The Real Deal (19)

A/N: So sorry this has taken so long guys. Hope it doesn't suck too bad. I have already started the next chapter so hopefully it will be posted in the next few days. Thanks to everyone who is still around it means a lot to get PM's asking about this fic shows me that I have the best reviewers around! :)

-Lex


"She actually said IF Harley wakes up and not WHEN Harley wakes up?" Mark asked in disgust after Laurel finished telling Mark about the call.

"Yes, she really did and I was calling not just to tell her about Harley, but about the baby as well, good thing she cut me off before I got the chance to tell her."

"I have never wanted to physically harm a woman before, but for that bitch I'd make an exception."

"I hear ya, Mark, I've never wanted to reach through a phone so badly." Laurel said before her cell started to ring, or rather Harley's phone started to ring.

"Hello?" Laurel answered.

"Hello, this is Haylee Cooper Marshall, Harley is my aunt," the voice on the other end said.

"Oh well hello there, I'm Harley's friend, Laurel, how can I help you?"

"You're the woman who called Havilland a little while ago about Aunt Harley, aren't you? I over-heard her talking to my mom about what happened to her. Are they alright?"

"They?" Laurel asked suspiciously.

"Yes, they. Aunt Harley and I have talked quite a bit over the past few months. I am planning on transferring to TSU after this semester and Aunt Harley was going to help me when I got there. She told me about the baby," Haylee said.

Laurel could hear the fear and concern in the girls voice and decided to try and ease her worries.

"Well, being perfectly honest Haylee, your aunt isn't in the greatest shape. She hasn't woken up and she is having contractions and the doctor says he doesn't want to give her more medicine so Harley will probably be giving birth soon."

"But she's in a coma, that can't be safe can it?" Haylee shrieked.

"The doctor has insured us that it is. You didn't tell your grandmother about the baby did you?" Laurel asked nervously.

"No, Aunt Harley didn't want anyone to know so I didn't say a word to anyone. I'm so worried about her. Will you keep me posted on how she's doing?"

"Of course I will and don't worry, your aunt is one of the strongest people I know. She will get through this, I promise." Laurel said the words to reassure Haylee, but the truth was she wasn't even sure how much she believed them.

"Thank you, Aunt Harley told me the same thing about you. I have to go my mom need me, but call at any time. It was nice talking to you, even under these circumstances," Haylee said.

"It was nice talking with you as well, Haylee. Good bye," Laurel said before ending the call.

"That was one of Harley's nieces as I'm sure you heard. Apparently she and Harley have been communicating with each other the past few months and Harley told her about the baby. When she over-heard Havilland talking to her mother about the attack she was worried." Laurel explained to Mark.

"Well at least she had someone to confide in while she had us banished to the land of misfit toys," Mark said with a small smile.

"Yea, I just still hate that she didn't lean on me during this but at least she wasn't completely alone," Laurel confessed.

"She didn't want to put you in a predicament of having to lie to me, but I get it because all I can keep thinking is that if she would have stuck around and talked to me then she wouldn't be in that damn bed, unconscious and going into an early labor," Mark said as he ran his hands through his hair.

"Mark I really think you should go get some rest, you're dead on your feet. If Harley goes into labor don't you want to be at your best to help her through it?"

"I am not leaving this hospital," Mark said in a tone that let Laurel know that arguing about it was not an option.

"Fine, what if I see if they have some scrubs or something that'll fit and you can shower here. Cause not trying to be mean or unsympathetic but you stink…a lot," Laurel said causing Mark to burst out laughing.

"Well damn, tell me like it really is," Mark said with a genuine smile in Laurel's direction. "My bag is still out in the car if they say I can shower here I'll do it if only to save your nose," Mark said with another chuckle.

"Great, I'll go ask, you go grab that bag," Laurel said before turning to find a nurse or an orderly for Mark.

Mark took the fastest shower in the history of showers so that he could get back to Harley. He was about to walk out of the male locker room when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He pulled his shaving supplies out of his bag and got rid of the weeks' worth of facial hair that covered his haggard face. Twenty minutes after entering the facilities he was heading back to Harley's room looking and definitely smelling better than he had been.

When Mark entered the room Dr. Xavier was examining Harley.

"How're they doing doc?" Mark asked as he took his seat back beside Harley's bed.

Dr. Xavier was about to answer when the machine that was hooked up to the baby to monitor the heartbeat started beeping causing Laurel to shoot out of the chair and rush over to the bed.

"What's wrong with her?" Laurel asked gripping Harley's free hand.

"It's not her, I'm afraid it's the baby, it's time for Harley to push," Dr. Xavier said as he pushed the call button for assistance. Within seconds the room was full of nurses and Dr. Xavier had disappeared to get a proper scrub before delivery.

