Labor Pains....

Luke and Laura finish getting ready, they quickly shower, get dressed and make sure they have everything they need. Laura calls her parents to tell them they are headed to the hospital, then they walk out 

the door....

*Luke* "Are we forgetting anything?"

*Laura* "No, I think we got it..."

*Laura* "You gonna call your, Mom?"

*Luke* "When we get in the car....I'll call her on the way..."

Once they are in the car and driving, Luke gets out his phone to call his Mom. The phone rings several times before Cynthia picks up, nearly clicking over to her voice mail.

Cynthia reaches over to grab her cell phone and sees that it is Luke who is calling.

*Cynthia* "It's Luke....don't talk..."

She picks up her phone and answers.

 *Cynthia* "Hi Sweetie!....."
*Luke* "Hey, Mom...We're headed to the hospital. Laura has gone into labor."

*Cynthia* "Really?! Your certain she's in labor?"
*Luke* "Well....she's been having strong ones about every ten minutes for a while now. So we're heading to the hospital..."

Cynthia swats the hand that has been tickling her away.
*Cynthia* "Okay....I'll be on my way...

*Luke* "Okay...see you in a little while..."

*Cynthia* "Okay, bye..."
They both hang up, Luke continues to drive, while Cynthia sets her phone back down and turns to face the man in her bed.

*Peter* "The baby is on the way?"
*Cynthia* "Yes, which means I need to get ready..."

*Peter* "You want me to come with you?"
*Cynthia* "No! Are you crazy!...Luke doesn't need to find out about us hooking up..."

*Peter* "Well, he's gonna find out eventually, right? It's not like it's the first time."
*Cynthia* "We'll see....but now is not a good time for that."

Cynthia gets showered and changed. She comes back out and Peter is still lounging in her bed.

*Peter* "You sure you don't want me to drive you?"
*Cynthia* "I'll be fine, Peter....just make sure you lock up when you leave."

While Cynthia is on her way.  Laura and Luke have made it to the hospital. Laura has been admitted and given a room.

The nurse has her change into a hospital gown, while she converts the bed to accommodate for the birth.

Laura climbs up on the bed and the nurse gets some info from her before examining her.

While the nurse checks to see how far along Laura is, Luke takes a seat on the couch and grabs his phone.

*Laura* "Who are you texting?"
*Luke* "Aric and Roxie....anyone else you want me to call or text?"
*Laura* "No....that's good for now."

*Nurse* "Okay....you are doing great! I'll be back to check on you in couple minutes."
She exits the room and Luke gets up to stand next to her.

*Luke* "Roxie just text me back..."
*Laura winces feeling another contraction* "What did she say?"
*Luke* "She's excited....and can't wait to meet him."
Laura kinda smiles then hunches over.

*Luke* "Another one? They're getting a little closer...."
Laura groans and Luke reminds her to breathe.
*Laura* "Rub my back...."

*Luke* "Is that better?"
Laura just nods and continues to breathe. Then the door swings open and Krystal and Scott make their way into the room.

*Laura* "Mama!..."
*Krystal* "Hi Sweetheart!...How are you feeling?"
*Laura* "Not too bad yet...."
The contraction subsides and she can relax for the moment.
Krystal gets comfortable on the stool and sits with Laura to help her through it. Sometime has passed and Luke still waits for his mother to show up wondering if she is on her way.

*Krystal* "Okay, so they are about 5 minutes apart now..."
*Laura* "Did you call Michelle?.."
*Krystal* "Your dad will call her...don't worry about that right now."

*Scott* "I'll try her again....she didn't pick up the first time."
Scott gets his phone out of his pocket and dials Michelle's number.
Meanwhile way across town somewhere out in the country. Michelle and Benjamin took a detour to watch some fireworks before heading home. 

 *Michelle* "Oooo! Look at that one! They're so beautiful and the stars are so bright!"
*Benjamin* "I told you I'd git you the best view...."

*Michelle* "I could just stay here forever, you know?"
*Benjamin* "As long as it's with you, forever is fine with me, Darlin'...."

 Benjamin leans over as far as he can and kisses her.  Both of them getting wrapped up in each other. Then both getting startled by Michelle's phone and it's sudden ringing. They break apart and Michelle grabs her phone to answer it.

*Michelle* "Hi Daddy!"
Benjamin sits and waits in silence for a beat while Michelle 
listens to her father.
*Benjamin* "What's going on?"

