~ Premature Objections ~

-February 13th -

Doctor, "…Three centimeters, ninety percent effaced."

Deena rolls her eyes.

"Are you serious?"

Doctor, "I'm afraid so. Have you been walking like I instructed you to?"

Deena half hesitates, "Y-yes."

Pauly never says a word, he only tries to keep from laughing. Deena's Doctor now gives her a look.

Deena breaks down, "Alright. Not much…if at all."

Deena's Doctor shakes her head.

"Then you can't expect things to progress if you don't do things to help the delivery come sooner."

Deena ignores her, "So bottom line. Another false start?"

Doctor nodding, "Another false start."

Deena could just spit. She just knew this was it. Her Doctor continues.

"So listen, you still have a good week until your due date, but since we're past our first plan, I think we should actually set you up for a 7 am induction on the seventeenth."

She looks at the calendar and responds.

"That's a Friday. Is that okay?"

Deena looks at Pauly and he has no dispute.

Deena, "That's fine."

Doctor, "That should give you enough time to make final arrangements, phone calls, etcetera."

The Doctor, again, says to Deena, "…but I am positive you won't make it to Friday."

Deena scoffs, "With so many false starts, this Kid seems pretty comfortable where he or she is. How can you be so sure?"

Doctor, "Every time you set a date, he or she will come sooner…that's how it always works. It's psychological between the Mother and the Baby."

Deena wants to laugh now. She wants to believe it, but she doesn't. She just gets prepared to go home for another long waiting period.

-Later on-

Deena walks around the house for a good half and hour and then she ends, tidying up the second room downstairs that is reserved for the baby's nursery. She doesn't know where she got the sudden burst of energy from but she is taking advantage of it.

Pauly just teases her saying; it's too late for her to follow doctor's orders. She already has her date set, so she should just forget about jumpstarting the labor. However, Deena is ready to drop her load. She misses her old body and she is now anxious to meet her baby.

She soon gives up and grabs one of her baby shower gifts and walks into her room where Pauly is. He is just getting off the phone, when she makes her way over to the bed.

Deena replies, "You know, we haven't really decided on names yet."

Pauly, "Okay. What do you suggest?"

Deena, "Well I don't want this all on me. I want you to have some say so too."

Pauly, "All I know is the tradition has to be if it's a boy, that he is named after me and my Pops. Paul DelVecchio the third. That's what he wants and I gotta honor that."

Deena, "What about a girl?"

Pauly, "I'm not picky Deena. I really don't know. As long as she has a good strong Italian-female name, it's not a big deal."

Deena gets help from Pauly up onto the bed. Then she opens the book of baby names.

Deena, "I got this as a present from one of my Aunts."

Deena thumbs through and calls out some names from the 'D' section, of course.

"How about ….Daria? It means, to possess a lot of wealth or something like that."

Pauly, "Is that what it says or you made that up?"

Deena, "That's what it says."

Pauly nods but responds, "Well I don't like it."

Deena continues down the list.

After a minute, "Daniela, Dafne…Drina, (looking at Pauly) Drina? How's that sound?"

Pauly, "Not bad. (smiling) What, are you looking for some variation of your name?"

Deena smiles, "Well I didn't want to just come out and name the girl Deena."

Pauly, "Why not?"

Deena frowns a little, "No. Don't get me wrong, (now smiling) it's the best name in the world. Maybe for her middle name, I don't know."

Deena looks back down and continues, flipping to the 'V' section.

"Vanessa is cute."

Pauly smiles, "I agree. That's my big Sis' name."

Deena smiling back, "That's right. How is she?"

Pauly, "Great. I haven't talked to her in a little bit but last I did, (putting on his best chick voice) I let her know when we're expecting."

Deena, "Is she at least coming?"

Pauly shrugs, "I don't know. She didn't say."

Deena looks defeated. Do people not like her or something? Pauly senses her plight and he goes into action to assure her.

"Calm down Dee'. I'll bet everyone will at least come see you the next day at the Hospital. It's not like we're all miles from each other…and I'm sure my Sis won't miss her first niece or nephew being born. My whole family is posted and waiting for this one."

It makes her feel better but not much.

Pauly continues, "Listen, put the book down and let's talk about something else. I'm sure the name will come to us when the time is right."

