Ellen giggled softly as a determined kick came, and Phillip exhaled in joy, "Oh, lords, she's so much stronger than before! Are you growing all healthy, baby girl?", and a kick came once more...
"She's happy...She is barely hearing us right now as she's four months along, but she's kicking...", Ellen smiled tearfully...Phillip nodded, kissing Ellen on the lips happily as he is crying tears as well, "We did a wonderful miracle, Ellen...Our wonderful miracle...", rubbing her baby bump, feeling little kicks now than the strong kicks...
Ellen chuckled, "I think the strong kicks were our attention-grabbing attempt, and now she's getting sleepy...Are you sleepy, darling?", and a little kick answered her, and Ellen smiled, "Are you okay with us getting busy?".
Another little kick came once more, and Phillip chuckled, "She's a smart one...Do you want a lullaby, baby girl?", and another little kick...Ellen and Phillip smiled at each other, and they tenderly, lovingly sang her favorite lullaby, rubbing and kissing the baby bump, and soon enough, Ellen felt content...
She smiled, "I think she's deep asleep now...", and Phillip nodded, "Me too...I can't wait for the next several days, to feel and hear her once again...".
Ellen kissed him on the lips, "Me too...", with a loving smile before raising an eyebrow, "I'm not finished yet. Make me come.", and Phillip gave a laugh, "Yes, ma'am.", before gladly resuming his loving on his wife.
Indeed, the next several days were wonderful, with Ellen's baby bump growing bigger and bigger, with Mary Jane stronger and healthier, having so many tender moments of marveling in each milestone, and before they knew it, it was finally their anniversary date, and Jean has arrived for the birth which would surely happen any hour now...
Ellen and Phillip are relaxing on the porch bench swing, on the balcony overlooking the view of the descending sunset upon the sea, drinking hot chocolate while Jean is making dinner.
Ellen has been feeling aches and pains, but not as frequent yet, and she can feel the familiar pressure on her hips, and no signs of the water bag breaking yet, but she is patient as she knew that Mary Jane is smart, waiting for the right moment to announce her arrival.
"You alright?", Phillip asked her as she nodded. "I'm alright... should be any hour at this point.", Ellen told him as he nodded, "She's a smart one... compared to what she was before...".
"True. Before she was just a normal baby... now... she's got much more of a conscience; she knows what's going on and can understand us perfectly.", Ellen smiled happily and tenderly as she stroked her baby bump.
Phillip smiled softly, "And you're ever more beautiful, my heart of my life...You are a picture of perfect health, and if those doctors from that day is seeing you, they would have been having heart attacks or something...".
Indeed, even with the pills and everything in the hospital, Ellen was pale and sick and such that she barely looked like she was seven months along, but this, right now, it's like 10/10 ultimate health, and her baby bump is far bigger, looking like it's about to pop...yet to Phillp's eyes, his wife's the most beautiful person ever, carrying their completely perfect daughter, all thanks to their other perfect daughter, Jean.
Ellen chuckled, "Let's not really remember all that... I know it's impossible to forget, but... we finally have her and hopefully we'll keep her, and that's all that matters to me... can you say the same?".
Phillip smiled warmly as he kissed her on the cheek, stroking her baby bump along her hand, "I can definitely do that...We do have a wonderful miracle, and we'll see her in your arms, drinking your milk for the first time.".
"Almost feels unreal... doesn't it?", Ellen asked as he nodded, "It's been like that the day Jean started hearing voices... for a minute there, I think we were both really worried she was losing her mind.".
Ellen smiled softly, "That was sure a crazy day, especially when she told us that she heard our thoughts, and she was right when she voiced our thoughts...Good thing Professor Xavier came in time as she was really scared about hurting us...".
Phillip nodded, "Especially when it was not something she didn't have easy control like her bike. She knew that hurting herself on the bike is in her control as she can feel better with our help, but that day...it was like I was tearing my heart right out when I saw her afraid and helpless...".
Ellen replied, "At least we aren't alone in this as we can compare stories with George and Skyler, along with May and Ben...", with a warm chuckle, and Phillip grinned, "I can't complain there, it's really nice to have friends who understand similar things.".
"Indeed. And it's really nice to have moments like this too...", Ellen rested her head on his shoulder, "The sunset's looking so peaceful and beautiful...", as they watched the sunset, with the skies around it changing colors, as the sun descended at last, and Mary Jane finally deciding to announce her arrival.
"Really quite the quiet paradise we have here...", Phillip said as Ellen gave a small groan, "Ellen?". Ellen gave a small painful smile, "Scratch that on any hour... I just felt her already moving into position...".
Phillip widened his eyes, "Is the water broken yet?", and Ellen shook her head, "No, but I think we better get inside...", with a small smile, and Phillip nodded, helping her get up, leaving their finished hot chocolate behind, walking slowly as Ellen took small moans at the mild contractions.
