Chapter Four

Jillian slept peacefully next to her husband. When her due date had come and gone with little fanfare, the Delines just figured that it would be any day now. Deep into the night as the cicadas sang their nocturnal song, Jillian felt a once familiar stirring in her stomach. "Oh boy," she said as she woke up.

"Ed," she reached across the bed and shook her husband's shoulder to wake him. The man didn't wake easily and Jillian shook him again, "Eddie, wake up!"

The sleeping man woke with a grunt, "What is it?"

"It's time, that's what it is!"

Still slumbering, Ed said, "You know where the car keys are."

"Edward Melvin Deline!" Reaching over the side of the bed, she grabbed her slipper and hit him upside the head with it, which shook the man fully awake.

"What the hell...?" Looking at his wife, he rubbed his head, "What was that for?"

"I'm in labor, you idiot!" She said through clenched teeth as she fought off another contraction.

"Oh god," he said as he jumped out of bed, "Okay, honey, I'm sorry, you just stay there, I'm going to quickly call Bob and see if he can stay with Delinda and then we'll get you to the hospital, just remember your breathing, okay?" He simulated the breathing techniques that they both learned during Lamaze class.

Falling back on the bed, Jillian's body squirmed in pain as Ed gripped her hand with one of his, dialing the phone with the other. Minutes later, he hung it back up, "Bob's on his way now. Come on, sweetie," he said as he helped her up to a sitting position. Looking around, Ed spotted a pair of her shoes and grabbed them and slipped them on her feet. "Okay, on my count of three, okay? One, two, three..." He helped her to a standing position and then led her carefully down the hall and down the stairs.

"Eddie," she said between her breathing, "Don't forget my bag,"

"Don't worry, I'll come back and get it, I just want to get you in the car," he assured her.

Carefully leading her down the walk way, Ed helped her in the car and then ran back inside and got her bag, just as his brother was pulling up. Running outside, Ed met him on the lawn, "Thanks so much, Bob, I appreciate it."

"Don't even mention it," he said, "just get her to the hospital and congrats."

Ed nodded as he sprinted towards the car, "Delinda's still sleeping," he called out, "and there's breakfast stuff in the kitchen!" Quickly getting in, he started the car and sped the entire way to the hospital.

Four hours later, Ed was placing an ice chip into his wife's mouth. Smoothing her damp hair back, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, "You are doing so good, honey," he soothed softly into her ear, "You are so close."

Jillian's hand clenched around Ed's, her fingers digging into the palm of his hand. Letting out a sharp cry in pain, she heard the doctor's encouragement to push and pushed hard. Seconds later, she felt something slip out of her body and heard the chatter of the nurses and doctor followed by a sharp slap and the sounds of a baby's cry.

Crying herself, Jillian collapsed back against the bed in exhaustion as the nurse cut the umbilical cord and brought the baby over to the parents. Lowering the screaming child onto his mother's stomach, she smiled at them both, "Congratulations," she said, "it's a boy."

"A boy," Ed whispered, as tears fell down his face. Leaning down, he kissed his wife and then sat down on the stool that had been rolled over. "Oh god, honey," he said softly as he peeled back the light blue flannel blanket and looked into the tiny face of his newborn son. "He's so beautiful."

Jillian sniffled as she too looked at the baby, "He has your eyes," she mused quietly.

Laughing softly, Ed kissed his wife again as he gently ran his thumb over the forehead of the baby, "His eyes are closed still, honey, how could you possibly know something like that?"

She looked up at her husband and smiled softly, "I just know." Looking back down at the baby, she smiled and looked back up at Ed, "Do you want to hold him, daddy?"

Ed grinned as he reached for the baby, "Absolutely, mama," he said as he held him. Standing up, Deline paced the room slowly, a gentle bob to his gait.

Smiling as she watched her husband, Jillian laid back in exhaustion. Glancing over at his wife, he smiled at her as he saw her shut her eyes. Once she was sleeping soundly, the nurse walked in and quietly went over to Ed, "Mr. Deline," she whispered softly, "we need to take the baby to weigh him and get his birth certificate ready."

The man looked at the nurse as he protectively held his newborn son against his chest, "Can't that wait?"

