The day started out pretty normal. Emery didn't have to work that day so Tessa and her just relaxed on the couch. Tessa had been a little crampy lately but the doctor said it was nothing to worry about. Throughout the day it got worse and worse. The girls got loaded in to the truck and head for the nearest hospital. It took a half hour for them to get there and then they rushed inside.
"I need a doctor my friend is in labor." she said.
"Emery?" She heard a familiar voice say.
"Uncle Will, Tessa's in labor."
"I need a wheel chair over here come with me." He said.
Emery followed her uncle and best friend up to labor and delivery. They got her hooked up to everything and checked the baby.
"How far along are you?" the nurse asks.
"Thirty five weeks." she says.
"Halstead I'll notify the nicu and tell them we have a preemie coming." the other doctor says.
"How long have you been having contractions?" The Nurse asks.
"I'm not sure I've been crampy but my doctor said it was fine it just got really bad about two hours ago." Tessa says.
"Usually we would try to stop your labor but you are already at an eight so we are way past stopping it. You'll have a baby today." the nurse said.
"I'm going to go call mom I'll be right back." Emery says.
She stepped out of the room and took a deep breath before clicking her mother's number.
"Lindsay."
"Mom, Tessa's in labor we are at Chicago med."
"I'll be right there." she says hanging up.
Emery went back into the room and tried to comfort her best friend. She could tell that Tessa was in excruciating pain and there was nothing they could give her at this point. She just stood by her side and told her only positive things.
"I'm here girls." Erin says busting in the room out of breath.
"Hey mom." Emery says hugging her tightly.
Erin looked at both of the girls and smiled. She remembers being where Tessa was and she knows it isn't fun.
"Hey girly how you holding up?" She says kissing her head.
"I want to die."
"How far dialated are you?"
"At an eight and a hundred percent efaced when they checked me an hour ago." She says taking short breaks.
"When did the contractions start?"
"Yesterday before we went to the doctor. He said they were just getting her ready for labor but uncle Will said they were contractions." Emery said.
"Well it won't be long now. She'll be here before you know it."
"Isn't she too little?" Emery asked.
"They have really good NICU. She will be fine." Erin says.
The doctor came in to check on her every hour. They had only been at the hospital four hours when the doctor came in and was ready for her to push.
"Ok when I say push, I want you to push and hold for ten seconds."
After one push Tessa looked at her best friend with tears in her eyes.
"I can't do this."
"Look at me. You can do this, you are stronger than you know. Now let's bring this baby into the world. Push."
It only took five more pushes before the sweet little girl was in the world. She was tiny and only weighed five pounds even. She was having a little trouble breathing so they gave her some oxygen and took her to the NICU. Tessa didn't seem interested in the baby at all. Emery did everything she could to get her more involved. Erin just stood back and watched the girls. She walked down to see the baby while Emery talked with her friend.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just tired is all. Is she ok?"
"She'll be fine."
"Why don't you head home with momma Erin tonight? Just come back in the morning. Mom's on her way now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'll be fine. Plus I need a few things from the house anyways. So mom is going to pick it up for me ."
"Ok I'm going to go see the baby. Do you want to come?"
"No I'll go see her later. I'm going to rest right now."
"Have you thought of a name?"
"Not yet. I have to meet her first."
"Well I love you."
"I love you too." She says hugging Emery.
She left and walked down to the NICU where she found her mom.
They both stood in front of the incubator just watching the tiny baby. Every movement was miraculous to Emery. She was astonished that something so small could be so perfect.
"Would you like to hold her?" The nurse asked.
"Can I?"
"Yeah don't be scared of all the wires. She is doing really well she should be off of the oxygen soon. Out of the hospital by the end of the week." the nurse said.
"Really, that's amazing thank you."
"We do this thing in the NICU it's called kangaroo care. Tessa signed a paper that says you are allowed to do it if you'd like."
"Yeah what do I do."
"Well take this blanket, sit in that rocking chair and take your shirt off. I'll lay her on your chest, and then you cover up."
Emery did exactly what the nurse said. She was so excited to get the chance to hold the baby but also worried because she was so small. The nurse layed the small baby with all of her wires on Emery's chest. Erin watched as her daughters face little up as soon as the baby touches her. She walked over to her daughters side and held the tiny baby's hand.
