A/N Thanks to L.T. Freak for reviewing the last chapter...I appreciate it....and thanks to H6p8gv for all of his help....I also appreciate that :D....Sorry it took so long to get this out but I hope that you enjoy it!

7.

A Joyous Arrival

"Tracy, are you sure?" Corny asked. He was the closest to her.

"Yes, very sure. Can someone please go find Link," Tracy answered.

"Sure. Amber, Penny come help Tracy," he said before dashing inside the house.

Amber and Penny were soon by her side. "Is there anything we can do for you Trace?" Penny asked.

Tracy nodded. "Get me to the hospital."

"Trace, how are you feeling?" Link asked as he and Corny came around to the yard.

"I've been better," Tracy said trying to make a joke.

Link grinned. "Let's get you to the hospital."

Everyone had crowded around by then. "We'll take care of Lizzie," Edna told her.

"Thanks ma…ow," Tracy said as a contraction hit.

Link and Penny helped Tracy to the car where Link held the door open.

"We don't have her suitcase," he said as he dashed to the driver's side.

Seaweed just smiled. "Don't worry man, Penny and I will bring it to you and we'll make sure Beebe and Brian are alright."

"Thanks," Link shouted through the car window before speeding off.

Once there he found a paramedic. "Help my wife is in labor," he told him.

"Hey don't I know you?" the paramedic said.

Link looked at him closely. "You're Jason. You helped us when we had our accident."

"That's right. You're wife's having a baby?"

"Yes, she's in my car."

Jason found a wheelchair and followed Link outside. Tracy's eyes sparked with recognition as he helped Link put her in the wheelchair.

"You helped us when we had the accident," she told him.

"Yes, I did. It's nice seeing you again. I hope you didn't break any laws by coming here," Jason said winking at her and Link.

Tracy cringed in pain. "No Link is always an excellent driver."

They both noticed her having another contraction so Jason pushed her inside while Link stayed by her side. They took the elevator up to the maternity wing. The nurse at the desk took the wheelchair from Jason.

"Good luck," he told them as he walked back to the elevators.

"Thanks," Link said though his voice was strained due to Tracy's hand squeezing his during a contraction.

"Hi, my name is Jen," the nurse told them.

Tracy managed a smile. "I'm Tracy and this is my husband Link."

Jen looked to Link. "Will you please fill out the forms at the desk while I take your wife to her room? You can see her in a couple minutes."

He nodded. "Will you be alright doll?"

"I'll be as well as I can be," Tracy answered.

Link was guided to the nurse's station and handed some forms. Jen took Tracy into a room not too far down the hall and handed her a hospital gown. She left Tracy so that she could change. Link quickly filled out the forms and Jen showed him what room Tracy was in. He lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in," Tracy said.

Link opened the door and walked in. He went over and helped Tracy lay in the bed before placing a light kiss on her lips.

"Thanks."

"Anytime Trace."

Edna came barreling into the room. "Oh Tracy, how are you feeling hun?"

Tracy winced as another contraction came. She grabbed on to Link's hand and squeezed it until the pain passed.

"I can't believe my baby is having a baby! I thought this would never happen!" Edna added

Penny and Amber came in. Amber was carrying Tracy's suitcase. She placed it on a table by the bed. Penny held a cup full of ice chips out to Tracy. "Here this will help," she told her.

Tracy took it. "Thanks Pen."

"How are the dogs?" she added.

"They're fine," Penny answered.

The nurse came in and checked her vitals. Dr. Sacks walked in a few moments later to check on how far along she was.

"Three centimeters, we still have a while," he told her.

Amber and Penny decided to go to the waiting area where everyone else was sitting. Link pleaded with the doctor to let him stay. He muttered "unheard of" but nodded at him. A few hours later Dr. Sacks checked on Tracy to find that she was at five and a half centimeters.

"Can I have something for the pain?" she asked as another contraction hit.

"Sure," Dr. Sacks answered. He left the room then returned with a syringe. He injected it into her spine.

Ten minutes later Tracy felt relieved at how the pain was gone. Edna went out and gave updates on Tracy to their family and friends in the waiting room from time to time. Nine and a half hours into the labor she was told that she was at ten centimeters.

"Alright, after the next contraction I want you to push," Dr. Sacks told her.

Tracy nodded and pushed when she was ready.

"I see the head," the nurse said after a few pushes.

Dr. Sacks looked up at her and smiled. "A few more Tracy then you'll get to see your baby."

Tracy pushed again and again until she heard a baby's cry.

"Congratulations, it's a boy!"

Tracy laid back, her head on the pillow.

"You did great hun!" Edna exclaimed.

