Chapter 56: Pure Joy

POV: Gabby

Word Count: 3426

November 13, 2009

So I hadn’t really expected my delivery of our daughter to be so…early or so easy. It had hurt like a mother fucker, I wasn’t going to lie. But, it wasn’t as bad as I feared. Now that she was here, cuddled against me eating it was real. Zac’s arms around us both was very comforting and she seemed to actually look up at him when he spoke. They had me unwrap her for skin to skin contact, something to keep her warmer too and I had the blanket over me when there was a knock. He got up and got it, letting his parents inside.

“She’s eating at the moment.” He said.

“Not a problem.” Walker said.

He stayed back but Diana walked over and peered down at her.

“She’s beautiful.”

She ran her fingers over her cheeks and just smiled, her first grandbaby. The first girl for them as well.

“She’s almost done.”

“No rush, she can take all the time she wants. She seems way more alert than my three. Honey, where’s your IV?”

“I don’t have one. By the time we made it here I was at a nine, so things moved so fast they didn’t have time to give me anything.”

She blinked. “Nothing?”

“No. But, from what I read and what Grace said that’s fine anyway.”

When Marisol was clearly done, Diana got her from me and even swaddled her back up in the blankets. She took her to Walker and the nurses again decided pressing on my abdomen was a good thing. Bitches.

It was nice to watch Diana and Walker, the look on their face was pure joy.

“What did you name her?” Walker asked.

“Marisol Skye.” Zac said.

“That’s a pretty name.” Diana said.

“Zac actually found that one.”

He just smiled, he really had found the name and it was basically the only one we liked of the fifty or so we saw. Diana and Walker stayed for about thirty minutes but promised to come up later today. They hadn’t been gone long when Shawn opened the door.

“I saw his parents in the hallway.”

“They just left a few minutes ago.” Zac said.

“Grace is clocking in and then she’ll be in here. She got called in while we were at your house.”

He dropped the bags by the door and came over to me, I guess I got the first hug.

“I see you lived through it with no Iv’s and no medication?”

“You shouldn’t read the chart before you come in.” I said.

He smiled. “Habit. So, where is this little princess I keep hearing about?”

I pointed to Zac. “He has her.”

Zac let him take her and Shawn sat down on the foot of the bed, just silently sat there. Zac looked at me confused and I shrugged. I no more had a clue what he was thinking than he did. I could see his fingers move across her cheek, but he was just so quiet. After what felt like forever he looked at me and I could see the tears on his face.

“She looks just like you did when they brought you home.”

“I think she looks more like Zac actually.”

“She has his nose for sure, but the rest of her face is all you.”

I couldn’t really lean over to wipe his face off but he held her there until he said she must be hungry again. She sure was eating like Zac!

“Speaking of which, would either of you like anything? I know you had dinner reservations but I guess she had other plans.”

“I can go get something if you’re going to stay.” Zac said.

“I’ll sit here until you’re back.” He said.

Zac helped me get her situated again before he gave us both a kiss and left. Shawn sat at the foot of the bed quietly.

“Why did you tear up?”

“Just reminded me of seeing you for the first time, what did you guys name her?”

“Marisol Skye, the nurse said she was 19 and a half inches, and just over 8 pounds. I think she said 8 pounds four ounces. They don’t see anything wrong and if she’s that big now I might be glad she chose today.”

He smiled. “She’d have been nine if you’d have kept going. Why use Skye?”

“It’s something everyone seems to like, it’s what I used for a while too.”

“Did she latch well?”

“Oh yeah. She’s not had any problems. This is number three I think.”

“You look tired though.”

“I’ll probably attempt sleep when he gets back and we get done.”

The door crept open and Grace came in. She was like Diana, no shame. “She really looks like you but that nose, all Zac. I think she may have his ears too.”

“She most definitely has his appetite.”

“She looks like she’s doing good though, there isn’t any problems noted in your chart.”

“She is. He thought I split but he never did stitches, so I assume I didn’t?”

