Matters of the Heart

Aj

Alex age 33 August
In March , I asked Elizabeth to marry me. In April, we announced to our family that we are expecting. In May, Eliza and I moved in together.
Since moving in, Pip has started calling me Papa and Angie calls Eliza Mommy. The kids were beyond excited when we told them we are having a baby. I would say life has been amazing.

This morning, I wake up to a very grumpy fiancé. She is 39 weeks today.
"What's wrong Amor?"
"I slept terrible. I could not get comfortable. When I did finally get comfortable, I had to get up and go pee. If it wasn't that, the baby kicked me in the ribs. I am ready for this one to come out."
"Well, I can help move things along, if you want to give it a chance."
"Well, we have tried it everyday for the last week. It won't hurt to try again," she smirks.
"Yes!" I whisper and Eliza laughs.

A little while later, Eliza is making breakfast for the kids. I'm getting ready to leave. I come up behind her,rub her belly and kiss her head.
"I'm about to leave. I have some things I have to get done at the office this morning. Do you have court today?"
"Yeah. My last day before maternity leave."
"Do you mind if I come and watch you do your thing. You know I love watching you in court."
She laughs. "I don't mind, but I thought you have court today?"
"No. They called me five minutes ago and rescheduled."
"Well then babe, I will see you in court."
I kiss her and hear the kids say "eww."
We laugh and kiss again. I then walk over to Pip and Anna.
"Bye Pip, bye Princess. You two have a good day with Jessica. I love you."
"Love you too Papa," they say in unison.

After lunch, I leave my meeting at the office and head to court to watch Elizabeth. As she is sitting there, I see her lay her hand on her belly and she hunches in on herself.  Since I am sitting behind her and the judge is not here yet, I lean forward and whisper, "are you okay?"
"Yeah, just Braxton Hicks."
The judge comes in and the trial starts. I see Eliza's stiffen up and her clutch the table hard enough to turn her knuckles white, a few times over the next two hours. I get the feeling she is in early labor. When she gets up to do her final argument, she has to stop and clutch the table.
"Miss Schuyler, are you okay?" The judge asks.
"Yes." She says after a moment.
"Do you need a recess?"
"No your Honor. I am fine, thank you."
She stands back up and continues her argument. This happens once more while she is speaking. When she sits down, I see the sweat running down her neck. The judge orders a thirty minute recess to make up her decision. As soon as I can, I go to her.
"Hey, your in labor, aren't you?"
She clutches her stomach again and nods. "Yeah, I think so."
"Do we need to head to the hospital?"
"No. My contractions are still fairly far apart."
"I've been timing them while watching you work. They are about 12 minutes apart."
"We don't need to go until they are five minutes apart." She leans in and kisses me. "Don't worry Alex, I will let you know when it's time."

When she comes back, the judge rules in favor of Elizabeth and her client.
Elizabeth's client breaths a sigh of relief as Eliza clutches her stomach. After the judge leaves, she shakes her client's hand and apologizes. "Congratulations, but I have to go. My water broke."
We all look down and I see a small puddle by Eliza's feet.
"Yes, go! Good luck. Thank you so much Elizabeth."
They shake hands. I then take Elizabeth by the hand and take her brief case in my other hand.
"We will head home, change your clothes, grab the hospital bag, and head to the hospital."

