Hope you enjoy this chapter- It's been a long time coming for the rest of you to meet Baby Grant, and I'm happy the time is finally here!

Chapter 156- Desires Of My Heart

"Do you mean?" Nathan stuttered. "Do you mean the baby is coming? Now!?"

Charlotte nodded her head. "I think my water just breaking confirms this isn't my body practicing anymore."

"Your… Your water, what?"

"Oh, come on, Sarge. I know you paid more attention to that book than you're letting on right now. Don't you dare go fainting on me like Lee did with Rosemary."

"I know. I know. But are you sure? A few weeks ago, we thought you were going into labor, and it ended up being just a false alarm."

"Ooohhh!" Charlotte grimaced again. Her fingernails curled painfully into Nathan's hand. "I don't…" She panted through a contraction. "I don't think this is another false alarm. We better get back to the ranch." Her grip tightened. "We need to pick up Allie and get to the hospital."

Allie stood at the window- watching for movement at the end of the long driveway, straining to hear the sound of the car as it approached. Praying the reason her parents were late was they'd just been 'distracted' in the meadow and lost track of time.

No. Allie thought as she turned to look at the clock on the shelf. They had been gone most of the morning. It was a quarter after eleven. The game in town started in less than an hour. There is no way her parents would purposely be late for that. Especially since it was to celebrate Nathan's birthday. Something was wrong. She knew it in her gut and what was her dad always saying? Trust your instincts.

It didn't take Allie long to have Bandit saddled and ready to ride. She led the horse out of the barn and swung onto his back. Remi pranced anxiously ahead of them on the driveway, waiting for her instructions. "Okay, Rem," Allie said as she squeezed her heels into Bandit's sides. "Let's go find Mom and Dad."

The dog ran off down the road ahead of Allie and Bandit. It was as if she knew which direction Nathan and Charlotte left that morning, because without even being prompted, Remi turned left at the end of the drive, heading West, up the mountain and towards the meadow. They hadn't traveled far on the main road, before Remi started barking and ran further ahead, disappearing for a moment around a slight bend in the path.

As Allie rode around the corner, she quickly realized what, or rather who, Remi was alerting her too. Her parents were slowly walking down the middle of the road towards her. Nathan's arm wrapped around Charlotte's back, supporting her over the terrain.

"Where's the car?" Allie asked, dismounting a few feet from them. "And Dad, why are your pants covered in mud?"

Nathan groaned before answering. "The car is abandoned a little ways back up the mountain. I didn't see a soft spot in the road until it was too late. One of the front tires was pulled into the mud and buried up to the axle. I tried everything I could over the past couple hours to get it unstuck, but it was no use."

"If you would have just listened to me," Charlotte gritted through her teeth. "I told you about that soft spot and you still drove into it."

"Yeah… you told me about it after we were already stuck." Nathan growled in return, his voice rising to match his wife's. "And… For the record… If you would have listened to me in the first place, and we would have just stayed home this morning, neither of us would be in this mess."

"What is with you two? You're acting like children… or a bickering old married couple. I don't know which is worse." Allie scolded the two adults just before a contraction came over Charlotte. The woman's fingers dug into Nathan's side, curling into the flannel fabric of his shirt. "Wait. Are you having the baby? Now?" Charlotte's moan was the only confirmation Allie needed as it set her mind racing. "But… If the car is stuck, how are you going to get to the hospital? You can't ride a horse in your condition, and we don't have a wagon."

"Allie," Nathan worked to remain calm as he rubbed Charlotte's lower back, trying to help with the pressure there. "Ride into town and fetch Faith and Carson. Have someone drive you all back up here. I'm going to try and get your mom to the house. We don't have much farther to go, but these contractions… They are getting closer."

"And stronger…" Charlotte added, finally catching her breath as the contraction began to subside. She raised her head then to look at her husband. Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes. "Nathan, this shouldn't be happening. Not here. Not now. We still had time. I wasn't due yet. I can't have this baby out here. It's too cold and dirty and…"

"Ssshhh…" He cooed, cradling her face in his hands. "I promise, you won't have the baby out here. The ranch is just around the corner, and I remember that book said walking in between contractions during labor is supposed to help."

Charlotte's face pinched. "A man wrote that book… How in the world would he know what helps and doesn't help? It's not like he has ever had a baby! I'd like to see him, Doctor Samuel B.- whatever his name was- walk halfway down a mountain in the muck while in labor. Then and only then will I listen to what he has to say!"

Nathan tried to hide his grin at Charlotte's growling frankness and sarcasm, but he couldn't, and a hearty chuckle escaped his lips. Thankfully his wife began to laugh with him about their situation.

