That night, the couple fell asleep in each other's arms. Vanessa snuggled into Zac's chest. She dreamed about what life would be like when their daughter came and what she would like. But she also started to dream about the unexpected things, like the birth.
Vanessa's Dream
"Alright Vanessa, just keep breathing okay? On the next contraction I need you to push for me" Dr. Berry said.
Vanessa moaned in pain. She gripped Zac's hand. Her face was bright red and sweat was running off her face. She had tears in her eyes and her body was shaking. Zac looked at Vanessa.
"This is it baby" Zac said.
"I don't know if I can do this Zac" Vanessa said.
"Van, you can do it" Zac said.
Vanessa arched her back in pain. Zac held one of Vanessa's legs back like Dr. Berry instructed him to do and a nurse held the other one.
"Vanessa, take a deep breath and push" Dr. Berry said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed hard. She screamed in pain.
End of Dream
Vanessa screamed and sat up in bed. She was breathing heavily and fast. Zac woke up and saw Vanessa, practically hyperventilating.
"What's wrong?" Zac asked.
"I had a nightmare" Vanessa said breathlessly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Zac asked.
"It was about the birth" Vanessa said.
"What about the birth?" Zac asked.
"I was in the delivery room and everything happened so fast" Vanessa said.
"Everything is okay baby. Go back to sleep" Zac said.
Vanessa lied back down and snuggled into Zac's chest as close as she could, because of her expanding bump. The couple fell asleep. A couple weeks later, Vanessa's morning sickness had stopped. But it was replaced with muscle pain, mood swings, and weight gain. One morning, Vanessa woke up and walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her bump had grown a lot in the last couple of weeks. She pulled her shirt up and put her hand on the bottom of her bump. Vanessa didn't hear Zac get up. He kissed her shoulder and put his hand on top of Vanessa's on her bump.
"Good morning baby" Zac said.
"Good morning" Vanessa said.
"How's baby girl doing today?" Zac asked.
"She's moving around a lot" Vanessa said.
"But no kicking?" Zac asked.
"No, not yet" Vanessa said.
Zac moved Vanessa so that he was standing in front of her. He leaned down and kissed her stomach, like he did every morning since Vanessa's bump had started growing.
"Hi baby girl. Daddy loves you" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"What are we doing today?" Zac asked.
"I think I want to go look for some furniture for her" Vanessa said.
"Okay" Zac said.
"But you need to leave right now. I have to pee. She's pressing against my bladder" Vanessa said pushing Zac gently out of the bathroom.
Vanessa closed the door and did her business. She came out of the bathroom and got dressed. The couple left the house. They drove to a store and parked the car. Zac looked out of the window and saw a hoard of paparazzi.
"Baby, stay in the car for a second. There are paparazzi and I don't want them trampling you" Zac said getting out of the car.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Zac closed the door. Paparazzi came over to him and started taking pictures.
"Guys, you need to leave. We want our privacy" Zac said.
"Zac, we just need a picture of Vanessa" a photographer said.
"No, you aren't going to get a picture. Please leave" Zac said.
The hoard of paparazzi left Zac. Zac sighed. He opened Vanessa's door. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"What happened?" Vanessa asked getting out of the car.
"They wanted a picture of you. I told them no and to leave you alone" Zac said.
"Oh" Vanessa said.
The couple entwined their fingers together and walked into the store. They looked around at different items. The couple then got to the cribs and started looking at different ones.
"Babe, what about this one?" Zac asked looking at a crib.
Vanessa looked at it and shook her head.
"I don't like the style of it" Vanessa said.
"Why?" Zac asked.
"Because I just don't Zac" Vanessa said hormonally.
Zac's eyes widened.
"Why don't we look at a different one?" Zac asked.
"I like this one" Vanessa said standing her ground.
"You don't think that we should look at some other ones before we settle on one?" Zac asked.
"No" Vanessa said.
"Alright. Let's just get this one" Zac said in defeat.
The couple bought the crib and loaded it into the car. They got into the car. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"Sorry about that" Vanessa said.
Zac looked at Vanessa confused, but then realized that she was having a mood swing in the store.
"Baby, it's okay" Zac said.
"No it's not. I shouldn't have been rude like that" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"It's fine sweetheart. Don't worry" Zac said.
Vanessa sighed.
"These mood swings suck" Vanessa said.
"You knew that they were going to be bad" Zac said.
"Yeah, but not this bad" Vanessa said putting her hand on her bump.
Zac continued to drive home. Once he parked his car, the couple got out and walked into the house. They walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Vanessa put her legs in Zac's lap. Zac started rubbing his girlfriend's aching feet.
