Chapter 23: Baby

Week 37

That night at supper Cruz couldn't eat anything and Bosco noticed (He's on paternity leave now) and gently rubbed her shoulder "Hey you feeling ok?" She shook her head "I don't know, I just feel really heavy today, sort of sick to my stomach. I'm going up to lie down"

Bosco nodded and finished eating quickly so he could go up and be with her. She was lying on her side, her bulging stomach on the bed. He sat down gently next to her and rubbed her back, soothing some of the cramps out of her lower back.

She moaned softly as his strong hands gave her a small bit of relief. Bosco felt her relax and heard her breathing slow down and he knew she was asleep. He pulled the covers up over himself and pulled her into the curve of his body then fell asleep.

May 20th

12:30 am

Cruz was suddenly jolted from her sleep when she felt the sheets were wet. She looked down and saw the clear liquid draining out of her. She heart leaped and she shook Bosco awake. He rolled over and looked up at her

"Yeah?" She grinned

"My water broke, we're having a baby!" Bosco panicked more than she had

"What!" He said as he threw the covers off

"Ritza, you're sure?" Cruz rolled her eyes

"Well I've never had a baby before but I'm pretty sure my water broke. Sorta feels that way" Bosco took the hint and backed off

"Ok, I'll call Dr. Lind you go get ready to go" Cruz nodded, she was still feeling fine, no contractions so she took a quick shower and dried her hair. Bosco was more nervous than she was. As they were going out the door Cruz winced, her first contraction.

"Ouch" she said under her breath and Bosco turned back

"You ok Ritza?" Cruz nodded "First contraction" Bosco grinned, looking excited and helped her into the car.

1:30 am

When they arrived at the hospital a nurse was waiting for them with a wheelchair. Cruz settled back in it, a gentle hand on her stomach. The nurse wheeled them into a private room and helped Cruz get settled and changed. When she left Cruz grinned at Bosco "We're having a baby!"

3:00 am

Bosco sat in the chair beside Cruz's bed, watching her sleep. The contractions were barely one on a scale of one to ten and they were short and far between. She woke up, opening her eyes slowly, smile dancing in her eyes, she was so excited. She sat up as the doctor came in.

"How are you feeling?" Cruz smiled "Ok I guess the contractions are getting a bit stronger"

Dr. Lind nodded"Alright, we'll check to see how far you're dilated"

Cruz pulled her legs back and the doctor checked, pronouncing her to be 2 centimeters. When he left Cruz pushed herself up out of bed

"I want to walk around" Bosco nodded and helped her out of the bed and into her robe. She held his hand firmly as they walked through the maternity ward. When they got in front of the nursery Cruz stopped and looked at them all

"Bosco, ours is going to be in there soon!" He nodded, squeezing her hand.

6:00 am

Cruz winced as her stomach tightened, the contractions were up to a two and she was three centimeters dilated. Bosco watched nervously as her grip tightened on the bed rail. "You ok?" She nodded taking a deep breath

"Yeah that one hurt more" Her breathing came back to normal as the contraction passed, they were about 5-10 minutes apart. She closed her eyes again trying to calm down. It was going to be a long day.

8:00 am

Cruz clamped down on Bosco's hand, squeezing the life out of it "Dios Bosco, I'm going to kill you!"

She yelled as the contraction coursed through her. Bosco hadn't thought she would have been a screamer, but she was, a different kind of screamer. She screamed at people, him, the doctor, the nurse, anyone.

He guessed that that was what seven hours of labor did to someone though.

She was only 4 centimeters dilated but her contractions were up at a 5 already. She groaned as a contraction tore through her. Suddenly one came that felt different than the others. It gripped her, white, hot pain, pulling down on her. She writhed in pain, grabbing Bosco's hand.

"I want an epidural" She yelled, her cheeks flaring. Bosco nodded and when she released his hand he called for Dr. Lind, who came immediately

"So you're not feeling so great anymore?"

Cruz shook her head; her teeth gritted "That last one was almost unbearable" Dr. Lind looked at the monitor nodding

"Yeah, your contractions are getting stronger I'll call the anesthesiologist in here to give you an epidural." Cruz squeezed Bosco's hand as another contraction arose.

She swore softly under her breath "Mierda." and tightened her body, trying to escape the pain. As it ended the anesthesiologist came in. He prepped Cruz then gave her the shot. She barely flinched as they inserted the needle, with all the pain she was in now she didn't care.

10:00 am

Bosco smiled at Cruz, she had calmed down a lot since she had gotten the epidural and it seemed like it had helped her dilate a bit, she was already at 6 centimeters.

Cruz sighed in exhaustion, she just wanted to sleep. She tried to, but the pressure would always bring her back just before she fell asleep. She listened as the baby's heartbeat pounded over the monitor, nice and strong.

"Bosco" she said suddenly "Can you get me the phone I want to call Sasha" Bosco passed her the phone and she quickly dialed the Davis number

"Hello?" Cruz grinned as she heard Monroe's voice

"Hey Sash, its Cruz. Guess where I am!" "I don't know" Monroe replied, she sounded tired

"We're at the hospital, I'm in labor!" Bosco could hear Monroe's squeal from across the room. Cruz talked for a while but hung up the phone as the pain began again. She laid back against the bed, just waiting.

4:27 pm

Cruz's hair was tied back and sweat dripped from her face. The doctor smiled up at her

"Alright Mrs. Boscorelli, we're ready for you to push now"

Cruz took a deep breath, squeezed Bosco's hand, and bore down, this was it, their baby was coming. She groaned as the baby moved down, then fell back against the bed. Bosco leaned down and kissed her "You're doing great"

She groaned and pushed him away "Not now" The next contraction came and she sat up, pushing as hard as she good.

"Good, one more push and it'll be out" the doctor said.

Cruz fell back again "I can't do this, I give up, it can stay in there" The doctor shook her head "It's going to hurt more the longer you wait" Cruz nodded sitting up again. Bosco held her upright as she pushed.

The baby's head came out and Cruz let out a scream of pain "Get it out! Get it out!". She pushed again and as her scream ended the baby's cry filled the room.

"It's girl" The doctor said as she placed her on Cruz's chest. Cruz's grip loosened on Bosco's hand as she gazed at her daughter. She turned to look at Bosco, her eyes brimming with tears

"She's beautiful" Bosco was pretty close to tears himself and nodded "She's gorgeous" Cruz smiled at the baby, she had stopped crying and her eyes blinked in confusion as she stared at her mother.

Cruz glanced at Bosco "Do you remember the name we chose for a girl?" He nodded and whispered "Welcome to the world Paige Letticia Boscorelli"

The doctor took the baby away to get her cleaned and measured. Cruz's eyelids fluttered, she was exhausted "I love you Bosco" she said as she fell asleep. He watched her sleep and muttered "I love you too."

(A/N) I'm getting very bored of this story it will be over soon!