Title: The Devil Wears Vengeance
Chapter 13 – Taking back the Future

Both Ed and Donna stare at Ida's unmoving frame for a few moments longer before a painful gasp from Ed is heard as his frame starts to sag; forcing them all back to reality.

"He needs a hospital," Wordy utters in haste as he tries to hold Ed upright, Sam rushing in to help. Just as they clear the door, the uni's rush in to deal with Ida's dead corpse and the rest of the aftermath.

"Spike, how's Riley?" Donna asks in concern as they near the entrance to the underground lair; her eyes resting mournfully on the dark purple spots on Ed's bare chest before she turns back to Spike.

"He's going to be okay. He was shot in the leg."

"My team is tired of being shot in the leg," Donna remarks dryly as Richard snorts; her other team three member having been shot twice in the leg during Logan altercations.

"You okay?" Tom asks as he nears them.

"Is there an elevator for Ed?"

"No, sorry," Tom frowns. "You okay?" He asks, briefly glancing at her belly.

"I'll be okay in a few hours. We need to get Ed upstairs."

The trip up the damp narrow stairs is slow and arduous, Ed's broken ribs forcing them all to go even slower and the throbbing inside his weary frame to increase. But a few broken ribs and some cuts and bruises to tend to were the smallest price to pay in the Logan aftermath. They were all still alive – that's all that mattered to any of them. Ida Logan's reign of terror met a fitting and final end.

"My wife's pregnant," Ed utters weakly as his shivering body gratefully accepts the warm transport blankets; his brain still reminding him to breathe slow and shallow because of the risk of internal damage.

"I'm okay," Donna insists as she slides onto the bench into the ambulance; Riley already in on his way to the hospital in the other ambulance, with Spike at his side. Donna takes Ed's strong but cold hand and just holds it firmly; leaning her head back against the wall of the moving ambulance and allowing her eyes to water. "God I thought I lost you this time…for good."

"Almost did," Ed remarks softly as she opens her watery blue eyes and looks at him in soft torment, the silent medic tending to the cut on his forehead and cheek.

"When I got to the cave in site…all I saw was blood and…and a few personal items…damn she played us well. Everything was a dead end. Literally."

"What was the final clue? The tape?"

"What murder were you supposed to be confessing to?"

"Callum Logan," Ed frowns. "What clue?"

"The picture Spike had seen back in Carl Hernandez apartment. Mickey's tattoo. Pompous ass always liked to show that thing off and it led to his downfall."

"Luckily…ahh…"

"Sir you need to just lie still. There is still a chance the edge of the ribs could poke through the skin and we can't perform emergency surgery here."

"Noted," Ed grumbles as he instantly subsides. "Baby?"

"This baby…this baby is fine…Ed…she…Ida…was…" Donna stops and then quickly swallows. "Evil…she was pure evil. She said she rejoiced that night."

"I'm sorry you had to hear that," Ed laments in misery.

"Me too," she nods, her hand squeezing his tighter.

"I'm just glad she didn't get to do what she said she wanted to do," Ed says in a serious tone, instantly bringing Donna's gaze back to him. "That's why the video…"

"What? Ed…"

"Couldn't let her…I couldn't…I'm sorry," he whispers as his own watery sapphires close briefly. "I didn't want you to come."

"Never be sorry…I love you so much," she whispers in return as she leans in and kisses him on the forehead. "You are my life…if I didn't have you…but its over and we won. We won."

"We won," he repeats as they pull into the hospital.

Within moments Ed is whisked out of the warm body of the ambulance and taken to the ER surgical area for an x-ray to see the extent of internal damage from the broken ribs and then either actual surgery or just some careful wrapping and pain medicine administration. Wanting to be cautious, and under advisement from her own family doctor, Donna heads for an ultrasound to make sure that the baby and everything inside is still intact and how it should be.

"Everything okay?" Jules is the first to ask as Donna emerges from the ER area to the waiting team members.

"With the baby yes," she gives her a warm hug and then Rachel and Wordy.

"And what else?" Greg asks in concern.

"Just…things Ida said. She…she said she was responsible for the um…the miscarriage," Donna finally confesses to them all the horrible truth Ida told them.

"What?" Tom is the first to ask in disgust.

"How?"

"She switched the prenatal pills."

"She said all that?"