"You were never this small. When you were born you weighed six pounds nine ounces. You were so beautiful, still are." She said just as her phone rang.
Emery sat and rocked the baby girl. She sang to her and talked to her. The only thing that was missing was Tessa this was her baby and she wouldn't come do any of it. Emery knew something was wrong other than her just being tired.
"Hey little girl. I'm your aunt Emery. We are going to be best friends. Sorry your mommy isn't in here yet. She is just tired, she'll come see you soon. I have to go home for the night but I will be back tomorrow to see you I promise." She says kissing her head.
Erin came back in and gently grabbed the infants hand she softly kissed it and then rubbed her head.
"Ok I have to go. That was grandpa he needs help."
"Ok, I'm going to go buy some baby stuff because all the clothes she has are to small for little miss here."
"All the baby shower stuff is in the spare room. If Laura wants to take it home. I love you." Erin says kissing them both then leaving.
Emery motions the nurse over to them.
"As much as i want to stay here forever i have to leave. Got to go get stuff for her."
"That's fine. I'll take her from you."
"Thank you. Bye princess see you tomorrow."
Emery left and headed to Carter's to look for preemie clothes. Erin and Emery threw Tessa's baby shower in Chicago and she got a lot of nice stuff but nothing was for a preemie. She looked around and she found a lot of really cute stuff. She paid for everything and then headed home. When she got home she found Laura on the porch Emery just gave her Tessa's whole suit case because she never texted the things she needed. They talked for a little bit about the baby and Tessa's mood.
"Here I got her some clothes that will actually fit." She says handing her the bag.
"Tessa wants you to just bring the baby stuff tomorrow. She can't wear any of it yet."
Emery nodded her head and hugged Laura goodbye.
Erin and Jay didn't get home until after midnight and Emery was already asleep. She walked upstairs to check on her daughter. She opened the door and peaked in. She walked over to the bed and kissed Emery's head. Just as she was walking out she turned around and looked at her daughter one more time.
"I love you mom." She heard as she was shutting the door.
The next day Emery was so excited to get to the hospital she got up around nine, got ready and was out the door by ten. She walked right past the NICU on the way to Tessa's room so she peaked in to see the sweet baby. She was sleeping so soundly.
"I'll be right back."Emery whispered.
She walked down the hall and into Tessa's room. When she opened the door she was surprised to see an empty bed and all of her stuff was gone. She went out to the nurses desk to see what was going on.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me where Tessa Ford is?"
"She left against medical advice. Are you Emery Lindsay?"
"Yeah."
"She left this for you." She said handing her a closed envelope.
Emery walked quietly back to the NICU she asked the nurse to do the kangaroo care with the baby. She sat in the chair rocking back and forth. Well the baby slept she opened the letter and started reading.
"Emery, I know you believe I can do this but I can't. I talked with mom and dad they think its best I give her up. I had the nurse wheel me down to NICU last night. I saw you holding her and how happy you were. Mom brought a lawyer to the hospital and I signed away my rights and gave you guardianship of the baby. All the papers are legal and she is yours if you want her. I'm sorry."
Emery teared up as she kissed the sweet little girls head. She had no clue what she was going to do but all she knew was she wanted her mom.
"Can you take her for me real quick? I need to make a call." She says as tears stream down her face.
She went out in the hall and pressed her mothers number.
"Lindsay."
"Mom, I need you." She said very upset.
"Where are you baby?"
"The hospital with the baby."
"Ok let me tell grandpa and I'll be right there."
Emery went back and sat to rock the baby some more. It was an hour before Erin got there. Emery had just calmed down and when her mom walked in she lost it again. She didn't say a word she just handed her the papers. Erin read through them and she was astonished she never thought Tessa would do such a thing.
"I'll be right back." Erin said walking to the hall way.
She very angrily scrolled through her phone. She clicked Laura's number and waited for someone to answer.
"You need to call me back now. You can't just drop the baby off with my daughter." Erin said angrily.
Erin walked back into were her daughter was. She pulled up a chair next to Emery.
"What do you want to do?" Erin asks.
"She isn't even a day old yet and she's already been abandoned. She deserves a family, people who love her. So if it's ok with you I'd like to keep her. We have all the things we need for her. Please mom. I'll feed her."
