EPILOGUE
Tesla had a feeling that tonight would be the night. She'd resisted going to sleep by fluffing up some pillows on her bed and tucking into her closet with a flashlight and her well worn copy of "A Brief History of Time". It was the most recent edition and it was signed by her mom, who'd also written the foreward. Brittany wasn't the leading theoretical chaos theory expert for nothing. The text was still a bit over Tesla'a head, but she liked to read the part about herself in the pages. It was near the end of the forward, and it was her favorite part.
I learn something new from my daughter Tesla everyday. A lot of it is about the way to live my life. She teaches me to be patient, because not everyone knows what you know. She teaches me to be kind, because the way you live your life is the way that your children will live theirs. She teaches me to be curious because one should always be asking why. She teaches me to be brave, and hopeful, and optimistic, and thoughtful, and active. She teaches me all those things just in the way that she lives her life. She gives me those lessons every day for free because she is probably tied for first place as the most giving person I've ever met (I'm talking about you, Santana!).
Tesla is the reason that I'm where I am today. When she was a baby, she was very fussy at night. My wife would be exhausted from work, so it was up to me (the pretty free college professor) to stay up and walk the baby around. I tried singing to her, it didn't work. I tried dancing with her, better but still not the home run. It wasn't until I started doing the work on my doctoral thesis with her in my arms that she'd settle down. Most of the time she would sleep, but sometimes she would just gurgle and coo to the sound of my marker squeaking across the white board.
The night that I expounded on the Brittany Code, and discovered a tangent that would revolutionize the way we thought about the universe, was not a peaceful night. I had been rocking Tesla, and pacing back and forth with her for what seemed like hours, and had finally gone to my full lab in the basement, just so my wife could get some sleep. I decided that it wouldn't do any harm to start running some equations, so I did, writing and writing to the rhythm of my sleepy infant's cries. I thought she'd go on forever when I (probably in a fit of shrieking induced hysteria), transposed Planck's Constant instead of the one for Vacuum permeability and voila! She stopped crying immediately. I was so shocked I didn't even have time to think about my mistake, and just bounded up the stairs to place her in her crib.
It wasn't until the next morning when I realized what I'd done. And what it meant. By way of my little girl I had stumbled upon one of the greatest finds of the twenty first century. That's the day that I learned that inspiration comes from unexpected places, and to never underestimate Tesla Lopez-Pierce.
To my wife Santana, who gave me everything a woman could ask for.
To my daughter Tesla, who has made me prouder than I've ever thought possible.
I love you.
Tesla closed the book with a snap and sighed. She was basking in the glow of the warm words when she heard a thump from where she sat in the closet. She opened the door, ready to shoo Lord Tubbington away when she heard a shout, and a figure stumbled back.
"Tesla! Girl, you scared the heck out of me."
"Sorry Aunt Mercedes." Tesla said, climbing out of the closet, and standing up. "I thought you were Lord T. He sometimes sits on my legs at night, and I lose feeling in my toes-"
Tesla stopped, hopping from one foot to the other. "If you're here, does that mean it's time?! Is it time?!"
Mercedes laughed. "Yep. Santana just called me a minute ago. Put on your shoes, Tess, we're going to the hospital."
Tesla reached beside her bed for the 'Emergency Baby Kit' that her Mami had prepared for her a few weeks before, and grabbing her boots, ran out of the room, down the hallway, and careened down the stairs. She managed to wiggle both feet into boots, and grab her coat off the rack in record time, and was waiting by the door, nervously moving in small circles while Mercedes followed behind her.
Sam walked his wife to the car, gave her a kiss, and hugged Tesla, waving goodbye to them as they pulled out of the driveway, and into the road. Aunt Mercedes wasn't used to driving her Mami's car, but at least it hadn't started snowing yet, so they were able to make good time to the hospital.
Tesla already knew the room number, and ran to the elevator, tapping the button furiously as she waited for Mercedes to catch up.
"Aunt Mercedeeeeeeesss. C'mon"
"I'm coming, Tess, I'm coming, don't worry, we've still got time."
"Did Mami say how many centimeters Mom is? I mean, how many centimeters dilated? Because that book I read told me that-"
"She didn't Tess, but I'm sure you can ask her all about it when we get in there. Just remember to be quiet and be careful, okay, this is still a hospital."
Tesla nodded, but kept up her excited little dance as she waited for them to reach their floor. Mercedes could only smile as the elevator doors opened, Tesla took a careful peek outside, and then raced off the elevator, and down the hall. She found the right door, and looked to Mercedes who nodded before peeking in.
"She's here! She's here, Santana."
