Second Chance

Chapter 34

"Oh my gosh, just breathe Sarah. I am driving as fast as I can. I hope the officers do not catch me." Kari pants as she tries to calm me down.
"It's fine Kari. Yes, my water broke, but we still have time."
"OK. I can calm down. Look, there is the hospital." Kari flies into the emergency room slot by the door, dashes around to get me, and helps me to a wheelchair. "Someone please, she has broken her water. She is going into labor!" Kari yells as she wheels me in. A nurse takes the wheel chair from her and rushes me to the back through some double door.
"Where is my doctor? Doctor Lacey. She should be here." I smile. I can't believe today is finally the day I get to meet the love of my life.
"I'm right here Sarah. We have been preparing for this big day. Are you ready?" She says as she wheels me into a room and they help me on a bed. The nurse starts hooking up my ivs as the doctor helps me into a hospital dress.
"Steve, its Kari! It's happening! Get everyone down here! Now!" Kari squeals over the phone from the other side of the room.
"Alright Sarah, I'm going to check to see how dialated you are." Doctor Lacey says.
"OK." I prop my legs up and I can feel the pressure on my bladder and my lower waist. I can feel her, ready to come out. She's ready.
"She's at a 8. Alright Sarah, now is when all of those pregnancy classes come to play, and all of those breathing techniques you learned come in handy. I want you to count to ten, and then push, OK?" Doctor lacey says. Kari rushes over and grabs my right hand. I start to count, breathing a small breath after every number, and when I hit ten, I push as hard as I can.
"That was good Sarah, I can see her now. Just one or two more of those and you will get to hold your precious girl." Doctor Lacey says. She has been such a big help. She is so encouraging. I count again and push. Then I go back to counting and push once more. But this time, I hear a little cry from the end of the bed. Doctor Lacey stands, holding my precious little girl. I let Kari cut the ambilical cord, and the doctor and nurse towel off my little girl. They put her in a hat and swaddle her in a blanket and walk over to me.
"She's all yours." The doctor smiles as she hands me my baby girl. She already has a small little patch of dark brown hair, the cutest little button nose and then she opens her eyes. I instantly burst into tears. Her eyes are emerald green, just like her daddy's.
"Hello there, my precious life." I whisper.
"Have you picked out a name?" The doctor smiles, stroking my little ones hair.
"Yes. Erika Lee Laufeyson." I smile. Kari comes to stand by me and she takes a picture with my phone. She gently touches her cheek and Kari begins to cry as well.
"She looks just like him, Sarah." She whispers.
"I know." I smile. "She's going to be the most beautiful little girl."
"Alright, I have to take her back to get her measurements and weight. They are going to set you up in a bigger room to accommodate your family." The doctor says. I kiss my little girl on her head and the doctor takes her away. The nurse rolls me to another room where everyone is already waiting. I try to get up, but no on lets me.
"Well can you at least let me wear a regular shirt?" I ask and they all laugh. Kari brings me a loose fitting shirt, and I slip it on over the dress. The doctor advised me not to get up for at least thirdy minutes, which just might kill me. I'm ready to shower and snuggle up with my new bundle of joy.
"How do you feel?" Steve comes over and sqeezes my hand.
"Great. It's strange not having her in my belly anymore, but now at least I can actually talk to her. Instead of looking like a weirdo talking to my belly." I giggle. He chuckles and kisses my forehead.
"Kari told me you were a rock star in there. No tears. And I'm really happy for you."
"She said the word rockstar? I doubt that." I chuckle.
"Ha-ha, she said something along those lines. Listen, I want you to know that I'm going to help you, in any way I can. I want you to know that you aren't alone in this." Steve says, wiping a tear from my cheek. "I know its not the same as having him here, and I know you wish he was, but I swear, I'll do everything I can to protect that little girl." He whispers as he hugs me.
"This is why you're my favorite." I smile.
"I better be. That's what best friends are for right." He chuckles.
"No no. I am her best of friend." Kari says nudging Steve.
"How about you both are." I laugh. One of the nurses comes in, holding Erika, and walks over to me.
