A/N: ONLY TWO MORE CHAPTERS TO GO! REVIEWS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED & ARE LOVE!
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
(chapter title – Fortune Favors the Brave)
"Peter! It's time!" Sara told him, placing her hands on her belly. Peter sat up and looked at the clock – a couple minutes past eleven.
"Time for what, baby?" Peter asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"The baby to be born!" Sara exclaimed. That got Peter's attention – he got up, quickly put clothes on and grabbed Sara's hospital bag. Angel and Mark were staying with Peter's parents in Manhattan for the weekend.
Peter got Sara in the car and drove to the hospital, stopping by Jeffery and James' house on the way. Adam and Amber were with a friend of James' for the weekend.
"AAAAH!" Sara screamed from the backseat. Jeffery soothed Sara and helped her get comfortable.
"How's it going back there?" James asked, turning around in his seat.
"She's doing okay, sweetie." Jeffery answered, stroking Sara's hair and soothing her.
"We're here." Peter announced, getting out of the car and walking around to Sara's side of the car and helping her get out as James went to find a wheelchair. Jeffery helped Peter get Sara into the wheelchair and into the hospital.
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Fifteen minutes later, Sara was in the Operating Room with Peter at her side. Sara squeezed Peter's hand as hard as she could when she felt the doctor make an incision.
"This hurts so much!" Sara cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Peter leaned over and kissed her forehead, wiping the tears out of her eyes with his thumb.
"Congratulations you two – you have a girl." The doctor announced, holding up a screaming, pink baby. Sara smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. The doctor showed Peter where to cut the baby's umbilical chord and went to clean the baby.
"She's perfect." Peter told Sara, kissing her forehead.
"Do we have a name?" one of the nurses asked, a pen and paper in her hand.
"Maria Elizabeth Baxley." Peter told the nurse as she handed him his daughter. Peter bounced Maria in his arms, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Let me hold her now, sweetie." Sara told her husband. Peter let out a playful sigh and handed Maria to Sara while he went to get the others from the waiting room.
"You're so beautiful, Maria. Just like your grandmother, whom you're named after. I'm sure she would've loved to see you." Sara told her daughter, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Hey Sara." Jeffery whispered, walking into the room, holding James' hand. Sara looked up and smiled at him.
"Oh my God! Sara! She's beautiful!" Maureen whispered, coming into the room followed by Joanne.
"Thanks." Sara told her friends, handing Maria to Peter who handed her to James. James looked down at the baby and smiled, stroking her cheek with one of his fingers as Jeffery looked over his shoulder.
"May 19th, 2011 – one AM Eastern Standard Time – welcome Maria Elizabeth Baxley into our lives." Peter narrated into his camcorder that Sara had gotten him for an anniversary gift.
"Maria – I just met a girl named Maria…" Jeffery sang softly. The others heard him and laughed.
"God, Sara. She's so beautiful." Joanne told her, motioning that she wanted to hold Maria. Sara smiled and handed Maria to Joanne and watched her fuss over the baby.
"Joanne, could I talk to you for a second, alone?" Sara inquired.
"Sure, honey." Joanne answered, watching Peter usher everyone out of the room.
"I was wondering if you could be Maria's godmother." Sara said. Joanne looked up from fussing over Maria.
"Of course, sweetheart – I'll be Maria's godmother. This is such an honor. Thank you!" Joanne walked over to Sara and carefully hugged her. Sara reached up and hugged Joanne, catching a glimpse of her baby – she was fast asleep in Joanne's arms.
"Can we come back in now?" Maureen asked from the other side of the door. That made Maria cry. Joanne put Maria in Sara's arms and went to open the door while Sara soothed her baby.
"I think we should leave the parents alone so that they can get to know their baby." James suggested, putting an arm around Jeffery's shoulders. The others nodded in agreement and quietly waved goodbye to Peter, Sara and Maria.
"It's okay, sweetie. Shh. It's okay – mommy and daddy are here. Please don't cry." Sara soothed her baby as Peter sat down next to her.
"Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure – measure a year?" Peter sang softly, gently taking Maria from Sara and walking around the room with her. Sara yawned and fell back on the pillows – she was exhausted from all that had happened that day.
Fortune favors the free
Fortune favors the young
Fortune favors the brave!
A/N 2: don't own the lyrics to Seasons of Love. belongs to respected owner. 'nuff said.
