Sitting enjoying the quiet wasn't working quite as she planned. Watching her bump doing all sorts of weird things was interesting as she felt her daughter trying to either turn over or turn around. Lifting her top up, she looked down at the huge bump that was her daughter and smiled. She rested her hand on one side and slowly moved it up and down. She was just getting the baby to settle when in came King.

"Coffee, cookies and Gumbo for lunch." As he placed a tray on the coffee table and looked down at Merri.

Seeing her with her top rolled up and her hand resting on their daughter he knelt down and looked at them both.

"You both okay there?" Resting his hand on the side of the bump that Merri didn't have her hand on.

He watched and felt as their daughter moved around and at one point he swore blind she turned so he could see her back and bum sticking up in the air. He still sat and watched as she continued to move around. He saw the outline of a foot and a fist press against the side of Merri's abdomen and he ended up with a huge grin on his face. He could see and feel his unborn daughter moving around in her mother's womb and he was speechless. He wasn't sure how many children Merri wanted so he wasn't sure if this would be the last time he got to just sit and watch this miracle in front of him.

He had been given a second chance at happiness and the reason for that happiness was now lay watching him as he felt their daughter move. She had given him more than he ever dreamed possible and he could never thank her enough. She had not only become part of his life she had given up part of her's to carry their children, to go through the pain and trauma of labour and then take time out to nurture them and help them start on the road of life. She was amazing and he would never be able to tell her just how much she meant to him.

He could feel the movement's under his hand getting fewer and less noticeable as his little girl finally got comfortable and went to sleep. When he was sure she was finally asleep he looked up at Merri and saw a stray tear escape from the corner of her eye. Panic hit him as he saw the tear, but she lifted one of her hands and cupped his face as she took the other hand in hers and squeezed it.

"What's wrong?" Leaning into the hand on his cheek.

"Nothing at all, that's just it. I lay here watching you in total awe of our daughter moving around and I realise how lucky I am. I couldn't have asked for a more dedicated, loving, caring person to share my life with. You have no idea what I was like before I arrived here and now that all seems a distant memory. I will never forget my past as my past brought me you and DJ and this little Madame. My children couldn't ask for a more committed father than you and I know that whatever the future holds my children will never ever want or need for anything. You have seen what a mess I can be, how moody I can get and not just when I am pregnant and how hard I am to handle but here you are, still sat there. That takes a special person and I just wanted to tell you I love you Dwayne Pride." Weaving her fingers around his head to pull him to her so she could kiss him.

Kissing her, he kept his hand on her bump. He let himself be enveloped by the kiss and the feel of her hand in his hair. When she dropped her head back to the couch she had a haunted look on her face and when he felt her bump go hard he understood. She was right it only lasted seconds, but he could tell they were a rough few seconds of pain. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked back at him. Standing up he indicating for her to sit up as he picked the tray up and passed it to her.

"Lunch before it goes cold. Eat up as I have something for you." Kissing her forehead as he let go of her and stepped away.

Going in the Kitchen he got the flowers and box of chocolates and hid them behind his back as he came back in the room. Dropping to his knees he looked at her as she was taking a drink of her coffee and pulled out the flowers first. He saw her face light up and he smiled before bringing the chocolates out. Now she really was smiling as she saw he bought her favourite chocolates. Putting the cup back on the tray she ran her hand down his face.

"Thank you, you didn't have to you know." Seeing him place the flowers and chocolates on the table as he leant in to kiss her.

"I know, but I wanted to. You deserve so much and at the minute it's tough on you. You have given me so much and I will never be able to show you just how much you mean to me. You gave me a second chance at not only love but a family. I now have one, soon to be two, more beautiful children and I couldn't ask for anything else. You gave up a job you love for me and our children and that is the greatest gift ever. When you consider I am now divorced this one will seem strange but I never thought love was worth fighting for but then I look in your eyes and I am ready for war." As he watched another tear roll down her face. "Hey don't cry." Reaching up to wipe away the tear.

Passing him the tray from her knee she waited until he had put it down before she reached for him and pulled him to here. As he felt himself being crushed to her side he wrapped his arms around her and held her. He could feel her tears hitting his neck as he kissed the side of her head. Running his hand up and down her back as they just held each other. He felt the tears stop as she continued to hold him kissing his neck. When she finally let go she dropped back on the couch and gripped his hand tightly. He watched as she shut her eyes and took a deep breath in, slowly letting it out. After doing that a couple of times she opened them and looked at him. They both looked down at her bump and they saw the now pale blue pants she had on had turned dark blue and were now wet.

"Time to go now or you want to wait till she starts school." Laughing as he stood up and bent down to swing her legs off the couch.

