Skins may not be mine, but the grammatical and spelling errors are.

Naomi looked around the waiting room for the hundredth time. Her eyes fell on Emily and she smiled at her for about the the two hundredth time. The redhead reached over and rested her hand on the blonde's. "Relax, it's just a checkup."

"I know. I'm just nervous."

"Why, your not the one who is going to be poked, prodded and felt up." The smile tried to suggest it was a joke, but inside Emily was dreading all three of those things happening.

"I know, but I still worry that they are judging us. Deciding if we are fit to be parents."

"It's okay," squeezing her hand, "there is no test to become a parent, and if they ask I'll tell them 'Naomi said I would be a brilliant mum'."

"Great put it all on me."

"Yup that's the plan. Deflect the blame. You learn that trick when you have siblings."

Before Naomi could question the justice in that action, a nurse stepped from behind the desk with a medical file in her hand. Looking at the name on the front she called out "Emily Fitch."

Emily stood and walked towards her. Naomi, half a step behind jumped up and followed. The nurse took another look at the file, at the two girls and then addressed Emily. "You are Miss Fitch?"

"Yes," Emily answered.

"And you are?" looking at the blonde.

"Naomi Campbell."

"Well if you will just have a seat, Emily will be right back out as soon as she is done."

"But I'm her girlfriend."

"Are you a relative?" Naomi shook her head no. "Are you two married?" Again she shook her head no. "Well then I need you to have a seat."

"But I'm her Girlfriend," repeating herself.

"That's very nice, but unless you are a relative or a spouse the rules are you have to wait here. Now be a love and don't make a scene."

Naomi stood there for a moment with her mouth hanging open, trying to figure out how this could be happening and who she needed to vent the building rage at. Before either question could be solved Emily reached over and squeezed her hand and placed a kiss on her cheek. "It's fine, I'll be back shortly." She then followed the nurse through the door towards the exam rooms.

Naomi watched her until the door closed blocking her view, and then returned to the chair she had been occupying. She was sure everyone in the room was looking at her, judging her for the little drama that had just taken place. She tried to be very quiet and very small, but she could still feel every eye on her.

The nurse lead Emily down the hall. She stopped at one of the doors, knocked, opened the door and invited Emily into the room. The redhead was a little surprised. She had been expecting an exam room but instead found herself standing in a office, with who she guessed to be the doctor sitting behind the desk. The nurse walked over and placed her file on the edge of the desk and then excused herself from the room closing the door behind her. The doctor looked up from her paper work and stared at her young patient as if they had met before. Emily did not return the look of recognition, so she pushed that thought from her mind, stood and extended a hand.

"Miss Fitch, I am Doctor Berg, it is very nice to meet you. Please have a seat. I normally save the sit down after the exam to discuss what we found, but when Doctor Grant sent your file over I though we might have a chat first." Emily took a seat and Dr. Berg continued. "Have you given some thought about how you would like to handle this pregnancy?"

"Yes Doctor, I plan to keep my baby."

"Because of the nature of this situation I feel I have to ask, have you thought this all the way through?"

A tight lipped Emily nodded her head yes.

"And do you feel you have the support necessary for this journey?"

Again she nodded yes.

"Are you married?"

Emily considered her response for a moment before answering. "No, but my girlfriend and I are very committed to each other."

"Emily I apologize if it seems this was all very much out of line. In this practice I see too many women who feel they have it all together and then their world starts to unravel the first time the baby cries all night long. And those that have been through what you have, face a long road to get their lives back. I am not trying to sway your choice, I just want you to make sure you have thought it through. It is your life and your choices, I am just here to help you stay healthy."

"Thank you for your concern Doctor."

"Okay then, we are going to do a prenatal exam and get some base lines on your health, we need to rerun your STD screens, and then we will sit down and talk about what is going on inside your body and how we can best help you and your baby." Dr. Burg pressed a button on her desk and the nurse reentered the room. "Nurse Vickie to take you to the exam and we will get started."

Naomi sat on her bed not looking out the window. She had been flipping through her mp3 player, just letting a song start and then moving to the next. Multiple gigs of music and she couldn't find a song that spoke to her mood. With out realizing it she started through her collection for the third time, and didn't hear the door or the redhead who entered the room.

