Chapter 30

Lizzie sleeps fitfully through the night. Gordo and Jo take turns sleeping and checking on Lizzie. Sam, Matt, and Howard and Roberta Gordon stay in the family room, and take turns checking on Lizzie as well. Mrs. Garrett is babysitting the twins at the McGuire's house. Kate went home for the night, but Miranda stays in the room with Lizzie.

Around 3:00, Lizzie awakes, as a contraction hits. "AAAAHHHH! DAMMIT!"

Gordo, Jo, and Miranda startle awake. Jo rushes to her daughter's side, "Lizzie, honey? Are you okay?"

"I GOTTA PUSH!" She hisses, "OWWW! THIS HURTS!"

"Breathe, baby. Look at mama." Lizzie mirrors her mother's breathing and starts relaxing. "That's it. Miranda, go get a nurse. Tell her that Lizzie needs to push." Miranda nods and does as she's instructed. "Gordo, go dampen a washcloth."

"MOMMY, I'M SO SO-AAAAH!" She begins panting. "I'm sorry, mommy."

"Baby, it's okay." She starts patting Lizzie's face with the damp cloth.

"No, mommy. I'm serious. Gordo and I should've waited. We weren't ready." She begins crying.

"Okay Lizzie, I know. Calm down. You're not going to do yourself or this baby any good if you don't calm down."

"But…"

"Lizzie," Jo begins, exasperated, "I know you're sorry. I know you're upset, but this baby is coming. You can't change that." Tears stream down Lizzie's face. "Your father and I love you, sweetheart. We'll support you. Now, let's breathe together." Jo begins breathing, and Lizzie mirrors her breaths.

The nurse comes in, "You ready to have this baby?" Lizzie nods. "Let me take a look." She examines Lizzie. "Your baby's right there. I can see the top of the head. I'm gonna page the doctor and come right back. This baby may not wait." She leaves the room.

Gordo kisses the top of his fiancée's head. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Gordo, we're gonna be parents."

"I know." He grins from ear to ear. "I can't wait to see this baby."

Lizzie smiles. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

MEANWHILE, IN THE FAMILY ROOM

Miranda leaves the nurses' station and goes to the family room. Sam, Matt, and the Gordons are asleep. She shakes Matt's shoulder. "Matt, wake up."

"Wha?" He stirs awake. "Has she had the baby?"

"Not yet, but she's gonna have it soon. Help me wake the others."

Matt wakes his dad and Miranda, the Gordons.

"How's Lizzie?" Sam asks.

"She's okay." She looks toward the hallway, "Mmmm, I need to get back." She starts back down the hall.

"Howard," Roberta begins, "our David's gonna be a dad. We're gonna be grandparents." They embrace.

"So, Matt," Sam begins, "You're gonna be an uncle soon. Uncle Matt. Sounds good, huh?"

"Yeah, gramps!"

BACK IN LIZZIE'S ROOM

The nurse returns to the room. Jo is wiping Lizzie's forehead with a damp cloth. Lizzie is squeezing Gordo's hand. "Breathe Lizzie," Gordo coaches.

The nurse checks the monitors. "How are you doing, Lizzie?"

"I GOTTA PUSH! AAAAAAAHHH!" She begins to push.

"Wait. Don't push yet. Let's get you situated first." She examines Lizzie. "This baby wants out fast. I don't think we can wait." She situates Lizzie. "Okay, with your next contraction, I want you to push." Lizzie does as instructed.

"C'mon sweetheart," Gordo coaches, "You can do it!"

"YOU DO IT! UNTIL YOU CAN PASS A BOWLING BALL THROUGH YOUR AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The nurse cradle's the baby's head. "The head's out!"

"Our baby's almost out!" Tears stream from Gordo's face.

"I've got the shoulders. A couple more pushes and you'll have your baby." Lizzie pushes. "Lizzie, put your hands here and get your baby." She helps Lizzie deliver her baby.

The baby lets out a wail. Tears stream down Gordo, Jo, and Miranda's faces. The nurse helps Lizzie put the baby on her abdomen.

"Hi baby, it's mommy!" She strokes her baby's head while the nurse cleans the baby off. "You're so beautiful! Mommy, I have a baby!" Jo grins and nods.

Gordo cuts the cord and the nurse finishes cleaning the baby. "Would you like to see what you have?" She helps Lizzie unwrap the blanket.

"It's a girl?" Lizzie laughs.

"We have a daughter!"

"I guess the ultrasounds were wrong." Lizzie laughs harder. She looks at her daughter. "Mommy thought you were a boy. I guess we were wrong." She strokes her daughter's head. "I love you, sweetheart."

The doctor walks into the room and sees Lizzie holding her baby. "I guess he was in a hurry to meet his mommy and daddy. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Lizzie smiles, "I guess she was in a hurry."

"It's a girl?" Lizzie nods. "Hmm! I guess we were wrong." She addresses the nurse, "What's the time of birth?"

"4 a.m., December 20."

Jo whispers, "Josh's birthday." She looks off, "happy birthday, son." She returns her attention to her daughter and granddaughter.

The doctor takes over, helping Lizzie delivering the placenta. "So, what's your daughter's name?"

