Hey guys. I'm sorry about how long it's been since I last updated this story. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, favourited, followed and reviewed since I posted the last chapter, it means a lot. I had been struggling to write another chapter before the newest little Dawson arrives but I couldn't make it work so I'm skipping it and you get to meet them now. And if you've read another of my stories you might have already met them! Oh, side note: How weird that I named Sylvie's new partner on ambo Emily in my story, then her new partner on the show itself ends up being called Emily too? Derek Haas, are you reading?!

I hope you enjoy this. I needed to give Antonio (and Eva) some happiness after the last episode of PD. This chapter is more snapshot-y than usual, but I wanted something light after the drama of the twins' birth!

Chapter 21

"Antonio, baby. I love you to death but you're driving my crazy. Please take a walk or something. I promise I won't have the baby before you get back."

Sylvie reached up and cupped her husband's face. He smiled bashfully. It was endearing, really, how eager and attentive he was being towards Sylvie, but his nervous energy wasn't helping her relax at all. She was the one in labour, and yet he was the one that seemed the most stressed. She understood, but she would be here for hours yet and needed a calm birthing partner by her side, not a jittery agitated one.

Antonio kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry. I'm being a pain in the ass, aren't I?"

Sylvie smiled. They both knew the answer to that one but she didn't say anything. "I love you" she said instead. "Go and get a coffee and some fresh air. I'll still be here."

The new young receptionist tried to turn them away when they arrived after learning that Sylvie had only felt her first contraction 40 minutes ago. Sylvie knew it was standard practice to wait at home until the contractions were closer together, that there wasn't any real need to be in hospital at this stage with a relatively low risk pregnancy like hers, but Sylvie refused to budge.

"Last time, I gave birth to twins on my living room floor in the middle of a thunderstorm" she said, hands on hips and a look of determination on her face. "I almost died. I'm going nowhere." It was only a slight exaggeration, but it had the desired affect and the girl scuttled off to find a midwife. When this was over Sylvie would find the girl and apologise. But she didn't regret it, not at the moment. She couldn't go through the kind of birth she had with Matty and Gabe again, she wasn't taking any risks.

Antonio was relieved when Sylvie said they should head straight to the hospital. When she woke up and felt a familiar pain, she shook him awake and whispered that she thought it was time. He bolted out of bed and Sylvie watched him scurry about with amusement. Her bag was packed and the twins were bundled off to nursery with Gabby in no time and they were on their way. Since they had got to the hospital Antonio hadn't left her side. "I'm not missing the birth of any more of my kids" he said. It was good enough for Sylvie.

"Believe me, I've seen fathers much worse than this." The midwife, Michelle, made small talk as she drew Sylvie's blood. "At least he hasn't passed out or vomited. You'd be surprised how often that happens."

'I probably wouldn't' Sylvie thought. Considering her profession, she had a pretty good idea. But she just smiled and lay her head against the pillow. She closed her eyes, relishing the relative calm of the side room now that Antonio's footsteps were gone. "I just need a bit of a break. But I don't mind, not really. Last time was… traumatic. He wasn't with me. It wasn't his fault but he feels terrible about it, he just wants to make it up to me this time."

"This one isn't your first?" Michelle labelled the vial and threw the needle in the sharps bin on the side.

"No. My third. Second pregnancy" Sylvie corrected, but faltered when she realised her mistake. That wasn't quite true. But today was a happy day, she didn't want to think about that. She placed her hands on her belly. "But he or she is Antonio's fifth. He's such a great father."

"Whether it's your first baby or your tenth, I don't expect it feels any less special" Michelle said.

"Some women really have ten? God. This is it." Sylvie paused, sure that she said something similar after the boys were born. "Probably."

"If you use your emergency credit card to buy a plane ticket, I'm taking it away and you're paying back every penny" Antonio said sternly. He hoped that the glare he was giving his daughter translated over Skype. From the look Eva gave him back, he was satisfied that she felt just how much he meant it from New York.

"Dad, you're killing me. I want to be there so much."

