Chapter 30-CONCLUSION

Five days after Mac's wedding, Naomi had gone into labor and was taken to the hospital by Montana and Kira.

"Mami," she breathed between contractions, "I'm scared. It hurts."

Montana gave her daughter's hand a gentle squeeze. "I know, sweetheart, and I'm right here with you."

"Where's Leif?" Naomi asked. "Does he know I'm here?"

"Kira's getting hold of him and your father," Montana assured her.

Another contraction hit, causing Naomi to cry out.

"Breathe, Naomi," Montana instructed her. "Remember the Lamaze exercises. Don't push yet; you're not dilated enough."

"Get it out of me!" Naomi cried. "Leif's going to die when he gets here." She gritted her teeth.

"Honey, I wanted to rip off your father's testicles when I was having Michael and then you, but trust me, once you see this beautiful baby, all that will pass."

"But when?" Naomi whined. "It's taking so long for this baby to come."

"The first child usually does, sweetheart. Just try to relax and it should be over soon."

Meanwhile:

"Jesus Christ, Brian, one would think this was your kid the way you're driving like a bat out of hell," Paul said, hanging on for life.

"Yeah, Dad, you almost got us killed by a bus and nearly hit some poor sap on a bicycle," Leif added.

"You want to get to the hospital on time to see your daughter born or not?" Brian asked.

"Yes, preferably not taking other lives while we're at it," Leif replied. "I'm nervous as hell as it is about this kid."

"Spanky, slow the fuck down; you almost hit that old lady," Paul yelled. "Fucking hell, pull over and let me drive."

"Are you nuts? If you drive, by the time we got there, Naomi would have popped the kid."

"Then slow your ass down a little. You're scaring the hell out of Leif back there."

"All right, don't lose your shit. We're almost there anyway."

"Thank God," Leif sighed. "Now if we would just get there alive."

Later:

"Leif Kendrick, you're going to die for this!" Naomi screamed with the last push. "Die, I say! You better enjoy this baby because it's going to be the last!"

"Uh…Nom? I didn't ask for the rubber to break," Leif said slowly, wondering why such a sweet girl was suddenly a demon.

"Get stronger ones next time!" she yelled.

"Just a few more minutes, Naomi," the doctor assured her. "Then your little girl will be here."

"Get it out," she sobbed. "Please."

"One more push. Ready?"

Naomi bit her lip and nodded, nearly crushing Leif's hand as she gave one final push before a healthy yell filled the delivery room. Their baby daughter had arrived and Leif took pride in cutting her cord.

"Is she okay? Is she okay?" Naomi asked anxiously.

"She's perfect," the doctor smiled, holding up the baby.

"Holy hell, clean her up," Leif coughed. "She's a mess."

Naomi smacked his head. "My God, Leif, surely you didn't expect her to come out already washed and dressed, did you?"

"No, but damn, how am I supposed to see what she looks like with all that mess on her?"

The doctor had laughed at the exchange, handing the baby to a nurse to clean her up.

"Am I still going to die?" Leif asked hesitantly.

Naomi looked at him lovingly, once again the sweet, shy girl he adored. "Not if I can help it. I love you so much."

He kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, princess."

The following morning:

"Damn, our kids made one beautiful baby, didn't they?" Brian crowed as they stared at little Aida Cierra sleeping contentedly in the nursery.

"Won't argue there," Paul agreed. "Mi bebe hermosa."

"Hey, don't forget she's my granddaughter, too. She's got an Italian name first and a Mexican name second. How do you like that?"

"Yeah, but she's got a full head of black hair, so sucks to be you," Paul laughed, giving Brian's blond locks a playful tug. "Now here's hoping she'll shock us all and not be a midget."

"Yuk it up with the short jokes, PL," Brian grinned, "but need I remind you both of her parents are short, which increases Aida's chance of being short too." He blew a raspberry.

