A Baby Story

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon was convinced that Jo was going to explode. She just kept growing! How was it that the human body could stretch so much in just nine months? It looked even more pronounced on Jo’s little frame. She was so petite that it really looked like someone had just shoved a beach ball up her shirt. But Brandon thought it was adorable and beautiful. That was his son growing inside her swollen belly and he was just about ready to pop out. At least, that’s what the doctor said. Every day that passed when Jo didn’t go into labor just added more to the anticipation. He was certain Jo was looking forward to just having the little man out of her and she seemed to be more flustered than usual as the days dragged on. The first trimester had been a nightmare with Jo’s mood swings, but she had evened out a little as time went on…but only a little. She was still prone to snap on occasion and Brandon could never predict it. He had learned not to fight back and to simply bottle up his irritation, but it still slipped out every few weeks when she really got on his nerves. Sometimes he just couldn’t help it.

In spite of Jo’s moods, however, Brandon couldn’t deny how happy and excited he was. He was still affectionate with his girlfriend and did what he could to cheer her up and make her happy. Fishing in the summer was always lucrative and he was bringing in much more income than he did during the colder months. With the extra money he tried to treat Jo when he could, even buying her a massage package. He hadn’t even asked his sister to do it for him. Melanie was still fragile due to her miscarriage, but he knew she was trying so hard to be happy for them. Part of Brandon felt guilty that Melanie would have to be around his son when she had so recently lost her own baby, yet Brandon knew how much Melanie would scold him for feeling that way. The only person who knew he felt that way was Jo, who shared the feeling too. But Melanie had still thrown herself into planning Jo’s baby shower and took such joy in doing so that his guilt was pushed aside some. Kevin was probably having a hell of a time keeping her from buying even more presents for her new little nephew. It was hard to tell she was still struggling with her loss at all. Sometimes he would catch her staring sadly at Jo’s belly, though, and those were the times that Brandon was reminded what she must be going through. And every time Kevin was there to soothe Melanie. Brandon and Kevin had been through their rough patches, but Brandon was grateful he was so supportive of his little sister. As much as he worried about Melanie, it was nice to know that there was someone else there to take care of her when there was so much going on in his own life.

And there was a lot going on. When he wasn’t on the boat, he was with Jo or at home preparing for the baby. Melanie’s old room was converted into his son’s new room. He painted it blue before Jo went all out with decorating it. Brandon let her take the reins on that project and she enthusiastically took it on. He built the furniture and moved it where she wanted it, but every detail was Jo’s idea and he was fine with that. With the baby arriving any day now, he hoped Jo was done rearranging everything. She must have cleaned everything in the house five times now. They called that nesting and Brandon had to find the humor in that considering their son was going to have little wings and his mother turned into a mouse. Her nesting instinct went so deep that she wanted the house to be perfect even on the outside. So Brandon was just coming back in from mowing the lawn again when he found Jo in the kitchen. He was sweaty in jeans and a white t-shirt when he came behind her and planted a wet kiss on her cheek and grinned. “Hey baby mama.” His greeting was playful and he often called her that as a joke these days. He moved to the cabinets to get a glass and filled it with water under the tap. “You smell clean. Did you wash all of his clothes again?” He took a long drag from his glass as he eyed his girlfriend with playful skepticism.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

The days were getting hotter and heavier for Jo. Even with h break in the heat lately, she was always warm it seemed, and simple things like running to the store warranted a nap after, or at least a rest on the couch with her swollen feet up. Somehow she still found the energy to get hings together for their son. Bran had painted the room, but it was Jo who put the final touches in place. An ocean themed room so he could be like his daddy the fisherman, but Jo wasn't satisfied with the cutesy crap that plastered store walls. No, she hung real nets in his room and hung paintings of fish and other sea creatures. She used rustic colors in blue and green, a combination of lights and darks and a brought in toys that complimented the theme. A mobil hung from the ceiling that would make any child jealous, a replica of something she'd seen online in an aquarium of silver fish that reflected light onto the wall as it spun. It looked straight out of a book and Jo was proud of it. Sure, the rest of the house could use a little makeover in her eyes, but Bran was pleased with it the way it was and she could only tackle one project at a time.

