Whatever Happens - Chapter 14

Riley felt nothing but searing pain. They said her delivery was proceeding very quickly, so much so that there wasn't enough time for any medications or an epidural. She cursed the pregnancy books that said the first delivery usually takes a long time, cause it seemed like this kid couldn't wait. And the fact that Danny still hadn't come yet made her upset on a whole other level. She loved Ben for staying by her side, but the plan had always been her and Danny doing this together. So when the doctor came in and said she was almost ready to start pushing, Riley closed her eyes and wished that Danny would hurry up and get there already. Instead she got another contraction and she was pretty sure she had just crushed all the bones in Bens hand, but it was okay, they were in a hospital. Once the contraction stopped she opened her eyes and couldn't have been more relieved to see Danny standing in the doorway.

"Danny! You're here, you made it."

"Of course baby, where else am I gonna be."

Riley felt Danny's hand replace Bens and she turned her head to look at her husband. Still in his hockey gear and all sweaty, and as she looked down,

"Danny you have no shoes on." she noticed.

"Yeah well I guess I was in a bit of a hurry, I ran the last 20 blocks cause the traffic was horrible. But I'm here now, so lets do this. Are we ready to do this?"

She couldn't believe it. He had ran all that way, for her and their baby. She was so in love with him at that moment, she didn't even notice that the doctor had gotten in position until she heard her say to start pushing. With Danny there now, Riley knew she could do this.

Once she started pushing, however bad the contractions were, was nothing compared to this. She screamed and pushed on and off for what seemed like forever. Finally she felt something come through.

"Okay Riley, I need you to really push now because the baby is being born in the breech position, meaning he's coming out feet first, and we don't want him to suffocate, alright. So push Riley, push." The doctors words frightened Riley to death, but then she heard Danny,

"Come on Riley, push, come on you can do it." and do it she did.

With two more big pushes the baby was out, but not crying, until the doctor slapped his little behind in mid air. The baby then let out a wail that made Riley's heart skip a beat. He was here. Their son was here. The doctor invited Danny to cut the umbilical chord.

"Oh my god, Riley, he's so beautiful."

After they took him to clean him off, Riley found Danny back at her side. Giving her a kiss on the forehead, he whispered to her,

"You did so good babe, so good. He's perfect."

Then it was finally time for what Riley had been waiting for, they placed her newborn son in her awaiting arms. Even though Riley had held Emma more times then she could count, this was a different experience completely. He was so small and purple, which the doctor assured her would go away momentarily.

"Hi baby, I'm your mommy and I love you so much. You're right Danny, he is perfect."

"Just like you." he responded. Riley lifted the baby, hinting to Danny to hold his son. She watched as Danny's giant hands wrapped their away around their little miracle, feeling a swell of love in her heart, and an overall feeling of completeness. She watched with joy as Danny stood there cooing at the baby, until it was announced by the nurse that it was time for baby's first feeding.

"I think that's my cue to go let everyone know what's going on." he said before giving the baby a kiss on his head and leaving the room, but not without looking back one more time Riley thought, just to check and make sure they were still there.

It took Riley a few tries to get him to feed but once he did, she never wanted to let him go. He finished and she burped him just in time for her hospital room to start filling up with friends and family. First up was Bonnie with Brad by her side. She swept up the baby so quickly you'd think she was trying to steal him. Then Ben wanted a turn with his new baby nephew.

"You guys, he's incredible. So what's his name? I don't wanna keep calling him little guy."

Riley had almost completely forgotten the deal she made with Tucker, all those months ago.

"Oh yeah, Tucker?"

Tucker stopped making faces at the baby at the mention of his name.

"What?"

"Dude, you're name suggestions." Ben reminded him.

"Oh yeah, about that, I totally forgot about that and don't have anything prepared um, but I'm pretty sure I can come up with something. Okay let me think," he said with a chuckle. Riley and Danny shared a look before turning back to Tucker, awaiting his ideas.

"Um well,"

"Tucker! That was the whole point of having you pick out some names. So we wouldn't be sitting here with a baby, and no name for him." Riley scolded. She was in no mood for her precious little baby boy to have no name.

"Well, I know you guys wouldn't want something tacky, like naming the kid, I don't know, Benjamin Daniel Wheeler right." he started laughing at his own suggestion.

"I love it." Riley said.

"Me too." Danny added.

"Its kind of perfect actually, naming my son after the two most important men in his life. And its fitting since Ben was here with me, when Danny couldn't be."

"And Ben is the one who got us together in the first place, and who married us. I think that its only right we use his name." Danny added.

Ben who was standing, still holding the baby, was in shock.

"Are you guys serious? You're naming your kid after me. I, I'm speechless."

He handed the baby back to Riley.

"Welcome to the world Benjamin Daniel Wheeler." Riley said softly to their newest addition.

"I couldn't be more honored that my grandson is named after my two boys, really I couldn't," Bonnie started, "but isn't that going to get confusing with two Bens in the family?"

Riley had to admit, she made a good case. What would they call their son if not Ben?

"How about Jamie?" Brad suggested.

"What?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, there's a realtor down at my office who goes by Jamie, but his real name is Benjamin. Claims it goes better with his last name, Hernandez."

"What do you think Danny?" Riley asked her husband.

"I like it. Hey Jamie, hey buddy." Danny said as he took the baby from Riley.

"Okay then, Jamie Wheeler it is. Has a nice ring to it, don't ya think?"

"Sounds like a perfect name to sell real estate." Brad joked as everyone laughed.

Soon after the nurse came in and informed everybody that visiting hours had ended. Everyone got one last look at the baby before they left, leaving Danny and Riley alone with their son for the first time. The nurse placed him in a plastic bassinette next to riley's bed and then left. Riley watched as Danny took off his jersey and the bulk of his hockey gear and climbed into the bed next to her. She snuggled into him as best she could, still a little sore. She started to doze off when she heard Danny's voice.

"See I told you we could do it. As long as we have each other we can do anything. Whatever happens, right?"

"Right." Riley replied through a yawn, "Whatever happens."