As they reached the door, Ellen gasped in surprise as she felt the water breaking, splashing on the wooden balcony just before the door, "Looks like she doesn't want to make a mess in the house.", giving a soft chuckle before crying out in pain as the incoming contraction is the first strong one, clenching into Phillp's shoulder as he opened the door, "Breathe, Ellen...".
Jean turned off the stove and covered the lid, running to her parents quickly, helping her mother on the other side, "Easy, Mom...", as Ellen took deep breaths, and asked, "I know it's out of nowhere, but do you want a water birth, Mary Jane?".
There was a brief moment before Jean nodded, "Yep... come on, Mom, let's get you into a tub. Dad, give me a hand with her.".
Phillip nodded as he and his daughter helped Ellen as she took deep breaths from the slowly increasing painful contractions, making it to the bathroom, with Jean telepathically grabbing towels and making the metal of the tub make a half portion of the tub horizontally and vertically, filling in the water fast.
Phillip helped Ellen remove her clothes and articles as she kept taking deep breaths from the painful contractions, and at Jean's check of the temperature, she and Phillip helped Ellen in, as she moaned in pleasure at the contact of the warm temperature, feeling better as the pain seemed to ebb away.
Luckily, Jean remembered what her father did back in the tunnels, and she checked, "You're not all dilated yet, barely 1/4 through...", and Ellen sighed lightly, moaning at the contractions, "Either my body is being normal, or Mary Jane doesn't want to rush me too much...".
Jean listened, and she nodded, "Mary Jane says it's both...She doesn't want to hurt you beyond normal...", and Ellen gave a small smile, "I don't blame her...This feels good...Mary Jane, if the water gets too cold after a long time, or if I'm not all clear yet, are you still good for a natural birth?".
A pause. "Yep...", Jean nodded. "Hopefully we'll not have to move you around anymore at least and this will get done quickly. Just need to be patient.", with a smile. "Not the first time I've done this...", Ellen chuckled. "At least this time things will go better.".
Phillip kissed her on the temple, "And we will have our baby girl, my love.", and Ellen smiled lovingly, "Indeed.", before moaning at the incoming contraction, and this took an hour before Jean sighed, "Water's getting into room temperature, and you're barely halfway.".
Ellen sighed deeply, "At least if I'm halfway, the contractions aren't speeding up between minutes unlike now...Let's get me out of here as I don't want us to freeze.", and the other two nodded in agreement, helping her out of the tub, and Jean turned the tub back to normal as Phillip put a warm robe on his wife.
She breathed deeply as gravity was heavy on her after the water almost floated her weightlessly on her back, and they slowly, carefully helped Ellen walk across the main floor of the treehouse, taking breaks on chairs or couch cushions, with Jean giving Ellen snippets of food and juice, with Phillip checking on Jean's behalf.
"Looks like the walk is working wonders. You got to a third of the way, Ellen.", Phillip smiled, and Ellen smiled, "Good.", eating the offered food from Jean, and after five minutes of rest, Jean asked softly, "Do you want us to walk you upstairs, or do you want me to hover us up?".
"Not to blame you, Jean, but I'd feel safer with something under my feet, and hands to hold me up...", Ellen gently looked at her, and Jean nodded with a smile of understanding, and they carefully, slowly and gently helped Ellen walk up the stairs to the loft bedroom, with pausing for a moment here and there as Ellen breathed deeply from a contraction.
As they made it a few steps into the loft bedroom, Ellen cried out in pain as the contractions sped up, "Oh, gods!", and they carefully yet urgently helped her into the bed, with Jean checking with a laugh, "You're almost there, Mom! Two more centimeters to full dilation!".
"Come on, Mary Jane... enough taking your time... I don't know if I can last too much longer...", Ellen admitted as Jean smiled, "Don't worry, Mom, you're doing great, I promise!".
Phillip loosened up his wife's robe for her to help spread her legs easier for the birth and held her hand as he knelt by her side, "She's right, you are doing way better than I ever dreamed, Ellen!", and Ellen smiled at his support and her daughter's support, happy to be surrounded by family than strangers or doctors.
Ellen gasped and groaned at the increasing, speeding contractions, biting her lip, for the next 10 minutes before Jean gave her a bright grin, "You're all clear! Push, Mom, you got this!", and she got a kiss on the lips by Phillip, and she took a deep breath, and upon the end of another contraction, she pushed, moaning and crying out.
Mary Jane helped her little body along as she squirmed and moved through the birth canal, hearing her family's voices, happy to be coming home, strong, healthy, and alive, so much alive as she can't wait to be in her mother's arms, to feel her daddy's finger in her little hands, and see her big sister smile at her.
"That's it, Mom, breathe and push!", Jean encouraged her mother as she took deep breaths, pushing on every contraction, squeezing her husband's hand, lasting for 30 minutes before she shouted out in pain at the incoming burning sensation.
Jean laughed, "She's crowning! I see her little top of her head peeking through!", and Phillip teared up, "Hear that, Ellen?! She's almost here!", kissing his wife on the forehead, sweeping her sweat-soaked hair back.