"You have to admit the kid's got one hell of a mix, though," Paul said. "Mexican and Indian on my side, German and English on Montana's, some white mix on Mimi's, and Italian and Russian on yours. Jesus Christ."

"We'll just call her Heinz 57 and be done with it," Brian laughed.

"You're not giving our grandchild any weird names," Paul replied.

"Damn, are you two bickering over who gets first dibs on Aida?" Leif chuckled as he came up behind them. "I will have you know that I happen to be the father here." He pulled something from his pockets. "Have a cigar."

"How's Naomi?" Paul asked, taking one. "We were just headed down to see her after looking at the baby."

"Doing good," Leif nodded. "Mom, Kira and Montana are down there now. Mac and Kent called and said they can't wait to get back from the Bahamas to see Aida, and Mike went to get coffee for everybody. Gran said she'll bring up the twins tomorrow for sibling day, though technically, Aida is their niece."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Brian nodded. "Let's go join the women and let our new princess have her rest. She's got a long, exciting life ahead of her after all."

Two days later:

Naomi had brought Aida home; she and Leif loomed about nervously as the tiny girl was passed around to relatives on both sides of their families.

"Dad, Jesus, watch what you're doing, you almost dropped her," Leif gasped.

"You think I never held a kid before?" Brian asked, giving him a look. "Briana, here, your turn to hold her."

"Yay!" she cried, happily taking the baby.

"Easy," Leif chided. "She isn't one of your dolls."

"I know." Briana cradled Aida gently for a few minutes before she spoke again. "Daddy, Aida smells kind of funny."

"She's a baby; it's baby smell," Leif replied.

"No, she smells really funny," Briana repeated.

"Oh God, not again," Brian said, realizing what she was talking about once he had a whiff. "And it isn't piss this time. Paul!"

"What?" he called from the kitchen.

"Your turn to hold Aida," Brian called, smirking.

"About time," Paul said, coming for the baby before he realized what hit him.

"Oh come on, Brian, this wasn't funny. You should have said she needed changed."

"Yeah, and it's your turn," he replied, giving Paul a tiny wave. "Have fun, Grandpa."

Paul gave him a dirty look as he took the baby to change her. "I despise you."

"Brian, that was cruel," Michael said, restraining himself from laughing.

"What? I changed the last one. Your dad should get used to it if he's going to be a proper grandparent."

"Yeah, but the diaper you had was the one Aida peed in," Michael pointed out. "Pops is back there with a fully loaded one. He's going to kill you."

"Wouldn't be the first time either of us played in baby shit," Brian replied. "And for at least the next year and a half, it won't be the last either."

A year later:

Aida squirmed in Mariah's lap as both families witnessed Leif and Naomi finally being married. Mac had marked her own first wedding anniversary and, expecting her own child in the spring, and now stood as her sister's matron of honor. It was almost as if she and Naomi had switched roles. Naomi was now the bride and Mac the expectant mother.

The happy couple now strode down the aisle as Michael scooped a laughing Aida into his arms. "See that, baby doll? Your mom finally married your pops. Took them long enough, huh?"

"Which reminds me," Paul spoke up. "When are you going to pop the question to Mia? Your mami and I aren't getting any younger and I'd like to pass on my name."

"Pops, come on, are you going to start this again?"

"I've already married off two of my girls. Is it unreasonable I want to see my only son married and having his own son?"

"I just turned twenty-one, Pops, and got into medical school. It will be awhile yet, though I can't think of anyone I'd like to spend the rest of my life with than Mia."

"Then get busy, boy," Paul nodded. "A prize like that won't be around forever."

"Let's just say it will be official come next Christmas and leave it at that," Michael grinned to his parents. "But not a word to Mia. If things go well, we'll be the next couple standing at that aisle next year."

"And watch," Montana quipped. "Kira will be the next one pregnant as much time as she spends with Keith. Come on, you matchmakers, we have a wedding reception to get to."