"Derek decided to take me on a little shopping trip after the ultrasound," Alex said. "Arabella was bickering with Philip again though, even though he's told them to stop it."
"Did she kick Philip in the sac?" Nick asked with a grin.
"That isn't nice!" Rachel said.
"Hey, he's the one who got her that way! You don't think he deserves at least one small kick in the testicles?"
Derek came into the room and pulled on Nick's ear. "Stop it. I don't want to hear anymore talk about kicking people in the testicles. Is that clear?"
"Fine! Lay off, ok?" Nick rubbed his ear as Derek let go. "Never thought you'd be pulling my ears."
"You deserved it."
Alex smiled and shook her head as she took a red baby dress out of a shopping bag. "Isn't this the cutest little dress?" she asked Rachel as Rachel looked over. "The baby's going to look so cute wearing this!"
"What's Arabella having?" Rachel asked.
"She didn't want to know. She's still talking about giving up the baby. Philip wants her to keep it, so she kicked him out of the room. The doctor did talk to Derek about her ultrasound though. I imagine that if the doctor told Derek what she's having, he'll tell him," Alex said as Derek and Nick went back and forth on the subject of whether or not Derek could pull his ears.
"Unless Philip doesn't want to know," Rachel said.
"Arabella might not want her dad to tell him though. She gets upset with Philip on and off so often. She'll be mad at him and then later, she isn't."
"Mood swings."
Third trimester - six weeks prior to due date
"Where's Philip?" Arabella asked when Nick walked into the room she was sitting in.
"He's with your dad in his office. What's going on?" he asked, noticing she was shaking. "You're not having the baby early, aren't you?"
"I need Philip..."
"Crap, you are, aren't you? Just stay right there, ok? I'm going to get Philip and your dad."
"Philip... I need Philip..." she moaned.
"I know. Just stay right there. I'll be right back with them."
Arabella started trying to get up.
"Whoa! Stay there, ok? It's not going to take very long for me to get them."
"I need Philip!" she shouted in his ear. She had a tight grip on one of Nick's arms.
"I'll get him, but you've gotta let go of me."
Her grip suddenly relaxed a few seconds later.
"Is the contraction over?" he asked as she sank back. Nick watched her nod her head. "Alright, stay there. Don't move. I'm getting Philip and your dad. And then you're going to the hospital."
"I don't want to go to the hospital," she said.
"You're going to the damn hospital."
"I don't think there's going to be time to get her to the hospital," Derek said. "The contractions are too close together."
"She needs a doctor," Philip said.
"It won't be the first time a baby's been born in the Legacy House, Philip. But we do need to move her."
"I take it there's no time to get a doctor here either?" Nick asked as he picked up Arabella.
Derek shook his head. "There's no time. Put her in one of the bedrooms."
"Never thought a woman's water would break while I was holding her," Nick said as he carried her up the stairs.
Philip froze. "Her water broke?"
Derek dropped a hand on his shoulder. "It's part of childbirth."
"Keep pushing! " Nick said. "Baby's almost out!"
"I can't..." Arabella whimpered.
"You can," Philip said.
"Shut up!" she screamed. "You're not ever touching me again!" She began making threats against his genitals.
"It's the pain talking," Derek said. "She's having a contraction." He stroked Arabella's hair away from her face. "You have to push now. One big push right now."
Arabella's eyes squeezed shut before popping open again as she pushed.
Soon, the sound of a baby's cries filled the room.
"Is the baby alright?" Philip asked.
"Well, she's got two legs, two arms, ten fingers, and ten toes," Nick said. "I think she's fine."
Arabella whispered something to Derek. He stroked her hair. "I know," he said. "I've known you were going to change your mind for a while now. You need to tell him that," he added, indicating Philip, who was quite distracted with his new daughter.
A sudden look came over her face. "Daddy, I don't think I'm done..."
"It's alright. It'll be over soon. I promise."
"Oh, crap, there's another?" Nick exclaimed. "I was right months ago but you said -"
"Nick, shut up and help her," Derek ordered.