"So the plan worked," Shane said he walked into his living room.
"Plan?" Lita asked, looking up from the magazine she was flipping through.
"You know…Torrie hitting on Chris?" Shane asked. "Make Stephanie jealous and realize that she is in love with Jericho?"
"Oh yeah," Lita said, smiling as Shane sat next to her on the couch. She let him gently pull her next to him. "That plan."
"The look on her face was priceless," Shane said. "And she was on the first flight out to tell her husband that she loved him."
"I'm glad your plan worked dear," Lita said.
"Me too," Shane said. "I figured I owed them a favor because I probably wouldn't have you sitting next to me now if it weren't for them."
"You're probably right," Lita said. She tilted her head towards his and he kissed the tip of her nose. "Probably right."
"So now they have a baby on the way and we're going to be married," Shane said, sighing contentedly.
"It's a wonderful life," Lita said. "I never thought I would say it, but your sister seems to be good for my cousin. I almost like her."
"Well, your cousin seems pretty good for my sister too," Shane said.
"And Jericho is perfectly likeable," Lita said happily.
"Or usually egotistical," Shane said.
"That's not nice," Lita said.
"I'm just kidding gorgeous," Shane said, pressing his lips to hers.
"You better be," Lita said. "I fiercely protect my own."
"I'm glad I get to be one of your own soon," Shane said.
"Me too," Lita said.
*
"Here's to my future grandson," Vince said, lifting his glass of apple cider up. He was eating brunch with Stephanie, Chris, Linda, Shane, and Lita. "And to my future daughter-in-law."
"Here, here," Shane seconded.
"It's nice to have the family together," Linda said.
"I just wonder if Dad will be disappointed if my baby is a girl," Stephanie said, rubbing her hand gently over her inflated abdomen.
"If she's like you," Vince said. "I would have no reason to be disappointed."
"Thanks Daddy," Stephanie said, ducking her head to hide her blush.
"But I do want the baby to be named after me," Vince said.
Everyone at the table looked up in disbelief at Vince until he grinned at them all. "Just kidding."
"Chris' parents will be here in a couple days," Stephanie said. "They want to be here when the baby is born if they can be."
"It's still two weeks away," Shane said.
"You were three weeks early," Linda said to Shane.
"I wish this one was three weeks early," Stephanie said. "It gets a little harder everyday to make it up the stairs."
"Yeah, and my back can't handle carrying her up the stairs," Jericho joked.
"Ha," Stephanie said, making a face at her husband. He grinned at her and leaned over and kissed her gently.
"I kid," he whispered.
"I know," Stephanie said, kissing him again.
"Who would have known you two would make a picture perfect couple?" Vince asked.
"Me," Chris said, grinning up at Vince.
"You always were a cocky bastard," Vince joked.
"Hey, such language around the youngster?" Chris kidded.
"Chris," Stephanie said seriously.
"Yeah baby?" Chris asked, turning towards her.
"It's time," she said, gripping his arm tightly.
"Time?" Chris asked. After a moment, realization hit him and he jumped out of his seat. "It's time!"
"Where's her bag?" Lita asked.
"In her office," Jericho said, looking down in horror at his wife. "It's really time?"
"It's really time," Stephanie said, nodding at him.
Chris leaned down and helped her up from her chair. He leaned over toward the counter and grabbed some keys and threw them to Shane. "Car!"
"Yeah," Shane said, racing outside to start up Chris' SUV.
"Got the back," Lita said.
"Okay," Chris said. "Take it to the car, Shane is starting it."
"You're being so calm," Stephanie marveled as he walked her slowly to the car, Vince and Linda right behind them.
"Gone over this about a thousand times in my mind," Chris said.
"How are we doing so far?" Stephanie asked.
"Apart from the early?" Chris asked. "Pretty good."
"That's good," Stephanie said. Chris helped her into the car and then slid in beside her.
"We'll take my car," Vince said.
"See you there," Shane said to his dad.
