Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it. Please R&R

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Fritz paces back and forth as he waits for news of his wife. Mein Jo, he thinks, she does not want to do this. Yes she does. Does she? Is it worth it? It is too early. What if… No! His thoughts swirl in his head loudly enough to make him
miss the entrance of his father-in-law.

"Fritz?" Mr. March asks.

"I am sorry, sir, I did not hear you enter."

"How is she?"

"I do not know. I have heard no news, just moans and cries from the room. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do."

"I understand. I went through this wait four times with my wife. I wish I could say it becomes easier." Marmee enters with the doctor, and they rush past the men. They quickly shut the door behind them.

…

In the room, Meg supports Jo's back as she labors. Each contraction brings much pain, and Jo tries to stifle her groans, although the pain is worse and longer with each one. All she can think is It is not time.

Dr. Adams tells Jo that she needs to push when she feels pressure. Jo only shakes her head.

…

Marmee leaves the room to talk to Fritz. She hugs her husband, and he rubs her back as she tells Fritz, "She is not doing well, Fritz. The labor is progressing fine, but she is fighting it. Dr. Adams is worried. He says she has lost a lot of blood."

His heart sinks.

"Usually men are not to go into the room, but will you come? She will not listen to us, and she is asking for you."

"Yes, of course!"

She leads him into the bedroom, and he pauses in the doorway, scared of the sight before him. Jo is crying, and she is covered in sweat. Her beautiful hair is knotted on top of her head crazily, and she looks defeated.

He finally gets the courage to move and takes her hand.

"Fritz!" she exclaims, glad to see his kind face. He kisses her forehead.

"I'm sorry, darling," she weeps. He pushes aside the strands of hair stuck to her face.

"Why are you sorry, mein Jo?"

"It is too early. The baby is not ready to come."

"It is, Mrs. Bhaer," Dr. Adams tells her firmly, "the pressure you feel means that the baby is ready. Push, now!"

"Listen to him, Jo. You can do this."

"No, I cannot, Fritz. You don't understand," she cries through the pain. "I am afraid!" she screams at the end of a contraction.

Fritz kisses her hand and again pushes hair out of her face. He hugs her, and she buries her head in his embrace.

"Dr. Adams, Marmee, Meg, may we have a moment alone?"

"Sure," they all nod and exit the small room cautiously.

"I am sorry, Fritz," Jo cries.

"Please stop being sorry, mein Jo. Everything will be fine, but the baby is coming. What is this fear about?"

"Something is going to be wrong. What if the baby is ill? I was unwell for so long."

"If the baby is ill…" Fritz pauses to kiss her again, "we will take care of it and help it get better. We can do this."

Jo does not answer right away, but her furrowed brow tells him that she is unconvinced.

"Please Jo, listen to Dr. Adams. It is more likely that something will go wrong if the baby is not born soon."

She thinks for a minute, then calmly responds, "I wonder what our baby will be like…"

Fritz kisses her forehead and says, "There is only one way to find out. You can do this, mein Jo, and I will be here." She grabs his hand firmly, suddenly tensing with another contraction.

"Dr. Adams!" Fritz calls. The group rushes back into the room. Jo groans deeply.

"Okay, Mrs. Bhaer, now when you feel pressure, push down. Do you feel it?" Dr. Adams asks over her grunting.

"Yes, that is it, Mrs. Bhaer. Keep pushing!" Fritz holds her hand strongly while Marmee and Meg support her legs. Fritz whispers sweet nothings in her ear in German.

She lets out a final groan as the contraction subsides.

"Perfect, Mrs. Bhaer. After the next contraction you should have your son or daughter in your arms."

"Did you hear that?" she asks Fritz weakly. "In my… arms," she whispers, shutting her eyes.

"Jo?" Fritz asks, concerned. He squeezes her hand in his, but she doesn't respond. Her grip is limp.

"Jo! Dr. Adams?" Fritz asks frantically.

"Mrs. Bhaer!" Dr. Adams checks her pulse and supports her head. "Mrs. March, please get me a cold, wet cloth." Marmee rushes to the pailin the corner and returns with one. Jo starts to regain consciousness. Dr. Adams places the cloth on her forehead
and lifts her eyelids to check her pupils.

"Mrs. Bhaer, are you with us?" he asks in a loud voice.

"Aghhhhhhh," Jo cries as she takes Fritz's hand again.

"Mrs. Bhaer?" Dr. Adams asks, still trying to check her awareness.

