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Chapter 24

Lucy's POV

I awoke with an all too familiar pain in my stomach. I glanced at the alarm clock beside me, 1:00 A.M. Why couldn't this happen at a decent hour? The pain continued until I couldn't stand it anymore. It was then that I felt the wetness. "Mike," I nudged him with my elbow. "Mike."

"What?" He asked groggily. "Are you okay? Did you wet the bed?"

"No, I didn't wet the bed," I explained, gritting my teeth together. "The babies are coming. I'm in labor."

"What?" Mike screeched, rising up in bed.

"I'm in labor," I repeated. "My water just broke."

"Okay, I'm going to go wake up your parents and we'll get you to the hospital," Mike rushed out the door and returned a moment later with my parents.

"Luce, can you get up?" Dad asked gently.

"Yeah, I think so." Mike took my hand and helped me get to my feet.

"Okay," Dad looked to Mike. "Go ahead and take her to the hospital. Annie, go with them to help keep Lucy calm. I'm going to wake everyone else up and we'll meet you at the hospital."

"Alright," Mike nodded, helping me make it down the stairs and out the kitchen door. He opened the car door and I climbed in the back seat. Mom got in next to me and held my hand as Mike drove. Thankfully Mike got us there quickly and helped me into the hospital. "My wife is in labor," Mike told the nurse.

"What is her name?" The nurse asked.

"Lucy Camden Pierce," Mike told her.

"And who is her doctor?" The nurse asked.

"Hank Hastings," Mike answered.

After the questions stopped I was put into a wheelchair and wheeled back to a birthing room. I was given a hospital gown and Mom helped me change into it. She and Mike then helped me get into the bed and I lay back on the pillow.

"How far apart are her contractions?" The nurse asked me.

"I'm not sure. Fifteen minutes maybe," I answered as the pain came again. I grabbed Mike's hand and squeezed tightly. "Oh god, can I get something for pain?"

"Dr. Hastings should be here shortly," the nurse told me. "When he gets here, he can order you something for the pain."

"You just need to breathe sweetheart," Mike told me.

"Ooh, stuff it Mike," I yelled at him. "This is all your fault you know."

"You're right," Mike answered. "It is my fault and I wish I could take it for you, but I can't. Despite all that, you still need to breath."

I breathed deeply and tried my best not to yell at him, but it wasn't easy. The contraction finally calmed as Dad walked into the room.

"How are things coming along?" Dad asked.

"We're waiting for Hank so she can get a shot for the pain." Mom answered.

"He should be here soon," Dad nodded. "Everyone is out in the waiting room."

"How is my favorite patient," Hank asked coming into the room.

"See, I told you," Dad smiled.

"I'm in immense pain," I told Hank as I felt another contraction coming on.

"Okay, if I can just exam you, we will see about getting you a shot for the pain," Hank told me.

"Your father and I will be in the waiting room with everyone else," Mom kissed my forehead.

I squeezed Mike's hand as the contraction continued.

"Breath, honey, breath," Mike coached me.

"I thought I told you to stuff it," I yelled at him. "You are never touching me again."

"Fine. Whatever you want sweetheart," Mike told me. "Just as long as you breathe."

"Mike's right. Just breathe. Come on Luce, you're almost through this one," Hank told me.

I sighed in relief as I felt the contraction calm. "Alright," Hank told me. "Let's see how far along you are."

I lay back on the pillow as Hank examined me. Oh how I wished this was over.

"You're at about five centimeters dilated now, so it is still going to be a while. I'll be back in a little while to see how you are doing. I'm going to send the nurse in to give you something to ease the pain you're having."

"Great," I answered weakly. A few minutes later the nurse returned with the shot. It wasn't long after that that I felt the pain start to lighten up.

"Are you feeling any better?" Mike asked.

"I guess," I muttered.

"Will you be okay here for a few minutes while I go and call my mom?" Mike asked.

"I'll be fine," I grunted.

"I won't be long," mike kissed the top of my head before finally leaving the room.

A few moments later Matt and Mary came in and stood by my bed. How are you feeling Luce?" Matt asked, breaking the silence.

