Winners for last week's poll are up on the DeGrassi Saviors website and new character polls are up. This week it's Bianca, Eli & Fiona. Be sure and get your votes in the poll will stay up for one week. Next week will be the last of the character votes and then we'll move onto couples.
If you're wondering where all the long stories are then you haven't been checking the calendars on the DeGrassi Saviors website. Also the home page on the website has been changed so check that out.
So today, as Tuesday's tend to be, was quite quite long leaving me little time to write. It's a short chapter unfortunately but let's welcome Velicity Rose Torres to the world!
Ch. 9 Our Baby Girls First Cry
(CLARE)
"What do you mean you don't think you have an hour?" Drew questions in a panicked voice through the phone.
"I just had another contraction and that was not seven minutes," I inform my husband between deep breaths.
"Well how many minutes was it? How long do we have? I'm coming just hold on, don't do anything without me," Drew says and I hear him quickly packing things up.
"I don't think it works that way Drew, Velicity isn't going to wait and I don't want you trying to rush home in unsafe conditions," I tell him.
"She's right dude it's brutal out there and if you try rush home you could be in an accident. We can do this, we'll take care of her, you sent us here because you trust us to take care of Clare so let us do that," Owen asserts remaining calm.
"Okay you're right but I'm staying on the phone as long as I can. I love you Clare and I'm right here," he says.
"I love you more," I smile.
"Okay Fitz what do we do?" Owen inquires.
"Why are you asking me?" Fitz questions back.
"Well you work in a hospital," Owen replies.
"As an orderly, I empty bed pans and bring people food, mop the floors. I've only ever been in the labor and delivery ward to deliver meals and I've never seen a baby being born," Fitz replies.
"Well we need to do something," Owen says.
"Why doesn't one of you call 911 back tell them we don't have an hour. If the ambulance is still going to take an hour they should at least be able to walk you through it," I tell them and then squeeze Owens hand as I get another contraction.
Fitz calls 911 again and out lights begin to flicker, we may lose power soon but Drew bought a generator a couple of years ago. If the lights go out that will come on.
"Okay just a sec," Fitz says into the phone and then covers the mouth piece. "Sorry Drew but I'm going to have to be between Clare's legs and looking, maybe reaching in," Fitz apologizes.
"Given the circumstances I don't care just take care of them and brig my baby into this world," Drew replies.
"I will, okay Owen prop her up a little, I'm going to wash my hands use sanitizer and you have sterile gloves don't you?" Fitz asks.
"Under the sink in the kitchen," I reply and then the lights go out.
Owen gets me propped up against him and a pillow, then the lights come back on because our generator kicked in. Fitz is still on the phone with the 911 operator and Drew is still on Owen's phone which is on speaker and sitting at my side. Drew just keeps telling me that he loves me and wishes he was here. It's a good thing Owen went through this just a few months ago because he remembers the breathing techniques. I hit another contraction before Fitz even returns and I squeeze both of Owen's hands to ease the pain. When Fitz returns I take off my pants and underwear with some assistance, and now I'm naked from the waist down.
"Oh this kid is very impatient," I screech as I get hit by another contraction.
"She's my daughter what did you expect?" Drew says through the phone.
"Shut up Drew you should be here goddammit, this is not how I was supposed to be giving birth to our first child," I snap at my husband while gripping Owen's hands as a contraction has me in pain.
"She didn't mean it Drew she just had another contraction, you should have heard all the things Paige said to me when she was in labor," Owen tells him.
"I still wish you were here," I lament as the contraction subsides.
"So do I Angel," Drew replies.
"Clare is right thought this kid is impatient she's starting to crown," Fitz says into the phone and to everyone. "Okay got it," Fitz says into the phone and then looks up at me. "Okay Clare the next time you feel like you need to push then push hard and I'll help guide her head out," Fitz tells me and I nod adjusting myself slightly and gripping Owen's hands in preparation.
After a moment I'm ready to push again, I bear down and push hard as I can. Fitz is telling me Velicity is coming and I can feel his hands down there helping guide her out. I squeeze Owen hard and he tells me I'm doing good while Drew just keeps repeating that he loves me. Then Fitz tells everyone the head is out and makes a few quick replies to the 911 operator.
"Okay Clare one more, ready push," Fitz coaches and I push as hard as I can. I feel Velicity come out and then I hear her cry!
"I hear her, I hear her that's my baby girl!" Drew says excitedly through the phone.
"Owen hand me a towel we need to clean her," Fitz tells him while Drew and I are relishing in the sound of our daughters cries. Owen lets me go with one hand to hand Fitz a clean towel. I'm just breathing and relaxing for the moment, I know I'm not totally done yet but I need a moment to relax. "She's beautiful Clare just gorgeous, relax a few moments and we'll push out the placenta, the ambulance is about ten minutes out," Fitz says and I nod.
"I'll make you guys at the hospital, I'll do whatever it takes to get there, safely and in one piece. I love you Clare," Drew tells me through the phone and I hear him walking again.
