Chapter 8

Hoagie was probably a bad husband. That was the only explanation he could think of for his completely ignorant lack of realization that Abby had been in labor pretty much all day. It had taken her water breaking on the couch for him to catch on, for crying out loud! Once the doctor had told them it would be soon, he should have watched her tirelessly. Abby had waited until the last minute with Augie too and that should've been proof enough that she would do it again.

Anyway, there were more pressing matters at hand than whether or not Hoagie was a satisfactory spouse. Abby was doubled over her belly on Rachel's couch and she let out a quiet groan. "Do I even want to know how close they are together?" Hoagie asked her. Truth be told, he was more than a little annoyed with his wife. After the last time, didn't she know how unsafe this could be for her and the baby?

"Probably not," Abby replied through gritted teeth. She should've said something to him after Augie's game. Sometimes her independence was more of a curse than a gift.

Hoagie placed one hand on her back and the other on her belly. He helped her up. "C'mon, let's go grab Augie and get in the car."

Nigel stood up from the armchair. "Leave Augie here. Call us later and we'll bring him over," he explained, walking towards the door with his two friends.

"Where are you guys going?" Kuki asked, suddenly appearing from the kitchen door. Patton and Rachel followed behind her, each of them giving the Asian woman an incredulous look.

"Where does it look like Abby's headed, genius?" Abby spat in response.

Kuki's eyes widened with hurt. "But, Abby! You should have the baby here! I've always wanted to see a driveway baby being born!"

If there had been a wall around, Hoagie would've smacked his forehead on it. He felt Abby's hand tense in his, a warning that another contraction was coming. They needed to be leaving. Now.

Nigel walked over the enthusiastic girl. "Kuki, driveway babies occur when the mother can't make it to the hospital in time," he explained slowly. "Abby and Hoagie are going to make it just fine, I think." He slapped his friend's shoulder. "Good luck, mate."

Hoagie glanced at Abby, the contraction had started and yet again she was clutching her belly and gritting her teeth. "Looks like I'll need it," he replied.

Shortly after Abby and Hoagie left, Kuki went to pick up Abby's bag from their house and drop it off at the hospital. After the little issue in the kitchen, Fanny had locked herself in the bathroom and wouldn't come out. Wally and Patton refused to leave the couch because the game was in triple overtime. Rachel fed the seven kids and then sat down at the kitchen table for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Cake was supposed to be next, but she didn't see much of a point. The minute that phone call came, everyone would rush to the new baby anyway.

Nigel walked into the room, cautiously. And Rachel swore there was a look of slight guilt on his face. He had nothing to be guilty about. She was the one pouting about a party when one of their best friends was having a baby and another was locked in an extremely small bathroom. Rachel felt bad about being so selfish and plastered a smile on her face. Nigel often knew her better than she knew herself, though, and he could tell she was upset. "I know this wasn't the way you planned things," he said, sitting down next to her. Nigel placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed it lightly. "But this really is one of my best birthdays. Top five, I believe."

Rachel raised a blonde eyebrow at her bald husband, disbelievingly.

"Honey, this is something I think the two of us tend to forget because we're overachievers: nothing's ever perfect. We're not perfect and our friends certainly aren't perfect. And these imperfections in our lives, they're what makes us, us. So far, today has been perfectly imperfect. A day that is completely us. And what better way to turn 31 than to be myself with all the people I love?" Nigel nodded his head with finality.

Rachel smiled as she replayed the day in her mind. The horrible phone call that morning, Fanny's boots, Kuki's many nearly-unbelievable, air-headed comments, Wally's joke about Abby's size, Nigel's face when he flicked on the lights, the macaroni fight while the kids ate dinner, Abby's water breaking on her barely two-month-old leather couch. Some of those things were good, some bad, some somewhere in-between. But, they were life. And Rachel knew life was full of both good and bad things. Her warm, brown eyes flickered over to Nigel. "You're right." Rachel kissed her husband lightly. "Any news from Abby and Hoagie?"

Hoagie could feel Abby's fingernails slowly digging their way into his palm. When they had arrived at the hospital, Abby was immediately put in a room. She was then given a verbal beating from her doctor for not arriving sooner. Hoagie was pleased that someone was on the same page as him. "You've got this, Abs," he said encouragingly.