"Do you think we are going to break up when the baby is born?" Vanessa asked softly.
Zac stopped rubbing Vanessa's feet. He looked at Vanessa.
"What makes you think that?" Zac asked.
"Our relationship isn't going to be the same once she is here" Vanessa said.
"Baby, our relationship is going to be altered, but will pretty much stay the same. We will have more priorities. My feelings for you will never change. I love you no matter what" Zac said.
"I just have been thinking" Vanessa said.
"We aren't going to break up Van. I promise" Zac said putting his hand on Vanessa's bump and looking at her.
Vanessa nodded.
"We may fight and get frustrated, but I never want it to go to that point" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"Why don't you go take a nap? You need to get some rest" Zac said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Zac helped Vanessa stand up. He kissed her lips softly, but passionately.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too. Sorry that I have been in a weird mood today" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"It's alright honey. I understand" Zac said.
Vanessa sat up and got off the couch carefully. She walked upstairs and went into the bedroom and fell asleep. Zac was downstairs sitting on the couch. He leaned his head back against the wall. He was thinking about what Vanessa had said. Zac started to get scared so he decided to call his father.
"Hello?" David, Zac's father answered.
"Hey dad, it's me" Zac said walking into his office and closing the door.
"Hey, what's going on? How's Nessa feeling?" David asked.
"Everything's okay. Vanessa's feeling fine. I need some advice" Zac said.
"What's up?" David asked.
"Van and I were talking a little while ago about the future and the baby. She asked me if I thought we were going to break up once the baby is born" Zac explained.
"What did you say to that?" David asked.
"I told her that we weren't. But it just got me thinking about the future and the "what ifs". Like what if we do break up? How are we going to handle that? How is our daughter going to handle that?" Zac said.
"Zac, if you both want your relationship to work then you need to make sure that that doesn't happen. You have to reassure Nessa that nothing is going to happen. I know that she is probably hormonal and thinking about everything also. Is she scared that you are going to leave her one day?" David asked.
"I have no idea. I don't want her to think that. I would never leave her with our daughter like that" Zac said.
"All you can do is be there when she needs to talk and reassure her that nothing is going to happen" David said.
Zac sighed.
"Okay. Thanks dad" Zac said.
"No problem and if you need to talk about this more, you can always give me a call. I know you are trying to figure things out too" David said.
Zac smiled.
"Thanks dad" Zac said.
The two men hung up. There was a knock on Zac's office door. Vanessa poked her head in and smiled. Zac looked up and smiled.
"Hi beautiful. How are you feeling?" Zac asked as Vanessa walked into the office and sat down on a chair in front of the desk.
"A little bloated and swollen" Vanessa said.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Zac asked.
Vanessa smiled and shook her head.
"No" Vanessa said.
"What you said earlier really got me thinking" Zac said.
"About what?" Vanessa said putting her hand on her bump.
"About our future. Babe, I need to ask you a serious question okay?" Zac said.
"Alright" Vanessa said nervously.
"Do you think that I am going to leave you one day with the baby?" Zac asked.
Vanessa looked down. A minute later, Vanessa looked up at Zac with tears in her eyes. She choked back a sob. Zac's face softened. He stood up and walked over to his girlfriend and took her into his arms. She nodded. Zac put his hand on the back of Vanessa's head. He kissed her cheek softly. A lump formed in the back of Zac's throat. He tried to not get emotional because he wanted to be strong for Vanessa. Zac rubbed Vanessa's back soothingly. He pulled away from her.
"I will never leave you Van. I promise. You and our daughter are my life" Zac said.
"I'm scared about what's going to happen between us. I don't want the baby to break us up" Vanessa cried.
"Hey, listen to me. We are going to be fine. I love you and our daughter so much. I will always be here okay?" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Zac leaned in and kissed Vanessa's lips softly.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
"I love you too" Zac said.
Vanessa sniffled and wrapped her arms around Zac again. Zac kissed Vanessa's head softly. He put his hand on Vanessa's bump. A couple weeks later, Vanessa was five and a half months pregnant and very hormonal. One day she would be fine and the next she would be having severe mood swings. One day, Vanessa walked downstairs and saw Zac making coffee in the kitchen. She walked over to Zac and wrapped her arms as close as she could around him. Vanessa leaned her head on Zac's shoulder.
"Good morning honey" Zac said.
"Morning" Vanessa said.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"I just want to be close to you" Vanessa said softly.
