December 19th

Nearing two full days of labour with nothing to show for her efforts, Emily was starting to get disheartened. "I can't do this anymore..." she sobbed. "I can't... It's too hard!"

She was laying back in the hospital bed, covering her face with her hands as she let frustrated tears escape. Her normally pristine appearance was decidedly dishevelled (not that that stopped Derek from thinking she was beautiful) - sweat glistened on her brow from her efforts, making her hair stick to her face, no matter how frequently Derek mopped her face with a wet cloth.

"That's not true, Em," Derek assured her from his spot at the end of the bed where he was rubbing her feet. "You're doing so good and you just have to hang on a little longer, okay?"

"You don't understand!" she insisted, anger flaring, "It's too hard!"

He moved to sit next to her on the bed, gently cupping her cheeks to make her meet his gaze. "Listen to me, Princess, you are too damn stubborn and too damn strong to give up. You are going to see this through and meet your beautiful little baby, okay?"

She stared into his eyes, her own filling with tears that spilled freely down her cheeks until he smudged them away with his thumbs.

"Don't you give up, Em," he whispered. "'Cause I'm not giving up on you."

She nodded, sniffled. "You're going to stay the whole time?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he vowed.

She attempted a smile, but it didn't last long because her next contraction slammed into her, making her cry out. She grabbed his hands, squeezing them as hard as she could, doing her best to breathe through the pain.

"You're doing so good, Em," he coached, "Just breathe. Keep breathing."

She exhaled shakily as the contraction ended. "Where's JJ?" she asked, apparently only just realizing she was missing.

"Getting a quick bite to eat," he said, "She'll be right back. Do you want her to bring you something?"

She thought for a moment. "Do you think she could find me a grilled cheese?" she asked, batting her eyes in a silent plea. She'd fought with her doctor over whether or not she could eat during labour and eventually won after citing every study she could find proving that it was actually beneficial.

He laughed. "I'll move Heaven and Earth to get you one," he vowed. "Even if I have to break into the kitchen and make it myself."

"Don't leave..." she started to protest.

"Never."

She offered him a sad little look then as she seemed to realize that he hadn't left her side except to use the bathroom in the entire time she'd been labouring. "Aren't you starving?"

He shrugged. "You need me here," he said. "I can miss a meal or two to make that happen."

Her bottom lip wobbled. "Derek..." she whispered, obviously close to tears.

"I'm here for the whole thing, Em," he murmured. "No matter what."

Derek was getting a few minutes of sleep in one of the uncomfortable armchairs, letting JJ take care of Emily for awhile. It had taken quite a bit of convincing from both JJ and Emily that they would be fine while he got some much needed rest and they'd promised to wake him if Emily needed anything.

"I can't believe you're letting Derek Morgan help you..." JJ whispered as she kneaded Emily's back. (Emily had been quick to point out that JJ was not nearly as good at the counterpressure...) "I never thought I'd see the day."

Emily gave her a little glare, even though she was on her hands and knees and JJ couldn't see the expression. "Derek has been saving my sanity, Jayje, especially when you were MIA."

"I'm sorry!" she apologized yet again. "I didn't exactly plan on not being there, okay?"

Emily rolled her eyes, but let the matter drop...partly because the next contraction knocked the air from her lungs. "Wake him up!" she demanded.

JJ didn't bother to protest, jostling Derek out of his slumber. "She needs you," she said and he was instantly at Emily's side.

"You're almost there, Princess," he immediately encouraged.

She nodded. "I think it's time..." she said on a shaky breath.

"Maybe I should wait in the hall?" he offered, averting his eyes as the doctor entered the room and began preparing for the delivery.

She shook her head frantically. "Just...stay by my head," she said. "Please?" They both knew he wasn't about to deny her anything when she used that pleading smile.

In spite of labouring for two entire days, Emily only had to push for ten minutes before her baby entered the world.

"Why isn't there any crying?" Emily choked out when no wailing cry followed the baby slipping from her body. She looked from JJ to Derek and back to the doctor, fear glinting obvious in her gaze.

The nurse explained, "Your baby is just fine – the doctor just needs to clear the mouth and nose." And, as if to prove her point, there followed a healthy sounding wail.

Emily clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her sob, even though tears were streaming down her face as she heard her child take their first breath.

"Does Daddy want to cut the cord?" the nurse asked, looking from Emily to Derek.

"Oh, I'm not the father..." Derek started to protest, suddenly feeling guilty for being there at all.

"You should do it," Emily assured him with a little smile. He still seemed hesitant, so she nodded once in assurance.

With shaking hands, Derek took the scissors the nurse offered him and snipped the cord connecting Emily to her baby.

"Congratulations, Emily," the doctor said as he set the baby on Emily's bare chest, "You have a son."

She rested a trembling hand on the baby's back, hardly daring even to breathe as she met her son for the first time. "Hi, baby," she whispered. "You're so beautiful."

"He's gorgeous, Em," Derek said, smiling tenderly at the image of her holding the newborn.

JJ nodded her agreement. "He looks just like his dad."

That statement seemed to shake Derek back to reality. "I'm going to give you two some time to bond," he whispered. Before he could step away, Emily reached out a hand to stop him. He halted, turned, gave her a smile. "Congrats, Princess. You're going to be an amazing mom."

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling right back. It was clear that she wasn't thanking him for the compliment, but for all that he had done for her.

"Always."