Chapter 8: Time

Week 34

May 4th 5: 52 pm

Bosco glanced nervously at the calendar for the fifth time. Faith sighed "Fine Bosco, what is it?" He drummed his fingers anxiously on the dashboard "I don't know! Cruz told me she felt weird this morning but she wouldn't let me stay home with her!" Faith laughed "When we're as big as a whale and ready to burst we don't want the person who did it to us around" Bosco frowned "What if she goes into labor?" Faith rolled her eyes "She'll call you, you dope" Bosco went back to drumming his fingers on the dashboard, waiting and wondering.

20 minutes later his cell phone rang and he picked it up in a hurry, fumbling with it. "Hello? Cruz?" He heard a laugh from the other end "Yeah, hey you want to come pick me up? My water broke" Bosco let out a gasp and his grip tightened "Yeah sure, Faith and I will be over in a minute" "Bye" she said softly and he hung up. Faith turned, glaring at him "Where do you think we're going?" He was grinning like an idiot "Her water broke" Faith smiled and pulled the RMP around "Congrats!" He nodded; his heart in his throat.

Cruz walked out of the apartment all smiles. "Looks like she hasn't had any contractions yet" Faith muttered under her breath.

Bosco jumped out of the car and hurried over to her "Are you ok? Isn't this early?"

Cruz laughed lightly "I called Dr. Reed, she said this was expected. She did tell us that I'm too small to carry this baby to term"

Bosco nodded and took the duffle bag from her then helped her into the RMP. He climbed in the other side beside her. "K Faith, we're going to Mercy"

Faith nodded and started the car. "Cruz, you feeling ok?" She questioned.

Cruz nodded "So far so good"

When they pulled up in front of the hospital Faith helped Cruz out of the car and Bosco grabbed the bag. Then Faith did something that shocked the hell out of Cruz. She gave her a gentle hug and whispered

"Good luck and while you're at it give Bosco hell, he helped in the doing of this."

Cruz smiled "Thanks Faith. Don't worry, he'll catch it"

Faith climbed back into the RMP and grinned "Bosco, you better watch out" she called as she pulled away. Bosco slipped his arm around Cruz's waist and led her inside.

Dr. Reed met them and led Cruz to a private labor room "Alright, you can change into the hospital gown then we'll have nurses come in periodically to check on you guys because this one's so early."

Cruz nodded and slipped on the hospital gown. Dr. Reed got her settled into the bed then checked her dilation "Alright, see you're only about 2 centimeters dilated so it'll be a while" Cruz nodded and leaned back against the pillows. Dr. Reed left and Bosco settled himself into the chair beside Cruz, waiting for the new baby.

7:00 pm

Cruz jumped slightly as the first contraction came. She sucked a deep breath in and Bosco watched in concern "You ok?"

She nodded "First contraction"

She let the breath out as it passed "Wow that hurt more than I expected it to. A lot more. What does it say on the monitor?"

Bosco picked up the paper "Umm, it was a 3 I think"

Cruz grinned "Ok thanks"

"So, we still haven't thought of a name for this baby" Bosco mentioned.

Cruz nodded "Yeah, I don't know I figured it would be easier when we see him or her."

Bosco shrugged "Sounds good"

9:00 pm

Cruz tightened her grip around Bosco's hand and he was sure she had broken it. She released and laid her head back down "Sorry" She stated simply.

Two hours later and only 3 centimeters dilated, she was not happy and Bosco couldn't blame her. She fidgeted around on the bed trying to get comfortable before finally getting up

"I want to walk around, I'm bored"

Bosco grinned, just like her to be bored at a time like this. He helped her up and gently supported her and she walked slowly down the hall. Five minutes later the next contraction took her by surprise and she tensed quickly, once again squeezing the crap out of Bosco's hand.

He helped her around for about another half hour before stating "Cruz, we should go back now, you're exhausted"

"Don't tell me about myself I know when I'm tired!" She snapped.

He was completely taken a back "Oh, ok sorry."

Not ten minutes later did she turn back and walk to the room. Bosco hung back, not wanting to invoke her wrath again. He knew for certain this would be an interesting night.

11:00 pm

Cruz watched the contraction meter go up to a 5 and flinched. Just then a knock came from the door and Cruz turned to see Rose standing in the door way.

"Rose?"

Rose nodded a beaming smile on her face. "Come on in"

Rose glanced at her son and was sure she saw a look of desperate relief in his eyes.

"Maurice, why don't you get something to eat? I'll stay with Maritza"

Bosco nodded and gave Cruz a peck on the cheek before leaving. As he did, she wanted to desperately to smack him and tell him to never touch her again but she let him go, this time.

Rose slid into the seat next to Cruz "How are you doing?"