"I'm sure if Spike looked he could…"

"Already did," Spike pipes up. "I hacked into Miles database on the way over and the pills were a mixture of Sertraline, Paroxetine and Fluoxtine with small doses of Benzodiazapine. They are ingredients in common antidepressant medication but if taken regularly in even moderate doses can cause…"

"Premature births," Greg shakes his head as Wordy curses.

"I honestly can't believe anyone can be that evil."

"I can," Donna nods. "She lost her child and…when her whole life was destroyed…she blamed us."

"It was an eye for an eye," Wordy concludes. "Am not sorry she's dead. Her and the whole lot of them."

"You won't get any arguments here," Tom growls as he looks at his boss with a heavy frown. "Did she tell Ed all that too?"

"She did. And worse I think…he hasn't told me everything."

"He might not. You know how much Ed likes to open up," Greg lightly quips, finally drawing a small smile to her face. "We'll take care of the rest of the stuff here…just go be with Ed."

"And SIU?" Donna looks from Greg to Spike.

"Ed needs you now, they can wait a bit longer," Greg assures them.

"Greg, about the security stuff…"

"Yeah boss the camera's stopped recording shortly after we got there," Spike pipes up, making Donna look at him in surprise.

"A misfire Spike?" Greg asks with a knowing tone.

"Thought Miles was still alive," Spike shrugs with a coy expression.

"Then there will be less to talk about," Greg replies firmly. "Go tell Ed we'll see him tomorrow."

"Thank you," Donna offers warmly, earning a friendly smile from both Greg and Spike in return. The teams start to disperse, Wordy remaining until Ed was brought out of surgery, still unconscious and taken to a small private room for the night.

"I'll see him tomorrow also."

"Thank you for everything," Donna hugs Wordy back before he whispers goodnight to his sleeping best friend and takes his leave. She turns back to her sleeping husband, frowning at his pale expression as she nears; her lips uttering a small grumble as she notices some dried blood and dirt residue around his mouth and nose; the medics only doing a crude job of cleaning the cuts and leaving the rest for Ed to tend to himself.

"Have to clean…away…the blood," she mutters to herself as she starts to gently clean his face with a warm damp cloth. "Have to wash away the blood…get it all…all…" she pauses as her eyes water and mist her vision. She gazes upon the peaceful expression on his handsome face and suddenly with the blink of an eye she's back at the site of the explosion just as the room around Ed explodes and he's taken into Ida's evil grasp.

'I killed your child…celebrated that night…will kill your husband…and then you.'

"Monster…" Donna whispers as she feels her fist tighten and her touch on Ed's tender skin harden slightly. She curses herself for perhaps hurting him and pulls back, her stomach starting to rebel as she pictures herself in the bathroom so many months ago, clutching her stomach…her child prematurely aborting and Ida standing over her and laughing; relishing in her misery. A few tears start to escape, falling silently through the air and gently splashing on her husband's cool skin.

"Sorry…" she mumbles as her fingers try to brush them away; her mind now flooding with a fresh onslaught of painful memories; his eyes starting to flutter.

"Oh god…" she grumbles as she rushes toward the bathroom and throws up her small bits of a late lunch into the empty toilet. "She…she killed…" Donna's lungs gently heave as she remains bent over the toilet; her hand on her belly. "She murdered my child…"

"Our…child," Ed's weak voice is heard as he comes up behind her and touches her back. Without wasting another second, Donna twists around and willingly offers herself into the comforting grasp of her husband. "I'm so sorry."

"Ed…why are you...out of bed?"

"You need me," he tells her in truth; the surgery only being minor in nature. And despite the fact that movement was slow and painful for him; the moment he heard his wife throw up, he had to get up to comfort her.

"Ed…she killed…our child…"

"I know," Ed huffs as he blinks his own watery sapphires. "I know. But she's gone now. Gone for good…we both know that."

"She was happy…said she celebrated…deliberately sought out others to help…kill…an innocent…oh god she killed our child."

"I'm sorry you had to hear that," Ed sighs wearily as he lovingly strokes her back. "I'm sorry," he whispers as he kisses her on the forehead as she pulls back and looks up with a teary eyed expression. "It's over now."

"It is."

"And this one's safe," he reminds her in truth.

"It is," she weakly acknowledges. "And she's gone…"

"For good. I love you so much."

"I love you too," she utters as her arms gently wrap around him again; both of them holding each other close in the small, cramped bathroom. "You okay here?" She lighlty asks as her hand gently rests on the thick bandaging holding his ribs in place.

