AN: last chapter guys, sad, sad times, but hey! Check out my new fic, 'we're always better when we're together' wooo *sobs*

18. welcome to the world

The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever, although it was only ten minutes. But with Nikki crying in the passenger seat, there was nothing Tom could do for her but drive. Now in a hospital room which had mellow lighting because of the time of night, all they could do was wait. Nikki supposed that the mellow lighting was so that she could get some rest before her baby was born but the growing intensity of her contractions and the faint yet still recognisable screams of women in a similar predicament to Nikki made sleep look so far away, thankfully for her, her pain threshold had always been relatively high and she kept thinking to herself, I she could survive 7 years in the army then she could survive this!

As the hours passed the pain became more intense, Tom watched the contraction ripple through her, her face contorted. She moaned at the contraction reached its peak then exhaled deeply as the pain subsided.

He felt so helpless just sitting there stroking her hand. He noticed Nikki's forehead was getting sticky with sweat, she had been in labour for almost 12 hours now, and was starting to get tired. He pushed her hair out of her face, it was beginning to stick to her head, he scraped it back into a makeshift ponytail (he didn't have a lot of experience in doing women's hair) to stop it bothering her. She turned to him, snaking a hand around his shoulders and stroking his chest whilst nuzzling the crook of his neck.

Her voice was an exhausted whisper when she spoke 'Tom, I don't think I can do this.'

He kissed the top of her head and tried to hold her in the best way their situation would allow, 'you are doing it love, you're doing great' he whispered reassuringly whilst rubbing Nikki's back. She moaned in response, her cry seemed to crescendo as the pain took hold.

'Well done Nik, not long now' he told her.

Midwives came in and out of the room, prodding and poking Nikki which disgruntled her further…

'Right! Are you ready Ms Boston?' the midwife as she washed her hands in the small basin in the corner of the room.

'No, ahhhh' Nikki cried

'looks like baby thinks otherwise, come on!', she knew the midwife was just trying to make her feel better but somehow she didn't appreciate it.

Tom's face paled as Nikki began to push, he watched her whole body tense and she threw her head back in agony, however he didn't dare look anywhere other than her face for fear of passing out.

'One more push Nikki, you're doing great' all the voices seemed so distant, and suddenly when the agony ceased all that mattered was hearing her baby cry. Her chest heaved in releif and she looked at Tom, searching his face for a reaction, he had tears running down his cheeks, yet he was grinning form ear to ear.

'congratulations, you've had a little girl'

This time Nikki's cry was one of ecstasy as the midwife handed her her screaming daughter, yet as soon as she was in her mother's arms, she cooed softly. To a normal person the baby must have looked disgusting, a funny purple colour still covered in whatever, but neither parent cared, Nikki kissed her daughter before looking up at Tom who was running a finger over the full head of dark hair their baby had.

'So, what's she going to be called? Mr, we're having a boy! I can just feel it!'

Tom smiled at his beautiful fiancé, her hair was wispy and fly-away and she had bags under her eyes, yet she was still the most beautiful woman Tom had ever laid eyes on 'well, I thought… I dunno, you might not like it-'

'No, go on' Nikki prompted

'How about Lucy?'

Nikki smiled back at him 'Lucy' she whispered, 'Lucy Clarkson, Tom its perfect! I love it' she was sobbing freely now, she'd always wanted to have children but she never imagined holding her very own newborn baby.

'welcome to the world Lucy Clarkson' said Tom quietly, his thoughts were interrupted by a timid knock at the door, it was Josh who had been waiting outside, upon seeing the little bundle in Nikki's arms he bounded in to the room eager to meet his new sibling,

'you've got a sister, she's called Lucy' Tom was still talking quietly as baby was now sleeping in her mother's arms.

Josh beamed 'Hi Lucy' he said softly, making his way over to the bed 'don't you look like a potato'

'Oi you! I worked hard on that!' said Nikki in mock offence.

'I was joking Nik, she's gorgeous'

Tom beckoned Josh in for a hug; he held his wife and children in his arms, the newly extended Clarkson family.

AN: everyone loves a happy ending