March 2009

Olivia felt foolish sitting there as the doctor explained she was, in fact, not in labor.

It was a quarter till midnight, and she was coming out of the bathroom when she felt harsh tension in her lower belly. Olivia immediately panicked. All the practical information she learned in birthing class flew out of the window. She called her parents because she knew they'd be devastated if they'd missed this moment. Then called the ambulance, the paramedics determined right away that she wasn't in labor, but Olivia refused to adhere and demanded to be taken to the hospital.

Looking back now, she was a bit hysterical. However, that is to be expected, especially with first-time mothers. Olivia had a myriad of reasons to be apprehensive. No matter how many First-time mommy books she reads, she'll never truly be prepared for this baby, and that scares her. The next 18 years will be quite a ride. Olivia was on edge; her initial due date was approaching in four days but the doctor was sure to let her know that her fears and anxiety weren't misunderstood. Still, the doctor sent Olivia home with a sonogram and told her to get lots of rest because it could be any day now.

At 6 am the following morning, Olivia was woken by a string of calls and messages from parents. The first couple was informing her of their trip. The rest were trying to figure out why she hadn't messaged them back. Upon reading that her parents were flying in, Olivia felt guilty because it was just false labor.

She made quick work of getting dressed so she could at least welcome them at the airport. Before she went to the airport, there were just a couple more items she knew she would need before the baby arrived. And that included meals for herself. Although Olivia didn't worry too much about cooking, Maya would be doing the cooking for the entirety of the visit. It was just after 10 am when their plane landed.

"Olivia Carolyn Pope...what are you doing here?" Maya said, rushing towards her heavily pregnant daughter, standing in a crowded airport.

"I promised I'd pick yall up. I texted you both… just Braxton hicks contractions," Giving them the abridged version of the text she'd sent earlier.

"Your message said you were in labor." Her father says

"My doctor says it was just my mucus plug. The baby is still up there," she chuckles.

Her parents nod almost simultaneously.

"Well, let's get you home and off your feet. It will be any day now." They leave Eli to handle the bags. Maya wraps a loving arm around Liv.

It felt all too safe. The familiar and homely scent of blue magic grease in the air. Sitting between her mother's legs. Just as she did when she was little. Maya braided patterns in her scalp, gossiping like it was her job. Olivia enjoyed the little things like tonight. She's unsure, but there were about 5 more braids to go if she had to guess. Seated on a cream cushion, Olivia shifted a bit, taking some pressure off her bottom. Maya twisted her head once more so she could see the part she was trying to create. But Olivia is just as fidgety as a 25-year-old as she was as a nine-year-old. Merely days away from giving birth, she started getting wary if this baby would come on her due date or before. With her parents here to guide and assist on her unfamiliar journey into motherhood. Olivia feels much more confident in her abilities.

"Baby, I need you to stay still," Maya mutters, returning the comb back to her daughter's scalp. After a minute, Maya struck up a conversation to fill in the silence.

"Have you written down any baby names?"

"Yes, but it's too many to name off. I want something unique for a boy but something beautiful in the same sense." She replied. "I have to see him first to know which one will fit him."

"And what about the last name?" Maya pried

"I'm not giving my son William's last name if that's what you're asking. He'll be a Pope." Olivia said simply, and although she couldn't see her mother's face, she knew she was smiling and looking pleased.

"Your father will be honored."

Olivia wanted to tell her she wasn't doing it for him, but she couldn't bring herself to utter the words. Instead, she nodded softly.

The rest of the evening was spent braiding Olivia's hair and meaningless conversation to pass the time. Around midnight, Olivia's hair was dipped and wrapped. She was ready for bed. Maya spent the night because of the time but would be returning to the hotel in the morning.


Two heads bob up, eyes searching for the source of the rough sound. Fitz and his father continue talking after they realize it's just Andrew in his old pick-up. Fitz had decided to spend the day away from the city and drive up to the ranch. His father was very pleased. All afternoon the sun has been out, so they've been chatting and drinking beers, and since Fitz's arrival, Buck has been at his side.

Big Jerry laughed at the over-enthusiastic companion. "I would let you take him for a weekend, But Buck doesn't do city life."

"Milo's scent is all around the house. Buck would lose his mind."

His father lifted one thick brow. "Livvie's cat, his name is Milo."

"I thought Olivia moved out a while back."

"She did," Fitz confirmed, looking away for a second. "You know animals and furniture- you never really get rid of their scents."

"Or hers, huh?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" It was Fitz's turn to lift a skeptical brow.