The nurse smiled at him, "Come now, Mr. Deline," she said teasingly, "you can't expect to hide that cute little face from all of the world, can you?"

"I absolutely can," he said defiantly as he held his son closer to him.

Chuckling softly, the nurse said, "I promise you I'll bring him right back in a half hour. We need to weigh him, measure him and a few other little things."

Ed sighed as he nodded and, with heavy reluctance, handed over his son, "Please be careful with him," he said and then he realized that it was a ridiculous thing to say. Hanging his head, he sighed, "I'm sorry," he said, "That was an incredibly stupid thing to say. You've handled thousands of babies, I'm sure you are a pro at this."

The nurse smiled as she held the baby to her chest, "You aren't the first father to tell me to handle his child with extreme care," she said as she headed out. Turning to look at him, she continued, "And I seriously doubt that you'll be the last. We'll be back shortly." Flashing him one more smile, the nurse walked out of the room, leaving Ed alone with the mother of his children.

Children.

More than one.

Deline had to laugh at that little concept. "Oh god," he said softly, "I have more than one now." Shaking his head, he continued to grin widely.

"Oh my god," a voice from the door said, "he's grinning like an idiot."

Ed looked up to find Jack Keller standing in the doorway, "You would too if you had two of the most perfectly beautiful children to ever draw breath."

The younger man grinned as he walked in, an array of gifts in his arms, "You are probably right," he agreed. Nodding at Jillian, he said, "How's the mother?"

"Wonderful," Ed said as he beamed in pride at his wife, "she was spectacular, Jack. I was floored as I watched her."

"Yeah, this was the first time for you, wasn't it?" Jack asked as he set a vase of orange roses on the bedside table. Upon Ed's curious look he explained, "Roses for the mother, cigars for the father, Barbie for the older sister, rattle for the baby." He handed Ed a small bag containing the cigars, doll and rattle.

The new father grinned as he accepted the bag, "Thanks, Jack." He sat down with a sigh, "Yeah, it was my first time. We were in Hong Kong when Delinda was born, so I missed out on that."

"And if I recall," Jack said as he too sat down, "your blushing bride over there had a few choice words for us as well."

"The blushing bride was upset because her horny groom got her in the position she was in and wasn't there to help her out."

Jack and Ed quickly whipped their heads over to see a wide awake Jillian in bed. "Hey sweetie," Ed smiled as he stood up, "How are you feeling?"

Jillian smiled and nodded, "I'm okay," she looked around, "where's the baby?"

"Don't worry," he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, "The nurse just took him to get weighed and stuff like that."

She nodded and then looked at the roses and then at Ed, suspiciously, who held his hands up. "I wish I could take credit for them, but I haven't been out of the room since we got here."

Keller cleared his throat softly, "They are from me. Just a little congratulatory thing."

Jillian smiled, "They are gorgeous," looking at her husband's friend, she said, "Come over here."

Jack cast a quick look at Ed before walking over to the woman's bed. Smiling, Jillian sat up and kissed his cheek and gave him a gentle hug, "Thank you, Jack."

For the first time in his life, Jack Keller blushed as he pulled back, "You are welcome. So," he said as he cleared his throat, "you two think of a name yet?"

Jillian nodded, "Joseph Martin."

Ed blinked in surprise as he looked at his wife, "What?"

She smiled and reached for his husband's hand, "I want to name him after your father, Eddie."

He just looked at his wife, his face a mask of confusion, "But why?"

She shrugged a shoulder, still smiling, "Because I know how much you love him, and I think that it would mean lot to Marty."

Shaking his head, Ed leaned down and kissed his wife, "It means a lot to me too," he admitted quietly, "thank you."

She nodded as she kissed her husband back, smiling. Feeling he was in the way, Jack rose to his feet, "Listen, I'm going to go make a few calls."

Breaking away from his wife, Ed said, "Oh, hey, Jack, can you do me a favor? My brother is watching Delinda at the house, can you call him and let him know that the baby was born and that Jillian is fine?"

Jack nodded as he smiled, "Yeah, it'd be a pleasure, Ed."

"Thanks," he said as he kicked his shoes off and sat down on the bed next to his wife.

Nodding as he watched the couple, a slight twinge of jealousy flashing in his eyes, Jack walked out of the room.