"Phone Laurel..." Looking up to see he was already on the phone.

After speaking to Laurel and asking her to pick DJ up from crèche he looked down and saw Merri had a vice-like grip on the couch cushions and was taking deep measured breaths. Surely it hadn't been that long since her last contraction. Waiting for her to finally let go of the couch she looked up at him and he could see she was thinking the same thing. Holding out his hands he helped her stand up and looked down at her wet clothes.

"Change them then into the car, stay there and I will get them." Going to let go of her hands but feeling her vice-like grip on his fingers. "Another one?" Seeing her eyes shut and her breathing drop to take in the contraction.

When the contraction passed she opened her eyes and looked at him, a look of panic in her eyes.

"Go bring a pile of towels out the cupboard and bring them through here." Seeing the panic hit his face. "Now Dwyane, your daughter has decided she is in a hurry all of a sudden." As he watched her slowly try to slide her jeans off.

He had never moved so fast in a long time as he flew out the door and into the hall. Coming to a halt at the hall cupboard her flung the door open and grabbed a huge pile of towels as well as a pillow he saw on the top shelf. Running back to the lounge he dropped all the towels on the couch and took hold of Merri as he saw she was standing breathing through another contraction. When the contraction passed he pushed the coffee table across the room and bent down to help her ease her pants off the rest of the way. Grabbing some of the couch cushions and a few of the towels he lay them on the floor and with his help he got Merri into some sort of sitting position with her back against the couch.

He had just got her seated when another contracting tore through her. Grabbing his arm she held tight as she breathed through it, finally easing her grip when it was gone.

"Dwayne she coming and you better be ready to catch her. You ready for this?" As she looked at King then bore down as the urge to push took hold.

Kneeling down with a couple of towels beside him he looked at Merri then down just in time to see his daughter's head crown "I see her princess, I see her head. You're doing so well, I got her." As he reached out and took hold of his daughter's head gently running his fingers around her neck to check to make sure the cord wasn't there. " I have her, it's all down to you now. Deep breaths, that's it." As she bore down again and a pair of shoulders and chest appeared. "She's nearly here princess, one more big push and she's here, just one more. You're doing so well and I am so proud of you." As she gave one final push and his daughter slid out into his waiting hands.

Holding the baby in one hand he reached and grabbed a towel, quickly wrapping the baby up, leaving the cord dangling out the bottom as he saw Merri flop back against the couch. Gently placing the baby on Merri's stomach he waited to see if there was any sound but there wasn't. As quick as he could he picked the baby back up and lay her across his arm as he opened her mouth and ran his finger around, making sure her airway was clear. He tipped her slightly as he cleared out some gunk from her throat and as he did he both felt and heard her suck in a breath before letting out an ear-splitting scream.

"That's better." Relief flooding him as his daughter finally cried. "You go see Mommy while I phone for an ambulance to come get you guys," Placing a now screaming baby on Merri's stomach.

He looked at Merri as he pulled his phone out his pocket and hit the buttons to call an ambulance. As he made the call he sat on the floor at Merri's side and slid his arm around her shoulder as he kissed her head. Merri wrapped her daughter up as best as she could while she slumped to King's side when he sat down next to her. She looked down at the baby and stroked her cheek as she moved her a little further up her chest. She was only half listening to the phone call between the operated and King as he got them to dispatch an ambulance. When he put his phone back in his pocket he looked at Merri and the still screaming baby.

"Let's see about getting this little lady settled." As he got Merri to sit back up and he moved to see how much room they had with the cord.

Lifting his daughter up he gently manoeuvred her so the cord was still slack, so she was now resting on Merri's chest. With a little help from King when he was back beside her she managed to latch the baby and she instantly stopped crying. After grabbing a few of the towels from behind him and covering both Merri and the baby he went back to being snuggled at her side.

"Well look at that, she's perfect just like her mother." Looking down at his now very content daughter as she was feed.

"That she is but not sure about the looking like me bit. You did good daddy." Leaning her head against his shoulder just as there was a knock at the door.

"In here, the doors open," King called out as the door opened and in entered two Ambulance men.

"Well hello, there you are. Let's get you cleaned up and checked over at the hospital." One medic said as he knelt down and start to get out the things he needed. "You want to finish the job daddy?" The medic asked passing the scissors to King.

King took the scissors and cut the cord before the baby was wrapped up against Merri's chest. After delivering the placenta and cleaning Merri up she was lifted up into the ambulance chair and covered with blankets before being wheeled out. King followed behind with her hospital bag and climbed into the ambulance. Driving to the hospital King text Laurel and told her the house was a bit of a mess and could she take DJ to hers after picking him up. He did tell her she had a new baby sister and he would update when he got a chance.

