Happy Birthday!

"Make room! Auntie-to-be coming through!" Mabel's voice rang all the way down the hall as she raced towards birth room 13. She busted through the door to find Pacifica already dressed in a hospital robe and baggy t-shirt dress, lying in a bed. Dipper sat in a rocking chair next to her. Across the other side of the room was a tub. In between the tub and bed was a weighing and cleaning station.

"Well, hi there," Dipper said as his sister came rushing towards them.

"Did I miss anything?" Mabel asked.

"Nope," Pacifica answered, running her hands over her belly. Pretty soon she wouldn't be able to feel her baby girl moving around inside of her. "Just check-in, that's all."

"Well, what did they say?" Mabel asked, plopping on to the bed next to Pacifica.

"Please don't do that," Dipper scolded.

"Why not?" Mabel demanded to know.

"She's about to have a baby, give her some space."

"It's fine, love," Pacifica rolled her eyes. None the less, Dipper glowered at his sister, and she discreetly got off the bed.

"Well, my water broke," Pacifica explained. "We got here, they checked me, in, and I'm 3 centime-oh!" Pacifica put a hand to her side as a contraction hit.

"Okay," Dipper stood and set a hand on her shoulder. "Do remember to breathe."

Pacifica nodded as she took a deep breath in through her nose and let it out through her mouth. She repeated this a couple more times before a nurse came in.

"Oh, well, that's a good sign," the nurse smiled as she walked to Pacifica's side. Pacifica relaxed as the contraction left.

"How long was that one, dad?"

"31.5 seconds," Dipper answered.

"Sheesh, getting all specific up in here," Mabel chuckled as Dipper glowered at her again.

"You're new," the nurse said as she turned to Mabel, casuing everyone to chuckle. "I'm not going crazy, you weren't in here last time I cam by, were you?"

"No, I just got here," Mabel answered. "Hi. I'm the auntie."

"Aw, you're Auntie?" th nurse brightened up as she peaked under the blanket covering the lower half of Pacifica's body.

"Yeah."

"You excited?"

Mabel nodded eagerly. "You have no idea!"

The nurse checked Pacifica and then turned back to the couple. "Okay, so you're in between 3 and 4 centimeters right now. So, things are progressing. It's still going to be a while before you can push, though."

Pacifica nodded.

"My advice to you, would be to get as much rest as you possibly can and try not to get too excited. You've got a long day ahead of you."

The nurse left and Pacifica frowned. "How am I supposed to rest when I'm getting ready to have-"

A knock came at the door. Stan and Ford poked their heads in.

"There's the mom of the hour!" Stan cheered as he walked to Pacifica's side.

"It going to be more than an hour before this baby gets here," Pacifica groaned.

"As to be expected," Ford nodded as he patted her head. "How are you holding up."

"So far so good, but I'm not even half-way dialated, so…"

"Bah!" Stan waved his hand. "You'll do fine. You've made it this far. Hard part doesn't even start until after the baby's born."

"Thanks, I think?" Pacifica replied.

"You're welcome."

"So, hi guys," Dipper cut in.

"Hey," Stan patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry, Dad, you ain't the one giving birth so you don't matter right now."

Everyone laughed.

"Well, he's not wrong," Dipper shrugged.

"In all seriousness, though, how are you holding up, Sport?" Ford asked.

"Not panicking yet are you?" Stan chuckled.

"He's not allowed to," Pacifica answered. "He's gotta help me get through this."

Dipper chuckled, but on the inside he was…

...well, he didn't know what he was. He supposed he was nervous, but not nearly as nervous as he should have been. It appeared that the reality hadn't caught up to him yet.

"I'm doing alright," he answered, though he wasn't sure how truthful it was.

"Well, you just take care fo your lady, and take care of your self!" Ford instructed. "You're no help to anyone if you're not well."

"Like passed out. Fainted. Unconcious. Vomitting from the pressure," Stan listed.

"Not helping," Dipper retorted. He said it in a joking matter, but he was kind of serious. All of those things were distinct possibilities.

Pacifica began laughing, then another contraction hit. Dipper walked back to her side, holding her hand through it.

