Beautiful Disaster

Chapter: 20

Pairing: R&H

Rating: PG

December 31st 1992. Pregnancy: 39 Weeks

Over the past two and a half months things sailed pretty smoothly for the Scorpio Family. It was as things were going exactly the way the were suppose to be. Robert and Holly were finally starting the family they had dreamed of having and had planned on having at least one more in the not to distant future. Robin had adjusted well considering the circumstances. She had always known deep down that her father and Holly were meant to be together. Even as a small child she realize that there was a deep connection between them.

As Holly's due date drew nearer and nearer the more restless and anxious she became. The Holidays had served as a good distraction but now approaching the New Year she became more restless than ever. Her emotions were all over the place. Happy one minute and sad and crying the next. Robert did his best to accommodate her and had learnt early on that hovering over her only made the situation worse. She would simply come to him when she was ready.

Bobbie had whisked Holly out of the house telling her that this was her last chance at going out before the baby came. With only eight days until the baby's due date Robert faced the challenged of putting the rest of the nursery together. He sat on the floor of the nursery surrounded by crib parts. He had laid out all the pieces just like the instruction booklet had told him to. The only problem was that he had no clue what he was doing. Instructions or not.

"Having trouble?" he heard an Australian accent say.

"Mac." he sighed. "Am I glad to see you."

"Looks like you need some help."

"Have you ever seen so many pieces to something in your entire life?" Robert asked. "If I knew this many pieces we're gonna come out of one box I would have left it at the store."

"Why didn't you buy a crib that was already assembled?" Mac asked. "They could have delivered it and carried it right upstairs."

"Don't you think I thought of that?" he asked. "Holly didn't like the ones the store already had assembled. She liked this one and that means that I'm going to be putting it together."

"By the way, where is Holly?"

"She's out with Bobbie." he answered. "I told her I'd have this up and waiting by the time she got back."

"Well, at least you're trying." he commented as he walked around the nursery. "Why can't you just use this?" he asked, pointing to the baby cradle.

"Because that's a cradle." Robert told him. "It's to rock the baby."

"What about this?" he asked, pointing to the bassinet.

"That's for downstairs."

"And this?" Mac asked, pointing to the playpen that was still in the box.

"That's for outside when it gets warmer."

"I didn't realize that a baby needed so much stuff."

"Are you going to keep asking me questions or are you going to help me put this bloody thing together?" Robert asked.

Evening

Holly returned home exhausted from her afternoon with Bobbie. She did have a great time though and since it was her last time out for a while she enjoyed it to the fullest. Robert greeted her at the door and helped her take off her coat. "Did you have a nice time?" he asked.

"Splendid." she replied. "Did you get everything put together in the nursery?"

"Yes." he answered. "I want you to come and take a look at it."

"Maybe later." she told him as she headed for the couch. "I just want to lie down for a little while."

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked as he helped her to the couch.

"Yeah." she sighed. "I'm just tired."

"Can I get you anything?"

Holly laid down on her side. "I can't think of anything." she replied. "The baby's been kicking all day."

Robert pushed the material of her maternity top up to her bra and gently began rubbing her large stomach in circles. "She seems to be calm right now."

"Maybe she's asleep." she sighed as she closed her eyes.

He noticed that Holly was shifting under his touch. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked.

"No." she replied. "It's just that my lower back hurts."

Robert shifted his hand around to her back, gently massaging it. "Better?" he asked.

"A little."

He continued to rub her back until she feel into a somewhat peaceful sleep and then covered her with a blanket. He watched her for a little while and then headed upstairs to put the finishing touches on the nursery. Afterwards he headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. Halfway through his sandwich he heard Holly calling for him.

"Do you need something?" he asked as he made his way into the livingroom and over to the couch.

Holly pushed herself up on the sofa. "You know that pain in my back?"

"Yeah."

Well it's moved."

"Moved?" he asked.

"Yes." she replied. "To my stomach."

"What does it feel like?" he asked, helping her sit up.

"Kind of like the Braxton Hicks contractions." she told him .

"Did you try changing positions like Dr. Meadows suggested?" Robert asked.

"Yes." she answered. "Nothing seems to help."

He rubbed his hand over her stomach. "Do you think you're in labor?" he asked.

"I'm not sure."

"Well." Robert sighed.. "Just sit back and try to relax." He had never felt so nervous in his entire life. Holly on the other hand seemed to be rather calm and relaxed.

After a few minutes she felt her stomach contract again followed by a sharp pain. "Robert, I'm in labor."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes." she breathed. "Call Dr. Meadows."

Sneak Peak: Holly asks Robert to make her a painful promise.