"Holy mother of potatoes," Stephanie grunted as a contraction hit her like a ton of bricks.
"You know I'm going to give you hell for that later right?" Jericho asked. "Potatoes?"
"Shut up!" Stephanie exclaimed. She grasped Jericho's arm tightly until the contraction passed.
"You okay?" Chris asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie said.
"Good," Chris said. He leaned over and pressed a kiss against her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too," Stephanie said, leaning against him.
*
"Doctor, the baby is showing signs of distress!" an attendant exclaimed, looking at the fetal monitor.
"Get an ultrasound in here!" a doctor exclaimed.
"What's going on?" Jericho asked in alarm. He felt Stephanie's hand tightened around his wrist and he looked down to see the worry in her eyes.
"It could be nothing," the doctor said. "We just want to make sure."
"Okay," Jericho said, nodding. He leaned down close to Stephanie and kissed her sweaty brow. "Everything will be okay sweetheart."
"Promise me?" Stephanie asked.
"Of course I promise you," Chris said. "I'd move heaven and earth for you."
"That sounds sappy," Stephanie said, looking up in adoration at her husband.
"It's allowed," Jericho shrugged. "You're having my baby."
"I'm having our baby," Stephanie corrected.
"Right," Jericho said, nodding. "And that makes it even better."
Stephanie smiled, before feeling a contraction again. The fetal monitor started beeping crazily. "What's going on?" Stephanie asked.
"Probably the umbilical cord," the doctor said, quickly setting up the ultrasound equipment. "It might be wrapped around the baby's neck."
The beeping slowed as the contraction ended. The doctor looked at the ultrasound screen. "That is indeed the problem. Normally I would try to unwrap the cord, but you're too far along for that now. I would recommend a C-section."
"C-section?" Stephanie asked. "Isn't it a little late?"
"It's an emergency," the doctor said.
"Well, if it's best for the baby," Stephanie said.
"Okay, lets get you prepped for surgery," the doctor said. He turned to Chris and said, "We need you to sign the release."
"Okay," Chris said, nodding even though he felt very confused.
*
"There she is," Chris said, pointing through the glass to a little baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
"She's gorgeous," Lita said, waving at her little cousin.
"Precious," Shane said.
"Isabella Eva Jericho," Chris said.
"How's Stephanie?" Shane asked.
"Still out," Chris said.
"The surgery went well though?" Shane asked.
"Yeah," Chris said.
"Good," Shane said, turning back to look again at Isabella.
Chris turned back toward Stephanie's room and walked to her room. He stopped in the doorway and watched her sleep peacefully.
"Chris?" Stephanie asked, feeling foggy.
"Hey baby," Chris said, coming to sit on the edge of her bed.
"What happened?" Stephanie asked, smiling up at her husband.
"You had a girl," Jericho said.
"Isabella," Stephanie said, remembering the name she and Chris had decided on for a girl. "Is she okay?"
"She's perfect," Chris said. "But could there be any doubt? She is our child."
"Can I see her?" Stephanie asked.
"Let me go talk to the nurse," Chris said.
Moments later, Chris walked into the room accompanied by a nurse pushing the cart that held Isabella Eva Jericho. Chris gently placed the baby in Stephanie's arms.
"Welcome to the world sweetheart," Stephanie said to her daughter. Chris settled on the edge of the bed again and watched dutifully over his wife and child.
"I never believed in perfect until this moment," Stephanie said to Chris.
"That will end," Jericho said. "But for now, I agree. Nothing could change this moment."
Stephanie smiled up at Chris. "I'm so lucky you showed up on my doorstep."
"I'm lucky I had the guts to propose," Chris said.
"Who knew it would change everything completely?"
THE END
*** I know, my endings tend to be lame. I like to tie everything up with nice little bows. But hey, at least I didn't just stop reading the story. Hope you liked it. The feedback for this story has been amazing and I just wanted to thank all of you who have stuck with it. I really hope you liked this chapter despite the corniness. ***
"Plan?" Lita asked, looking up from the magazine she was flipping through.