"Should we leave?" Stan questioned, awkwardly. The plan had always been that Dipper would be the only one outside the photographer and doctors to be present for the birth. The parents-to-be had said they didn't mind a little visiting before thngs really got rolling, though.

This contraction lasted 30 seconds before it disappeared, and Pacifica let out a sigh of relief.

"Didn't even scream, good girl!" Mabel cheered.

"Those aren't the big ones," Pacifica grumbled.

"Oh, well, then you might need to take that back, doll," Stan said to Mabel.

"Stanley!" Ford scolded.

"Hey, as long as she doesn't shatter every window in this building, we'll call it a win," Mabel said.

Pacifica chuckled again, despite her ever growing nerves that were beginning to show on her face.

"Guys, try not to get her too excited, she's supposed to be resting," Dipper said.

"Oh, then I should just go," Stan began backing away to the door, hands lifted, earning another round of laughter. He stopped at the door, smile on his face, then returned to give Pacifica a hug.

"You're going to do great, sweetie."

"Thanks," Pacifica whispered.

He stood up and patted Dipper on the shoulders. "Hang in there, Dad."

"Will do," Dipper said as the two men hugged and Stan left.

Mabel raced up to the hug the couple next.

"Auntie will see you soon, Persia," she said to Pacifica's belly before skipping out.

"I better go make sure those two stay out of trouble," Ford said as he shook Dipper's hand.

"Good luck, son," he smiled before hugging Pacifica. "Stay strong," he whispered to her and then left the two alone.

Pacifica rubbed her belly as she stared down at it.

Today. Their little girl was coming today.

"Try to rest, Princess," Dipper told her, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't see how that's possible," Pacifica replied.

Dipper chuckled softly. "Hence why I said 'try.'"

Pacifica laid down on her side, and Dipper walked to the wall to turn the lights out.

"Dipper?" she asked softly.

"Yes?"

"C'mere," Pacifica reached out a hand to him.

Dipper walked to her, laid down in the bed next to her, and set one arm around her, the other hand tangling itself in her hair. After a few silent minutes another contraction hit. Pacifica gripped onto his shirt, hissing through her teeth.

"Breathe, relax," Dipper reminded her.

This one lasted 32 seconds. Pacifica snuggled closer to him once it was gone, groaning in pain and fear.

"You're okay," Dipper held her closer. "I'm right here."

At some point she dozed off, but woke up when the next conraction hit. Dipper coached her through it, and then she dozed back off. This pattern continued for quite some time. Every now and then Dipper himself dozed off, but he always woke back up when he felt Pacifica tensing. He'd encourage her through it, then watch lovingly as she slept. There was something oddly peaceful about the experience; just getting to lie there, holding his wife in his arms and comfort her as they waited for the moment their little girl would be born to them.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed before the nurse came back to check on her.

"Alright, you're at 4 centimeters now."

"That's it?" Pacifica grumbled.

"I know, it's discouraging when these things go slow," the nurse said. "But do remember that this is your first baby. They usually come slower than others."

Pacifica grumbled again, but nodded.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Wendy! Logan!" Mabel cheered as she saw said mother and son racing into the waiting room, Wendy holding Logan on her hip.

"So sorry! I didn't see the text, I was helping Soos unload some new merch. He's getting Melody and Abuelita, they're on their way." Wendy set Logan down. "What did we miss?"

"Not much. She was only in between 3-4 centi-"

Ding!

Everyone looked at their phones.

Dipper: Made it to 4.

"Ugh! This is going so slow!" Mabel complained.

"We've only been here an hour and a half, Mabel," Ford reminded her. "Most first time labors last anywhere from 8-15 hours."

"AUGH!" Mabel cried.

"Heck, mine lasted 18," Wendy added.

"Was it really that long?" Stan asked.

"Yup," Wendy answered.

"Huh. What else was going on then, because I don't remember-"

"The trial," Ford answered before Stan could even finish.

"Oh, that monstrosity!" Stan exclaimed. "Yeah, the whole trial is kind of a blur in my mind."

"Glad that's over," Wendy nodded as she took a seat.