"I need to push!" she exclaims.

"Not right now, Mrs. Bhaer, I need to check your health. You just passed out. You have lost a lot of blood."

"He's coming now," she cries. Dr. Adams goes around the bed and sees that the baby is crowning.

"Okay, Mrs. Bhaer, push gently. Let me know if you feel faint again."

Jo nods frantically, ready to have the baby out. She starts to push and is blinded by pain as the head is birthed.

"I feel as though I'm splitting apart!" She screams.

"The head is out, Mrs. Bhaer. Wait for the next contraction to pass the shoulders." She groans in frustration.

"We are almost parents!" Fritz cheers with a wide smile.

"I cannot wait to meet our baby," Jo answers.

Fritz thinks to himself, How wonderful that Jo is happy about motherhood now. Mein Jo. She will be a perfect mother. He whispers to her, "I love you with all of my heart, my dearest Jo." She does not respond. He whispers again, a little more audibly.
"Did you hear me, darling?" Her head falls. She has passed out again. Dr. Adams quickly jumps up and supports her head. He checks her eyes again, and he slaps her cheek to try to startle her awake. Marmee takes her other hand and squeezes it, hoping
she can help.

"Mrs. Brooke," he tells Meg, "please take her head. Support her. I do not want to move her right now; it could be harmful to her and the baby. Mr. Bhaer, keep talking to her. I do not know why she is passing out."

"Jo," Fritz says softly, trying to stifle tears, "please wake up, darling. You are strong enough to do this. I love you, and I need you. Our baby needs you right now." Fritz starts to cry. Seeing Jo in such a poor state is painful to him. She did not want a baby. No, stop thinking like that, he
tells himself.

Dr. Adams begins to pull on the baby's head. He twists the body, and he guides the shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Fritz asks.

"The baby needs to be born now. Even if she is not awake, it is close enough that I can pull it out. It is better to have her push, but I do not know when she will regain consciousness." He pulls with much force, and the baby's shoulders pass through
the small opening. The rest of the body slips out easily and he quickly catches it. He lays the baby on a clean towel and starts to rub its body vigorously.

"Why is it not crying?" Fritz asks nervously, afraid to move from his wife's side.

"Give it time," Marmee says calmly.

Jo abruptly wakes and shouts in pain. She is disoriented and unaware of what is happening.

"Jo!" Fritz kisses her, relieved that she is awake. "Dr. Adams, please tell us what is happening."

"Is the baby out?" Jo asks feebly.

"It's a boy…" Dr. Adams says as he clears the baby's nostrils and throat.

"It's a boy!" Fritz says to Jo happily.

"Why isn't he crying?" Jo demands.

"Give him a minute…" Dr. Adams answers.

"Why isn't he crying?!" she yells.

"He will…" Fritz says calmly, with fake assurance.

"Something is wrong!" she cries desperately. She reaches for Fritz, and he takes her in his arms. She cries deeply into his shoulder. Fritz rubs her back with a gentle, grazing touch.

A tear rolls down his cheek, but before he succumbs to despair, they hear a small whine.

Jo stifles her panicked cries, and they stay still in their embrace for a long time, listening. A strong cry suddenly fills the room, and Fritz takes Jo's face in his hands and kisses her passionately.

Dr. Adams tells them as he brings the screaming baby to them, "He just needed a little help to start breathing, but that is a good, strong cry." He places the bundle on Jo's chest, and she cradles it with apprehension. Fritz reaches over her arms and
hugs his two loves.

"How do you feel, mein Liebe?" Fritz asks through a close whisper.

"I cannot express how much love I have in my heart right now. For once I am at a loss for words," she whispers back as she smiles at the tiny face looking up at her.

"Mrs. Bhaer," Dr. Adams interrupts, "do you feel faint? I am concerned because you passed out twice during the labor, and you lost so much blood."

"My head is spinning, but I believe it is from joy," she says happily.

"Very well," he submits, "but stay on the bed and rest. If you feel like sleeping, it is a good idea. I am going to tell your father and brother-in-law the good news."

"Thank you, Dr. Adams," she says warmly.

"Good work, Mrs. Bhaer." He, Marmee, and Meg exit the room, leaving Jo and Fritz with the baby.

"We are a family," Fritz says joyously.

"I love you," Jo utters softly. They kiss, faces reaching over the baby, and in the middle of their sweet embrace, a cry erupts and fills the quiet room.

"And so it begins…" Fritz laughs.