Zac smiled. He knew that Vanessa's mood swings were temporary and helped her get through them to the best of his ability. Zac put down what he was doing and turned around and moved Vanessa closer to him. He kissed her lips softly.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
"Come on, let's go upstairs" Zac said.
The couple walked upstairs and went into their bedroom and got into bed. Vanessa snuggled into Zac's chest. Zac rubbed her back soothingly.
"So have you thought of any names for baby girl?" Zac asked.
"Sort of" Vanessa said playing with the end of Zac's shirt.
"We have to figure out what her name is going to be soon" Zac said.
"Yeah I know. I just want something simple" Vanessa said.
"I like the name Mia" Zac said.
"Mia Efron. I like it" Vanessa said.
"Do you want to keep trying to put names together or do you like that one?" Zac asked.
"I like Mia" Vanessa said.
"Then our daughter's name is Mia" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"We finally have a name for her" Vanessa said.
"Yeah" Zac said putting his hand on Vanessa's stomach.
"I think that we should have both of our families over for dinner tonight. What do you think?" Vanessa asked.
Zac smiled.
"That sounds good babe. But I don't want you to overwork yourself" Zac said.
"I feel fine" Vanessa said.
"I know you do sweetheart. I just don't want you to get worked up and do everything" Zac said.
"I will be fine" Vanessa said.
"Okay" Zac said.
Zac called both of their families and invited them over for dinner. An hour later, Vanessa was cooking in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Zac walked to the front door and opened it. Their families greeted Zac and walked into the house. The couple and their families enjoyed each other's company. That night after their families left, Zac and Vanessa went upstairs and relaxed in bed. Vanessa emerged from the bathroom and looked at Zac.
"Zac" Vanessa said.
"Yeah baby?" Zac asked looking at his girlfriend.
"I think something is wrong" Vanessa said.
"What are you talking about?" Zac asked getting out of bed.
"I think something is wrong with the baby" Vanessa said putting her hand on her bump.
"Are you in pain?" Zac asked.
Vanessa nodded nervously.
"Should I call Dr. Berry or do you want to go to the emergency room?" Zac asked calmly.
"Call Dr. Berry" Vanessa said.
"Alright" Zac said dialing Dr. Berry's number.
Zac explained to Dr. Berry what was going on. A couple minutes later, Zac hung up the phone and looked at Vanessa.
"Van, she wants you to come to the hospital" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded nervously. The couple left the house. Zac drove as fast he could to the hospital. He parked his car in the emergency room lot and helped Vanessa get out of the car. A couple of nurses came to the couple with a wheelchair. Vanessa sat down in the wheelchair. The nurses wheeled Vanessa into the hospital with Zac following behind. A half an hour later, Vanessa was settled in a hospital room. Zac was holding Vanessa's hand.
"What's wrong with her?" Vanessa asked.
"I don't know sweetheart. You didn't do anything wrong" Zac said putting his free hand on Vanessa's bump.
There was a knock at the door. Dr. Berry came into the room and smiled.
"Hi guys. What's going on Vanessa?" Dr. Berry asked.
"I just feel pain in my stomach and in my back" Vanessa said putting her hand on her bump.
"Let me do an ultra sound so I can take a look" Dr. Berry said.
Dr. Berry turned on the ultrasound and waited for it to heat up. She then moved Vanessa's hospital gown above her stomach. Dr. Berry squeezed gel onto Vanessa's stomach and picked up a wand and moved the product around. She then looked at the monitor.
"What's wrong with my baby?" Vanessa asked.
"The umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck, which is causing her to suffocate" Dr. Berry said.
Vanessa looked at Zac. Zac held Vanessa's hand tighter.
"So what do we do?" Vanessa asked.
"We are going to have to deliver the baby as soon as possible" Dr. Berry said.
"But I am only five and a half months along. She will die" Vanessa said as she started to cry.
"Baby, everything is going to be okay" Zac said trying to calm his girlfriend down.
"Vanessa, if she comes out now, we will be able to control the situation" Dr. Berry said.
"I won't do it" Vanessa said standing her ground.
"Vanessa" Zac started.
"Zac, she can't come out now. It's too soon" Vanessa cried.
"Can I have a minute alone with her?" Zac asked.
"Of course" Dr. Berry said.
Dr. Berry walked out of the room. Zac looked at Vanessa.
"Sweetheart, look at me" Zac said.
Vanessa looked at Zac with worry in her eyes.
"Dr. Berry wants us to have a healthy baby. She wouldn't tell us that the baby needs to come out unless it was an emergency, which this is" Zac said.
"I'm scared" Vanessa said breathlessly.
