The few days after we had gone to the police station seemed to pass in a blur. Lawyers were called, and plans were made. John had somehow gotten word that Dominic Sanders had been brought in, and he had disappeared. His line was disconnected. The only news we had was from the actual news. They kept talking about how John Kennish had dropped from the election, without an explanation.

With my due date so close, Emmett had managed to get out of school for a couple weeks. He stayed by my side all day, getting anything I even thought about wanting. I rarely had to get up at all. He preferred it if I didn't, really.

He also thought that anytime I winced, it was time for the baby. While Doctor Olenick's words had comforted me, that the baby could come at any day, they had panicked Emmett. I could stretch and pull on a sore muscle, and the following wince would send him into a whirlwind.

'Are you alright? Is it the baby? Is it time?'

He wouldn't pay attention to my attempts to tell him it was nothing, only seeming to notice when he was ready to leave and I hadn't moved from my spot.

April 7th, the day before my doctors appointment, when Kathryn got the call from the police. John had surrendered himself. Which probably meant he had a plan of some kind, but I didn't want to know it. Now that I knew they had gotten John, I didn't want to know anything else. I wanted to just cut him from my life.

Emmett relaxed significantly knowing where John was, but seemed to be under the same impression as me. Maybe he had found some kind of big shot lawyer to make everything go away.

Though I was doing my best to ignore John, Kathryn was neck deep in his problems. She was filing for divorce, and I guess she was working with a lawyer to try to get John's name off of everything, even the car washes.

By the time I went to my appointment, news that John Kennish had been arrested was everywhere. When Natalie came in, her first words were, "I'm so sorry about your dad."

"He's not my dad. It's a really long story, that I'm sure everyone will know soon. Can we just forget it today?"

"Yeah, of course. How have you been?"

"Annoyed."

"Oh?"

"Someone keeps thinking I'm in labor."

She smiled at Emmett, and he grinned somewhat sheepishly.

"A lot of dads get paranoid about that. But someone has to watch for all the little signs. You could be in labor tomorrow for all we know."

'See? She gets it.'

"I also get it. I just don't like it."

He smiled slightly, and the appointment moved on.

Natalie leaned back when she was done. "Baby's in position. Everything looks good. You have everything ready for your baby?"

"Yeah. We have a bag packed in the car, nursery's done..."

"Now it's just a waiting game. We'll set an appointment for next week, but we might not need it. All see you guys later."

...

The next day, Mom sat at the table, staring at a pile of papers, thoroughly confused.

"What's up?"

"He already did it."

I sat beside her, figuring she probably meant John.

"He already signed everything over to me. All I have to do is sign. No big fights. No lawsuits. The house, the car wash business, everything. He already drew up the papers."

That... That didn't sound like John had a big master plan. It sounded like he was giving in. He had surrendered himself to the police, he had already filed all the papers... What had happened? Had he had a change of heart?

"The lawyer said that John wanted nothing to do with us. So he signed everything over for me, but that was it."

Oh, no, it was just a different approach to washing his hands of us.

"He just made our life so much easier."

I laughed softly and kissed her cheek before getting up and leaving the room.

...

On the 11th, I was at Regina's. She had started to pack her things, and Daphne had already started her move to the main house.

"Really, it's going to be awhile before we even start to come over here."

"Yeah, but with us gone, you can do something with the walls. Figure out what room will be what. After all the work you did on the other nursery, I know you'll want to do something here. You can't do that if I still live here."

I reluctantly nodded, wincing slightly at a Braxton Hicks contraction. After Natalie had told me that moving helped, I never failed to get them to go away. I stood and paced slightly behind the couch, frowning when it didn't quite fade like usual. I'd been having some bad ones all day.

"Hicks?"

"Exactly."

Though it hadn't faded immediately, it still went away, and I sat back down.

We talked for awhile before I finally did as she said. I stepped Daphne's nearly empty bedroom, and slowly looked around. "What do you think of this room, Luke? I think this one would be good. What do you think we should put on the walls?"

Another Braxton Hicks hit me, and I made a soft sound of protest. "Hey, kid, lighten up, would you?" A minute later, it faded, and I went back out. "Hey, Regina? I'm gonna go lay down. He's pissed at me or something."

"Are you alright, honey?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll see you later."

I left and went back to the main house. I went upstairs, meaning to go to my room, but I ended up passing it and going to the nursery. I looked around at the walls, smiling slightly. "Should I just do this again? I don't know, I feel like I should do something different. But I really like these walls. What about axe girl, you want your own axe girl? Probably not, huh?"

