Our Little Family (COMPLETED)

Strummer's Grand Entrance

Everything had been turned upside-down in the Hansen household. Zoe has been so sick, worse then she ever was with Oakley. Evan has been torn in half because he wants to stay with his wife but has to go to work to make money.

Oakley's been acting different, he's tired all the time and hasn't felt his best. He's stopped wanting to go to school, but not because he's afraid, there's some other reason. He doesn't run to tell Evan or Zoe all about his day, he's just ready for his brother to be here and for his Mom to feel better.

Weeks turned into months and soon it was nearing Zoe's due date. She was a few days away from holding her baby for the first time. Everything was going really well, Zoe had felt better and soon it will all be worth it.

"Uh babe, you got a call from your office while you were sleeping". Evan informed Zoe

"My office? I'm supposed to be off until after the birth... what did they want"?

"I'm not sure, I didn't get to it in time before it went to voice mail".

Zoe picked up her cell phone and called the number back. It was the main offices number from the state, aka the people who are above Zoe who work with some of the best designers in the country. Another way Zoe referred to them is her rude bosses.

"Hello, Zoe Hansen"? The man picked up

"Yes, I'm Zoe Hansen. I'm sorry I missed your previous call. Is everything okay"?

"Yes, everything is fine. It's just that there has been a bit of problem. The speaker representing your offices who was supposed to come to the state designer convention has recently informed us that they couldn't make it due to a family emergency".

"Oh no"! Zoe pretended to be shocked. She knew very well who is speaker was. His name is Ryan and he's fairly new, not to new but compared to Zoe and Alana, he's very new. He's also very lazy and his family emergency was him wanting to go get ice cream at the new ice cream palor that had just opened up.

"It is very important that someone is there to represent your offices, Mrs Hansen. A lot is at stake, we need to get our state at the top level for all design companies throughout the United States. We can't do that if one of our best offices can't make it! That's why I'm asking you to step in"!

"Me"?!

"I know, isn't it such an amazing honor! It will be happening only a few days from now on the 10th. See you then Mrs Hansen"!

"But--"!

He ended the call quickly before Zoe could explain her situation. Why is it always her?! The worst part of it all is the 10th is her due date. It's extremely risky for her to travel while she's this close to her date. Oakley was actually a day early. What if Strummer is a day early or exactly on the 10th?!

"Evan"! Zoe shouted feeling all the stress take over her body

"What's wrong, babe? What was the call about"?

"I apparently have to travel up to the state designer convention to speak about our tiny office. On the 10th".

"You can't do that! What if you go into labor?! Not to mention you don't feel good at all! You have to tell them you can't do it"!

"I really want to Evan but... if my office doesn't have a speaker go up there then... our state won't have a chance to be ranked near the top in the entire country. This has been our end goal for years now and we're so small that it's hard for us to compete with the other offices. We're so close.... to close to let it all go to waste".

"I envy your drive, Zo. I wish I had the same ambition... but.. at least let me go with you".

"Of course! I was hoping you'd ask... I know I've been really sick lately and... kind of a lot to deal with".

"Zoe, don't apologize. Our baby is growing in you... I hadn't gotten annoyed with you in the slightest".

"Thank you, Ev".

---------------------------------------------------

"We'll be back tonight, be good Oakley! Mommy and Daddy will see you later"! Zoe smiled and waved

"Bye"! Oakley yelled as he held Connor's hand.

Evan drove, the ride was silent except from the radio playing random music. Zoe rested her head on her hand soon falling asleep. Evan smiled as he continued the drive there.

"Hey Zo, we're here". Evan carefully woke Zoe

"Ugh, I don't want to do this Evan.... but I have to".

"I'll be here the whole time. If you feel any pain at all, I don't care if it's a paper cut... I want you to tell me"!

"Okay, I will. Who are you? My father"?

"No, Larry is way scarier than me".

"My Dad isn't scary"! Zoe chuckled

"Not to you! He's your dad... he's way less caring if your his daughters boyfriend in high-school"!

"Oh please, it got better didn't it"?

"Yeah but he still intimidates me sometimes".

Zoe just laughed and successfully got out of the car. Evan helped her the way he always would. The two walked into the meeting area.

"Ugh... it's Barbara"! Zoe scoffed

"Who's Barbara"?

"She's a witch".

"Uh.. okay? I would ask for you to explain but considering your squeezing my arm extremely tightly right now... I'll just drop it before you actually rip my limb off".

"Sorry, baby".

"Well, hello Zoe Murphy"! Barabara laughed being conceding.

"It's Hansen now. It has been for years". Zoe growled

"Sorry, it's not something I have to worry about remembering in my daily life so... I just don't worry about it".

Zoe began to squeeze Evan's arm tightly again.

"Ow". Evan said under his breath

"Oh is this Evan"?! Barabara asked

"Yes. This is my husband.. he wanted to be here with me so if you don't mind I have places we need to be".

"What a witch". Evan grumbled

"See.... I told you".

The panel started for each office. Zoe's was the sixth one to speak. She walked nervously up to the podium prepared to just say what she had written on her clip board papers. While she was mid-way through the speach she felt a strong and painful kick to her stomach area.

*Oh No buddy, not now*Zoe thought to herself.

Evan immediately knew something was wrong. He rushed to the stage and told the head about Zoe's situation. I then rushed to her side, Zoe however could not hold her pain in anymore.

Zoe felt the wetness and knew her water had broke. Strummer was ready and he wasn't going to wait.

"EVAN"! Zoe howled in pain

"I'm right here, Zoe"! Evan reassured her

The head helped bring Zoe to the side of the stage. Evan then rushed her to the hospital. If Zoe wasn't in such pain, she probably would've felt embarrassed for her going into labor in front of people from all over the country.

Zoe was rushed into a delivery room and Evan held her hand tightly just like last time. The birth didn't take long, soon the baby boy was being cleaned off and Zoe held him in her arms. He was perfect, sweet. The sound of his cries filled the room like music fills a theater.

"Do we have a name"? The nurse asked

"Strummer Matthew Hansen". Zoe awnsered never taking her eyes off of him

"Hello, Bud... I'm your Dad". Evan whispered gentally

"Oh boy, little dude.... you had quite the entrance into the world, didn't you"? Zoe chuckled as new tears flooded her eyes.