Chapter 15

"I'm here, how are you doing? What has the doctor said?" Dave asked as he rushed into his husband's hospital room.

"Dave, breathe, I'm doing okay. The epidural is a wonderful thing," Derek said with a goofy smile.

"He's a bit loopy," his mother-in-law explained with a smile.

"I can see that," Dave commented wryly.

"The doctor was just in here a little while ago. He's at five centimeters, so he's halfway there," she informed the anxious father-to-be.

"So the baby and Derek are okay?" Dave checked.

"Yes, they're both fine. Um, I have a question, but I'm not sure how to ask it," Fran admitted, blushing slightly. Dave thought he knew what it was so he helped her out.

"You mean how is he going to deliver our daughter?" he asked.

"Yes," Fran responded.

"Well, I won't get graphic, but according to Dr. Palmer, the male body will create a birth canal where the baby will come out. It will go away once the baby is born until the man is pregnant again and it's time to deliver," he explained.

"Oh, okay," Fran said settling back into her seat eager to see her grandchild whenever she chose to make her entrance into the world.

XXXX

Dave noticed that Derek was getting wrestless and easily frustrated. The doctor had just stopped in and checked him once again. He was at seven CM but was still progressing rather slow.

"Do you want to take a walk?" Dave suggested.

"I don't know, maybe," Derek replied.

"Sometimes that can help speed up labor," Fran offered helpfully.

"Okay then, if it means getting her out faster then I'm all for it," Derek said as he struggled to sit up. Instantly Dave was helping him and after a moment they had him standing and with his IV stand next to him they began walking the halls.

XXXX

Garcia smiled as she saw them near the waiting room.

"Hey there, sweetness. How are you doing?" she called out drawing the others attention.

"Okay I guess," Derek panted. He could feel another contraction coming and he whimpered.

"Shh, easy, babe. Just lean on me and breathe," Dave soothed.

"God this hurts. I think the epidural is wearing off," Derek stated. "They also feel like they're getting stronger. Fuck!" he growled as he crushed his husband's hand so hard Dave was sure he could feel bones shifting. Catching Hotch's eye, Dave saw the frown of sympathy cross the unit chief's face. He knew just how hard a person in labor could squeeze ones hand and he didn't envy Dave one bit.

"Maybe it's time for you to go back to your room," JJ suggested.

"That's probably not a bad idea," Derek replied as soon as the contraction had let up enough for him to speak.

"Good luck and we love you. See you and our little angel soon," Emily said walking over and giving her partner a kiss on the cheek before allowing his husband to guide him back to his room.

XXXX

It had been a long 10 hours and it was nearly midnight. Dave walked into the waiting room to give the team the news.

"Do we have a baby yet?" Garcia demanded.

"No, but he's at 10 centimeters, so he's about to deliver. He asked me to come let you all know. I'll come back when we have a baby," Dave promised.

"Dave, he's asking for you," the nurse called from the door to Derek's room. Nodding, Dave placed a quick kiss on Fran's cheek before heading back to his husband.

XXXX

"Is Mom with you?" Derek wondered.

"She's in the waiting room, do you want her in here?" his husband checked.

"Yes, and hurry, I don't think she's going to wait much longer," Derek replied as sweat dripped from his face. Nodding, Dave called to Fran who quickly made her way into the room.

"I'm here, baby," she said gently wiping her son's face and smiling at him. The laboring man gave his mother a quick smile before it fell away and was replaced by a grimace of pain.

"I feel a lot of pressure," Derek said as he shifted in the bed. "Oh, god, I can feel her. She's right there. Please get her out," he whimpered in pain.

"Take it easy, babe," Dave soothed.

"Don't you tell me to take it easy, David Rossi!" Morgan growled as another contraction hit and he cried out in pain.

"If I could just push it would help," he whined. He began to push but was stopped by the nurse.

"No, you have to wait for Dr. Palmer," she instructed. Reluctantly Derek listened to the nurse and forced himself to take deep breaths until the contraction ended. Just then Dr. Palmer walked in and took her place at the foot of the bed.

"Okay, Derek it's time to push. On the next contraction, I want you to put your chin to your chest and push as hard as you can, do you understand?" the doctor instructed

"Yes, oh god, I have to push," Derek said squeezing his eyes shut and beginning to push.

"Dave, why don't you get behind him and support him," the nurse suggested. Doing what he was told; Dave moved into position and supported the laboring man.

"Fuck that hurt," Derek panted as he tried to catch his breath inbetween contractions.

"You're doing great," Fran encouraged.