I went to the glider and sat down, losing myself in my thoughts and slowly drifting to sleep. I must not have been very deeply asleep, as when the pain hit again, I snapped awake with a groan. Maybe I should go lay down after all.

I stood and slowly made my way down the hall. When I got to my room, the door was already open, and Emmett was sitting on the bed, his laptop open. I dropped to the bed beside him and closed my eyes. Emmett had gotten used to my impromptu naps, and didn't seem phased.

That was, until my arm darted out and gripped his arm as another Braxton Hicks hit me. I opened my eyes, knowing he would want to ask about them.

'Are you ok?'

"Yeah. Yeah, just the Braxton Hicks. I'm fine."

'Are you sure? It seemed worse this time.'

"Yeah, they've been bad for awhile. A couple hours. I've been getting them a lot today, it's ridiculous."

'How far apart?'

"What do you mean?"

'I mean, how long between them?'

"They're random."

'Are you sure?'

"Yes, I'm sure."

Though he was still concerned, he nodded and turned back to the computer, and I fell back asleep. They hit me a couple times during my nap, but I mostly managed to ignore them.

I woke up in time for dinner, and made my way down to eat. I froze with my hand on the back of a chair, sitting down after a minute. I gasped sharply in the middle of talking and fell silent. My laughter choked off as I finished eating. My hand shook as I fought back a whimper, taking a sip of water. I was sure it had to just be bad Braxton Hicks. Despite what Natalie had said, I wasn't quite at 40 weeks, yet. It was just bad Braxton Hicks. There was no use worrying anyone.

Finally, when I nearly dropped my plate on the way to the sink, Toby spoke up. "I'm getting about 10 minutes. Anyone else?"

Kathryn nodded. "They look like they're getting longer, too."

I turned to look at them. They'd been timing me?

'And worse. Time to go.' Emmett was up quickly and took my plate from my hands, setting it aside. He helped me out to the car, and Kathryn slid into the backseat shortly after. As Emmett quickly pulled away, I saw Toby making his way out to the guest house, pounding on Regina's door.

Emmett seemed torn between speeding, and getting us there as safely as possible. About halfway to the hospital, I grit my teeth and reached over, fisting my hand in his shirt as I groaned.

"Ok, honey, you gotta breathe. You did all those Lamaze classes, remember? You need to breathe."

I nodded and tried to breathe through the contraction, squeezing my eyes shut.

"There you go, honey, there-Emmett!"

When the contraction passed, I opened my eyes again. It seemed he had gone with speeding.

It wasn't long until we were at the hospital, and Emmett and Kathryn flanked me, helping me inside. We made our way up to the counter.

"Hi. We're pretty sure I'm in labor. Ten minutes-"

"Nine. She's nine now."

"Nine minutes apart. My doctor is Natalie Olenick. I have her number if you need it."

I managed to get it all out calmly before groaning as another wave hit me, and I hunched over slightly.

Before I knew it, I was in a wheelchair, and my mom was dealing with everything. Emmett took hold of my hand and we were taken to a room. I was given a hospital robe to change into, and I laid back on the bed as soon as I could.

It wasn't too long before Kathryn came in and sat on my other side. "Ok, so I just got the text from Daphne that Melody knows, and she and Toby are on their way. No word from Regina, yet."

"Ok. Ok." I nodded slightly. I'm not sure why I was trying to hard to remain calm. I was in labor, I think that was kind of a free pass to freak out. I didn't take it yet, though.

I went through a few more contractions before Natalie found her way in. "Alright! So I hear we're having a baby! Let's take a look at those contractions, hm?" She went to a machine that had been hooked up to me to record everything. "Ok, looks like things are starting to speed up. How are you feeling?"

I gave her a droll stare.

"Other than in pain?"

"Fine. I guess."

"Ok. Let's just have a look." She did her exam, and for once I really didn't mind. "Looks like you're at three centimeters."

"Is that good?"

"You have seven more to go. And in a few, you'll be able to have that epidural. That'll help a lot."

"Alright..."

"I'll come back to check on you, alright? Right now, you just try to relax as much as possible." She left the room.

"Regina and Angelo are on their way," Kathryn said.

I nodded slightly.

'We still don't have a girl's name.'

"I know we don't."

'We have a few hours to think of something.'

"Oh, god, hours. I have hours more of this. I hate you. You did this to me. I hope you know that."

He grinned and nodded. 'I know.'

"Ok, names..."

...