Lizzie looks at Gordo, "JoAnna Danielle."

Gordo, surprised, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I wanna name her after her grandma and her uncle. It is his birthday. I wanna call her Danielle."

"She's perfect. JoAnna Danielle Gordon." He kisses his fiancée. "She's beautiful, just like her mother."

The nurse finishes weighing and measuring Danielle. She hands the baby to Gordo. "Hey kiddo, it's your dad." He strokes her cheek with the crook of his index finger. "You're so cute!"

Jo wipes her daughter's forehead. "You did good, kiddo."

"Thanks, mom."

"She looks a lot like you did as a baby. Would you like me to go tell the crew outside?"

"Yeah, but I want Gordo to tell them what we have."

"Okay baby. I'll be right back." She and Miranda leave the room.

IN THE FAMILY ROOM

Jo and Miranda enter the family room. Sam, Matt, and the Gordons see the pair and stand up.

"So?" Sam asks.

Jo grins from ear to ear, "We're grandparents!" She and Sam embrace.

"How's Lizzie?" Sam asks.

"She's good. She was a trooper. The baby came before the doctor made it into the room."

"Well mom? What is it?"

"Gordo wants to tell you himself."

"How is Gordo?" Roberta asks.

"He's in shock, but he's happy. He looks like a natural." She turns back to her husband. "Oh, Sam, the baby looks just like Lizzie. Gordo wants us to meet him at the nursery."

"When can we see Lizzie?"

"In an hour or so. She needs her rest."

AT THE NURSERY

Jo leads the others to the nursery. Gordo is rocking Danielle. He looks up and sees his family, and motions for them to come in. He is grinning from ear to ear.

Roberta approaches her son, "My boy's a daddy." She gives him a hug.

"Come meet your granddaughter."

"It's a girl!"

"Meet JoAnna Danielle Gordon."

Sam embraces his wife, "After you and Josh?" She nods.

Matt looks at his parents. "Who's Josh?"

Jo replies, "He was your older brother. We'll tell you about him later."

"Mom," Gordo begins, "would you like to hold your grandson?" She nods and sits in a rocker. He places his daughter in her arms.

Each of them takes turns holding and admiring the newest member of the family.

THAT EVENING

The McGuires, Gordons, and Miranda each congratulate Lizzie as well. They go to their respective homes, to give the newest Gordon/McGuire family time to bond with their new daughter.

Lizzie is nursing Danielle. Gordo watches in amazement.

"Lizzie, I can't believe she's ours."

"Yeah, I know. It doesn't seem real yet."

"I think your mom was pleased when you named Danielle after her and Josh."

"Yeah. She was surprised too." The baby finishes feeding. "Here, burp your daughter." She passes the baby to Gordo. Then, she turns serious. "Gordo, do you think we'll turn out like mom and dad?"

"What do you mean?"

"They were teenaged parents too, and nearly broke up."

"I don't know. Josh died." He looks at his daughter. "I don't wanna think about that. More than likely, we'll have her forever."

"I'm just afraid."

"I know, but we've got our daughter." He pauses. "I know it's his birthday. But that doesn't mean we'll lose her like they lost Josh." Lizzie begins crying. "Lizzie, I love you and I love Danielle. I'm not going anywhere." He looks at his daughter and notices she's asleep. "I'm gonna put this little girl down." He kisses his fiancée. "I love you, Lizzie McGuire."

"I love you, too." Lizzie begins to sing, "I'm falling through the door, flying 'cross the floor. When you look at me suddenly it's clear. You're burning up my dreams. Crazy as it seems, I don't wanna be anywhere but here. Anywhere but here." She kisses her fiance. "Anywhere but here."

AT THE MCGUIRE'S HOUSE

Sam and Jo get ready for bed. Jo picks up her favourite picture of Sam and her with Josh. "What a day!"

Sam puts his arms around her waist. "We were so young then."

"It seems like such a long time ago. I can't believe it's been 24 years."

"We were so happy then." She faces her husband, still in his embrace. "Lizzie looked so happy today."

"She did."

"Sam, I just can't believe our baby has a baby. I hope everything works out for her." A tear rolls down her cheek. "I don't want her to have a rough time like we did. I hope they make it."

Sam kisses her tear. "Me either. Jo, we made it." He holds her close. "They may have a different outcome than what we had."

"I know. I miss him so much."

"Me too. But now we've got four great kids and a beautiful granddaughter, who are all healthy and happy. Josh would be thrilled that his mommy and daddy were still together."

Jo puts the picture back on the nightstand and climbs in bed. "We have a granddaughter."

Sam joins her in bed. "Yeah." He begins laughing.

"What?" Jo laughs.

"Gordo was in shock. He kinda reminded me of me when Josh was born."

"You fainted when Josh was born. At least Gordo managed to stay upright during the whole thing."

He gazes into his wife's eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too." She pulls him into a passionate kiss, then sings, "Hey now, hey now. This is what dreams are made of…."

THE END

A/N--Thank you for reading! I've enjoyed writing this story! Hope you've enjoyed reading it. I've not forgotten about "Can You See Me Now." I'll update it as soon as I can. Reviews are appreciated. Thanks!