A/N: hey everyone! it's me updating yet again just to remind you that there are only 5 chapts. left in this story before it's complete!
A/N 2: tomorrow's my bday, so i won't be online at all - my dad's taking me out to lunch and then i'll be going out to dinner & a movie w/ my boyfriend, so yeah.
A/N 3: reviews are love & greatly appreciated.
CHAPTER THIRTY
(chapter title – Halloween 2010)
"AAAAH!" Sara screamed, sweat pouring down her forehead. She had been in surgery for six hours. Peter stood next to Sara's side, squeezing her hand tightly as the doctor performed a C-section. Sara had wanted to remain awake so that she could see her baby when it was born.
"You're doing great, baby." Peter whispered in Sara's ear. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she felt the doctor make an incision. Peter squeezed her shoulder and sang softly to her, trying to take her mind off of the C-section.
Meanwhile, out in the waiting area, Jeffery, Joanne and Maureen were trying to wrangle up Roger, Thomas, Adam and Angel – who were dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants, a Pharaoh, a Cowboy and an angel.
"Remind me never to give Roger, Thomas and Adam sugar ever again." Maureen told the other adults. They laughed as she ran for Roger, but missed.
"Ha ha Aunt Maureen!" the seven-year-old gloated.
"You'll never catch me!" Thomas told the others, running around the waiting area. Luckily, there was no one else in the area.
"Or me!" Adam called from the far side of the room. Joanne made a dash for him, but ended up tripping over Angel.
"Waaaaaah!" Angel cried as she fell down on her butt.
"Oh, Angel. I'm sorry sweetheart." Joanne apologized as she picked Angel up and examined her. The one-year-old girl had a scrape on her ankle from where Joanne's heel had caught. Digging out a band-aid from her purse, she put it on Angel's ankle just as Peter came walking towards them, smiling.
"Here comes Uncle Peter!" Adam spoke up, pointing to where Peter was.
"Hey everyone." Peter greeted them.
"How's Sara doing?" Jeffery asked.
"She's fine – she's resting in her room – room 123 A." Peter answered.
"What about the baby?" Maureen inquired.
"We have a boy – Marcus Joshua Baxley – Mark for short." Peter told her.
"Mark would've liked that." Joanne said, tears running down her cheeks. The room became quiet – Mark had passed away two weeks before of a combination of HIV and a massive blood loss due to a mugging/knifing.
"No – he would've loved it." Jeffery spoke up, tears coming to his eyes. The others nodded sadly and comforted Jeffery.
"Is she up for visitors?" Maureen wanted to know.
"Yeah, she is, but only three people at a time." Peter told her.
"I'll go with you." Jeffery spoke up as he scooped Angel into his arms. Peter nodded and led the way to Sara's room.
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As they reached Sara's room, Peter slowly opened the door of 123 A and walked inside, Angel looking around excitedly. Sara was hooked up to a bunch of beeping, whirring and buzzing monitors – a bundle resting on the pillow beside her.
"Baby." Angel whispered. Peter and Jeffery smiled.
"That's your little brother, Mark." Peter whispered, taking Angel from Jeffery. Peter carried Angel over to meet her brother.
"He so little!" Angel commented quietly.
"He is, but someday, he'll grow up to be big and strong." Peter told her, kissing her cheek and setting her down.
"Angel, don't touch him, okay." Jeffery spoke up, picking up the sleeping baby before Angel could reach where Mark had been.
"Why?" Angel asked.
"Because he's a newborn and he's very fragile." Peter told her, ruffling Angel's hair.
"Why isn't mommy moving?" Angel inquired, looking over at Sara.
"She's just sleeping from her surgery – the doctors cut her open and took Mark out that way." Peter whispered.
"Oh. Okay." Angel was starting to understand now.
Jeffery had left the room and sent in Joanne and Maureen. When the girls entered, they let out tiny squeals as Peter held Mark in his arms. Angel had gone out with Jeffery.
"Oh my God! He's adorable!" Joanne whispered, looking over Peter's shoulder at the baby – he had a few strands of blonde hair sprouting on his head.
"Thanks. He's just the cutest little thing I've ever seen." Peter whispered, kissing Mark's forehead as he handed the baby to Maureen. Both she and Joanne fussed over Mark as Peter went to sit with Sara.
"Hey there beautiful." Peter whispered, taking one of Sara's hands in his and rubbed his thumb over her knuckle. Her skin was a little clammy, but not too bad.
"I just want to say how proud of you I am – you stayed awake for your entire C-section and now sleep is probably the best thing for you.
Mark is the most beautiful little boy I've ever seen, nice work, Mama. He's going to be loved by not only you and me, but by Adam, Angel, Jeffery, Joanne, Maureen, Nadia, Roger, Scott and Thomas.
I love you so much, sweetheart. I want you to know that." Peter leaned over and kissed Sara's forehead.
"Okay, everyone, why don't we let Peter and Angel have some time with Mark." Joanne suggested, putting an arm around Maureen's waist and leading her out of the room. Maureen quietly protested, but stopped when Joanne shot her a threatening glare.
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Two hours later, Peter was holding baby Mark when Sara stirred in her sleep and sat up. Her hair was in a tangled mess around her head and she had a sleepy expression on her face. Peter smiled at his wife and walked over, holding Mark in his arms.
"How's my boy?" Sara asked hoarsely.
"He's doing great. He's sleeping right now." Peter answered, carefully handing Mark to her. She took the baby in her arms and looked down at him, tears in her eyes.
"He's so beautiful." Sara whispered as Peter handed her a bottle that had Mark's formula in it. Sara smiled and gently put the nipple in Mark's mouth. He latched on and instantly began drinking. Both parents watched their baby suckle, smiling and taking turns holding him.
"He's gonna look like his daddy when he gets older." Sara whispered. She was still a little tired from her C-section.
"I think he's gonna look like his mom." Peter kissed the top of Sara's head and stroked Mark's cheek. Sara closed her eyes and fell back against the pillows. A moment later, she was fast asleep.
"I love you, sweetie, and I always will." Peter whispered, picking Mark up and walking around the room with him.
Around nine o'clock that night, the nurse came to take Mark back to the observatory where he could be picked up the next day and maybe even go home. Peter thanked her and carefully climbed in next to Sara, taking her in his strong arms. He knew that everything would turn out all right in the end.
