Disclaimer : I don't own the characters !
Chris didn't think she could do it. She pushed, again and again, squeezing her husband's hand hard, but after a while she couldn't take it anymore.
"Come on Madame Street, one more push."
"Come on my love, you can do it." encouraged her husband, who wouldn't let go of her hand.
He didn't care whether she broke his fingers or not. He would stay by her side until the end. Chris gathered up all the strength she had left, and pushed one last time. Her cries of pain gave way to tears. The exhaustion and pain were instantly forgotten, and the couple turned their attention to Doctor Keysler and the midwife. The doctor rose from her stool, holding the newborn half-wrapped in a layette, and placed it gently in the arms of the young mother.
"Hey you !"
...
In the waiting room, it had been three long hours since Annie had sat down with everyone. The couples whispered to each other, and scrolled on their phones or made plans for the days to come. Or when to take a few days off, in the case of Hondo and Nichelle who were planning a romantic weekend.
"I hope everything is well." Luca finally said, breaking the silence.
"Don't jinx it." Tan muttered.
"It's going to be fine with Chris and the baby." Annie assured. "Doctor Keysler is the best."
And that's when Street burst into the waiting room, drawing all eyes to him. The smile he wore gave the answer they were waiting for. Chris and the baby were fine.
"It's a girl !" he announced.
Smiles and congratulations replaced the worry of the long wait, and Street exchanged more affectionate hugs and hugs from the girls.
"How is Chris ?" Deacon asked.
"Tired, but she was great." replied the new dad. "Girls, after what I just went through, you have my undying respect for what you go through in times like these."
"Thank you !" Bonnie strutted. "So what's her name ?"
"I'll tell you later, Chris can't wait to see you."
Street preceded them to the bedroom, and his heart swelled with love.
"You have visitors." he said, joining her.
"Hey !" Chris smiled, seeing her friends enter the room. "Sorry for the long wait."
"Oh, it was well worth it." Luca assured.
Street settled on the bed, next to his wife and daughter. The group of friends surrounded the bed, without suffocating the young parents and the newborn.
"She is magnificent." raved Bonnie, clinging to her husband's arm.
"So what's her name ?" Hondo asked.
"Well, we've…sort of Hispanicized your name, boss." Chris told her.
"How so ?"
The couple exchanged glances and smiles of complicity, and Street was the one to reveal the name of their little girl, while looking at his team leader and friend.
"Let me introduce to you Daniella Annie Street !"
All eyes fell on Hondo, who didn't quite know what to say.
"You broke him." Luca said.
"I... I didn't expect that." Hondo said. "I'm very touched, really."
"We'll call her Dani, for short." Street said, making them all smile. "Who wants to be the first to hold her ?"
"Shouldn't that be you ?" Deacon said.
"What do you think ?" Street said, smirking. "I spent ten minutes with her in my arms before coming to see you."
"And it was very beautiful to see." Chris asserted.
"And we missed that ?" Luca was offended.
"Annie, you have the honor !" decided Chris.
Once little Dani was in her godmother's arms, Chris let herself go against her husband, who had wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Oh Jimmy, I'm sorry to tell you this but she looks just like you." joked Annie.
"Yeah, she's gonna break some hearts." said Deacon, who was right next to his wife.
"No one will approach my daughter until she is thirty." Street replied.
"Please !" Chris breathed. "Forget that her parents, her uncles and her godfather are all cops. She will know how to manage on her own."
"Yeah, and then she'll have all of Chris's best sides, it'll make up for it with yours." Hondo teased.
"Ooh, boss, you're tough there !" But Street was smiling. "Seriously, thank you for staying."
"Hey, we didn't want to be anywhere else." Deacon assured her.
Little Dani was, with the greatest delicacy, carried by each of her uncles and each of her aunts. When it was the godfather's turn, Chris didn't miss Ally's smirk and the spark of love that shone in the way she looked at her husband. She must have already imagined him with their own child in his arms.
"We will be able to spoil her." Luca said, laying Dani in Nichelle's arms.
"Not too much anyway." Street said.
"She is superb." enthused Nichelle, before passing her to Hondo, the last in line.
"Do you need anything ?" Annie asked the young parents. "Can we bring you some clothes ?"
"That's nice, but I'll deal with it." Street assured. "I have to go home and change, and put the car seat in the car."