"She is so precious." The nurse says and I smile at her. She hands me my baby, and I nuzzle her little nose.
"Do you hear that Erika. Better get used to having this much noise around you all of the time, because once they meet you, they won't want to stay away." I whisper to her. Everyone crowds around to see her and I can see a tear go down Uncle Nick's face. "Are you crying grandpa?" I laugh.
"No. And I thought we agreed on papa?" He smiles.
"Do you wanna hold her?" I ask him. Everyone steps aside as he makes his way to me. I hold her up and gently set her into his arms. She yawns slightly and opens her eyes, looking up at him.
"Her eyes..." He says, while more tears file down his face.
"I know, they are extraordinary." I smile. I Pat his back and soon everyone is taking turns holding Erika. Kari helps me into the shower and leaves the clothes I brought on a stool. She walks out and I'm alone. I let the water rush over my face and I can feel the tears coming down. How can I be so happy yet so sad all at the same time? On one hand I'm extremely happy that I finally get to hold and see my baby girl. And on the other, I haven't seen Loki, the first love of my life, in over eight months, and he missed the birth of our first child... The media has been all over me about his whereabouts and my pregnancy since the day I came back home. They ask why he isn't here and I just say he is off defending his country. That's all I know, really. He was taken away from me, and I can't do anything about it. I have no reason to believe he is even still alive, but my heart longs for his return. I'm not sure what I'll tell Erika, when she asks about her father... I'll have to tell her the truth, or something like it... I turn the shower off and dry off. I look at myself in the mirror. Normally, without make up, I feel like a zombie, but today I actually look OK. Kari did tell me something about a new mothers glow. I smile and get dressed. I throw my hair up in a bun, and walk out of the door. Everyone is still there, and Jane is now holding her. Thor is rubbing her back slightly, and I can see the gleam in his eyes. If they don't get married and have adorable children, I'm going to be highly upset. I walk over to Nick and hug him.
"It's crazy to think that a year ago, you were just my little baby girl, trying to be her own kind of super hero." He says.
"I've thought about that alot lately. Where would I have been if things turned out differently. But, I know, that I wouldn't want any other outcome than this room right now. All of you, holding my precious little life, and truly enjoying being together. Being a family. Surrounding me. Supporting me. Loving me. Loving her. Yes, there are certain things I wish went differently, and yes I miss Loki, but right now. It's not about me. It's about bringing happiness to that cute little girl over there. And that's all that I want. For her to be happy, and to know that she is loved." I say. Nick puts his arm around me and I lean into him. This is where my new adventure begins. With all of my family close by, I'm going to raise this adorable little girl. I'm going to teach her all of the things that I should have learned and all of the things I did learn. She will be loved, more than I can ever imagine. Everyone in this room loves her, and soon she will love them back. I can't believe I will have the privilege of watching her grow and blossom. Jane hands her over to Kari, who finally gets to meet the child she has been protecting from the start. She has made sure I don't overexert myself, she makes sure I eat all of the food I'm craving, she makes sure I don't do anything crazy, and she makes sure I know just how much that little girl is loved. She calms me down when I have panic attacks. She holds me when I have woken up from a bad dream. If anyone has been a hero lately, its her. I can't imagine what I'd do with out her. She helped me in parenting classes, and learned how to do it all with me. She said she wanted to make sure we were both ready. The nurse comes in to check on me.
"So, any way I can go home tonight?" I ask her.
"We just need to check the babies vitals and yours. If everything is good, then you are free to go." She smiles. She starts to check and make sure we are both OK. Afterwards she leaves the room and doctor Lacey comes back.
"You're free to go Sarah. Just wanted to see all of you off." She smiles.
"Thanks, for everything. You have been such a big help during all of this."
"It's my job, plus, who wouldn't want to see the birth of that adorable kid over there?" She nudges me and leaves the room. Kari and I change her into the outfit we had picked out, and we all start to leave. As we are leaving I can't help but smile. Today was definitely one of the best days of my life. I'm almost in shock, knowing that I'm no longer carrying my baby in my belly anymore, but in my arms. So this is how my life is going to be... And I think I'm okay with that. I know I'm OK with it. Actually, I love it.