"How is she supposed to push? She's in a coma for heaven's sakes!" Laurel said frantically.

Now that the actual time to push had arrived Laurel was a panicking mess.

"Harley's body will know what to do, trust me this isn't my first coma delivery, Harley will be fine."

"Why not just do a caesarean?" Mark asked his worry evident in his voice.

"We have to rule out a Caesarean section because of the risks of anesthesia and the potential difficulties of healing. Vaginal birth is better for both baby and mommy, just trust me to take care of them, okay?"

"We trust you, Doc. It's just that the circumstances are a little scary," Laurel admitted.

"I know, but as I said I've done this before and from what you two have told me over the past few days Harley is a fighter and I'm sure the baby is going be one too, now I need the two of you to get on some gowns so we can bring this little baby into the world," Dr. Xavier said as he pulled the stool closer to the edge of the bed and adjusted the sheets that covered Harley.

"Harley, honey, I don't know if you can hear me or not, but if you can I need for you to push. You have to push with everything you've got to bring our little one into the world." Mark said into Harley's ear as the doctor worked to get the baby delivered safely.

Harley heard Mark's voice again and so desperately wanted to see his face and tell him that she loved him, but it was only a dream. Mark wasn't there; he couldn't be. She had run away from him and her life like some scared child without telling anyone where she was going and now she was somewhere lost in her dreams hearing Mark's deep sexy voice and even though his actual words were not registering she was still content with her dream of him. She wanted to open her eyes but as hard as she tried to force them open they just wouldn't budge. And then as if her dream wasn't weird enough she began to hear Laurel's voice as well telling her that everything would be okay.

"What do you mean everything will be okay?" Harley tried to make the words come out of her mouth.

There was pressure in her belly and Harley was scared for the baby, her and Marks baby. She had to keep the baby safe. Harley tried to raise her arms to protect her belly but her arms wouldn't move. What was happening? Why did she feel the need to push? It wasn't time to push, it was too early. Something was wrong, but Harley didn't know what it was, but she couldn't fight the need to push so push she did and all the while she heard Mark's soothing voice helping her through it.

"That's it baby, you're doing great, just keep pushing, sweetheart, Doc say's he can see the head. Please Harley, wake up so you can witness this miracle."

Mark sounded so scared so Harley knew it was all a dream, a man like Mark didn't do scared, he didn't do relationships and he definitely didn't do babies. Yes, it was all a dream, a dream that Harley so desperately wanted to be real.

"Oh my goodness, she's so beautiful, Harley," This was Laurel again and Harley could hear the emotions in her voice, glee, awe and...sadness? but that wasn't real either. Harley was alone no one was there talking to her, they couldn't be because she hadn't told anyone where she was, no one but Haylee and Harley was sure her niece wouldn't rat her out. No, Harley was stuck in a dream a dream that just wouldn't seem to end.

"Mark," The tiny whisper escaped Harley's lips and Mark almost fell over.

"That's it, Harley, come back to me darlin'. We got a beautiful baby girl and she wants to meet her momma, so you come on back now, you hear me? You've slept long enough it's time to wake up so we can be a family. Come back to me sweetheart, I can't live without you," Mark whispered into Harley's ear before placing a kiss on her temple before going over to cut his daughters umbilical cord.

"Did you hear her say my name this time? I didn't dream it Laurel, she's gonna come back to us, soon,
Incan feel it," Mark said as the nurse finished cleaning up the baby and handing her over to her very proud poppa.

"I heard her, Mark. Now let's just hope she heard you and that she keeps fighting," Laurel said as she took the baby's tiny hand and smiled when she gave her finger a little squeeze.

"She's so damn beautiful," Mark said as the tears slowly ran down his cheeks.

"Yes, she is so what are you going to name that precious angel?"

"I don't know, maybe I'll wait for Harley to wake up so we can name her together," Mark said still staring down at his daughter…his daughter wow he never thought he'd be saying those words but was surprised at how much he liked knowing that he was now a father.

"Well I've been looking up names and I think I found one that Harley might like, but if you want to wait on Harley so that you two can do this together I completely understand," Laurel said still smiling down at the baby.

"Let's hear whatcha got that way we can surprise Harley when she wakes up," Mark said smiling up at Laurel.

"Sure and if she hates it then you two can come up with something more fitting on your own," Laurel said winking up at Mark.

"Oh goodness, why do I have a sudden uneasy feeling on what you've managed to come up with?" Mark asked only half-jokingly.

"Just give me a chance, I think both you and Harley will approve," Laurel responded as she walked over to her bag and pulled out her note pad.

"Alright, hit me with your best shot," Mark said as he turned towards her still cradling the baby in his big arms.