Chapter Sixteen

"How long does this usually take?" Kyle asked in a whisper.

"It depends." Becky whispered back with a smile. "When my mom had Ella it seemed like we were here forever. Then again I was much younger and had no idea how this really worked. Everything seemed to take longer."

"I hope when we have kids it won't take this long." Kyle sat back and sighed.

Becky blinked back tears as she gazed over at him. "You think we'll have kids together?"

Kyle sounded genuinely taken aback. "Of course." He replied, looking at her like she was crazy. "Don't you?"

She smiled widely and reached for his hand. "Yeah – sure." Unable to help herself, she leaned close and whispered. "I mean it'd definitely be possible – if we ever got a moment alone."

Kyle couldn't believe she'd say something like that – especially with her parents sitting five feet away.

"I meant after we're married, Becky." Kyle replied exasperated.

"So now we're getting married." She teased, though her heart beat faster at the mere idea. "Is that a proposal Kyle?"

"Yes." Kyle stammered. "N-no." He laughed when he realized she was joking. "Becky – stop making fun of me."

"I would but - God Kyle. You make it so easy." She smiled as she inched closer to him. She nuzzled his ear and whispered. "Just so you know – whenever you get around to it – I'll definitely say yes."

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"I'm not doing this anymore – I'm finished." Chloe said desperately. "Grant. Tell them I'm done."

He held her hand tighter and kissed her brow. "Sweetheart – you're almost there."

She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and frowned. "This kid is just like you – I swear I've never seen anyone so slow."

"Chloe." Grant laughed softly. "You're three weeks early."

"Whatever." She grumbled. "This is insane."

"This is amazing, Chloe." Grant said with a smile.

"Amazing for you." She replied. "Let me tell you something wise guy. Don't think that I'm not plotting a way to get back at you." She threatened.

"Go ahead, Clo. Plot away." He said as he leaned closer and smoothed her hair off her face. "I can take it."

At that moment, Michelle walked in, dressed in a surgical gown, ready for the delivery.

She tried to keep her nerves at bay as she spoke. "Hey Chloe. How're you doing?"

"Do you have children, Michelle?" Chloe replied completely exasperated.

Michelle blinked, the question startling her. She suddenly realized that if things continued as they were going with Jack, any children she had in the future would be Chloe's siblings.

She didn't think it would be wise to mention that fact now. "No. No, I don't." She finally answered.

"Then don't you dare tell me to breathe, or relax, or that it won't be that bad – you got it?" Chloe snapped back. "Because for all your training you have NO CLUE how horrific this is."

"OK." Michelle replied, trying to hold back her laughter. She checked her progress and looked over at them with a huge smile. "Wow - Clo – you're doing so great. The baby's crowning. We're going to start to push, OK?"

"Whatever. It's been nearly twenty four hours. Just get this kid out already." Chloe snapped again. She had had more than enough.

"OK. Not much longer I promise." Michelle laughed then. She flashed a grin and spoke to Grant. "Are you ready?"

"I-I-I guess." He said as he stood next to Chloe and held her hand in both of his.

After the first push Chloe looked at Grant with tears in her eyes. "Is my Dad here?" She asked in a whisper.

"Yes." Both he and Michelle replied at the same time.

Grant leaned closed and kissed her softly. "Shh. Honey – he's here. He's right outside."

"OK." She whispered with a nod. She gripped his hand tightly; squeezing so tight he thought it would break.

"You ready Clo? Here we go again." Michelle prompted. It was times like this she realized that she loved her job. This was the best part. Seeing someone bring a new life into the world? It was the most amazing thing ever. Every day was another miracle.

Grant held his breath as he watched Chloe struggle. He pushed the damp hair off her face, not knowing what else to do to help her. It was torture watching her like this.

"There we go." Michelle said with a huge grin. "Just a push or two and we'll see who this little one is. C'mon, Clo. One more. Let's go. Again."

Chloe pushed one last time. That was all it took. After months of waiting, after hours and hours of labor she was finally here.

Michelle took a deep breath, her voice shaking and overcome with emotion as she announced. "It's a girl." She held up a squirming, screaming pink bundle.

"Oh my God." Chloe's voice caught on a sob as she caught sight of her.

"Is she OK?" Grant asked, sounding incredibly anxious.

"She's great." Michelle replied. "Let's just get her cleaned up and you can see for yourself."

