Chapter #14

Ben rushed over to his kneeling wife, helping her to keep her balance on the floor. "Just now? It broke just now?" Ben asked.

"Yes," she gasped again, holding her abdomen and breathing hard.

"It's okay, we'll just get you to the med center and—" said Ben, lifting his wife gently.

"Nooooo…." Rachel sank back down to her knees. "This one's…coming… fast."

"How fast?" asked Ben. "Tiann-fast or Nirice-fast?"

"Abby-fast," she groaned, closing her eyes.

"Not good," said Tiann.

"That's not helping, Tiann," Ben said, giving his twelve year old a look. "Dad, call whatever medical emergency transport is available and tell them we need medical assistant now."

"Yes son," said Luke running to the comm unit, his face white.

"Mom, I need you to get blankets, pillows and towels."

"I'm on it," replied Mara, sympathy on her face as she glanced at Rachel.

Ben looked around. "Tiann go downstairs and wait in the foyer for the transport, then bring them up here when they arrive. Nirice go to the kitchen and get something sharp that I can cut the umbilical cord with."

"Okay, Dad….I'm so sorry, Daddy, I didn't mean to…" started Nirice.

"It's all right, baby, just go to the kitchen for me."

Mara came back loaded with everything Ben had asked for. "Mom, lay out the blanket and help me lift Rachel up so she can recline on it," Ben instructed, calmly.

"Ooooooooww," moaned Rachel, starting to pant.

"It'll be okay, honey. Mom, if you will sit behind her so she can use you as a support. Come on, Rach just lean back against my mom. Get those pillows under her hips, that's it," encouraged Ben.

Rachel leaned back against Mara, while Ben bent her legs and placed a towel over her for privacy. "Okay, let's just lose the undergarments, honey."

"Ben…" said Rachel, her face flushing.

Ben smiled. "You've never been this modest during delivery before."

"I've never given birth in front of your parents before either," she said gritting her teeth as another contraction hit.

Nirice entered the living room with a sharp knife in hand. Ben looked up into her face and smiled. "Thanks, baby now take Caleb, Emia and Abby to my folk's bedroom and stay with them."

"Is Mom is going to be okay?" Nirice asked, her voice shaking.

"Of course, after five times we're old pros at this," Ben smiled. "Go on now."

Luke hurried back over as the kids went into the bedroom. "They're on their way, Ben. What else can I do?"

"Get a couple of damp cloths and then come hold Rachel's hand in between contractions." Ben checked his wife. "Stars, Rachel, you're already about seven centimeters. How long have you been having contractions?"

"Since breakfast…off and on." panted Rachel, perspiration beading her face. "But they weren't….steady…so I didn't think…." Rachel screeched loudly.

"What?" asked Ben.

"Lots….of pain," whimpered Rachel.

"Emia-pain or Caleb-pain," Ben asked, concerned.

"Abby-pain," grunted Rachel.

Not good…thought Ben.

Luke arrived with damp cloths and began to bathe Rachel's face and neck. "It's been a while since we've done this, son what's next?"

"We have to wait until she's dilated ten centimeters before she can push," said Ben checking Rachel again.

Rachel began to groan louder. "Something's….not …right."

Ben felt panic start to swell. "Not right how?" he asked trying to keep his voice calm.

"Have to….push!" Rachel cried her face scrunched up in pain.

"No, honey it's not time yet, just breathe," encouraged Ben.

"YOU BREATHE, I WANT TO PUSH!" said Rachel through clenched teeth.

"Lean forward Rachel," suggested Mara. "That's it…" Mara began to slowly rub her daughter-in-law's back. "Breathe…."

"That's good, Mom…keep it up," suggested Ben, wiping his wife's face. "The med team should be here any minute."

"Not…going to…wait for any….stinking med….team," growled Rachel, leaning back against Mara.

