Hi and hello! Here's Chapter 26, and it's time to meet the new baby at last. What's going to happen? Keep reading, folks! Curtain up!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon; Nintendo and Satoshi Tajiri do.

INCONCEIVABLE

CHAPTER 26-WINDING DOWN

"It's a girl!"

May could hardly see or hear what the nurse—or anyone, really—said through the haze of pain, but she smiled nonetheless. She felt Ash's hand tighten around hers, and a tear came to her eye. He'd stayed by her side, endured her nearly breaking his hand and shouting irrationally at him, encouraged her through the entire ordeal...in short, he'd been everything she'd hoped for.

She leaned her head back, ignoring everything going on as she tried to clear her head. One of the nurses said something about "eleven thirty-four"—no doubt the time—and Ash mumbled something to her about getting the baby cleaned up. May relaxed for a moment, realizing exactly what had happened. It was hard to believe that all they'd been through had culminated in this...their child, their little girl, was finally here. As she felt herself calm down even further, she heard Ash's voice again.

"Hey, May? You alright?" May nodded slowly as she opened her eyes again.

"I'm fine, Ash. Just kinda tired, I didn't realize...that was going to be so draining."

"Well, it's over now. They've already taken the baby to clean her up and everything, and they'll bring her in in a few minutes." May smiled; soon, she told herself, she'd be holding her child for the first time. Caroline turned to speak to her daughter.

"You were terrific, honey." The Petalburg mother's smile was somehow even warmer and kinder than usual. "I'm so proud of you, May, you have no idea. I never knew my little girl was so brave."

"Now I know why moms on TV act the way they do," May muttered, feeling the exhaustion come racing at her all at once. She looked around, noting that her vision wasn't blurred anymore. "Where's Sandra? I wanted to talk to her for a bit."

"I'm right here, May." Sandra was smiling too, but she looked burned out. "How're you feeling?"

"A bit shaken up, I'll admit. Having a baby takes a lot out of you."

"It does. But things are just starting, remember? You and Ash have a lot ahead of you."

"Yeah, that's true." May sighed, realizing that she shouldn't get complacent just yet. "Hey, Sandra, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me...for us," she added hastily, remembering that Ash was there too. "You were there for us...for just about the entire time, and I'll never forget that. I felt so alone out here without Mom and Dad, even though I had Ash with me. You have no idea how grateful we are."

"It was my pleasure, May. I'm just glad you're doing well, and that everything turned out okay. Kathryn kept badgering me about you and the baby when I switched off with Delia, and I know she'll be thrilled tomorrow when she comes to see you guys."

"I'll be waiting. Thanks again, Sandra, it really means a lot." May leaned back again, waiting for the nurse to return and present her with her little girl.

A few minutes later, the nurse returned, holding the baby in her arms. May waited patiently as the nurse walked over and bent down, and then she carefully took her tiny form into her own arms, feeling tears come to her eyes as she did so.

"She's perfect," a voice said; it might have been Caroline's. Ash simply watched as May cradled the little girl in her arms, dropping to a knee so he could look at her more closely. The baby's eyes were shut, and what hair she had looked fairly dark—almost as dark as his. At the moment, she was fast asleep, and May rocked her slightly as she stopped resisting the tears.

"She's got your hair, Ash," May whispered, running a trembling hand over it. "She's probably gonna look like both of us, I think."

"I hope she has your eyes," Ash said back, smiling. "That way she will have something from each of us."

"I know. Ash?"

"Hm?"

"I'm glad we're here. Even though we had to go through a lot—and trust me, it got hard for a while—seeing our baby girl here makes everything worth it."

"I'm glad we're here too, May. I know I made some dumb choices..."

"Real dumb." May said with a half-giggle.

"Right, real dumb...but I couldn't have stood being without you all this time. Our little girl is proof that things were meant to turn out this way. We're a family now, and that'll never end." Ash smiled as he spoke his next words. "I love you, May."

"I love you too, Ash." May felt Ash lean down and kiss her cheek, and she turned back to the baby in her arms.

"May?" Caroline's voice broke in again, and the young couple turned to look at her.

"What's up, Mom?"

"I've been meaning to ask you guys this question for the longest time, but I never got around to it. Now that the baby's arrived, I can: have you thought about what to name her?" May and Ash looked at each other in surprise; somehow, that hadn't come up when they'd discussed their plans.

"Um...no, to be honest. We were so focused on getting through this, we never had a chance." May laughed sheepishly, and she noticed that Ash was caught off-guard by the question as well. "Got any ideas?"

"Huh? No, not really. I never thought about it until now." Ash watched Caroline take a look at the baby, and raised an eyebrow. "What's up, Mrs. Maple?"

"Nothing, Ash." Caroline chuckled. "But even though she's just a newborn, she looks an awful lot like my cousin Stephen."

"Well, we can't name her Stephen, can we?" May giggled, but stopped when she felt the baby stir in her arms. "I like that name, but we can't use it because we've got a baby girl, not a boy." Ash thought for a moment, then something clicked in his mind.

"Wait, what about Stephanie? I think that's the girl's version of the name."

"Hmm..." May looked at the baby, then at Ash, then smiled. "I love it, Ash. Stephanie it is. Now, what about her middle name?"

