CHAPTER 15

~Welcome to the Real World~

-Later on in the Day –

After meeting their first Grandchild, Mr. and Mrs. Cortese went home after a long night to rest. They would see them again when Deena and Pauly come home.

Deena would be in the Hospital today only. She would be released the next day. Today, she and Pauly will get help with how to bathe the baby and other ways to care for her and instructions on medications, just in case, and etcetera.

Deena received a call from Jenni this past morning but she put in congrats from Nicole as well. She apologized for them not being able to make it but for Deena to open the gifts from she and Nicole.

She is sad after she gets off the phone that they wouldn't make it but when she opens her gifts, it makes her day.

From Nicole, she got two things. Since she didn't know if it would be a boy or a girl, there is an Italia baby onesie and matching outfit for what would be a boy. Underneath it, there is a hot pink onesie and matching outfit with a hot pink and black polka- dotted blanket to go with it. Also there is a zebra hat with a beautiful hot pink bow.

From Jenni, there is a satin zebra robe for Deena with pink and black trim.

Deena laughs.

"Oh my God! I love all this!"

She places the boy's garments aside and comments on it.

"I really love this. It kind of makes me wish we had twins, a boy and a girl. (To Pauly) oh well, next time."

Pauly doesn't catch that last part.

"Speak for yourself…(catching it) Next time! What are you saying?!"

Deena laughs.

"Oh come on Pauly. We obviously make good babies. You can just give me your sperm, I don't care."

Pauly needs to sit down. Deena laughs at him and then proceeds to call the Nurse to help her get dressed for the day. She decides to put on the robe Jenni got her and she wants the baby to wear just the onesie Nicole got her. She would keep her wrapped up for the most part but the temperature is perfect in her room.

Well it's a good thing Deena got them both dolled up and did her own hair because the next thing she knows, Jenni and Nicole are storming into the room with balloons and lots of furry looking things in their arms.

At the same time, "CONGRATULATIONS!"

Deena is all smiles even though shocked, "Are you kidding me?!"

First Nicole bounds to the bed. She leans down and kisses Deena on the cheek.

Nicole, "Hey! I couldn't get here fast enough!"

Jenni is next. She drops the bears at the foot of the bed and sets her balloons on the nightstand by it after also picking up Nicole's mess she left in her excitement. She places their things neatly around and goes over to Deena.

Jenni, "Look at you, new Mom. (Smiling) Oh my God…How was it?"

Nicole looks at Jenni, "Really, Jenni?"

Deena, "What? The labor?"

Jenni smiles, "Oh yeah."

Deena cringes.

Deena, "The first part…horrible. Period pains and cramping out of this universe and my bottom felt like I had to take the worse shit of my life. Then, when it came time to push, it felt like someone was trying to snatch my cuca and everything else that comes with it out with a spiked barbeque tong or something."

Jenni's eyes are wide and Nicole looks to the ceiling.

Nicole, "Thanks…thank you for that…"

Jenni gives Nicole a look and Nicole just looks at her and not appreciatively. She then turns her attention to Deena as she continues.

Deena, "…but… it is worth it when you see your baby in the end. (Glowing) You can't describe that feeling. I balled my eyes out."

Nicole, "Aw…Did Pauly cry too?"

Jenni, "Oh God yes! Did he?"

Deena smiling, "No but I could tell he was so proud. (Waving her hands) He cut the cord!"

Nicole laughing, "He did? Without passing out?"

Deena shakes her head, "Pauly was great about everything. He did get a little woozy when I was pushing and the Nurse held the mirror up though."

Jenni, "Ew…oh, see…I wouldn't have made it."

Nicole, "I bet it was beautiful."

Deena gets a dreamy look, "It was…"

Jenni just looks at them and scoffs.

"Ugh, mothers…"

Deena, "Huh?"

Nicole intercepts, "Nothing."

Nicole changes the subject and looks around. She responds after clapping her small hands together.

