Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars. Warner Brothers & Spondoolie do.
Summary: Veronica goes into labor while Logan is away on active duty.
Rating: T to M (for later chapters) although this may be the last one.
Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews! This may be the last chapter of this story but if I get enough reviews I will continue. A line of dialogue was taking directly from 04x08: "Years, Continents, Bloodshed."
Veronica rolls over onto Logan's side of the bed. She reaches for him forgetting for a moment that his side is cold and empty because he's gone. Pony whines to be let out.
"Hang on Pony. Good boy." she mumbles drowsily as she sits up slowly. She'd always taken her petite size and agility for granted but now that she was nearly nine months pregnant she wished she hadn't because she moved at a snail's pace.
As if pregnancy hadn't slowed her down enough. The leg she'd broken in the car accident a few months ago had healed and the cast had been removed but it often throbbed and felt stiff if the weather changed or if she put too much weight on it. She didn't complain because she knew the pain in her leg was only one tenth of the pain her dad lived with every single day since his car accident.
For once she was glad it rarely rained in Southern California because the pain was worse when it rained.
She stumbles to the bathroom and pulls on a pair of sweatpants, which still fit but were a little snug and one of Logan's hooded sweatshirts. She puts Pony's leash on him, grabs her phone, and walks carefully down the stairs.
She's not sure how much longer she can walk up and down those stairs in her present condition. She hears Logan's voice in her head, "Be careful, Veronica."
"I always am," she answers aloud.
"Great," she mutters, "Now, I'm talking to myself. C'mon Pony, let's go," she urges the seventy pound dog even though he's already five steps ahead of her and whining impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming," Veronica says as she lifts the hood over her head and walks out into the chilly air of the early autumn morning.
Veronica's halfway home from her walk with Pony when she feels a sharp pain in her abdomen. She stops walking and Pony whines sensing something is off.
No it can't be. It's too soon. I still have some time. Logan's not home yet.
I'm not having this baby until Logan gets home.
At the thought of Logan she picks up her phone and dials his number. She tries to control her breathing so it doesn't sound like something's wrong.
"Logan, it's me. I really hope you're on your way home right now. Because I think I just had a contraction. I think the baby might be coming. Please call me as soon as you get this. Be safe. I love you. Bye."
Veronica's next call is to 911.
"I'm on the beach walking my dog and I think I'm in labor," she mumbles through gritted teeth as the pain intensifies.
"Stay where you are," the operator says calmly, "We'll come to get you soon."
"Can't wait," she says sarcastically, "I need to make two more phone calls."
Veronica manages to call Wallace but the pain is too intense for her speak in full sentences, "Wallace, please call Logan and my dad. The baby's coming."
"Did your water break yet?" Wallace asks, "I went through this with Shay, remember? If your water hasn't broken yet you've still got some time."
"I don't think so," Veronica says, as the ambulance pulls to a stop on the sand. "Wallace, tell my dad to come get Pony."
"Will do," Wallace promises, "Hang in there, V. See you soon, okay?"
"K." Veronica whispers. She doesn't remember getting into the ambulance or making it to the hospital. She only remembers the pain and she wishes Logan were there with her.
When the pain stops for a few minutes, Veronica takes a deep breath and looks at the nurse in the room.
"Is there any way to slow down the labor? I can't have this baby until my husband gets here, please?"
The nurse rolls her eyes but agrees, "We can give you some I.V. meds that may slow the contractions but your husband better get here soon."
"From your lips to God's ears," Veronica mumbles, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," the nurse smiles, "Buzz if you need anything."
Logan. I only need Logan.
Logan was freaking out. He'd gotten messages from Veronica, Wallace, and Keith. The baby was coming and he was still hours from home. He called Wallace first.
"How is she?" he asks, in a rush.
"She's hanging in there. She swears she won't have the baby until you get there. She made the doctors give her some drugs to slow the labor."
"Is that safe? It won't hurt her?" Logan asks, worried.
"They wouldn't have given it to her if it wasn't safe." Wallace assures him. Logan lets out the breath he's holding.
"Tell her I love her. And I'll be there soon."
He hangs up. The car still hasn't moved from the place in traffic on the freeway.
Logan prayed to both his mother and Lily that Veronica and the baby would be all right.
He's out of the car in front of the hospital before it comes to a complete stop.