The bedroom door opened as Hondo handed Dani back to her father. Two midwives – including the one who had assisted Dr. Keysler during the delivery – came in with a crib.
"Excuse us, but we're going to have to take this lovely young lady to the nursery." said midwife #1.
"Oh, can't we keep her with us a little longer ?" asked Chris.
"You need to rest, Mrs. Street." she smiled at her. "We'll bring her back to you in two short hours, until you regain your strength."
Midwife #2 gently took the baby from Street's arms, and placed her in the cradle. The team and the girls soon left, congratulating the young parents one last time. Once alone, Street went to sit down opposite his wife, on the edge of the bed and kissed her for a long time.
"You were wonderful, my love." he says.
"Thank you for sticking by my side." she said, her eyes shining.
"I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else." he promised her. "For nothing in the world would I have missed the birth of our daughter. I'm going to let you rest, and I'm going home to take a long shower and pack a bag for the two of us. I would only leave this hospital with you and our daughter."
"Can you call Tomas, and tell him I'd rather they all come see me tomorrow ?" she asked. "I want to rest."
"Yes, my love !" he nodded. "I bring us back some food ?"
"Please !"
An hour and a half later !
Street walked into his wife's room, two bags in hand. A large sports bag containing spares and toiletries for both of them, and a paper bag containing their favorite salad. He put it all in a corner of the room, and pulled out a chair near the bed. Chris was sleeping. He didn't have the heart to wake her, but she did it on her own.
"Hey, back already ?"
"Slept well ?" he asked her.
She shrugged. She straightened the top of the bed so she could sit up, and Street pulled the small rolling table across the bed and pulled out the two salads he had bought.
"I ran into the midwife who helped you give birth." Street told her. "She told me Dani was fine and sleeping."
"Well, I'm reassured." Chris said. "You know, I won't be leaving the maternity ward for at least three days, you could take the opportunity to prepare the room."
"I know, but just the thought of leaving you… makes me nervous." he admitted. "I…I'll do the room as soon as we get back. I'll assemble the crib first, and in the meantime we can keep Dani in ours, on our bed. We have a pram, and it doesn't take long to prepare."
"Yeah OK !" Chris said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "We could ask my cousin for a hand, or the team. I'm sure they would help us."
It wasn't a bad idea, especially since Street wanted everything to be perfect for their little girl. They were done having lunch when, as he cleared away, the midwife came back into the room with the crib and Dani, who was crying.
"What does she have ?" Chris wondered.
"Nothing at all, Mrs. Street. She's just hungry."
Relieved, Chris picked up her daughter in her arms after removing the top of her blouse. The crying stopped as soon as she started nursing.
Afterwards, the midwife showed the young parents how to change diapers and give a bath to a newborn. Street was very attentive, he didn't want to miss anything. He fully intended to take care of his daughter like any parent, and support Chris whenever she needed it. It was obvious that once back home, the young woman was going to need to rest. He hadn't had a little being that grew in his belly for nine months, and then forced his way through his vagina to be born. Chris had done all the work, and he only admired her more. No question that he will become one of those fathers who think that it is up to the woman to take care of the child. Pfff, and then what ? Ok, in two weeks he would be back at HQ, but in the meantime he was going to be Chris' lifeline. When she slept, he would take care of the rest, even Dani if she woke up while Mom was getting her strength back.
The next day !
Chris was sated. She had wanted a gigantic cheeseburger, and Street was happy to go buy some. They had eaten in silence, whispering when one of them wanted to say something so as not to wake Dani, whom the midwife had left in the room the night before. Chris really didn't want to be separated from her daughter, even to rest. Plus, Street was there, and he could watch over Dani while Chris got some rest. It didn't bother Doctor Keysler, and the parents thanked her all the more. A very beautiful scene – and a little exciting for Chris – had also happened the night before. In order to familiarize the baby with his father's touch, Street had held Dani against him, skin to skin, for very long minutes. Dani had woken up crying, and the touch of her father's skin silenced her crying. She was neither hungry nor in need of being changed. She just needed contact. This painting had exhilarated Chris without her seeing it coming.
Coming back to the present, Chris got up from her bed to go to the bathroom. She had swapped her itchy blouse for jogging and a t-shirt. She peed, washed her hands, and wet her face before heading back into the bedroom.
"Hmm, it feels good to get up and walk." she said, stretching, her arms raised high.