Abby seemed to almost hiss at him. "Boy, you better get outta Abby's face 'fore she does something about it herself!"

Hoagie decided this was not an appropriate time for a comment about how Abby was not really in a position to "do something" about anything, with the stirrups and all. Abby's fingernails clenched harder, as if she were punishing him. She probably was. Hoagie wondered if it would draw blood. When she was having Augie, she had bit Hoagie's hand. Abby claimed it was because she didn't want to cry out. But, Hoagie had his doubts. She'd always had a bit of a violent side. The bite didn't bleed so maybe this wouldn't.

Maybe Abby would be more pleasant to him while giving birth if Cree or Kuki was present. If she didn't wait until the kid was more or less falling out next time, maybe they'd test that. The doctor's announcement broke through his musings. "We're crowning."

Hoagie looked triumphantly down at his sweating wife. "Hear that, honey?"

"Abby's right here, Einstein!" she yelled. "Of course I heard. Now, shut your mouth!"

He patted her head. "You should use that anger, sweetie. Let it all out."

She screamed.

"Nice," he continued. "Almost there, Abs. You're really mad at me, remember? Really, really mad. Use it!"

"HOAGIE P. GILLIGAN! SHUT UP, NOW!" Abby shouted. And, at that very moment, a baby girl slid into the doctor's outstretched arms. Abby immediately stopped screaming and relaxed back against the bad. She uncurled her fingers from Hoagie's hand.

Hoagie glanced at his palm. "I'm bleeding," he stated.

Abby looked at him. "So am I," she deadpanned.

"Touché," Hoagie smiled.

The doctor placed the squirming baby in Abby's arms. She marveled at the tiny person. Never in her life had she believed that anything so small could be so perfect. Abby took Hoagie's bleeding palm in her hand and kissed the center. "Raine Henrietta Gilligan," she said.

Hoagie laughed. "Because she's taking the reins in our lives?"

"No, fool. Raine is strong and beautiful, like a thunderstorm. Abby wants her to be able to stop anything in its tracks." Abby ran a chocolate thumb over the little girl's slightly paler, smooth skin.

Hoagie squeezed himself into the bed with his wife and daughter. That was kind of weird to think. He had a daughter, her name was Raine, she was every bit as beautiful as her mother, and she was his. Hoagie had no doubt he could stare at this baby for hours. Amazed and bewildered that he could create such utter perfection.

"We ruined Nigel's party," Abby pointed out.

"Nah," Hoagie disagreed. "We made it way more interesting." He bent his head forward and kissed his new daughter's forehead and then his wife's. "You did awesome, Abs. I love you more than ever. I'm gonna go call and get Augie over here now."

Before Hoagie exited the room, he looked over his shoulder at Abby and Raine. Abby's face was filled with a sort of tenderness that only showed around their children. He liked this Abby most of all.

Ten minutes later, the hospital was twenty minutes from Nigel's at the legal limit, Kuki bounded into Abby's room. "She's precious!" she squealed. Kuki held out her arms, expectedly, waiting for her dark skinned friend to hand her the baby.

"Daddy!" a slightly chubby boy exclaimed, hurtling himself in Hoagie's direction. Hoagie bent down to his son's level and swept the Augie into his arms. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, buddy, but your mom probably deserves the attention right now." He placed Augie on the bed next to Abby.

The four-year old examined his mother quietly, while Kuki cooed to the baby. "You look tired, mama," Augie concluded.

Abby ruffled her son's curly hair. "You've got a baby sister, Augie," she explained. She turned to get her bubbly best friend's attention. "Hey, girl, stop hogging the kid!"

Kuki pouted and brought Raine back to her mother. Augie's eyes widened. "That's my baby sister?" he asked, disbelief audible in his words.

"You better believe it," Hoagie replied.

Raine opened her hazel eyes and looked at Augie. She gurgled and look of delight shone on the Augie's face. "I like her!" At that moment, Raine had her big brother wrapped around her tiny, tiny finger for life.

Abby smiled at Hoagie and Hoagie smiled back. It had been well worth the blood.

A/N: Uno mas, personas! And then the epilogue. I've been thinking maybe I'd do some kind of sequel since this seems to be so popular. Thanks for all your reviews on every chapter! I love you all!