"Minor cut to the stomach. But wrestling is on hold for a few weeks," Ed lightly grimaces as they turn and head back into the dimly lit hospital room. Ed feels Donna shaking slightly in his grasp and stops and looks at her in concern.

"I know…I am trying to get my nerves under control but…I mean she planned…Ed how could…someone be filled with that much hatred…everything…she took delight in so much pain and suffering and…"

"She's gone."

"Just breathe," she utters as she rests her head on his chest, her brain taking comfort in the slow steady sound of his heart beating next to her ear. "You need sleep."

"I need a shower."

"Mmmm how about a sponge bath Constable Lane?" She wipes away a stray tear and playfully wags her brows at him.

"Sounds good Nurse Lane," he replies with a soft smile as his hand caresses her face, her eyes closing for a few seconds of intimate delight. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," she opens her eyes and nods.

"I guess I can't convince you to just go home and…"

"I am only going home if you are coming with me," she tells him firmly. "I've slept in a hospital bed before. One more night will be okay."

"Donna…"

"Ed, don't make me go home to an empty bed without you…I can't do it. Besides, hasn't anyone told you not to argue with a pregnant woman?"

"Wordy," Ed deadpans.

"Then maybe our next anniversary present should be a hearing aid," she lightly teases as Ed climbs into bed, biting back a painful gasp as he puts a bit of unnecessary pressure on his chest and earns himself a small frustrated frown from his wife. "Restraints too."

"I might like that."

"You would. So would I," she smiles as she leans in closer. "I love you…" she tells him before she kisses him firmly on the mouth and then pulls back with a small frown. "You do need a shower."

Ed's lips part into an easy smile as one last kiss and goodnight is exchanged before Donna arranges herself on the small sleeping bed beside him; her open eyes fixing on him in the darkness until they were too tired to remain awake and were forced to close. The night of course promised both of them nightmares and a few small panic attacks for which it delivered full force; Wordy arriving the next morning to find them both finally asleep. Not wanting to disturb them he leaves the fresh basket of goodies from Shelly along with a card and then takes his leave; knowing that there weren't two people in the country right now that needed sleep more than them.

XXXXXXXX

After a fitful nights sleep, Ed's eyes slowly awaken, his head twisting over to look at his still sleeping wife; his lips automatically offering her peaceful expression a tender smile. Now that the danger is completely over, his brain has time to think back on all the terrifying moments he had been forced to endure on one woman's vengeful quest. The blast…the kidnapping…the torment…Ida planned all that. Thinking back it was Mickey O'Brien's voice he had heard but failed to put a face to it since he hadn't heard Mickey had escaped. Wouldn't have thought it him…and then of course Ida and her big reveal. Made sense that there was no calls made, no mention of getting in touch with either Donna or Greg for some kind of exchange. She meant to kill you no matter what, his brain correctly states. I was responsible for your child's premature death and will relish in your wife's horrified expression when I tell her. In that anguished moment he remembers begging her to spare Donna that news…offering anything he could to take his beloved wife off their vile enemies radar.

He knew Donna would never give up…just like he wouldn't have no matter if he was injured or not. However, she was carrying their second child and he was desperate to have this one come into the world safe and sound. He squeezes his eyes shut as a few tears escape the corners and slowly slide down his flushed face.

"I think we had the same nightmare," Donna's voice whispers as her fingers brush away a stray tear; Ed's eyes slowly opening but looking upward.

"I begged her not to tell you…offered her anything," he confesses in misery as her hand quickly grabs his and squeezes it; his warm fingers squeezing hers back. "Anything, even my life."

"She would have told me anyways…she wanted to see the look on my face…she wanted that pain."

"I know. But I didn't want that for you. Not after what…I didn't want you to relieve that night."

"I saw our son an….I can't," she stops as her voice breaks and he looks over in haste, his hand resting on her flushed cheek. "She's gone now and we will be a family in a few months. We won."

"We won," he firmly acknowledges, both of them needing to say it out loud a few more times to actually believe it was true. The doctor arrives shortly, checking Ed's bandages and the wound on his leg.

"Bandages in tact and no signs of infection Mr. Lane. I hope you are now going to take some time off?" The doctor smirks.

"I am. So can I go home now?"

"Let me get a few papers in order but yes you can."