"Now, steady and good pushes, Mom. No affording to tear the skin.", Jean replied quickly, and Ellen nodded, leaning up, digging her feet into the sheets, and took a deep breath, and pushed steadily and hard, crying out in pain as she felt being stretched out by her daughter's emerging head.
Minutes later, Jean called out, "I got her head!", gently turning her baby sister's head over to the side, cleaning out her nose and mouth, whimpering quietly, "Push, Mom, for the shoulders!".
Ellen took a deep breath and pushed steadily and hard as Jean gently helped pulled Mary Jane out, and the moment the air hit her small nude body as Ellen fell back against the pillows, Mary Jane gave a hearty, loud wail of life, wiggling and shivering slightly, covered in fluids and bits of dried blood, and remnants of the water bag.
"You did it, Ellen! Look at her!", Phillip sobbed in joy as Ellen cried exhaustedly in joy and happiness, staring at her newborn daughter in her elder daughter's arms as Jean telepathically grabbed a fresh blanket and some warm towels from the kitchen, cleaning her baby sister as she gave away to soft cries.
Mary Jane opened her bright blue eyes at Jean, and Jean smiled at her warmly, "Hi, Mary Jane...Been a long time, but you're home, baby sis...", and Mary Jane cooed before giving a little whine.
"I love you too, Mary Jane. Let's bring you home into our mom's arms, eh?", Jean gave a tender chuckle as she shuffled to Ellen's other side, gently passing Mary Jane into their mother's arms, "Here she is, Mom...".
"She looks so different...", Phillip whispered as Jean nodded. "Well, that should be obvious, she's got a much better body this time around and it's not exactly the same one she had before... but she's still Mary Jane all the same, aren't you?", Jean whispered as Ellen continued to stare with a look of pleased joy at seeing her newborn.
Mary Jane gave an excited coo as she took her mother's finger, and Ellen gave a little sob, "Oh, Mary Jane!", kissing her gently on the forehead as Mary Jane babbled, her other hand on her mother's cheek, hugging her as much as possible.
Ellen breathed in her newborn's baby scent, crying happily as she kissed her daughter's little face, and Mary Jane babbled happily, and Phillip gently squeezed his wife's shoulder, "She's perfectly healthy, let her breathe, Ellen...".
Ellen backed up a little as they took in Mary Jane's adorable tufts of hair in cherry brown color, her skin a healthy shade of tan, her nose taking after Phillip's nose, just in feminine style, and having her mother's bright blue shade in her eyes, and her rose-shaped lips, and clearly healthy, having strong lungs and hands as she gave a happy babble, clenching into her daddy's finger.
Phillip sobbed happily, "Welcome home, Mary Jane...We missed you, baby girl...", and Mary Jane gave a coo, attempting to smile gummily, and Jean chuckled, "She says that she missed both of you too...".
"You look beautiful, Mary Jane...", Phillip whispered warmly with a fatherly smile, and Mary Jane cooed before her belly grumbled, and she whined, looking up at her mother, and Ellen laughed tearfully, "You finally get your first meal at last...", sliding her robe off her shoulder, bringing her newborn daughter to her breast.
Mary Jane gave a happy squeal as she latched into her mother's breast, suckling and closing her eyes in blissful delight, loving her mother's milk, nuzzling into her mother's warmth.
Phillip spoke, "Is she going to grow fast?", and Jean shook her head, "Nope, not as fast as the pregnancy, she's all yours for a good long time...", with a smile before adding, "I know it's a bit of a morbid thought to bring it up, but the moment she was born, her pre-historic documents and old body was destroyed including the gravestone, and the doctors only vaguely remember that day to only knowing of a random woman from the streets, losing a baby, not you guys, through you were there to pick me up at the hospital as my prior parents were distant relatives or something of the sort to you guys...Eden did all of that, with a bit of my mental abilities along...I hope you aren't mad about that as I don't want people to judge that you replaced this one with the previous one, even giving the same name and all.".
Ellen exhaled, "So, Mary Jane's new documents has her date of birth today and all since this is a home birth?", with a protective instinct, not wanting people to hurt her newborn daughter for being a demon or something out of judgement.
"Same thing we've done with the others; mostly just to hide trails and keep anyone from really looking into things. Only George and Skyler, for the time being, should have the most 'normal' circumstances when it comes to documentation. And even then, there's a bit of help with Genie to allow Skyler to function.", Jean explained.
"Social Security, medical records, that sort of thing?", Phillip asked as Jean nodded. Jean replied, "That sums everything up, and don't worry, Mom, Mary Jane is safe from any judgment. She's officially all yours. Just tell anyone if they're bold to ask, that Mary Jane was conceived in last year's December, and born on your anniversary date today which is true in a way.".
Ellen replied, "Just don't tell anyone about the magic. Got it...Thank god... Thank you, Jean, for making my worries go away...I don't ever want anybody to take my baby away.", with a relieved sob as she cradled Mary Jane as she suckled her mother's breast, and paused momentarily to coo at her, her little hand clenching into her mother's finger.