Emily stood in the middle of the room and watched her girlfriend. At first she thought she was being ignored, until she noticed the wires from the ear buds. Focusing she could almost make out the sounds of a song start and then stop only to be replaced by another. She let the blonde switch songs a half dozen more times before moving over and sitting on the bed behind her.

"What?" The movement of the bed caused Naomi to jump and pull the buds from her ears. She glanced at Emily, "Oh, hey," and then returned her unfocused stare out the window.

"Hey." She looked at the back of Naomi's head waiting for more of an acknowledgment, which didn't come. "What's up babe?"

"Just thinking." There was a another long pause as Naomi did not elaborate.

There was a little voice in the back of Emily's head that she had not heard in a long time, not since they were on the beach in Goa. 'She's going to run,' it whispered. She tried to push the thought away.

"Emily," she still faced the widow, the strain in her voice was evident. "I am scared."

The voice in Emily's head was no longer a whisper, 'There it is. Just like the doctor said. I don't have the support I thought I had. I started down this path and now she is going to do THIS.' She continued to look at the back of the blonde's head in disbelief, her jaw set as the anger and frustration started to build.

"I got excluded and pushed away and..."

She couldn't really hear what Naomi was saying the voice was so loud, 'She!? I'm the one having the baby. I'm the one that needs the help! I'm the one that needs some one to count on, who WONT run out when things get tough.'

"...I couldn't be there for you. Couldn't help you."

'What am I going to do?' She sat unmoving not sure whether to cry or scream. 'How can I do this with out her? How can I go on with out her? How can I...'

Naomi turned and faced her with a serious determined look on her face, "Emily marry me so they can never keep us a apart again."

The voice was gone. Nothing but an empty void where it had been. The words so stunned her she couldn't breathe, only stare back at those blue eyes. She tried to replay Naomi's words in her mind, 'marry her?' But? There were so many conflicting parts she didn't know where to start to sort them out. She still couldn't breathe. She needed air, fresh air, away from those lovely blue eyes.

Emily stood and exited the room. She was half way down the stairs before she could take her first breath and out the back door and in the garden before she realized she had even stood up. 'That was not what I was expecting.'

Naomi watched Emily's face as she said the words. The anger, which she had not been expecting, was replaced by shock and confusion. And when she stood up and left without saying a word, Naomi's world crashed. The sound of the back door was a little bit of a relief, she must have needed time to think. But that she hadn't answered still hurt. She trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen where she fond her mom sitting at the table with a cup of tea and the daily paper. The blonde flopped into a chair, rested her head on her hands and looked over at her parent.

Gina sat down the paper and looked into her daughter's eyes. Naomi's face showed dejection, but the eyes held a nervous energy. "Okay what gives?"

"I went to the clinic with Emily yesterday and they made me stay in the lobby because I wasn't a relative or married to her and so I told her I wanted to marry her so that would never happen again and she walked out and now I have wrecked everything." As Naomi finally paused to take a breath, the back door opened. Both women turned to watch Emily enter the room.

"Mum, could you fix me something to settle my stomach?"

"Of course dear, come sit down. Is your morning sickness back?"

Emily nodded her head yes. "I threw up on the roses, sorry."

Gina just smiled. "Well good, maybe now they will bloom. Lord knows I have tried everything else."

Emily sat in the seat vacated by Gina, across the table from Naomi. Their eyes met for a moment and Naomi started to get up. Gina cough her daughter's eyes and said "Sit back down. I am going to play mum for a few minutes and get Emily something to settle her stomach and then I am going outside to check up on her gardening skills. I think you two need to talk, and sooner might be better then later." There was a quiet tension in the room as Gina fixed a mild cup of tea and a plate of milk toast. She placed them both on the table and went out the back door.

Emily ate in silence and the sipped her tea. Both girls seemed lost in thought and afraid to be the first to speak.

They broke eye contact and both looked down at the table. "Emily..."

"Naomi..." they had both spoken at once.

"You go first."

"No, go ahead."