*Michelle* "Laura went into labor everyone is at the hospital."
*Benjamin* "Well, I guess we're not going home just yet then are we?"
*Michelle* "Daddy? We're on our way.....Okay. Bye Daddy..."
Back at the hospital...
Sometime more time has passed and Cynthia finally shows up.
It's now much, much later into the evening and things are progressing slowly but everything is going well.

*Cynthia* "Hello?!"
*Luke* "Mom, you made it!"
*Cynthia* "Of course honey! I wouldn't miss this!"

*Krystal* "Cynthia....you came just in time...."
*Cynthia* "Hi, Krystal...is she getting close?"
*Krystal* "She's getting there."
Cynthia walks to stand by Laura. Another contraction coming and Laura drops her head.

*Luke* "You ready to be a grandma?"
*Cynthia* "Surprisingly, yes I am..."
Krystal looks up and sees Scott is still on his phone.
*Krystal* "Scott, Honey, get off the phone!"

*Scott* "I'm talking to your brother, Darlin'...."
*Krystal* "Oh! Well tell them I said hello."
As Krystal has her attention turned to her husband, the nurse comes in to check on things and makes sure all is well.

*Nurse* "How is she doing?"
*Krystal* "Good....contractions are about under 5 minutes apart now."
*Nurse* " Okay....Lets go ahead and see how much she has dilated then.."
Krystal gets up so the nurse can examine Laura.

*Nurse* "Your about halfway now....by early morning you should be holding your baby."
Laura sits back up another contraction sending waves of pain down her back.

*Nurse* "Now is a good window if you want an epidural...once you get closer to being fully dilated, it'll be too late."
*Cynthia* "I had one it was smooth sailing after that....."
*Laura* "No...no epidurals."
*Nurse* "Okay, just remember to breathe...your doing great so far."

The nurse steps away and checks in with the other nurse who just came in the room.
*Luke* "You sure you don't want one, Babe?"
*Laura* "No, I'll be okay. You know how much I hate needles."
*Krystal* "You kicked and screamed as a kid when you had to get shots."
Everyone decides to take a quick break when Michelle shows up, only Luke stays with her.

*Michelle* "Hey sis! You look like your handling this like a champ."
*Laura* "Yeah, until I get another contraction....then it's not so fun."
*Michelle* "Well, your brave, Mom said you turned down pain meds."
*Laura* "Yeah, they say some can affect the baby..."
Then Laura stops talking another contraction building...

*Luke* "Help me out here....rub her back it helps the pain."
Michelle and Luke start rubbing her back while Laura breathes.
*Michelle* "You ready to be a Dad?"
*Luke* "Yeah, though I guess you can never be completely ready."
*Michelle* "True..."
*Luke* "Where's Benjamin?"
*Michelle* "Out in the waiting room with our parents."

The contraction dissipates and Laura looks up again.
*Michelle* "You zoned out there when that contraction hit."
*Laura* "Yeah, kinda hard to carry on a conversation when it happens..."
Michelle stays a little longer then heads back out to the waiting room to be with Benjamin. One of the nurses continues to prep a few more things for the birth.

*Nurse* "Everything is ready to go! All we need now is for you to deliver your baby."
Everyone falls into a routine while they wait for Laura to progress. Several hours later, and now early morning the following day. The moment has finally come for Laura to start pushing.
*Nurse* "Dr. Bratters was called in for an emergency c section. So Dr. Kelly will be delivering your baby."

Everyone gets gathered around her, Luke on one side and Krystal on the other, while the doctor and nurses get everything into place.

*Krystal* "This is it sweetie, the last stretch...."
Laura just smiles. Luke runs his hand across her forehead, feeling proud of her.

*Luke* "I love you, Babe..."
*Laura reaches up and grabs his shirt* "I love you too..."
*Dr. Kelly* "I want you to push on your next contraction."
So on the the next round Laura pushes but not hard enough.
*Dr Kelly* "Now one this next one I need you bare down and push hard...."

Laura keeps it up for several more rounds of contractions but starts to get tired.
 *Laura* "I don't think I can push again!"
*Dr Kelly* "Laura, your so close, just one more good push...."
Luke leans over to look at what the doctor can see.

*Luke* "Just one more time, Babe...I can see his head!"
*Krystal* "Luke and Dr, Kelly are right sweetie your almost there just one more good push and he'll be here."
So Laura pushes one last time and Dr. Kelly gets ready to catch little Phoenix....

to be continued.....
^_^