Gertie

Chapter 43

November 15, 1996

The family surrounded Gertie at the fish market, as she sat in front of her Blues Clues birthday cake. Marlena was a few days past her due date, and feeling massive, but she refused to take it easy. Gertie turning three was a huge milestone, especially after everything the small girl had been through. Her hair was growing back, and her head was covered with a soft halo of dark brown curls. She continued to wear the elastic headband with the large sequin bow, and again, she sat at the table as if she were holding court. In front of her was a Blues Clues birthday cake with three candles.

Just as the last notes of the Happy Birthday song rang out, Marlena gasped softly, "Oh, no!"

John saw the puddle at her feet, and he smiled at her broadly, "You ready for this, Baby?"

"Do I have a choice?" she asked him with wide eyes.

Brady laughed loudly, "Mama peed hew pants!"

Caroline lifted Brady, and said, "Your Mama is about to have a baby."

"You pee yow pants when you have a baby?" he asked with confusion.

"I want cake!" Gertie said loudly, shoving her hands into the sugary confection in front of her, and pushing her fingers towards her wide mouth.

Shawn shook his head at the chaos, and looking at John, told him, "You get Marlena to the hospital. Caroline and I, we can take care of the children."

Sami stepped in front of her mother, staring her in the eyes, and told her, "Daddy's with you this time. You've got this."

Remembering Gertie's birth, Marlena whispered, "He is, isn't he?"

"Mom," Sami said, "Go. Be the brave, amazing, strong woman, we all know you are, and I'll be there later to meet my little brother."

Marlena turned to John, "Do we have the bag?"

John kissed her gently, "It's been in the car for the last week, Baby. We're ready."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Four hours later, Marlena gave one last push, bringing her child into the world, while John brushed her sweaty hair from her forehead, and told her how amazing she was. They heard their child's cry for the first time, and then stared at Dr. Bader in shock, when she proclaimed, "Oh! You tricked us didn't you, little lady!"

"A girl?" Marlena said laughing. "It's a girl?"

John wrapped his palm around the nape of her neck, and kissed her, "I'm definitely outnumbered."

"Go check her...while they clean her up...please..."

Their daughter stared up at him with wide eyes as she screamed the announcement of her birth to whole labor and delivery unit. "You, my little miracle, remind of Sami," John said, softly running his fingertip over his daughters forehead. "What a surprise you turned out to be. We don't even have a named picked out."

The nurse handed John the baby, and he brought her to Marlena. Marlena smiled, holding her arms out, "Well...we have a middle name picked out."

John's eyebrow cocked up, and he laughed, "You're really going to allow Gertie and Brady to pick their sisters middle name?"

"I am," she said sternly, staring at her daughter with adoration. "I promised them."

He marveled over his daughter, "I can't believe we had a girl."

"Ultrasounds aren't completely accurate. An umbilical cord can fool any qualified professional, besides...the surprise of it is going to be a beautiful memory."