Jo had finally settled things with work for her maternity leave,which was mostly nonexitant. She planned on going back to work at least part time once the little man arrived, giving herself only two weeks of no work. She still needed to do payroll and put orders in, things she wasn't confident with her current staff doing, and since she was running this ship she had never trained anyone to do this task for her. It wasn't a big deal, though. She already had wraps and carriers to carry the tot around as she go things done. Poor kid would feel more at home at Sunshine's than his own home probably.

Jo's due date had finally come and then passed. She was growing impatient now, just wanting the baby out of her! He was heavy and big and she missed sleeping on her back and side. Everything ached an she was anxious to meet her son and start her new life with him in it. At least Brandon was patient with her, doing what she asked. He was doting and understanding even after she broke down and yelled at him over literally nothing. She was grateful he'd been the one to get her pregnant accidentally as opposed to her ex. Kit would have been long gone by now, but Brandon? He was the one, and every time she looked a him she felt it. Any man who could put up with the shit she had been putting him through was forever.

The front door opened and Jo didn't bother looking up, knowing exactly who it was. She was mixing up some strawberry lemonade when she felt Bran's wet lips on her cheek, the stink of sweat and cut grass strong around her. "Hey baby mama." He teased and she wriggled away, her nose wrinkled. "Hey baby daddy." She said in the same playful tone. "You stink." "You smell clean. Did you wash all of his clothes again?" She shot Bran a dirty look, though it wasn't really angry. "If by his you mean yours, then yes." She stuck her tongue out and grabbed her own glass, filling it up with the strawberry lemonade and taking a sip. She looked down at her belly and sighed. "I wish he wasn't so damn stubborn." As if on cue he gave her a swift little kick. "Hey, knock it off in there!" Jo sighed and placed her cup down, looking up into her boyfriends big dark eyes. "I wish these stupid cramps would stop and the contractions would start. I've had them all damn day but they're not strong enough to be contractions." She sighed. "Hey, did you pull the weeds in he garden, too?"

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon grinned at the playful glare Jo shot him. “If by his you mean yours , then yes.” Jo stuck her tongue out and Brandon leaned a hip against the counter. “Well thank you!” he offered, actually looking forward to some clean laundry. He was sweaty and stinky beneath the fresh cut grass musk he was now wearing. He would go take a shower, but that strawberry lemonade looked pretty good right now. Dumping out the rest of his water in the sink, he grabbed the pitcher of lemonade instead and filled his glass. When was the last time he had enjoyed a glass of lemonade after yard work? Melanie would have told him to make it himself if he wanted some. Jo sighed and touched her belly and Brandon’s eyes followed her hands. It was still awe-inspiring to think that there was a little person in there. “I wish he wasn’t so damn stubborn.” Brandon grinned. He would expect nothing less from his and Jo’s son. Jo jumped a little and her brow furrowed. “Hey, knock it off in there!” He chuckled, assuming the baby had kicked and it was funny how it appeared to be in response to Jo’s commentary. When she looked up at him again, Brandon forced himself to hide his humor in case it made her angry.

“I wish these stupid cramps would stop and the contractions would start. I’ve had them all damn day but they’re not strong enough to be contractions.” Huh? Cramps? Brandon’s brow creased. Maybe Jo didn’t think they were strong enough, but she’d never had a baby before. How could she know what contractions were supposed to feel like? Was that something women just inherently knew? “Hey, did you pull the weeds in the garden, too?” The question was confusing having come hard on the heels of the last statement. Brandon had to forget about the cramps for a minute to process what she had just asked him. Finally it clicked and he jumped a little, blinking. “Oh, yeah. You asked me to do that yesterday and I finished it before I came inside.” He smiled before looking at her stomach again. “Are you sure they’re not contractions? Maybe they’re just…starting contractions? Should I call the midwife?” Jo was into the whole natural thing, just like all of the names she had listed off were nature-themed. It had gone far enough that she had decided to give birth at home and without medication. He wasn’t so sure about the no medication part, knowing she would be in agony, but he knew women had been doing this since the beginning of time and only in the last sixty years or so had there been an alternative option for that pain. If that’s what Jo wanted, that’s what she would get. But she didn’t want the midwife right now and did her best to reassure him that she wasn’t in labor yet.

