I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Our daughter was home for two weeks, but it wasn't long enough. I tried telling her she couldn't leave again….she was gone for 4 months and that was enough,; but she didn't listen (which I'm glad for as she needs to finish college). She is back on campus today an starts classes again on Monday.
Sorry it took a while to get this one done. I'm still not 100% happy with it, but here it is. Also, the more I write this, the more I think I'm going to have to do 2 endings. One for the Babes and one for Zip. We shall see how it ends up. Thank you all for the reviews. I really appreciate them! Not mine; all hers; I just have fun.
"Zip. Justin, wake up."
Zip opened his eyes and saw Stephanie standing in front of him. It took him a minute to remember he was sleeping on her couch. When he looked in her eyes, he knew something was off. Sitting up, he grabbed her hands, "What's wrong?"
"I think I'm in labor. I keep having pains in my back and I can't sleep. I don't know what to do."
Zip sat up and pulled her down to his lap. "Tell me about the pain and how far apart?" He listened as Steph told him she'd been having pain for the past two hours and the pains were getting closer and harder.
Zip reached for his phone and called the doctor, "Hi Doctor Suchyta, this is Justin Ziprowski. Seems Stephanie Plum is having back pains and is in labor. She said the pains are about eight minutes apart."
"Can you ask her to rate how bad her pain in the back is?" Zip told him that Stephanie said it was an eight when it hit. "I'll meet you at the hospital."
Zip and Stephanie got ready and he helped her into his truck. He drove as carefully as he could with the road conditions but he could still hear Stephanie gasp every once in a while when he'd hit a slippery spot. He wanted to grab her hand and let he know all was okay, but he knew she'd prefer he kept both hands on the wheel.
When they reached the hospital, he helped Stephanie out of the truck and walked her into the desk. "I need to go and park the truck, I'll be right back." Zip turned to leave but was stopped with Stephanie grabbing his hand.
"Please hurry. I can't do this on my own; I need you there."
"Steph, I'll be right back. I'll find out what room you are in if you aren't here." He kissed her forehead and ran back out to move his truck. When Zip walked back in the hospital, he asked the nurse what room they took Stephanie to and ran up the stairs to find her.
"Oh good, you're back," she said when he walked in her room.
Walking over to her bed, he grabbed her hand and kissed it, "I told you I'd be as quick as I could. I wouldn't leave you to do this alone."
Doctor Suchyta walked in and smiled, "Couldn't let me get a good night sleep, huh? Let's see how you are progressing." Doctor Suchyta examined Stephanie and then took off his gloves. "Well, you are dilated to about a seven. If you want to walk around a little, it may help things move along a little faster, or if the pain is too much, we can give you an epidural."
Stephanie looked at Zip, "If I walk, will you walk with me?"
"You don't have to ask. I go where you go right now."
"I'd like to walk for a little bit. I really want to do this drug free if I can."
Doctor Suchyta smiled and nodded, "Take the walks, but keep it comfortable. If you need assistance, let the nurses know. If you change your mind on the drugs, just say so and we will do what we can."
Four hours later, Stephanie sat back on her bed after another walk and asked for ice chips. As Zip got them, the nurse came in to examine Stephanie and see how things were going. "How are you feeling?" the nurse asked as she put her gloves on.
"I'm okay. The pain is a lot more intense than I thought it would be, but I still want to do this drug free. Zip went to get more ice chips for me."
The nurse examined Stephanie and asked for the doctor to be paged. "Looks like your baby will be here soon. You are fully dilated. Don't push until the doctor gets here."
Zip walked in as the nurse said the last part and smiled, "Are we about to have a baby?"
Thirty-eight minutes later, Stephanie heard the most beautiful sound as Doctor Suchyta announced, "It's a girl!" and laid the baby on Stephanie's chest. Stephanie looked at her daughter with tears rolling down her face; she couldn't believe she was finally holding her baby.
Zip leaned down and kissed Stephanie's forehead, "She's beautiful, just like you."
"Do you have a name for this gorgeous baby girl?" the nurse asked as she attached a bracelet to the baby's ankle and one to Stephanie's wrist.
