Just so y'all aren't confused, I am planning to develop the kids in this one in future chapters. Okay, the original 5 will be the main ones, but their children will gradually become more involved. And by the way, did you not notice the reason they had to do such an embarrassing thing cuz of the humidity and high temperature, AND that I had Cindy and Libby solve the embarrassing part of it? Just so you guys won't be wigged out again, I'm letting you in on something... When they were slightly younger, Jimmy developed contact lenses that would censor everything inappropriate if something like that ever happened to them. That's the last time it'll ever happen; you have my word on it. I swear it! ^_^ And their ages are 17/18, so they're practically adults here.

And the thing Carl pointed out in an earlier chapter? That was because the 2 were trying to be secretive about their relationship as it blossomed over the years, and it became harder and harder to keep hidden. So Carl started getting suspicious and sneaking around when Jimmy and Cindy thought they were alone. That's how he eventually found out. But they never saw him, and since going on so many adventures made him slimmer over time, it was easier for him to squeeze into areas he couldn't before, though he still has numerous fears, allergies, and medical problems. Hopefully that's cleared any skepticism about this you all may have had previously... And keep this between US, got it? ? Please don't blab it to anyone who hasn't read this yet, okay? ?

Emerging Compassions

Chapter 38: Two Little Miracles!

(Libby's POV)

Right as we entered the parking lot of Retroville Memorial Hospital, I heard a familiar ringtone resound. I checked inside my pocketbook to see if it was mine, but my phone wasn't ringing. I glanced over and saw Cindy pick hers up, even though she was in an incredible amount of pain, as was I. She apparently saw me with a questionable look on my face, so she told me, "It's Nissa...

"Yes, Nissa. I'm fully aware of that! What did you call for when Libs and I are about to head into the hospital while in labor? ! You should be fully aware of that; you saw me with my contractions while at the ceremony! Yes, you may come see them after they're born, but for the time being, we need to be alone with our friends. Thanks, Nissa; we'll need it... Good-bye, Nissa," she informed the individual on the other end, then hung up.

"So, that was Nissa?" I asked, trying to keep my cool while straining against the urge to push.

"Yeah, Libs," Cindy told me, then added, "We'd better get in there! Our kids are gonna be born any time now! !"

Jimmy clambered out of his hovercar, then grabbed Cindy from her post in the back seat. "Hang in there, Cindy! We're on our way in!" he reassured her, carrying her ever so gently while she had her arms draped around his neck.

Sheen, being the wonderful boyfriend that he is, helped me out, then let me lay my arm over his shoulder as he walked me inside while Carl got out on his own and hurried up to the rest of us.

While Sheen gently yet somewhat quickly walked me into the hospital, Jimmy, on the other hand, with amazing endurance and strength for someone his height and build, rapidly rushed Cindy inside while making sure to hold onto her tightly. As soon as they reached the front desk, Sheen and I arrived a couple moments later with Carl rushing up behind us, breathing heavily to catch his breath.

"May I help you?" the woman at the front desk questioned helpfully, a friendly smile on her face.

"Hello? ! ! I'm in LABOR, here! !" Cindy snapped, glaring at her despite the pain she was experiencing.

"You GOTTA help my girlfriend! She's gonna have a baby! !" Sheen exclaimed, banging the counter with his fist.

I just screamed in pain as it continued to worsen while the seconds ticked by, breathing heavily, which I'm sure made everyone around me cringe.

She immediately got a frightened look on her face, then rushed off to find a labor and delivery doctor to assist us.

Moments later, she returned with a doctor to assist us. He appeared to have a Japanese ancestry, yet spoke with a perfect American accent when he introduced himself and said, "I am Dr. Watoshi. Please send these ladies to the Labor and Delivery ward, stat! Young man, I'm going to have to request that you let your girlfriend stand on her own."

"With all due respect, doctor," Jimmy informed him, a frustrated look on his face, "Cindy here has a sprained ankle!"

"Very well, then," he replied, then turned to an attendant and requested, "Please get Cindy a wheelchair, if you will."

The attendant hurried off for a few moments, then returned with a wheelchair at hand. Jimmy then very carefully set Cindy into it, making sure not to jar her sprained ankle. After they kissed eachother briefly, the attendant wheeled Cindy away to the delivery room.

Then, suddenly, my contractions became almost unbearable. "I can't...take it...anymore!" I cried with a huge strain in my voice, "I GOTTA sit down! !"

"Breathe, Libby, breathe!" Sheen urged me, "It helps a bit! Just like in Ep-"

"Not...NOW, Sheen...," I snapped, breathing rhythmically. Right then was not the time for a childish UltraLord reference! Before I knew it, another attendant brought a wheelchair up, in which I gratefully sat down in. Sheen gave me a quick kiss, then the attendant wheeled me off with Dr. Watoshi at her side.