He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips before taking another sip of his lemonade. “Are you sure about that no medication thing? When you go into labor, I don’t want the neighbors to think I’m brutally torturing and murdering you. It could look a little bad for me. Just saying.” He smiled at Jo, making it obvious that he was teasing her. She knew he respected her choice. “And then I’ll have to take out the bloody sheets to the trash can…I’m going to need your help with the cops, I think. That or I’m strapping the boy to my chest while I do it. Or would that look worse?” He cocked his head to the side playfully, considering with a single raised brow and stroking his stubbled chin thoughtfully.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

When Brandon had to think of his answer her brow furrowed worriedly. Had he forgotten her garden? She couldn't weed these days and she needed those weeds to stay away! She was just about to huff when he finally answered that he had, immediately calming her and bringing a smile to her face. Jo had aways been a little bipolar in her emotions, but it had been a true roller coaster lately going from the verge of explosion to a calm ease in seconds. "Thanks." She breathed gratefully. “Are you sure they’re not contractions? Maybe they’re just…starting contractions? Should I call the midwife?” she immediately shook her head. "They're not timing ight, an my water hasn't broke. I don't want to call too soon. Babies take forever to come. We can call when they're actually close together." She assured not believing it was time just yet. Too many false alarms for her to be sure she was having this stubborn little boy.

Jo smiled as Bran pecked her lips, looking forward to a time she could let that kiss linger and turn into something more without an enormous basketball in her stomach coming between them. “Are you sure about that no medication thing? When you go into labor, I don’t want the neighbors to think I’m brutally torturing and murdering you. It could look a little bad for me. Just saying.” she narrowed her eyesat his playfulness, her bottom lip curling gently. “And then I’ll have to take out the bloody sheets to the trash can…I’m going to need your help with the cops, I think. That or I’m strapping the boy to my chest while I do it. Or would that look worse?” Jo poked his chest accusingly. "No medication." She grumbled though she wasn't really angry. "He deserves to be chemical free on the biggest day of his life, and I plan on giving him that, and you will graciously deal with screaming and bloody sheets and horrified neighbors and curious cops or you, handsome, will end up in a body bag." She grinned and tugged at the collar of his shirt, pulling him down so she could steal a quick kiss. "Now go get showered smelly, and I'll heat you up some leftovers. Because I'm nice." She smiled and shoved him away as she moved towards the fridge, unable to dodge his sweaty hug from behind. "Ugh, you're disgusting! Get off!" She whined through a laugh, glowering playfully over her shoulder as he headed up towards the bathroom.

The afternoon passed and the cramps persisted, but Jo still thought nothing of them. They weren't long or that close together and there was no other signs of labor. She'd had crampy days before and she wasn't alarmed. Not yet anyway. She eased Brandon's mind whenever he asked, but she kept herself busy doing small light chores and working on the computer. She needed to finish payroll and there were some teas she needed to order in. It was early evening when she started getting dinner ready that she felt a strong cramp pass through her. She gripped he counter and looked up at the clock, counting how long it was. The seconds ticked slowly and she gasped at the pain. This one was different.. this one actually hurt! "Bran?" She called out, not completely sure where he was at the moment. "Brandon I think you should call now.."

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon chuckled lightly as Jo poked his chest, accusation written all over her face. “No medication. He deserves to be chemical free on the biggest day of his life, and I plan on giving him that, and you will graciously deal with screaming and bloody sheets and horrified neighbors and curious cops or you, handsome, will end up in a body bag.” He grinned and put his hands up defensively. Of course she wouldn’t really kill him, but Brandon wasn’t really upset about her decision to not have an epidural either. Jo had a point about letting their son come into the world chemical free and Brandon was perfectly okay with that. She pulled him into a kiss, one that Brandon graciously accepted before she nudged him back again. “Now go get showered Smelly, and I’ll heat you up some leftovers. Because I’m nice.” Brandon grinned and then chuckled again as she pushed him away. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up. He rushed up behind Jo and threw his arms around her, pulling her back into his chest so his sweat seeped into her clothes just enough to get a rise out of her. “Ugh, you’re disgusting! Get off!” Laughing as he scampered away, he grinned at Jo just long enough to see her glowering through her smile. His smile was as mischievous as a child’s before he hurried upstairs to shower.

