Dave tried to keep calm. He had been in street fights, lasted almost an hour in the Royal Rumble Match, been in the Elimination Chamber match with 300 pound WWE superstars who wanted to take his head off, but he was not scared. He faced those situations head on. The thought that he would have to deliver Annalise's baby in the middle of a tropical storm scared him to death.
"Dave, I'm scared," Anna said as she reached for his hand.
"Everything is going to be ok, kid," Dave reassured her as pulled in close to him. The sound of his heartbeat and the rise and fall of Dave's chest gave her the sense of security that she needed.
"Are you saying that just to make me feel better?" Anna asked as she changed into dry clothes.
"You and I both, kid. Let's get you settled downstairs. I can light lots of candles so we can have some light, and the couch might be a little more comfortable, oh and it's close to the kitchen so in case you get hungry or thirsty, the kitchen is right there," Dave rambled on as he almost rubbed his head bald.
"That's a good idea, but Dave you need to calm down. Women have been having children since the beginning of time; besides, I might need some support here," Anna said as she felt another contraction course through her body. Dave quickly ran to her side, coaching her through the pain.
The pair slowly made their way into the living room, where Dave made Annalise comfortable on the couch. He lit as many candles as he could to provide light while trying not to burn the house down in the process. The rain was still coming down hard, with no signs of stopping in the near future. As Dave returned with blankets and bottles of water, he noticed Anna staring at the window.
"Kid, what are you looking at?"
"I'm waiting for Noah and his ark to float down the driveway," she said letting out a small laugh.
"I'm glad that you still have your sense of humor."
"Yeah, I need something to get me through this," Anna said. "I think there's someone outside."
"Probably the police; I'll go check," Dave said as he made his way to the door, only to be surprised at who he saw.
"Randy, what the hell are you doing here," Dave said as he let the soaking wet superstar into the house.
"I was on my way over here anyway, when I got caught in the rain. It was better to keep on going instead of trying to turn around. You better get comfortable," he said as he wrung the water out of his basketball shorts, trying not to create a small lake in his friend's living room, "all of the roads into the city are flooded out. We're stuck here," Randy explained.
"Dave," Annalise screamed. Instantly Dave was at her side trying to take her mind off of the pain.
"Anna, are you ok?" Randy asked, not sure what to make of the scene in front of him.
"Well, if you consider being in labor in the middle of a storm ok, then I'm just ducky," she said after the contraction subsided. Randy's jaw hit the floor.
"What are we going to do?" Randy asked, panic starting to fill his face almost immediately.
"We are not going to panic, that's for sure. I'm going to call you doctor and see what she says," Dave said as he reached for his cell phone. Nervous fingers quickly dialed the number.
"Is there anything I can do?" Randy asked as he fluffed the pillow behind Anna's back.
"You can talk to me," Anna replied with a smile on her face.
"I can't believe how brave you are."
"I guess I should win an Oscar, because I'm petrified. I don't think I can do this," Annalise said as tears fell from her eyes.
"Yes you can. Everything is going to be ok. This will all be over before you know and you'll have a beautiful baby in your arms," Randy said as he kissed her forehead.
"Thanks Rands, you're the best."
"I've got good news and bad news," Dave said as he hung up the phone. "There is no way the paramedics can get here, but Dr. Thompson doesn't see why we can't deliver the baby ourselves, and that I should give her a call when you are ready to push," Dave said.
"Then that's what we'll do," Anna said preparing herself for what the three of them were about to go through.
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As the hours came and went, Annalise's pain intensified. Dave knew this was a part of childbirth, but he couldn't stand the fact that there was nothing he could do to take the pain away. As Anna breathed and panted her way through every contraction, Dave was amazed at her strength and a vast vocabulary which would make a Navy Seal stand at attention.
"Kid, you're doing great," Dave said as he wiped the sweat from Anna's forehead. "Do you need anything?"
"I need for you to shoot me," she said. Annalise didn't know how women did it. How they had two, three, even five children. "I guess the epidural is a Godsend," she thought to herself.
"Sweetheart, I can't do that," Dave replied.
"I thought you loved me," she screamed.
"I do love you, but I can't kill you. Soon this will be all over," Dave said, trying to calm Anna down.
