Chapter 45: A Baby's Entrance

"Listen to me Meredith…I'm going to get my kit…please... do not push… whatever you do…just don't push. Breathe through the urge, just blow it out." Derek instructed as he hurried to the back of his car, retrieving his doctor's supplies he kept in the trunk for emergencies. Nothing ever qualified more as an emergency then this.

He pushed a speed dial button on his cell phone and cradled the receiver to his ear as he searched through the kit with his hands. A deep sleepy voice on the other end of the phone answered after four rings.

"Hello?"

"Mark! I need to talk to Addison! Mer's having the baby and we're on the side of the road somewhere and the foot's presenting."

"Who's this?" His drowsy friend asked groggily, still apparently half asleep.

"It's Derek you dick head! Give the phone to Addie!"

Derek heard shuffling on the other end as he retrieved a pair of sterile latex gloves, some clean clothes, and other items that he knew he would need.

"Derek?! What's going on?" Addison finally answered, sounding much more awake and alert then her husband.

"Mer's having the baby. We're not going to make it to the hospital. The baby's breach, the right foot is already hanging out… I'm going to have to do this now but I need you to get me an ambulance and call ahead to the hospital to let them know we're coming."

He could tell Addison was flustered, but she answered in her best calm doctor voice. "Okay. No problem Derek… are you sure you know what to do?" Addison couldn't help but worry.

"Yes I'm sure." Derek groaned. "Just do what I told you."

Derek gave quick directions to where his car was located so the ambulance crew could find them and then tossed his phone to the side, directing all his attention on Meredith and their impatient baby trying to make its entrance into the world backwards.

"How you doing babe?" Derek asked concerned, seeing Meredith's face red with pain, and sweat dripping off her brow.

"Fine…good…" She answered through painful breaths.

Derek reached his hand up and moved some wet hair out of her face, giving a calm reassuring smile for her benefit.

"Everything's going to be fine Mer. We'll have our little baby out in no time." He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her damp forehead before pulling back and looking deep into her eyes.

"You ready?"

Meredith only nodded as she arched her back in pain, the excruciating sensations almost causing her to black out.

Derek slipped his gloves on quickly as he positioned himself directly between Meredith's legs. With one hand he gently held on firmly to the tiny purple foot while with the other he slipped two fingers up her, trying to tell as much as possible about the other foots position.

He smiled as he felt the small foot in his hand try to jerk free, reassuring him that for now, the baby was getting enough oxygen and they weren't too late. He was relieved to find the other foot was near her cervix, and with very little effort he was able to pull it gently, enabling it to join its pair outside of its mother.

Two tiny perfect little feet, five toes each, protruded from Meredith and Derek couldn't help to think how beautiful they were. He grasped his child by its tiny ankles in his left hand as his right hand rested flatly on Meredith's stretched skin.

"Okay Mer…I'm going to need you to push. Gently at first, let's see what it does."

Meredith nodded and obeyed, bringing her chin to her chest as she bore down, remembering to push slowly to let the baby adjust to the new sensation.

The legs slid easily out as Derek carefully pulled, meeting the effort of Meredith's push.

"You're doing perfect babe… absolutely perfect Mer…a little harder….that's right….the hips are coming out right now."

Derek's eyes teared as Meredith gasped and bit back a small scream. The rest of the body slid out, up to the infant's armpits and Derek let out a sob of joy.

"It...It's a boy Mer!" Derek cried, tears now streaming freely down his face.

Meredith lifted her head to see but to no avail and sat back, letting her own tears streak her cheeks, the emotion a mixture of pure jubilation and extreme pain.

"Okay Mer… this is going to be the hard part. But you can do it. You're the most amazing woman I have ever met, and I have no doubt in my mind that you can do this. Are you ready? Only a few more big pushes and we'll have our baby boy in our arms."

Meredith nodded again and resumed her position. Hands grasping the leather upholstery and chin tucked down ready to push.