"I know you are baby. I am too and it's okay to be scared" Zac said.
Vanessa took a deep breath.
"So are we going to have a baby today?" Zac asked.
Vanessa nodded. Zac smiled.
"That's my girl. I will be right here the whole time. I promise" Zac said.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
"I love you too. I'm going to go get Dr. Berry" Zac said.
Zac got up and walked out of the hospital room and came back with Dr. Berry.
"Alright, so what is the decision?" Dr. Berry asked.
"We are going to have the baby today" Vanessa said putting her hand on her bump.
"Okay. I'm going to go get the OR set up and I will be back shortly" Dr. Berry said.
Dr. Berry left the room. Zac kissed Vanessa's cheek softly.
"Should I call our families and tell them what's going on?" Zac asked.
"Don't leave me please" Vanessa said looking at Zac with tears in her eyes.
Zac smiled.
"I'm not going anywhere. Don't worry" Zac said.
An hour later, Vanessa was wheeled into the OR and was getting prepped for her C-section. Zac was changing into scrubs. Vanessa looked around the OR and saw big bright lights, sterilized medical equipment, an incubator, and other equipment that was for newborn babies. Zac came into the OR in blue scrubs and a mask. He sat down in a chair that was next to Vanessa's head. Zac kissed Vanessa's forehead softly.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
Nurses prepped Vanessa and placed equipment around the hospital bed. A nurse placed a sheet across Vanessa's neck, so that no one would see what was going on. She was given an anesthetic so that she wouldn't feel anything but still be awake. Dr. Berry came into the room.
"Vanessa, are you ready to meet your baby?" Dr. Berry asked.
"Yes" Vanessa said.
"You are going to feel pressure okay?" Dr. Berry said.
"Alright" Vanessa said groggily.
Dr. Berry started the procedure. Zac looked at Vanessa, who was going in and out of consciousness. He rubbed Vanessa's head gently.
"Are you feeling okay baby?" Zac asked.
Vanessa nodded.
"I feel great" Vanessa said groggily.
Zac smiled. He kissed her forehead.
"You are so brave" Zac said.
Twenty minutes went by and the couple finally heard Dr. Berry's voice again.
"Okay, I can see the baby" Dr. Berry said.
Zac looked over the sheet and smiled.
"Can you see her?" Vanessa asked.
"Not yet" Zac said.
"Vanessa, you are going to feel some pressure. Just breathe" Dr. Berry said.
Vanessa started taking deep breaths and closed her eyes. A couple seconds later, the couple heard a cry. Vanessa and Zac looked at each other. Vanessa started to cry.
"Now that is a beautiful baby. What do you think, dad?" Dr. Berry asked holding up the baby so Zac could see.
Zac smiled and tears ran down his face. He looked down at Vanessa and kissed her head softly.
"She's beautiful" Zac said.
A couple minutes later, a nurse came over to Vanessa's head with a bundle, that held their daughter. She placed the baby onto Vanessa's chest. Vanessa smiled when she saw her daughter for the first time.
"Oh my god" Vanessa said.
"Hi Mia" Zac said.
"Vanessa, we are going to clean you up and bring you to recovery. Your daughter needs to be checked by a pediatrician" a nurse said.
"Okay" Vanessa said groggily.
Vanessa was cleaned and sewn back up. She then was rolled back into her original hospital room. Vanessa was still feeling sedated. Zac sat down in the chair that he had been sitting in previously.
"We are officially parents babe" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded incoherently. Zac smiled.
"Close your eyes baby. Get some rest. I'm so proud of you" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled and fell asleep. A couple hours later, Vanessa opened her eyes slowly and looked around the room. She had forgotten that she was in the hospital.
"Hey sleepyhead" Zac said.
Vanessa looked at Zac.
"Mia" Vanessa started.
"Is perfectly healthy. Dr. Berry came in and told me. She needs to be in an incubator for a couple months because she was so premature" Zac explained.
Vanessa smiled.
"How long was I asleep for?" Vanessa asked.
"Only three hours" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"Can I hold her?" Vanessa asked.
"Dr. Berry said that we couldn't because she is premature. But, we can touch her through the incubator" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded sadly.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"A little out of it but I feel okay" Vanessa said.
"I called our families and told them what happened. They said that they would come visit tomorrow. They wanted you to get your rest" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled. He sat on the edge of the hospital bed and took Vanessa's hand in his.
"I love you too sweetheart. Thanks for making me a daddy" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"Thanks for making me a mommy" Vanessa said.
That night, the couple fell asleep with smiles on their faces. They were so happy that their daughter was finally here.