This one is the arrival of Caitlin.

Krista had been uncomfortable all day long, which wasn't a surprise at this point in the pregnancy. What was a surprise was the mood she was in. All through the previous nine months she had been happy and smiling, even when being awakened at 2am when little Caitlin kicked her diaphragm and knocked the wind out of her. Today her mood had shifted; she was still up as early as ever, working around the apartment as best she could and helping Rizzo put the finishing touches on the nursery, but the discomfort she was feeling was written plainly on her face.

Rizzo kept glancing over at his wife as he hung the little mobile over the crib. He had already asked her several times if she was okay and knew she was tired of the question, but he felt compelled to ask it again anyway. "Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want to lay down for a little while? You might feel better."

Krista sighed and tried not to snap at him. She knew he was concerned and probably felt a little helpless, and she loved him for it, but she was tired of answering the question. "I'm fine honey. Really."

Convinced she needed a break, he tried another approach, one she had used on him several times. "Well I was just thinking about taking a little nap myself, but I have such a hard time sleeping without you next to me…"

She smiled at both the sentiment and the tactic being used. "I'm surprised you get any sleep at all with me next to you," she said. "I'm up constantly and keep tossing and turning…"

He went over to her and slid his arms around her from behind, pulling her close to him and running a hand over her abdomen. "I like knowing that you're there," he told her. "I love waking up beside you, even if it's twenty times in one night. I love being able to kiss you in your sleep and see you smile back at me when I do. And I really can't fall asleep without you in my arms."

The tight smile she had worn earlier was replaced with a softer version. "Well, if you can't sleep without me, then I guess I'd better lay down with you," she winked.

He kissed her neck and took her hand, leading her in to the bedroom. It took a few minutes for Krista to find a comfortable position, but Rizzo helped her get settled and found a spot next to her, wrapping an arm around her again despite the intense July heat. She leaned back against him, relaxing a little and realizing how tired she really was.

The pair managed to get a couple of hours of pretty good sleep until Krista was suddenly awakened. She sat straight up, reaching for her stomach.

Rizzo sat up almost as quickly. "What is it?" he asked, rubbing her back.

Krista winced a little. "Just a contraction…a little bit stronger than I've had before." He took her hand and she squeezed it a little. "I'm okay," she assured him.

He looked at the clock and noted the time, something that had become almost automatic. She was two weeks passed her due date, and timing contractions was second nature to him now. After a few deep breaths she relaxed.

"You okay?" he asked, brushing a lock of sweaty hair out of her eyes.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. It wasn't that bad." She laid back down on the bed and tried to get comfortable again.

He laid down again, too, and slipped an arm around her waist, gently rubbing her belly. Just as he was drifting off again, a second contraction occurred. He could hear her breath catch and she reached for his hand to hold. He massaged her abdomen softly with his other hand and looked at the clock again.

"That's only seven minutes, snowflake," he said quietly when the contraction had subsided.

"Seven? Not close enough together yet," she said.

"But they're getting stronger, aren't they?"

"Can you tell?"

He kissed her shoulder. "You're trying not to let it show, but I can hear your breathing change, and I felt that last one."

They shifted positions slightly so that he was partially sitting up and she was leaning back against him. His left hand still held hers, playing with her wedding ring, while his right hand continued to stroke the baby.

Rizzo was fully awake now, but Krista was still dozing off, wondering how much sleep she would get in the next day or so if this were really it. Every seven or eight minutes her eyes would open wide and she'd tighten her grip on his hand a little, but the contractions didn't get any stronger or closer together.

As evening approached the pair finally gave up hope and decided to just try and go to sleep. Krista, with the help of her husband, slowly got changed and crawled back into bed, adjusting pillows and pushing off blankets, trying to find a position in which her belly and the sizzling temperature would still allow her some relief. Rizzo brought a fan over and pointed it squarely at her.

"Oh…that feels great," she told him.

He laughed. "Cool enough?"

She knew he was really asking if she was cool enough for him to hold her again. "Yeah," she smiled. Even the warm weather outside wasn't going to keep her from sleeping in the arms of her husband.

At about 2:00, Krista awoke to the sound of Rizzo's rhythmic breathing, expecting a heavy kick aimed at a vital organ, as had become Caitlin's custom. The kick never came, but what did come was another contraction, much stronger than any other she'd had that day. She sat part way up, breathing as she'd been taught and gently rubbing her stomach.

