Two Months Later
"Thanks for spending the day with me Topanga," Katy said settling down onto the couch.
Shawn had been out of town for two days on an assignment in upstate New York and had sent Cory and Topanga to look after Katy. She was nine months pregnant and three days past her due date. He didn't want to be away from her during this time, but he had reached an agreement with the magazine company to get eight weeks off for paternity leave if he went on a few assignments before the baby was born.
"What are friends for?" Topanga asked, sitting down on the couch next to Katy.
Both pregnant women propped their feet up on the coffee table and relaxed for the time being. They had done last minute baby shopping for Katy and Topanga grabbed a few outfits for her expectant child as well.
"We're friends?" Katy jokingly asked. With Shawn being her baby's father and living with him, it was hard not to become friends with Cory and Topanga. While the two had an idyllic romance, they were quite goofy and fun to be around.
"Yeah, I guess so," Topanga laughed. Since learning that she was expecting a daughter last month, the friendship between Topanga and Katy grew. Their daughters would grow up together and practically be family with Shawn being an unofficial member of the Matthews family. "When does Shawn get back?"
Katy turned her head to the wall clock. "Not for another six hours."
Katy missed Shawn like crazy the past two days. He had called her any chance he got to check up on her and the baby. Though they were not officially a couple, they did share a child and sleep in the same bed.
At first when Shawn moved her into his two-bedroom apartment, Katy was apprehensive. The last man she lived with left her and stole half of what she owned. Her and Shawn were on such good terms that she didn't want to jinx it by moving in with him. Thankfully, there had been no major hiccups in the past two months.
"You know what? I could really go for a nap," Topanga commented. When she was pregnant with Josh, she was hard-wired and always trying to busy herself. Baby number two, however, made her insanely tired. All she wanted to do was nap which was difficult being pre-law.
"A nap sounds good," Katy replied. She had been feeling uncomfortable all day and had hoped a nap would fix it. With her being three days late, she had thought that maybe the early stages of labor had started, but she hadn't had any contractions and her water had yet to break.
Katy figured maybe tomorrow the labor would kick in.
Just when she situated herself on the couch to lie down, she felt a light jabbing at her stomach. Katy was used to pains in her stomach most of her pregnancy, since her daughter liked to torment her through forceful kicks to her stomach and ribs, but this was different.
Katy sat up and felt her stomach tighten causing her gasp. She clutched her stomach trying to reel herself down from the pain. Her behavior did not go unnoticed by Topanga who had gone through this once before.
"We need to get you to a hospital," Topanga said. She slowly stood up from the couch and steadied herself. When she was balanced, she helped Katy up. "Do you have a hospital bag?"
"Yes," Katy breathed. "It's on the dresser in the nursery."
Topanga went to retrieve the hospital bag and met Katy back in the living room. She was tightly gripping the couch. Her pain level had dramatically increased from a zero to a six.
Topanga helped Katy out the door and into the elevator. She hoped Cory and Josh were on their way to pick her up. They were supposed to be at the apartment soon after the girl's day with Katy ended. She just hoped Cory had remembered that.
When the girls reached the lobby and walked outside the apartment building, Topanga was relieved to see Cory pull up to the side of the building. He rolled down his window confused.
"What's going on?" Cory asked.
"Katy's in labor," Topanga explained, opening the front door for her friend and helping her inside the car.
"Labor?!" Cory panicked. Shawn hadn't even left from his trip upstate. Now he was going to miss the birth of his child. This could not be happening.
"Yes," Topanga confirmed, sliding into the back next to Josh. "I need you to drive us to the hospital."
"Okay, I can do that," Cory said taking the car out of park.
"Mommy, what's going on?" Josh asked his mother.
"Aunt Katy and Uncle Shawn are going to have their baby," Topanga said.
Josh's eyes became wide with glee. He had been excited for his own baby sister to arrive, but he couldn't wait to meet Uncle Shawn's daughter. That meant he finally could have someone to play with.
"Cory, can you hand Katy your phone?" Topanga addressed her husband.
"Topanga, I'm driving," Cory argued. He loved New York, but if there was one thing he could get rid of it would be the traffic. "Can't she use yours?"
"I left mine at home," Topanga explained.
Cory grumbled and fished his phone out of his pocket. He handed it to Katy. Thankfully for her, Shawn was already on his speed dial.
"What's up?" Shawn answered the phone knowing it was Cory's number.
"Shawn, it's me," Katy began as she breathed heavy. Shawn paused from packing his suitcase and listened to Katy. Something wasn't right. "Cory and Topanga are driving me to the hospital. It's time."
"You're in labor?" Shawn asked.
"Yeah, we're going to have our baby. So if I were you I would get your butt down here as soon as possible!" Katy yelled into the phone as a contraction ripped through her.
"I'm on my way," Shawn said, hanging up the call. He haphazardly threw his clothes in his suitcase, loaded his car, and headed straight for the city. He was determined to make it back in time for Katy to give birth.
When Katy arrived at the hospital, Cory dropped her and Topanga off at the front while he parked. Topanga helped Katy get checked in and followed her in as the nurses escorted her to her room.
By the time, Cory and Josh entered the hospital, Topanga was out in the waiting room waiting for them.
"How is she?" Cory asked.
"Good," Topanga began. "The doctors said she's only three centimeters dilated, so Shawn will probably make it back in time before she gives birth."
Cory was relieved on behalf of Shawn. "Can you believe it Topanga? Shawn's going to be a dad."
"I know. It feels like yesterday that we just had this one." Topanga ruffled Josh's hair. It was only two and half years ago when they were in Shawn and Katy's position.