"Fine I guess, seeing as this is the worst pain I've ever had to deal with in my life" Cruz remarked.

Rose grinned "You sound a lot like I did"

Cruz simply nodded closing her eyes in exhaustion. Rose smiled gently but she could see by the pained expression on Cruz's face her son would be paying dearly for what he'd done.

May 5th 3:00 am

"I hate you" Cruz spat through a painful contraction "I hate you so much, you are never going to touch me again"

Bosco sat silently dealing with Cruz as her contractions climbed to a 7. She clamped down on his hand with a vengeance letting out a string of swear words to go with it.

When it ended Bosco glanced at her warily "You sure you don't want an epidural"

She turned to him, her eyes flaring "no"

He cringed under her death glare; he'd heard that women were submissive and weepy during labor. Cruz was anything but. She was mean, vicious even.

Dr. Reed entered the room at that moment and almost laughed at the scene before her. "Alright Maritza, last time I checked you were 5 centimeters, why don't we check again?"

She sat down at the end of the bed and snapped rubber gloves on. Cruz sat up abruptly "Touch me or look at me again and I'll kill you"

Dr. Reed tried to hide the look of amusement and surprise "Ok what about in an hour? How's that?"

Cruz nodded and Dr. Reed left, not even bothering to question an epidural. As she left another contraction arose and Cruz bore down on Bosco's hand.

He attempted to talk her through it until she glared at him "Get out"

He looked at her in surprise "What?"

"You heard me, get out!" She growled "I don't want to see you or Rose or anyone for at least a half hour"

Bosco rose "If you're sure…" She just stared and he turned and left her alone, in peace for a while.

7:00 am

Bosco rubbed his hands through his hair. He was surprised, just a few hours ago she had wanted to kill him, but the urge had seemed to pass. She was weak now; she just wanted it over with.

Cruz groaned loudly as her resting time came to an end. "Bosco, this kid is so grounded when they get out" Bosco laughed weakly as she pursed her lips against the pain. "Honestly, how long does it take for them to get out?"

"I don't know Ritz, Ma said she was in labor with me and Mikey for 12 or so hours"

Cruz groaned again "I'm already at 14 hours. This kid better love me more than you" She said with a laugh "Can you get me some water?"

He nodded and brought her some from the kitchen down the hall. "Where's Rose?" She inquired as he came back.

He snorted "In the waiting room betting some lady her grandkid is going to be cuter than theirs."

Cruz chuckled slightly but was cut off as a contraction took hold. Dr. Reed came back in.

"How you guys feeling?"

Cruz groaned "Tired, I want it out"

The doctor smiled "Well, the nurses say you guys are doing great so let's check how far you're dilated." Cruz nodded, pulling her legs to her chest.

"Great," Dr. Reed said "You're doing fantastic 9 centimeters."

Cruz sighed in relief "Good"

Dr. Reed smiled "Alright, make sure to call me when you feel pressure."

Cruz nodded. Bosco glanced at the contraction meter " You're at an 8" Cruz blinked, trying to clear her head "Ok" She said as she leaned back on the bed.

7: 47 am

Cruz turned to Bosco, her eyes blurry with exhaustion and said "I need to push"

Bosco sat up quickly "What! Wait, I'll get Dr. Reed"

He pushed the call button on her bed as Cruz struggled to sit up. Dr. Reed came in quickly and glanced at Cruz

"Let's see how far you are" She checked quickly "Good, 10 centimeters. Let me call for a few nurses and we'll get this baby out"

Cruz nodded, breathing heavily against the urge to push. Two nurses rushed in with an incubator and Dr. Reed got her outfitting on.

"Alright" She said, seating herself at the end of the bed "You ready?"

Cruz nodded

"Ok, when the next contraction comes Bosco and Amy will push you up. Take their hands and Bosco will count to ten. You push for the whole time, and then take a little break ok?"

She nodded again. "Alright, go now"

Cruz tucked her chin in and pushed down, clutching the hands next to her tightly. As Bosco finished counting she collapsed heavily on the bed.

Bosco swept the hair out of her face and kissed her gently. "Great job pushing! We need you to go again ok? A couple more and the baby's head will be out"

Cruz pushed herself up as Bosco counted and bore down once again. "Fantastic, you'll feel the baby's head as it comes out. Keep pushing" Cruz let out a sharp cry as the baby's head emerged. She collapsed and moaned as the next contraction came

"It's ok, take a little break."

The doctor said as she suctioned the baby's mouth and nose. "Alright, we need to get the shoulders out then the baby will do the rest."

Cruz nodded. She pushed herself up, tears streaming down her face and pushed for the last time. Her body shook severely as the baby finally came out. She could barely keep her eyes open as the pain dulled and she stopped pushing.

