Okay good excuse time. Well I don't know if you remember I was having major computer problems? Problems no more! I got a MacBook so no longer will I be able to use my computer issues as an excuse. So that is why this chapter is late. But! (Good news time) I'm going to have the next chapter up on Monday like I usually do so we're still on schedule.

Individual responses are at the bottom. Remember to review to let me know how I'm doing thus far!

It took me a minute to register exactly what was going on. I hadn't wet the bed since I was seven and I snuck Nightmare on Elm Street at Blockbuster. This was a different kind of wet bed. It was more like water.

Water.

I sat up straight in bed, driven by pure panic. My water had broken during my nap while dreaming of Lilly and Meg. I should have known those two had a purpose. I didn't dream of the dead unless something bad was going to happen. Being all alone with a baby, when my water broke was not a good thing. They had lied to me.

It wasn't even like I could call Logan. Or Duncan for that matter. I could see the waves crashing through the shadeless window. The duo was surely enjoying the enormous swells.

Maybe I could run down to the shoreline. They'd see me and have to come in. Things would work out and I'd be on my way to the hospital in no time. I kept repeating encouraging and reassuring mantras as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. And as if my plans were answered, searing pain shot through my stomach.

Contractions.

So it seemed walking down the beach was out of the question. A taxi? An ambulance? Panic was getting the best of my brain. What about Lilly? What about that bag we were supposed to prepare for the hospital stay? Did Logan put the crib together already? How much longer until the hotel was done? What was I going to do?

Breathe.

All I needed was a little oxygen to start thinking clearly. I was in labor and my water broke. I still had time. It wasn't like the baby was going to shoot right out of me this second. There was dilation. And...

Epidural.

God, it was hard to think with the intense cramping. I knew there was something significant about the contractions but there was nothing I could do to recall the information from my brain at this point. My body was running on autopilot while my brain worked solely on delivering this baby safely.

First, I needed to get things packed. Clothes, pajamas, something for the baby to wear. And...

Damn this wasn't fun. Still, I was getting no where, especially with all these contractions.

"Shit," I mumbled as I knocked the lamp off my bedside table, "Contractions."

A lightbulb went off in my head. The closer the contractions were the closer the baby was from coming out. I needed to stop my frantic preparations to time them.

Six minutes.

I wasn't sure if that was a long time or a time to really start panicking but either way I needed to hurry up. I reached for my phone, unsure of what use it would really be. I took a chance and dialed the familiar number.

"It's Lucas. Life's tragedy is that we grow old too soon and wise too late. Ben Franklin." At the sound of his voice on his voicemail I broke down. A small ounce of hope inside of me was sure he would answer and come to my rescue.

All I could do now was leave a message in hopes he got it in time, "Uh, hey, it's me," I choked out, trying to hold back my quivering voice, "I don't really know what to do. I packed a bag but I just...I need you."

A muffled cry sounded from the baby monitor that was tangled in my sheets. It surprised me when it wasn't my own cries, reminding me that on top of everything else, I still needed to worry about Lilly.

With a few deep breaths I was ready to make my way down the hall to comfort the lonely little girl waiting to be taken out of her crib for the rest of the day. Either time was passing extremely fast or my contractions were getting closer together because as soon as I got to Lilly's bedroom door, I clutched the handle hard and bit down to ride out yet another one. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe but that didn't stifle the cry of pain to escape my lips. Logan was never leaving me alone again in this state.

If I ever got pregnant again, he was not leaving my side until the nine months were good and over. Nine months...

But I was only thirty-two weeks. Eight months. This isn't right.

The faster I got to Lilly the faster I could find a way to the hospital. Now true panic was setting in. I felt my heart racing and no matter how deep I sucked in, the air felt thin and unsubstantial. I got dizzy and shaky, nauseous even as I doubled over to re-center myself before picking Lilly up and out of her crib.

Bad idea.

Instead of re-centering I found myself tumbling off balance to the floor. Suddenly, my world was black and all I could hear was Lilly wailing now, screaming "Momma," intermittently but all I could hear was my own little girl calling out for me to help her out of this.

The thumping of my own racing heartbeat overpowered all other noises. Or was that footsteps. Heavy footsteps. Stumbling, faltering footsteps.