"Here comes another one. I'm pushing," Derek said as he began to push. After three more pushes, the doctor told them she could see the head.

"Give me one good push and the head will be out," Dr. Palmer told her patient.

"I can't, I'm so tired," Derek protested.

"Yes you can, babe," Dave encouraged.

"Fine, one push," Derek reluctantly agreed. When the next contraction hit he pushed as hard as he could and cried out in pain when he felt the head come out. Once the head was free, Derek gave one hard push and the shoulders were free.

"One more little push and your daughter will be here," Dr. Palmer told the exhausted and sweating man. Nodding in determination, Derek pushed and cried out as he felt his daughter slip from his body. The nurse instantly began cleaning out the babies mouth and she let out a loud cry.

"Congratulations, it's a girl, born at 11:55 PM on June 8th, 2012," the nurse called out.

"She's here," Dave said tears threatening to fall.

"Do you want to cut the chord, Dad?" the doctor asked. Dave nodded as he stood on wobbly legs and made his way to where the doctor was. Taking the scissors, he cut where he was instructed to and the little girl was finally free of her father. The nurse took her to get cleaned up and weighed.

"You have a seven pound five ounce 20 inch long little girl. Here you go, Dad," the nurse said placing the tiny infant in Dave's arms.

"Hey there, baby girl, I'm your Papa. How about we go see your Daddy? He's the one who has been carrying you around for the last nine months," he explained as he carried the little girl over to Derek and placed her in his arms.

"Welcome to the world, little one. I'm your daddy and I love you so much," Derek breathed.

"She's perfect, isn't she?" he commented to his husband.

"That she is, babe. If you'll be okay, I'm going to go get the team so they can see her before she's taken away for all her newborn tests," Dave told him. Derek nodded as he stared transfixed at the baby girl wrapped in a pink blanket.

XXXX

"We have a baby girl," Dave called out happily as he entered the waiting room.

"That's wonderful, are her and Morgan okay?" Emily asked.

"They're both fine. Derek wants all of you to come see her before they take her for all her newborn tests," Dave told the group. Everyone got up and hurried down the hall eager to meet the newest member of their family.

XXXX

"Awww, she's so beautiful," JJ cooed as she held the newborn.

"Thanks, JJ," Derek said tiredly.

"Does she have a name?" Garcia asked as she took the baby from JJ's arms.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Brenna Grace Rossi, born at 11:55 Pm. June 8th, 2012. She weighs seven pounds five ounces and is 20 inches long," Dave introduced.

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," Hotch complimented.

"Thank you, Brenna was my grandmother on my mom's side middle name," Dave explained.

"And Grace is Mom's middle name," Derek explained. Tears of gratitude and pride filled Fran's eyes as she heard her son's words. Everyone took turns holding the baby until the nurse came in and said she had to take her for some tests so Derek could feed her when she got hungry. Emily who was currently holding the tiny girl reluctantly gave her to the nurse.

"We'll let you get some rest," Hotch said giving the exhausted new parents a rare smile.

"Before you go, we wanted to talk to you and Emily about something," Derek admitted.

"What is it," Emily wondered.

"I know Garcia and Reid are Henry's godparents, and Dave and I were wondering if you and Hotch would be Brenna's?" Derek asked.

"Oh, I'd love to," Emily said blinking back tears. Moving to the bed, she kissed Derek's cheek and gave him a smile.

"I would be honored to, thank you," Hotch said smiling once again before guiding the group out of the room just as the nurse was bringing Brenna and a bottle in for Derek to feed her. After making sure they were comfortable, she took her leave allowing the new family a chance to bond.

XXXX

"Are we ready for this?" Derek asked as he looked down at their now fed and sleeping daughter as she lay in his arms.

"I guess we're about to find out, but with you by my side, I know we'll be just fine," Dave said as he settled next to his husband and their daughter ready for some much needed sleep. He knew that was something he wouldn't get enough of for a long time, but he wouldn't change that for anything in the world.

Finished!

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"If it means I don't have to do paperwork, take as long as you want," Hotch quipped.

"All we need is to ask for a little time off tomorrow. Derek scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN and I want to be there," Dave informed the unit chief.

"Of course, any time off either of you need for the baby is fine with me. If Strauss gives you any trouble, send her to me," Hotch said.

"Thanks," Morgan said.

"You're welcome, but Morgan?" Hotch said as the other two agent's were almost out the door.

"Yeah?" Morgan asked.

"You know you'll have to tell her sooner rather than later, right?"

"I know," Morgan reluctantly agreed. That was one conversation he wasn't looking forward to.