~* Chapter 71*~

3 HOURS LATER...Everyone sat in the waiting room,waiting for word from AJ.They hadn't heard anything yet,and they'd been there for almost four hours. Nick squeezed Blane's hand."Just think.In about 6 months that'll be you having our baby," he said,and she turned to him and they kissed. Brian rolled his eyes at them."Get a room," he threw at them,and everyone laughed. Kevin and Kelly decided to go down to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. Brian kept pacing back and forth,and finally Howie said," Would you please stop pacing?You're making me more nervous than I already am." The minute the words were out of his mouth,Kari walked up to them. She and Howie were still not back together,but they were headed toward a reconciliation,but slowly.She and him and started hanging out and talking again lately,after their not~so~good breakup two months before.She gave him a small smile. "Heard anything yet?," she asked as she sat down next to him. He shook his head."Nothing," he told her,and without thinking he took her hand.She didn't pull away. Brian and Lisa went to join Kevin and Kelly,and all four returned about 20 minutes later. Soon after,AJ came out with a huge grin on his face."It's happening guys," he announced. Kevin looked at him."How's Erica doing?," he asked. AJ nodded."She's doing good.The doctor told us that once the baby is born,it'll have to stay in the hospital for a few weeks because it's early but he doesn't foresee any problems.At least not at this point," he told them. He stayed a while longer,then finally returned to Erica. **************~*Chapter 72*~********** 2 HOURS LATER...Erica screamed as another contraction ripped through her.Her grip on AJ's hand was so tight that he yelped. When the pain subsided,she looked over at him."AJ,it hurts," she said,as he placed a cold washcloth on her forehead. He kissed her on the mouth."I know it does baby.Just hang in there," he replied. The doctor came into the room then and smiled at Erica."Are we ready?," he asked. Suddenly Erica shook her head and gazed at AJ with a look of terror."I can't do this," she exclaimed. HE squeezed her hand."I'm right here and I'm not leaving until we have our baby," he remarked. She snorted."What do you mean,WE?! I'm the one doing all the work!," she snapped at him.A contraction came again then,and she screamed.The doctor gazed at her and informed her it was time to start pushing. AJ leaned her forward,and she took a deep breath and pushed with all the strength she could muster. "One...two...three," AJ counted,as she continued to push. Erica looked over at him."I swear,if you ever touch me again,I'll hack off every male organ you have!," she screamed at him. When she was done pushing,she leaned back and began to cry.He gently rubbed her hand."Ssh,I'm here," he comforted her. She was leaned forward again and this time when she pushed,she felt movement."Get this thing out of me!," she exclaimed. After a few minutes of heavy pushing,the doctor told her to relax. "Ok Erica.You're baby is in a breech position,which means I'm going to have to turn it around," he told her.A second later she felt him put his hands inside of her as he pushed the baby back in and turned it around.She screamed at the immense pain,and AJ tried to relax her by gently rubbing her hand. "Make the pain stop AJ!," she screamed,sobbing loudly. When the doctor was done,he told her to push again and she did. "Good girl Erica.Here come's the head.You're doing great," he said. She continued to push,gripping AJ's hand tightly.The doctor looked up at her. "Almost done.Here comes the shoulders," he told her. She beared down harder and pushed as hard as she could.A scream ripped from her throat,and a second later she felt the baby being pulled out of her.A cry filled the room. She fell back,and AJ kissed her."You did it," he said. The doctor promptly handed the baby to the nurse,who placed it in an incubator and rushed from the room. He smiled at them."you have a beautiful daughter," he informed them. The tears AJ had been holding back finally spilled forward.He turned to Erica and gently kissed her on the mouth. "Did you hear that?We have a daughter," he said. Erica smiled but didn't open her eyes.She was so exhausted all she wanted to do was sleep."Mmm~hmm," she murmered. "I love you so much Erica," he replied. She squeezed his hand."I love you too AJ," she whispered. ~*Chapters 73-75*~
back 2 A & F Index