"Let's hope this one goes more smoothly." Cory placed a hand on his wife's growing stomach. He worried about Topanga and the baby daily. He did not want another one of his kids to spend their first few days in the NICU on the brink of the death like Josh had. Seeing Josh almost die that day broke him. If it happened again, he wasn't sure he would be able to come back.
"Me too." Topanga stood on her tippy toes and pressed a light kiss on her husband.
"So I guess we should start calling up the troops?" Cory asked breaking the moment. Topanga nodded. "I'll start with my parents."
One by one, Cory went down the line of all the important people in Shawn's life. He wanted Shawn to be able to share this special day with the people he loved. That led him to call everyone from his parents to Eric to Jack and even to Feeny.
Once the calls were made, Cory was placed on guard duty with Josh. Topanga made the boys keep watch if Shawn or any family arrived while she went to Katy's aid.
After four long hours, Shawn had finally arrived at the hospital parking lot. He disregarded every speed limit to make it back in time. Shawn refused to miss the most important moment in his life.
"Shawn!" Cory called out to his friend as soon as Shawn entered the hospital. He left Josh in the care of his parents and ran over to Shawn's side.
"Where is she?" Shawn questioned.
"She's in the fourth room to the left, Topanga's with her," Cory briefly explained. He didn't want to occupy too much of his time. The look in Shawn's eyes were the same ones he had when he found out Topanga prematurely went into labor with Josh.
"Thanks." Shawn patted Cory on the shoulder.
Shawn found the room with ease as Katy's screams guided him to her. When he made it into the room, he saw her gripping the side of the bed in pain. She was curled on the bed facing towards the window.
Topanga sprung up, as fast as she could, and went to the door to meet Shawn.
"How is she?" Shawn asked just like Cory did hours prior.
"Besides the contractions every four minutes, she's seven centimeters dilated last time the doctors checked," Topanga informed him.
"Shawn?" Katy asked, coming down from her contraction. She heard his hushed voice from a far and had hoped she had heard correctly. As much as Topanga's presence had been helpful, Shawn was the one who should be by her side grabbing her ice chips and holding her hand instead.
"I'm here," Shawn said to Katy. He went back to his conversation with Topanga and hugged her. "Thank you."
"No problem," Topanga smiled. "I'm going to go back to Cory, come back when you have a healthy baby girl in your arms."
Shawn held true to that.
Three hours later, Katy had been moved into the delivery room. Shawn took his place right by her side and he held her hand the entire time to keep her steady as she pushed.
Thirty minutes later, their baby girl was born.
"It's a girl! Six pounds, seven ounces. Twenty inches long," Shawn announced as he pushed the wheelchair bound Katy out to the waiting room with their daughter in her arms.
The Matthews clan, plus, Feeny and Jack, stirred in their seats at the sound of Shawn's booming voice. They had waited for the birth announcement practically all day, but when the time came they had fallen asleep.
Cory was the first one to open his eyes, sensing Shawn's presence. "Shawn!" Cory yelled in the waiting room, causing the rest of the family to jump up.
"Cory, I swear to god..." Topanga cursed under her breath. She had been craving that nap for hours and was frustrated to be woken up so soon by Cory yelling his boyfriend's name. When she readjusted herself in her chair, she noticed the recent addition of Katy, Shawn and the baby.
Topanga stood up from the chair and walked over to Katy and Shawn first. She saw the swaddled newborn being rocked in Katy's arms. "She's so beautiful," Topanga said in awe. She couldn't believe it. That was Shawn's daughter. "Cory, look at this."
Cory carried the asleep Josh in his arms as he went to his buddy's side to meet his niece. "You did a good job, Shawn," Cory complemented.
"Let me through!" Eric pushed through his brother and sister-in-law. He had left his mayoral duties at St. Upid Town for this, he wanted to see the new addition to the family. "Can I hold her?"
Katy and Shawn shared a concerned look and simultaneously said, "No."
Shawn was immediately reminded of when Topanga and Cory brought Josh home from the hospital. Eric insisted on holding Josh and Cory had stupidly given into his brother's request. Eric held Josh normally at first, then tried to reenact the opening from The Lion King almost dropping Josh in his attempt.
"What about your brother?" Jack asked.
"Jack, you're here," Shawn smiled and briefly hugged him.
"You think I would miss the birth of my niece?" Jack questioned.
He had dropped out of the Peace Corps six months after following Rachel there. The lack of air conditioning, access to clean drinking water, and a functioning society had taken its toll on him, so he left. Jack went back to Philadelphia and got a job at a big business corporation in the city where he had found success.
The last time he had seen Shawn was Christmas nine months ago, right before he left for Europe. Seeing as Shawn just had a baby, the brothers had a lot to catch up on.
"Dad you be proud," Jack commented, patting his brother on the back.
"You think?" Shawn asked.
"I know so, buddy," Jack smiled. Both Hunter boys seemed to evade the life their father lead. Jack being a successful businessman and Shawn traveling all over the world for work while having a family.
"Mr. Hunter," Feeny said. When Shawn left for New York, Feeny knew Shawn would do great things. Last Christmas when Shawn visited, he had told Feeny that he was traveling to Europe for work. Now, that troubled kid Feeny once knew had a child of his own. "Congratulations. You did good."
"Thanks, Feeny," Shawn replied proudly, getting the Feeny seal of approval.
"Shawn, she's absolutely perfect," Amy congratulated with Alan by her side. Like Topanga had said earlier, Shawn and Katy's daughter was beautiful. "What's here name?"
Katy and Shawn grinned looking down at their daughter. "Maya Penelope Hunter."