Final chapter! hope you enjoyed my interpretation of Army Wives, Season 7! FFI, the parts in italics are what happens to the characters in the future and the parts not in italics is the present time as Kat gives birth to her baby.
Sixteen Weeks Later…
"Chris!" shouted Kat from their bedroom.
"Yeah!" shouted Chris from his office.
"I think it's time!" said Kat taking a few deep breaths. Kat heard her husband run upstairs and into their room. And the huge, nervous grin on his face was all she needed to see to know what he was saying. ******************************************************************************
It had been a huge reunion weekend at Fort Marshall. Even the Leblancs, the Morans, and the Burtons were in town so literally everyone was in the waiting room of Mercer. Chris, Diane, Jenny, and Jordan were the main people in the delivery room; David sat outside and waited with the rest of the guests. ****************************************************************************** Roland and Joan ended up thoroughly enjoying their lives in Baltimore. Roland became a successful psychiatrist in the Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Department. Joan became a track coach for their local high school and David and Sara Elizabeth had quickly adjusted to life in Maryland. They all enjoyed going to Ocean City for vacation and attending Orioles games in the summer though nothing could replace their love for the Chicago Bears for football.
Jenny came out into the waiting room and walked over to her father, "She's dilated five centimeters. The epidural seems to be helping, but she's still having a lot of back pain."
"Back labor?" asked Claudia Joy sympathetically.
Jenny nodded, "Out of everyone, Jordan has actually been the most help to keep her calm." ****************************************************************************** A few years after Joan's retirement, Michael decided thirty years in the Army was his limit. They had a nice retirement ceremony for the Lieutenant General and he ended up retiring to New York with Claudia Joy. Claudia Joy was able to practice law full time at a well-established New York City law firm. Shortly after Michael's retirement ceremony, Zach proposed to Emmalin and Emmalin Holden became Emmalin Bates. The young couple moved to Florida, where Zach was a marine biologist and Emmalin was a social worker. A year after the wedding Emmalin gave birth to Addison Joy Bates, named after his mother and hers. Sadly for Michael, Claudia Joy was the first to go, when Addison was about five years old. He never did remarry, instead choosing to move to Florida to be closer to his daughter and grandkids. ******************************************************************************
"Oh God, not another one!" shouted Kat. She didn't know how much longer she could take this pain, because the epidural wasn't really helping at all.
"Deep breath honey, you're doing great!" encouraged Chris.
"Don't think about the pain Mom, think about the baby," said Jordan.
Kat looked at her daughter skeptically, "Currently the baby is what's causing the pain." ******************************************************************************
Trevor and Roxy didn't fully settle in Washington until about a year after the move, but once Trevor became a full ranger, he had a very successful career. Roxy kept moving on up at the local bar and eventually was assistant manager. T.J. and Finn did well in Washington and Wyatt and Drew were your typical hyperactive toddlers. And after much talk and a few more years of trying, Roxy became pregnant for a fourth time and finally gave birth to a little girl, Abigail Madison Leblanc. The couple loved all of their children even thought there was a seventeen year age difference between T.J. and Abigail. ******************************************************************************
Diane approached her husband and he stood upon seeing her, "Everything's going very well," she said.
"How's Kat handling everything?" he asked, he was worried about the possibility of another C-section.
"So far the baby is showing no signs of distress and other than the pain, Kat's doing fine as well," said Diane. ******************************************************************************
Chase and Pamela frequently visited the Leblancs in Tacoma. Eventually Lucas followed in the steps of his father, enlisting in the U.S Army right out of high school, while Katie went on to attend the police academy. Chase had a successful job in the construction industry and Pamela enjoyed going back to being a police officer on the San Jose Police Force. ****************************************************************************** "Come on baby. Please help Mommy out here," said Kat.
"You're doing great Colonel, it shouldn't long now," said the doctor. ******************************************************************************
Frank and Denise were quite busy with Molly. She was pretty good friends with Julia Hanson despite the two year age difference. Molly took after her Mommy in that she loved to play doctor. Once Frank retired from the Army, he became a stay at home Dad while Denise contoured to work as a nurse practitioner at Mercer despite no longer being military. They all missed Jeremy terribly but they knew he was always watching over them and especially Molly, just like he said he would in his just in case letter. ******************************************************************************
The doctor checked Kat one more time, "Nine centimeters Colonel," she said though Kat really didn't hear her because she was too busy panting as not to push.
"You got this baby. He or she will be here before you know it," said Chris taking Kat's hand.
Kat squeezed it, looked up at her husband, and smiled slightly, "Come on baby," she said. ******************************************************************************
Kevin eventually did make it to the rank of Lieutenant General, though it was a few more years after Michael had retired before he did so. Despite Jackie's matchmaking abilities, Patrick never ended up with Jordan Young. Instead he married a girl named Melanie Fitzpatrick, who was a fellow Lieutenant whom he met when he was stationed at Fort Campbell. As for Sophie, thing between her and Jackie improved as she got older. She even served as one of Melanie's bridesmaids at the wedding. ******************************************************************************
Gloria moved back in with Hector soon after they made the decision to get back together. Much like Chase and Pamela, they decided to have a second wedding, though it was like their first wedding since they had married so quickly initially. Gloria gave birth to two beautiful children two years apart: a son, Cody Austin Cruz and a daughter, Cara Diana Cruz. Despite his past mistakes, Hector had learned his lesson. He knew who he belonged with in the end. ******************************************************************************
"Push baby push! Push baby push!" coached Chris as Kat pushed gripping her husband's hand.
Kat heaved a sigh when the contraction was finished, "I'm so thirsty," she said.
"Do you want your water Mom?" asked Jordan.
