Here is the next update. Enjoy everyone! Amber

Chapter 24

Four hours later Callie was in absolute agony. She cried out. "Oh my god! Ah!"

Frank bathed her face, neck, back, and chest with the cool cloth. He watched the monitor as the indicator for the contraction rose off the chart. "Breathe Callie… breathe." He seized her hand and squeezed it. When the contraction ended he asked. "Do you want me to check on the girls?"

Another contraction started. Callie moaned loudly and gripped his hand hard. She gasped. "Please don't leave me. I know they're fine. Ahh!"

Frank soothed her. "I'm right here baby." When the contraction stopped he spun the damp cloth around cooling it. Then bathed her neck, chest, back, and face. He kissed her ardently. "I love you so much. You're amazing."

Callie was breathing heavily. "I love you more than you can know." That's when she felt like she was peeing. "I think my water just broke. She pushed the button for Piper. They heard a voice over the intercom. "May I help you?"

Callie gasped as another contraction hit. She managed to squeak. "I think my water broke! Ah!"

"I'll send the midwife in."

Laura came in wearing hospital scrubs. "Hello dear." She pulled the cover back and saw the fluid on the bed. She took a test strip and confirmed. "Yes your water is broken. Let me check you."

Laura laid the bed down a bit. Callie was moaning in pain. "These contractions are awful Laura. They feel more intense than with Brooke."

Laura said. "Your baby is bigger dear. Seven centimeters."

Callie groaned. "That's all."

Laura soothed. "Soon sweetie."

Another nurse came in. "Laura bed 311 is ready to push."

"I'll be back. Just remember to relax between contractions. Did you want something to take the edge off?"

Callie through clinched teeth answered. "No. I'll manage. Oh!"

Laura left.

Callie's head fell back in exhaustion. She closed her eyes. She felt the blessedly cool cloth on her face, then neck, she leaned forward so Frank could wipe her back, then he went to her breasts. He spooned some ice chips into her mouth, and applied lip balm to her lips. Callie held his hand as she rested her body waiting for the next wave of pain. But she knew what was coming...her little boy. She turned her head and her blue eyes met his brown. "I hope he looks just like you." She stroked his cheek with her free hand.

Frank took that hand and kissed her fingertips. "We'll have to see won't we."

Callie sat up. "Can you fix the bed baby?"

Frank nodded. "Of course." He adjusted the bed back up to the sitting position that Callie preferred. Frank saw the monitor. "Here's another contraction love. Moan through it."

Callie gripped his hand moaning. She screamed as it rose sharply.

Frank applied counter pressure below her waist now since he knew their son was lower. He was so proud of her and so in love. He couldn't wait to hold his son in his arms.

More contractions came. They started coming a minute apart. Callie gripped his hand. "God the pain! I can't do this anymore. I can't!"

Piper came in. "How are you doing mom?"

Callie screamed. "I need...to get him out. Oh jeez the pressure! I'm feeling a lot of pressure."

Piper came over and lowered the head of the bed. "Let me check you."

Callie screamed when another contraction hit. "Ohhh! Fraaaank!"

"I know baby. Relax. Breathe." Frank was bathing her head with the cloth.

Piper grinned. "You're at ten centimeters. I'll see if Laura is ready. She was in room 11."

Frank kissed Callie. "Thank you Piper. Almost there darling."

Callie was focusing on blowing. She didn't want to push until Laura was here. Laura came in five minutes later. "It's time I hear."

Callie gasped. "Yes! Oh God yes! Please! Please may I push?"

Laura was putting on a protective gown. "One more moment dear."

"Ahhhh! Ahhh! God! Frank!"

Frank soothed her. "Blow it out Cal! Almost there baby! You've got this!"

Piper put Callie's legs in the stirrups and placed the mirror where they could see. Frank sat on the bed and held Callie's left hand with his left and put his other arm around her shoulders. Laura donned some gloves. "Alright here we go." She eyed the monitor. "Okay Callie Push!"

Frank held her as she did just that. Her scream was feral and desperate. He counted to ten slowly.

Callie growled. "Count faster."

Laura chuckled. "He's counting correctly dear. We don't need to rush. Push Callie."

Piper encouraged. "Push mama! Push!"

Callie screamed as the pressure became unbearable! Then she felt a horrible burning sensation. She looked in the mirror and saw that he was crowning. "Unh! Come on buddy!" She screamed as another contraction started and she was pushing before Laura told her too.

She focused on Frank's counting. The pain was so intense that she thought she was splitting in two.

"Push Callie!" Laura said.

Callie pushed again and watched as the rest of his head came out. Callie gasped.

Laura snapped. "Don't push honey pant."