"It means you two are crazy about each other. That's something special...don't mess it up, Fitzgerald."

His shoulders fell in relief, a smile illuminated his face. "I'll try because I really care about her…." They end the conversation just as Andrew walks up

"Well, what do you know Fitz isn't embarrassed by us country folk," Andy says in an exaggerated southern accent. "Just kidding, but it's good to see you, brother."

Big Jerry reaches down into the cooler and hands his eldest a canned beer. "Dad says you had something important to tell me," Fitz prompts before Andy even has a chance to sit down.

"Right... would you do yourself the honor and be my best man?"

"For that… no," and the three men laugh.

After a joyous minute of laughter, Fitz clapped his brother on the back and accepted his offer. Predicting it could be the start of building a better bond than the one they had growing up. The three stayed on the porch awhile before going into the garage. It wouldn't be a day with their father if he didn't have them working on something. Since the boys were children, Jerry has always instilled in them that "as men, you should always know how to use your hands." Even if that meant just wanting to share his hobby with them.

Seemingly out of the blue, Andrew asked, "How's Olivia doing? Dad told me she moved out."

Big Jerry ignored the look Fitz was giving him. "She's good, and moving out was the best thing for herself and the baby. Any more questions?" he said, full of sarcasm.

Before Andrew could ask some asinine question or make a snide remark, Fitz's ringtone beat him to the punch.

"Hello…"

An hour earlier...

Meanwhile...at Kaiser Permanente, horrifying screams sounded throughout the labor and delivery ward. Two nurses came running down the hall towards the shrieking as they entered the dimly lit room. Mr. and Mrs. Pope were standing beside her bed, looking frightened but worried, and Olivia was writhing on the bed.

What started as an easygoing afternoon quickly turned into an uncomfortable, painful day in the hospital.

Maya and Olivia were strolling around the downtown area, fairly close to Olivia's quarters. The sun outside was shining bright, so they took a walk. As they walked back to the apartment to get lunch started, a sharp pain shot through Olivia's lower abdomen, sending her to her knees. A stranger passing by helped Olivia to a nearby bench and called an ambulance. She knew right away that she was in labor because the discomfort from yesterday didn't even come close to the pain today.

After Olivia was loaded into the ambulance, everything that came later was a blur. Olivia couldn't get her thoughts straight. All she could concentrate on was the hurt. Everything hurt. This was the worst she's ever felt-and it wasn't getting better. When they arrived at the hospital, she passed out a few times from the intensity of the contractions. When she came to, her father was frantically praying over her.

The doctor assured them it was perfectly normal and explained that women's bodies react differently to labor. The nurses monitor Olivia's and the baby's heart rates just to be on the safe side. The contractions were back to back, but the nurses were still saying she's only dilated four centimeters. Which was bizarre because Olivia could've sworn the baby was pushing his way out. After an hour of no baby, the pain was still very much intolerable.

Olivia's voice strained from screaming and crying. She turned her head, whispering, "Mama call Fitz. His number is in my phone." Up until now, she'd forgotten about him.

Her father was the first to object, arguing, "Fitzgerald has no business here."

"I want him here. Mama call him please" It was the only sentence she uttered since being brought in. Everything else came out in a holler or groan.

Maya ignored the sour face her husband wore and picked up Olivia's phone.

"Fitzgerald, this is Livia's mother. I'm calling because she's in labor." He'd heard everything she was saying, but he also heard Olivia shrieking in the background.

"I'm on my way." he declared

From the hall, it sounds like demons are being exorcised in that delivery room. A "YOWL! get away from me!" Stopped him in his tracks, the realization hit, and he had no idea what he was walking into. A frustrated nurse stomped through him and onto the nurse's station just as he was going in.

"Hi." Olivia looked up to see Fitz approaching her bed. Drenched in sweat and tears, she smiled softly. That was the most relieved she appeared all day.

"Hi, Livvie." he took her hand, and out of the corner of her eye, Olivia caught Eli rolling his eyes. Maya collected her husband and announced they'd be right outside.

"That was rude of me. I should have introduced myself."

"I doubt my father will care who you are. He's-" Olivia curled her toes and held her breath as the next contraction gripped her uterus. Squeezing Fitz's hand, hard.

"Breath it out, Livvie, don't hold your breath." More tears started pouring from her eyes. But it's difficult for her to remember to breathe the way she was taught in birthing class.

"It hurts so bad; I just want this to be over. Fitz, will you stay with me?" she asked tearfully after the intense cramp passed.