Rizzo had become a rather light sleeper in the passed few months, and woke up when she moved. "Everything all right?" he asked sleepily, reaching for her. When she didn't answer right away, he sat up in bed and slid an arm around her shoulders. "Snowflake?"

She took his hand and placed it on the baby where he could feel his daughter moving and Krista's muscles contracting. "This one's stronger," she told him through tight lips.

He made a note of the time and tried to keep her as relaxed as possible, holding her hand again and massaging her abdomen. Four minutes later another contraction hit. Four minutes after that, another one.

"Do you think we should go to the hospital?" he asked her quietly.

"Maybe…"

Her thought was cut off by yet another contraction. "That's four minutes again, sweetheart," he told her.

She nodded. "It's time."

Krista hauled herself out of bed and gathered her clothes, heading for the bathroom. "I think I'm going to hop in the shower real quick, though," she said.

"You're what?"

"I might not get one for a while, and with this heat I feel so grubby…"

She's having contractions four minutes apart and she wants to take a shower? he thought. But he had learned early on in their relationship how pointless it could be to argue with a stubborn Irish woman, and a stubborn pregnant Irish woman was even worse.

"Okay, but at least let me help you."

He grabbed some clothes of his own and followed her into the bathroom, adjusting the water temperature and helping her out of her nightgown.

"How much fun would this be if I wasn't in labor…" Krista smiled.

By the time they reached the hospital, the contractions were very strong and coming about three minutes apart. The nurses took Krista straight to a delivery room with Rizzo close on their heals. In 1983 some men were still inclined to wait outside while their wives gave birth, but the couple had decided earlier that he would be there with her when their daughter came into the world.

It took four more hours of coaxing, walking, massaging, pushing, and medication, but the newest Eruzione was finally ready to make her debut.

"One more push Krista," the nurse told her. "Just one more big push and you'll have your baby…"

Krista, exhausted and covered in sweat, moaned and looked up at her husband. "I don't know if I can do it…"

Rizzo squeezed her hand and tried to be as encouraging as he could. "I love you so much," he told her quietly, kissing her forehead. "You're so strong, snowflake…I know you can do it."

"Yeah?" she asked weakly.

He smiled. "Yeah."

When the next contraction came she took a deep breath, gritted her teeth and pushed as hard as she could. Rizzo held her hand, nuzzling her cheek and supporting her with his other arm.

"Here she comes," the doctor said. "Just a little bit more…okay, stop pushing…I got her…"

Krista stopped pushing and held her breath, feeling the baby being pulled from her and waiting for a sign that she was all right. It seemed to take an eternity, and she looked up at her husband again, her blue eyes imploring him to tell her what was happening.

Then little Caitlin cried.

"Is she okay?" Krista asked, breathing again.

"She a perfect, healthy baby girl," the nurse said wrapping her in a pink receiving blanket and bringing her over to her parents.

Krista took her first, tears running down her face as the nurse rested her daughter on her chest. "She's here…"

Rizzo's eyes were brimming over, too. "She's beautiful," he said, carefully touching the little pink cap she wore and kissing the top of her head.

"Do we have a name?" one of the nurses asked smiling.

Krista was crying and laughing happily all at the same time so Rizzo answered. "Caitlin Teresa Eruzione," he grinned, wiping a tear from his cheek.

As though responding to her name, little Caitlin reached out her tiny fist and grabbed a hold of her father's finger. Once she had a secure grip, she calmed down and stopped crying. Rizzo, however, melted.

"She's daddy's little girl, isn't she?" the doctor smiled.

Krista finally pulled herself together enough to speak. "She's been daddy's little girl for a while now," she grinned, reaching up and brushing fresh tears from her husband's face.

"Our little Caity-bear is here," he told her, leaning down and kissing his wife tenderly. When he drew away, Caitlin started crying again. "What a mess we are," he laughed, sniffling. "The whole Eruzione family crying…"

Krista smiled. "She wants her father," she said, holding Caitlin out to him.

Rizzo sat down beside Krista on the bed and took his daughter in his arms, smiling proudly through the tears. Krista slid an arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Hey there sweetie," he whispered to his little girl. "I'm your daddy."