The next couple hours were agony. Nurses run back and forth through the room and Dr. Hansel says many calming and encouraging words to Kylee as she pushes. Kylee has both Jase's and my hand in her grasp. We are both standing and taking turns saying encouraging things and giving each other slightly frightened looks.

Every time Kylee yells a curse word I see the nurses try to hold in their laughter and Dr. Hansel says more calming words. "Come on Kylee. You're so close. Try another push. Come on, one more." Every time the doctor says this Kylee's strength seems to reappear. She grits her teeth, holds her breath, and pushes like her life depends on it.

"Head in view!" Dr. Hansel says and Kylee lets out a cheerful cry, but with that in her mind she pushes harder. Dr. Hansel's face is in full concentration mode and it seems like his mind is nowhere but on that baby.

"Keep going Kylee." I say leaning over placing my free hand on the pillow behind her head. My heart rate is unhealthily fast and I can feel myself being on the verge of tears. Kylee grits her teeth then takes a small break.

Her breath is shaky and I take this small moment to wipe her forehead. Before we know it she takes in another breath and continues. Jase has his free hand on the back of Kylee's head trying to take some of the effort of lifting her head away. His head is close to Kylee whispering every now and then in her ear.

With every push the nurses become more ready. They have all the tools ready for the doctor's use and anything that baby will need at the ready. With all my might I keep myself from peeking and looking at how far along the baby is and how beautiful the baby is.

My hands remains in Kylee's. My fingers are purple and I can't feel my fingertips, but every moment is worth it. Every second that passes by is a second closer to seeing our baby. A second closer to being a true father.

"A couple is outside saying they know you." Says one of the nurses in my ear. "Mr. and Mrs. Martin?" It's Cole and Lauren.

"Ah yes, I know them. Could you give them the progress and maybe an estimated birth time?" I ask and she nods heading to the door. Through the small window I see Lauren looking at me and waving. Her hair is in a messy bun and she still wears her pajamas. I return my focus to Kylee just in time for Dr. Hansel to announce that the head is fully visible.

"Kylee I need you to give me one more BIG push." Dr. Hansel says and that's all it took. A second later the nurses are moving at once with a blanket. The doctor did a few more things then handed a red little baby with a full head of hair to the nurse next to him.

After a lot of shuffling around and cleaning they hand a bundle of blankets to Kylee. "Oh my-" Kylee says looking down at the baby. "I'm-I'm sorry." She says covering her eyes with a spare hand and leaning her head back into the pillows. She takes a couple seconds to let the tears out then looks back down.

I keep my distance and look from afar. I look as Jase leans in and plays with the baby's hair. If someone was looking in from outside they would see a happy couple sharing a moment with their new child... then they would see a brother? Cousin? Or whatever they thought I was.

Kylee kisses the baby and holds the infants hand in hers. Then she looks over at me and gives a weak smile. The tears on her cheeks glistening as her cheekbones raise. "Come on." She says quietly and slightly out of breath.

My heart rate quickens and I take a couple hesitant steps towards Kylee. Before I reach the side of the bed I see a tiny hand shoot from the blanket towards the ceiling. Then the faintest cry sounds and I stop in my tracks. Hearing the baby cry makes my heart shatter and I fall into the nearest chair as my legs fail to support me. I place my face in my hands and now it's my turn to cry.

"Don't worry this is a reaction that has happened before." I hear Dr. Hansel tell Kylee and Jase. The baby cries again a little more loud then before. Then i hear the door open and I feel a hand on my back.

"Hey buddy." I hear and look up to see Cole. "Let's go say hi. Yeah?" He asks. His face is full of concern and pure excitement as another cry fills the room and I see Kylee give a quiet 'shh' as she rocks the baby.

Cole rubs my back again then he grips my elbow and helps me get to the side of the bed. The first thing I see is a wide mouth open that lets out a cry. Eyes squinted and fists closed and shaking. My hand makes it's way to my heart and my mouth falls open when I look at it.

Kylee giggles at my reaction then without warning she holds the crying baby up for me to hold. "Uhhhh-" I say reaching my hands under the babies head and bottom. Slight panic flows through me with the sudden feeling of the baby in my hands. The baby's arms are outstretched and I see it's legs fighting with the blanket.

I position the baby so its feet are near my belly and it's head looking up at me. Suddenly the baby stops crying as it realizes it's in someone else's arms. There is a deafening quiet as the baby slowly blinks its eyes open... looking me right in the eyes. All I see are bright blue eyes and the smallest eyelashes blinking at me.

