Most of Melissa's pregnancy progressed normally.
Ralph and Melissa set up a nursery for the baby, with Ralph's brother George giving away the crib and baby clothes that used to belong to his children. George's wife Nicole also offered parenting advice to Melissa, who gratefully accepted.
Bert was even willing to give up his own room and leave the Raccoondominium to make room for the baby, but Ralph and Melissa assured him that this wasn't necessary, and eh was still welcome to stay.
By her seventh month of pregnancy, Melissa had started to feel more tired than usual, but she figured that was normal.
One peaceful winter's day, Bert decided to try knitting a sweater for the baby, a sweater identical to his own. He was a little tangled up in yarn as he held up his finished project for the expectant parents to see.
"Whaddya think?"
"It's very sweet, Bert," Melissa said. "But-"
"It only has one sleeve," Ralph pointed out, as kindly as possible.
"Whoops," Bert said with a nervous laugh.
Melissa and Ralph were cuddled up on the couch, discussing baby names. They had a book full of potential names.
"Katherine's a nice name for a girl," Melissa said.
"Sure," Ralph said, "but it sounds a bit grown-up for a baby."
"How 'bout shortening it to Kit?" Bert suggested. "It could work for a girl or a boy."
Melissa and Ralph looked at each other, then smiled back at Bert.
"Maybe it could," Ralph said. "I thought you were going to suggest that we name the baby after you."
"Nah," Bert said with a wave of his hand. "One Bert Raccoon's enough."
"Is it because you don't like that your full name is Bertram?" Melissa asked teasingly.
Bert blushed through his fur. "Shh, Melissa, someone might hear you."
Just hours later, Bert woke up to Ralph's panicked scream.
"BERT! CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
Bert jumped out of bed and ran to Ralph and Melissa's room. Melissa lay in bed, clutching her tummy and crying.
"The baby's coming already?" Bert exclaimed incredulously. "But it's too-"
"HURRY!" Ralph yelled, going so far as to shake Bert. "Melissa's burning up!"
Bert ran for the phone, wondering if this was all just a nightmare. Melissa wasn't due for two more months. What had gone wrong?
Bert called an ambulance, and then he called Cedric, who decided to join the Raccoons at the hospital immediately.
The sound of Cedric's frantic running woke his father from a restless sleep. Cyril stormed out of his room, down the halls, and caught Cedric at the front doors. Cedric still wore his pajamas, though they were covered with both his bathrobe and a thick winter coat.
"CEDRIC! Where do you think you're going at this hour? A slumber party?!"
"It's an emergency, Pop!" Cedric shouted back. "Melissa's really sick! She had to go to the hospital! Bert wants me to give him a ride because he wasn't allowed in the ambulance with Melissa and Ralph."
Now Cyril began to feel sick
"Wait a minute, son!" Cyril said, running down the stairs. "I'll go with you."
Cyril didn't even bother calling for the Pigs to get the car. He got behind the wheel himself and drove Cedric to the Raccondominium.
The Sneers found Bert sitting forlornly outside the door of the Raccondominium, despite the snow. Bert wasn't really worried about catching a chill; he was more worried about Melissa. To see one of his oldest friends being put on a gurney and loaded into an ambulance was almost too much for him. He'd never seen either Ralph or Melissa that sick before. Bert wished he could have gone with Ralph and Melissa, but there was limited space in the ambulance, and if anyone was to go with Melissa, of course it had to be her husband.
Bert lifted his head when he heard the car coming.
"Get in!" Cyril yelled, not even bothering to fully stop the car. Bert jumped in, joining Cedric in the back seat.
"It's my fault," Bert lamented. "Something I cooked for Melissa must have made her sick, or I jinxed it with that one-armed sweater."
"You're talking nonsense, Raccoon!" Cyril snapped, glaring at Bert through the rearview mirror. "For once, this wasn't your fault."
Cedric was more tactful.
"Bert, sometimes things like this just happen. It's not really anyone's fault."
Bert didn't look like he felt better. He leaned on Cedric's shoulder as Cedric kept trying to comfort his best friend.
The hospital waiting room had become quite crowded. Not only were Ralph and Bert and the Sneers there, but also Schaeffer and Broo, George and Nicole, and Lisa and Bentley.
