlie said picking her up. She looked up at Charlie with curious eyes. "I'm your daddy, it's nice to meet you after nine months of waiting." The little girl looked at him and he laughed. "We have to pick a name for you, so everyone who visits later knows what to call you." She sighed and Charlie kissed her soft skin on her forehead. He then decided to do something.
"I'm going to give you a talk I gave your brother when he was born. Now, it's going to be a little different because you are a girl. First of all, don't do drugs. They're bad, I will teach you that since I know where I'm coming from. Second, I don't care what your mum says, but you have my permission to date a guy in a band, because who knows he could be a nice guy like I am. I was in a band you know, but that's a story for later. Third, it's okay to take a plane trip, they don't always crash. But you know what, if I had never gone through that I would never have met your mum and you wouldn't be here. Fourth, you have a great family, I'll admit, they are a little bit weird and it's more extended than other families but they'll love you. No matter what, you'll surely get on your Aunt Kate's good side, since Aidan's on Uncle Jack's good side." Charlie looked down at her and she gurgled. He laughed.
"Sorry, I babbled on like that," he said.
"You putting bad thoughts into our daughter's mind already?" Claire asked. Charlie turned slowly.
"No, just verbally copulating with her," Charlie said. Claire giggled and sat up slowly.
"That's funny, when only one of you can talk," Claire said. Charlie smiled.
"You want to hold her mummy?" Charlie asked. Claire nodded and held her arms out. Charlie gave the baby to Claire gently. Claire looked down at her daughter and kissed her cheek.
"I love you honey. I finally have a little girl, I've always wanted one," Claire said to the baby. Charlie smiled watching them. "And as for your daddy babbling, he always does so don't be afraid when your older to just tell him to shut it."
"Hey!" Charlie exclaimed and Claire giggled.
"What are we going to name you little one?" Claire asked. She then looked at Charlie. "Let's not fight over this okay babe?"
"Alright, you pick since I picked Aidan's," Charlie said. Claire smiled and looked at the baby.
"Camille Sydney Pace," Claire said. Charlie smiled and sat in the bed next to Claire. He buried his face in her hair.
"It's perfect love," Charlie said kissing her just below her earlobe. Claire smiled. "I love you Claire."
"I love you too Charlie," Claire said. Charlie kissed her cheek and they sat there that evening holding Camille.
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Well, everyone, they had a girl! I'm going to have them call her Cammie for short, what do you think? And I hit a hundred reviews for this story! Yay! Sequel around the corner! See you in the epilogue!
REVIEW RESPONSES
ronandhermionealltheway- Thanks for the review!
MariAmber- Sorry! Wasn't sure, sounded like she kept saying 'mom' instead of 'mum'. Thanks for the review!
Kat- Yeah, it was pretty interesting what you learn during a drinking game. lol. Yeah, the walk was really sweet! Hope to see more tonight! Thanks for the review!
Esmarelda Gamgee- Yeah, Sawyer getting married is weird. Wait until you see what happens to them in the sequel. Thanks for the review!
DracoScrewer- Yes, they attacked Charlie. It's my favorite part! You can relax, they had a very healthy baby! Yay! Thanks for the review!
LunaAqua- I feel for Sawyer now too, poor Sawyer. I loved how they walked off into the sunset. Made me think of old movies. Thanks for the review!
legolasfreak2- Baby is here! Yay! Thanks for the review!
Tari5- Sorry, I left Jin out because I really sort of don't like him. Lol. But he probably will be in the sequel. THanks for the review!
CharlieandClaire- The next chapter is the last one, it's an epilogue. And there will be a sequel to this ever popular story! Thanks for the review!
CCLover4ever- I know, I felt so sad when Charlie turned down Claire, but it got better at the end! I know what you mean about obsessed with the show. Lol! Thanks for the review!
MusicMonkey88- Yes!A sequel! I decided to do one about three chapters ago during Algebra 2! Lol! As for the interrupted moment later on, you bet they will have one! Why wouldn't they? Lol! Thanks Mrs. Monaghan!
Until next time,
Bloomy Angel