"Come here !" Street pulled her close by wrapping an arm around her waist before kissing her. "I can't wait to get you home, and take care of you two."
"And I can't wait to get back to our bed." Chris said. "And to use you as a cushion."
"You know very well that I am at your disposal." he smiles. "Come on, go back and lie down."
Back in bed, Chris grabbed her water bottle and took a long sip.
"Are you ready to face the hurricane that is coming ?" asked Street, referring to his wife's aunt.
"Not really." replied Chris. "According to Lucia, she took it into her head to make me a list of everything I need to do to make sure I am a good mother. I think I'm going to kill her if she ever again suggests that I stay at home. Again according to my cousin, she intends to talk to you so that you convince me to stay at home."
"What could possibly make her think I would do such a thing ?" asked Street, who went to sit on the other side of the bed, where the crib was. "We have planned everything so that you can go back to work without any problem."
"Think that I have a job that is too dangerous, and that I have to stop entirely if I want to raise my daughter properly." said Chris, who was beginning to doubt, which her husband noticed.
"I get mad if you let your aunt's stupid talk get to you." he says. "We will not be the only parents to do a dangerous job and have a family on the side. We will be able to manage because we are a team, you and me, and because we are not alone."
"You're right, we'll get there." she says.
"Exactly !" He kissed her. "I love you, Mrs. Street !"
"I love you too." she smiles. "Do you think you'll be able to wait until i'm ready to have sex again ?"
They both knew that Chris's body needed to recover, and that it was going to take at least six weeks, as Dr. Keysler had explained to them.
"If you think that i'm thinking about it." he scoffed. "It is true that I miss it, but I will wait. I would do sports to evacuate."
She rolled her eyes when there was a knock on the door. Lucia was on the threshold, and did not wait for an invitation before entering.
"Be prepared." she said to her cousin. "We tried as best we could to convince her to shut it up, but you're not going to cut it."
"We better ask that Dani be taken to the nursery while you talk to your aunt." suggested Street.
"You are probably right." Chris breathed.
Lucia circled the bed, admiring her little cousin, asleep, as Chris pressed a button to call a midwife.
"How long do I have before she arrives ?" Chris asked, referring to her aunt.
"Five minutes, I'd say." Lucy said.
The midwife entered.
"You called me ?"
"Yes, could you take Dani to the nursery for a few minutes ?" asked Chris. "My aunt will arrive and the tone may rise. I don't want my daughter to be in the middle of all this."
"Sure." smiled the midwife.
"Can you bring her back the next time I call you ?" Chris asked again.
The midwife nodded and rolled the crib out of the bedroom and into the nursery. Chris sighed, staring fixedly at the door.
"She is really beautiful." Lucy said.
"Thank you !" Chris said. "Jim, come sit next to me. You'll have to stop me from throwing myself at my aunt if she says a certain sentence."
"Which sentence ?" Lucia asked, as Street settled on the bed.
"Well, if she's suggesting I should stay home full time." Chris said, letting herself go against his husband.
Lucia grimaced when her phone vibrated with an incoming text. She looked at it, and a silly smile appeared on her lips.
"What's his name ?" asked Chris, who recognized the smile. "Or her ?"
"No no, it's a he." Lucia said, looking up from her phone. "Uh, his name is Marcus. He works at the Starbucks where I go every morning before work and, uh, two weeks ago he wrote me his number on my cup, and we've been texting a lot since."
"Looks like you like him !" Street said.
"Well, let's just say he's not like any jerk I've dated in the past, and he's working there to fund the vet school he's been studying at for a year." Lucia told them.
"An animal lover ?" Chris said. "Don't let him go."
"It's still too early to consider a lasting relationship, but I really want to give it a shot." she said, sitting down in a chair by the window. "He wants to take me to dinner tomorrow."
"Start with breakfast or lunch." Chris said. "And remind him that your cousin works at S.W.A.T. !"
It's crazy how quickly Lucia's past escapades became history. Oh, no one forgot, but water had flowed under the bridge since the young woman's more than sincere apology. Even Street was no longer uncomfortable when they were in the same room.
"Where is my little flower ?"
Here we go ! Chris reached for Street's hand, which intertwined their fingers, when Chris's aunt entered the room without preamble. She was overflowing with enthusiasm and rubbing her hands together, which already infuriated Chris.
"So where is she ?"