"As much as I love the gown…I think you should wear these home," Donna hands Ed a bag of fresh clothing that Wordy had brought over for them. "I'll unpack breakfast."

"Okay."

Ed heads into the bathroom as Donna unpacks the homemade breakfast from Shelly, her eyes lifting and looking outside at the sun that was now starting to crest the early morning clouds. They had lived with the ugly pangs of natural guilt for so long; blaming so many causes for the tragic events of their early family planning; except the one person responsible. Ida however ended those thoughts. There would never be enough amount of reasoning to get to the root of Ida's evil inner being; something she's not sure she even wants to tackle. But in the end, Ida and her two closest evil cohorts were dead; she would be labeled a vindictive murderer and her legacy would end with the sound of a single gunshot. It's over now…her mind reminds her. Now its time to move past the ugly shadow and focus on the upcoming light ahead – the birth of their baby, the expanding of their family and a new adventure for them all.

Donna hears some soft shuffling and turns to see Ed watching her with a small smile. "Poppy seed…our favorite," she holds up the small tin of homemade muffins as Ed nears. His strong hands lovingly rest on her still tense shoulders and start to tenderly kneed, her eyes closing as her body starts to relax in her grasp.

"I could get used to this," she warmly praises as she plants a soft kiss on his right hand, resting her cheek on it for a few seconds before he regrettably pulls away and slowly eases himself down onto the small chair beside her. "I keep wanting to ask why… but I know no matter what the answer is, it would never be good enough."

"Never," Ed softly acknowledges as he looks at her with a frown.

"What did she do to you," Donna huffs as her hand rests on his rough and bruised cheek and then gently lifts to the bandage above his right eye. "And your leg?"

"Fine. Just want to go home."

"I have a date this morning," Donna mentions as she reads the text message on her phone.

"A date? Pardon?" Ed lightly coughs as she smiles. "With who?"

"SIU. Yup hot and…heavy," she sighs with a small shake of her head.

"It was a clean fight and…"

"I know," she nods as she puts her phone away. "I'm just glad it ended the way it did."

"Me too."

The talk about work is put on hold as they finish their modest but nourishing breakfast. After visiting Riley, Spike stops by along with Greg and Wordy; the five of them heading down to the barn for the SIU hearing.

"Told you it would go okay," Tom greets her with a friendly smile after Donna emerges with a small frown.

"You're working today?"

"Team effort…half of team one and half of team three. Blame Greg," Tom smirks. "When will I see you back?"

"Ed's off for two weeks so I'm off for two weeks," Donna informs him with an audible sigh of relief. "Just make sure you all behave while I'm gone."

"I'll help him do that," Sam grins as he walks up to Tom and plants a friendly slap on the back.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

After a few more hugs, Ed and Donna finally take their leave, heading down into a cab and then for home. Riley and Wordy would both be off for a week as well until they were both fully recovered from their injuries; the rest of the teams picking up the slack.

"We have no food in the fridge," Donna suddenly states somewhat absently as they near their apartment. But as they get out and Donna looks kitty corner to their building her hand in Ed's grasp instantly seizes. "Right there…Ed you were…"

"Do you want to move?" He asks her seriously, as she turns and looks at him with a small frown. But before he can answer, both her hands rest on his face; her lips crushing his in a brief showdown of heated passion.

"No. We won," she whispers as she pulls back with a smile. "I love this place and I love you. I want to stay here."

Ed can only smile at his wife's conviction; in truth he agreed with her, this was there home and both of them loved the area. Moving would have meant that Ida beat them. But this home so far has no sad memories; moving while it would have some advantage in the end would be pointless.

"Come on," Ed states in a whisper as his hand captures hers once more and they head inside, up to their apartment and wanting to just take it easy the rest of the day. As they enter their apartment they are immediately struck with instant happy smiles; flowers, balloons, a few baskets of goodies and some staples in the fridge.

'Welcome home to the Lane's.' Read the banner that must have been created and set up the night before.

"We really did win," Donna mentions with a teary smile as they close the door and head for the kitchen table. "Now this…" she pauses on the basket with the chocolate and cheese, "is what we open first," she announces as Ed just shakes his head and smiles.

"Wordy…damn you're the best," Ed praises as he holds up the small bottle of single malt scotch. He pops open the corked top and takes a whiff of the tempting aroma before letting Donna do the same.

"You better save some of that for me."

"Six months?"

