The end of December and the beginning of January were proving to be the coldest months in years. The roads remained icy and snowy, making driving extremely hazardous for any driver. But very few drivers had a coordinator who knew the back roads and shortcuts like Jess did. She sat at the ADD mapping out the most dangerous roads and deciding which roads would be safer and take less time for the team to reach the anomaly site. Emily sat beside her, watching the screen. She'd been quiet all morning and it was becoming quite unnerving to her.

Jess looked to Emily. "Is everything okay Emily?"

Emily turned. She smiled, but Jess could see it wasn't real. "Yes, everything fine."

"You've been offly quiet today. It's making me a little nervous." Jess said.

"I'm sorry. I'm not quite feeling well today. That's all." Emily explained.

Jess frowned. "What's wrong?"

Emily shook her head. "Just back pains. Doctor said it's natural for this time."

"You're sure it's not labor pains?" Jess asked.

Emily shrugged. "I honestly wouldn't know if they were, Jess. But you shouldn't be worrying about me, now Jess. The others are in the field, remember."

Jess smiled and turned back to the computer. "Right."

Emily slowly rose from her seat. "I'll be right back Jess."

Jess grabbed one of the extra comms. "Comm, Emily."

Emily smiled and took the comm. "Thank you."

Jess looked back to the console and watched the team on the screen. They'd managed to arrive without any damage to the cars, mostly likely because Connor wasn't driving, and early no less. She watched the black boxes move toward the main entrance to the building.

"Guys, the anomalies on the fourth floor, east wing." Jess explained.

"Copy Jess. Any sign of incursion?" Matt asked.

"Nothing from the CCTV cameras or police reports. Let's consider ourselves lucky this corporation decided to renovate their offices this month."

"No kidding." Connor said.

"Jess we're headin' in. Abby and me are taking the west side. Becker and Connor on the east." Matt said.

"Copy that. I'll keep an eye out for creatures." Jess said.

"Jess, I need your help!"

Jess frowned. "Emily? What's wrong?"

"I can't walk any more, Jess. I need help." Emily said.

Jess quickly brought up the internal cameras. She spotted Emily just a few halls from the Hub. "Alright. Stay calm Emily, I'm on my way." Jess jumped from the ADD and ran toward the door. "Take the comm!"

The team walked out of the building. Abby and Connor took the lead, both watching the female creature bundled in Abby's arms. Becker and Matt followed a few steps behind them.

"Looks like Rex gets a new friend." Matt said.

Becker snorted. "Give it a few months and we'll have a menagerie full of them."

Matt laughed. Suddenly his cell rang from within in pocket. Matt frowned as he reached for it. He was in the field, which could only mean this wasn't work related. Except few people had his cell number. Matt opened his phone and looked at the screen. "Jess why are you-"

"Matt you need to get to the hospital." Jess explained. Matt detected a massive amount of urgency in her voice.

"Calm down, Jess. What's wrong?" Matt asked.

"Emily went into labor about an hour ago. You need to get here now." Jess explained.

"Why didn't you call me sooner/" Matt demanded. He jogged down the steps toward the car.

"I think it had something to do with the anomaly." Jess replied sarcastically.

"I'm on my way, Jess." Matt said. He shut his phone and jogged to the car. "Becker give me the keys."

"What's going on?" Becker asked.

"Emily's at the hospital. Matt answered.

"I'll drive." Becker said.

Matt jogged through the halls of the hospital searching for Emily's room. His heart raced in his chest. His eyes scanned over the numbers of the doors, searching for her room. He found her door open, nearly missing it as he moved through the hall. Matt quickly entered it to find Emily lying on the bed. She was lying on her side, facing the door. Her eyes were closed and her face as set in concentration. Her hand grasped the rail of her bed tightly. Jess stood behind her, massaging her back.

"Hey." Matt gasped.

Jess looked up from Emily and smiled in relief. "You made it."

Emily opened her eyes but didn't smile. She was breathing heavily through the contraction, but Matt could see the relief in her eyes.

Matt walked from the door to Emily's bedside. He knelt down in front of her hand placed in his hand over hers. "Has the doctor said anything yet?"

"She said that Emily's progressing quickly. She estimates another hour of contractions, maybe less before she'll be ready." Jess explained.

"Did they give her anything for the pain?" he asked.

Emily hummed deeply, shaking her head. "I didn't…want it."

"She wants to so this naturally." Jess explained.

Emily exhaled deeply. "God I can't do this."

"Hey, you're doing great." Matt said.

Emily shook her head. "No. I mean…I can't…I can't keep lying down." She pushed herself upright.

Matt grabbed her shoulder. "You sure you should be moving?"

Emily nodded. "Doctor Greyson said that walking helps with the contractions." She pushed the sheets from her legs and carefully brought her legs over the side of the bed.

Jess grabbed a light blue robe from behind her and helped Emily slip it around her body.

"Jess I'll go with her. Go see if you can find Becker." Matt said.

Jess nodded and headed toward the door.