“I saw his notes, he indicated that he thought so but once he was able to check you didn’t. No stitches is actually really good considering her size and weight.”

“Yeah, thanks for that wonderful image you two. Like I wanted to consider that.” Shawn said.

“You’re a doctor, you should be use to this talk.” She said.

“Right now I am big brother Shawn, not Dr. Frost.”

I giggled. “Sorry.”

“Have you reached anyone else?” He asked.

“Zac left voicemails for everyone, no idea what they’re out doing. But, Sierra said she’d come up later today she knew we’d be tired.”

“Yeah, I’d advise that everyone else wait. You and…” she trailed off.

“Marisol.” I said.

“You and Marisol need to relax and have some family time. Where is Zac?”

“He went to get us something to eat. I can eat right?”

“Yes. I would recommend good stuff though, but I know it’s late.”

She had to do more pressing and I just wanted to scream, the pressing actually hurt. She then had to get to work, she was my acting nurse so I would see her all through the night anyway. Marisol was nearly done when Zac got back, so he ate and I nibbled until she was and then Shawn got her again. He really seemed to just like staring at her.

“She has you’re pout Ella.”

“Dear lord we’re doomed. Did you ever reach your brothers?”

Zac shook his head. “I guess I should call them back.”

He got his phone and made calls apparently no one answered him. Shawn finally laid her down on the bed.

“She needs a clean diaper and I need to let you two get her changed and get some sleep. I come in today at 9 and I will drop by on my lunch.”

“I’ll be here.”

He smiled and we both got forehead kisses before he headed out. Zac got me a diaper, wipes, and alcohol wipes. He also got a suit from the diaper bag we’d brought.

“You don’t want to try this first?” I asked.

“I’ll watch you Mrs. Expert.”

“Hey, I never changed one this little.”

Unwrapping her was really easy and even getting the little white shirt off was easy. The diaper was a poop diaper, great experience here. But I think I managed the diaper quite well, even got the cord cleaned. Putting the white socks on was easy too but fuck that suit wasn’t easy and she wasn’t pleased with me. It was actually a few moments after she started crying that Taylor called and Zac just put him on speaker.

“Hey Tay.”

“I…is that a baby crying? Where are you?”

“It is a baby, it’s your niece.” Zac said.

“My…wait! You’ve had her already?! Why didn’t you call me!?!?!”

“I did, you didn’t answer the first time and she arrived like ten minutes later.”

“You’re suppose to call when she goes into labor Zac. Not five minutes before she reaches ten!”

“Hey! He had to drive for five miles on the dirt on I-44 to get me here before she was born in the car. He didn’t really have a lot of time to make calls.”

“Have you reached Mom and Dad? Ike? Shawn?”

“Mom, Dad and Shawn have already come up. She was born at 8:06 pm.”

“So, why is she screaming?”

“I’m trying to put clothes on her…” I said.

I had finally gotten her hands in the sleeves and gotten it zipped up, she was just not happy. I swaddled her back up and got her up in my arms. It didn’t seem to work, Zac was talking to Taylor, telling him about the trip and all and he just reached over and laid his hand on her tummy and she started getting quiet.

“No way.”

He just smiled and a moment later hung up with Taylor. He had been on a date with Stella, no phones. Isaac was on the same type but he should be getting home soon too.

“Already spoiled and she’s not even five hours old yet.”

He just smiled. “Now that she’s dressed, once she’s warm and cozy we can get you cozy.”

I nodded. He got the pillow and blanket from the closet got his make shift bed ready, even changed clothes into something more comfortable. When she was quiet I laid down with her, knowing she’d be up soon to eat. Zac was pretty much out the moment his head hit the pillow. I napped, having her right on my chest.

-November 14, 2009-

I’d slept some, in between feedings mainly. I was really fond of her laying right here on my chest, assured me that she was breathing just fine. I could feel her heartbeat and it made the multiple feedings easier. Grace found my phone and after it charged she laid it with me, was good because Isaac had called at three, so I got to tell him. I called Abby at 6:45 am.