"Sweetheart, you have exams. They're too important. You'll be home in two weeks anyway."

Sylvie had the iPad propped up on her knees and Antonio was perched on the edge of the bed with his arm around her. "We'll send you so many photos of the baby you won't be able to stand it."

Eva smiled although Sylvie could see how upset she was. "You better. I love you guys. Keep me updated okay? And give my new little sister a big kiss from me." Eva grinned, and terminated the call before either her Dad or step Mom could, once again, insist it might not be a girl.

Antonio shook his head and sighed. "Was I too hard on her?" he asked Sylvie.

"No, you were right. She needs to concentrate on her studies. She'll meet Ranger soon enough."

Sylvie grinned, knowing what effect the use of the nickname would have on Antonio. Boy or girl, Sylvie had a feeling the child would be stuck with it for life but strangely, she was okay with that.

"I hope we'll get to meet them soon" Antonio said. "It's been hours."

"You're too impatient, you" Sylvie said. She ruffled Antonio's hair affectionately. "She'll get here when she gets here."

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "She?"

Sylvie realised what she'd said and laughed. "Slip of the tongue. Eva's fault."

"Do you want a girl?" Antonio asked tentatively.

Sylvie put her fingers to his lips. "I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. Truly."

"Me neither" Antonio said. "Just checking." He squeezed Sylvie tighter and she lay her head on his shoulder.

"Still only 6 centimetres?" Sylvie said, exasperated. She was seriously beginning to regret the words she'd said hours ago about the baby getting here when they get here. She was tired and fed up and everything hurt.

Michelle lifted her head and shrugged. "I don't know what to say" she said. "But you're doing great Sylvie, I promise."

There was a knock at the door and a familiar face popped up at the window. Diego entered and immediately went to give Sylvie a hug. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I have a free period" he said. "I needed to see you."

"You didn't have to come all the way over here" Antonio said. "You're not missing much. At this rate there'll be no more signs of the baby by the time school's out."

Sylvie narrowed her eyes at her husband. He was jinxing it big time.

"I brought you these" Diego said. He put the helium filled balloons down on the chair in the corner. There were elements of pink and blue. He was hedging his bets. "I wanted to bring flowers but apparently they're not allowed."

"Thank you" Sylvie said. "How's your day going?"

Diego suddenly looked downcast. "It's alright."

"You miss Liv?"

Diego nodded and Sylvie felt a wave of affection for her step son. She caught Antonio's eye and smiled. He looked proud.

"It's her Grandma's funeral tomorrow. She sounded so upset when I called her this morning, I just want to give her a hug."

"Come here" Sylvie said. She patted the bed the opposite side to where Antonio sat and Diego slumped down, dejected. "Olivia will be back in no time. And she has her family around her, she'll be fine." Diego nodded, but Sylvie could tell her words weren't making him feel any better. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "You're a great boyfriend, you know that? She's lucky to have you."

"I came here to see how you were and give you a boost" Diego said, making an effort to shrug off his own melancholy. "I'm sorry."

"Stop it" Sylvie said. "I'm doing fine. Your Dad's being great. The staff are great. Everything's going well, just slowly."

"Can I stay for a bit? I won't get in the way, I promise." Diego caught Antonio's warning look. "I'll be back in time for algebra, don't worry." Diego moved the balloons to the floor and flopped down in the chair.

"Expecting any more visitors?" Antonio asked.

"I'm surprised your mother hasn't shown up" Sylvie said, but realised what a brat she sounded. "I'm sorry, I love her dearly, but…"

Antonio laughed. "I know what she can be like. But don't worry, I asked her to pick the twins up from nursey and look after them for the afternoon. I stressed the importance of them spending some quality time with their abuela. They'll keep her too busy to even think about coming."

"Sorry, sorry, I know what you said, but the boys really wanted to see you before bedtime and I couldn't help myself."

It was 5:15pm and Mrs Dawson lead the twins into Sylvie's room, speaking in an exaggerated stage whisper. 'You were saying?' Sylvie silently said to Antonio. From across the room when he scooped Matty into his arms, he mouthed 'Sorry' back.