Derek forced himself to regain his composure, knowing that this was the scary part. He needed to hurry before the umbilical chord was clamped for too long and he needed to make sure he didn't injure his fragile newborn's neck.

He instructed her to push, a deep long one, counting out loud as he maneuvered his son's shoulders out. First one, then the other.

There was hardly any time and he instructed again, his voice rushed and firm. "Again Mer! You need to push hard… harder! Just like that!"

The small round head was finally pushed free, and Derek's tears multiplied. He held in his hands the tiniest most perfect little creature that he'd ever laid eyes on.

Grabbing the clean towels, he had ready, he settled the still baby on Meredith's stomach as they both went to work, furiously rubbing and stimulating, trying to get their baby boy to cry.

Fear grasped Derek's chest and panic screamed in his ears. He needed his perfect baby boy to breathe. He needed to hear the priceless sound of a newborn shrill.

"Come on baby! Breathe for mommy! Come on..." Meredith's terrified voice echoed in the alarming silence as Derek aspirated his tiny baby's nose and mouth, his skin a horrifying bluish tint.

Derek didn't know how much time had passed but the dread began to set in. He couldn't do this. He was a doctor. He couldn't lose his own son. He wouldn't.

Derek closed his eyes in desperation for a split second when he heard the most beautiful sound he had ever experienced in his entire life.

His eyes shot open and settled on his son, the blue skin quickly giving way to a comforting pink. His dark eyes were alert and his mouth set open in an angry scream, his tiny nostrils flaring at his rude welcoming.

"I can't believe it... he's so beautiful Derek… I just can't believe it." Meredith sobbed as she held her son close, Derek layering clean dry rags on top of mother and baby.

"He's perfect Mer. Absolutely perfect." Derek's voice cracked but he didn't care.

This was without a doubt the best moment of his life. His heart swelled and lip trembled slightly as he looked down on his beautiful fiancée and the gorgeous baby boy, she had given him.

Meredith lifted her gaze from the newborn to meet Derek's stare. His blue eyes were like the ocean, his emotion resembling a stormy sea. The silent night was being shattered by their infants' determined screams as a soft drizzle began to fall.

Everything was perfect. The moment. Their baby. Their love. Derek rested a strong hand under their baby, and leaned forward to kiss his son for the first time.

The screaming ceased as the sweet infant gazed up into his fathers eyes. The bond was immediate and Derek wiped at the tears that continued to fall.

"I love you." Meredith whispered, not wanting to disturb the moment.

"I love you too." Derek finally looked away from the tiny face that had captured his attention and met Meredith's shining green eyes. "Thank you Mer. Thank you for two perfect children… for my family. I love you so much."

Derek couldn't speak anymore, the emotion taking hold of his voice. Instead, he leaned forward carefully and captured Meredith's lips in his. They pressed their mouths firmly against one another's as their tears fell, mixing in a cry of joy.

After a moment, Derek finally pulled back and both mother and father basked in the silence, gazing down at the perfect creature they had created together. The sound of sirens in the distance began to grow, signaling the ambulance was almost there. Derek sighed and sat back up, brushing the damp gravel that clung to his soaked jeans as he assessed the situation.

There were still a few things that needed to be done with the umbilical cord and afterbirth, so Derek took a deep breath, switching back into doctor mode as the ambulance pulled up beside him and a couple paramedics jumped out.

He cleared his throat and barked orders, the younger men immediately obeying, seeing that the dark-haired man knew what he was doing and accepting the fact that he was now in charge. Derek turned his back to the commotion for a moment and tilted his head to the sky. The soft rain bathed his hot skin in a cool mist, and he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

He was a surgeon. He saved lives and worked everyday. But this… this was so much bigger. He had just helped the woman he loved more than life itself bring a tiny little person into the world with his own two hands. This… this was what life was about. This feeling that was consuming him was worth everything that he and Meredith had been put through. He didn't think it was possible, but his love and connection to Meredith strengthened tenfold that quiet night on that dimly lit street; and he knew that as long as they were together, as long as they had each other, they would make it through anything else life decided to throw their way.