Castle and The Originals

Chapter 38

When the nurse once again swooped in to remove the baby from Kate's grasp with promises of returning with her shortly, Rick followed his wife's earlier instructions and accompanied little Madison across the room to be checked out.

Kate watched intently as Brooklyn nimbly examined every inch of her baby, just as she'd done earlier with Madeline. She again wiped all the moisture from the petite body, weighed and measured her, inked her feet up before pressing them into a white square of cards cardstock, and finally pricked her heal and smeared the minute blood droplet on a stick of some sort before dressing her in a diaper, white t-shirt and a purple cap; as opposed to the pink one she'd placed on Madeline. Finally, swaddled in a matching purple blanket, Madison was placed in her father's eagerly awaiting arms.

Alexis sat in the corner completely enthralled with her younger sister sleeping soundly against her. Kate's hands actually itched to hold her daughter again, but she fought the urge to call out to the teenager, knowing she would have all the time in the world to bond with the newborn.

Lanie buzzed about for a few more minutes taking more pictures before deciding to head off to the waiting room to give everyone the good news.

Kate cringed as Rick practically interrogated the nurse. Brooklyn, patient as a saint, confirmed with each and every question that, despite being born at thirty-six and a half weeks, both Madeline and Madison were perfect. They scored a ten and a nine respectively of the Apgar Test; Madison losing only one point for Respiration due to the lack of vigorous crying, but she reassured him that the baby wasn't showing any signs of struggling to breathe. Then she joked that if she could've she would've given the point taken away from Madeline or Madison for extra credit because, 'boy could that kid scream.' Of course that sent Rick into a tizzy about the possibility of Madeline having been in pain or suffering in some way. It took another round of reassurances from the portly nurse to convince him all was well. She also reminded him that Dr. Glazier, the twins' pediatrician, had been notified of their arrival and would conduct a complete workup before allowing either of them to be discharged.

Knowing both her girls were healthy and safe in loving arms, Kate took a moment to assess her own condition. Still just numb enough, all Kate could remember feeling after Madison came out was the doctor massaging her abdomen as her uterus continued to repeatedly cramp, Kate had barely registered when it had been done, but somehow she was now covered in a sheet and blanket; her legs having been removed from the stirrups. At some point the bed had been raised slightly, placing her in a more upright position. The adrenaline that had been coursing through her system during the delivery was beginning to subside. The extreme exhaustion from lack of sleep combined with almost a whole day of labor was beginning to take its toll. She rested her head against the pillow and shut her eyes.

Despite the fatigue Kate's mind was buzzed; the air around her felt electric with the excitement of new life. It was hard to believe; she was a Mom. She ran the word over and over in her head; repeated it so many times and in various versions, Mommy. Mom. Mother. Mom. Mom. Mom. The last one replayed so many times she thought for a second that she was actually hearing it rather than just thinking it.

Soft fingertips on her wrist had her opening her eyes. Alexis was standing next to the bed. Madeline was still asleep in the crook of her elbow.

"Mom?" She asked.

Mom? So she hadn't imagined it after all. Oh? Oh.

"Yeah sweetie?" Kate said.

Alexis delicately laid the swaddled infant in Kate's arms, making sure to support her floppy head. "I think I've hogged her long enough."

"Thank you, Lex." Kate cuddled the infant close; instinctively breathing in the new, yet somehow familiar scent of her child.

Alexis picked up the camera from the nearby table and took the first photo of the mother and daughter together, she stared at the image on the digital display. "That was the most miraculous thing I've ever witnessed."