"Veronica!" His voice sounded so far away, as if he was underwater. Had he drowned surfing today. Had I died on the floor of Lilly's room, "Babe, wake up."

Death had not been my fate as my eyes fluttered open. I was still on Lilly's floor but this time we weren't alone. Duncan and Logan were kneeling by my side. Logan cradled my head in his lap as Duncan assessed any damage as if he were a doctor and not a realtor.

"Babe, what happened?" Logan stroked the wet hair that stuck to my forehead. When had I started sweating?

I dug my elbow into the floor and sat myself up. We didn't have time to play around on the floor. My baby girl wanted out. I had to get to the hospital, "Six minutes apart."

Logan on his feet just as fast as I was loaning his arm for support as I hobble towards the bedroom door, "Ronnie, you're not making any sense. What's the matter?"

"My water broke."

Those words were all they needed to hear. Both Duncan and Logan began rushing around the house like mad men preparing for the trip to the hospital. As Logan finished gathering what we needed, Duncan rounded up all things he needed for Lilly. And by the time my next contraction hit we were all in the car, barreling down the freeway.

Once inside the hospital, there was a hustle and bustle with added choice words being thrown around in a desperate attempt to get me into the delivery room. Maybe delivery room was a little hasty, but with the pain I was feeling pulsate through my body, any where I could get an epidural was fine by me.

But the bad news kept coming. "I'm sorry Vaughn, you're almost fully dilated," Our Aussie OB/GYN shook her head sympathetically, "It's too late."

I gripped the metal bed rails, trying to get a grasp on what she was telling me. No. Pain. Meds.

"How is that possible?" Logan asked for me, "Her water broke less than an hour ago."

Dr. White nodded, mulling over how to answer his question, "Women's bodies are all different. Some dilate faster, in mere hours and others take days. But despite her water breaking an hour ago, it looks like Vaughn has been in labor all day. The water breaking just signaled the active labor stages."

All at once it made sense to me. The uncomfortably cramping feeling I had been experiencing throughout the day was not due to fatigue or hunger, but were mild contractions. Subconsciously, I reached up and clamped my death grip on Logan's ear, "You left me alone all day while I was in labor!"

He writhed under my hold on his lobe, "How was I supposed to know? You were due for another month!" His verbal defense was successful only because I suddenly became aware of the fact that I was in fact, in labor early.

My panicked face set Dr. White off, "Babies are born prematurely all the time with little to no complications. The last ultrasound looked in order so I can't foresee any problems but I can't promise that everything will go smoothly." I felt tears well up in my eyes as I re-gripped the railings, "I can promise that we have the best staff here that are going to make sure everything goes as smoothly and safely as possible."

Logan rubbed my shoulder and kissed the top of my head trying to be the rock. I knew underneath his hard exterior he was as petrified as I looked. There was a chance that he could lose me or our daughter and worse case scenario, both of us. I was used to this feeling, especially with his punch now think later approach to problem solving. His life was quite the common center of many threats. But at this point in our life, losing any side to this triangle, any part of this trio, any member of this family would be devastating.

"I'm going to set up your delivery room," Dr. White moved towards the exit, "It's almost time to push, Vaughn, so rest up."

Resting did not come easy as the contractions were closer and closer together. And the fact that, while asked to step out while Dr. White examined my nether regions, Duncan had moseyed down to the gift shop and picked up a disposable camera and was now snapping away mercilessly despite my sweaty face and swear words was not helping this whole childbirth thing go smoothly thus far.

Once the nurse entered and removed the brakes from the wheels on the bed, things got even tenser in the room. This was it and with my recent development of panic attacks, it was not faring well for my heart. The vesicle was nearly jumping out of my throat as I was wheeled down the hallway and into and even more sterile looking room. There Dr. White stood, donning gloves, goggles, mask and a blue smock, welcoming us the best she could. We were going to be parents after a few pushes.

This for the record, was the first time I fully felt physical pain. Hell, my life had been so full of emotional pain, that sector of my brain was almost immune to the feelings. But physical pain was another story. Most other times I'd been hurt or attacked, I had so much adrenaline pumping through my veins, it was a distant memory. Childbirth was a whole different story.