"Alright bitch, I've waited all this time…Where's my baby?"

Deena, "I just sent Pauly out with her."

Jenni, "Her?"

Nicole instantly remembers her gifts and she notices the hot pink polka-dot blanket lying on the bed next to Deena.

Nicole, "Oh my God! It's a girl!"

Deena forgot that she hadn't told anyone the baby's sex.

Deena uncovering her mouth, "Oops. My bad. Yeah, it's a girl."

Just as if on cue, Pauly makes his way in with their daughter in his arms.

Nicole gasps and Jenni just laughs.

Jenni, "Ha-ha! Look at this…"

Nicole barely gives him a chance before rushing him at the door.

Pauly, "Hold on Snooks. Let me get ova to the bed so I don't drop her."

Nicole bounces, "Okay."

Pauly walks over and Deena gets the blanket ready and Pauly lets her wrap the baby up before he picks her back up. He then sits on the edge so Nicole can see her.

Jenni is still all smiles.

Nicole, "Jenni cut it out and come see her."

Jenni walks up, "I'm sorry it's just…(holding in her laugh) Pauly with a baby…"

Pauly, "Real funny Jenni. How do you think I feel? (smiling) Do you see her? I've got problems."

Jenni actually looks at the baby and her heart truly does melt. Nicole responds though.

"She's gorgeous! I knew it! Didn't I call it?!"

Jenni, "There is no way in hell…the little meatball came out looking this cute."

Deena, "Meatballs rule."

Nicole, "I can't wait 'til we get to the Shore Store, I am so making her a baby shirt that says that."

Jenni laughs.

Nicole, "Can I hold her?"

Pauly, "Yeah."

Deena chimes in, "Go over and pull the chair up next to me and you can sit down."

Nicole does so and then when she is ready, Pauly hands her off to Nicole.

She instantly coos at her.

Nicole, "Hello gorgeous, I'm your Godmommy. (Sighing) You're gonna get so much crap from me your little nursery will be filled up to the roof."

Nicole holds her and fawns over her for a while as the others talk.

After a minute she starts to fuss and then cry.

Nicole looks up, "Oh shit, what did I do? Did I break something?"

Deena laughs, "No. She might just be hungry. I think it's time for me to feed her."

Nicole gets up carefully and then brings her over to Deena so she can nurse her.

Deena instructs her to bring the extra blanket over so she can cover herself.

When she latches on, that does the trick and she happily sucks away.

Jenni, "Well we're only going to stay another half hour or so then we gotta get back to take care of some things."

Deena, "I'm surprised you even came. Have you decided where you all will shoot the show?"

Nicole smiles and then Jenni responds.

Jenni, "Actually we're gonna be right here in Jersey. We found a place literally like fifteen or twenty minutes from here almost downtown."

Deena, "Shut up!"

Nicole, "We wanted to surprise you, that's why we lied. Sorry."

Deena, "Don't be. I'm so happy."

Nicole, "We are too. It just sucks that we start filming like next week."

Jenni, "We'll try to stop by as often as we can."

Nicole nods and then she steps out to call her Dad and Jionni.

It isn't long before the duo leave but not before saying goodbye to the new parents.

Nicole hugs Deena one more time, "Bye babe. Call me everyday if I don't call you."

Nicole then turns to Pauly.

"Be good to my baby Pauly or I'll write you off."

Pauly looks at Jenni and raises his eyebrows, "Oh my goodness, really?"

Jenni shakes her head, "I wouldn't question it."

Pauly chuckles, "I guess not."

The girls say goodbye one last time but before Nicole leaves, she turns around to blow the baby kisses.

"See you later… (She pauses) wait, what did you name her?"

Pauly and Deena look at each other and smile.

A/N: Another weekend is upon us! Are you "Fiercely Focused on Friday"? :-) Fun Chap to write, it's great when the Meatballs get together even if it's at Pauly's expense. There is still anticipation for the name of the latest "little" Meatball. Keep 'em coming, there's time yet!