"Veronica Mars-Echolls … She's my wife … She's having our baby," Logan says breathlessly as he stops at the reception desk.
Before the receptionist can answer, he hears Veronica scream, "Logan!"
He grins at the nurse as he runs towards the sound, "Thanks. That's my cue. I'm gonna head that way."
"Logan!" Veronica screams again.
I'm coming Veronica. I'm coming.
He picks up speed and runs down the hallway.
"Logan!"
"Tell me you're Logan," the nurse says as he enters the room, "Yes ma'am," he answers, "Thank God," she mutters, "She's been screaming your name every five minutes for the past three hours. She's been waiting for you. She refused to push until you arrived.
"Logan!" she screams as he turns the corner.
He finds Veronica in the hospital bed in the center of the room, wearing only a hospital gown. She's in the bed, eyes closed, lower lip bitten through and bleeding. Her body is drenched in sweat.
"Logan!" Veronica shrieks, as he places his hand over hers, "Veronica, I'm here. Open your eyes! Look at me, I'm right here."
He squeezes her hand, her eyes open slowly, "Logan?" she whispers, staring at him, uncertainly, her expression clouded with a combination of pain and exhaustion.
"Yeah," he replies, "It's me. I'm sorry it took me so long to get here, babe."
She finally opens her eyes, realization dawning, "Logan. You're here. I didn't want to have the baby until you got here. They told me I couldn't wait. They told me I had to push. But I told them to cuss off," she says her breathing quick and labored.
"Of course you did," he says, smiling, as he kisses her forehead, "Because you're the toughest person I've ever met. I'm here now. So what do you say? Let's have this baby."
Because you want children who will inherit her qualities.
As he speaks Logan takes off his shoes and climbs into the bed behind Veronica, letting her rest the weight of her body against him. "Sure. Why not?" she mumbles, turning her head so her face is pressed into his clavicle.
Those were the same words she said to him on their wedding day during their vows.
Logan chuckles, "That's the spirit," he encourages her, supporting the full weight of her petite form.
"But you're gonna get my sweat all over your effity white uniform," she points out, the words running together with the force of her exhaustion.
"Ask me if I give a cuss," he replies, pressing his lips against the damp, soft skin of her neck. "If you play your cards right, my Harvard mouth and I are fully prepared to show you some effing courtesy."
"Can I take a rain check on that?" she whispers, "I feel like I'm on fire. And not in a good way."
Logan beckons for the nurse, "Can we get her some ice chips and a cold, wet, washcloth please? Thank you."
The nurse shoots Logan a dirty look for being in the bed with Veronica, but she disappears for a moment a reappears with the ice chips and the washcloth.
"Thank you, ma'am," Logan says to the nurse.
"Cuss you," Veronica grumbles, "I'm not a ma'am."
"Not you, babe," Logan assures her, "Keep it 're about to become a mom," he says as he opens the washcloth and presses it against her lips, wiping away the sweat, saliva, and blood. "Are you ready?"
"I'll be ready for anything if you keep doing that," Veronica says, "It feels so good."
"I'm at your service," Logan replies, wiping the rest of her face, then her neck, back, and shoulders.
Another nurse appears and peeks between Veronica's legs, "I can't believe you haven't pushed yet." She glances at Logan, "You've got a tough one on your hands."
"She's the toughest human being I've ever met," he repeats, "Blows that would break most people … she just picks herself right back up."
"She's got some willpower," the nurse agrees, "She could've started pushing two and a half hours ago."
"Sorry," Logan quips, "That's my fault. I was late."
"Bygones," Veronica whispers, leaning against his shoulder."
"I don't know if you'll be saying that a few minutes from now," the nurse warns, "Veronica, when you feel the next contraction, I want you to push, okay?"
"Logan?" she calls out for confirmation.
"I'm here now, Veronica." He reassures her, "We're gonna have our baby."
"I don't think the task is equal," Veronica says, before she screams in pain from a contraction, "Mother cusser!" she shouts, over the nurse's voice, "On the count of three, I need you to push, Veronica."
She nods and reaches for Logan's hand and he squeezes it tight," You're doing great, babe. Thank you for being so strong and waiting for me. But you can push now, all right?"
"I'm so tired," she protests, "I don't know if I can do it."
"You can do it, Veronica. You can do anything."
"Everything hurts," she admits, as she sighs and leans back against him.