"Mommy!" Gabe took a running jump and landed on the bed with a thud.

"Shh" Sylvie said, kissing him on the head. "You have to be quiet or they'll throw you out."

It was hard enough getting the ward staff to let the boys in in the first place, but being 'one of them' had its advantages. Sylvie knew enough people around the hospital that someone somewhere pulled some strings. "Ten minutes only" Dr Hammond said, looking disapprovingly over the top of his glasses.

"How are you feeling?" Camila Dawson leant down and gave Sylvie a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm tired" Sylvie said, but she smiled. There was no denying that seeing her boys had lifted her spirits. Antonio sat back down on the bed and Matty wriggled out of his father's arms to his mom.

"Is the baby coming?" Matteo asked. He put his little hand gently on Sylvie's tummy.

"Yep" she said. "Are you excited?"

Both boys nodded enthusiastically. Sylvie knew that this enthusiasm wouldn't last, when there was a tiny baby screaming the house down and monopolising all of their parents' time, but in the past weeks and months Sylvie had seen how eagerly the twins helped with the nursery and told anyone who would listen they were going to be big brothers. Since the day she had first told them there was going to be a new baby in the family she had seen glimpses every day or what great brothers they'd be. "If it's a girl, so help her future boyfriends" Antonio had joked over dinner one night. Sylvie had laughed, knowing with certainty how protective they would be whether they had a brother or a sister.

"When?" Gabriel asked, kneeling up so his face was level with Sylvie's.

"Not tonight, but soon. And when you meet your little brother or sister you can bring your special presents." Gabriel smiled, proud that he and his brother had been given the very important job of giving the baby their very first teddy bears.

Sylvie brushed Matty's hair out of his eyes and gave him a kiss in the forehead, then she kissed Gabe too. She was exhausted, it had been a long day, and she didn't really have the energy for the boys even for ten minutes. But on the other hand, seeing them fortified her. She was overwhelmed every day by just how much she loved them and knew she'd love this baby just as much.

"Ah." Sylvie screwed her face up in pain and gritted her teeth. Another contraction. The boys looked at her with alarm. As quick as a flash Antonio swept them both of the bed and into his arms.

"Mommy's ok boys, but she needs to rest. Say goodbye."

Over Antonio's shoulders, the twins waved at her and she blew them kisses, trying her best to smile. Camila followed Antonio out. "Good luck" she said, then closed the door.

"Son of a bitch" Sylvie said, when it was only her and Michelle left in the room. "That was a strong one. Spectacularly bad timing though, I think I scared them."

Michelle smiled. She placed another pillow behind Sylvie's back to try and make her comfortable. "They'll be alright. Let's just worry about you and this one ok?"

Antonio came back in the room and resumed his post by Sylvie's side, gripping her hand hard as if he was the one in pain. "Another contraction?" he asked. Sylvie nodded weakly.

"Are the twins ok?"

"They're fine. Concentrate on you, sweetheart, let us worry about everything else."

Michelle looked up from the chart. "That's what I said."

There was a quiet tap at the door and it opened slowly. Kent peeped her head around the door. It was late. Antonio was sitting by Sylvie's bed on a plastic chair and he had his head resting on the mattress, asleep. Sylvie wished she could rest, but fat chance of that when she was this uncomfortable.

"Hey" Em said, closing the door. She spotted Antonio and laughed.

Sylvie rolled her eyes but stroked Antonio's hair affectionately. "I'm glad someone can sleep" she said.

"How are you doing? We just did our last run, I'm about to get off shift, I thought I'd come to see if there was a baby yet."

"Not yet" Sylvie said. "I feel like I've been in labour for days."

"Can I get you anything?"

Sylvie shook her head. "A healthy baby would be nice. She's taking her sweet time."

Em raised an eyebrow. "She?"

"Don't ask. Could be. With Eva off at college God knows I could do with some female energy in the house." Sylvie rubbed her stomach. "But I don't care, I just want them here."

