Disclaimer: I don't own ER, or any of the characters. They're purely for my own amusement. ( I do own Regan and the baby. ( The song, "Having My Baby" is by Paul Anka and that I do not own either. Enjoy the story! (

Long Lost, Chapter Six

Susan Lewis-Martin sat on the patio one summer night, watching the fireflies. She glanced down at her very pregnant stomach.

"Just a few more days," she said out loud, as a wide grin formed on her face. Her husband, Chuck, exited the house and sat next to her on the bench. He handed her a glass of lemonade. "Thanks."

"Is she moving a lot?" he asked, and put his hand on his wife's stomach.

"She hasn't stopped kicking," Susan laughed. "I think we have a soccer player in here!" Susan sipped her lemonade while Chuck leaned in and kissed her stomach. She stroked his hair and smiled. She felt so incredibly lucky to not only have Chuck, but her daughter Regan in her life as well. And soon, baby would make four.

Chuck rose from the bench and extended his hand to Susan. "Would you like to dance?"

"There's no music," Susan responded. Chuck gently helped her to get up and wrapped his arms around her.

"Having my baby," he began to sing gently, and continued, "what a lovely way of saying how much you love me." Chuck continued to sing, and he and Susan held each other and danced under the moonlight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The following afternoon, Susan was resting on her bed. She became increasingly uncomfortable due to the lateness of her pregnancy and her ever-growing stomach. Frustrated, she slid another pillow under her legs and leaned back against the headboard.

"I don't remember being this uncomfortable the first time," she muttered to herself. Susan felt a contraction and grimaced in pain. "Oh boy...I do remember this though." She began to breathe and tried to ignore the pain. The contraction slowly passed and she exhaled and looked at the clock. "2:45. First contraction. Okay, I have plenty of time. The next one might not be for a while."

Ten minutes passed and Susan began to relax. As she was about to doze off, a second contraction hit. She sat up, and winced, as the contraction became stronger. "Regan!" she called out.

Susan's twenty-year-old daughter, Regan, ran into the room. "Are you okay? Is it time?" she asked, worry in her voice.

"I think so, sweetie," Susan said. "The contractions are ten minutes apart. Is Chuck home yet?" At that moment, the front door opened and Chuck called out.

"Girls, I'm home!" he said. Regan ran downstairs to meet him.

"Susan's in labor!" she exclaimed. "The contractions are ten minutes apart! Come on, we have to get to the hospital!" Chuck raced up the stairs to his wife, and found her holding her overnight bag.

"It's time?" he asked.

Susan nodded and smiled. "It's time, honey. She's ready to come."

Chuck leaned in and kissed Susan, then gently helped her down the stairs.

"Regan, let's go. Your little sister's about to arrive!" he said. The family of three exited the house, on their way to County General.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Four hours later, Susan, Chuck and Regan were situated in a room at County. Susan's contractions were now just eight minutes apart and she was in pain. Another strong contraction hit and Susan grabbed Chuck's hand for support.

"Breathe, baby, breathe," Chuck said, his voice soothing. He was an excellent coach, and continued to support Susan and wiped her sweaty forehead after each contraction.

"Susan, it's looking really good," the OB nurse, Annie, said. "You're about seven centimeters dilated."

"Did you hear that, sweetie?" Chuck replied. "She's almost here!"

Susan glanced at Regan, and noticed she was near tears. "Hey, I'm all right," she said, and took her daughter's hand.

"I know," Regan said, her eyes watery. "I have a hard time seeing people in pain. Are you getting an Epidural?"

"The anesthesiologist should be here in just a moment," Annie responded. "I'll call and see if he's on his way." Annie exited the room, and Susan turned to Regan.

"Can you do me a huge favor?" she asked.

"Anything," Regan answered, desperately trying to hide her tears.

"Go down to the ER and give everyone an update," Susan said. "I'll give you my beeper, and Chuck can page you if anything happens. Okay?"

Regan nodded, and took the beeper that Chuck handed her. "I won't be long," she said. "I love you." Regan embraced Susan and exited the room.

"Poor kid," Susan said. "She was on the verge of tears."

"Regan's very sensitive to how others feel," Chuck said, and pushed Susan's hair away from her face. "It hurts her to see you in pain."

"I just hope she'll be okay," Susan replied. Chuck leaned in and kissed her forehead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Regan entered the ER lobby and looked around for Susan's friends. She saw Samantha Taggart, an ER nurse, at the admit desk and walked over.

"Hi, Sam," Regan began.

"Hey, Regan," Sam replied. "Did your mom have the baby yet?"

"Not yet, but she's seven centimeters dilated. We're just waiting for the anesthesiologist to arrive."

"Ahh, the Epidural Man," Elizabeth Corday-Romano said, as she walked up to the group. "A woman in labor's new best friend."

"Susan's still in labor?" Luka Kovac asked as he approached the admit desk. "How long has it been since she arrived?"