Her senses burst to life once again as the sharp yelp of a newborn filled the air. Dr. Reed held the baby up with a smile on her face

"Welcome to the world baby boy"

Cruz brought a shaky hand to her eyes to flick away the tears. Bosco watched as the baby was lifted to her chest. Cruz's hair was plastered to her face and her cheeks were flushed pink, the baby was pink and wrinkly and sorta goopy but he had never seen anything so beautiful.

He let a few tears fall freely before wiping them away. The nurse handed him a pair of scissors and instructed him to cut the cord. He did eagerly and finally the new boy was detached from his mother.

The doctor took him and wiped him off then handed him to Bosco "Here you go Daddy"

Bosco took his son, a smile lighting up his face. He cradled his son and Cruz glanced at the pair

"He doesn't really look like either of us"

Bosco grinned "I should hope not he looks like a squashed pink potato"

Cruz laughed "A cute one"

"The cutest"

Cruz reached out for him and Bosco slid him into her arms

"So what do we call him?"

Cruz thought a minute "Jacob. Jacob Michael Boscorelli"

Bosco smiled squeezing her shoulder "Thank you" She nodded.

Dr. Reed came up beside them "Alright then, we need to take Jacob to get a check up. He's pretty early so he's considerably small, only 4.9 pounds. He'll need to stay in the hospital until he's 35 weeks then he can go home. We're going to keep him in NICU for observation, just to make sure he's ok"

Cruz nodded sleepily "And you, we'll bring over to the mother baby ward for some rest."

Cruz smiled weakly and watched as they took Jacob away.

11: 30 am

Cruz held Jacob close struggling to feed him. Bosco watched intently as she tried to breastfeed unsuccessfully.

"You know this is a lot harder than it looks" She mumbled.

Bosco didn't know what to say "You could call a nurse?"

Cruz shook her head "I want to figure it out myself, he's my son"

Bosco didn't see the relevance but let it go. Finally about a half hour later she got the hang of it.

"There" She said with pride "I did it"

Bosco smiled widely and kissed her "You did it"

Cruz suddenly started to cry.

"Ritza? You ok?" Bosco said nervously.

She nodded trying to wipe away the steady tears "Look at him Bosco! We made him, he's ours. What do we do now?"

Bosco smiled, brushing her cheek with his thumb "We take care of him, we love him"

She gave him a watery smile and glanced back down at the feeding baby. She wiped the tears away quickly as a knock came to the door

"Come in" She called.

Davis and Monroe walked into the room.

Davis promptly turned to face the wall "Uh Cruz, you want to get rid of that?"

Monroe rolled her eyes and Cruz laughed "No, He's eating"

She could see the pink on Davis's ears and grabbed a baby blanket to cover up "Alright it's gone, you can turn around."

Davis turned around and looked on in embarrassment.

Cruz laughed once again "Davis, do boobs scare you?" He turned an even brighter shade of red

"Uh no, just Bosco's right there and…ok I'm digging myself a hole here I'll stop. Congratulations!"

He tried to cover up his embarrassment.

Cruz grinned "Thanks"

She felt Jacob come loose and gently pulled him from under the blanket and pulled her top up.

"This is Jacob Michael Boscorelli" She said, pride rising once again in her voice.

Monroe came over to look closer "Oh Cruz, he's gorgeous. He's tiny!"

She nodded "He's smaller than most, only 4.9 pounds. He was in NICU all morning."

Monroe passed Bosco a bag full of gifts "Here, they're from the entire precinct. This little boy's pretty popular."

Bosco smiled "Thanks Sasha"

She nodded "No problem, anyways we should be going. We'll leave you guys with little Jake. See you later" Cruz smiled "See you"

1 week later

Cruz carried the baby seat out to the car and glanced in at Jacob. He was so cute, all dressed in his little frog suit. He was still pretty small but he had gained two pounds already. He was curled up tightly, his fist in his mouth as his mum rocked him in his seat. Cruz settled him into the back of the car and sat down next to the seat. Cruz watched him wriggle around and gently placed her hand beside him. He curled up to it instantly and fell back asleep, sighing contentedly.

Cruz sighed as well, it would be hard to have to look after such a little human being but she couldn't help but feel proud of what she and Bosco had done. She'd made plenty of mistakes in only the first week but she knew it would get better.

As Bosco climbed in the car he turned to make sure Maritza and Jacob were alright. Cruz smiled back at him and he pulled out of the parking lot smiling to himself. How he had ever gotten so lucky he would never know, for now he just had to enjoy it.

THE END

Complete! I hope you guys enjoyed it, I know it's been a long time but thanks for hangin in there!