You Are My Sunshine

Chapter Nineteen: The Home Birth

Joe took a deep breath as he walked off the pitch and into the tunnel as half-time came, he was glad that things seemed to be going well and he was pleased that he had managed to keep Everton from scoring. 

Keeping his head down as he walked over to his locker and sat down, Joe pulled his mobile out of his bag and paused at the number of messages that were there; he ignored Manuel Pellegrini as he started to talk about how the match had gone so far. 

"I have to go," Joe announced staring at the messages on his phone that confirmed his worse fears, Gabriella had gone into labour and he wasn't with her; he ignored the looks from his team-mates as he got to his feet. 

Joe didn't care what they thought, he quickly started to grab his things knowing that he had to find out where Gabriella was; he had no idea what hospital she might have been taken to and if she was okay. 

"Don't be stupid Hart," Manuel said shaking his head, they were in the middle of a match and they were winning; he was sure that whatever it was could wait until the match was over. 

Vincent stared at Joe, he had never seen him like this before and he could only imagine why Joe was suddenly so interested in leaving when they were playing so well. 

"Gabby's in labour," Joe said staring at Manuel knowing that he couldn't just stay here knowing that his daughter could be born at any moment; he didn't want to miss the birth of his first child. 

Joe had no idea how other footballers played through the births of their children, however there was no way in hell that he was going to be able to focus on the match now. 

"You will sit down this instant... or so help me, you won't play another moment," Manuel ordered, he wasn't going to let his best goalkeeper walk out on the team when they needed him; they might have Willy Caballero and Richard Wright but he wasn't going to give them a chance. 

The entire locker room was silent for a moment wondering what Joe was going to do now, they all knew how excited he was about the birth of his daughter.

***

"What do you mean I can't go to the hospital?" Gabriella said staring at the paramedic who was sitting between her parted legs, she had hoped that there was still some time to get to the hospital. 

It had all seemed to happen so quickly and Gabriella didn't even know if anyone had gotten hold of Joe yet, she was scared that he still had no idea that she was going to give birth to their baby. 

"I am sorry but baby is crowning... we will have to deliver here," the paramedic explained trying to comfort Gabriella while her partner radioed the hospital to let them know what was going on; they would have to deliver here and then take Gabriella and baby to the hospital. 

Gabriella felt tears burn her eyes, she couldn't believe that Joe was going to miss the birth of their daughter and it was all her fault; she wished that there was something that she could do. 

"You need to start pushing Gabriella," the paramedic informed her, they couldn't waste any more time unless they wanted to risk complications, Gabriella bleeding out and a distressed baby. 

The paramedic knew that this wasn't ideal but they would take Gabriella and the baby to the hospital as soon as they had delivered the baby as safe as possible; it was better to do it here where Gabriella would be comfortable or in the back of the ambulance. 

"But Joe isn't here yet," Gabriella whimpered not liking the idea that she still had no news on where her boyfriend was, she knew the second half had just started but she couldn't contact anyone right now. 

The paramedic offered her a reassuring smile, it was never easy when things like this happened and they were just going to have to deal with it especially since they had no other options.

"It's going to be just fine Gabby," the paramedic said as another contraction ripped through Gabriella; she cried out in pain and she knew there was no way that she couldn't push. 

Gabriella gritted her teeth and pushed, she couldn't help it and she could only hope that everything was okay with baby; she was sure that Joe would understand that she hadn't been able to hold off. 

"You're doing great," the paramedic said smiling at Gabriella as she coached the brunette into pushing her daughter into the world, it seemed to be going well and it wouldn't be long before the baby would be here. 

Gabriella cried out in pain as she gave the final few pushes, she ignored the commotion in the hallway knowing that it didn't matter right now; she focused on pushing until the cries of her newborn daughter filled the room. 

Stepping into the room just as Gabriella pushed their daughter into the world, Joe could only watch as Elena finally made her appearance; he had missed most of the labour but he had made it for the moment that had mattered. 

"Congratulations Mr Hart... you have a healthy baby girl," the paramedic said smiling up at the new father, she could see how surprised he was about this and he was still dressed in his kit from the match. 

Joe opened and closed his mouth as he stared at the small bundle in the paramedics arms, he slowly sat down next to Gabriella unable to take his eyes off his newborn daughter. 

"Would you like to cut the cord?" the paramedic asked smiling at Joe, the delivery had gone well and she didn't see the harm in giving Joe a moment that he would always remember.

***

"You're here," Gabriella murmured a little surprised that Joe was here with her right now, she watched him holding Elena in his arms and she couldn't imagine a better sight in the world right now. 

Joe nodded his head, he stared down at Elena smiling knowing that he had gotten here when it had counted; he was just glad he got to see a glimpse of her being born. 

"I broke several traffic laws to get here," Joe admitted sure that he had run several red lights and that he was probably going to end up with a ticket or two after rushing to get to the apartment.

It hadn't taken him much to get into contact with Catherine who had told him about what was happening, Joe had rushed home and it had paid off in the end now that he was holding Elena in his arms. 

"I'm sorry," Gabriella whispered looking at the paramedics as they prepared to move her and Elena to the hospital so that they could be checked over properly. 

Joe shook his head and kissed her knowing that he didn't blame her for what had happened, he got to see some of the birth instead of missing it completely and he hoped that the trip to the hospital was going to be okay. 

Pressing a kiss to the top of Elena's head, he smiled at the soft hairs that sat on her head and he hoped that she was okay after the dramatic way that she had come into the world; she was so small in his arms and he already loved her so much. 

"Elena Josephine Hart," Gabriella mused tiredly, she loved the name that they had picked out for their daughter and it really suited her. 

Joe nodded his head, he wouldn't change anything for the world; he loved his daughter so much and he didn't care what Manuel did to him for leaving the match like that.