"The trial or Logan's birth?" Mabel asked.

"Yes," Wendy answered.

The doors opened again and the Ramirez family all came rushing in, carrying armfuls of stuffed animals, flowers, balloons, and banners.

"Whoa, trying to out do us there, Soos?" Wendy asked.

"Nah, but I had a feeling you dudes would be too excited to get anything befre getting here, so I got something for all of us."

"He's so thoughtful!" Melody bragged.

"Mama! Mama! Mama!" Logan cheered as he jumped up and down in front of Wendy.

"Logan, Logan, Logan," Wendy answered back.

"W'at we doin' herwe? W'at 'appenin'?"

"Well," Wendy scooped her son into her lap. "You're Aunt Pacifica and Uncled Dipper are about to have a baby."

"A baby!?"

Everyone laughed at the little boy's excited and slightly confused face.

"Yup, you're having a little cousin," Wendy nodded.

"Little baby Persia!" Mabel cheered. "Can you say 'Persia?'"

"Pur...Pur…'

"Persia!"

"Pur-swah!"

"Eh, that's a start," Stan shrugged.

"Pur-Swah!"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"Babe, help me up," Pacifica begged.

"Wha-"

"I'm going to go crazy if I have to stay lying down another minute!" Pacifica explained. Dipper helped her to her feet just as another contraction hit. Pacifica had to cling to her husband to keep her knees from buckling.

"Okay, that one was definately stronger than the last ones," she gasped once it was gone.

"You wanna lie back down?" Dipper asked.

"No, again, I'll go crazy if I-"

"Okay, okay."

The two walked several laps around the maternity ward, Pacifica having to stop and lean against Dipper every now and then when contractions hit. After about the 8th lap Pacifica's feet began to hurt, and she was getting bored with just walking in circles. Dipper led her back to their room and began massaging her feet.

The nurse came back in to check her.

"You're at 5 now!"

"UGH!" Pacifica looked down at her belly. "Mommy would appreciate it if you'd hurry this along!" She leaned back against her hands.

Dipper looked through their bags. "We've got some cards here we could play to pass the time."

They decided on go fish. Yeah, it was basic, but that meant it was easy to keep up with in between the contaction pauses. After about five rounds, though, the game grew boring as well.

"Maybe you should try getting some more res-"

"OH!" Pacifica gasped, almost doubling over. "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, OUCH!"

"Oh, boy. Okay, love, breathe. There you go," Dipper rubbed her back.

Pacifica shook her head as the contraction lightened up. "I think the ship has sailed for getting rest."

Pacifica reached for her phone, Dipper handed it to her. She opened google.

"...moving around can help speed labor along. So, back to walking laps around the maternity ward, huh? Perfect!"

"Not necessarily. Dipper opened an app on his phone, set it on the table next to the bed, and stood to his feet. Slow jazz music began playing.

"May I have this dance, m'lady?"

Pacifica smiled as her husband helped her to feet. He took her hands and set them on his shoulder as he set both arms around her lower back. They gently swayed back and forth to the music. After a few moments a contraction hit. Pacifica gripped onto Dipper's shoulders to hold herself up as he tightened his grip around her waist.

At some point the photographer arrived. Neither of them paid her much mind as they continued in their dance. Pacifica gasped in pain as another contraction hit. This one was much stronger than any of the past contractions. She let out a small groan.

Dipper sensed that this one was much more intense and helped her over to the rocking chair. She sat down without arguement as forced her breath to be regular. The contraction died down, and was imediately replaced by another, even more intense one. Pacifica groaned loudly.

"Want me to call the nurse?" Dipper asked, concern in his voice. Pacifica nodded. He walked to the hall. He promptly returned with the nurse.

"Oh! You're at 7.5 centimeters so, yeah things are about to get really intense really quick. Now would probably be a good time to get in the tub if you're still planning on a water birth."

Pacifica nodded slowly.

"You wanna do that?" Dipper asked.

Pacifica nodded. The nurse began filling the tub as Dipper stayed with Pacifica. The contractions were becoming more and more common now, and muc more intense. Dipper helped her to her feet, and into the tub.