"You know…Torrie hitting on Chris?" Shane asked. "Make Stephanie jealous and realize that she is in love with Jericho?"
"Oh yeah," Lita said, smiling as Shane sat next to her on the couch. She let him gently pull her next to him. "That plan."
"The look on her face was priceless," Shane said. "And she was on the first flight out to tell her husband that she loved him."
"I'm glad your plan worked dear," Lita said.
"Me too," Shane said. "I figured I owed them a favor because I probably wouldn't have you sitting next to me now if it weren't for them."
"You're probably right," Lita said. She tilted her head towards his and he kissed the tip of her nose. "Probably right."
"So now they have a baby on the way and we're going to be married," Shane said, sighing contentedly.
"It's a wonderful life," Lita said. "I never thought I would say it, but your sister seems to be good for my cousin. I almost like her."
"Well, your cousin seems pretty good for my sister too," Shane said.
"And Jericho is perfectly likeable," Lita said happily.
"Or usually egotistical," Shane said.
"That's not nice," Lita said.
"I'm just kidding gorgeous," Shane said, pressing his lips to hers.
"You better be," Lita said. "I fiercely protect my own."
"I'm glad I get to be one of your own soon," Shane said.
"Me too," Lita said.
*
"Here's to my future grandson," Vince said, lifting his glass of apple cider up. He was eating brunch with Stephanie, Chris, Linda, Shane, and Lita. "And to my future daughter-in-law."
"Here, here," Shane seconded.
"It's nice to have the family together," Linda said.
"I just wonder if Dad will be disappointed if my baby is a girl," Stephanie said, rubbing her hand gently over her inflated abdomen.
"If she's like you," Vince said. "I would have no reason to be disappointed."
"Thanks Daddy," Stephanie said, ducking her head to hide her blush.
"But I do want the baby to be named after me," Vince said.
Everyone at the table looked up in disbelief at Vince until he grinned at them all. "Just kidding."
"Chris' parents will be here in a couple days," Stephanie said. "They want to be here when the baby is born if they can be."
"It's still two weeks away," Shane said.
"You were three weeks early," Linda said to Shane.
"I wish this one was three weeks early," Stephanie said. "It gets a little harder everyday to make it up the stairs."
"Yeah, and my back can't handle carrying her up the stairs," Jericho joked.
"Ha," Stephanie said, making a face at her husband. He grinned at her and leaned over and kissed her gently.
"I kid," he whispered.
"I know," Stephanie said, kissing him again.
"Who would have known you two would make a picture perfect couple?" Vince asked.
"Me," Chris said, grinning up at Vince.
"You always were a cocky bastard," Vince joked.
"Hey, such language around the youngster?" Chris kidded.
"Chris," Stephanie said seriously.
"Yeah baby?" Chris asked, turning towards her.
"It's time," she said, gripping his arm tightly.
"Time?" Chris asked. After a moment, realization hit him and he jumped out of his seat. "It's time!"
"Where's her bag?" Lita asked.
"In her office," Jericho said, looking down in horror at his wife. "It's really time?"
"It's really time," Stephanie said, nodding at him.
Chris leaned down and helped her up from her chair. He leaned over toward the counter and grabbed some keys and threw them to Shane. "Car!"
"Yeah," Shane said, racing outside to start up Chris' SUV.
"Got the back," Lita said.
"Okay," Chris said. "Take it to the car, Shane is starting it."
"You're being so calm," Stephanie marveled as he walked her slowly to the car, Vince and Linda right behind them.
"Gone over this about a thousand times in my mind," Chris said.
"How are we doing so far?" Stephanie asked.
"Apart from the early?" Chris asked. "Pretty good."
"That's good," Stephanie said. Chris helped her into the car and then slid in beside her.
"We'll take my car," Vince said.
"See you there," Shane said to his dad.
"Holy mother of potatoes," Stephanie grunted as a contraction hit her like a ton of bricks.