“Girl, what the hell are you doing up so early?”

“I am staring at my daughter, what are you doing?”

“You’re doing what? Who cares what I am doing.”

“I am staring at my daughter who decided that 8:06 pm last night was the best time to arrive.”

“No way! You were supposed to call me!”

I explained how she arrived, poor Zac had flown to the hospital.

“That explains the weird call from him.”

“Yeah. He was calling to say I was here but she came so quickly after that.”

“Send me pictures. I’ll come there right after Andrew gets off!”

I heard Andrew in the background and she explained to him why I was calling so early. But, I got her a picture as she was laying right here and sent it to her.

“Those cheeks! Zac’s nose for sure, but the rest is you.”

“Same thing Shawn said.”

“He’s been there?”

“Yeah, we got in touch with him right after and his parents. They came up late last night. He actually brought our bags.”

“That’s good. How did he react?”

“He cried actually. But, he said she reminded him of when I came home. He’ll be back today sometime he’s working.”

“I’ll be up when with Andrew, he has to work but we’ll come together.”

“Ok. You have a good day and I’ll send some more pictures, Zac has a lot on his phone but I can’t reach it.”

“Okay. Give her sweet face kisses.”

“I shall, she’s about to nurse again.”

“Okay.”

She said her byes and sure enough Marisol was ready to nurse again. She was going about every hour and a half to two. Grace was glad she wasn’t just sleeping but suspected it was because I hadn’t had any drugs. She was glad I was doing well. I got breakfast and several cat naps before Zac woke up, he actually woke me up when he took her off my chest.

“It’s just me, go back to sleep.”

What woke me up was her crying about ten, Zac had her laying on the foot of the bed and was trying to get her changed.

“Baby?”

“I got the diaper changed but her feet are being a pain in the butt.”

I adjusted just a bit but I was about to call the nurse when the door opened, I saw a huge parade of balloons followed by Sierra and Heather.

“What are you doing to my baby girl?” Sierra asked.

“Changing a wet diaper, I’m just not quick enough with the clothes.”

He finally got her feet back in and the suit zipped up, then wrapped her back up. In his arms she was calm back down in moments. The balloons were all pink and she had a bag too, which she sat down and then she simply looked at Zac. He walked around and let her take her, no words were even needed there.

Heather came to me first, hug and I opened the bag to see as few more suits, dresses mostly with long sleeves and tights to match. But I looked at Sierra, holding her close and I really did feel bad. I was an idiot when I ran away from her, but had I not done that then I wouldn’t have Marisol now. But what would I have?

“Stop thinking about that Kitten.” She said.

“Stop thinking about what?” I asked.

She glanced at me. “This is where you belong, nowhere else. Stop thinking about the what if’s. You aren’t getting rid of me and you are with the person you need to be with.”

Zac and I had talked about it just a few days ago at the Zoo, I couldn’t think of a better time to bring it up than right now. She was holding her tightly and I know that while she couldn’t have me the way her heart desired, she could enjoy a piece of me and she was determined she was.

“Sierra.”

She looked at me, letting me take the picture but she kept her gaze on me for a moment.

“We want you to be her godmother. She will have two, but you will be the one she’d go to incase something happens to us.”

“Me? Why me?”

Zac smiled. “Because we both know you still love her and if things were different then you wouldn’t have just let go. We know that you’ll love her unconditionally, no matter who she grows up to be.”

“Of course, it would be nice to know her name though.”

“Marisol Skye.” I said.

She leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Marisol, I love that name. I accept your invitation to be her godmother.”

“Good, but um…I really need a nurse to come in so I can get the bed changed and stuff before she wants food again.”

Zac called the nurse and Grace came in, she placed them on the other side of a curtain I never knew existed until now. She then helped me to get myself cleaned up and back into a clean bed. Just in time too because I heard Heather ask why she was trying to eat the blanket, so they brought her back to me. I really didn’t mind that I was having her more than anyone else.