"Sophia Grace Plum," Steph replied without taking her eyes off the baby.
"That's a beautiful name."
"Thanks. Sophia was my paternal grandmother's middle name and Grace is my maternal grandmother's middle name."
Zip looked at Stephanie and smiled, "What a great way to honor them. Does Edna know?"
"No, I didn't tell her in case I had a boy. I didn't want her hopes up. I'll tell her when I call her later." Stephanie looked at the nurse, "What time was she born? I didn't hear."
"Well, I think twelve is going to be her lucky number."
"Why?"
"Do you know what today is?" the nurse asked.
"Yes, it is December 12th."
"It is. And your daughter was born at 12:12 pm"
Zip smiled and told Steph, "Yep, twelve is going to be her lucky number."
The nurse told Stephanie that they needed to take the baby to the nursery to do her hearing test and bathe her; while the baby was gone, Stephanie could take a shower and get moved to her new room. They agreed that Zip could follow Sophia to the nursery and stand outside and watch through the window.
A few hours later, after Stephanie had showered and was in her room, Zip, the nurse and Sophia came in. "Hello, Momma," said the nurse, "I think someone is hungry again."
Stephanie sat up in bed and positioned the pillows so she could nurse Sophia. After the baby latched on, Zip let her know he had called the office and let the guys know. "They all said to tell you congratulations and they want to see a picture of her. Les, Bobby, and Junior said they'd try to stop by once you are back home."
"I don't know how to do this. I've never taken care of a baby before. What if I screw her up?"
Zip sat on the side of the bed, "Steph, you say you had the worst mother. You know how you don't want to treat your daughter. Trust me, you can do this. Raise her the way you wanted to be raised. Let her soar but be there for her when she falls. You can and will be the best mother for Sophia. I believe in you."
Stephanie looked at Zip, "Thank you. I needed to hear that."
"And, as a bonus, you have me to help you and Sophia for the next four weeks."
"What? How? What do you mean?"
"When I talked to Tank earlier, he told me he put me down for paternity leave in the system. So, if you'll allow me, I'm here for four weeks to help you out."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Zip was going to be around for four weeks to help her and Sophia adjust. She had wanted to ask him to help her out, but was afraid that he'd turn her down or feel obligated to stay just because she asked. Sophia wasn't his daughter, but everything he had done for the past seven months showed her how a father should act.
She knew she needed to give Ranger a chance to be a father when he came home, but at this moment, she couldn't imagine how that would be. She questioned her feelings for Ranger, but also questioned her feelings for Zip. Without thinking about it, she realized she'd been falling for Zip and wasn't sure what to do.
Zip saw her expression change and leaned down to kiss her head, "Steph, don't think about it. Whatever happens, happens. I'm not leaving you or Sophia. If we end up just friends, then we are just friends. I'm not pushing for anything except for you to be okay and to tell me what you need or don't need. Okay?"
Stephanie unlatched Sophia from her breast and handed her to Zip while she covered up, "Can you burp her for me?"
Smiling, Zip nodded, and placed Sophia on his shoulder and began to burp her. He felt his heart skip a beat as he thought of what he wanted; he wanted to do this every day for as long as Steph would let him. He wanted to be Sophia's dad and help raise her; but he knew that had to be Stephanie's decision and that decision wouldn't be made until Sophia's real father returned.
When he looked back at Stephanie, he saw her eyes were closed. He gently moved off the bed and sat in the chair while holding Sophia. As he let Steph rest, he looked at Sophia and whispered to her. "I can't believe you are finally here. You have a strong mother who will do her best raising you. I hope to be around and help her out, even if your father does step up. I'll be there for you every day; even if you just need someone to talk to or when you and your mother get into a disagreement. I'll try to not take sides, but listen to you both and help you work things out."
Zip looked to see Stephanie's eyes were still closed. He lifted Sophia to his lips and whispered in her ear, "Can I tell you a secret? I'm pretty sure I'm in love with your mother. I just don't want to scare her by telling her that." Kissing Sophia's head, Zip cradled her in his arm and watched her sleep as well.