"I love you more, be careful and I'll see you at the hospital," I reply and we hang up with him so he can get to the hospital.
"Okay I know you're already pretty naked but we're about to get you even more naked. Owen take her shirt and bra off, prop her up on pillows you can help me clean her. I'm going to put Velicity on your bare chest and we'll wrap a warm blanket around you both. It will help keep you warm, don't try nurse her yet but if she makes suckling motions it's good," Fitz informs me.
"Okay," I nod. In whatever fleeting thoughts or fantasies I may have had over the years of Owen and Fitz seeing me naked it was not like this. I do feel slightly awkward being totally exposed but I'm doing my best to concentrate on the fact that I have a daughter now.
Owen gets my shirt and bra off pretty fast, gets out from behind me and puts another pillow behind me. Fitz has Velicity all cleaned off and he lies her on my stomach. It's an amazing feeling, the feel of my daughters skin against mine, so soft and small, this beautiful child with olive skin like Drew's and dark hair like his. I hold her close and Owen puts a clean blanket over us, up to my legs since things are still happening down there. Velicity isn't crying anymore, she's quite calm now that she's against my chest. Her lips begin to make the suckling motion and I feel more contraction although not as painful.
"Should we cut the cord?" Owen inquires.
"No we leave it, she'll deliver the placenta and we can move Velicity higher," Fitz replies.
"I'm contracting again, it doesn't hurt quite as much though," I tell Fitz.
"Contracting is good it will control the bleeding do you feel like you need to push again?" He asks.
"Yes," I reply.
"Okay you're ready to push the placenta. Hold Velicity with one arm, squeeze Owen's hand and push again," Fitz instructs. Owen moves up a little so I can squeeze his hand, I hold Velicity with the other arm and I push, careful to squeeze only Owen's hand and not my daughter. The placenta comes out and Fitz wraps it in a towel placing it at my side so we can move Velicity a little more. "Okay just keep the umbilical cord slack but see if you can get her to nurse. Owen make sure the door is unlocked so the EMTs can get in I think I hear the sirens. I'm going to clean her up a little," Fitz orders and Owen nods.
Owen unlocks the door and Fitz takes a towel to clean me up. The only thing I'm focused on is my baby girl, I reposition her a little and she latches onto my nipple. Owen props me up a little more putting another pillow behind me just as Velicity begins to nurse. There's a knock on the door and Owen answers it letting in the EMTs. Fitz moves away so they can get to me and they move very fast. First they take Velicity from me and look at her, quickly just making sure she's breathing and such I'm assuming. They hand her back to me and then they examine me between my legs. I hear them ripping open some packets and doing some other things while I concentrate on getting Velicity to nurse again.
"Fitz and I will follow you to the hospital," Owen says as the EMTs lift me by the sheet I'm on, setting me and Velicity onto the gurney.
"Okay drive careful," I reply.
The EMTs take me and Velicity out to the ambulance through the snow. When I'm in and we're secure they put another blanket on us, they hook me up to an IV while I hold my baby girl with the other arm. It seems to take a while to get to the hospital but maybe it's just the snow and being anxious for Drew and Velicity to be together. I'm taken in through the emergency entrance but then taken up to maternity, a doctor comes over and the EMTs tell him stuff very fast. I'm transferred to a hospital bed and the EMTs leave.
"Hello Clare I'm Dr. Temple it looks like both you and Velicity are doing well. We're going to cut the umbilical cord now and then Dr. Andrews here from pediatrics is going to have a look at her. While he's doing that I'm going to have a look at you. Since home birth environments can't be guaranteed to be stable we're going to take some blood and put you on a broad spectrum anti-biotic. It will be perfectly safe for you and Velicity and she'll get it through your breast milk it will help you both fight anything you might have picked up," he tells me and I nod. Just as they get ready to cut the umbilical cord Owen and Fitz come in.
"Drew just called he's parking the car and he'll be up here in a moment. We're going to call everyone and tell them Velicity has arrived," Fitz says.
"Thanks, both of you for everything I'm really glad you were both there," I smile at them. The smile back, Owen kisses my forehead then they live the room. They've cut Velicity's cord and the pediatrician takes her, Dr. Temple meanwhile is between my legs doing some things while a nurse puts another bag on my IV. Then the door opens and finally my husband comes in, he grins and rushes to my side.
"Hi Angel," Drew smiles kissing my lips passionately, "hi I'm so sorry I missed it."
"It's okay Owen and Fitz took good care of me," I tell him.
"I knew they would," Drew smiles.
"They also saw me naked."
"That's okay," Drew laughs, "it was for a good reason."
"Mr. Torres would you like to meet your daughter?" Dr. Andrews asks and Drew looks up with a huge grin on his face.
"Been waiting nine months for that," Drew says and Dr. Andrews puts Velicity in her dad's arms. Drew beams; he's smiling so bright there's actually a light emitting from him. "She's amazing, so wonderfully perfect and gorgeous she is so beautiful," Drew gushes over his new daughter.