“Zac you got the good view here.” Heather said.

“Tell me about it, every day multiple times a day. I’m fine with this.”

They giggled but didn’t stay much longer. Sierra said she would come to the house and spend far more time, right now she knew there were lots of things going on. She ate very well, but then decided it was nap time and I had Zac lay her down.

“You should nap too.”

“I’m okay. Lunch should be here soon.”

“Speaking of…”

He called Taylor and requested he bring him food when they came up. They were actually on their way up so they agreed. I tossed in an order too because hospital food was not always good. The tray arrived before them and it was decent. When they came in they had balloons too and another gift bag which Stella handed to me. She’d gotten me something! Slippers and wait… pads?

“Why the…?”

“There for when you go home. Most women forget them and I noticed when we were house checking the other day you didn’t have any.”

“Thank you. I totally did forget to get those.”

I didn’t remove them from the bag but Marisol wasn’t very fond of Taylor. Stella held her just fine, having picked her up as soon as I was done opening the bag when she handed her to Taylor though, she lasted maybe two minutes before she started crying. He tried multiple times to get her to calm down but eventually he handed her to Zac, who just spoke to her and it seemed to calm her right down.

“No way.” Taylor said.

Isaac and Nicole came in shortly after and she was fine with them both, but Nicole had to give her to me because she was getting irritated with them and wanted to eat again. So, while I fed the girls sat with me and the three of them sat across the room. The parents and Shawn returned also and even Jack came up. All brought gifts, some were for me like Shawn got me a pair of PJ’s something that buttoned up, which would be nice. The others were for Marisol, usually some more outfits and his mom actually bought her an outfit for Thanksgiving, because we didn’t anticipate her being here. It was a brown long sleeve onesie with Little Miss Gobble Gobble on the top, and a pair of footie pants with a yellow, orange and brown skirt around the waist. It would be perfect for her. We got several hours to ourselves after they left. I napped actually, feeling super tired and just needing it. It was Zac that woke me up at 6:50, it was close to feeding time but Abigail was sitting on the bed holding her.

“Abby?” I asked.

“Zac refused to wake you up, but that’s fine. We know you didn’t get much rest and you need it.”

“How long have you been here?”

“About an hour, maybe less. Andrew actually brought him dinner up.”

I got woken up a bit more before she handed her to me, she latched easily and I did have to keep her awake a bit now, she was getting tired too and the lactation nurse said every two hours max, she wanted her to eat something. But she seemed fine to eat on time and be full. She was still eating when Andrew came in with dinner. But he was patient and they were eating too. I even had a dinner tray so I was picking between the two while she nursed too.

“You look comfortable.” Abby said.

“Looks can be deceiving. They’ve poked and prodded me all day, I’m appreciating naps.”

“You should.”

“I’ve gotten good with diaper changes.”

“Speaking of…why is she in a different outfit?”

“My last attempt at diapers wasn’t tight enough. I made sure to get a little tighter but not too bad.”

Andrew waited patiently until she was done then he took her for a bit. Not that a bit lasted long, she didn’t seem to like him either.

“So…are you both willing to be godparents?” Zac asked.

“I thought you were asking Sierra.” Abby said.

“She agreed but she can have more than one.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice, I’ll be glad too.”

Andrew smiled. “Of course, assuming she ever likes me.”

“She will dude, she’s just picky right now. She screamed with Taylor too.” Zac said.

Neither of them stayed long and odds are I was going home tomorrow, so she agreed to wait until we were home before they came back over.

“Did you ever reach Julian?”

“I talked to her while you were asleep, she said that as much as she wants to run up here. She would rather wait until you were home. She also knows Chloe will want to come over.”

“True.”

He got comfortable and ready to lay down and I did too, Marisol laid in her little bassinet while the nurses got me settled again. I couldn’t wait to be home. I got mesh underwear again finally and that let me move around. What I wanted was home though…