"They will be soon. I'll come and see you in the morning. Along with half the CFD probably. We're all here for you, and we can't wait to meet the newest member of our family."

Antonio stirred and the two women watched him with amusement. He sat bolt upright, disorientated but ready for action and wiped his hair out of his face. "What's happening? What did I miss?"

Sylvie laughed. "Nothing baby."

"Hey" Antonio said, finally realising they had company. "I'm sorry, I must have dosed off."

"I've got to go" Emily said, hugging her friend and former partner tight. "You'll be amazing." She turned to Antonio. "Look after her, alright? She deserves it."

Antonio didn't take his eyes off his wife when he replied. "Of course I will. She deserves everything."

When they were alone, Antonio put his arm around Sylvie. "I'm sorry I was sleeping. I didn't mean to. I'm here, I'm awake, whatever you need."

Sylvie rubbed his arm and smiled at him warmly. "How about a back rub?"

At 3:38am the new midwife looked up at Sylvie with a smile on her face. Michelle had long since finished her shift. Honestly to Sylvie it felt like days had passed although it hadn't even been one and Sylvie was too tired to remember the name of the new woman who looked at her with kind and eager eyes. "Are you ready to start pushing?"

Sylvie fell back on the pillow, relieved. "Yes. Finally." But the relief was short lived. It may be over four years since she'd last given birth but she still remembered that it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. But this time would be better. This time her husband was by her side.

Sylvie looked across to where Antonio was standing nervously, rocking from one foot to the other. She reached out her hand for him.

"Really?" he asked stupidly, awe in his voice.

The look of disbelief he gave the midwife made Sylvie laugh. "Yes, you dope. Come and hold my hand."

The midwife busied herself getting everything ready as another midwife entered the room. "Ok Sylvie, whenever you feel a contraction just push."

'Just?' Sylvie thought, 'simple as that?' But her sarcasm was cut short but a surge of pain. She squeezed her eyes shut with the effort. She could feel Antonio's arm hand in hers and it gave her strength.

"I love you so much" Sylvie heard Antonio say. "You can do this."

And it was all she needed to hear.

"So, how was it brother?"

Gabby walked up to the nursery window beside Antonio, but he was too enamoured by the tiny little creature asleep on the other side of the glass to react until she slung her arm around his neck.

"She's so tiny" was all Antonio could say. He didn't take his eyes off his new baby daughter.

Gabby was touched by the look of utter joy and wonder plastered on her big brother's face that she gave him a peck on the cheek and put her head on his shoulder.

"I forgot what it's like" Antonio continued. "How scary and messy and exhilarating and wonderful childbirth is. Sylvie was a superstar." At last Antonio turned away from the baby to look at his sister. "How is Sylvie? Have you seen her?" His brow furrowed with concern for his wife, but Gabby smiled.

"She's sleeping. Don't worry."

The mention of sleep prompted Antonio to yawn. He ran his fingers through his hair and glanced at his watch. "It's been a long night. I can't believe it's morning already. You must have got up early, it's not even light yet."

Gabby shrugged. "I left Matt in charge of getting Ruby to nursery, I wanted to be here." Now Gabby stared at her niece and a smile crept onto her face. "She's beautiful."

Antonio beamed. "Like her mother."

"Does she have a name yet?"

Antonio shook his head. "Not yet. When Sylvie wakes up, we'll spend some time together, the three of us, and decide."

The baby stirred in her sleep and stretched out her arms before settling again. Antonio thought she was flawless. He watched her breathe, her little chest rose and fell and it hypnotised him. It wasn't so long ago that the twins were newborn and he remembered spending hours in their nursery in the small hours just watching them breathe. He loved them, of course he did, but as he watched his new little girl sleep, what he felt was subtly different. There was something about fathers and daughters, he reasoned. With Eva so far away he had come to realise that more than ever.

"Eva will be thrilled" Gabby said, her timing strangely apt.