"Emery, we can't..."
"Mom please."
"Let me finish. We can't keep her without naming her first."
"I guess that's something I get to do huh."
"Do you have one in mind?"
"Something with an E keep tradition you know."
"Sounds good. What about Elizabeth?"
"No she doesn't really look like an Elizabeth. Do you like Ericka?"
"No we know to many. Emma?"
"It's to common."
"I know, there was a name I had for you before I went with Emery."
"What is it?"
"Erialynn."
"It's perfect. Welcome to the family Erialynn Michelle Lindsay."
"Ok sweetie I have to get back to work."
"Mom, we still have to explain this to grandpa and dad."
"I'll bring them both by tonight after work. I love you."
"I love you too."
Emery stayed with Erialynn all day. She rocked her, changed her, and feed her. They took her off the oxygen around five o'clock that day and she was doing amazingly well. Emery finally worked up the courage to call her boyfriend.
"Hey babe."
"Hey, you want to come meet the baby."
"Yeah, I'll be there soon."
Cody left straight from work and went to the hospital. Emery had told the nurse his name and that he was allowed to come in.
"Hey, how's it going?"
"Ok, this is Erialynn."
"That's a beautiful name."
They both admired the baby for a short time and Emery prepared herself for a breakup.
"Listen there is something I need to tell you."
"Ok but can I hold her."
"You have to wash your hands first."
Cody went to wash his hands and then came back. Emery handed him the tiny little girl and she watched him bounce her. She got this image of a tiny little family in her mind but she felt like it was way to unrealistic but then again look at her family.
"Where's Tessa?"
As soon as those words came out of his mouth Emery broke down. Cody was really concerned he walked over and rubbed her back with one hand and held on to Erialynn with the other.
"Emery what happened?"
"She abandoned her, but not before she signed papers leaving her to me. I can't just give her to somebody who doesn't know her. I talked with my mom and we decided I'd keep her."
Cody didn't say anything he just looked at Emery then at the sleeping baby. It was quiet for awhile which felt like forever to Emery.
"I know you didn't sign up for this when we started dating. So if you want to leave I totally understand. She's my daughter now, I'm a mom."
"Erialynn I'm in love with your mommy and if its ok with you I'd like it if you ask her if I can be your dad. What do you think?" He says just as the baby lifts her arms to stretch.
"Cody what if it doesn't work out between us what are we going to do. I have to think about her its not just me anymore. I can't just have you in her life one minute and then gone the next."
"This is what I want to do, and I want to do it with you. If we break up I will still be her dad. I'll adopt her or whatever I need to do so she's ours."
Emery was taken a back by what she was hearing she was so happy that this was what he wanted and she didn't have to do it alone. Cody kissed her and they embraced in their new found family.
"I love you too." Emery said resting her head on his chest right next to the baby.
"I'm off for the rest of the night. So it's just me and my girls."
"My parents and grandfather are coming later. We have to explain to my dad and grandpa what's going on. Then mom needs to know you want to help me with her."
Erialynn was doing exceedingly well in just the few hours she'd been off the oxygen. They got to give her a bath, dress her, feed her, and then rock her to sleep. Visiting hours were over at eight but Emery begged her Uncle to get the nurses to give her a little more time so every one could come in and see the baby as they discussed things.
"Hey guys." Emery said softly.
"Hey how's it going kid?"
"Mom, told you didn't she?"
"Yeah, she told both of us."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I have never been so sure about anything Pop's. Plus I've got a lot of help." She says smiling up at Cody.
"What's her name?"
"Erialynn Michelle Lindsay, I used grandma Camille's middle name I hope that's ok."
"Of course it's I hold her?" Voight asks.
"Here you go." she says handing her over.
"Hey, sweet pea I'm your grandpa." He says.
"No, you're her great grandpa." Erin says.
"So that makes Jay a grandpa." He says.
"Guys listen Cody is going to help me with the baby. He wants to adopt her so we can raise her together even if we break up he'll still be there. When I bring her home he's going to stay over to help." Emery said.
They all just looked at Cody who was standing behind Emery holding his ground. He became very uncomfortable but stood his ground as best he could. Everyone just looked at eachother but they agreed it wasn't the place or the time to discuss it.