W00t, you guys! This is the last chapter! Can you BELIEVE it? I can't! How can this be over? I don't know whether to laugh or cry… this story's been my baby… my demented, ugly little demonic baby that I never particularly liked who yelled at me all the time and whom I hit a lot…. Err… what was I saying? Well anyway, it's currently 10/22/2005… OK… where shall I start? OK… umm…

"Oh my god, it's another contraction! I was just kidding, guys, I never really wanted a baby! Make it stop!"

"Alright!" announced the nurse. "Out you go, girls!" She was referring to Gina and Claire, who'd been in the delivery room with me. They were the only ones in there… that the nurse could see, anyway… Tim went out with Claire, and Jesse stayed with me. I'd been squeezing his hand… apparently he'd forgotten for a moment that I… well, I wasn't exactly a frail little lady… at least, that might be why he was massaging his hand between my contractions.

"Sorry…" I said to him.

"That's quite alright," the nurse assured me, not realizing I meant my husband and not her. "We get that all the time, but we haven't 'made it stop' once yet."

I forced a laugh that changed into a groan as I had another contraction. They were getting closer, which was probably good. I had dilated so much I could've given birth to a kindergartener. Or that was what it felt like, anyway. I hoped this was a really little baby… wait, no. I hoped it was a really big baby, to account for all the weight I'd gained. No one had ever told me having a baby would hurt so much! And I was used to pain! Wait, actually, everyone had told me having a baby would hurt a lot… I'd known that much since I knew babies were born… I'd just never understood what pain was until OWW! Well, it went on like that for a few more contractions, and then the baby was actually born.

It was a girl. She was beautiful. Her eyes were blue, but not ice blue. They might even change to green someday, the way they looked. One could only hope. She was so adorable… wait, she shouldn't be this adorable… Oh. She wasn't crying. That was bad. It meant she wasn't breathing. But wait! She was breathing! The nurse said that rarely happened, but it wasn't unheard of. "May I be alone with my baby?"

"Of course." She left, once satisfied I wasn't going to smother it or something. But that wasn't the plan. It was the moment of truth. Of course, we'd already decided we wouldn't be disappointed, but it'd be nice… I couldn't help but get my hopes up a little…

Jesse put his hand toward the baby. It stopped. "I don't know if I'm actually touching her or if I just don't want my hand to go any further." The baby wasn't looking at him or anything, but then she wasn't looking at me either. In fact, she wasn't focusing on any point in particular. She was looking around, soaking everything in. I guess this was pretty different from the inside of a uterus. Still supporting the baby completely, I started trying to pass her off to Jesse… I slowly moved my hands away… She was still up. He was holding her. HE WAS HOLDING HER!

"It's like destiny!" I exclaimed, near tears. Sue me, I just burst a kid. He was smiling down at the little baby, who looked totally serene. What if she was retarded? The baby looked straight at me, curious. No, this baby was clearly a genius. She was going to be president one day. Or a scientist. Or a doctor. This baby was clearly destined for great things. "We should name her Destiny!"

"Name a baby Destiny?"

"Sure! I've been looking at baby names, it's actually not uncommon. And clearly this is Destiny." The baby looked at Jesse for confirmation. Yes, I am assuming that the baby spoke English. It was a very clever baby.

"She does look like a Destiny, I suppose… And I like it better than your other ideas…"

"Parents are becoming more original in their baby naming, I will have you know."

"Where did you even find some of those?"

"Baby-naming websites… under 'uncommon names'."

"Is that where you found Destiny?"

"No, I just thought of it looking at her."

He considered the baby, handing her back to me as I held my arms out. "I can see why."

I looked at Destiny. She did not look one iota like Paul. She was beautiful, definitely, and some of her features may have come from his side, but she lacked his essential evil. She radiated innocent baby-ness.

Nestling closer to me, she let her little eyes close.

"Oh my god, it's like death by cuteness."

"She looks like you."

"Thank god. Maybe if we raise her right, she'll act like you." He laughed. "Do you love her?" I asked suddenly.

He looked at her, and then at me. "Yes."

I nodded, careful not to jostle her. "Me too."

Anti-climactic, a bit, but I'm considering a sequel, if I should become inspired. I would call it "Fate and Destiny" if I decide to. Anyone like the idea? Meanwhile, of course, I have to work on my book. I know, I know, I'm not quite talented enough to be writing my own book, but at least my people can't be out of character, right? Because, I mean, I know these people better than I know myself. Which is weird, but true. I plan to follow my people and their kids and maybe their grandkids. I could go about as many generations as I want with my omnipotent narrator, Tina. I've already started it, if anyone is interested in reading it. I can't believe I'm done with my ficlet! It's over:sob: Can you all believe it? You probably can, since I started even this chapter almost a year ago… I'm a horrible person, I know. I love all my readers! I'll miss you all! Private message me! If you like Meg Cabot, we'll be fast friends! If you don't, you need to be locked up! Viva Meg Cabot! D2FP! I love everyone! You people, guys… One of you might even be a guy! Paul Flowers, if you are reading this, we lost your e-mail. We miss you!

Finished, April 15, 2006.

Later: Maybe that "can you all believe it" should change to "can you BOTH believe it". if i'm optimistic. gosh, that was a cute chapter, though. i love babies.