Six months later

As the end of the year approached, it had been another busy year for Steve and Kate. Josh moved in over the summer before Mark left for Manchester. September saw Ava's first birthday and a small family celebration.

Thoughts turned to Christmas yet again. Steve's parents would once again spend the festive period at Steve and Kate's, particularly as Kate would be giving birth again in November.

Despite it being cooler than when she had been heavily pregnant with Ava, Kate was still uncomfortable in her last months. Nights were the worst and this one was worse than usual. She and Steve had had sex before going to sleep. It had put Steve straight in to a deep sleep as per usual and he was still comotose beside her. Kate however had been restless, unable to get comfortable at all. Her agitation was also affecting the baby who was moving around in her abdomen quite actively.

As gracefully as she could, Kate tried getting out of bed and headed to the en suite to see if that would help her feel better. Sitting on the loo she had just done her business when she felt a sharp pain and her waters break. There was also the undeniable feeling of the baby's head descending. "Steve!" Kate called out frantically.

"Yeah?" he mumbled.

"The baby's coming," she informed him as calmly as she could.

There was a rustling of sheets as Steve got out of bed and appeared before her. "I'll get the bag and let's go to the hospital," he said escitedly as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"No," replied Kate. "There's no time. The baby's coming now," she explained more explicitly.

"What, now?!" Steve asked somewhat worriedly.

Kate nodded her head. "I think I've been in labour most of the night,".

"Jesus Christ!" exclaimed Steve now fully awake. "Hang on a sec," he said as he disappeared to wake his parents who thankfully were staying at the moment. After informing them of what was going on Steve's mum went for the phone to call for an ambulance whilst Steve headed back to Kate. Steve's mum joined them when she had the ambulance on the phone, repeating instructions to Steve.

Kate was now on the floor on her back, resting against the bath, knees bent up. "Shit!" she said through gritted teeth as a strong contraction hit.

"Wha's going on?" Josh asked sleepily as he appeared at the door, rubbing his eyes. All the commotion had woken him up. He caught sight of more of his mother than he ever thought he would and raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Josh, mate," said Steve from his position on the floor between Kate's legs, "why don't you go downstairs with my dad and keep an eye out for the ambulance," he instructed wanting Josh out the way. The boy didn't have to be asked twice and soon disappeared as quickly as he arrived.

"I can see the head, mum. What do I do?" Steve announced. Mrs Arnott informed the paramedic on the end of the phone the latest development before repeating his instructions to her son. Before long the baby's head was out and Steve was checking there was no umbilical cord wrapped around his new child's neck. "Fuckin' hell," he said.

"What is it?" Kate asked really anxiously.

"This is shit scary but absolutely amazing," Steve replied. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever envisage delivering his own child.

"Idiot!" Scolded Kate. "I thought something was wrong with the baby for a minute," she told her fiancé.

"Place a towel on Kate's chest," Mrs Arnott repeated the latest advice she had received. "The baby will probably come with the next contraction. Hold the shoulders Steve and lift the baby on to the towel,".

"On to the towel," Steve repeated to himself. "I can do that," he said. "I think you're going to beat your time delivering Ava," Steve informed Kate whilst they waited for Kate's next contraction. "Next time you'll just have to sneeze and the baby will pop out,".

"There's not going to be a next time," Kate reminded Steve as she felt the contraction take hold. "You're getting a vasectomy remember!" she said forcefully as she gave her final push. She felt her child leave her body before she felt a weight on her chest as Steve placed their newborn on her.

"It's a boy!" Steve announced amazed. "I have a son!" he said as the baby started to cry lustfully.

Footsteps trudging up the stairs heralded the arrival of the paramedics who were shown to the en-suite by Steve's mum. After getting a look and quick hold of her new grandson she had left the new parents with their child to bond.

Silence reigned as Kate had already attached her son to her breast for a feed. "Oh wow," one of the paramedics said as he realised the baby had beaten them. "You didn't hang about did you," he joked with Kate.

After a quick assessment Kate was being helped down the stairs and on to a stretcher ready to be taken to hospital for a check over. "Why didn't you follow behind, dad?" the paramedics suggested. "Bring a car seat. I don't think they'll have to keep you in long,".

Steve did as was told leaving his parents behind to look after Josh and Ava. Steve stuck like glue to the ambulance on the trip to the hospital and joined the stretcher as it made its way up to the labour ward where they were shown in to a room.

"I'll be back in a minute," their midwife said. "I'll just fetch the scales. If everything's ok we can let you go. This is your third child so you are both pro's at changing nappies and feeding. Have we got a name for young master Arnott?".

Steve and Kate had agreed on a name and wanted to keep it for their son. "Alexander," Steve said. "Alex for short,". The midwife wrote the new boy's name down on to his baby book before disappearing for the scales.

"Can you burp him?" Kate asked as she handed Alex to his father.

"Sure," Steve said as he placed his son against his chest and started to tap his back. "You ok?".

"Yeah," replied Kate. "Just feeling a bit lightheaded," she continued as she readjusted herself in bed. "Probably just after everything that's happened tonight,".

"Can I get you anything?" Steve asked.

"No it's good. It'll pass," Kate said as she watched Steve with their son.

The midwife bustled in and was soon checking Alex over. "Ten fingers, ten toes. Two testicles," she informed his dad as she gently felt the baby's scrotum.

"That's my boy," praised Steve who was hovering over the midwife's shoulder, watching proudly. He turned to Kate and was alarmed to see her disorientated and nearly unconscious. "Kate!".

"Don'….feel….," she slurred as the midwife began to quickly assess her. She pulled back the blankets of Kate's bed and Steve was shocked to see they were completely soaked in blood.