"How do you think I am? I'm miserable," I told them.

"Sorry," Matt apologized. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset. I'm just in pain," I told them.

"Well, I'm sure in the end it will all be worth it," Mary tried to comfort me, but honestly, it wasn't working.

"Yeah, a lot of good it does me now," I grunted.

"Maybe you should get some rest," Matt suggested. "It may help."

I considered his suggestion for a moment before closing my eyes. When I opened them Mike was back at my side along with Uncle Hank. "Did you sleep well?" Mike asked.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"A couple of hours," Mike answered. "You were asleep when I came back in."

"Am I almost ready to deliver?" I asked Hank.

"Well, you are ready for an epidural. " He told me. "It shouldn't be too long now."

The nurse came in and administered the epidural. "I'll be back in a little while," Hank told me. "Hopefully by then you will be ready to deliver."

"Please God, don't let it be much longer," I prayed.

"I'm sure it won't be," Mike told me. "We've been here for a while now."

"Did I ask for your input?" I yelled at him.

"No, but," he began.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"Of course you are scared, but I promise you everything is going to be okay," Mike held my hand as I suffered through yet another contraction. They were only a couple of minutes apart now and the reality of having to give birth was becoming scarier as time went by.

"How can you be so sure?" I yelled at him.

"Because you are strong and I know you can do this," Mike told me.

"Alright," Hank walked back into the room. "Let's see where you are now…………."Okay, you are fully dilated. On your next contraction, I want you to push."

"Okay," I told him, my voice shaking as I felt the contraction begin.

"Alright Luce, push!" Hank instructed. I squeezed Mike's hand as I pushed as hard as I could. "Good, I can see the head," Hank told me. I pushed more and I honestly thought I was going to die right then and there. Mike was whispering words of encouragement in my ear as I continued to push. "Alright Luce, one more push and you'll be a mother." I pushed one final time and I felt relief as I heard my baby's first cries.

Mike cut the cord and looked down at the baby for a second before returning to my side. "It's a girl. She looks just like you," Mike kissed my head.

"Okay, Luce. Now let's bring your son into the world." Hank told me as I felt the next contraction. "Now push."

I pushed again as I grabbed Mike's hand and squeezed once more. "Just one more big push and this will all be over. " Hank told me. I pushed one final time and I felt like the world had been lifted from my shoulders as I heard my son's cries.

I watched as Mike cut the cord and the nurse took the babies to be cleaned up before we could hold them. In the meantime, I held Mike's hand as I went through the after birth process.

After a few minutes of relaxation the nurse returned with the babies. I was overwhelmed as the nurse placed my newborn daughter in my eyes and I watched with tears in my eyes as Mike took our son in his arms. "They are so perfect," Mike sat down next to me on the bed. "You did an amazing job."

I looked up at him, teary eyed. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you."

"I know," he told me. "And it's okay. I know you were under a lot of stress."

"Yeah, but it's over now," I told him, looking down at our beautiful children. "And we are now the parents of the two most beautiful babies in the entire world."

"Yeah," Mike agreed. "But, honestly, looking at these kids; I'm not so sure about the names we picked out."

"Yeah, me neither. I was actually thinking about something a little more sentimental," I told him.

"What were you thinking about?" Mike asked.

I smiled as I whispered the names in his ear. "What do you think?"

"I think those are perfect," Mike answered, as our families entered the room.

"What's perfect?" Mom asked looking at the babies, "besides these two little angels."

"Wow," Simon stood beside the bed and looked at his niece and nephew. "They look like you, Luce."

"Have you picked out there names yet?" Ruthie asked.

"That's what we were just discussing," I told them.

"This is Michael Henry Pierce III," Mike told everyone, looking down at our son. "We decided to name him after his late grandfather."

"And this little angel is Sara Jennifer Pierce after my late friend and Grandma Jenny." I told them, looking down at the small child in my arms.

"I think those are perfect," Mom cried.

"So do I," Mike's Mom shed her own tears.

"So," I asked looking up at my family. "Do we get our song or what?"

"You heard the lady," Dad looked at the family. "We have to do the song."

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it

Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all

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