Cedric was surprised that even Sophia Tutu was there. He and Sophia currently had an on-off relationship since she moved to the city, as Sophia had her doubts about a long distance relationship.
Cedric and Sophia hugged, with Sophia crying into Cedric's shoulder (Cyril thought she was being overly dramatic). She even tried to hug Cyril, but he backed away.
"Keep your hands to yourself, Sofa Girl," he growled.
"How's Melissa?" Cedric asked.
"We don't know," Sophia said tearfully. "She hasn't come out of the operating room, yet."
Cedric put a hand over his mouth, then went over to Ralph and Bert.
"Operating room," Cyril repeated weakly. His voice was so uncharacteristically quiet that no-one heard him.
Bert was still crying, as was Ralph. Ralph hugged George and kept looking at the clock.
"She's been in the operating room for so long, George," Ralph said worriedly.
Bert swallowed his tears and his self-pity. He had seen how sad Lisa and Bentley looked, and he decided to try and make them feel better.
"Are you guys okay?" Bert asked, putting his arms around them.
"Oh Bert," Lisa sniffled, "this is all so scary! Poor Aunt Melissa, and the poor baby!"
Bentley stared at his knees, not wanting Bert to see that he was crying too.
"I know," Bert said with a sad smile. "But we gotta try and think positive I'm sure Melissa and the baby will be okay!" He was also trying to convince himself to think positive. "Bentley, little buddy, soon you'll have a little buddy of your own! You can teach the kid everything you know about computers."
"I guess so," Bentley said, finally making eye contact with Bert.
"Or your cousin will like basketball!" Bert suggested to Lisa. "You'd be a great teacher!"
Lisa still didn't feel all that better, but she appreciated that Bert was trying to help.
Cyril sat a distance away from the others, wondering if he should even be here. He made a gesture like he was smoking an invisible cigar (real ones were no longer allowed in the hospital). He fidgeted for a while, slumped in his chair and rubbed his forehead.
Bentley approached Cyril without any fear, as he and Cyril usually got along well.
"Mr Sneer?"
Cyril jolted. "WHAT?"
Bentley took a step back, and Cyril calmed down.
"Sorry, m'boy," Cyril said with a sheepish smile. "What is it?"
"Are you okay, Mr Sneer?" Bentley asked. "You seem just as upset as Uncle Ralph."
Cyril stared out the window, watching the snow fall softly.
"I just don't like hospitals, Bentley," Cyril said. "Never did. Especially since..." Cyril trailed off and looked over at his son, who was still trying to console Bert and Ralph.
Bentley wondered if it would be tactless to ask what had happened, but he wouldn't get a chance to ask, anyway, because Nurse Peck came out into the waiting room and approached Ralph.
"The doctor would like to speak with you privately," Nurse Peck told Ralph in a gentle voice.
Ralph uneasily followed Nurse Peck out of the waiting room, while everyone else waited tensely. Bert wanted to be optimistic, but Nurse Peck's words could have meant anything.
It seemed to take forever for Ralph to come back. He was dabbing his eyes with a tissue, while Nurse Peck patted his back and murmured, "There, there."
That could have also meant anything. Everyone crowded around Ralph and bombarded him with questions, anxious for news of Melissa.
"Stop that," Nurse Peck said sternly. The crowd quieted a little and waited for Ralph to talk.
"Melissa's blood pressure crashed-"
Almost everyone present let out horrified gasps, and Bert looked ready to faint.
"Let him finish!" Cyril snapped.
'-but she's recovering," Ralph said.
"And the baby?" Nicole asked.
Ralph took a deep breath. "She's...hanging on." His voice broke, and he started to cry again. "She's so small...not even three pounds...and on a ventilator."
Bert steadied himself and rubbed Ralph's shoulder, while George rubbed Ralph's other shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ralphie," Bert said, though his own voice shook. "We're all here for you, right?"
Everyone voiced their agreement and tried to reassure Ralph...except for Cyril, who started to go outside. Cedric followed him.
"Pop? Are you okay?"
"I need to go outside, son," Cyril said slowly. "I...I need a smoke."
Cyril hurried outside before Cedric could react. Cyril tried to light a cigar, but his hands shook too much. He recalled having a day similar to Ralph's, but unlike Ralph, Cyril had to deal with it alone.