"I have no idea, May. Names were never my strong suit."

"Fine, then I'll decide. Now, let me think..." May considered for a good two minutes, then she got it. "Alright, Ash, how about Rose? No, it has nothing to do with Drew!" she added quickly as Ash's eyes widened. "It just fits, you know? Our relationship is blossoming like a flower right now, and I just thought it worked. But if you don't like it, I can pick another one..."

"No, it's fine, May. It's a great name: Stephanie Rose." Ash looked towards Caroline and Sandra. "What do you guys think? Is it an okay name?"

"I think it's wonderful, Ash." Sandra told him, looking down towards Stephanie. "A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl."

"How about you, Mom?" Caroline smiled as she answered.

"It's perfect, May." May smiled, and looked back at Ash. "So, we're officially a family now. I've got my little baby girl, and I've got the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. I think we're gonna be fine. And I can't wait to see her in that Pikachu sleeper, she's gonna look so adorable..." Ash smiled back at her, and leaned over to kiss her cheek and look at his new baby daughter.

Through it all, Stephanie Rose continued to sleep in her mother's arms, unaware of what was going on around her. It was truly a new beginning for everyone.

The next afternoon, Mary and Kathryn came in to see baby Stephanie, and Kathryn did her best to contain her excitement.

"She's so cute!" Kathryn squealed as she looked at the new baby. "I knew she was going to be a girl, May, I just knew it! You guys are so lucky!"

"We are lucky, Kathryn. We're lucky to have Stephanie, and we're lucky we had you and your mom to help us out."

"I'm just so excited, May! To think, I've been hanging out with my favourite Coordinator, and now I'm spending time with her baby! Everyone'll be so jealous..."

"Kathryn, I think it's better if you kept it to yourself for a while," Mary said, shaking her head. "I don't think May wants us spreading the news just yet...uh, right, May?"

"You're right, Mary. Kathryn, I know you want to tell everybody, but I don't need to whole world finding out about this right now. It'll be just like it was when you found out who I really am: you've got to keep it under the radar."

"But...but..." Kathryn nodded. "You got it, May! No-one is going to find out! I will never...!"

"If you keep shouting about it, the whole hospital's going to know." Mary told her sister. Kathryn stuck her tongue out at Mary in response, and May giggled. Kathryn was just as enthusiastic as ever, and that might never change.

A few days later, May got the all-clear to take Stephanie home, and Sandra drove them back to the apartment. Sandra had found her old car seat lying around her house, and Stephanie slept through the entire ride home, May and Ash sitting on either side of her. Ash had stayed with May the entire time, only going home when May insisted, and he was overjoyed to finally go home as a family.

Everyone was waiting as they entered the apartment. Norman and Max had gotten Stephanie's new bed ready, and Caroline had put a small knit blanket on the edge. May laid Stephanie down and put the blanket over her, and there she continued to sleep. Once the baby was settled, May went back into the main room and collapsed into a chair, the strain of the past few days catching up to her.

"You alright, May?" May gave Max a weary look as she nodded.

"I'll be okay, Max. Just tired, that's all."

"We won't stay long, May." Norman told her. "We just wanted to see that you and Stephanie got home safely."

"I appreciate that, Dad. How's it feel to be a grandfather already?"

"It's not how I pictured it, that's for sure." Norman laughed as May frowned at him. "I'm joking, May, I am genuinely happy for you. The important thing is that you're safe, and so is the baby. Nothing else matters to me right now."

"Thanks, Dad. She'll be safe, don't worry, Ash will see to that."

"He'd better, or he and I are going to have to have a serious discussion..."

"Don't say things like that, you'll scare him!" May giggled, looking over at Ash, who was talking to Max about something. "He won't let anything happen, I know it. He's taken care of us so far, right?"

"He has, and I know he will continue." Norman watched as May yawned heavily, and he motioned to Caroline. "Everyone, I think it'd be best if we left these two to get some sleep. They've been going a hundred miles an hour for several days, and things are going to get crazy soon. Let's leave them be, and we can come back tomorrow." Sandra nodded and led Mary and Kathryn out, and Max left with his mother. May got up and hugged her father before he could go.

"Thanks a lot, Dad. We're probably not gonna get much sleep, but I appreciate it all the same."

"Just rest while you can, May. You need it." Norman turned and headed out of the apartment, leaving May and Ash alone. Ash walked over to her, and May smiled as she hugged him.

"So...you want to go ahead and sleep, May? I'll sleep out here, I've gotten used to it."

"Oh, no, you don't, you're sleeping in the bed now." Ash gave May a bemused look, and May giggled. "No, I don't mean it like that, Ash. I want you there because...well, because we're a family now. We might as well acknowledge it. Plus, you won't have to travel as far when Stephanie wakes up." Ash considered, then grinned.

"If you say so, May. Just don't get any ideas."

"Wouldn't dream of it." May kissed Ash's cheek, then made her way to the bedroom to get some well-deserved rest.

Okay, there we go! Baby Stephanie is now officially part of the family, and things can only get better from here...wait, don't close the book! We're not quite done yet, folks, so watch this space for the next installment!

Standard operating procedure is in effect. Please read, REVIEW and tell me what you thought! Until next time, namárië!