The urge to push was intense but Callie focused on Laura's instructions. She panted painfully. The urge to push was overwhelming! Frank was panting with her which helped. She screamed. "Oh God!"

Laura nodded. "Okay on the next contraction push Sweetheart."

The contraction started. Callie groaned and pushed with all she had. She had Frank's hand in a death grip and wouldn't be surprised if he had a broken finger or two. Then she saw her son's shoulders. Callie through clinched teeth moaned.

Finally he was in Laura's arms. "He's here!"

Callie started sobbing. She was overjoyed! "Hello my precious boy!" Laura put the now crying baby on Callie's chest. Callie helped clean him off a little. She exclaimed. "Oh Frank he's so beautiful! He looks just like you! Our little boy!"

Frank wiped his own tears of joy. He kissed Callie lovingly. "He's perfect."

Piper had been given Laura's phone. She took pictures at her request after obtaining permission from Frank and Callie. They had some pictures of her during labor, while she was pushing, and of course once he came out. She had caught the moment of their kiss perfectly. She handed the phone back to Laura. "I got some good ones." Then she addressed the couple. "Let me weigh him and put an outfit on him."

Callie said. "We have gown sets in my bag. Frank could you?"

Frank was already picking one. He chose a white one with blue teddy bears on it. It even had a matching hat and he also grabbed some white booties. He went over and watched as Piper weighed him. She said. "I'm so glad she delivered before shift change. Your son is ten pounds four ounces and 22 inches long." Frank watched as she also did the PKU.

Callie started moaning. Frank turned. It was the placenta he knew. He went over and took her hand. When that was done she moaned. "My bottom hurts so bad."

Laura soothed. "I'll order a pelvic X-ray. You may have a fractured tailbone. The whole placenta delivered." She gave Callie a fresh hospital gown and changed the pads underneath her.

Piper brought the baby over to Callie. "Here you go momma. Congratulations!"

Callie reached for him. When he was placed in her arms her heart soared. She was so happy. His eyes were focused on hers. Callie couldn't stop staring at him. Laura brought the soy formula that they had chosen to start him on. Frank pulled out one of their bottles from the bag. He transferred the formula to that bottle and handed it to Callie. They had the foresight to bring them. Including some dish soap and bottle brushes.

Frank watched as his son suckled on the bottle and began to eat. He took his finger. "That's my boy."

Laura took a picture. She got their attention. "I'm going to update the family. I'll bring the girls in about thirty minutes."

Frank kissed her cheek. "Thanks mom. How did it feel to deliver your grandson?"

"It was one of the most precious moments of my life." She wiped a tear from her eyes. "I'll order her X-ray after she is transferred to the mother baby unit."

Frank squeezed her hand. "Thanks."

Callie finished giving him the bottle. Frank took his son in his arms for the first time. Frank smiled. "Oh! Look at you!" He kissed his forehead. Then looked over at his wife. "Wow! He's."

Callie shifted in the bed. She winced painfully. "Perfect."

Frank kissed her. "Yes. Are you in that much pain?"

Callie lowered the bed. "I'm okay. Yes I'm hurting. But I'll be fine."

Frank handed her the baby again he texted his mother to order the x-ray now.

The door opened and Brooke and Claire came in followed by Fenton and Joe. The girls hurried to the bed.

They both gushed. Brooke cooed. "Oh look at him! Did you guys decide on a name?"

Claire was offering her finger to him. "Yeah what is it?"

Joe snapped a picture of the four of them. Then he came over. "Wow he looks just like you Frank." Then he addressed Callie. "You look like you're in pain."

"My bottom is sore."

Joe frowned. "Are they ordering an x-ray?"

Callie nodded. "Yes."

Fenton was holding his newest grandson. "Hi little guy. Um guys. What's his name?"

Callie chuckled. "We finally decided on one two nights ago. Ford Davis Hardy."

Laura put a hand on her heart. "The same initials now for five generations. That's special."

Callie shifted in the bed and winced. "Man are we sure he isn't twelve pounds."

Laura said. "I ordered you something for pain dear and x-ray will be here soon."

In fact it came through the door at that moment. Fenton gave the baby to Frank. They along with the girls stepped out the door. They didn't want Ford exposed to the radiation. Joe waited for the X-ray to generate. He studied the picture. He pointed. "Yep a fractured coccyx. The radiologist will confirm but it's there."

Frank stepped in. "Joe?"

Joe nodded. "A fractured tailbone. We need to check him over to make sure his shoulders are okay."

Joe took his nephew. "Hey Ford. Let me take a look here."

Joe temporarily took the gown off. He did a quick exam. Ford didn't fuss a bit. Joe ticked his tummy. "He's good. No signs of injury to his head, shoulders, or collarbones."

Callie grumbled. "So I was the lucky one. Goody."