"Yes, I'm staying until our baby boy is here," he promised, pressing an assuring kiss on the inside of her palm.

An hour later, Dr. Green came to check her cervix.

"We're almost there, just two centimeters to go. I see you're in a bit of discomfort. Have you tried walking around? It's been known to help with the contractions and take your mind off the discomfort."

"No, I'm already tired, and I've just been laying here for hours," Olivia mutters defeatedly, her energy was drained and she hadn't even gotten to the real work.

Fitz is dying seeing her like this. He's holding her hand and keeping her as calm as possible. But he can't take her hurting like this. Olivia already explained that she wants to do everything naturally, so he doesn't even pitch the idea of an epidural. "Livvie, why don't we try it, okay?"

Dr. Green could see the skepticism in Olivia's eyes, so he offered another solution "I'll send the nurse in with a peanut birthing ball and more ice chips."

Although the ball made lying on her side a little easier, the contractions are still paralyzing and coming every two to three minutes.

XXXX

After six hours of unrelenting labor pains, Olivia's cervix is fully dilated, and it's time for her to push. Maya and Eli slipped into the room and over to the right of her. Fitz and her father had a couple of awkward looks, but neither of them addressed it. Olivia wasn't really paying them much attention anyhow.

The nurse brought her legs up onto the stirrups. On the doctor's cue, Olivia began pushing. She pushed with determination and grit. For the first time today, she was able to distract herself from the pain long enough to focus on the love and adoration for the tiny human who'd grown in her womb. She carried him all this way, and now it's time for him to make his welcoming entrance into this wonderful world.

There were so many voices at once, her parents and Fitz cheering her through. And the doctor commanding each push. Olivia collapses on the bed after another intense push. "Again, Olivia. One more push and we're home." the doctor shouts.

"Ahhhh, ahhh" on the last push, the room filled with cries of the newborn. He was finally here. He had a head full of hair and powerful lungs, filling Olivia with immense pride and joy. A manifestation of her love and courage.

"Congratulations, Olivia" Dr. Green placed the infant boy on her chest. The nurses start checking the baby, making sure his airways are clear.

Fitz is overwhelmed by the moment; he'd never experienced something so perfect and divine. He didn't realize it at the time, but that was the first time he's ever loved someone before knowing them. The reaction is so sincere.

"Fitz, he's here. Do you want to cut the cord?" Olivia rasped, her voice raw from screaming.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded robotically.

XXXX

Her gaze is fixed on the sleeping baby in her arms. She's already nursed him, but she just can't let him go. These 5 pounds are the most delicate and extraordinary thing she's ever held. All she can ruminate is how much she loves him, and he doesn't even have a name yet. Her parents and Fitz are still waiting to hold him, but none have complained.

When Olivia glanced over to Fitz, he was already watching her. "Do you want to hold him?"

"I'd love to."

"C'mere. Support his head with your arm." She instructs as she carefully lays the baby in Fitz's arms.

"He's gorgeous. You did well, Livvie." Fitz sits on the edge of her bed. Momentarily stunned by the flash of light.

Across the room, Maya had her disposal camera aimed at the trio. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a good picture. New life, new memories. Eli, let's give them some privacy" Eli got up, but as he was leaving, he mumbled something that sounded like, "Didn't even get my turn."

"Daddy, do you want to hold him before you go?" his daughter asked, chuckling at his pout.

"It would be my honor, sweetheart." Her father could be a hard-ass, but she recognizes everything he does is out of love. Funny enough, she understands that more today than ever. After Eli was done, he handed the baby to Maya. Then they went to the hotel for the evening since Olivia wouldn't be discharged for another day or so.

The chaos was over, and Olivia was reaping the privileges. She had a beautiful, healthy baby and a man that treasured her. The room was peacefully quiet, Olivia had her eyes closed, but she wasn't asleep. Her right hand was in the crib holding the baby's tiny hand. And Fitz was just staring contentedly at the infant. He hadn't left their side any longer than to use the bathroom or run to the hospital cafeteria.

"Have you thought of a name for him, Livvie?"

She smiled over at him sweetly. "His name is Sydney Oliver Pope." As if on cue, he squeezed her finger, telling her he appreciated his name.


Author note

That was fun and heartwarming. Nothing is feeling forced or rushed. Fitz and Olivia are kind of just in the moment. I think that's a good place for them. But who knows? I'll see yall next chapter. But for now, let me know how you feel about this chapter.

Sidenote, are yall picking up on the titles? let me know if anything is familiar.

Love and light- Skye-Anne