"Calm, Rachel…take another breath. It won't be long until you're holding that beautiful baby in your arms," said Ben softly, trying to soothe his wife. "Remember when Nirice was born? They put her in your arms and you laughed?"

"That's because….you said she looked like a Hutt, all red and wrinkled," sputtered Rachel.

"Well, a Hutt with hair at least," teased Ben. "Contractions are coming faster, aren't they?"

Rachel nodded her head as she panted and let loose with an ear splitting wail. "Check again…"

Ben lifted the towel to discover that his wife was a full ten centimeters already. "You're there, Rach. I think this baby's going to even beat Abby's time. OK, let's give a slow even puuuuuuuuush."

Rachel grabbed her ankles, leaned forward and pushed hard as Ben counted to ten. Luke helped support Rachel, as she leaned back against Mara.

"The head's crowning, honey. Take a breath and give another push," encouraged Ben, patting her leg.

Rachel took a deep breath and with one more enormous push, the baby's head was free. Ben angled the shoulder out and then the rest of the baby's body. Gently holding the head, he quickly cut the cord.

"Hand me a towel, Dad," said Ben checking his newborn's color. After wrapping the infant and clearing the mouth and nostrils, he waited for the baby to cry.

"Is it a girl or boy?" asked Rachel still trying to catch her breath.

Ben began rubbing the baby's back, not liking his color. "Boy." He should be pinking up by now….thought Ben.

"What's wrong? Why isn't he crying?" asked Rachel, panic filling her voice.

"I don't know…" whispered Ben, rubbing the baby's back harder. Where is the med team? "He's not breathing."

"NO, let me see him!" cried Rachel, reaching out her hands to her newborn. "Come on, sweetie. Come on now…." She rubbed his back, then patted him a bit, then patted harder. Rachel leaned over and started mouth to mouth breathing, but still nothing….

Ben dropped his chin to his chest and felt the tears begin to fall.

Feeling helpless, he looked up into his father's eyes. "I don't know what else to do…."

"Ben," said Mara softly through tears, "perhaps your dad….he has some healing ability. Let him try."

Ben looked at Rachel and his newborn son and nodded his head.

"Rachel, let me hold the baby for a moment," said Luke taking the newborn from a distraught Rachel.

Ben watched as his father carefully laid the infant on some towels and placed his hands on the baby's head and chest. Breathing slowly Luke closed his eyes like Ben had seen him do a hundred times before.

"Nothing's happening," said Ben softly, shaking his head. He lifted his hands to cover his face, it wasn't going to work. He heard Rachel softly weeping.

"WAAAAAH-WAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Ben looked up to see Abby, kneeling next to the crying baby with her hands on top of her grandfather's. His newborn's skin tone flooded to pink indicating blood flow at last.

"Abilee?" whispered Ben, stunned.

"Hi, Daddy," smiled Abby.

"It would appear that Luke's not the only family member with some healing ability," said Mara, hugging Rachel and wiping tears from her own face.

Ben lifted his new son and placed him in his waiting mother's arms. "Well, this is one for the record books. I don't know how we'll top this," said Ben, relief pouring through him.

"We won't!" announced Rachel, beaming. "My pregnancy days are officially over. And you little one, I've got to come up with a very special name for you." Rachel kissed the head of the newest member of the family.

Ben looked over at his dad and smiled with gratitude. "I'm sorry, Dad, about accusing you. I should know better by now that you'd never do something like that. I guess when it comes to my children, I don't always see clearly."

"I know the feeling," laughed Luke, hugging Abby to him.

"See, Grandpa, I told you everything would be all right," said Abby gazing up into Luke's eyes.

"I never doubted you for a minute, Abilee Enjeris."

"No, I'm Abilee Skywalker Enjeris, Grandpa." corrected Abby.

Luke looked over at Ben, his eyebrows raised.

"Well, they all needed middle names, so why not yours?" asked Ben pointedly.

Luke laughed and nodded his head. "Why not indeed?"

xxx epilogue to follow xxx