CHAPTER 29
Emily was on her side breathing heavily as she felt Hotch reach from around from behind her and place his hands on her belly. As they cuddled, he asked quietly, "so do you feel anything?"
At Emily's last OB appointment, the doctor had suggested that sex and nipple stimulation could encourage labor to begin. Since then they had been trying these approaches as much as possible to get her labor to start before her doctor decided to induce her.
As much as Emily wanted to say yes, she couldn't. Groaning in frustration, she turned her head to look at him and answered sadly, "no, nothing. This baby is never going to come."
Hotch smiled understanding these last couple of weeks had been particularly draining for her before he answered, "yes she will. She is just being stubborn. I have no idea where that would have come from."
Emily chuckled before saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."
They both laughed before Hotch leaned in to kiss her. As they kissed, he reached under her knee pulling her leg up placing it on his shoulder as he without breaking their connection moved so he was facing her. Supporting himself with his right arm, he moved her leg onto his back before turning his attention to her breasts only to be interrupted a few minutes later by a message on his phone.
They both groaned as he rested his forehead against hers before pulling back and picking up the phone. As he checked the message, he said irked, "just got pulled into a meeting in a couple of hours."
Emily sighed as she slowly eased herself up to sitting before answering, "then it's a good thing that Derek is taking me to PT today."
Hotch came over and stood in front of her while giving her a hand to stand up. As she was standing in front of him, he leaned down to kiss her. When he had moved down to her neck, Emily moaned before saying, "we should probably get ready for the day since we both have somewhere we need to be."
Hotch sighed and straightened up as he replied, "I suppose you are right." Taking her right hand, he slightly drew her towards him before he said quietly, "come join me in the shower."
Emily smirked at him before nodding as she answered, "you're going to help me wash my hair." It was a task that she continued to struggle with because of her shoulder injury.
Hotch nodded before saying, "eventually."
####
Emily found herself increasingly irritable as her physical therapy session progressed. After Hotch had left for the office, a wave of fatigue had washed over her. As she was dozing, the doorbell had signaled Derek's arrival. After gathering her purse and keys, they had left for her appointment.
However since she had woken up from that nap her stomach had been upset which was causing cramping and her back pain was more intense than usual. After her appointment when Morgan had suggested lunch, she waved him off stating she wasn't hungry.
At that statement, Derek looked at her concerned as having lunch after her appointments had been part of their routine since he first started going with her. Looking at her, he asked, "you OK Princess? It's not like you to want to skip lunch."
Emily grimaced as she looked over at him and answered, "I don't want food right now. I'm tired, my stomach isn't happy and my back hurts. I just want to go home, lay down and take a nap."
Derek nodded as he noticed the fatigue on her face as he answered, "if you're sure let's get you home then." They had only taken a couple of steps, when Emily stopped and grabbed onto his arm and she leaned forward and moaned.
Wrapping an arm around her, Morgan said panicked, "Emily, what's wrong?" It was several seconds before she loosened her grasp on his arm and answered, "nothing is wrong. However, I believe my stubborn child is finally ready to make her appearance."
Derek smiled and answered, "well then let's make some phone calls and get you to the hospital." They slowly continued walking to his car as he kept an arm around her so she didn't fall when the next contraction hit.
####
On the 10 minute drive, Emily had had four more contractions, each stronger than the last. When they reached the hospital, Morgan had left his car with a valet. With Emily now unsteady on her feet, he got her into a wheelchair for the quick ride to the OB floor.
Once there they were quickly taken to a room by a nurse who handed Emily a gown to change into before she stepped out of the room to gather supplies.
It was then that Emily realized that she was wearing the one shirt that she had that still fit that did not open in the front. As she attempted to move her left arm to remove it from the sleeve, she cried out in pain. The reaction was not completely unexpected as she had had an intense PT session that had ended less than an hour earlier.
When she cried out Derek moved closer and asked, "what's wrong?"
Emily pointed to the gown and then said tearfully, "I can't lift my arm to take this shirt off." She paused and then asked, "can you help?"
Derek's eyes widened at the request before he answered, "um Em, I don't think that is a good idea."
Emily looked over at him. It was hard enough for her to ask someone for help. But to have him refused her request when she did was really pissing her off.
Glaring at him as she replied, "what, are you going to pretend that you have never seen a bra before. I'm not asking you to … ah son of a bitch! " Derek watched as Emily breathed through her contraction before she looked back at him and barked, "if you aren't going to help, then just leave or I may just throw you out this window with the next contraction."
Before Derek could reply, the door opened and in walked JJ. Derek visibly relaxed when he saw her and said, "thank god."
JJ smiled and replied, "no, just me. How are things going in here?"
Emily looked up and said, "Derek was just leaving before he goes out the window."
JJ looked at him questioningly before he answered, "I don't feel comfortable taking off her shirt…"
"...and this is the one that doesn't have a front closure. You go and I'll take care of it." JJ said before moving over next to Emily. Derek walked to the door and then said, "best wishes Princess." before quickly leaving the room. He held the door for the nurse who was coming back in with an armful of supplies. As he was walking down the hall to the waiting room, Hotch and Reid came around the corner and quickly walked over to him.
