Dr. Montgomery started pushing the baby's chest with her fingers. She slapped the baby's back, tapped it's feet but nothing worked. If there were no cries within a few seconds, she would call for time of death. Amy pounded her fists into Ricky's chest. She sobbed and sobbed. He sputtered the tears from his lips and he watched Dr. Montgomery push air into his child's lungs. The baby's face was blue and its lips were turning purple. God shed his love down onto that baby that day, for before anyone knew it, a miracle occurred. First, the left eye fluttered open then the right. Colour returned back to the baby's lips as she greeted the world with big brown eyes like her dad. She let out the most beautiful sound anyone had ever heard and started flailing her arms around for warmth. Dr. Montgomery placed the little girl onto Amy's stomach, who wiped away her tears, struck with disbelief.

"Amy, Ricky, I'd like you to meet you're daughter."

Both parents started to cry. Ricky leaned over Amy and kissed his daughter on top of the head. She was stunning. They had hoped it was a girl. Now they had one of each. A nurse helped Amy wrap the little angel in a pink fuzzy blanket. Dr. Montgomery cleaned Amy and had to work fast to try and stop the bleeding.

A nurse talked slowly, careful not to interrupt the first meeting between the parents and newborn. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need a name for her hospital bracelet."

Amy looked up at Ricky. "We didn't have a name picked out. We were deciding but we never landed on one."

"I have an idea" Ricky spoke slowly, wanting to time his proposal just right "How about the name Madeline – after that show you watch but also after Mimsy. I asked your mom for Mimsy's first name and it turns out it is also Madeline. What do you think?"

"I think that's perfect. We can call her Maddie for short."

"Welcome to the world Madeline Underwood, we love you" Amy whispered as she cradled her daughter. She passed Maddie onto Ricky who carried her across the room to the incubator in wonder. She was so tiny, so fragile, so premature. It would be weeks before he held her again. A nurse helped him lower into her little cage. She wheeled the baby away leaving the two parents alone, for the first time in what seemed like forever.

Ricky walked over to Amy and hugged her. He whispered into her ear, speaking slowly, tears again falling from his face, this time dampening her shoulder. "Thank you Amy, she is amazing. I love you so much!"

"I'm sorry I didn't push in time Ricky. I almost killed her, she was dead, I was sure of it."

"No please Amy don't be sorry. You did so well! She's alive because of you. Come here" Ricky reached into Amy again, pulling him close to her. She whimpered at the movement for she was terribly sore. It would be forever until she could walk again.

"I love you. Ricky. Go get everyone, let them in, and then take them two at a time to see Maddie."

"Okay" Ricky replied, kissing Amy's head again "You sure? You should get some rest"

"Yes, I'm sure. They weren't allowed in here before and they must all be wondering, plus no one knows that we had a girl. In fact, bring everyone in. We should tell them together."

Ricky left the room and returned with his parents, Anne and George, Ashley, Toby, Brooke and David. John had fallen asleep and Anne laid him to rest on the couch. Ricky sat next to Amy on the side of her cot as everyone crowded around.

"So?" Ashley asked impatiently

"It was a tough birth" Amy began "I screamed the whole time, I lost a lot of blood and when the baby was born… she wasn't breathing. Her face was blue, her lips were purple and the cord was wrapped around her neck. Dr. Montgomery even had to start CPR, but she finally cried, and cried and cried. Ricky put her in her incubator and you can go see her now, but we won't get to hold her until she's a little stronger."

Ricky wiped away the tear from Amy's cheek. Everyone looked shocked at the news for it wasn't what they had been expecting at all.

"So, it's a girl?" Toby asked, breaking the silence

"Yea, it's a little girl. She's amazing, wait until you see her." Ricky said quietly

"Did you guys pick out a name?" Anne asked

"Why don't you tell them Amy" Ricky whispered

"We named her Madeline. After that show Dad and I used to watch when I was younger but also because it's Mimsy's name. Madeline Underwood. We decided not to include a middle name."

"Oh Amy" Anne cried "That's a beautiful name. Thank you"

Everyone followed Ricky down the hall, to two large doors. It was the ICU for premature babies. A specialist nurse helped Ricky into a blue outfit. He was the only one allowed to touch Madeline. Anne and George followed Ricky into the room and he lead them over to a little baby snuggled in pink, sleeping.