"I love you. You know that?" Nathan kissed Charlotte's sweaty temple. "Just think, soon the baby will be here and your ten years of being pregnant will be over." Nathan joked, poking fun at their conversation from earlier in the meadow. As their laughter subsided, he turned to face their daughter. Nathan lifted his chin towards Bandit, signaling Allie that it was time for her to leave. She understood the cue and mounted the horse.

"I'll be back with help as soon as I can," she said.

"Hey, Al," Nathan spoke up before she could leave. He knew he couldn't hide his anxiousness from her, so he didn't even try. "Please be quick. But more importantly, be safe."

"I will. I learned how to ride from the best." She smiled, reining Bandit back down the road, they set off at a trot, Remi following close behind.

Since the contraction passed, Nathan and Charlotte began their walk again. This part of the road, closer to the ranch, was better maintained and they were able to keep an even pace as they watched Allie disappear out of sight. Nathan and Charlotte were just coming to the tree line at the edge of their property when another contraction came. By this time, Nathan had a way of sensing when one was about to happen, and he would hold Charlotte in his arms so he could better support her as the pains took over.

Leaning her head against his chest, Nathan heard Charlotte mutter something under her breath when the contraction finally eased. "What was that, sweetheart?" He asked.

"I'm sorry." Her voice came out in a snuffled cry, as she raised her gaze to him. Nathan saw the wet spots on the front of his shirt where her snot and sweat left their mark. "About earlier. I didn't mean what I said about the car and it being your fault that we got stuck. It wasn't. I should have known better than to go up to the meadow today. Looking back now, I think I was having some early contractions most of the night, but I just put it off as more Braxton Hicks. I should have paid closer attention to my body, but instead I pushed you to take me up there and now… Now, I'm scared, Nathan. I'm scared about what's going to happen if the baby comes before I can get to the hospital or even before Faith and Carson can get here… What if…"

"Hey… Hey… None of that talk," he soothed, pushing the pieces of sweaty hair back off her face. "I'm the one who has been scared in the past, remember? And look at me now…" Nathan lifted his wife's trembling chin. "Do I look scared?" She regarded him steadily then shook her head side to side. "That's right. Because I'm not scared. You know why I'm not scared?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "I'm not scared, because women have been having babies since the beginning of time. I know I'm not a midwife or a doctor, but I am a Mountie and that's got to be good for something." He tenderly kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment. "Hey, Charlie?"

"Hmmmm?" She hummed, enjoying the way his lips brushed across her skin as he talked.

"We get to meet our baby today. A beautiful, healthy baby. So don't be scared. I'll be here for you every step of the way. No matter what. I promise you."

She gave him a small smile that lasted the briefest of moments before another contraction began to build. Nathan spoke words of support to Charlotte as she breathed and worked through the pain. As the contraction lessened its hold, he looked over the top of his wife's head to see their house just down the driveway and he knew what he had to do.

"Alright, enough of this," Nathan said, sweeping Charlotte up into his arms. The little shriek from her let him know he caught her by surprise. "I'm carrying you home. The first promise I made to you today was that you weren't having this baby outside and these contractions are threatening to make me go back on my word, and I will have none of that."

Charlotte settled in close, wrapping her arms around Nathan's neck, she laid her head on his shoulder and buried her face into the warm crook of his neck. Quickly, but surely, Nathan's long legs ate up the distance between the edge of their property and the front steps of the house. He deposited her on the porch, just in time for another contraction to come.

"Sarge, I don't think you're going to be able to forget about this birthday anytime soon."

"No." Nathan laughed. "I don't imagine I will."

After the contraction was through, Nathan carried Charlotte the rest of the way upstairs and to their bedroom. He changed into clean clothes, and helped Charlotte get comfortable before leaving to retrieve all the supplies they may need for the delivery. By the time he returned and they prepared the bed with old blankets, Charlotte was in full labor. Her tears were flowing, mingling with streams of sweat coming from her hairline.

Nathan grimaced each time she would groan in pain. He couldn't stand seeing her hurt so much. His heart ached for her, but he knew he had to stay strong. He was torn between checking on her from the end of the bed and holding her to protect her from the battle she seemed to be waging. Nathan saw the strain she was under. Charlotte was pale and sweating profusely. She said little over the next contractions and he respected her silence. Stroking her tenderly and holding her hand when the pains came. Whispering tender words of encouragement whenever necessary. Telling his wife how amazing, beautiful, and strong she was. That he was there beside her and he would never leave her or their baby. Saying he wished he could take the pain away from her. And sometimes, simply saying 'I love you' as he kissed her forehead.