She let out a sigh of relief as she lowered herself into the water. The warmth did help alleviate some of the cramping in her back and abdomen. Dipper knelt down to the tub. Pacifica leaned against the side of the tub near where Dipper was kneeling. He reach over the railing and set his hands on her lower back, doing his best to massage the pain away.

Yet another contraction hit, Pacifica leaned her forehead on the side of the tub as she let out a loud moan.

Holy Smokes! Dipper thought as he watched her. Reality was finally catching up to him. She was in labor! Pacifica Pines, his wife, his Pacifica was in labor with their baby. Their little girl. Pacifica groaned again, snapping him out of his trance.

"You want me in there with you now, later, or never?" he asked.

"Just keep rubbing my back, I don't care," Pacifica grumbled, her voice muffled by the side of the tub she still had her face leaned against.

Dipper set on hand on the back of her head and continued massaging her lower back with the other hand. He noticed after a few minutes that her hair had started falling out of the messy bun she'd put it up in when they first got to the hospital. He stood up, got the bursh from their bag, and began brushing and redoing her hair.

"AUGH!" Pacifica cried out. Dipper jumped at the sound, his heart stopping momentarily.

"You're at 9 centimeters, you are almost there!" the nurse cheered.

"Dipp...Dipper…" Pacifica whimpered before letting out another cry of pain.

"Yes?"

"H...Hol-Oh, gos-AUGH!"

Dipper's throat tightened at the sight of her in so much pain, but he swallowed the tightness away and answered. "Hold you?"

Pacifica nodded.

"You want me in there now?"

She nodded again.

"Okay, give me two seconds."

Dipper slipped into the bathroom to change into his swim trunks and then slipped into the tub with her, pulling her into his arms. She buried her face against his chest as he set his hands against her back and continued rubbing circles onto it as he gently rocked her back and forth. Pacifica sniffled, and began crying softly against him.

"Sh, it's okay Princess, don't cry."

"I can't do this!" Pacifica whimpered. "I can't do this!"

"Yes you can," Dipper whispered to her. "Look how far you've come. You're almost there."

"Why did I choose to go natural, aga-AH!"

Dipper flinched at her screams. He wanted this to just be over, he was tired of seeing her in so much pain. He kissed her cheek and rocked her gently once again.

"You're almost there, love," he reminded her. "Just a little while longer and you'll be able to-"

"Alright, Pacifica, looks like you're fully dialated," the nurse called. She pressed the button to call for the doctor.

Oh, crap! Oh, crap! It's happening! This is it! Holy smokes! Holy sh-no, I can't use that term, I'm about to be a dad. I'M ABOUT TO BE A DAD!

The doctor came in, checked Pacifica again, and nodded.

"Alright, looks like we're good to go."

I'm not! Dipper thought to himself.

"When you feel the next contraction hit I want you to take a deep breath and push for ten seconds, okay?"

HOLY SMOKES THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!

Pacifica nodded as she began turning herself.

Wait, what am I supposed to be doing? Dipper thought. Oh, right! He moved back until his back was pressed against the wall of the tub, and then helped Pacifica to sit between his legs and lean her back against his chest.

Just don't look down, don't look down! Dipper kept repeating to himself as he slipped his hands into hers. Pacifica suddenly took a deep breath.

Oh my gosh, she's pushing, this is really happening!

"Alright, Pacifica, you're going to have to push harder than that."

"I'm sorry, I can't," Pacifica cried.

"Yes you can," Dipper whispered as he nuzzled his face into her hair, botht o comfort him and to keep him from accidentally looking down and seeing something that might make him faint. That was the last thing either of them needed.

"Next contraction I want you to roll your chin to your chest and give it everything you've got," the doctor instructed.

Pacifica nodded slowly, taking deep breath, then did as she was instructed.

"There you go, that's it," the doctor cheered.

"I told you," Dipper whispered to her. "I told you that you could do it."

Pacifica took in a deep breath, letting out a high pitch squeal of pain before pushing yet again. And again. And again.

"Okay, okay, take a quick break. You don't want to burn yourself out."

