Roger, is she OK?" Gina asked as the doctor handed the baby to the nurse to put in an incubator.
She's fine, Baby. She's beautiful." he said tearfully watching the nurses every move.
"We just need to put her in an incubator for a few days because her lungs aren't developed completely. She'll be fine." the doctor said smiling up at her.
"When can we take her home?" Roger asked standing over the incubator.
"Probably in a few days. We'll see how she does." the doctor said as Gina cried on the table.
"Can I see her?" she asked as the nurse wheeled the incubator over to her and Roger followed.
"Oh Roger, she looks just like you." Gina cried as she leaned over to touch the incubator. "Hi my girl. I'm your mama." she told her crying as Roger held her hand looking into the incubator.
"Roger, Gina we need to bring your daughter to the neo natal unit. You're gonna have to be in recovery for about an hour and then we'll put you in your room. You can see your baby then." the doctor said as the nurse wheeled the baby out of the delivery room.
"Is she gonna be OK doctor? I mean, really OK?" Roger asked wiping his eyes.
"Yes, Roger, she's gonna be fine." the doctor told him smiling.
"Do you hear that Baby? Lynda's gonna be fine." he said caressing her face. "I love you." he continued leaning up to kiss her.
"I love you too Roger." Gina said smiling up at him. "You better go out to Mimi, Mark and Collins. I don't want them worrying." Gina said laying her head down on the bed looking at him.
"Are you sure? I can stay here with you if you need me to." he asked looking into her tired blue eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine Roger. They're gonna be moving me into the recovery room soon, you can meet me in there." she said reaching up to his cheek.
"OK. I'll be right back." he said kissing her again before leaving the room.
"So, how are they?" Mimi asked running down the hall as she saw Roger come out of the delivery room.
"They're both fine. 5Lbs. 2oz. 17 inches. Lynda just has to stay in here for a few days in an incubator until her lungs fully develop and then we can take her home." Roger said as Mimi cried throwing herself into Mark's arms and Collins threw his arms around Roger.
"Man, that's great. Congratulations daddy." Collins said holding Roger tight.
"Oh thank God. How's Gina?" she asked as she let go of Mark.
"Gina's fine. You know her. She sent me out here to tell you guys. She didn't want you guys worrying." Roger said wiping his eyes. "Where's Maureen and Joanne?" he said looking around.
"They should be here soon. Joanne was in court and Maureen was auditioning for some Broadway show." Mark said with his arm still around Mimi's waist.
"Oh shit. I have to call my mom." Roger said searching his pocket for change.
"The phone's right over there." Collins said pointing to the pay phone in the corner of the waiting room.
"Thanks." he said dialing his mom's number. "Mom, it's Roger... everything is fine. You have a granddaughter... I know I called you before... no I'm not drunk. Mom, Gina went into labor not too long after I called and... I know she's 2 months early but she's fine. Lynda's gonna be in an incubator for a few days until her lungs fully develop and then we can take her home... Yes Lynda. We named her Lynda Marianna... It was Gina's idea... OK I'll see you later... I love you mom... I will... OK Bye." Roger said hanging up the phone as he turned to everyone else. "My mom'll be here later. She's leaving the house now." he said as Maureen and Joanne ran into the waiting room.
"How are they? Is everything alright? Where are they?" Maureen yelled as she ran up to Roger.
"They're fine. Everything is alright and Gina's in the recovery room. Lynda's lungs are not fully developed so they are putting her in an incubator for a few days. But she's gonna be OK. We can take her home after that." Roger said as Maureen squealed then wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank god Roger. That's incredible. Congratulations." Joanne said hugging Roger next.
"Thanks guys. I should get back in to Gina. Can you guys stick around? I want you to see Lynda. And Gina will be in her room soon." Roger said as Joanne wrapped her arm around Maureen's waist.
"Of course. We're not going anywhere without seeing our girls." Collins told him smiling before Roger turned around and went into the recovery room. "Hey Baby. How's my girl?" he said as he approached her bed.
"Tired. Did you tell everyone?" she asked trying to sit up.
"Yeah, I even called my mom. She'll be here as soon as she can." he said caressing her face.
"Good. I really need to see her." Gina said holding Roger's hand.
"I know Baby. You know, you did really good in there. I'm so proud of you." he said leaning up to kiss her.
"Roger, I was just afraid..." she told him as tears fell from her eyes.
"Gina, of course you were afraid. But everything is fine." he said wiping her tears with his thumb.
"I know. I'm sorry." she said looking up at him.