"You said that three hours ago," Anna screamed and suddenly she felt the urge to push. "Dave, call Dr. Thompson. The baby's coming now. I have to push." Dave and Randy just looked at each other.
"What do you need for me to do, Dave?" Randy asked, not sure of what to do.
"Stay above her waist." Dave replied as he got Dr. Thompson on the phone. Soon, Annalise began pushing, Dave tried to keep conscious, and Randy hoped that his hand was not broken.
Anna felt as if she was being ripped in two. "Dave, I can't do this anymore. I can't." She panted.
"Yes, you can," Dave reassured her. "I know you can do this. I can see the head. Come on, you can do it."
"Anna, you almost there," Randy said, trying to offer some amount of support. Anna couldn't hold back any longer. Every fiber in her body was telling her to push, and she did just that. As she felt as if she was going to die of exhaustion, she gave one final push and collapsed on Randy's lap. Time stopped. Dave looked down at the tiny life in his hands. A life that he had helped bring into the world. Tears began to fall from his eyes, but he didn't care. This was the happiest day of his life. He was brought back to reality by the sound of the baby's lusty wail.
"Hey little one, welcome to the world," he said. Dave noticed baby was shivering so he took off his shirt and used it as a blanket. "Someone wants to meet you," Dave said as he handed the baby to Annalise. As soon as she looked into her child's eyes, she felt complete. Even with all the pain and agony of childbirth, she would go through it all again for this one moment. "Kid, meet your daughter." Annalise really didn't care what sex the baby was as long as it was healthy and safe, even though she secretly wished for a girl. As they admired the small girl before them, Randy looked up and noticed that the sun was shining.
"Hey, it stopped raining."
"So it has. I guess Dr. Thompson called the paramedics as well," Dave said as he saw an ambulance pull into the driveway. The EMTs made sure that both Anna and the baby were ok as they loaded the pair into the ambulance. Dave rode with them as Randy followed in his car, calling Triple H and Ric to tell them of the good news.
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Word spread of the arrival of Annalise's baby like wild fire. Dave's phone would ring every five seconds with well wishes and support. Flowers and balloons filled the hospital room. Triple H and Ric had joined Anna, Dave, and Randy as the cooed and smiled at the precious newborn.
"Dude, I can't believe you delivered a baby," Triple H said to Dave.
"Well it was either me or Randy."
"I see your point," Triple H said with a small chuckle. Dr. Thompson and nurse came into the room to check on Anna and the baby.
"Anna, everything looks good. I don't see why you and the baby can't go back home later on tonight. I'll be back with the discharge papers," Dr. Thompson said as she left the room. The nurse pulled out a packet of forms, brochures and instructions.
"Ms. Howard I just have to ask you a few questions before we can finish your discharge papers. This information is for the birth certificate; child's name."
"Sydney Grace Bautisa," Annalise said. Dave didn't know where Anna was going with this, but he didn't ask questions.
"Mother's name?"
"Annalise Marie Bautista."
"Father's name?"
"David Michael Bautista." Dave looked at Anna.
"Are you sure?" He asked, wondering if he had heard Anna correctly.
"Dave, you've been with me since the beginning. I don't care what genetics or anyone says. You are her father." Anna said with tears in her eyes. Dave leaned down and kissed Annalise on the cheek and Sydney on the forehead. Time flew by and Dave and Anna were getting Sydney ready to leave the hospital. Anna tried not to laugh as Dave's big fingers fumbled to snap Sydney into her car seat.
As she looked at the scene in front of her, she couldn't believe how much her life had changed for the better. She was married to a wonderful man who loved her for who she was, even though she was pregnant with another man's child. A child that he loved as if she was his own, and in Anna's eyes Dave was Sydney's father and she didn't want it any other way.
"Are you ready to go kid," Dave asked as he picked up the last of her bags.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said as the new family walked out of the hospital, ready for the journey life had in store for them.
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Well, there you have it; the end for now. There will be a sequel; I just have to figure out what it's going to be about. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you're input has meant the world to me. Now it is off to dreamland for me, counting the days until August 13th, because I have ringside seats to the Smack Down house show in Delaware. Hopefully I don't pass out when I see Batista. I'm not making any promises. Well, here's where you come in. Hit the little button one last time. Toodles, Bianca.