"Please," Kat nodded. Jordan got the desired beverage and Diane wiped the sweat from her daughter's brow.
"Here comes another contraction," said Jenny.
"Like I don't know that!" Kat scolded her sister. ******************************************************************************
As for Eddie and Maggie, they really didn't have many eventful things happen over their marriage. Caroline finally accepted Maggie as her stepmother and Tanner slowly got used to having Eddie around as a father figure. Once Caroline got out of her teenage years, she actually became very close with Maggie. Caroline's Mom did try to get clean several times though she was never really successful. Not that Caroline stopped loving her mother, but when push came to shove, she could count on Maggie. ******************************************************************************
Quincy was able to stay in the Army for many years after his injury. Similar to Frank and Trevor, he was able to reach the rank of Second Lieutenant by going to Officer Candidate School. Latasha continued to enjoy being a stay at home Mom, as Deuce, Nyah, and Gabe were her main priorities in life; for her, family was all that mattered. ******************************************************************************
"Son of a bitch!" shouted Kat for about the fourth time in the last hour.
"You're doing great honey," said Chris.
"You, you did this to me!" shouted Kat. The one good thing about a C-section with Jordan was that there wasn't all this pain and pushing. It had all be over and done with in about fifteen minutes, not forty-five minutes and counting.
"The baby's slowly coming a little further each time Colonel, as long as that happens you're doing just fine," said the doctor.
"Please God, please bring this baby soon," whispered Kat under her breath, "I can't do this all by myself.
"Another contraction Colonel." ******************************************************************************
Tim got the proper treatment for his PTSD. Even though he still loved with a lot of anxiety and the occasional nightmare, he learned how to live with it on a day to day basis. They were still close friends with Hector and Gloria and they were both even the Godparents to each other's children: Tim and Holly to Cody and Cara, and Hector and Gloria to Tim and Holly's daughter, Katelyn Elisa Truman, who had been conceived shortly after Tim had returned from treatment. Holly still believed that was the reason he truly healed. ******************************************************************************
"Big push for me Katherine!" coached the doctor.
Kat pushed with what little strength she had left, "I can see the head sis!" said Jenny happily.
With Chris's help, Kat reached down to feel the head of her baby. And that was all she needed to sum up some more strength.
"One more push Mom," said Jordan. And then there was crying in the room.
"Congratulations!" said the doctor happily putting the baby on Kat's chest. Unlike with Jordan, Kat was the first one to hold her baby and as she looked into the baby's brown eyes, it was love at first sight.
"What is it?" asked Chris.
Kat looked down to check and announced the gender to everyone, "Good job Mom," said Jordan kissing her.
"Thank you honey," she said kissing her back.
"Great job honey," said Chris.
"Thanks," said Kat wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I'll go get your father and tell everyone the baby's here," said Chris and Kat nodded. ******************************************************************************
As for Charlie and Nicole, they both waited until Nicholas was three before they tried for any more kids. Sadly for Charlie, an abnormally shaped uterus made it difficult for her to conceive though Nicole didn't back down on her promise on carrying the kids. Nicole was able to conceive via a sperm donor and the two women were thrilled to have another baby. At the first ultrasound, much to both Charlie and Nicole's shock, the couple found out that Nicole was expecting twins. Six months later, Hannah Nicole and Alyssa Charlotte Galassini-Mayfield made their appearances into the world though poor Nicole did have to go through severe morning sickness and an intense labor to bring their daughters into the world. But Charlie and Nicole loved their family and as long as they had Nicholas, Hannah, and Alyssa, they didn't have any other worries in the world.
Chris entered the waiting room where everyone was gathered to hear the big news, "Excuse me, David?" David stood upon hearing his name, "Would you like to meet your grandson?"
David nodded, instantly feeling pride over his little girl and her little boy, "Sure." ******************************************************************************
Blake and Tonya never did have any kids after Julia. As much as she loved their daughter, Tonya had made it very clear she did not want to have any more kids. Blake didn't mind though. After he got out of the Army, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a pediatrician so he got to see plenty of kids at work. Julia enjoyed spending time with Molly Sherwood and the Hansons were still very close with Frank and Denise. ******************************************************************************
Chris reentered Kat's hospital room, with David close behind him. David sauntered over to his daughter and gazed at the baby in her arms. He was chubby cheeked, with brown eyes, though for some reason had a patch of soft blond hair. Kat looked up from the baby to David and said, "He's here Daddy."
"Yes he is sweetheart," said David, "Future airman."
"Or attack helicopter pilot!" said Jordan to her grandfather.
By now everyone else had made it into the delivery room, and they were all oohing and awing over the baby, "That's a big boy," Emmalin commented.
Kat sighed and said, "9 lbs., 10 oz., and 23 inches long," she chuckled lightly.
"Was I that big?" asked Jordan.
"No," said Kat, "You were barely 6 lbs."
"My brothers and I were that big, "said Chris, "I think it's Richardson genetics."
Claudia Joy said, "So any ideas on names?"
Kat and Chris looked at each other and nodded, "Connor Luca Richardson."
"Well welcome to the world Connor Luca Richardson," said Michael. ******************************************************************************
And once they brought Connor home from the hospital, Chris and Kat had a very hectic life. Jordan went on to fly attack helicopters in the U.S. Army though she still became incredibly close with her half-brother. Luckily for Kat, all of the complications she had had with Jordan did not return with Connor. Both he and Jordan were her babies and she felt incredible love for both of them. As for Chris, he loved being a Dad and despite being on high alert with Kat shortly after Connor was born, once he realized she was okay, they all became one big family. ******************************************************************************
"And welcome to our family, because whether we're biological or not, we all look out for each other." said Roxy. And in a way, they really were a family.