Do Not Own any Characters.
Caesar stared at the monitor. He saw the steady beating of a heart in the fuzzy image on the screen.
"That's him?" Caesar asked in almost a whisper.
Beverly smiled from the exam table as the doctor stood over her with the probe on her burgeoning stomach.
"That's him." She answered him.
"He's so small." He frowned.
Beverly laughed. "You're supposed to be a scientist. You should know how small he's suppose to be."
"But you're so big." He looked at her stomach. Theoretically Caesar knew that this was all normal. She was big because not only was she holding a baby but also all the materials to nurture and protect it. He knew a fetus was supposed to be so small. He vaguely remembered when his mother showed him her sonogram of Rex. But this is different. This is his child and he was looking at him for the first time. He had avoided coming for as long as he could. But apparently Beverly had told her sister about Caesar's reluctance to come with her to her doctor visits. Rebecca then told her husband who in turn threaten to gut him if he didn't come this time. So here he was.
Beverly had desperately wanted children but they had trouble conceiving. After much heartache they finally succeeded. Beverly was thrilled. Caesar dearly loved Beverly and was happy she was happy. Their relationship was hard won. There were many misunderstandings and miscommunications before they finally ended up together.
But the thought of being a father terrified him… completely and totally terr-i-fied him.
He had watched Rex's kids. They had inherited their parents' powers so he knew his experiences with them were not… typical. He didn't know how he'll fair with his own children… this child…his child.
Beverly looked at her husband with an amused smile on her face. It had taken her a long time to really understand him. She had misjudged him a few times and there were disagreements over different ideology but in the end they were able to overcome all that to become a couple. She knew he was scared and truth be told she was a little anxious herself. But she knew that after everything they've been through they can do anything together.
She reached out and took his hand in hers. The contact broke him out of his thoughts. He smiled at her. He kissed her on her head and put his arm around her shoulders. Together they watched as the doctor introduce them to their new son.
0o0
Caesar was sitting in his lab staring into the glovebox isolator. He was so close to a breakthrough. If this experiment worked it would have made months of no sleep worth it. Just as he was about to pour one drop of liquid into the test tube his cell rang. He was startled into pouring the whole thing into the test tube which started smoking. Luckily the fume hood sucked up all the smoke. He withdrew his hand from the glove and looked angrily at his phone. Then the scowl melted off his face and was replaced by fear. He quickly answered.
"Beverly?"
"Caesar, you have to come home now!" Beverly's usual cheerful voice was strained.
"What's wrong?" He asked concerned.
"My water broke."
"Are you sure?"
"What do you think?" She snapped. Okay, she was getting angry. Not good.
"But it's too early!"
"Tell that to the baby!" Her voice was starting to get hysterical.
"Okay, okay, I'll be right there." He said beginning to panic himself.
"Get my sister!" She reminded him.
"I will." He hung up.
He grabbed his car keys off the table. Running to Holiday's lab, he didn't bother knocking. He barged in and grabbed her. Holiday was in the middle of talking to some other scientists.
"Caesar! What are you doing?" She demanded angrily.
"Beverly," was all he had to say.
Holiday didn't waste any time. She left one of the other scientists in charge and ran with Caesar to his car.
Caesar drove like a maniac. He cut people off, drove through several lanes of traffic, and ignored all honks and bad words. Rebecca clutched the dashboard and door handle for dear life.
"Caesar, it won't do Beverly any good if we're killed before we get to her." Rebecca advised.
"What?" He asked not really listening.
"Don't kill us!" She snapped.
"Ok," was his reply as he swerved into another lane without looking to miss a slower moving vehicle.
Holiday decided to keep her eyes shut for the rest of the trip.
Finally, the car reached its destination and lurched to a stop. Caesar jumped out of the car leaving the car keys in the ignition. Rebecca got out of the car, knees still weak from the ride from hell. She watched Caesar run into the house and grabbed the suitcase. He ran back, threw it into the trunk, and drove off. He made it down the block before the car screeched to a halt. It stopped for a second. Then the reverse lights came on and the car peeled backwards until it was in front of Rebecca. Rebecca had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot. Caesar jumped out of the car and ran back into the house. A few minutes later he emerged, this time with Beverly. When he reached the car he paused. Rebecca had taken over the wheel. She glared at him.
"I'm driving. Get in the back with her." Rebecca said in a tone that did not allow arguing.
Caesar was in no mood to argue and was actually glad someone was telling him what to do. Right at the moment he felt as clueless as Rex.
He carefully helped his wife who was starting her breathing exercises into the back. He got in and closed the door. Rebecca drove quickly and deftly through the highways to reach the hospital in record time. Caesar got out of the car and carefully got Beverly out. She could only take a few steps at a time before another wave of pain hit her. Rebecca went to park the car.
"It's not supposed to happen this early." Caesar mumbled as he walked by Beverly's side.
Beverly shot him a withering look before stopping and clutching his arm. He was glad she wasn't any stronger or she would have broken his arm as it was he could no longer feel it. They made it to admissions.