Nothing really exciting happened that afternoon. Brandon checked on Jo every now and then to make sure her cramps were okay, and though they persisted, she was still insisting that it was fine. And for several hours it was. Jo did some work and Brandon did the same, looking into some new equipment for the boat. Obviously with the baby coming he wasn’t going to buy anything now, but months down the line he might invest in some upgrades. Once he was done researching, he went right into playing some Assassin’s Creed. Time went by quick in front of the television and before long it was evening. He heard Jo walk by but he didn’t look around, too engrossed in killing his current target. It didn’t seem like she was looking for him anyway, though it did sound like she was getting dinner ready. He didn’t think anything about her presence until she said his name. “Bran? Brandon I think you should call now…” He paused and straightened up on the couch, his brow furrowed. Call who? Oh! Panic hit him in the gut and he jumped up from the couch and rushed out into the kitchen. There she was, clutching the counter and her stomach. Jo’s eyes met his and Brandon could feel the color flowing out of him. This was it. He was going to be a dad. With a deep breath, he nodded. “Okay, I’ll…I’ll just…” Without finishing his sentence, he went right back into the living room to grab his cell phone.

His fingers shook as he unlocked the screen on his phone and scrolled through his contacts to find the midwife. Her name was Sonja and she was the daughter of the midwife that brought him into the world. Brandon had known her throughout their childhood but had never really been friends with her. They were just friendly acquaintances, but she was the first one he thought of when Jo started talking about a midwife. Sonja and her mother were known to specialize in Guardian births so it only seemed natural to go with her. When she picked up, Brandon heaved a sigh of relief, heading back out towards the kitchen. “Hey, Sonja. I think it’s time to pull this bun out of the oven.” It was meant to be a joke and while she laughed and said something else, he was stunned into silence when he saw Jo in the kitchen again. There was a puddle of fluid on the floor and Jo was looking at him like a deer in the headlights. He swallowed hard and forced his voice to return. “Uh…actually…it’s definitely time. Her water just broke.” Sonja told him to get her to bed and tell her to breathe and she would be there shortly. End of conversation. But for about ten seconds after the line went dead, Brandon held the phone to his ear, staring at the ground with wide black eyes. When he finally looked away from the puddle and up at Jo again, he looked shocked, terrified, and excited all at once. “Oh shit…” he blurted out. Then he swallowed and shoved his phone back in his pocket, rushing forward and taking Jo’s arm so he could start leading her upstairs. “Sonja told me to put you in bed and tell you to breathe. Are you okay? Do you need anything else? Does it hurt? I can carry you if you need me to.” He was talking a mile a minute and he had no idea what to do. His son was coming, his girlfriend was going to be in pain soon, and all of the tips that Jo had tried to teach him about preparing for a baby had gone in one ear and out of the other. The panic he felt must have been obvious on his face as he looked down at the little woman hobbling beside him.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

It only took a second for Jo to hear Brandon running around the corner and there he was. She looked nervous as she stared into his panicked dark eyes. How long had she been waiting for this moment? Suddenly she wished it would go away. She wasn't ready to be a mom! She wasn't ready to feel the hours of labor pain! “Okay, I’ll…I’ll just…” Jo raised her brows, her lips parted as she watched her boyfriend connect the dots. He ran into the other room to get his phone and it was that moment that Jo felt her panties dampen. She looked down but could see nothing of her shorts over her protruding belly, but she didn't need to in order to know what was happening. The warm liquid dripped down her legs and all she could do was stand there in shock. "Oh, shit.." She whispered in horror, wide eyed and gripping the counter again. "Oh shit, oh shit!" She looked around and grabbed a dish towel but decided she couldn't use that! It was for dryin hands, not amniotic fluid! And te water was still dripping! Why didnt it just pop like a balloon like in the movies? That would be so much easier. She took a step to get a paper towel when Bran came back into the room. She stopped and looked at him, terrified at what was suddenly happening. She had always pictured herself more composed for this!