"Yeah, she will" Antonio said. "I've not called her yet. We wanted to do it together and Sylvie needs to rest."

Sylvie wasn't usually a light sleeper, but the gentle touch of Antonio's lips to her forehead was enough to rouse her from her dreams. Tucked up in the crisp white hospital sheets she felt happier and more rested than she had in a while, but had no desire to sleep any more. She wanted to get on with this new chapter of her life.

"Good morning beautiful" Antonio said. He hovered over her bed, his eyes shining. "How are you feeling?"

"Good" Sylvie replied. "The pain meds they gave me haven't worn off yet." She heaved herself up into a sitting position and Antonio, as attentive as ever, duly plumped her pillow and propped it up behind her. "How is our girl?"

"Tiny but perfect." Antonio took Sylvie's hand and kissed it. "See for yourself."

A porter wheeled the baby's crib into Sylvie's room and closed the door behind him, leaving the new parents alone with their baby for the first time.

A grin spread across Sylvie's face that was as wide as the ocean, and tears sprang to her eyes. She would never forget the first time she held Gabriel and Matteo, how she felt when it hit her that she was a mother for the first time. The feeling was incomparable and overwhelming. But their entrance into the world had been so traumatic, and although Gabby and Matt and Eva had been there, without Antonio at her side she had felt alone. This was more how she'd imagined it and it felt right.

She watched silently as Antonio scooped the pink little bundle up in his arms and gently lowered her into Sylvie's lap. "Hey baby girl" she said. Her daughter slept on, oblivious to the surge of emotion her mother felt from holding her in her arms. Sylvie leant down and kissed her soft downy head.

Antonio watched on, filled with pride. "Eva was right" he said, grinning. "We'll never hear the end of it."

"I have a confession to make. I knew too. I mean, I didn't know know" Sylvie backtracked. "But I knew." She smiled and looked at her husband. "What time is it? We should call Eva and Diego. I bet they're dying for news."

"It's just gone 7. Neither of them are morning people but I'm sure they wouldn't mind being woken up for this."

Sylvie cupped her daughter's head and lifted her into her arms for a cuddle. "She needs a name first" Sylvie said. "We should announce her entrance into the world properly."

Antonio was by her side, perched on the edge of the bed. He lifted the baby's hand and she instinctively gripped his finger. "I guess we can't put Ranger on her birth certificate."

Sylvie raised her eyebrow. "No, we can't. Any ideas?"

Eva answered the video call before the first ring had finished and the image of his daughter that appeared on the screen was one of jittery anticipation. Antonio held the iPad close to his face to he was the only one on the screen. "Morning Sweetie" he said casually, knowing how maddening Eva would find his nonchalance.

"Dad" she protested, "I'm dying here."

"Do you want to meet your sister?"

The scream that emanated out of the iPad speaker was so loud that Antonio had to hold it at arms length. He cast an anxious look at the baby in case it had disturbed her, but she slept on. "Yes!" was Eva's reply once she'd regained some composure.

"Hey Eva" Sylvie said, and all the way from New York, Eva's smile was almost as big as her own.

"Hello" Eva said, brightly enough but she was distracted. Antonio couldn't tease her anymore.

Antonio angled the camera away from him to the baby lying peacefully in her crib beside Sylvie's bed. "Here she is" he said. He held the iPad above the cot to allow Eva to get a good long look at the baby and could hear the faint sobs coming from the other end of the call. When Antonio looked at the screen again Eva was wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dressing gown.

"I can't wait to meet her" she said, as if it wasn't obvious. "I love her so much already."

Antonio and Sylvie shared a look as Antonio settled onto the bed and held the iPad steady. "You're not the only one."

"Does she have a name yet?" Eva asked.

"Yes" Sylvie said. "And we wanted you to be the first person we told."

"Stop it, you'll make me cry" Eva said, but it was perfectly obvious she was already crying.

Antonio faced the camera towards the crib again. "Eva, meet Christina. Christina Noelle Dawson."