Pacifica whimpered in pain as she collapsed against Dipper, gasping for breath. Dipper ran a hand over her hair and kissed her cheek.

"I can't...I can't…"

"You're doing it," Dipper told her. "You're doing it right now. You're having a baby."

"I don't want to have a baby anymore! I quit!"

"You can't quit, love."

"Shut up, you're the one that got me into this mess in the first place."

"Yeah, well, tell me more about it after the baby gets here."

"Oh you can bet I will-oh!"

"Alright, time to start pushing again," the doctor instructed.

Pacifica rolled her chin up to her chest and pushed again. She gasped and let out a loud scream that caused Dipper to tremble.

"Why won't this baby get out of me!?"

"It's coming, it's coming. We can already see the top of the head, it's coming."

"Really?" Pacifica's eyes lit up with hope that her ordeal would soon be over.

"Yup, you're almost there."

Pacifica nodded, seemingly encouraged by this and began pushing again.

"That's it, that's it," the doctor encouraged. "Good girl."

"Come on, Princess, you can do it," Dipper encouraged, butterflies fluttering a tornado in the pit of his stomach.

Pacifica screamed another bone chilling scream, throwing her head back in pain, busting Dipper in the nose.

"Ouch!"

"You're saying 'ouch!?'" Pacifica thundered.

"Erm...no…" He lied as rubbed his nose, checking to see that it wasn't broken. It wasn't, but he could feel a small trickled of blood coming out of his left nostril. He pinched it closed and focused back on his wife.

"You're almost there, Pacifica. She's coming."

"Is she really?" Pacifica sounded doubtful.

"Yes."

"She's a blondie like her mom," the nurse piped up.

A blondie like her mom? A little Pacifica? Something about that thought both enthralled Dipper and terrified him.

Pacifica screamed yet again, shattering him once more from his trance.

"That's right, just a little more."

She stopped to rest and gasped for breath. Dipper nuzzled his face into her hair again. "You're almost there. We've almost got our little girl."

Pacifica let out a low moan of pain before rolling her chin up and ushing again.

"That's it, that's it, that's it," the doctor encouraged. "Almost there."

Pacifica's hands closed down like iron clamps around Dipper's hands, turning his fingers white. He didn't care though. He just wanted this to be over so Pacifica wouldn't have to be in pain anymore.

"One more push, that's it…"

Pacifica screamed.

"Come on, you're so close," the nurse cheered. "One more."

Pacifica rolled her chin up again and let an ear piercing shriek.

"And here she is!"

Dipper snapped his head up to see a tiny baby being lifted out of the water. The little girl's face tightened into a grimace before she let out a tiny whimper. Pacifica gasped and let out another sob, this one wasn't out of pain though, it was out of overwhelmed joy.

"Go on mom, take hold your baby," the doctor encouraged. Pacifica let go of Dipper's hands and gently took the baby into her arms. The baby whimpered again before letting out a loud cry.

"Oh," Pacifica gasped. "Oh my goodness, you're finally here!"

Dipper could only stare in wonder as the tiny baby continued crying. He slowly reached out a shaking hand and set ontop of the little girl's head.

His little girl.

He slowly ran a finger over her fine, baby hair. Like the nurse said, she was blond like her mother. He gently took one of her hands in his. She opened her fingers and clasped them around his thumb. He gasped as she clung to his finger. She was really here. They really just had a baby.

He felt his throat getting tight and his vision starting to blur as he leaned down, over Pacifica's shoulder, and gave their newborn daughter a kiss on the forehead.

Pacifica smiled as she watched him, and then gasped when he quickly turned his head away to wipe a few tears off his face.

"Aw, babe," she gasped as he turned back to her, eyes still brimmed with joyful tears, two of which managed to escape and trickle down his face.

"No, don't do that," Pacifica said as she repostioned their daughter so she culd reach up and wipe them away for him. "You're going to make me cry."

Dipper chuckled. "Sorry I can't...I can't…" He covered his face in his hand as even more tears fell.

"Dipper," Pacifica gasped, tears now beginning to run down her face.