"About four hours," Regan replied. She spied Nick Cooper and excused herself to go talk to him. Coop saw her approach and grinned.

"Hey there," he said. "I heard your mom's having her baby. Any word yet?"

"Not yet," Regan replied. "Seven centimeters dilated, and waiting for an Epidural."

"That's rough," Coop sympathized. "But she'll be okay," he quickly added. Tears spilled out of Regan's eyes and Coop immediately felt guilty. "Oh, man, Regan, I'm sorry. Your mom's gonna be okay, you know that, right?"

"I can't stand seeing anyone in pain, especially someone I'm close to," Regan sobbed. "And I'm not even the one having a baby!" Coop wrapped his arms around Regan and stroked her hair. "I'm sorry to be such a big baby."

"You're not," Coop replied. "Listen, I'm off now. How about if I go and wait with you?"

"I don't know if Susan would want you in the delivery room," Regan joked. Coop grinned. "But you can stay in the waiting room, I guess."

"Sounds like a plan," Coop said. He and Regan said a quick good-bye and promised to update everyone in the ER, and then left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A little while later, Susan was fully dilated and the anesthesiologist had arrived and given her the Epidural. Regan and Chuck were in the room with OR nurse Annie and Dr. Coburn.

"You're almost done, Susan, I can see the head!" Dr. Coburn said. "Just bear down and push...10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...good girl!"

"You're doing great, babe!" Chuck said, and kissed Susan. She grabbed his hand and prepared to push again.

"Susan, just another push or two and this baby's here!" Dr. Coburn announced. Regan was at Susan's side, and held her other hand. "Okay, push! Good girl!"

Susan pushed again and fell back against the pillows. "Is she here yet?" she asked, feeling groggy.

"Almost," Dr. Coburn replied. "The head's out. I just need you to push very gently and your baby's going to be in your arms." With that, Susan sat up, grabbed Chuck's and Regan's hands again, and pushed. "Great! Keep going, Susan!" Dr. Coburn suctioned the baby's mouth and nostrils, and with one more push, the baby was out. "It's a girl!"

Susan, Chuck and Regan all had tears of happiness in their eyes. Chuck leaned in and kissed Susan, and Regan hugged her mother. Dr. Coburn laid the baby on Susan's chest. "Oh my goodness," Susan said. "She's perfect."

"Would you like to cut the cord, Dad?" Dr. Coburn asked Chuck. He wiped his eyes and nodded.

"I'd love to," he said. "Just make sure I don't hurt her, okay?"

"Already an overprotective dad," Dr. Coburn replied, and instructed Chuck on where to cut. After the umbilical cord was cut, and the baby was cleaned off and weighed, she was back in Susan's arms.

"Seven pounds, four ounces," Annie announced. "And twenty inches long."

"And she's beautiful," Susan cooed. "My little angel." She leaned in and kissed her newborn daughter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Regan dashed to the waiting room and found Coop pacing. He turned to her as she entered.

"You're smiling," he said. "That's a good sign."

"I have a baby sister!" Regan exclaimed. Coop wrapped his arms around Regan, lifted her off the ground, and spun her around.

"Congratulations!" he replied.

"Come and meet her," Regan said, and left the waiting room holding Coop's hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A small group was gathered in Susan's room. Along with her and Chuck, there was Regan, Coop, Abby, Robert Romano, and the baby.

"What's her name?" Abby asked. Susan and Chuck smiled proudly.

"We'd like you to meet Katherine Abigail Martin," Susan answered. "And yes, the Abigail is after you, Abby. I hope you'll agree to be her godmother too."

Abby was touched and hugged Susan. "I love you," she replied. "And yes, I'd be honored to be Katherine's godmother." Abby embraced Chuck. "Congratulations, Dad."

"Thank you," Chuck said. "Now Katie needs a godfather, and I know the best man for the job." Chuck turned to Romano. "You've been a wonderful friend to us, and I'd be honored if you'd agree to be my daughter's godfather."

"Oh, man, it's gonna get mushy, huh?" Romano joked. He shook Chuck's hand. "Yeah, I'd love to." He leaned in and hugged Susan. "Thank you."

Susan turned to Regan. "Do you want to hold her?" she asked.

"Of course," Regan answered. She sat in a nearby chair and held Katie in her arms. "Hi, Katie. I'm your big sister. I'm always going to be here for you." Regan kissed Katie on her head. "I love you." Regan looked up at Coop and saw that he was smiling. "She's perfect."

"You look really good with her. You'll be a great mom someday," Coop said. He noticed that Susan and Chuck were watching him and added, "After she's done with college and all...you know, like ten years from now."

"Good save," Chuck replied.

Susan glanced around the room. She looked at Chuck, at Regan holding Katie, and at their friends gathered around. She truly had not felt happier at any other moment in her life. Chuck sat next to her on the bed and they hugged and kissed. Regan handed Katie back to Susan and the small family gathered together, and all felt lucky and blessed.

The next chapter: Regan has a new man in her life, and Susan and Chuck bring Katie home.