“Uh…actually…it’s definitely time. Her water just broke.” Her breathing became heavy as another contraction racked her body. She let out a sharp little yelp and gripped the counter when Brandon came back over, the cramp easing again. “Oh shit…” She gave a nervous, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, I said the same hing." She admitted as Bran grabbed her arm. “Sonja told me to put you in bed and tell you to breathe. Are you okay? Do you need anything else? Does it hurt? I can carry you if you need me to.” He was making her head swim and she gripped his arm. "I coul wak, but.. I need you to clean th floor. Like, you need a towel and some disinfectant. Don't let it stay there it'll dry and leave a stain and I can't mop for a while. Okay? You'll do that?" She was frustrated that he was rolling his eyes. "Everyone's going to be visiting over the next few days! We can't have a messy floor, it's so embarrassing!" He walked her up the stairs, the fluid still dripping down her legs but he agreed to clean, even if he was more amued by hr request than she was. "And the carpet! Ugh I'm driping everywh..Ahh!" Jo clutched her stomach and leaned into Brandon as a pain shot through her again. "Holy shit, that really does hurt!" She blurted out, not fighting Brandon as he lifted her and carried her the rest of the way to the bedroom.

She was soon standing by the bed, stripping out of her soaking garments. "Go get the birthing bed sheet thing." She instructed, pointing towards the closet where she had stuck it. It was intendedto keep the mattress clar of stains, though she knw she miht end up in the tub or even squatting on the floor. Sonja had gone over several different plans with them, but Jo decided she woul pla it by ar and see how comfortable she was whn the baby was ready to come. Brandon put the sheet down, taking his sweet time, and helped lower Jo onto the bed. She had changed her shirt to something a little baggier and had removed her bra. Her eyes moved to Brandon's nervously. "When will she be here? She's coming right? The floor! You need to go clean the floor!"

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“I could walk, but…I need you to clean the floor. Like, you need a towel and some disinfectant. Don’t let it stay there, it’ll dry and leave a stain and I can’t mop for a while. Okay? You’ll do that?” Of all the things Jo could ask him to do while she was going into labor and she wanted him to mop? Brandon couldn’t help but roll his eyes in frustration, wanting to protest, but she beat him to it. “Everyone’s going to be visiting over the next few days! We can’t have a messy floor, it’s so embarrassing!” He nodded and kept escorting her up the stairs, sighing out his frustration. There was no need to get upset with her, not when she was in labor with his son, and he wasn’t really feeling like arguing. He would clean if that’s what she needed him to do. “And the carpet! Ugh I’m dripping everywh…Ahh!” Her sudden outburst made Brandon stop dead in his tracks, supporting Jo as she leaned on him for support. She was gripping her stomach and he knew it must have been another contraction. “Holy shit, that really does hurt!” What, did she think her mom was lying to her when she inevitably told Jo how she came into the world? He’d never met Jo’s mom and Jo didn’t talk about her much, but surely even her mom told her that story. That was a story he heard from his father’s lips but only because his own mother wasn’t there to tell it. Knowing Jo was in pain, he finally resolved to scoop her up in his arms and carry her the rest of the way to their room. She wasn’t as heavy as he thought a pregnant woman would be, but she was still considerably heavier than the last time he’d carried her up the stairs like this. By the time he got to their room, he was grateful for the break.

“Go get the birthing bed sheet thing.” Jo’s finger pointed to the closet and Brandon made his way over to pull it out while she got undressed. He found it easily and went to work securing it to the bed. Not wanting to buy a new mattress, he was grateful for this padding and made sure it was on tightly. When it was finally ready to his satisfaction, he moved to Jo and lowered her onto the mattress, helping her until she was comfortable. Her big brown eyes moved to his. “When will she be here? She’s coming, right? The floor! You need to go clean the floor!” He cupped her face so she was looking at him and to calm her down some. “She’ll be here in about twenty minutes. I’ll go clean the floors now before she gets here. Don’t freak out, okay? Put on some TV while we wait for Sonja.” Of course there was a TV in their bedroom—it belonged to just Brandon a year ago. He kissed Jo gently, sweeping his fingers through her now almost shoulder-length brown hair. When he pulled away, he smiled. “Now, are you sure you want me to clean the floors? It could be part of the story of how he was born. We can tell our guests, ‘And you can see she popped here and waddled halfway up the stairs before she had another contraction. You can see there’s a slightly bigger puddle on this step.’” Jo’s reaction made Brandon grin and soon she was shooing him out of the room.