The doctor finishes what he's doing and puts the blanket down; everyone leaves the room but Drew. My husband sits on the bed with me holding our daughter and we just gaze at her with wonder and pride.
"Hey we called everyone and the snow is letting up a little. We're going to head to Paige's parent's house. We'll come tomorrow weather permitting," Owen says as he and Fitz come in the room.
"Tell them we said hi and thank you both for bringing my baby into the world," Drew tells them. Owen and Fitz hug us goodbye and then they leave.
"We made an amazing baby girl," Drew smiles and then captures my lips.
"I love her so much, I love you both," I grin looking at my husband holding our daughter.
"I love you more Angel, and I love her so much there aren't even words," Drew smiles.
(DREW)
"I'm going to take a shower, I know people will be at the house to welcome us home," Clare says getting out of the hospital bed.
It's Monday evening and Clare and Velicity are being released from the hospital. They spend three days in the hospital but after the way Velicity came into the world they are both doing well. It snowed again on Friday so we didn't have any visitors I didn't even go home but Saturday the snow let up and I went home to get some things, I saw where my daughter had been born as the mattress and towels and everything were still in the living room. Owen and Fitz have been back since to clean it all up, they also came to see us at the hospital along with Paige, Jenna and even Paige's parents. Everyone that lives in the area has been to the hospital to see Clare and Velicity and they will all be at the house when we get there.
"Okay Angel I'll start packing up, enjoy the shower," I reply ensnaring her lips for a soft kiss.
She gets some clothes and goes into the washroom. Velicity is soundly sleeping in the hospital bassinet and hopefully she'll sleep all the way home so she'll be nice and alert for everyone. I get our stuff packed up and sign the discharge papers, by the time Clare comes out of the shower dressed and ready to go home we're ready to leave. An orderly comes in with a wheelchair, Clare sits in the chair and holds Velicity and they wheel her out. I get the car from the parking lot and get them. Velicity goes into her carrier car seat and Clare gets in the passenger seat then I drive us home. My mom is out the door before we even park and opens the backdoor to get Velicity.
"Give me my beautiful grandbaby," Mom says picking her up.
"You could wait until we get in the door Mom," I scold her.
"Well at least we won't have a problem getting her to babysit," Clare comments as she gets out of the car.
I grab our bags and we go inside to be greeted by friends and family. Owen, Paige and Andrew greet us first and six month old Andrew gets his first look at Velicity. He grins and coos and we all smile. Peter, Darcy and Krystan greet us next; Krystan is much more fascinated by Velicity and follows my mom to the sofa so she can sit by her. Fitz and Jenna hug us next, then Paige's parents greet us. Glen hugs us and says Jake wants lots of pictures of his niece. Adam and Ash hug us and Adam says Eli wants lots of pictures. Spinner, Emma, Jay, Dallas and Bianca all say help before we sit down.
There's food and I make sure Clare eats. Velicity is awake and nearly everyone takes a turn holding her. Everyone gushes about her, says how beautiful she is and I just sit back with pride looking at my perfect baby girl. When she starts to fuss Adam feeds her, my mom changes her and Krystan keeps asking to hold her baby cousin. It's nice to see everyone but after a few hours Clare's getting tired and we need to get Velicity to bed. By ten everyone but my parents are gone.
"You guys should get to bed, we'll clean up," Mom says reluctantly handing Velicity to me.
"Thanks Audra, I spent the last four days barely leaving my hospital bed but I'm exhausted," Clare yawns hugging my mom.
"That's because it's exhausting Honey, get as much rest as you can because sleep will be a rare commodity for the next several months," Mom tells us.
We bid my parents goodnight and go upstairs, both of us get Velicity ready to sleep. Changing her, getting her into her pajamas and then Clare breast feeds her in the rocking chair in our room. Clare burps her and then I swaddle Velicity and put her in the bassinet at the foot of our bed. Clare and I get ready for bed and fall right into bed very tired. We're woken up a couple of hours later by Velicity crying Clare groans and I kiss her lips softly.
"I got this you just sleep," I tell her.
"I love you," Clare smiles sleepily.
"But I love you more Angel as always," I reply getting out of bed.
I pick Velicity up and take her out of the swaddling blanket to hold her against my chest. She calms down a bit but is still fussing, I take her downstairs to heat a bottle. Clare used the breast pump the whole time we were at the hospital so we have several bottles of breast milk in the fridge. We also have formula just in case we need it. While I heat the bottle in the bottle warmer I lightly bounce my body to soothe Velicity. Then I take the bottle and my daughter to the sofa sitting down and putting her in my lap. I test the bottle and then hold Velicity in my arm to feed her. She latches onto the bottle and starts suckling, I just love to watch her.
"I love you Velicity Rose, so very much. Eight years ago your mom kissed me out of anger and that kiss brought me the love of my life and the miracle of you."
Look it didn't end on a cliffhanger! The next update will be Sunday and will begin with Owen and Paige's wedding.