Sylvie had finished feeding Christina later that morning and now the baby dosed in her arms, milk-drunk and peaceful. She marvelled at her and felt her heart soar, but at the same time a wistful sadness lingered. It was silly, and Sylvie tried to push it aside.

Antonio came back from talking to his mother on the phone and closed the door behind him. "How are my girls?" he asked quietly. He kissed Sylvie and then Christina and sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"Did the twins get off to nursery alright?" Sylvie asked. "Please remind me to thank your Mom properly, I know what a handful the twins can be."

"Yes, they did. Don't worry about that, she loves it. She asked if she could come here and meet this little one. I said I needed to ask you first."

"Of course she can" Sylvie replied. She really did mean it, but forcing the smile onto her face was an effort. Antonio noticed.

"What's the matter?" he asked, shuffling the char closer to the bed.

Sylvie shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just exhausted, I'm being silly."

"Don't say that" Antonio said. "It's been an emotional day, you're allowed to feel whatever you're feeling."

Sylvie hesitated. It was supposed to be a happy day, it was a happy day. Her little girl was here at last and Antonio was by her side. And yet… "I feel guilty" she began. "I don't want to spoil today."

"You could never do that" Antonio said, and the look on his face gave Sylvie courage.

"I can't help thinking about the baby we lost" she said. "I know it's stupid. If… that hadn't happened, we wouldn't have Christina. But now that she's here I wonder about who that baby might have been if things had been different." She looked up at her husband with worry on her face, at what he might think of her and what he might say. But he put his arm gently around her.

"Oh, darling" he said. "It's alright to feel that way. It's okay to mourn."

Sylvie nodded. She should have known that Antonio would be nothing but understanding and supportive, even in her emotional hormonal state. But she shook her head and dabbed at her eyes, furiously. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I don't want to think about that. We have a new baby and she's healthy and that's all that matters today."

The look Antonio gave her was one of disbelief, but Sylvie shot him a look that told him, gently, to leave it.

There was a knock at the door and Diego's grinning face appeared at the window.

"Where is she then?" He asked. He went straight to the crib.

"Morning Sylvie, morning Dad" Antonio mimicked, sarcastically. "How are you?"

Diego looked up, the grin still on his face. "There's only one Dawson I care about today. Can I hold her?"

Sylvie smiled at her step-son's enthusiasm. He had more energy this morning than she thought she would ever have again. "Of course" she said. "Be careful."

"Don't worry" Diego said, in a sing song voice, speaking more to the baby than to Sylvie. "I remember." He lifted her into his arms, blankets and all and rocked side to side, watching her face and smiling.

"You're happy this morning" Antonio said, bemused. "Olivia's coming home today, isn't she?"

Diego looked up from the baby, sheepish. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean I'm not happy to meet this little stunner. Hi Christina. I'm your big brother." He leant down, brushing her forehead with his lips, and whispered, but loud enough for Antonio and Sylvie to hear. "Anyone tries to mess with you, they'll have me to deal with, alright?" Diego put Christina back into her crib. Now he went to Sylvie and gave her a hug. "How are you feeling? Or is that a stupid question?"

Sylvie hugged him back. "I'm alright. They're letting us both go home this afternoon."

"Shouldn't you be at school?" Antonio said, suddenly realising what time it was. Inside the walls of this hospital time was meaningless, but the world did continue on in the world outside.

"Absolutely" Diego said. He gave Sylvie a peck on the cheek and slung his back pack over his shoulder. "I'll see you all at home later." He stole one more look at his sleeping little sister and was gone.

"They're really gonna let us take her home?" Sylvie asked, leaning over the crib.

Antonio laughed. "As cute as she is, I don't think they'll want to keep her."

Sylvie stroked the baby's soft pink cheek with the tip of her finger. "I don't know why I'm so nervous. I know we've done this before. But it feels different this time."

"Yes" Antonio agreed. "This time there's only one of her and we know what we're doing." Antonio and Sylvie shared a look, but their eyes shone with excitement and humour as they both had the same thought instantaneously.

"I hope."