It took Brandon until Sonja got there to clean up all of the carpet and he was still mopping the kitchen floor when the doorbell rang. He greeted Sonja with a warm welcome and told her to follow the freshly scrubbed patches of carpet to find Jo. She laughed and went up on her own while Brandon took a few more minutes to finish cleaning the kitchen floor. It was disinfected just like Jo requested. Was Brandon happy to clean up amniotic fluid? No. In fact, he was pretty creeped out by it. But he did it because he owed that to Jo whose tiny little body was about to push out his first child. It was the least he could do. When he finally mounted the stairs again and made his way into the bedroom, Sonja was holding Jo’s hand through another contraction, watching her wrist watch to time it. Brandon gulped, frozen momentarily as the moment hit him. This was it. This was the time they’d been prepping for over the past nine months. It felt like no amount of prep time was enough to be ready for this arrival. The contraction passed and Sonja smiled wide with a soft, “Good job!” Then both women were looking at him and Brandon blinked. “Uh…I finished the floors. Do you need anything else? Ice, water…anything?” Surely Sonja would need something, right? He felt like he should be rushing more, but Sonja seemed completely relaxed. Or was she supposed to be that way in this situation? Brandon felt so lost. Maybe he should have read more of those books Jo had been piling up for him…

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Brandon's hands came to her cheeks, cupping them gently so her eyes were forced to focus on his. “She’ll be here in about twenty minutes. I’ll go clean the floors now before she gets here. Don’t freak out, okay? Put on some TV while we wait for Sonja.” Being forced to focus on Brandon and his words made her calm down and she slowly nodded. How was he staying so calm right now? She wished she had the patience of her boyfriend. If he were delivering this baby he would be cool as a cucumber, but no, she had to because she had the ovaries and the uterus and that god forsaken vagina! It wasn't fair. "Alright." She managed a little weakly. He rewarded her with a peck on the lips and Jo sighed as he pulled away. She could do this! “Now, are you sure you want me to clean the floors? It could be part of the story of how he was born. We can tell our guests, ‘And you can see she popped here and waddled halfway up the stairs before she had another contraction. You can see there’s a slightly bigger puddle on this step.’” She knew he was teasing, but the thought horrified her and the look on her face showed it. "Brandon!" She scolded in a desperate voice, her eyes lined with worry and annoyance at the prospect of his joke becoming a reality. Jo would be mortified for their friends and family to see the stains her body made while she birthed their son! "Go clean up!" She demanded, scowling as he grinned his way out of the room. Jo huffed after him and then grit her teeth through another contraction, forcing her to lean back and try to just relax.

Jo flipped through the channels until she came across Annie, which had been one of her favorites growing up! She had always wished she had a Daddy Warbucks as a little girl. She wasn't exactly an orphan, but she wasn't exactly raised by her parents either. Sure she had a lot of nice family who had cared for her, but what kid didn't want to be loved and adored by a billionaire? She sang along with the film, completely losing track of time. Every now and then her body would be overcome with the sharp cramps and she would twist and cringe and sometimes cry out, but they didn't last too long thank goodness, and the movie helped time pass.

Before Jo knew it, Sonja was knocking on her door. She looked up both relieved and anxious to see the woman, knowing this meant show time. Jo listened as Sonja went over the plan again and they began to time her contractions. She felt stupid that she hadn't been doing it already as Sonja had instructed at an earlier visit. She was beginning to dilate and apparently everything was going well. The baby was turned and the contractions were coming as they should. Brandon came back upstairs just as another contraction racked her body, Sonja watching her wristwatch to time it. “Good job!” She congratulated encouragingly and Jo gave a shy, embarrassed smile. She was so optimistic! “Uh…I finished the floors. Do you need anything else? Ice, water…anything?” Jo nodded and looked back at Brandon. "Both?" She asked, looking to her midwife for confirmation that it was alright. The woman smiled and nodded, looking to Brandon as well. "Both is fine." Her tone showed how laid back and cool she was with all of this. Jo gulped and smiled weakly at Brandon as he disappeared again.