Once at the hospital they were taken to a room where they were both checked over and given a clean bill of health. King stood back and watched as both Merri and the baby were cleared to leave once they were ready. Stepping up to the bed after the doctor left up looked at his now exhausted girlfriend as she fed their little girl.

"How about when she's done I take her and you can go take a shower and get ready to go home. I am sure I remember how to dress a tiny little one. We still going to call her what we discussed because if we are then I suggest you tell her her name since I gave DJ his." Sitting on the edge of the bed and kissing Merri's head.

"Well, little one as you just heard daddy say I can give you your name, which I think is only fitting since the name you have is extra special to me. So Emily Louise Pride welcome to the world, my little princess. You sure made an entrance, but due to the fact your daddy kept a cool head you are here safe and sound and none the worse for wear." Placing a kiss on her daughter's head.

"All I did was catch, you did the hard work getting her here. I have to say if and only if we have any more I swear the first twinge you are in the hospital. I would rather face down an armed suspect than do that again, that scared the life out of me. When she didn't cry I just..." Stopping as he felt a hand on his.

"You heard the doctor, she's fine and you did just what was needed at the right time. If you hadn't cleared her airway then I don't want to think what could have happened. You will always be her savoury and you have always been mine. Now it looks like someone is finished." As she eased Emily away from her breast and passed her to King.

Taking his daughter King stood up and held her close to him as he kissed her head, the head he helped catch. He would never ever forget the moment he actually helped to deliver his baby girl. Watching as Merri climbed off the bed and hobbled her way over to get her things out the bag he knew he shouldn't smile, but he did. He had now seen more of his girlfriend than he had ever seen of any person on the planet. Standing back as a nurse delivered your child was one thing but actually stood at the business end of things and delivering your own child was something else.

"Come on Emily, Let's get you ready to go home." Laying the baby in the crib and getting her clothes and diaper out the bag.

Every so gently he dressed Emily and tucked her up in her blanket back in the crib. Clearing away the things he didn't need he sat on the bed and waited for Merri to finish getting washed and ready. After a few minutes, he went and tapped on the door to make sure she was okay.

"You okay in their baby? You need any help?" Asking as he heard the shower turn off.

"Doors open King." He heard a very soft voice say as he turned the handle and pushed it open.

Stood in just a towel and still dripping with water was one very clean but one very tired Meredith Brody. Stepping into the bathroom he picked a towel up from the pile of things she had brought in with her and came to stand behind her. Lifting the towel up he rubbed it over Merri's shoulders and arms as he dried her. Then he stood and dried her hair as he felt her lean into him.

"Take a seat and we can dry the bottom half." Guiding her to the chair and getting her to sit down.

Kneeling down he dried her feet and legs before standing up and putting the towel on the side. Getting her socks he bent and put them on. Passing her underwear to her he turned his back and let her finish drying herself and put them on.

"Done. Can you pass me my pants and top, please." Seeing him turn around and look at her.

"I wish I could help more." Passing her the top and bending down to help her put her pants and shoes on.

Once she was ready he gathered up all her stuff and carried them through to put in the bag. A few seconds later he felt a pair of arms come up around his chest just as Emily decided she had been quite long enough. Spinning on the spot he wrapped an arm around Merri as he led her to the chair beside the bed. Once she was sat down he picked Emily up and held her as he watched Merri get comfortable. Passing Emily to Merri he watched as she settled happily into being feed and Merri got settled. Leaving them to feed and bond he cleared away the rest of Merri and Emily's things so they were ready to go once Emily was feed.

As he sat down he received a message from Laurel to say DJ was asleep so she would keep him overnight and bring him back in the morning. After thanking her, he sent her a couple of pictures he had taken of Emily and one of Merri with Emily together. Putting his phone on the table he looked across and saw both his girls were fast asleep. Emily was still feeding so he just sat and waited till he saw her cheeks stop moving and she spat out Merri's boob. Taking that as a sign she was done he came up and ran his finger down Merri's face.

"Let's get you outta here, you need your own bed." Taking Emily as Merri got dressed and stood up.

"No arguments there. We got everything?" Looking around the room.

"We do, someone is waiting downstairs to meet his goddaughter and take her home." Seeing Merri smile a little as she knew who it would be.

"Let's go introduce you to uncle Christopher, Emily, he's going to love you." As she took her daughter and wrapped her up to carry her to the car.

King picked the bag up and after wrapping his arm around Merri's waist he pulled his girls to his side and they headed out the room to take their daughter down to meet one of the maddest members of her family.