At one point, Charlotte leaned back on the pillows to rest for a moment in between contractions. She looked at Nathan, studying his face, trying to read it. She saw a bit of concern, but mostly she saw him in a state of- she didn't know what to call it- but he was in full Mountie mode. She'd never seen him like that before. Perhaps a little when he rescued her from Beck or they searched for Allie in the North, but she hadn't been focused on Nathan at that time. At present, he was solely focused on safely delivering her of their child, and nothing was going to take him from that. She was so proud and in awe of him.

"What?" He asked, noticing the smile upon her face. "What is it?"

"You. You amaze me, you know that? A few weeks ago, I said when the time came for the baby, we could not be in any safer hands than Carson and Faith, well I was wrong. I can see now that the baby and I are in no more capable hands than yours, Sarge. Thank you." Nathan didn't say anything, he simply turned to the basin full of water on the nightstand, wringing out the cloth inside before dabbing the cool water across Charlotte's forehead and cheeks. She moved her hand over his, threading their fingers together. "It's happening. It is actually happening, Nate. Can you believe it?"

"It's not how I pictured it." He answered solemnly.

"By now, you and I should know to expect the unexpected."

Their conversation met an abrupt end when another contraction came. Charlotte's eyes closed as she panted, focusing her energy on the baby. Her lips stifling the screams that wanted to come. One pain seemed to roll right into the next. Nathan stayed close by, giving words of encouragement, and administering what he could in advice and comfort.

"Push next time you contract. I think the baby is getting close," he directed after checking her. Charlotte nodded in acknowledgement, beyond words now. Her hair was plastered to her sweaty head, her cheeks crimson with exertion. Another huge contraction hit her, causing her hands to clench white into the material of the old blankets and sheets she lay upon. She drew in her breath sharply and pushed with all her might. "That's great, Charlie. You're almost there. I can see the head!" She moaned in intense discomfort. Taken by the pain. She emitted a base growl from deep within and gave another strong push. "That's it… That's it! You're doing so good, sweetheart. You're almost there. One more big push."

The last contraction brought their newborn quietly squeaking and breathing into the world. With a sob Charlotte collapsed onto the pillows behind her. So thankful that her work was done, and that Nathan's capable hands were there to do what was necessary for the new baby. A tired, but joyful smile couldn't help but appear on her face as she heard the child cry.

Nathan tended to the babe, speechless and in awe of what they had just accomplished. He wiped the newborn gently with soft flannel cloths, tied, and cut the umbilical cord before swaddling it in a towel. Nathan could barely see what he was doing; tears of joy were getting in the way. Happiness washed over him in consuming waves and all he could do was cry in jubilation at the gift that was just delivered into their lives. He was at a loss for words and unable to speak, a euphoric smile and open weeping were his only way to emit the overabundance of emotions that filled him in those moments.

He cradled the tiny baby in his large hands, lifting it to his chest so Charlotte too could lay her eyes on the desire of their heart. "It's a boy." He was finally able to mutter, his voice soft and unsteady, cracking between each word uttered. "It's a boy." He whispered in awe a second time, as though to let the idea sink in a little more. He trembled with exhilaration and wonder. "Charlotte, we have a son."

As exhausted as Charlotte was, she refused to close her eyes for even a moment. She wanted to sear the image in front of her to memory. Wanting it there so she could remember it forever. Nathan, a proud father, holding their newborn. A son! Still wrinkly and fuzzy in his newness. She too was overcome with emotion and began to cry with her husband. Gazing in wonder at the two of them. Her boys. She smiled at the concept and absorbed as much as she could of the scene in front of her. Clearly seeing the love that enveloped her husband over their new, tiny blessing.

Charlotte remembered the bible verse Joseph recited to her the night Patricia was born. 'For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart.'

Nathan walked to Charlotte with the infant, who had quieted in his father's sure and comforting hands. He bent forward, carefully transferring the baby into her arms. Charlotte grinned from ear to ear, cradling the baby to her chest as their son made little grunting noises and wrinkled his tiny nose.

"He's perfect, Nathan. I can't even fathom how we made something as wonderful as him." Charlotte cooed, her fingers tracing along their son's cheek. Mesmerized by the realization they'd brought this new life into the world. "Our sweet little boy." She smiled up at Nathan, noting the tears on his face, she gently wiped them away with the back of her hand. "Your little partner is finally here, Sarge."

Nathan was still struggling to find the words to convey everything he was feeling at that moment, so he spoke in the only way he could. He kissed her, but in that simple, perfect gesture, Charlotte understood everything Nathan was trying to tell her.

It was love. Genuine, loyal, all-consuming, and unwavering love. For one another, and their family.