"I'd like you to meet Madeline Underwood" Ricky whispered to his in-laws

"Oh Ricky she's beautiful!" Anne sobbed, catching her tears and collapsing into Ricky's arms. She was so proud of her daughter and her new son-in-law for being so strong through everything.

Next Ashley and Toby came in after Ricky. Ashley grinned from ear to ear, knowing she finally had a niece. Next came Margaret and Shakur, Nora, then finally Brooke and David. Brooke was quite emotional because Maddie reminded her of their own little girl who they had given up for adoption so many years ago.

It was a long time before Ricky snuck back in to be with Amy. He brought Maddie in with him as it was time for her first feeding. Amy was more open to breast feeding this time around. Plus Maddie wasn't out of the woods yet and needed some natural boost to keep her strength up.

"Hi Mommy" Ricky whispered as he lifted his new daughter out of the crib. He handed her off to Amy who too was waking from her deep sleep. She happily took Maddie from Ricky's arms and pulled her under her shirt. It took a good few moments for Maddie to start feeding. She would let go of the nipple several times, not knowing. The little girl barely opened her eyes.

Just then, John stirred from his sleep. He sat up wearily and Ricky walked over to pick him up. He sat on the couch and pulled John into his arms. The two sat there and rocked, watching Amy feed their newest addition. John slowly climbed out his tired haze and grew more focused on the tiny infant. Amy nodded to Ricky who carried John across the room and carefully placed him in between his mom's legs.

"John, I would like you to meet your new baby sister. We had a girl. Isn't she pretty?"

John looked intensely at the new baby. He glanced at his mom and dad and let a smile appear from his focused gaze.

"Pretty baby. Wut name?"

"We named her Madeline, John. We can call her Maddie. Can you say Maddie?" Ricky asked

"M-Madee!" John piped; he watched as Amy pulled down her shirt and wrapped the baby tighter in her blanket. He leaned over and kissed his sister on the head, then staggering back and clapping. "I luv you" John whispered.

Maddie was almost three months old before she was allowed out of the hospital. It was the end of June and school had just finished. Ricky had left with John a week after Maddie was born. They would go to school and daycare each day, pick up dinner and go eat it at the hospital with Amy and Maddie until John fell asleep. Ricky would stay with Amy long into the night until he too felt ready to leave. The next day, eh would start all over. Maddie grew quickly but still wasn't strong enough to go home. Three days after she was born, her left lung collapsed because it was under developed. They had to do surgery right away and repair it. Maddie almost died twice. She wasn't allowed out of her incubator unless it was Amy feeding her. In the afternoons, Ricky would help Amy walk around the birthing wing. Within three weeks she was up and about but still bled profusely for the first month. Everyone was a huge help during those first few months. John was always taken on the weekends and brought back to the hospital Sunday mornings. He became quite comfortable there. All the nurses loved him and would sneak him lollypops when Amy wasn't around. Finally the day came for Maddie to go home.

"Okay, Car seat is in check. One for me, one for you. I set up John's room so one side is his and one side contains the change table and crib etc. Duplex stroller is out in the hall, bottles and bibs and baby food is ready and stored in the kitchen and the entire house is baby proofed" Ricky said to himself and Amy as he entered their hospital room for the last time. Amy was busy dressing Maddie in her first outfit. John sat on the bed next to his sister, playing with her left hand. She made funny faces in his direction and gurgled whenever he laughed. Amy pulled a hat onto Maddie and lifted her into her carrier.

"Do you have her diaper bag Ricky? Where is the milk I pumped two hours ago? She might need it on the way home."

"Her diaper bag is sitting on the couch. Milk and extra diapers and blankets are inside. Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. Come here" Ricky reassured as he pulled his wife in for a hug. "You haven't been home in three months. I understand if you feel overwhelmed, but you need to stay calm. Remember what the doctor said? The more out of control you feel, the more upset Maddie is going to be."

"I know, I just feel so out of control and we haven't even left the hospital yet."

"I'm here and everything is fine. Now, why don't you take John and I'll grab Maddie. You need to spend some time with him. He misses you"

Amy took John by the hand and led him out the room. Ricky grabbed Maddie in one hand hung the diaper over his shoulder with the other. As they left the maternity wing, many nurses bid them a goodbye and waved farewell to John who shyly waved back. He motioned for Amy to pick him up. She kissed his head and he leaned into her shoulder like he had almost a year ago before everything changed.