A few antagonizing minutes later, I was wheeled into the Labor and Delivery room, then handed a hospital gown to change into. I got up and made my way to the spare bathroom nearby with it, then emerged a minute or 2 later with my belongings in a plastic bag and carefully climbed into the bed provided. The attendant, Natasha, took my belongings to a nearby chair and set them beside it for me. It was only then that I looked over to my left and saw Cindy about 7 feet away, her ankle wrapped firmly in an Ace bandage to keep it secure. For the moment, she was resting in order to save energy for when it came time to deliver her child. That didn't seem like a half-bad idea to me, so I laid down and tried to relax. The contractions seemed to leave me for the time being, so then I could completely relax and rest myself. It was so comfortable I accidentally ended up falling asleep...

I was awakened by screams a few hours later around midnight, so I sat bolt upright and looked over at Cindy. She was in so much pain that she had broken into a sweat and become red in the face, practically in tears as she hunched over in the pain of another contraction. A nurse hurried in to check on her condition, then lifted the sheet and examined her. With a nod, she said to herself, "Mm-hm! Ten centimeters, fully dilated!" She got out a radio and informed the other end, "Cindy Vortex is ready to deliver her child!"

Almost immediately, 2 other nurses hurried in and prepared her for her big moment. Then, after her feet were placed in the provided footrests, the head nurse, Layla, encouraged her, "Okay, Cindy, take a deep breath and PUSH! !"

Gritting her teeth and red in the face, she strained and pushed as hard as she could as they counted to 10, then took a breather. These actions were repeated several times.

Then, I heard the door open and to my surprise, in came Jimmy and Sheen with masks and scrubs over their clothes.

"Sheen? Neutron? !" I gasped, "What are y'all doin' here? !"

Sheen came over to my bedside and stated, "I'd NEVER miss my girlfriend's big moment, Libs!"

"Same here! The doctor gave us permission to be here with you," Jimmy added, then turned to Cindy and urged gently, "Hang in there, Cin! I can see a head emerging!"

With one last push, I heard another cry, but this time it wasn't Cindy! She'd just given birth to her child! As the child fully emerged, Jimmy excitedly informed her, "It's a girl, Cindy! It's our daughter!"

The umbilical cord was gently disconnected, then she was taken to be cleaned off and wrapped in a blanket.

"So, Cin," I asked her, "What's her name?"

"Marie Curie Neutron," she commented confidently, breathing a sigh of relief.

Then, almost like clockwork, I suddenly felt an almost unbearable pain that made me practically scream in agony. "It hurts! IT HURTS! ! !" I yelled, hunching over and placing my feet in the footrests while I grabbed the bed's handrails like a vicegrip.

Sheen laid his hand on mine and told me, "Hang in there, Libby! !"

While Marie was brought back in, Layla and a couple other nurses came to me and prepared me for labor. She lifted the sheet to check, then added to the others, "Yep, she's fully dilated! Libby, it's time."

"Thank goodness!" I gasped.

"You probably feel an urge to push, right?" the second nurse, Christie, wanted to know.

I could only nod my reply as I grimaced through the pain.

"Now you can act on it!" she reassured me, then the same process Cindy went through was repeated several times, and an antagonizing 5 minutes later, I heard a welcome cry as my child entered the world. I breathed a sigh of relief as her umbilical cord was cut, then she was taken to be cleaned and wrapped up.

"What's her name, Libs?" Sheen asked.

"Taylor Swift Estevez," I replied, a satisfied smile spread across my face.

"Aw, Libs, she's beautiful!" Cindy cooed as Taylor was brought back to me and placed in my arms.

"Thanks, Cindy... Marie is just darlin'!" I commented.

"Isn't she, though? ?" Jimmy whole-heartedly agreed with me, very tenderly stroking his daughter's chin.

Marie opened her sapphire eyes and gazed at her parents for a moment or 2, then I was astounded as she opened her mouth and uttered her first words, right after birth, "Mama. Dada."

Sheen just stared, wide-eyed, and exclaimed, "Whoa! !"

"That's one smart child you've got there, Cin!" I complimented her as I began to nurse Taylor.

"I'm very impressed," Cindy noted with a proud look in her eyes.

"Likewise! My parents once told me that, when I was first born, I'd spoken my first words, as well," Jimmy added, a thoughtful look on his face, "Just like her to take after her father. I think we have a little genius here!"

"Congrats, Jimmy!" Sheen put in with a huge grin on his face.

"Yeah," I agreed, "Congratulations!"

Adventures for our 2 little families were only just beginning!