With shaky hands Grant cut the cord and kept a close eye on the baby as they brought her over to the side. The nurses worked furiously, getting her ready to meet her mom.

"Count her fingers." Chloe demanded as she fought to catch her breath. "And her toes, Grant."

"Ten of each." Grant laughed as he did just that.

"OK, Dad." The nurse said with a smile as she handed Melissa over to him. "Here you go."

"Oh my God." He whispered as he held his tiny daughter carefully. "Hello, Prettiness. We've been waiting for you."

The sight of the two of them together had Chloe sobbing again. "Oh Grant. Please. Let me see her." She whispered.

"Of course." Grant said softly as he placed the baby in Chloe's waiting arms. "Melissa Alison Kovich - I want you to meet the most beautiful, amazing, incredible woman in the whole wide world."

"Grant." Chloe blushed even as she continued to sob. "Oh my God. Look at her."

"I'm looking." He replied, tears in his own eyes as he gazed down at both of them.

"She's so beautiful." Chloe sighed.

"Yes she is." Grant said softly as he kissed her. "And so are you."

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"She seems like she's been better lately." Danny said softly as he came upon Ethan. He had been watching Lynnie and Lia through the window of Lia's room.

Ethan turned towards Danny and sighed. "I hate this."

Unsure what he was talking about Danny gave him a puzzled look. "Huh?"

"I hate that Lynnie…" He fought to find the right words. "It's not fair that she has to deal with this all the time. I want her to be happy." Ethan moved to walk towards the waiting room. "Why can't she just be happy?"

Danny shrugged as he moved to sit beside him. "I don't know. Here's a question for you. Why can't Lia keep herself out of trouble?"

Ethan laughed then in spite of it all. "I don't know. We really had no idea what we were getting into did we?"

"Sure we did." Danny replied, laughing back at him. "Lia never did anything I asked her to before. I fought tooth and nail just to get her to date me. I should have realized that she wouldn't change once we were married. He leaned back and gazed in the direction of her room. "I'm just terrified, E. She thinks she's invincible. Even with the babies – I can see it already. You know she's not going to slow down much."

"No. I doubt she will." Ethan replied with a nod. "You'll just have to make her – without letting her know you're making her."

"How do you know my wife so well?" Danny asked with a laugh.

"It's easy." Ethan laughed back at him. "She's the exact opposite of mine."

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"Poor kid." Rafe whispered as he stood beside Alison, gazing at their granddaughter.

"What?" She asked as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"It's a girl." Rafe sighed loudly. "Grant's doomed."

Alison laughed as she turned to face him. "Stop it." She scolded him. "I know for a fact how you feel about your daughters."

"This is why I'm saying Grant's doomed." Rafe replied with a chuckle. "I can't help it."

"I know." She whispered as she moved into his arms and hugged him tightly. "And that's just one reason I love you so much."

Rafe leaned down and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, inhaling the scent of her skin. "I can't believe we're grandparents two times over."

"I can't believe…" Alison gasped as she caught sight of two people, locked in a passionate embrace at the end of the hallway. She smacked Rafe's arm and made him focus. "Rafe! Oh my God. It's Jack!"

"Huh?" Rafe was completely confused.

"LOOK!" She said desperately as she clutched his sleeve. She pulled him into a doorway and peered around to catch another glimpse. "It's Jack and he's…kissing someone!"

"Certainly looks that way." Rafe replied as he finally saw what had her so worked up.

"Who is that?" Alison whispered as she narrowed her eyes and took another peek. "Oh my God! It's Michelle!"

"Yeah. I guess it is." Rafe replied. "Angel?" He asked with a grin.

"What?" She replied – her mind spinning.

"If you think Jack finding someone is so scandalous - why are we the ones hiding?" He leaned down and kissed her quickly.

"She's really young Rafe." Alison replied, still beyond curious. "Melissa's been gone only two years…"

"Jack looks happy to me." Rafe said as he fought to calm her down. "Isn't that what matters most?"

"I guess. But Rafe…" Her words were lost on his lips.

"Let it go Alison." He cautioned her with a whisper. "I know you think it is but honestly? It's none of your business."

Who did he think he was talking to? Jack was her friend. Of course it was her business.

"But I…" She protested and was once again silenced by her husband's kiss.

"I said, let it go…" He repeated, knowing this distraction would only be temporary. He knew his wife. There is no way she'd give up this easily.