Link wiped her dampened hair from her forehead as he leaned over and captured Tracy's lips in a sweet kiss. "A son!"

"Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?" Dr. Sacks asked.

Link hesitated for a moment. "Um…sure."

Dr. Sacks nodded and motioned for Link to come close to him. He gave Link a pair of scissors and Link made a cut.

"Good job," Dr. Sacks told him.

Link looked a bit pale but went to sit besides Tracy. His color improved after he took a few breaths. Dr. Sacks handed the baby to a nurse so he could be cleaned and weighed. She brought him back a few minutes later and handed him to Tracy. He was wrapped in a blue blanket and wore a little white cap on his head.

"He's eight pounds two ounces," the nurse told them.

Tracy felt of his fingers and caressed his face. "He's precious."

"What are you going to name him?" Edna asked as she lovingly gazed at her new grandson.

"We are going to name him Anthony Lincoln Larkin," Tracy answered. She looked to Link and he nodded his approval.

"Can I hold him?" Edna asked.

"Sure ma," Tracy replied as she gently handed Anthony to her mom.

Edna kissed his forehead. "Welcome to the world Anthony."

Anthony let out a cry and opened his eyes. Edna found a pair of brown eyes staring at her.

"He has your eyes Tracy."

Tracy held out her hands and Edna handed him back to her. "He does but he has Link's hair and face."

"Can I see?" Link asked holding out his hands. Tracy passed Anthony to him.

"He does. I'm sure he'll be a heart breaker," he added.

Edna stood. "Let me go tell the others about Anthony." She kissed Tracy's forehead, then the top of Link's head and Anthony's forehead before leaving.

"Who shall we name godparents Trace?"

"Well Penny and Seaweed are Lizzie's godparents what do you think of asking Corny and Amber to be Anthony's?"

"I think that's a nice idea," Link answered.

Edna walked back in alone. "I forgot visiting hours are over since its night. They left a message with the nurse saying that they went home but they'd be back tomorrow morning. Katie and Eric took Lizzie for the night."

"You should let Tracy get some rest," Dr. Sacks said as he walked in the room.

"I should get home, but I'll see you tomorrow," Edna said.

Tracy nodded. "See you ma."

Edna kissed Tracy's forehead again before doing the same to Link and Anthony. She then walked out the door.

"Can Link stay a while longer?" Tracy asked lacing her fingers through his. He picked her hand up and kissed the back of it.

Dr. Sacks nodded. "For a little while."

Link went to the cafeteria and bought sandwiches for the two of them. While he was gone the nurse taught Tracy how to feed Anthony. The nurse then brought him to the nursery so Tracy could rest. When Link returned with their chicken salad sandwiches they quickly ate them. Tracy yawned.

"Sleep Trace, it's been a busy day."

"It has." She twined their fingers before turning towards him. Link kissed her fingers before shifting more comfortably in the chair.

"Night Link."

"Night doll."

Dr. Sacks walked in a couple hours later to tell Link that he had to leave but he stopped when he saw them both sleeping. They were holding hands. He grumbled a little but decided to walk out to take care of his other patients. Tracy's fingers were still twined with Link's when she awoke early the next morning. A nurse walked.

"Good morning my name is Angela," she said softly as to not wake Link.

"Good morning. Why wasn't I awakened to feed Anthony during the night?"

"You were so peaceful while sleeping next to your husband that we thought it best not to wake you. We gave Anthony a bottle when he woke."

"How is he?"

"I'll go get him if you want," Angela told her.

Tracy smiled. "I'd like that."

She nodded and walked out of the room. She soon returned holding Anthony. Tracy gently untwined her fingers from Link. He groaned a little and shifted his position, remaining asleep. Angela gently placed Anthony in Tracy's welcoming arms. He made a small sound and looked up at her.

"Morning sweetie," she said smiling.

Anthony made a sound that sounded almost like a giggle. Link awoke when he heard it.

"Morning," he said. He stretched then leaned over to capture her lips. Anthony grabbed at his hair and Link smiled.

"Morning Anthony," he said before kissing his forehead.

Angela walked back in with a tray of food. "Time for breakfast."

"Here I'll hold him while you eat," Link said reaching for Anthony.

She nodded and handed him their son. Angela put the tray on a small table and rolled the table up to the bed so the tray sat over her lap. She then left and returned with a second tray for Link.

"I ordered one for your husband though technically I shouldn't."

"Thank you Angela," Tracy said. Link also thanked her. There was another tray in the room so Angela grabbed that one and placed the tray on it, setting in front of Link.