Once they were home, Ricky walked Maddie around the apartment while Amy changed into more comfortable clothes that didn't smell like hospital. She went to fix some lunch for everyone. Ricky placed Maddie in her swing and set up a TV show for John. He then went to help Amy in the kitchen

"Let me do this. You need to rest. You're still not one hundred percent. That hospital is tiring. Go sleep in John's bed. I'll bring you lunch once it's ready and wake you up if Maddie starts to cry.

Amy yawned and did what she was told. Within minutes she was asleep. Ricky and John ate their lunch first, and then he fixed a plate for Amy and left it on her nightstand. It was just a sandwich and she could eat it when she woke up. Maddie started to cry at two, and wouldn't take the bottle. Ricky carried her into Amy who was sitting up, finishing off her lunch.

"Here, I'll take her. Can you grab me the nursing bib from the diaper bag?"

"Yea, sure" Ricky returned a few seconds later and tossed Amy a pink fabric that was large bib. She hung it over her neck and it extended down to her waist, covering her entire chest. She set up Maddie on a pillow and began to nurse, leaning forwards.

"Don't make any plans for Saturday okay Amy?"

"Where would I go? And what are you up to?"

"It is a surprise, but I know you are going to love it." Ricky said suspiciously as he left the room, leaving his daughter to feed.

Saturday rolled around quickly. Both Ricky and Amy were exhausted from midnight feedings and they could tell John already felt neglected. He was especially boycotting Amy and wanted nothing to do with her. Ricky knew it was because he was jealous of all the attention Maddie got from her mother. John loved Maddie to pieces and never once acted out towards her. Only Amy.

Ricky took Maddie and John over to his parent's house for the day. They were dying to see her and Ricky wanted some alone time with Amy. He knew she wouldn't be ready for anything intimate probably until Maddie was two but he was frankly too tired himself to care. The couple sat around all day, ordering in food and napping. It was nice to be alone just the two of them.

Amy got out of the shower at five. She was startled by Ricky who was in a brand new black tuxedo.

"What the? What are you doing?" Amy yelled

"It's a surprise. There is a new black dress courtesy of your father hanging in John's room. Go get dressed. We're going out tonight."

"I don't feel like going out tonight. I just want Maddie and John to come home. Plus I look terrible"

"You look beautiful and the people here don't care about what you look like. Now come on, get dressed."

Amy pounded into the next room and came out minutes later looking stunning. She near took Ricky's breath away. She did her hair and make up quickly but was still upset she was being forced to go somewhere against her will. Ricky took her anger in stride, laughing at how emotional she was being. He knew she was going to love what he had in store.

Ricky blind folded Amy and helped her into the passenger seat of their car. He then drove down Main Street, turning left. Five minutes later, he was parked outside of a small hall. He helped Amy out of the car and into the building. When they got inside, he led her onto a flat wooden platform. When he let the blindfold fall, Amy's eyes filled up with tears.

They were standing in the middle of a dance floor, in a beautiful hall. Scattered around her were all the guests from their wedding, all dressed up. John and Maddie sat near by on a table. John was in a little black suit and Maddie was in a pink dress.

"What is all this?" Amy cried

"We never got a wedding reception. You went into labour before we left the church. This is our wedding reception. I had all the gifts delivered. They were still at the church, waiting for us to pick them up. There is a cake and a dinner. This is your night Amy Jeurgens. Celebrating what a wonderful mother you are. I love you so much."

"I love you!" Amy said, kissing Ricky "You didn't need to do this though!"

"I know I didn't, but I wanted to. You're so special, you light up my world. You're everything. So I ask you tonight, Amy, May I have this dance?"

Amy nodded her head and the two fell into each other's arms. They danced the night away, celebrating their new life as a family.

A/N SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO READ MY STORY. Your support means so much. I will be creating a sequel season to this story but it won't be published until February, maybe even later. I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. It was so entertaining to write and even more meaningful to receive all the wonderful feedback from you guys. Thank you so much. I hope you will continue to read my stories, starting with 'Second Chance' Coming December 1st.