Chapter 40

They were both nervous, but neither of them would admit it. Bobby hovered near her while they got everything set up. The doctor had already been in and out and informed Alex that the contractions would likely start within the hour and to expect them to be strong.

The IV was in her arm, and monitors were tracking both her and the baby. A blood pressure cuff was on one arm, and would automatically inflate at regular intervals.

Alone in the room, the couple grasped hands. Bobby touched her pregnant belly, and then glanced at her. "It… it's going to be soon," he said.

She nodded. "I love you, Bobby. Remember that. No matter what I may say in the next few hours."

He grinned. "Say whatever you want. I can take it." He kissed her sweetly, and they settled in to wait for labor to begin.

A few minutes later, her expression tightened, and she squeezed his hand, hard.

"Th-this is it!" he said, excitement in his voice. "Contraction!" He watched her closely as she bore the pain, and when it was over, he glanced at the clock.

"Good, good job, Alex," he encouraged her.

"Whew… that was pretty intense for a first one."

"The doctor said the medicine would do that."

"Is my sister here yet?"

"N-no. You want me to call her?"

"Would you?"

He smiled and kissed her forehead. Then he stepped out of the room and quickly called Liz. When he returned, she was already having another one. Alex was sitting up, holding the side rail of the bed with both hands. Bobby put his hands on her back, trying to soothe her any way he could. As Alex gasped with pain, he felt a pain of his own. This wasn't going to be easy for him, either.

Finally, she panted with relief. He reminded her to take some deep breaths. The nurse came in and adjusted the drip of the IV, then left again. "Liz is on her way. She got hung up in traffic," Bobby explained. "She said maybe another twenty minutes."

"Okay," Alex breathed. He helped her lie back and caressed her belly again.

The nurse came in again, and adjusted the IV again. "Your blood pressure is going up," she explained. "The doctor wants us to increase the medication."

Alex's face filled with worry, but Bobby's touch comforted her.

"Of course it's going up, you're in labor," he said. "Don't think about it, Alex. You're in good hands, here."

By the time Liz arrived, Bobby needed a break. He'd seen her through two more rounds of contractions, and now the pain was so bad she was crying out. He stepped into the hall and paced it a few times, then when he heard her cry, he went back in.

Liz was offering words of encouragement in her ear as Alex squeezed her hand. Bobby reached over to hold her, too, but Alex lashed out at him. "Don't touch me!"

The look in her eyes was pure loathing. He stepped back and fidgeted, not sure what to do with his hands. She cried out again and her water broke. Bobby skittered into the hall to report this new development.

Soon after, a nurse was in constant attendance, as well. In between contractions, she let him approach her again, but when she was in the throes of pain, she became irritated by his touch. Alex clung to her sister.

It took three hours, and the room was filled with the shrill cry of a new voice. Bobby cut the cord, and tears filled his eyes as he held his little girl. He carried her forward and laid her in Alex's arms. They cried together, as Liz stepped back, smiling from ear to ear.

"Amy Frances Goren," Alex said, stroking the baby's cheek.

"She's so tiny," Bobby said, and they chuckled together, overwhelmed by the awe of the tiny creature in front of them.

The nurse adjusted the IV again, removing the bags that were no longer needed, but leaving the one with the blood pressure medicine.

Bobby kissed the baby's head, and Alex thought she couldn't possibly love him more than she did in that moment.

"Oh, sis, she looks just like you," Johnny said, holding the new baby in his arms. "Amy." Johnny smiled at the little girl, who was sound asleep.

His baby safely asleep, Bobby was focused on Alex. She was fighting sleep, and they still hadn't quite stabilized her blood pressure. "You okay?" he asked her.

"So tired," she said.

"Go to sleep. Amy's fine for now. You just ran a marathon, you know. You need to rest."

"Bobby, I'm sorry."

He looked at her, bewildered.

"I was so hateful to you."

He shook his head and grinned. "Forget it, Alex. Besides, I told you I could take it."

She drifted into sleep at last, and he spent several minutes just admiring her beauty.

The baby grunted and suckled against the air, causing Johnny to chuckle. Bobby looked over at him.

"I think I'm in love," Johnny said, never taking his eyes off her.

Bobby smiled at them and then looked back at Alex. I think I am, too.

The baby was doing fine, but they stayed in the hospital for Alex's sake. Her blood pressure was reluctant to come down, and it took 4 days before they finally thought they had it under control. Bobby teased her about being stubborn. Every time she worried, he made her laugh.

Alex's family was there in turn, and they even entertained visits from Logan and Ross. When they had time alone, they tried to get used to the idea that they were parents.

"Maybe tomorrow," Bobby said. "I'm anxious to get her home."

"Me, too," Alex agreed. "I just want to be somewhere where there aren't lights on 24/7, and constant interruptions."

"Maybe tomorrow," he said again. Bobby held the baby in the crook of his left arm and stroked Alex's hair back with his right hand.

"You shaved," Alex commented.

"It's too hot for a beard," he told her. He raised his hand to his own face. There was another reason. He wanted to hold the baby close, to feel her, skin on skin, when he held her on his shoulder, her head against his cheek.

"Bobby… did you mean what you said about us? That… we can't let it fall apart?"

Bobby stared at the infant in his arms. "We can't. We have to make it work, Alex."

She nodded and closed her eyes for a moment. "Bobby, marry me."

He jerked in surprise and the baby fussed. After he quieted her, he looked at Alex. "You just proposed to me?!" He whispered.

Tears filled her eyes. "We can't let it fall apart, Bobby. I love you. I love Amy. We can do this."

A sparkle shone in his eyes, and a slow grin spread across his face. Bobby leaned over and kissed her.

THE END

A/N Thank you all so much for tagging along on this ride! I love reviews, and still welcome them, even well after my stories are finished. I hope you enjoyed it!