"I can't drink right after the baby's born."

"A year?" Ed makes a mock horrified expression to which his wife softly giggles. "Trust me the day you can drink again I'll take us out celebrating."

"Not before?"

"I think we'll be busy," he replies lovingly as his hand gently caresses her belly and he kisses her lips.

"Okay, go have a shower and I'll get something ready for a light lunch."

"Deal."

Donna watches Ed slowly pull away and remains in place as she hears him softly rummaging around their bedroom for something clean to wear and then hears the bathroom door close. But it's not until she hears him gently humming that her lips crease into a warm smile and her anxiety starts to dissipate. The past few weeks had taken their toll on them in every way imaginable but now that was over; now it was time to just focus on them, on healing and on rebuilding for the future.

"What do you say little one?" Donna speaks in a soft tone as her hand lovingly rubs her belly; her lips widening even further as she's greeted with a small 'kick'. "Shall we get something for lunch?"

Donna turns on some easy listening music as she goes about redistributing the flowers into vases; the food into the fridge and the other items into their respective homes. For a moment she glances out the window and catches her breath as she see's Ida watching from across the street in the other apartment. But instead of closing the blinds she glares right back and the image fades, not resurfacing for the rest of the day. You'll never beat me!

"So what's for lunch?" Ed inquires as he comes up behind her and plants a small kiss on her neck.

"Mmm Ed Lane," she smiles as she takes in his clean scent and turns to him with a smile. "How long will those take to heal?"

"Too long," he lightly grumbles as he kisses her once more. "Well little one…looks like you'll be getting some extra attention this week," Ed lovingly talks to their child as his hand rests on her belly once more. They linger in each others grasp for a few minutes longer before its time to pull away and get something into their stomachs. The rest of the day, in fact the rest of the week is spent pretty much the same way, resting together, sleeping as much as possible, talking about and recovering from Ida's aftermath and planning for the future with their new family arriving soon.

Two weeks later both of them return to work, both teams back up to full strength once again and welcoming them back with open arms. For the first week back, Ed gives his ribs a bit more of a break by putting Sam and Wordy front line; Donna also amending some of her more vigorous duties after the tension filled weeks of enduring Ida's reign of terror.

XXXXXXXX

"Donna where does the dish g…" Ed calls out from the kitchen later one Friday night after he finishes the dishes; one last platter to put away. He puts down the oddly shaped dish and goes in search of his wife, hearing soft music coming from the bedroom and nearing the door with a curios expression. "I thought that…wow…"

"Hello handsome," she softly beckons him, lightly resting on the bed wearing a very short black satin slip. "You wanted to know where a dish goes?"

"I did?" Ed deadpans, making her smile as he approaches.

"I've missed you."

"Me too," Ed mumbles as he hastily pulls off his t-shirt, making her giggle and then hungrily feast on his bare chest. "But what about…"

"Baby go to sleep so mommy and daddy can have some muchly needed sex," Donna talks softly to their baby; Ed rolling his eyes and then smiling. "We are allowed to have sex you know…married couples still do that."

"Oh really?" He hungrily nips at her mouth and neck. "Even expecting ones?" He frowns as he realizes that a few positions just would not work. "Okay so how…"

"My big belly's in the way," she giggles.

"Shower?"

"You need to read more," Donna teases as she pulls out their pregnancy book and shows him the marked chapter. "See sex and pregnancy."

"If our babies first word is sex at least I can blame you," Ed teases as he kisses her once more before looking at the book and then up at her with a small shrug. "You wanna try Option C?"

"You know how long I have waited to hear you say that?" She grins in return as his hands rest on her hips.

"Wait no more," Ed replies in a low tone as he moves in and hungrily devours her mouth; his eyes darting back and forth from her face to the book; both of them laughing and then trying to figure out how to do the new intimate maneuver recommended for pregnant couples since they could not apply that much direct pressure on her belly.

"That was amazing," she whispers warmly as they lay cuddled together, naked under the sheets.

"I need to read more," Ed quips as he reaches for the book that had just taught them something new. Donna's head comes to rest on his bare chest, her fingers teasing the soft black hairs and her mind delighting in him reading to her until she finally falls asleep in his loving grasp.

"I love you," Ed whispers as he puts the book aside and turns off the light.

"I love you too."

XXXXXXXX

"Where's Donna?"

"She's coming in now. Ed…" Tom starts as Ed pushes past the team three team leader on the way to see his wife.