"At the nursery." Chris said. "Tomas, can you close the door please ?"
His cousin, who was the last to enter the room, closed the door so as not to let what was next disturb the entire service.
"Why is she in the nursery ?" his aunt asked. "Something is wrong ?"
"No, she is doing very well. I was the one who asked a midwife to take her there." replied Chris. "No need to waste your breath, I won't bring her back until you listen to what I have to say to you, because there's no way I'm spending another minute listening to you tell me how to raise my daughter."
"You need advice." said her aunt.
"From you ?" Chris replied. "No, because coming from you these are not advice, but rather affirmations. I've been quiet for the past few months because I didn't want anything to happen to my baby, but now that she's been born I can finally tell you that I have no intention of staying quietly at home cooking while Jimmy goes to work. I will return to work as planned when the time comes. I don't know what world you live in to think for a second that I would quit my job. With Jim we organized ourselves so that everything fits with our new life…"
"It's the wrong decision." said her aunt.
"It's your opinion, and you have the right to have one, but it's my decision." Chris said.
"And I advise against trying to convince me to change her mind." Street added.
"I worry about this child." said the aunt. "What will happen when you are called in the middle of the night to pursue a criminal ?"
"Once again, we have thought of everything." Chris said. "If you can't keep your comments and opinions to yourself, we'll both have a problem, because judging by your behavior since I've been pregnant, I have the impression that you don't don't care what I feel, or what your own daughter may feel."
"This has nothing to do with Lucia." lied her aunt.
Lucia let out a smirk, which she wasn't trying to hold back either.
"Listen tia, I don't need a moral lesson on how I'm going to raise my daughter." said Chris, who pressed the call button for the midwifery office. "I'm just asking you to stop expecting everything you've expected from me since I brought Jim into my life. I make my own choices, whether you like it or not."
The door opened and the same midwife as before pushed the crib close to Chris's bed. Little Dani was restless, but not crying.
"She's a bit grumpy." said the midwife. "We had just changed her when I went to pick her up."
She took Dani in her arms and put her in her mom's. The arms and the smell of Chris, combined with Street slipping his index finger into their daughter's tiny hand, Dani stopped being grumpy.
"She inherited your character." Street whispered to Chris.
She didn't answer, but rolled her eyes. That would definitely be a conversation for later.
"Can I hold her ?" asked tia, who had moved closer to the bed.
"Uh, she might cry." Chris said. "Wait a bit."
"Nonsense !" Tia insisted, hugging Dani despite Chris's warning.
And then Dani fidgeted until she cried.
"Mom, Chris warned you." Tomas whispered.
"Oh, come on, let's calm down !" tia said, rocking Dani.
But that didn't seem to calm her down. So Street got up from the bed, came back and picked up his daughter. It was only once in her father's arms that she stopped crying.
"Why do you refuse to listen when I talk to you ?" Chris burst out.
Street walked away to the back of the bedroom, whispering reassuring words to his daughter.
"Couldn't you wait a few minutes ?" Chris said. "And by what right do you take her from me without my permission ?"
"I'm sorry, but I think you're exaggerating." said tia. "All newborns are grumpy, she would have calmed down eventually."
"Because you know my daughter better than I do now ?" snapped Chris.
"It's okay, let's calm down !" Tomas interjected.
Chris's uncle had gone to join Jim, and the two men were talking in low voices, without disturbing the baby.
"Mom, that's enough. Stop trying to control Chris's life." he says. "It's her child, not yours. You are unbelievable."
Street came back to Chris, and handed Dani back to her.
"Watch her head." tia couldn't help but say.
"Tia, enough is enough." Chris said. "I know how to hold my baby."
"What's her name ?" Tomas asked, to divert attention.
Right, her family still didn't know the baby's name. Then Street, who had sat down next to Chris, revealed their daughter's full name and meaning.
"I thought you would give her your mother's name." said tia. "Not your boss's.""
"Mom, stop !" Lucia sneered, before turning to her cousin. "It's a very beautiful name."
Eventually, Chris got tired, so Jim asked everyone to get out, then, after putting a sleeping Dani back in her crib, he walked Chris's family back to the elevator.
"I don't like the way you act." he said to tia. "Dani is not your daughter, so you have no right to challenge all of Chris's decisions, or mine. Stop behaving like that immediately if you want to be a part of both of their lives."