common sense • rini/jolivia one shots

delivery

a/n: this is kind of a second part to my chapter "announcements" but you don't have to read them both the understand it! enjoy! :)

Nini was tired. she was also hungry, bloated, angry, and sad among other things. pregnancy was amazing but it had its ups and downs. Ricky on the other hand was taking fatherhood to a whole new level.

they had told their friends and family and then shortly after found out that they were having a baby girl. Ricky immediately began planning for the future. he was already talking about when she'd be dating, Nini often having to remind her husband that the baby wasn't even born yet.

they were ready. Nini was 9 months along and ready to pop any day now. she was nearing her due date but the doctor warned her that its possible she could go past her due date as first time mothers often do.

they had painted the nursery with help from their friends. the walls were painted a soft yellow color, different kinds of zoo animals painted on the walls; Ashlyn had used her art skills and painted the animals by hand for them as a surprise. EJ and Gina had bought them a pretty mahogany crib and matching dresser and changing table. everybody was so amazing.

Nini had stopped working around her 7th month of pregnancy. she wanted to stay longer but she was so tired that she couldn't get through the day. Ricky was working up until the baby was born and then would take the 4 week paternity leave that East High offered to stay home with his wife and baby.

Ricky was due home at any time and Nini was in the kitchen, trying to prepare her 3rd lunch for the day. she understood she was eating for two now but she felt like she was eating for 20. she grabbed her plate and returned to the living room, propping her feet up on the coffee table and setting her plate on the curve of her stomach, Rosie at her feet. she was in the middle of an episode of queer eye when the front door opened.

"hey Nini i'm home!"

Ricky appeared around the doorway, his face lighting up when he saw her. "how're my two favorite girls doing?" he asked as he sat down next to her and reached down to scratch the dogs head before he put a hand on her swollen belly. he would've removed the plate but he learned the hard way to never touch a pregnant woman's food.

"baby B's been kicking me all day. i did feel her shift earlier this morning though. she's moving down so that's a good sign that hopefully she'll come on time."

they had yet to pick a name for the baby. they couldn't agree on one, every name sounded too generic or too crazy, nothing felt right. they insisted on calling her nicknames like bean, peanut, and baby B for Bowen since they couldn't figure out a name yet. they were running out of time.

it was later that night when the two were in bed that things started changing. Nini was uncomfortable, more uncomfortable than normal. she had this weird feeling in her stomach, almost like cramps but not so intense. her back was throbbing more than normal. she was tossing a turning. Rosie was circling the room, she kept coming up and placing her head on Nini's side of the bed. Ricky eventually reached a hand out to calm her.

"honey, what's wrong?" he said tiredly.

"i don't know Ricky. i feel weird but i can't figure it out. i'm just uncomfortable. i think i'm gonna go walk around the house to see if that helps." Nini moved to get out of bed when she felt the hush of fluid.

she reached back, smacking her hand against Ricky's chest, "Ricky, oh my god my water just broke."

Ricky shot up in bed, "what? we need to go to the hospital." he immediately went to help her out of bed, grabbing her a new pair of sweatpants before dropping hers in the hamper along with the bed sheets. he quickly got himself dressed before running to the nursery and grabbing their hospital bag.

he helped Nini to the car, running back in the house to fill Rosie's bowls with food and water for the day, making a mental note to call his dad to come feed her later. he rushed back to the car, Nini was leaning her head against the headrest, eyes closed as a contraction hit. he got in the drivers seat and squeezed her hand through the moment.

"let's go have a baby."

~~

Nini had been in labor for 18 hours before things started progressing. she was laying in the bed, Ricky laying next to her, trying to get some rest before she had to push. she was 9cm dilated so as soon as she hit ten then it would be go time. Ricky was softly stroking her belly as Nini rested her eyes. Ricky thought she was asleep, per usual Nini fashion she was not.

"hey baby girl. it's daddy here. i'm so excited to meet you. these past nine months have been the best of my life and i know that you're about to make my life so much better when you finally get here. i'm gonna be totally honest with you kiddo, i have no idea what i'm doing. there's going to be times when i might just cry with you because i don't know how to be a dad. there's one thing i can promise you though, i will always be there for you. i will support you through anything little girl because i'm already so in love with you. you're the greatest gift i've ever been given. i love your mommy so much and i can't wait to have a mini version of her running around. you're going to be just as beautiful as she is."

Nini had tears in her eyes. she wanted to blame it on the hormones but she knew that it was all because of her husband. Ricky had always loved talking to her belly when he though Nini was asleep. she often heard him and it made her heart so full to know he was bonding with their unborn daughter. Nini places her hand on top of his on her stomach, letting him know she was awake. he simply pressed a kiss to her cheek.

an hour and a half later, she was ready to push. it was the most painful thing she had ever experienced. Nini had sweat dripping down her face, Ricky had pulled her hair back for her. he was holding her hand on the side of the bed, his other hand stroking the top of her head as he spoke to her.

Nini collapsed back on the bed after 6 pushes and the baby still wasn't out, "i can't do it! i can't do it!" she was sobbing.

Ricky moved her head to look at him, "Nina, you can do it. baby i believe in you. just a few more and then she'll be here. i'm right here okay? i've got you baby."

Nini nodded before starting to push again. she could feel the absolute pain as she began to tear down there. she let out a few audible sobs, "jesus christ! we're never having sex again!"

"i see the head!" the doctor shouted out, "just two more pushes Nina, you've got this!"

Ricky leaned in close to his wife, whispering in her ear, "Nini, you've got this babe. let's meet our baby girl."

Nini screamed out as she pushed again, the shoulders of the baby sliding out. one final push and she heard the delivery team scramble to catch the baby. Nini sobbed as she realized that her baby was finally here. Ricky pressed a kiss to her temple, shedding a few tears himself.

"hey dad, wanna cut the cord?" the doctor asked. Ricky excitedly took the medical shears as he cut the chord and got his first look at his daughter. he saw her better when the doctor placed her on Nini's chest moments later.

she had a patch of fluffy brown hair, the most piercing blue eyes ever, and a cute little button nose. she was perfect. Nini sobbed as Ricky places his hand on the newborns back. she was finally here.

things had calmed down after the birth. Nini was stitched up and left to rest and recover, Baby Bowen was resting in her cart, Ricky keeping a close eye on her. she still didn't have a name.

Ricky pulled her out of her cart and laid her against his chest, "hi baby girl. i'm so glad you're finally here. you're only three hours old and i would already give anything for you. i love you so much already. you're perfect. if only you had a name."

that's when Nini spoke up, apparently she woke up from her nap, scaring Ricky. "Harper."

Ricky looked at his wife confused, "what?"

"i think we should name her Harper. it fits. i didn't think i liked the name until i saw her face. she's a Harper."

Ricky looked down at the girl in his arms and smiled.

Harper Lane Bowen
6 pounds, 8 ounces
19 inches
April 13th, 2027
Welcome to the world!