"I know," he says, rubbing her back, her shoulders, and even her sore leg, "Hold on, a little while longer and then you can rest." Logan kisses her on the mouth.
"You promise?" she asks.
"I promise," Logan assures her as he kisses her once more.
The nurse clears her throat, interrupting them, "If you two are done. I'm trying to help deliver your baby here."
"Sorry," Logan says, glancing from the nurse to Veronica, "You need anything?" Logan asks.
Veronica nods, "Will you call my dad and make sure he's got Pony? I tried to ask Wallace but I'm not sure if he got him."
Logan smirks as he dials the phone, "Hey, Mr. Mars … Keith … It's Logan … No, not yet. But she wants to know if you got Pony. Okay, great. Thanks. We'll keep you posted."
Only Veronica would worry about the dog while she's in labor.
Veronica looks at Logan expectantly as he hangs up the phone, "His exact words were tell number one daughter the dog is fine."
"Good," Veronica replies, "Can we go for a walk?"
Logan glances at the nurse who nods, "I don't see why not. Movement might help move the labor along. Don't go too far though."
He nods and slips his shoes back on helping Veronica to her feet, "I've got you," he assures her as he wraps one arm around her waist, pushing the I.V. pole out in front of her as she takes a few steps, "How're you feeling? A little better?"
Veronica nods, "I'm glad you're here," she says softly as she leans against him.
"No place I'd rather be," he assures her, he places his free hand against her belly, "Hey there, little one, it's Daddy. Your Mommy and I can't wait to meet you. We already love you so much. So come on out and join us whenever you're ready, okay?"
"Listen to your Daddy," Veronica says, as she stops walking, squeezing her eyes shut against the pain, "A little help here?" she says, as she bites her lip.
Logan picks her up and carries her back to the room, pushing the I.V. pole in front of him.
"I've got you," he repeats, as she buries her face in his shoulder.
"That was fast," the nurse says smiling, "Cuss you," Veronica mutters under her breath. Logan chuckles, "You'd better be nice to her. She's the one who will be giving you the epidural later."
"Sorry," Veronica whispers, as Logan helps her back into the bed while the nurse wheels her into the delivery room, "Logan, please don't leave me," she pleads, reaching for his hand.
"I'm not going anywhere, Veronica," he promises as he bends down to kiss her forehead.
As they enter the delivery room, someone hands Logan, a gown, a scrub cap, gloves, and booties, which he slips on over his uniform. They give Veronica a scrub cap too and Logan slips it effortlessly over her blonde hair.
"It's good to see you Veronica," another nurse says kindly, "I see your husband made it,"
"Better late than never," she replies, squeezing Logan's gloved hand.
Another nurse peeks between Veronica's legs, "It looks like you're fully dilated. Are you ready to push?"
Veronica meets Logan's gaze and nods, "Let's do this."
"When you feel the next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can, okay?"
Veronica nods and squeezes Logan's hand as the contraction washes over her like a wave.
"I'm so proud of you," Logan whispers, "I love you so much. "
"Veronica, take a deep breath and push again, okay?"
She pushes until she can't push anymore. She falls back against the gurney, exhausted. "Logan, I'm sorry. I can't do it. It hurts too much. I'm so tired."
Suddenly Logan's voice is in her ear, "I know Veronica but you've got this. You're almost there and when it's over we'll get to meet our baby. So, how about you give me one more big push okay?"
Veronica takes a deep breath and pushes so hard, her sweaty hand slips out of Logan's grip. He takes it again without missing a beat. "Oh my God, Veronica! I can see our baby's head."
"He's right," the nurse agrees, "Just one more big push, Veronica!"
"That's what you said after the last one," Veronica groans as she takes one final deep breath and prepares to push.
She hears Logan's voice in her ear again, "You're almost there, Veronica. We're gonna meet our baby!"
Veronica keeps pushing until she feels like she'll split in half. Suddenly she hears a loud cry.
"Congratulations, you have a beautiful baby girl."
Veronica turns to Logan, "We have a daughter,"
"We have a daughter," Logan repeats as the nurse passes the baby to him so he can cut the cord. His usually steady hands tremble as he passes the baby to Veronica, "Welcome to the world, Sedona Lynn Mars-Echolls."
"She's beautiful," Veronica says.
Logan nods, "She's made of marshmallows and promises just like her mom."