The nurse and doctor rolled the weighing and cleaning trays over to the side of the tub and gently took the baby from Pacifica to set on the weights. Dipper took the opportunity to give his wife a very passionate kiss.

"I told you that you could do it."

Pacifica could only smile. She was exhausted and sore but she could not be happier. She couldn't remember a time sh'e been more overwhelmed with joy since hers and Dipper's wedding day.

The nurse began helping Pacifica out of the tub. Dipper helped her to the bathroom to change into a dry night gown before leading her back to the bed.

"Dad, you want to come cut the chord?" the doctor asked.

"Um, yeah!" Dipper smiled. While the nurse checked on Pacifica to make sure everything was alright, Dipper walked over to cut the chord. Once that was done he stayed, holding his daughter's tiny hand in his as the doctor checked to make sure everythign was alright.

"So, do we already have a name picked out?"

"Persia Avril," Dipper answered. It felt almost strange saying it now. For the past few months Persia had been an idea. Something far off in the future. Yet now, all of a sudden, here she was, staring up at him with big, curious, bue eyes.

Blue eyes. Like Pacifica.

The doctor set her on the scale to get her weight.

"Let's see… six pounds, three ounces. She's a tiny little thing."

Dipper grinned. "Tiny little Peanut."

The doctor then took her body measurements, foot prints, and the gave Persia her first round of eyedrops, and her vitamin K shot. Obviously she did not like the shot too much and screamed and cried.

"Aw, sh, sh, sh," Dipper crooned as he ran a hand over her hair. "It's okay. It's okay, Peanut, you're okay."

Persia clasped her tiny hands, or at least tried to clasp her tiny hands around her father's much bigger one as she kept crying. Dipper traced her tiny jawline with his finger.

"It's alright, I'm right here," he promised her.

The doctor finished checking up on the baby, put on her diaper, hat, and swaddled her up. "Weight, 6.3. Gender, Female. State: Healthy. Date and time of birth: March 10th, 5:37 A.M."

March 10th? Dipper thought in awe. When they'd come to the hospital is was still March 9th. He turned and looked over at Pacifica, who was now lying down on the bed, propped up by a stack of pillows. She'd just labored for 16 hours to bring their little girl into the world, and she had taken it like a champ. Dipper's eyes passed from his wife, to his daughter, and back to his wife.

I am litterally the luckiest man alive.

"Alright, you can take her dad."

Dipper's heart skipped a beat. "I can hold her?"

"Well, yeah," the doctor chuckled. "She's your baby, isn't she?"

Dipper stared down at the tiny little girl. She was so small. So fragile. How was he supposed to hold her. None the less, with shaking hands, he reached down, set one hand under her head, and one hand under her bum, and lifted her up to him. He caefully moved he to the crook her his arm. The tears began brimming his eyes again as the doctor and nurse left, letting the new family have some time alone.

Pacifica smiled as she watched her husband gently rock their baby back and forth, staring at her in pure wonder.

"Hey there," he whispered softly. "Hey there, Persia. I'm your dad."

Persia stared up at him, innocent eyes full of curiosity as she began placing a face with the voice she'd heard talking to her the past few months. Dipper leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Pacifica felt her throat tightening. She thought back to her own father and how cold, disconnected, abusive, unloving he was to her. How completely and utterly different was the new father standing in front of her, cooing softly to their tiny daughter, rocking her gently, kissing her face. He was in his own little father-daughter world, totally smitten by their little angel.

"I knew loving father would be a good look for you," Pacifica smiled. Dipper turned to her, joy radiating off every aspect of him.

"Yeah?" he asked. Pacifica nodded as he walked to sit on the side of the bed and passed their baby to her.

"Hi, Persia," she crooned as she cradled the baby to her chest. "Thanks for finally coming out of me."

Dipper laughed and then kissed the top of her head.

"You missed, babe," Pacifica playfully snapped at him.

Dipper smiled, then leaned down and kissed her lips. Persia let out a rather loud coo.

"Oh, don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you, darling," Pacifica promised as she kissed her daughters forehead. Dipper slipped his arm around his wife's shoulders as they continued to watch over their little Persia Avril Pines.