I was finally allowed into the room after they had Nicole prepped and ready to start the delivery process. She looked so small lying in that bed when I walked in. There were monitors all around beeping and making all kinds of noises beside her. She gave me a small smile as I walked over to her side and took her small hand in mine. I kissed her fingers before laying my other hand on her stomach. There was a monitor wrapped around her belly and a loud noise came from the machine when I touched it. "What the hell?", I said looking to her for an answer. She giggled a little and stroked my face. "It's just to monitor her heartbeat." I nodded at her and grabbed a stool on wheels to move it closer to the bed so I could be beside her. I heard a series of beeps and Nicole squeezed my hand tightly. I looked up at her face and saw pain there. "Baby what is it? Are you alright?", I said in a worried tone. Nicole's eyes were squeezed shut and when she heard me she opened them and answered through clenched teeth, "I'm having a contraction. This one is pretty hard." I stood and looked around but didn't let go of her hand, "Do I need to get a nurse?" She shook her head and took a few deep breaths, "No it's not as bad now. If it gets harder you'll need to call one if she doesn't come in before then." Not long after Nicole said that a nurse did come in. "I need to check Nicole to see if she's dilating", she says and smiles sweetly at us. I hold Nicole's hand as the nurse has her put her feet in the stirrups on the bed and raises the sheet. I grin lasciviously at Nicole and raise my eyebrows and she punches me in the stomach. The nurse looks up from what she's doing. "You better not mess with a pregnant woman." Just as she said that the machines started their beeping again and Nicole gripped my hand. The nurse watched the monitor and then checked Nicole again. "She's getting close. I'm going to go get the doctor and I'll be right back."
She left the room and Nicole continued to hold onto my hand. She groaned low in her throat and I grabbed a wet rag from the bedside table and began to smooth it over Nicole's face. She looked up at me with a grateful look on her face and I leaned down to kiss her forehead. The nurse came back in with the doctor on her heels. He nodded his hello and sat on his stool to see how close we were. After a couple minutes he looked up at us, "Are y'all ready for a baby? When Nicole has her next contraction we're going to let her start pushing." I nodded and looked at Nicole. She smiled up at me and said, "Let's do this D." Just then the contraction hit her and she gripped my hand almost breaking it. The doctor instructed her to push and she did. "Ok guys we've got a head. Nicole give me one more good push and she'll be here.", the doctor said as he looked up from what he was doing. Nicole nodded and I could tell by the set of her mouth that she was hurting but she was ready to get this baby here. The nurse on the other side of the bed instructed, "Ok Nicole one more big push and you can hold your little girl." Nicole nodded and sat forward and pushed with all her might. Soon there was a small cry and then a really loud wail. Nicole fell back onto the bed and our daughter was placed on her stomach wrapped in a hospital blanket but still not really clean. Nicole wrapped her arms around her and kissed her still wet head. I felt something on my face and I reached to wipe it away and realized it was a tear. Our daughter was beautiful with a smattering of dark hair.
We were allowed to look at her and cuddle her for a few minutes and the doctor let me cut the cord. "We're going to take her over here and clean her up. If you want to go get your family and bring them in that will be alright. We're getting Nicole cleaned up too.", one of the nurses told me. I looked around the room and saw that a nurse was cleaning Nicole up and getting her settled in the bed and in a little alcove of the room they had our daughter cleaning her up and wrapping her in a blanket. I left the room and went to the waiting room. Liz and Dean were sitting on a love seat and Liz was leaned against Dean, her head on his shoulder and he had his arm around her and stroking her arm. Nancy had made it here too and she and Sam sat close talking quietly to each other. I could see the new love between them. "Hey the baby is here. They said y'all can come in if you want to see her." Everyone stood and Sam beamed, "Lead the way D. I can't wait to see my niece." Nancy took his hand and everyone followed me back to the room.
When we walked in most of the nurses had gone from the room. Nicole sat up in the bed looking a little tired but so very happy. She held a little pink bundle in her arms and beamed up at us as we walked in. I walked over to Nicole and she handed the baby to me. I looked down at her little face, her little nose looked like her mom's and her lips were full more like my own. She had on a little pink and grey striped knit hat and her eyes were closed. Sam walked over to me and looked down at her over my shoulder. "She's beautiful Nicole.", he said looking from the baby to Nicole in awe. "Do you want to hold her Sam?", Nicole questioned. Sam nodded and looked scared but also eager to hold the baby. I handed her gently over to her uncle, his huge hands dwarfing her little head as he cradled her. "What did you name her?", he questions never looking up from her little angelic face. I looked to Nicole because we haven't even discussed her name. Nicole grinned at me and answered, "What do y'all think about Samantha Joy? Samantha after her sweet uncle and Joy after my Granny. I'd like to call her Joy." Sam's head whipped up and I could see his eyes were wet with unshed tears. "You would really name her after me?", he said in wonder at Nicole. Nicole reached her hand out to Sam and he took it with one hand as he cradled Joy with the other. "Of course I would Sam. You're D's little brother and you've been so good to me. She'll grow up to love you as much as we both do." Tears slipped down Sam's face and he leaned over to kiss the top of Nicole's head. "Thank you little sister.", he said quietly.
Liz couldn't take it any longer so she stepped forward. "Ok Uncle Sammy hand her over. I gotta get my hands on that sweet thing.", she said as she took Joy from Sam's arms. Everyone took turns fussing over her and holding her before the nurse came in. "Ok family we've got to get these three settled for the night. We have a few more tests to run on this little one and I'm sure Nicole is ready to get into her own room.", she turns to Nicole, "Are you going to breastfeed?" Nicole nodded as she replied, "Yes I do want to if I can." "Perfect. We'll send in a lactation specialist when we bring your baby back to your room. Because you are breastfeeding we'll leave her with you as much as possible. We will however have to come get her in the morning so that the pediatrician can check her out." Our family left the room with hugs and kisses to Nicole. Sam lingered just a little longer than everyone else. He took Nicole's hand, "You have no idea how much I love the fact that you wanted to name her after me. I love you little sister." Nicole motioned Sam forward and he leaned down so she could wrap her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek as she held him there and he wrapped his arms around her. "You're welcome you big lug. Now go take care of Nancy." She released him and looked at him. He nodded to her and stood. He turned and slapped me on the back. "Good job bro.", and walked out of the room.