I look at Kylee. "G-got your eyes." I whisper. Kylee smiles at my statement. Then I return my focus back to the baby. It's mouth remains open and we look at each other with blank expressions.

"She's beautiful isn't she?" Dr. Hansel asks. Walking around Cole as he pears over my shoulder. She... my heart skips at the sound of that word.

I nod. "Yeah..." I say in an almost inaudible voice. Then... with a slight dimple... a smile creeps to the baby girl's lips. Big, gummy and full of life.

"Oh my gosh..." I say. It's lasts but a moment but her smile is permanently ingrained in my memory. I look around the room. My smile is the biggest it has ever been.

Jase laughs a little and Cole grasps my shoulders. Lauren, on the other hand, is bawling her eyes out still in the doorway.

Looking back at Kylee I see she has dosed off and the doctor notices at the same time. "How about we give the tired lady a room of quiet? We can also clean up the baby girl while Kylee sleeps." Dr. Hansel suggests.

We all agree and I carefully hand the beautiful baby to the nurse. Walking into the hallway fells like a dream. After eight hours of labor my baby girl has finally arrived.

"H-have you started thinking of names?" Lauren says still sniffing from her crying.

"Yeah...Kylee and I thought of a few. Mostly boy names ... but I think we are going to go with Ella. Ella Taylor." I say. The words finally coming out of my mouth seem surreal, as if I'm talking about a person who is only a figment of my imagination.

I guess Lauren was feeling the same way because she bursts into tears again. Cole leads her into a seat and laughs quietly. Down the hall I hear cheers and the crowd in the hallway, Danny's crowd, heads inside the room.

"Hey Cole?" I say after thinking for a bit and I turn to him. He lifts his head and looks up at me. "Would it be wrong to have a woman in my life after this?" I ask.

My mind is fuzzy, as if I'm on a high. My hands are shaking and I can't focus. All I can think about is Ella and Danny. Why can't I put my focus on Kylee who is sleeping, Lauren who is crying, or anyone else in the hospital. Why do I have a guilty feeling about how fast things are going with Danny when my own baby was just born.

"Well... no... not at all." Cole says leaving Lauren's side and walking to me. "Is this bothering you?" He asks. I nod my head and heave a sigh. "Hey," Cole says placing a hand in my shoulder, "let's try and focus on Ella for the first week... yeah?"

I shake my head trying to regain composure, "Yeah your right."

"Ryan!" I hear down the hall. I look and see my sister Riley walking towards me with... Karen.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask giving Riley and big hug.

"I called Riley." Cole says from behind me. I don't make any moves to hug my mom, but she walks up quickly to me and gives me a strong hug. I'm more surprised than anything so I just place one of my hands on her back until she pulls away.

"Is it a girl or boy?" Karen asks. I notice her eyes are watering and it looks like she didn't have much time to fix her hair.

"Girl." I say. "Ella Taylor." I add quietly.

"Ella? That's such a cute name!" Riley says. "Did you and Kylee talk about it?"

I nod. "About a month ago we came up with an agreement." Riley nods and looks into the window at Kylee.

"October 18, 2019." She says quietly. Riley says admiring the date.

"Can we go in and see the baby?" Karen asks. I take a glance at her then at Riley who shows the same questioning look.

"Ummm, the doctor said we should leave the baby with the nurses and let Kylee sleep. I don't think now is a good time." I say. Suddenly I feel protective over Ella. Like I don't want anyone but me to hold her... to have her.

"Maybe for a min-" my mom starts to say, but Riley cuts her off.

"Mom lets let Kylee sleep." She says a little sharp. My mom just nods. After a moment of silence I hear Riley's stomach growl.

"I need some air. I can go pick you guys up some breakfast if you want?" I offer.

"Oh yes please!" Riley says almost like a groan. "Need someone to go with you?" She asks as she pulls out a twenty from her purse and hands it to me.

"I can cover it." I say but she shoves it in my hand anyway.

"Not on my watch." She says. I smile and grab my jacket and beanie and head to the doors.

"Hey, Ryan!" I hear my mom from behind me. She jogs to catch up to me. Her car keys in her hand.

"It'll be easier if you take the car. Just so you don't have to hold a lot of food bags." She reaches her arm out and holds the keys for me to take. I sigh. I can't keep pushing her away.

"Just come with me." I suggest in the nicest tone I can muster then continue walking toward the doors.

A/N:

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!

The baby is here! Please welcome Ella Taylor to the book with lots of love and support.

Comment what you think of the book so far and give some suggestions of what you would like to see in the future!

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