"Don't start," she groans as she holds up her hand and walks past him into the locker room; Ed in tow with a frustrated expression. "I thought that…"

"You are eight months…"

"Seven," Donna argues back as she turns around to face him. "Eight…" she resigns as she notices the defeated look on his handsome face. "Tom had my back."

"You are not even supposed to be…"

"It was a last minute request that…"

"You could have fallen and…" Ed's voice catches in his throat as he nears her; his anxiety starting to lessen as he too notices her expression soften into remorse.

"I told myself no chances but…"

"How did you even get the vest to fit?" Ed smirks as she takes off the piece of Kevlar and hands it to him. "Size…you borrowed…you borrowed this from…"

"Just don't tell him. It's his spare," she shakes her head. "What am I going to do for two months? Ed today…okay so today…" she pulls away with a pace and then stops and turns back with her hands folded above her belly. "I have been so careful the past few months and now…I'm just restless. Half days…missed days…I mean thank god I don't have morning sickness and maybe I'm feeling good and thinking…"

"You can take the risk?" Ed finishes as he walks up to her and tenderly rubs her arms, looking down at her in concern. "We are so close…what if you fell…took a hit…got shot?" His voice breaks as her expression drops. She rests her head on his chest as his arms protectively fold around her. "Come on…let's go."

"You mad?"

"I'll punish you later," he teases as she looks up with a small smile.

"I have some paperwork I can finish tomorrow."

XXXXXXXX

"Wordy? How is he…how's Ed?" Donna asks anxiously as she grabs the headset from off Winnie's desk.

"He's…fine."

"Don't lie to a woman who's like a week away from giving birth. I saw the blast on the damn TV!" Donna snaps as she looks at Winnie with a frown. "Sorry."

"Donna?" Ed's tired voice is heard on the other end. "We're all okay here. All okay. Spike got the main device. It was nothing...we're okay."

"Thank you," she replies lightly as she hands the headset back to Winnie and then shakes her head. "Damn emotions."

"I was worried also," Winnie replies in truth.

Donna pulls away and tries to keep herself occupied with the last file; the past few months having literally driven her crazy as her work duties in the field were at first amended and then reduced to her being at the desk in the barn; her due date fast approaching.

"Sorry I'm late. Blame SIU," Ed greets his wife later that night as he enters their aromatic apartment. "Tough day."

"I know. I saw," she replies with a small smile. "I'm still blaming the baby for all these ups and downs," she sighs as she gives him a kiss. "Just don't do that again," she playfully warns. "Or else."

"And the or else?" Ed wags his brows as he follows her into the kitchen to get supper started.

XXXXXXXX

"I hate being restless."

"But do you like this?"

"I love this…don't stop," Donna utters in truth as she rests on the couch, her freshly manicured feet in her husband's grasp as he starts to massage them; a few more weeks having past, bringing them two days past her due date.

"So I take it you and Shelly enjoyed your day at the spa?"

"Long overdue…oh that…" she giggles as she adds a bit extra enthusiasm.

"Okay that's not fair…you know it's been…"

"Oh only a few weeks."

"How was your first official week off?"

"So far…nothing's broken and the gun is still locked away," she deadpans as her hands tenderly rub her belly. "Baby's active tonight," she huffs as fixes herself a bit more. "Why won't it just come out already?"

"So Sam's been asking stuff about marriage and families and such."

"Really? What did you tell him?"

"Run for the hills…and do it as fast as you can."

"Ed!" Donna slightly gasps.

"I was just kidding. Of course I…"

"No Ed…my water just broke," she gasps as they both scramble to sit upright and start to put their plan to get to the hospital in motion. As Donna slowly walks for the door, calling their family Doctor, Dr. Paula Chan; Ed gets her coat and the heads for the bedroom, grasping the already packed small suitcase and then heading back toward her.

"Okay she told me what to do and…we go. Now."

"Right."

"Just breathe," Donna tells herself over and over as she clutches Ed's hand on the drive to the hospital. "Suddenly I'm scared," she admits in a soft tone as the near the ER.

"You're going to do amazing," Ed tries to assure her; not even sure himself, his only memory being one of torment from the last time.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Yes. Did you talk to Shelly?"

"She gave me some great pointers. But she said it could be soon or take several hours or maybe even a few days."