Matt took Emily's hands and carefully helped her to her feet. Emily placed a hand on her back and slowly walked toward the door. Matt followed closely behind her. They slowly walked out into the hall. Emily kept one hand on her lower back and used her other hand to guide her across the hall. Her breathing was deep and heavy. Her eyes stayed on the ground as she walked through the hall. Matt stayed close to her, stopping when she stopped, offering a hand when she walked.

"How's the pain?" Matt asked.

Emily looked up at him. "Honestly, it's the worst thing I've ever felt."

"We can still get you the medication." Matt said.

Emily shook her head. "Just because I'm here, doesn't mean I'm going to cheat myself of the pain my mother endured for me."

Matt smiled. Her heart of gold was showing through again. He kissed the side of her head.

Emily whimpered slightly. She stopped walking and closed her eyes. Matt wrapped his arms around her back. He gently rubbed her lower back. Emily gripped his arms tightly. She hummed deeply through the contractions.

"You're doing great, Emily." Matt whispered.

Emily exhaled. "They're getting more frequent."

"Let's get back to the room, then." Matt said.

They returned to the room just as Doctor Greyson reached the door. She looked up from her chart and spotted them coming. She smiled and walked toward them. "Walking through the contractions?"

Emily nodded. "Trying to."

"How far apart are they?" Greyson asked.

Emily exhaled slowly. "Minutes."

Greyson nodded. "Okay, let's get you back to bed."

Greyson and Matt both helped Emily back into her room. Greyson pulled on a pair of gloves while Matt helped Emily back up onto her bed. Greyson took the stool and examined Emily.

"Okay Emily, on the next contraction, you need to push." Greyson said.

"So soon?"

Greyson nodded. "Your daughter wants to see you."

Emily looked up Matt. He met her gaze and grabbed her hand. He nodded shortly. Emily nodded in return and eased herself up. Her muscles began contracting painfully. Emily took a deep breath and began pushing. Her stomach seared in pain. Her muscles contracted hard. Emily winced, but kept pushing. She could faintly hear Greyson counting for her. Emily stopped pushing and exhaled. She leaned back against her pillow, breathing heavily. Her face and brow were already covered in sweat.

"That was excellent, Emily." Greyson said. "Just a few more strong pushes."

Matt squeezed her hand. "You can do this Em."

Emily sat up again. She took a deep breath and pushed again. Her back seared in pain. She tried to push through, ignore it, but she'd never felt such pain before. She whimpered as she pushed. She squeezed Matt's tightly as she pushed with the pain.

"Good. Very good." Greyson said.

Emily exhaled and leaned back. She wiped the sweat from her face.

Matt brushed several strands from Emily's face. "You're doing great."

"Okay Emily. I need you to push." Greyson said.

Emily nodded. She pushed herself upright once more. She took a deep breath and pushed. The pain grew stronger than before. She winced as she pushed through. She felt Matt's hand still holding hers, supporting her.

"Keep pushing." Matt urged.

"Good!"

Emily exhaled deeply. The pain and pressure she'd felt had finally pass. The room was filled with the shrill cry of an infant. Emily watched as Greyson lifted a small infant, wrapped in white blankets, up for her to see. Greyson rose from her seat and gently placed the infant on Emily's chest.

"Here's your baby girl." Greyson said.

Emily looked down at the newborn laying on her chest. Her face was partially hidden beneath the blanket. Emily reached a trembling hand up and pushed the blanket from her babies face. She smiled as she looked down at the tiny infant. Her small hands were balled tightly, lying against her face. Small strands of dark hair dotted her small head. New, bright blue eyes looked back at her. Tears fell from her eyes. She was hers. She was her daughter.

"She's beautiful." Matt said. He reached down and gently stroked the infants' cheek.

"What should we name her?" Emily asked, looking up at Matt.

"Never did finish that conversation id we?" Matt asked.

Emily laughed lightly. "No."

"Fancy any of those names we did discuss?" Matt asked.

Emily nodded. "Yes. One. Lydia."

Matt smiled. "Lydia Charlotte Anderson."

Emily looked up at him. "That sounds perfect."

London England

January ninth two thousand and twelve

Years ago, when I married Henry, I believed that I would never know the joy of being a mother. Never to hear their laughter, see their smiles, or dry their tears. Yet when I came to this time, I never expected to find my deepest dream come true. Today, no words utter in any language could describe the array of emotions I feel today. I now know the overwhelming joy of being a mother. Words cannot describe the feelings within my heart as I watch my newborn daughter sleep. Never have I ever laid eyes upon a lovelier child. Her eyes share the same passionate shade with her father.

Matthew's taking quite a liking to her. My fears of his rejection of our daughter were put to rest the first moment he held her in his arms. I have known no man more deserving to be a father than my dear Matthew. The way he looks at her with adoration and love simply fills me with joy. I know he will be a loving father and protector. He has done the same for me and I do not doubt he would not do the same form his daughter.

I am overjoyed to write that on this day, the ninth of January, Lydia Charlotte Anderson, was born.

gotta love the timing here. what did you think of the name?