Tracy took off the lid of the plate to find an omelet, sausages and hash browns. She had tea and milk to drink. Tracy hungrily dug into the food. Link found the same meal. Anthony had fallen asleep in his arms so he shifted him slightly so he could use his right hand to eat. When they finished a nurses aide came in and cleared the trays. Anthony started crying so Tracy took him from Link and fed him. He fell asleep in her arms after he was fed and burped.

A little after ten Edna, Wilbur, Katie, Eric and Lizzie walked in the room.

"Where's my new grandson?" Katie asked.

"Right here," Tracy answered.

Katie and the others walked over to the bed. Katie looked down at his face. "Oh he is so handsome."

"He looks like his father," Edna cooed.

"But with Tracy's eyes," Eric added.

"Want to see your baby brother Lizzie?" Wilbur asked.

"Brother?" she asked.

Wilbur picked her up so she could see Anthony properly.

"Lizzie this is your new brother Anthony," Tracy told her.

Lizzie gazed at him for a few moments before wanting to be put down. Wilbur obliged and she walked around the room examining it.

"Give her time," Katie told them.

They stayed a while longer before leaving. Everyone took their turn holding Anthony; well except Lizzie, she was too busy looking around the room. Katie and Eric were going to take care of Lizzie for the afternoon. Not long after they left Penny, Seaweed, Amber, Corny, Inez and Maybelle arrived.

"Say hi to Anthony Lincoln Larkin," Link told them.

"He's so precious," Penny cooed.

"He seems so relaxed in Tracy's arms," Amber added.

"Tracy's always had that ability," Corny told them.

"She certainly has," Link said.

"How's Anthony with you Link?" Inez asked.

"He seems to like me too," Link answered.

"How did Lizzie react?" Maybelle inquired.

"She didn't seem too thrilled and spent the visit looking around the room," Tracy replied.

"She'll get used to him in time," Seaweed told her.

"Can I hold him?" Penny asked.

"Sure," Tracy answered. She handed Anthony to Penny. He squawked a bit but settled into her arms.

Amber held him next.

"Amber, Corny we were wondering if you'd be Anthony's godparents." Link said.

"We'd be happy to," Amber said gazing at him. He reached for her hair and tugged it making her laugh.

"Of course, it's an honor," Corny added.

Tracy looked to Seaweed and Penny. "I hope you don't mind that we asked Corny and Amber instead of you, but you're already Lizzie's godparents."

"We don't mind Trace," Penny told her.

"We will still be Aunt Penny and Uncle Seaweed to the little rug rat."

"Seaweed!" Penny exclaimed.

"My son is not a rug rat. He can't even crawl yet," Link said.

Seaweed smiled. "You know I don't mean anything bad by what I say don't ya?"

"We do Seaweed," Tracy answered.

They stayed for a while before leaving. A few minutes later Anthony began to fuss.

"I'll take him for a short walk, maybe that will help," Link told her.

Tracy nodded. "Alright, babies do like movement."

Link was already holding him so he stood and walked out of the room. A couple minutes later Noreen, Doreen, Tammy, IQ and Brad walked in.

"Hi," Noreen said.

"How do you feel?" Doreen asked.

Tracy smiled at them. "I feel fine."

"So where's the little guy?" Tammy asked.

"Link took him for a walk down the hall. He was a bit fussy."

Link walked in and smiled at everyone.

"Can we see him?" Noreen asked.

Link nodded and handed Anthony to her. She gently rocked him and touched his small fingers.

"What's his name?" Brad asked.

"Anthony," Tracy answered.

"He's so cute!" Doreen said.

"Looks like his father," IQ added.

"I want one just like him," Doreen cooed.

"I hope not too alike, or Link and I will have something to talk about," Brad told her.

"Brad! You needn't worry about that. I want our son to look just like you," Doreen said.

Brad gave her a chaste kiss and she beamed back at him.

"What's his middle name?" Tammy asked.

"Lincoln," Link answered.

"Lincoln?" Brad said.

"That's Link's full first name Brad," IQ told him.

"Oh right," Brad said quietly.

"Did Lizzie meet him yet?" Noreen asked.

Tracy nodded. "Yes."

"How was she?" Tammy inquired.

"Not too interested in him. I'm not sure what to expect," Tracy replied.

"I'm sure after a few days she'll be fine, after she has had time to adjust," Doreen told them.

"That's what my mom and Seaweed both said," Link stated.

Everyone stayed for a while before leaving. After their visitors left Tracy was told that she and Anthony could go home that evening.

Anthony was sleeping in Tracy's arms. Leaned down and kissed her before kissing his son's forehead. "I'll go call our parents and let them know that you are being released."

"Is your car parked at the hospital?" Tracy asked.

He nodded. "It should be."

He kissed her once again before finding a payphone.

TBC....