It seemed no matter how hard I pushed, breathed and counted to ten, nothing happened. My baby would forever be stuck in my birth canal. That thought alone brought on my second wind.

Then, just like in the movies, the sound in my world cut out. I could see everyone moving in slow motion as I took one last triumphant breath to prepare myself for the next contraction to finally get my baby girl out. Their faces got more animate, more encouraging, more excited. Finally, my head fell back on my pillow, the pressure down under, no pun intended, released and the silence was filled with the shrill cries of my baby girl.

Dr. White placed her on my stomach as pairs of hands reached up to towel the nasty gook from her body. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Just as fast as she had been placed on my stomach she was whisked away for weighing, measurements and a preliminary check over because my work was not done.

The rest was easy, or at least I don't remember exactly what had happened because my only focus was on the still shrill screams coming from my baby. My little girl was finally part of my external world. It was as if now I was moving in slow motion, watching the world around me pass me by as I stood stationary, content with my here and now.

"Here's your healthy, baby girl," One of the pastel wearing nurses brought her back over to me, bundled in a pink and white blanket. It was only then, hearing the word healthy that I broke from my trance. I felt Logan lean down, and his wet cheek met my own. We had done it. I had done it.

"So, Mr. and Mrs. Lester," The nurse beamed at us, "Does she have a name?"

We turned our attention from our newest little addition and panic flashed across my features yet again. We had never revisited the name conversation and now it was biting us in the ass.

"Don't worry," She interceded, "You have time to decide. Baby Girl Lester it is for now." She carefully scooped my baby girl out of my arms, "I'm going to bring her to the nursery so you can rest. I'll be back for her feeding."

My arms already felt cold from where her warm body left. It was as if a part of me was in the nursery as well. Well, technically, a part of me was. And a part of Logan.

"Babe," He cracked, "I can't believe it."

"I know," My voice, equally quivering.

"I just--" He stuttered, "I love you so much."

It wasn't that he'd never said those words to me before. It must have been the fact that I had just given birth, but I broke down right then and there because the first time in a long time, everything felt right. And here I thought all my crying would stop after I had the baby.

"And I want to make sure you know," He stammered on, "That I'm here, one hundred percent for you and the baby. Our baby. No matter what."

I placed a hand over his mouth, "Stop." He looked on with a questioning glance. The shock and fear on his face was heartbreaking, "We can't call her baby for the rest of her life. Well, unless we want her to be reminded all the time that 'Nobody puts Baby in a corner'. But if you decide that, it will be on your shoulders."

superficialcynic: Glad to see you're still with me. And I'm also glad there was a little mystery with the end of last chapter. I had thought I was pretty straightforward but after rereading it, I guess I just got it because I know what's going to happen next.

Kou Shun'u: You're killing me with your super-sleuth brain! But you're absolutely right with all your detailed points. Are you sure you aren't part of the Sorokins to come after the Fab Five?

Bethelove: I'm glad you're still loving it. As it's winding down I'm finding the chapters harder to write because I really don't want it to end. But I know if I tried to keep it going, I'd end up killing it when the ending is clear and definitely approaching. Lilly and Meg are really important characters, especially for the coming chapters. Guess you'll just have to wait and see what I mean!

kh2009: Would Duncan really mess with LoVe with a new addition to the family? That would be just oh so cruel....(If that wasn't cryptic enough for you, I guess you'll have to keep reading)

Isilady: You're right about your imagination but if you love Lilly showing up, you also know that means some sort of trouble. Don't believe everything you hear...

JustTrippin: LoVe your reviews. Keep guessing. Let's see if you can guess what they're going to name their LoVe child...

elclock: Thanks for dropping a review! It's great to see new faces that are liking the story so far! Hope you keep liking me when the next few chapters come out.

Ultrawoman: Welcome to the crazed creations from my brain. I'm glad all the things you liked (even the predictable things) and hope to hear more of your feedback as the story progresses to the end. And even if you did ask questions, chances are I'd still let you find out for yourself.

I don't know why I was so cryptic with a lot of these. Maybe I'm just evil. I guess you'll have to read the next few chapters to see what I mean. Mwuahhahah.