We get a taxi and head home to get our hospital stuff. As we walk in our door, Eliza has to stop and she clutches my hand tightly as another contraction hits her. I have noticed they are quickly speeding up.
"Let's get you changed, then we are going to the hospital."
I am helping her change, when Eliza says in a panic, "Alex, it is coming. I can feel it. Look, please look."
"Ok, ok, lay down and I will check."
She lays down and I look. I can't see the head yet but I can tell things look different.
"Okay, i don't feel comfortable trying to get you to the hospital. I'm calling for an ambulance."
She clutches my arm. "Don't leave, please."
I lean down and kiss her. "I am not going anywhere."
I pull out my phone and call 911.
"Help, my fiancé in in labor and she says the baby is coming now."
"Sir, I need your addresses."
I tell her.
"Please, when will the ambulance be here."
"Sir, the ambulance should be there in about ten minutes. Unfortunately there is a major traffic jam on their route, but they are moving as fast as they can."
"Alex, I need to push."
I put the operator on speaker and attend to my Eliza.
"I... I don't know what to do?"
"Sir, take a deep breath. I'm here to help you. First, to make sure your door is unlocked and then help your girlfriend get into a position that is comfortable. Then, tell me, can you see the head?"
"No, but she says she needs to push."
"Okay. Make sure she is comfortable and watch for the head. Tell her to avoid pushing if she can help it. It is better to wait for the paramedics."
"Oh god! Alexander, it hurts so bad."
"I know Amor. I am here."
I alternate between rubbing her back and holding her hands.
Five minutes after calling 911, the door opens.  Angie and Pip walk in with the nanny. Unfortunately, Eliza lets out a scream and I see them run towards us.
"Mommy, Papa, what's going on?" Pip asks worried.
"The baby is coming guys. Jessica, can you take the kids to the park. They don't need to be here for this. I will call Elizabeth's sister, Peggy, to come get the kids." I say.
She nods but before they can leave, Pip runs to his mom.
"Mommy, Are you okay?"
Eliza rolls over and cups Phillip's face. "Yes baby. I will be okay. Your brother or sister will be here soon. Now, you go with Jessica. I don't want you to get scared."
"Mom, we want to stay here with you," Angie says walking up. Eliza hugs them and shakes her head.
"No babies. I...."
She is unable to finish her sentence as another contraction hits. She screams and her face turns red as she pushes.
"Mommy!"  Angie says scared.
I walk over and pick up Angie.
"Princess, mommy will be okay. Now, you two go with Jessica. I am going to ask auntie Peggy to pick you up. I promise, we will call after the baby comes."
I take Pip's hand and lead them back to Jessica. They reluctantly leave as I call Peggy and tell her what is happening.
"I will go get them. Alex, tell my sister I love her and give her a kiss for me."
"Will do."

The paramedics arrive five minutes after the kids leave, but it is too late to move Eliza by then. She is crowning when they walk in.
"You go be by your her side. We will take over from here," the paramedic says. I go sit behind her. She leans back into me and I slide my arms under hers. She squeezes both my hands hard enough to make them go numb.
"It hurts. Please, make it stop hurting." She cries. She lays her head back on my shoulder and cries.
I kiss her head. "It will be over soon amor. I am here. Hold tight to me."
She nods, pushes and screams. I wipe her sweat with a towel and kiss her head. I whisper words of encouragement and let her scream and curse as she pushes.
Five minutes later, the paramedic says, "The head is out. On your next contraction, push hard."
Breathing hard, she nods and pushes. I feel her body tense up and then relax as the baby comes out. I look down and see the baby in the paramedics arms.
"You did it Elizabeth. You did amazing."
I hold her in my arms. She is shaking and crying as I try to confront her. The paramedics finish what they need to do and then hand the baby to Elizabeth. She immediately stops shaking but continues crying.
"You have a beautiful baby boy."
I see my new son and kiss the top of Eliza's head.
"He is beautiful Amor."

A two hours later, Eliza and I are at the hospital. She is sleeping as I hold our baby.
She insisted on naming him Alexander James. We are going to call him Aj. We called Peggy an hour ago and she said she will bring the kids after dinner.

"Knock knock," Peggy whispers.
"Hi," I whisper back. "Come on in."
As Pip and Angie come I, I put my finger over my mouth.
"Hi guys. Mommy is sleeping, but come meet your brother."
"I have a baby brother," Pip says excitedly.
"Yeah bud."
"What's his name?"
"His name is Alexander James, but we will call him Aj."
As the kids look at AJ, Peggy goes to sit beside her sister.
"Papa, can I hold him?" Pip asks.
"Of course. Go sit on the couch."
He sits down and I put a pillow to help support Aj. When I set Aj in Pip's arms, he is so gentle and loving. He just stares at him for a solid minute.
"Papa, I love him so much."
"I'm glad bud."
Angie gently stokes Aj hair and kisses him.
I look over and see Eliza on the bed smiling at us. She blows me a kiss and I catch it. My heart soars with my family of five.