"Don't be. It's normal." he told her wrapping his arms around her.
"Remember the last time we were in a room like this?" she asked holding him tight.
"Yeah. Worst night of my life." he told her with tears forming in his eyes.
"Roger, I lost the baby." 17 year old Gina told Roger as he rushed into the hospital room.
"I know Baby. It's OK." he said wrapping his arms around her as he climbed into bed with her.
"I'm sure our parents will be happy." she said crying into his chest.
"Don't say that Baby. No one's happy." he whispered to her as he held her in his arms.
"Roger, I'm sorry." she cried as he tried to shush her cries.
"It's not your fault. These things happen sometimes." he said trying to soothe her as she shook so hard from her cries.
"Mine too." she said as he climbed into bed with her just like he did 9 years earlier.
"Mrs. Davis are you ready to go to your room?" the nurse said as she entered the room.
"Yes. How's our daughter?" Gina asked looking up as she wiped her eyes.
"She is doing just fine. You can see her when you are strong enough to get out of bed." the nurse said as Roger climbed off of the bed.
"When can she have visitors?" Roger asked wiping his eyes as the nurse prepared Gina's bed to be transported.
"Your wife or your daughter, Mr. Davis?" the nurse asked looking up at him.
"Both, I guess." he answered laughing a bit.
"Well your wife can have visitors as soon as we get her in her room. But only you and your wife can be with your daughter. But your friends and family can view her through the window." the nurse said as she began to wheel the bed out of the room.
"Thank you. Baby, I'll meet you in your room. I want to tell everyone what room you're in so you can see them." Roger told her leaning over the bed to kiss her.
"OK Thank you Roger. I love you." she said holding his face.
"I love you too Gina." he told her smiling as he went out to tell the others. When he got out there, he noticed Mark and Mimi were sitting with their arms around each other. It looked like they were together. He was happy about it. It was about time Mark found himself another girlfriend and Mimi deserved to be happy too. She had changed so much since they were together and thought Mark and Mimi were a good match.
"They're taking Gina to her room, so you can go in and see her in a little while. The nurse said you could see Lynda through the window for now. At least until she's out of her incubator. The nurse said she's doin really good." Roger said standing in the doorway of the waiting room.
"Roger, that's great." Mimi said as she hugged Mark.
"Mark, Mimi can I talk to you two for a minute, please?" he asked smiling at them.
"Sure Roger." Mimi said as she and Mark walked to him as he led them out into the hallway.
"Are you guys together now?" Roger asked quietly.
"Yeah. I mean, we just kissed this afternoon and it just snuck up on us." Mimi said smiling at him as she and Mark held each other.
"That's great guys really. I'm really happy for you. Gina is gonna be so excited when I tell her." Roger said smiling as he huggd them.
"Thanks Roger." Mark said as he held Mimi in his arms.
"Now, who wants to go see my wife and daughter?" Roger said excitedly looking down at them.
"I do, I do." Mimi said excitedly jumping in Mark's arms.
"Let's go." Roger said peeking his head into the waiting room to tell the others as everyone jumped up and followed Roger to Gina's room. "Hey Baby, are you up for company?" he asked walking into the room.
"Of course. Hi guys." Gina said sitting up in her bed.
"Hey mommy. Guess your daughter has Roger's patience." Maureen told her laughing.
"Seems so. But she's gonna be OK." Gina told them as she struggled to try to get out of bed.
"Baby, why don't you rest for a little while?" Roger said running over to the bed.
"I want to go see Lynda." she told him wincing in pain.
"I know you do Baby. Just lay back down for a little while longer and then we'll go see her." Roger insisted seeing she was in pain.
"I can't Roger. I want to see Lynda now. Either you help me out of this bed, or I get out myself and risk falling." she told him holding on to his arm.
"Fine. I'll help you." he said helping her out of bed as Mimi put a pair of the hospital slippers on the floor under her feet.
"Come on guys. Let's go see the baby." Gina said as she and Roger walked slowly out of the room.
"That's my baby girl." Collins said laughing as they followed her down the hall to the neo natal unit.
"Look at her. She is so beautiful. She looks just like you Roger." Mimi told him with tears in her eyes as Mark held her in his arms.
"Yes she does." Gina said holding on to Roger as she looked over at Mark and Mimi. "Since when are they together?" Gina whipered to Roger.
"This afternoon. Isn't it great?" he said holding her tight.
"Yeah, it is." Gina said squeezing Roger. "I'm gonna go in and see her." she said as she and Roger went into the neo natal unit.