Henry was truly nervous for the first time in his entire vampire life. He wasn't afraid, just nervous.
"Come on my love, you can do this," Henry encouraged her. He got behind her, held her in position and whispered words of encouragement as she pushed.
"Henry," Vicki breathed heavily, "I'm tired. I can't."
"Yes, you can. Our child is almost here, this is the hardest part but the shortest," he told her softly. Vicki nodded and returned to pushing.
"Stop, hold on for a minute," the nurse ordered. The doctor burst in the room, sat down and told Vicki to give one more big push.
Vicki obliged and within seconds, the baby was here.
"Fantastic!" the doctor said as she cleaned the baby up. When Henry heard his child cry for the first time, he cried as well. His sensitive vampire hearing heard the fast, tiny heartbeat and felt a connection immediately.
"Is the baby okay?" Vicki asked. The doctor held the baby up for them both to see, "She's perfect."
"It's a girl," Vicki whispered. Tears misted and spilled over. No matter how much she didn't want to cry, this moment was more intense than anything she'd experienced in her entire life.
"A girl," Henry echoed.
"Are you disappointed it's not a boy?" Vicki looked at Henry with worried eyes.
Henry kissed her sweaty, salty forehead, "I couldn't be happier and more proud. She looks just like you," Henry noted.
After cleaning her up, they placed her on Vicki's stomach. The little girl had a round face and bright blue eyes but most definitely looked like Vicki. Her thick curly hair was blonde and soft and she sucked her fist furiously.
"She's starving," Vicki frowned.
Looking at Henry, she didn't need to ask the obvious question but Henry smiled and said, "Are you breastfeeding or bottle?"
Vicki shrugged, "Quite frankly, hadn't thought about it." The little girl started to fuss again and Vicki decided to breast feed her.
"Wow, she's got no issue there," Vicki winced. Her little blue eyes rolled back in her head and closed. Her thick lashes were so blonde you could barely see them. Henry touched the back of his daughter's hand and she grasped his finger tightly.
"What a grip," he smiled and kissed her hand.
"What are we going to name her?" Vicki asked. She never took her eyes off of her daughter while she ate, she was in heaven and in awe as well.
"What do you like?"
"Nothing too girly," Vicki smiled.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Henry offered.
"I've got a suggestion, but.." Vicki paused.
"But what?"
"You must never tell anyone it was my idea," Vicki grinned.
"Alright," Henry agreed.
"Isabella, we can call her Bella," Vicki said softly.
"I like it, what about Isabella Elizabeth? I know it doesn't flow too well but you'll only be using her full name when she's in trouble, right?"
"Which will be often I'm sure," Vicki teased, "Bella, I like it. Do you like it?" Vicki asked her rosy cheeked baby. Bella slept with her thumb in her mouth and a slight grin on her face.
"Bella Nelson, beautiful," Henry kissed Vicki's lips lightly.
"What?" Vicki asked.
"Bella Nelson," Henry responded.
"Nelson? You're not giving her your name?" Vicki's eyes lit up in anger. She felt Henry was denying his parentage but some part of her knew that couldn't be.
"I just assumed that you would give her your name since we aren't married," Henry was confused and a little unsure of this territory.
"What the hell difference does that make?"
"Vicki, I would love it if you gave her my name," Henry took her hand in his and kissed it.
"Why, because you planted your seed in me and she deserves it?" Vicki snorted. Her emotions were a roller coaster ride that Henry wanted desperately to jump off.
"I'm confused, I want her to have my name but I didn't want to push you," Henry leaned into Vicki and whispered, "I'd much rather you have my name too."
Vicki's mouth fell open as did Coreen's and Mike's upon entering the room just as Henry dropped that bomb.
"Are you..are you asking me to marry you?" Vicki whispered.
"Yes, I am. Victoria Nelson, will you marry me?" Henry smiled.
"Henry…I…there are so many things to consider…" Vicki stumbled.
"Like what?" Mike made his way to Vicki's bedside to get a better look at the baby.
"Like..none of your damn business Mike, I don't think he asked you to marry him," Vicki shot back.
"Pffftt…like I would, he's not my type," Mike winked at Henry. Coreen snaked her arm in Mike's and peered over him at the sleeping baby. Vicki and Henry both took notice with Coreen's slight show of affection.
"She's so cute, what's her name?" Coreen bubbled out.
"Bella," Vicki said.
"Bella…oh, I love it..she looks just like Vicki," Coreen noted then added, "and I agree. Quit worrying about the little stuff."
"Excuse me but this is not a group proposal," Vicki told them.
They all giggled but Vicki found nothing funny in it, "I'm glad you find my life comical."
The group continued to laugh and enjoyed the rest of the dark until Henry had to go, he felt the pull of dawn far too soon. Had there been somewhere safe in the hospital, he would have stayed but he wasn't willing to risk not seeing Bella or Vicki again.
"I'll be back as soon as I wake," Henry told Vicki as he kissed her goodbye. Leaning in further, he kissed Bella tenderly and his daughter smiled in her sleep. His eyes misted with tears as he whispered, "I love you little one." The lump that threatened to send Vicki into sobs barely made its way back down. Henry kissed her again and told her, "I love you too, thank you."
"Come back to me," Vicki told him. Henry promised her he would and then told Mike and Coreen to keep an eye on her.
"Gotcha chief," Mike saluted Henry. Vicki shot a look at Henry then back to Coreen and Mike.
"Mike, are you drunk?" Vicki asked.
Mike laughed, "Nope, just happy and Vic, Henry, I'm happy for you both, really."
Somehow, Henry and Vicki knew he meant it. The entire scene was surreal, almost too good to be true. Vicki was getting tired as well and Mike told her they would be back later. He told her to get some rest.
Once she was alone, Vicki stared down at her baby and said, "I never thought I could love another human being like this."
To her surprise, Bella opened her eyes and smiled.
"You act like you understand me," Vicki smiled back and stroked her chubby cheek.
Just then, Vicki heard a tiny voice say, I can.
Vicki gasped….
