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I woke up hours later to find Derek sitting in the chair with his head resting on the bed beside me. He was asleep. Light snoring emanated from him. His hand, I noticed, was resting almost protectively on my stomach. Without giving it a second thought, I gently placed my hand over his. Derek's hand was warm and soft. Just touching him sent goose-bumps up my arm.

He suddenly started mumbling in his sleep. "Mmm…Casey…" His hand started touching my stomach lightly. "Why didn't you…" he moved slightly. "…hm…tell me…" His breathing picked up a little bit and his face contorted in pain. As soon as he started fidgeting, I gently placed my hand on his head. Rhythmically, I stroked his head trying to calm him down. It worked and soon he was sleeping peacefully. Even after that though, I didn't pull my hand back.

I laid there with one of my hands on his and the other gently running through his hair. It was the most comfortable I'd ever been. Slowly I lulled back off to sleep. Before I did though, his name passed my lips. "Derek…"

I woke up with the pressure back. I cried out and turned to Derek.

"Get a nurse." I gasped and he immediately ran out. I threw my head back and held my stomach. A moment later Derek came back with the same nurse as before.

I squeezed my eyes shut as she did what ever it was she was doing. Derek came over and took my hand.

"Oh honey." The nurse said. "You're fully dilated." She went over to the wall and picked up the phone. "Dr. Kohan. Dr. Kohan to room three-twenty please. Dr. Kohan." she came back over to us and started to fill another syringe. I barely noticed. The pain was terrible.

"Oh lord." I said and looked up at the ceiling. "Don't make me do it please. Take me now."

"Casey." Derek said. I ignored him. "Casey!" he said with more force and turned my chin to face him. "Don't give up. You can do this. I know you can."

"No I can't Derek. I can't do it." Tears started leaking from my eyes. He brushed them away with his spare hand.

"You can." He insisted and leaned forward. His lips barely touched mine. Dr. Kohan came into the room with a delivery suit. He threw some scrubs to Derek.

"Put these on." He commanded in a professional tone. For the first time I'd ever seen, Derek actually did what he was told. "Now Casey I'm gonna need you to push as hard as you can when I tell you too okay?"

"I can't." I whimpered and closed my eyes.

"Casey. Look at me." I opened my eyes slightly to settle on the doctor. "You have to do this. I know you're scared but if you don't do this now we could loose the baby. Okay?"

I nodded weakly and Derek took my hand again. "You can do this Casey." He whispered.

"Are you ready?" the doctor asked. I nodded again. "Okay. Three. Two. One. Push."

I pushed as hard as I could. Pain shot through me and I squeezed Derek's hand. He didn't just let me crush his hand but squeezed mine back. For some reason that comforted me. Suddenly I felt extreme pressure in my abdomen. I screamed.

"That's it. Come one Casey. Almost done. You've got this." The doctor said.

Derek's head was leaning against mine. His lips were an inch away from my ear. He was whispering words of encouragement. "You're amazing. You've got this. You're doing wonderfully just a little bit longer."

"Yes. Yes. That's great. You're doing great. One more push."

I took a breath and pushed harder then I ever thought I could. Pain ripped through every inch of me. I felt my baby coming.

"I see the head. Come on Casey."

I prayed silently for the lord to help me. My prayers were answered when a baby's cry pierced the room.

"It's a girl!" Dr. Kohan called out. My heart swelled with love and a tired smile found my lips.

I could hear the smile in Derek's voice when he spoke. "You hear that? Baby girl. It's a baby girl." He kissed my temple. Derek softly touched my sweaty head. I turned to look at him. An impossibly large smile danced along my lips. Not once did he let go of my hand.

"Sir would you like to cut the cord?" a nurse asked Derek. He looked at her then glanced at me as if asking for my permission.

"Please Derek?" I said. He smiled and took the scissors from the nurse and cut my baby's umbilical cord. They carried her off to another part of the hospital. Derek knelt back down to me and ran his finger down my cheek.

"You did it." He whispered and smiled. I returned the smile and gave his hand a slight squeeze. Derek leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. If I thought my heart was full before, this far surpassed it.

"Get some sleep. You're gotta be tired."

"You have no idea." I said groggily and fell into a deep sleep still holding Derek's hand.

I had the nightmare again. It was the first time since I left home. This time the man towered over me. He slapped me across the face and I fell back. He told me I was a disappointment and that I should have fought Mr. Robinson off. It was my fault I got pregnant. It was all my fault.

I woke up to Derek shaking my arm. "Casey wake up. Wake up please."

My eyes shot open. I was breathing heavily and there was sweat all over my body. "Derek? What happened?"

"You were having a bad dream." He looked genuinely concerned about me. "God damn you scared the shit outta me." He sat back in his chair. "So what was it about?"

"Nothing." I mumbled and wiped the sleep from my eyes.

"You were mumbling 'It's all my fault' over and over." He stared at me intently.

"It was nothing Derek. Just forget about it." I snapped.

"Fine. Fine." He changed the subject. "Have you thought about a name?

"Isabella." I said without thinking.

"Beautiful name." he commented.

"How long was I in labor? What time is it? When can I go home?"

"14 hours. Two p.m. Any time you want."

"Now…" My back was starting to hurt from the bed and I wanted a shower.

"Kay. The nurse should he here soon." As if on cue, the nurse walked in.

"Oh…you're up." She was a little surprised. "I'm sure you will be wanting out of here huh?" I nodded. "I'm gonna go get your release form." She came back a little while later and had me sign a couple papers.

I changed into the clothes I'd brought. Derek helped me stand and I found myself stumbling a little bit. The moment we got to the baby-ward, I knew which one was Isabella. They brought her to me and gave me the birth certificate to sign. For the last name, I put Isabella Venturi. I tried to convince myself it was because it was my mother's last name.

Derek drove Isabella and me to my apartment. When we got there, Derek came up with us. He helped us get settled before heading for the door.

"Derek." I called before he left. "As long as you don't tell anyone you're welcome here whenever you want." I was holding Bella in my arms as she slept.

He paused before answering. "You need a babysitter I'm here." The moment he left my apartment felt empty. I looked down at Bella and smiled.

"My girl…"

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