"My wife's going into labor!" He frantically told the lady behind the glass window.
The uninterested lady looked tiredly at him.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
Beverly let out a scream and doubled over.
"Does that answer your question?" He snapped.
The lady buzzed them in. Beverly was led into a room. The nurse gave her a hospital gown to change into. Then she and Caesar helped Beverly into the bed.
"Don't push yet." The nurse told her. "You have to wait for the doctor."
"I don't think I have a choice." Beverly scrunched her face in pain.
"Think about something else." Caesar said trying to be helpful.
"You mean besides the over-all encompassing pain that's shooting through my body as a bowling ball is trying to pass through something the size of a straw!" She shot at him.
"Umm, breathe?" He offered helplessly.
She screamed again as another pain shot through her.
Caesar winced. All his scientific training and knowledge was utterly useless in face of real life. He just held her hand and wondered were Rebecca was.
Just as that thought raced through his mind. Rebecca pushed her way through.
"I'm a doctor and her sister!" She snapped at the nurse outside. She rushed over to Beverly.
"Rebecca, it hurts." Beverly felt stupid saying it but it was the only thing registering in her head.
"I know, I know. Just hang in there. It'll be over soon and you'll have a beautiful baby boy in your arms."
Caesar wondered why he couldn't think of comforting things to say.
The doctor walked in.
"Ah, there's the mommy-to-be." The doctor smiled warmly. "How are we doing?"
She put Beverly's legs up and placed a blanket over Beverly's lower half then took looked.
"Oh, you're already crowning!" She exclaimed. "Nurse, we have to get ready."
"Is this your second?" The doctor asked Beverly as she put on scrubs and gloves.
"No, my first." Beverly's said tiredly.
"Really? I've never seen the first come so quickly before." The doctor was keeping Beverly talking.
"That's what I said." Caesar agreed.
"But every birth is different." The doctor continued ignoring Caesar. She adjusted the bed so that Beverly's head was elevated. "Okay now. When I say push, push."
"Finally." Beverly breathed.
"Push!" The doctor told her.
As she tried to push, her head suddenly fell back. The bed had suddenly collapsed. Beverly couldn't push.
"What happened?" Beverly asked puzzled.
Rebecca pointed to Caesar's knee. When the doctor said to push, Caesar had involuntarily jerked his knee so that it hit the lever that released the bed.
Everyone glared at him.
"Lo siento, I'm sorry." He said guiltily.
Rebecca readjusted her sister's bed.
"Let's try that again. Push." The doctor said.
Beverly pushed.
"Good girl. Just a few more. I can see him coming. Push." The doctor said encouragingly.
"I can't do this." Beverly said with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, you can." Caesar said firmly. "Because you are the most amazing, sweetest, bravest woman I have ever met. Now push."
Beverly pushed.
"Again." The doctor instructed.
Beverly pushed again. Suddenly the cries of a baby filled the room.
"Congratulations, you have a healthy baby boy." She gave a pair of scissors to Caesar. He looked confused.
"Go ahead, cut the cord."
"Me?" He squeaked.
"It's traditional. Just cut here." The doctor pointed to the spot.
Caesar hesitantly cut where indicated.
The doctor cleaned and wrapped the child. He was placed in Beverly's arms.
Beverly laughed as tears of joy ran down her face. She cuddled her son. Rebecca hugged her. Caesar smiled then fainted. The two sisters peered over the side of the bed to where he lay unconscious on the floor.
0o0
Caesar slowly opened his eyes. He blinked adjusting his eyes to the bright light. Where was he? What happened? Beverly! He shot up.
"Good morning, doctor." Came a familiar voice next to him. He turned to see his wife and child in the hospital bed next to him. She smiled at him.
"Are you okay?" Caesar popped out of the bed and went over to his wife.
"I should ask you the same thing." Beverly looked at him with a smirk.
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I wasn't much help."
"You were great. I couldn't have done it without with you." Beverly said. "Come, meet our son."
Caesar sat down next to Beverly and put his arm around her. He looked at the sleeping child. With his other hand he ran his finger gently down the side of the baby's face.
"He's perfect just like his mother." He looked lovingly at his wife.
Beverly laughed. "Remember that the next time we fight."
Caesar chuckled. The baby started stirring. Both parents looked at the tiny bundle.
"Un nuevo comienzo, a new beginning." Caesar said softly.
"Sí, yes." Beverly looked at Caesar. Caesar bent over and kissed her.
Okay, so this is sort of based on real life. Yes, giving birth is that painful. No my husband didn't faint but he did look queasy. Yes, he did knock my head down, not once, not twice but four times! I was ready to kill him. But afterwards he got me a pint of ice cream so all is forgiven. It's not quite a story on Beverly and Caesar's kid as it is about Beverly and Caesar as some of you have been asking me to write about. I didn't name the child because for the life of me I can't think of a name Caesar and Beverly would give their kid. I'm willing to take suggestions with reasons. I will take the best one for a future story. That is if anyone cares.