Brittany's eyes were brimming with tears, and Santana, who looked like she hadn't slept in a month, looked up towards the door, beckoning to the nurses who gathered around the bed.
"Our daughter is here. Our little girl." She said, pointing towards Tesla.
Mercedes was behind her now, and one of the nurses handed a stack of clothes to Mercedes.
"Time to suit up, Tesla. Are you ready to meet your new little brother or sister?"
Tesla nodded, carefully shedding her bag, and tucking it out of the way. Then, with the help of Mercedes, donned the gloves, gown, and cap that was almost full to bursting once all of her curly locks were tucked under it.
She walked over to the side of the bed opposite Santana, and put a hand on Brittany's shoulder, wide eyed and nervous but so, so, happy.
"You're doing great, hun." Santana said, giving Brittany's hand a gentle squeeze."
"I love you, Mommy." Said Tesla, squeezing Brittany's shoulder.
Brittany smiled and leaned over slightly, kissing Tesla on the forehead. "My two favorite girls. I'm so glad you're here."
Tesla smiled, but her eyes got wide again when Brittany's face contorted into a grimace, and she strained hard. Her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat and her cheeks stained red from effort. Every so often Santana would dab at her brow with a towel, lovingly, while whispering encouragement into her ear.
Dr. Langley pulled a hand out from between Brittany's legs, and patted her thigh.
"You're doing a terrific job, Brittany, only a few more pushes, okay, I can feel the little one is really ready to pop out."
Brittany only groaned, baring her teeth, and turned towards Santana. "This is much harder than you made it look, darling."
"Well, I did have the harder pregnancy, so it all evened out in the end, right?"
Her weak joke landed on deaf ears as Brittany groaned again, squeezing Santana's hand.
"Only a few more pushes now, Brittany, you've got this." Doctor Langley seemed to be focused on Brittany's pushing, and there was a shift in the room, as if the finish line was right around the corner.
"You can do it, Mommy." Tesla began chanting in her mother's ear, pressing her forehead into Brittany's shoulder.
Santana did the same, pressing her forehead into Brittany's while looking into her eyes. "You've got it now, Britt, just push. Here we go, let's do this."
Brittany gritted her teeth, and moaned low, pressing down with all of her strength. A moment later she relaxed, and there was movement at the foot of the bed.
"Okay, Brittany, okay, just relax. The baby is here." Doctor Langley said, covering Brittany's legs, and busying herself on the small bed with one of the nurses.
"Is everything okay?" Brittany asked, her voice small and exhausted.
"Give me a sec. Yep, yep, everything is fine."
There was a moment where the three Lopez-Pierce held their breath, and then they heard it. A tiny wail that split across the room. It was quiet at first, and then got louder, and louder.
Doctor Langley spun around, carrying a small bundle towards them.
"I present to you Baby Lopez-Pierce the Second. Mamas, it's a boy!"
Sunshine broke out across all of their faces, and Brittany gestured furiously towards Santana. "Give him to her. Let her hold him."
Doctor Langley complied, handing the tiny swaddling of blankets to Santana, who already had tears streaming down her cheeks. She tucked a hand behind his head, and gasped at the shock of dark hair that greeted her. She counted his fingers and toes, and kissed every single one before turning back to Brittany.
"He's gorgeous, Britt. He's so perfect. Thank you."
Brittany smiled, still wiped out from her earlier endeavors. Santana stood up, and beckoned to Tesla, who was around the bed in a flash, and standing in front of her Mami and new little brother.
Santana gestured to the seat behind her and once Tesla sat down, nestled the baby in her arms.
"Es perfecto." Tesla breathed, looking down at her little brother. "He looks like me."
"He does, mija. He's perfect, just like you." Santana smiled, and kissed Brittany again on the forehead.
Doctor Langley smiled at the scene. "Any idea what to name him?"
"Lovelace!" Brittany exclaimed without hesitation. "Tesla and I came up with that one."
Santana smiled again, rolling her eyes. "I never could say no to that pout."
Tesla looked down at the baby, grinning. "He's named after Ada Lovelace. She was the world's first computer programmer."
"Is that right?" Chuckled Doctor Langley, good naturedly.
"Yep."
Santana settled next to Brittany, careful not to jostle her too much, and watched Tesla sitting next to them. Gently cradling her newborn baby brother.
"I'm so glad we did this." Brittany whispered, pulling Santana towards her, and burying her face in her neck. "It's like our family just got a little bit more perfect."
"I love you, Brittany."
"I love you, Santana."
Tesla moved her face closer to her baby brother's and kissed him gently. "Te amo, Lovelace."