The man that came in when I was at six centimeters was my best friend in the world. He had come with a long needle, which had scared me, but the relief that came over me was worth it.

The contractions were closer together, longer, more intense, but the epidural helped significantly. I felt like I could relax. I even managed to get some sleep here and there.

'I think we've found more names we don't like than ones we do.'

I shrugged slightly. "You know, this is pointless if I'm right."

'And if I'm right, our daughter doesn't have a name.'

"Ok, ok...'

...

My contractions were five minutes apart. Kathryn had come in and out of the room, giving everyone updates. I kept trying to get her to send people home, but no one really seemed interested in leaving.

"After everything that's happened in this family? Do you really think anyone's going to miss this?" Mom smiled softly.

"I just... I feel bad."

"Don't. You just focus on your baby. Alright?"

"Yeah, ok... We have a name. For a girl."

"Do you?"

"Yeah."

...

A couple hours later, people were trying to encourage me, yelling at me to push. Emmett held one hand, and my mom held the other. I squeezed their hands with everything I had, screaming as I pushed. Mother's day was officially not good enough. We needed at least one a month. This was horrible. How does anyone have siblings?

"Ok, Bay, the baby's crowning, we're almost over the worst part. Give me another big one, push!"

"I hate you!" I screamed. I think I had told Emmett at least 20 times how much I hated him, and Natalie possibly more.

"You can do it, Bay." Kathryn smoothed back my hair.

I wasn't too sure about this, it was hard. The hardest thing I'd ever done. It felt like it went on forever.

And then it felt like the world stopped. Everything was quiet for a split second before a wail pierced the air.

"It's a girl!"

I vaguely noticed that Kathryn interpreted for Emmett, as Natalie had been wearing a mask. She signed only 'girl'. Emmett smiled widely as I let myself finally relax, exhausted down to my bones.

Natalie passed the tiny girl to me, still attached to the umbilical cord. My arms fell into position naturally, tears filling my eyes.

She was perfect. Her eyes were squeezed shut, a tuft of dark hair on her head. She was bright pink, and I'm not sure if it was because she was 30 seconds old, because she was screaming, or because she hadn't been cleaned yet. Her mouth was wrenched open, wailing, and it sounded absolutely beautiful.

"You have quite the set of lungs on you, don't you, Rose?" I whispered. Emmett reached out and gently stroked her cheek before taking a hold of a hand. A minute later, she was being taken away again, to get cleaned up and whatever else doctor's did with babies.

I began to drift to sleep, confident that my mom and Emmett would watch over my daughter, wouldn't let her out of their sight. They wouldn't let her get switched like I had been.

...

Rose had been wrapped in a pink blanket, and she had a little white hat on. She was dozing when Regina and Melody came in.

We were allowed to get visitors two at a time, in addition to Emmett and Mom. Emmett rocked Rose while Kathryn stayed by my side, constantly stroking my hair, tears shining in her eyes. She occasionally said something about her baby being grown up, being a mother, how one day I would understand. And while one day I might understand, today I was just happy to have my girl.

Emmett went from rocking her to dancing slightly. He would sway and turn, his lips moving in silent promises.

Both Regina and Melody checked on me first, though I had a feeling it was more instinct and courtesy than anything else.

Melody was the first to make it to Emmett's side, cooing over Rose. It woke her up, her eyes wide. I had gotten my wish. She had Emmett's brilliant blue eyes. People kept telling me that all babies had blue eyes, and they darkened when they got older, but somehow I knew. Her's were never changing.

Emmett passed Rose to Melody, and Melody made her way to Regina. Regina smiled and looked up at me expectantly.

"Meet your granddaughter, Rose Daphne Bledsoe. 6 pounds, 7 ounces, 19 inches, born April 12th, 2013."

"Is she deaf?" Regina asked.

I shook my head slightly. "No. She's hearing."

"And, you're sure that this is her?"

Kathryn nodded. "Didn't let her out of my sight for a single second. And she hasn't been to that nursery."

Regina nodded and smiled, looking back down at Rose. "She's beautiful, Bay..."

"I know."

...

The same scene played out with everyone. At one day old, my little girl had captured everyone's hearts.

When we left the hospital, I was glad that Emmett had kept my bag and the car seat in his trunk. It made life easy.

Though I was sore, getting into the car without being pregnant was an amazing feeling, and I was tempted to get out just to do it again.

I was sitting in the glider, holding Rose while I waited for Emmett to figure out the bassinet.

"Baby Rose, let me tell you about your family..."

BAM. There you GO. There's an epilogue, and then we're done, folks.