Naomi studied her own hands intently trying figure out what she needed to say and how to say it. Words failed her; thoughts failed her. She finally gave up trying to force herself to say something, and reached across the table offering an open hand. Emily accepted the offer and placed her own hand on the blonde's. Naomi stood, "Would you come with me please?"

Emily rose and allowed Naomi to lead her into the lounge. They sat very close to each other on the couch still holding hands.

"Emily, I am sorry I said it that way. Can we pretend it never happened?"

Emily looked down at the hand in her own, and then up into those lovely blue eyes. "No we can't. It's out there, it's part of how we will look at each other from now on."

"I can't loose you and go back to being a lonely sarcastic bitch."

With a smile on her face, "Oh, you can still be a sarcastic bitch, those skills are intact."

Naomi rolled her eyes.

"See, right there. Told you."

"Seriously Emily, I love you. I always want to be there to help you, and don't want anything to get in the way of that."

"I love you too. And we will always be there to help each other, together we will make sure of that. I am sorry I ran from the room. You surprised me, and I needed a moment."

"So your not saying no?"

"I am not saying no. But I am also not saying yes, not right now. It is not the right time. There is too much turmoil in our lives right now, we don't need to add a wedding to that. Give this little one a year, and then make sure it is your heart pushing you and not the rules of society."

Naomi reached over and pulled Emily into a hug and whispered into her ear, "I love you, and I will marry you Emily Fitch."

"Yes you will Naomi Campbell, yes you will," she whispered back.

It was a cold spring day, but the sun was out and Emily had found a spot in the lounge where she could put her toes in the sun. A little bit of comfort. The baby had dropped and very little else was comfortable. She had been through several sessions of false labor, but her last pain had felt different. She wiggled her toes and tried to decide if sitting on the floor in the warmth of the sun was worth the cost of trying to get back up again, when the next pain hit.

Gina was sitting across the room and Could see the discomfort on Emily's face. "Emily? Are you okay?"

Emily just nodded her head yes as she held her breath through the pain.

When Gina saw her face relax she asked, "Was that the first?"

"No the second."

"How far apart?"

"A little over 5 minutes. Could you drive us to the hospital? And would you call Naomi in?"

"Of course. NAOMI."

The blonde came down the stairs and entered the lounge. Emily patted the spot next to her on the couch and she sat down. "Naomi, I think it is time. Could you get my bag?" Emily reached out and grabbed her arm before she could leap into action. "Go slow, it wont help anyone if you fall down the stairs." She leaned over and put a kiss on her cheek before letting go of her arm.

The Campbell women both set about the tasks of getting ready to leave, finding keys, coats and shoes. Emily got Naomi's attention and had her retrieve the redhead's cell phone. She sat back and relaxed for a moment and then at about 6 minutes after the last another contraction started. This one was not any less painful then the last, but knowing it was coming made it a little easier. When the pain faded she picked up the phone and called Katie.

"What is your problem now?"

"Always the caring one Katie. My problem is the baby wants out now. We are going to the hospital."

"Are you sure? No false labor again?"

"No, this feels different. It's time. Talk to you later."

"Later Em. Be safe."

Gina and Naomi got her bundled up and out to the car. Emily and Naomi sat in back while Gina drove, and at the hospital the younger two went inside while she parked the car. At the admitting desk Emily was about to give her name when the next contraction hit. Naomi dropped the bags and held her through the pain. By the time it ended the nurse had a wheelchair and an orderly there for her. "Lets get you on through admitting and to your room, will finish the paper work there." Then turning to Naomi, "Are you staying with her?"

This cough Naomi off guard, she had been readying herself to fight for that option, "Ah, yes, please."

"Well then come on."

After all the rush things seemed to slow down, and it became a waiting game measured in 6 minute units. Doctor Burg stopped by and after a brief exam warned them both the expect a long afternoon and evening, and that they should get any rest they could.

Naomi was laying back in the bed next to Emily, trying to work some feeling back in to the hand Emily had held through the last contraction, when Katie made her entrance.

"So where is this baby?"

"It takes a little longer in real life then on the telly."

"Mum and dad are here. They are on the waiting area with Gina."

"No James?"

"He is at Gordon McPherson's, the last thing we need is him running loose in a maternity ward."

The image gave Emily a shutter. "Will you keep mum out until the baby gets here?"