Deena agrees and they both talk until Deena's Mother calls out that dinner is ready.

-After Dinner-

Dinner consisted of a salad with Parmesan herb bread for starters. Next, they had hearty Lasagna stuffed with three types of cheeses. Then they ended with Joann's sausage and peppers dish. She reserved the mild sausages for Deena and made a lighter sauce for her portions, so that she would not get heartburn. The food was fabulous.

Unfortunately, Deena's Dad was not present for the meal. Deena questioned this but Joann brushed it off, saying he had to check on his Mother at her house. Deena accepted it but Pauly knew better.

Afterwards, everyone sits stuffed except Deena who is going after the dessert her mother made. Pauly smiles and Joann shakes her head.

Joann, "There'll be no more room for the baby to survive in there Dee'. You'll force that little one out."

Deena swallows her ice cream and responds, "I hope so. I'm tired of being pregnant."

Her mother responds, "Well I'll say you've had a pretty good pregnancy."

Deena, "Can't really complain."

Deena's mother continues to pick up dishes and she turns to Pauly when seated again.

Joann, "So are you ready for Fatherhood Pauly?"

Pauly, "I won't know until it happens. I'd like to say I'm gonna be the best there is but it's not gonna be easy. I know it."

Joann nods, "As long as you know. (talking to them both) I know Mr. Cortese hasn't voiced his feelings towards the situation but we've talked…"

Pauly is ready for the burn. He listens intently.

Joann, "He's just concerned that the Child will not get the best of both worlds. Pauly, I know you have a career and Deena, I know you are planning things as well for your future. However, Deena, you will not be up and about to do those things for a while."

Deena shakes her head, "What do you mean?"

Joann, "Well, with the baby being so young and you being a new Mother. It's going to take some getting used to. (To Pauly) You'll be on the road I assume and that leaves Deena at home to raise the Child."

Deena is not sure what her parents have talked about but she has a pretty good idea.

Deena, "No Mom. I can take care of my Child and still do all of those things I have planned. That's why I'm home, so you can help me through the first stages. You said you would."

Deena's Mother doesn't say anything and Deena takes note of that. She continues.

"You are going to help me aren't you?"

Joann, "Of course hon'…"

Deena, "So I can stay right?"

Joann sighs. "I just want you to be okay when you get out into the world and have to deal with things on your own. With a Child, it will not make it…"

Deena cuts her off, "Look if you want me to move out, just say so. (looking at Pauly) Pauly and I can work something out."

Pauly tries not to look stunned. He composes himself and tries to get Deena to calm down by rubbing her shoulder but she is in rare form.

Deena, "I don't need you to feel like I'm a burden or that I made some mistake and now you have to deal with it. I'm pretty sure this is Dad talking…and I can't understand why. Ever since I was little, he would move heaven and earth for Joanie and I. What's so different now?"

Joann chooses not to repeat the conversation they had earlier. She just sits there and Deena gets even more upset.

Deena tears up. "Well fine…I'll make arrangements elsewhere when the baby is born."

Joann shakes her head. It kills her to think that Deena feels this way. She is misconstruing things but she can't tell her the truth right now.

Joann, "Sweetpea can we just talk about this at another time? No one is kicking you out."

Deena, "Well you shouldn't let things fly out of your mouth if you don't mean them. (putting her hands up) I don't want to talk about it anymore. My mind's made up."

Deena forgets all about her ice cream in the bowl. She instead waddles her way out of the kitchen. Pauly has no choice but to follow her. He doesn't want to be left for questioning. Plus, he needs to get Deena back in her right mind. She can't go against her Parents at this point because he still hasn't revealed what he needs to about the status of his own situation.

He has no place to comment on anything because in the end, he is sure Deena will pissed about his information. Then, he'll be in the Dog House. Pauly thinks quickly, deciding to work his magic.

(Take it any way you want.)

A/N: A bit of a longer Chap this time to make up for the last one :-) Sorry for getting your hopes up with the false labor, lol. I think we all feel for Dee' (hurry up and give birth right?!) This was another fun Chap to write though. A lot to discuss in this one, tell me: Do you think the baby is a boy or a girl? What do you think the baby's name should be?