"You know I'm going to give you hell for that later right?" Jericho asked. "Potatoes?"
"Shut up!" Stephanie exclaimed. She grasped Jericho's arm tightly until the contraction passed.
"You okay?" Chris asked.
"Yeah," Stephanie said.
"Good," Chris said. He leaned over and pressed a kiss against her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too," Stephanie said, leaning against him.
*
"Doctor, the baby is showing signs of distress!" an attendant exclaimed, looking at the fetal monitor.
"Get an ultrasound in here!" a doctor exclaimed.
"What's going on?" Jericho asked in alarm. He felt Stephanie's hand tightened around his wrist and he looked down to see the worry in her eyes.
"It could be nothing," the doctor said. "We just want to make sure."
"Okay," Jericho said, nodding. He leaned down close to Stephanie and kissed her sweaty brow. "Everything will be okay sweetheart."
"Promise me?" Stephanie asked.
"Of course I promise you," Chris said. "I'd move heaven and earth for you."
"That sounds sappy," Stephanie said, looking up in adoration at her husband.
"It's allowed," Jericho shrugged. "You're having my baby."
"I'm having our baby," Stephanie corrected.
"Right," Jericho said, nodding. "And that makes it even better."
Stephanie smiled, before feeling a contraction again. The fetal monitor started beeping crazily. "What's going on?" Stephanie asked.
"Probably the umbilical cord," the doctor said, quickly setting up the ultrasound equipment. "It might be wrapped around the baby's neck."
The beeping slowed as the contraction ended. The doctor looked at the ultrasound screen. "That is indeed the problem. Normally I would try to unwrap the cord, but you're too far along for that now. I would recommend a C-section."
"C-section?" Stephanie asked. "Isn't it a little late?"
"It's an emergency," the doctor said.
"Well, if it's best for the baby," Stephanie said.
"Okay, lets get you prepped for surgery," the doctor said. He turned to Chris and said, "We need you to sign the release."
"Okay," Chris said, nodding even though he felt very confused.
*
"There she is," Chris said, pointing through the glass to a little baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
"She's gorgeous," Lita said, waving at her little cousin.
"Precious," Shane said.
"Isabella Eva Jericho," Chris said.
"How's Stephanie?" Shane asked.
"Still out," Chris said.
"The surgery went well though?" Shane asked.
"Yeah," Chris said.
"Good," Shane said, turning back to look again at Isabella.
Chris turned back toward Stephanie's room and walked to her room. He stopped in the doorway and watched her sleep peacefully.
"Chris?" Stephanie asked, feeling foggy.
"Hey baby," Chris said, coming to sit on the edge of her bed.
"What happened?" Stephanie asked, smiling up at her husband.
"You had a girl," Jericho said.
"Isabella," Stephanie said, remembering the name she and Chris had decided on for a girl. "Is she okay?"
"She's perfect," Chris said. "But could there be any doubt? She is our child."
"Can I see her?" Stephanie asked.
"Let me go talk to the nurse," Chris said.
Moments later, Chris walked into the room accompanied by a nurse pushing the cart that held Isabella Eva Jericho. Chris gently placed the baby in Stephanie's arms.
"Welcome to the world sweetheart," Stephanie said to her daughter. Chris settled on the edge of the bed again and watched dutifully over his wife and child.
"I never believed in perfect until this moment," Stephanie said to Chris.
"That will end," Jericho said. "But for now, I agree. Nothing could change this moment."
Stephanie smiled up at Chris. "I'm so lucky you showed up on my doorstep."
"I'm lucky I had the guts to propose," Chris said.
"Who knew it would change everything completely?"
THE END
*** I know, my endings tend to be lame. I like to tie everything up with nice little bows. But hey, at least I didn't just stop reading the story. Hope you liked it. The feedback for this story has been amazing and I just wanted to thank all of you who have stuck with it. I really hope you liked this chapter despite the corniness. ***