"Days?" Ed asks in surprise as he stops the car right beside the ER, waits for Donna to be helped into the waiting wheelchair and then goes to park; calling Wordy along the way with an update. Once he gets into the hospital, he's directed to a temporary waiting room where Donna would wait until the hard labour would start and then be transferred to a birthing suite.

"I think our baby wants to come…very soon," Donna lightly gasps as her hand flies to her stomach, Ed's agitation soaring.

"Donna?"

"These pangs…are normal," she tries to assure him. But for her own piece of mind, she takes his hand and holds onto it for added comfort and support. "Dr. Chan is downstairs. Here…feel…" Donna lifts up the gown and gently rests Ed's warm hand on her agitated belly. The active baby offers a strong kick and Ed's lips automatically twist. But as her face starts to crunch his panic soars.

"What?"

"Nat…ural," she huffs as her core starts to warm and her brown to dampen. "I'm okay…I'm okay."

"I love you Donna," Ed tells her as her grasp on his hand tightens once more and his heart starts to pick up the pace, his brow starting to get damp. The next few hours seemed to pass much the same way as the contractions get stronger and stronger. Wordy and Shelly arrived; Wordy getting coffee for Ed who in turns helps Donna by keeping her brow as dry as possible and offering her whatever words of encouragement he could muster. Most of the time asking if he's helping at all and trying to tell himself that she's really okay.

"I want you here…Ed…"

"What?"

"Call Dr. Chan…our baby…is coming…now."

Donna is quickly transferred to the actual birthing suite, Dr. Chan and her two nurses all set up and ready, Wordy and Shelly waiting outside.

"Okay Donna here we go..." Dr. Chan states firmly. "One more push!"

"Ed!" Donna gasped, her knuckles white, sweat dripping down her brow and her body buckling with the heavy contraction.

"Good girl," Dr. Chan smiles as she looks at Ed and nods. "You are doing just great."

"Oh god..." Donna wheezes as another contraction comes on strong. "Ed!" She shouts again as she feels her baby about to breach.

"I'm right here Donna...you are doing great," Ed tries to coach, their hands still grasped.

"Donna push!"

"I...aahhhhh!"

"Both of you are doing great. Here we go and PUSH!" Dr. Chan instructs once more.

"Tired…"

"I know but keep going. Push now!"

"AHHH!"

"Once more and...we have breach...Donna I want you to push with everything you have!" Dr. Chan directs. "Now push!"

"Ed!"

"I love you Donna," Ed huffs as he breathes in time with his wife, his brow as wet and his heart racing just as fast as hers. She grips his fist again as her body is expelling their baby; but this time it would be a whole healthy baby.

"Oh god Ed...our baby..."

"Keep going Donna," Dr. Chan stats loudly as she prepares to pull the baby free. "Almost there, you are doing fine...one more push."

"Oh Ed...oh g...ahhhh..." Donna pants as she pushes once more, allowing a small scream to escape her lips, ripping Ed's heart in two painful pieces.

"Donna!"

"She's okay. Once more! Baby is almost out."

"AHHHHH!" Donna utters one final gasp as her body literally collapses onto the damp bed beneath her.

"Baby's out!" Dr. Chan exclaims as the newest edition to the Lane family is pulled free; a healthy baby's cries are finally heard and both Ed and Donna look at each other as small sobs of delight and ecstasy are exchanged; Ed bending down and kissing his wife on her damp forehead.

"Ed you want to cut the cord? It's usually the father's role," Dr. Chan asks softly as she hands a pair of surgical scissors to Ed. Ed looks at Donna, who through happy tears and sniffles, nods yes and Ed's gently shaking hand finally cuts their child free, allowing Dr. Chan to take the baby to get cleaned up to give to its parents.

"Ed..." Donna gently cries. "We did it."

"I love you so much." Ed blinks his own happy tears away and plants another warm kiss on Donna's flushed lips, brushing some wet strands off her forehead as Dr. Chan comes and stands before them with a cleaned, wrapped and crying baby in her arms.

"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Lane you are the proud parents of a beautiful baby... ..."

A/N: duh duh duhhhhhhhhhh oh um sorry lol…I wasn't sure whether to leave it a surprise or not so I went with that b/c the next chappy launches into full on happy sappy Lane family mode hehe hope you liked this aftermath and lead up to the birth. A couple of happy chaps left before we close off this adventure so please do leave a review before you go and thanks so much!