As they came up, Hotch anxiously asked, "how is she?"
Morgan replied, "she's OK. Said she was tired and didn't feel well after PT so I was going to take her home instead of our usual lunch when she had her first contraction. I sent the message to you as soon as I got her settled in the car and then we came right here."
Hotch nodded and then asked, "would they not let you stay until I got here?"
Morgan chuckled before replying, "they were OK with me staying however I left when JJ got here a few minutes ago after Emily threatened to throw me out the window."
Reid looked at him confused before he asked, "why did she do that?"
"She needed to change into a gown and because she just had PT couldn't move her arm to get her shirt off. She was annoyed with my reluctance to help her as I didn't think Hotch would appreciate walking in on that. When I left, JJ was helping get her settled."
Just then Hotch phone beeped. He took it out of his pocket as said after he looked at it, "speaking of JJ, she wants an ETA" as he typed her a message back. Another beep quickly came and Hotch's eyes widened as he continued, "Emily is already at 8 cm and her water just broke." as he looked anxiously up at them.
Derek pointed down the hall as he said, "she's in room 12 Hotch." before his friend quickly walked down the hall towards the room.
####
"OK Emily one more push." Dr Shaw said standing in front of her.
Emily groaned before answering, "you said that three pushes ago."
The doctor nodded before replying, "she's right here. She has a full head of hair. Come on one more big push and you'll be holding your baby."
"Come on Em, you can do this." JJ said from the right side of the bed.
Hotch kissed her forehead as he quietly said, "one more push sweetheart. It's time to meet our baby." As he did, he prepared to support her left shoulder through this next and hopefully last contraction. Emily's physical therapist had worked with him on the best way to support her shoulder while in labor however even so he was being very careful not to strain it.
It was just then that another contraction hit and Emily's body forced her to push whether she wanted to or not. Wanting the doctor to be right, she put all of her energy into her push and was quickly rewarded by the loud cry of their daughter.
The baby was immediately placed on her chest. When they started talking to her, the cries calmed and she looked up at them.
"She's so pretty." JJ said as she took in the sight in front of her.
Hotch smiled before replying, "she looks just like her mom."
They took turns holding their baby while the doctor finished with Emily. When they were left in the room with just their nurse, Emily handed the baby to her as she had been patiently waiting to examine and weigh the newborn.
While she did that, Hotch helped Emily up to go into the bathroom so she could shower. After Emily got up, JJ went to her bag and took out the items Emily had chosen to wear after the baby was born.
After handing everything to Hotch, she happily held the baby who the nurse was now done assessing. By the time Emily came out of the bathroom, the room had been completely cleaned up as well. After she was settled back on the bed, JJ carefully handed Emily her daughter.
Stepping back, JJ asked, "do you want some time to yourselves or are you ready for visitors?"
Hotch cleared his throat before answering, "ask them to give us a few minutes and then they can come in."
JJ nodded and left the room leaving the three of them alone.
####
Hotch had just settled on the bed next to Emily when there was a knock on the door followed by it tentatively opening as Garcia asked, "can we come in now?"
Emily laughed as she answered, "yes, come in and meet the newest Hotchner."
The team filed into the room and each person came over to look closely at the new infant as well as congratulate the new parents. When it was Derek's turn, Emily looked down sheepishly before she said, "I'm sorry I threatened you."
Derek laughed before saying, "it's OK Princess. The labor room is like Vegas. What happens there, stays there. All will be forgiven if you let me first one to hold your little lady."
Laughs filled the room and Emily maneuvered the baby into Derek's arms. Once he was holding her, Garcia and Dave came up next to him to get a better look at her.
A couple of moments passed before, Reid clears his throat and asks, "does she have a name yet?"
Hotch nodded as he sat with his arm around Emily's shoulders while she had her head resting on his chest. He looked at her before answering, "yes, we discussed it when JJ came out to get you. We'd like all of you to meet Eden Anneliese Hotchner."
Garcia gushed as she said, "aw, hello there Eden. Can I hold her? It's about time we had a girl for me to spoil. There are so many cute things that your daddy and Auntie JJ won't let me get for the boys."
Everyone laughed as they were all well aware of Garcia's enthusiasm in choosing gifts for the kids. As they did, Derek eased the baby into Garcia's arms.
At the mention of Jack, Dave asked, "when is Jack going to come by to meet his new sister?"
Hotch nodded before answering sadly, "hopefully tomorrow. Haley took him out of town this week to visit her extended family."
Emily sighed before continuing, "as long as we are both doing OK, we'll probably be home by then. The plan is to go home early in the morning unless a problem arises."
"You don't want to stay longer." Dave teased, knowing her opinion of hospitals well.
Emily huffed at him before answering, "no. I hate hospitals and have spent way too much time in them." She paused and took a few breaths to calm herself before continuing, "if they recommend that either of us stay of course we will but if not we'll go home and just see Eden's doctor in the office."
After the team visited for a while, they all noticed the fatigue on Emily's face after she yawned several times in five minutes. As they were saying their goodbyes, Dave asked as he hugged both of them, "let us know when you go home."
They were all walking towards the door when Garcia turned and exclaimed, "oh oh, take pictures of Jack with Eden and send them please."
They promised to do it later the next day.