"I will try, but you owe me. And you do need to make up with her at some point."

"I know, and I will. But I have some other things to take care of first," laying her hand on her stomach. Emily reached over and took Naomi's had as the next contraction began. She did not squeeze back, just flexed her hand enough to keep Emily from hurting her.

Katie watched with both fascination and growing respect for Emily and Naomi. What they were doing was so vary common place, it had been done billions and billions of times before, but that in no way diminished the act or the way they approached it. Katie thought of herself as tough, but wondered if she would have already asked for something to help with the pain. When the contraction ended she moved to the side of the bed and kissed her sister on the cheek and said, "Don't hurt the blonde too badly. I'll go entertain the future grandparents."

After ten hours of labor a new voice was added to the room. She cried at the appropriate time, moved in the appropriate way and was declared beautiful and perfect by all present. After being cleaned up and given a quick exam she was returned to her very tired mum. The doctor and nurses cleared out and gave them a few minutes alone before allowing anyone else in to see the child.

"You said you wanted to meet her before choosing a name, well she is here did you decide?"

"Yes, I think we'll stay with my first pick."

"I think it fits her, and I love the meaning."

"Well Little-one I hope you are ready to meet your family."

The quiet of the room was replaced by the sounds of three grandparents cooing over a newborn. Even Katie was taken by little bundle, and asked the question all had on their minds, "Did you finally pick a name?"

Emily looked down at her daughter as she replayed, "Yes, I would like you to meet Betha Fitch-Campbell. And yes Naomi's name will be on the birth record."

Naomi had not stopped to think what the last name would be or even considered the birth record. Emily had told her they would work to make it so they cold take care of each other. And this was the first step. They might not be married, but they were a family, and she was a part of it.

Jenna did not share Naomi's smile. I looked like her daughter was really going to keep this child. And if that wasn't hard enough to explain away, she was now trying to setup some sort of pretend family with two moms. Next they will be getting married.

Katie thought about it for just a moment and then asked, "Betha?"

A very proud Rob answered before Emily could, "It is a Scottish name, it means Life."

Gina could see the exhaustion on the faces of all three members of the new family and became the voice of reason, "Let's give them some time to rest. Come on everyone out."

Everyone started saying their goodbyes and making their way to the door, with the exception of Jenna who moved closer to Emily and quietly said to her "I would like to speak with you." Rob watched the exchange and gave his wife a questioning look. She just waved him away with her eyes. Naomi also saw the exchange and moved closer to Emily. "Alone," Jenna added for Naomi's benefit.

"Naomi, would you take our child?" With the overly careful movements of new parents Emily handed Betha to Naomi who held her tight and with a few cooing sounds moved towards the doorway.

"You are really planning to keep this baby?"

"Betha, and yes."

"But Emily consider where she came from."

"I have. She came from me. She has two mums who love her and will care for her. She does not have a father and we will not talk about that, ever. And she will never be made to feel bad about what happened to me. If that is a problem then please stay away from her. I am sorry if that sounds mean, but she will be razed with love, respect and acceptance. If you can show those values to her and both her mothers then we welcome you into our family, if not I hope you will understand my feelings.

"Mom I love you, and I am sorry to be this way, but I have to protect my little girl. Just like you protected yours."

Jenna stood and looked at her daughter through tear filled eyes. The words hurt, and she knew there would be more words before this was settled. But there was also pride in those tears. Her little girl was growing up. She leaned down and placed a kiss on Emily's forehead, "You are going to be such a great mother to that little girl." She walked through the doorway where Naomi was standing holding Betha. Jenna looked down at the baby and then kissed her on the forehead. "You are such a lucky little girl Betha. Welcome to the family. And you," she looked into Naomi's eyes and then leaned in and kissed her cheek, "take care of my daughter and granddaughter."

Before Naomi could even stammer "I will," Jenna had taken Rob by the arm and together they exited the ward.

A slightly dazed Naomi walked over to the Bed where Emily was resting. "What the fuck was that?"

"Naomi, language."

"Oh ya," looking down at the bundle in her arms, "but what was that all about?"

"We'll have the wait and see, but I might be getting my mum back."

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you thought, all reviews are welcome.