The next couple of hours seemed to drag on for Jo. She was now walking around trying to bring the labor on further, going up and down the steps with Brandon's aid and chewing on her ice. The contractions were coming closer together now and Sonja told them to be in for a long night since Jo wasn't dilating as quickly as she had hoped. How long did it take to have a damn baby? Would she be one of those girls that labored for 36 hours? The thought terrified her. She'd barely made three at this point and already she was ready to be done, and apparently the worst was to come. The contractions were hitting her back, making it difficult to stand through them, so she leaned on Brandon who held her up as they walked around.

By the fifth hour Jo was getting tired of it all. "I wanna quit." She whined to Brandon as they walked around downstairs again. She pouted up at him, another contraction having just ended. They were getting closer together, and the last time Sonja checked she was about six centimeters dilated, which meant she had minimum three to go until she could even start pushing. "I changed my mind, I don;t wanna have him today. I want him to just stay put until it doesn't hurt and.. and magically come out." The girl snuggled her face into the crook of her boyfriends arm, groaning pathetically. "When this is over you better pamper me like it's your damn job." She grumbled grumpily.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“Both?” Brandon, too, looked to Sonja for confirmation and the woman smiled at Jo in response. “Both is fine.”[/i] It was a good thing Sonja was so cool because it was pretty obvious that Jo and Brandon were not. The other woman smiled at him too and Brandon smiled at Jo before heading down to get Jo a glass of just ice and then a glass of ice water. When he returned, Sonja appeared fully prepped to birth this baby while Jo looked a little less certain. Brandon’s stomach was now roiling with nerves. This was it. The last couple of hours before he finally got to meet his son. What if something went wrong? What if Jo couldn’t handle it? What if the baby couldn’t handle it? Sonja was monitoring both heartbeats, but it still terrified Brandon to think of what would happen if something did go wrong. The next couple of hours did nothing to soothe his anxiety, either. Even though the labor had started, Jo wasn’t even close to ready for pushing. Soon she and Brandon were going up and down the stairs to try and dilate her further, but the process was still slow. Every time she had a contraction, Brandon almost had to hold her up to keep her from crumpling to the ground in pain.

It was five hours and well into the night and both Brandon and Jo were frazzled, tired and anxious. They walked around the downstairs of their home over and over, but Brandon made no complaints. “I wanna quit.” Brandon laughed lightly, rubbing Jo on the back as she recovered from another contraction. “I don’t think it works that way, baby.” Jo pouted up at him and Brandon mimicked her playfully to try and lighten her mood. “I changed my mind, I don’t wanna have him today. I want him to just stay put until it doesn’t hurt and…and magically come out.” Again he laughed and pulled her closer when she snuggled into him. Even in labor she was cute enough to warm his heart. “When this is over you better pamper me like it’s your damn job.” He grinned and kissed the top of her head, stepping slowly along to keep her moving. “You got it, dude. Whatever you want, you’ll have it. Within reason. I’ll even rub your feet without complaint. For a month.” His grin widened as he looked down at her. “And I wouldn’t recommend you keep him in there any longer. He’ll only get bigger and then it’ll be like Alien—he’ll just burst out of your stomach.” He rested his hand on her stomach and then made a movement like she was bursting with an explosion sound from his mouth. Her reaction made him smile deviously before they continued on walking.

“Did you find out if any of your family is going to make it out here to see the baby?” he asked to keep her mind on something other than her labor. They had talked about her family trickling in from various parts to see their baby and while most probably weren’t going to bother and would just wait for the pictures on Facebook, there had been some discussion about her mother coming. Brandon was terrified to meet her mother, afraid she wouldn’t approve of him, but obviously the woman would want to see her grandson. And maybe she would disapprove of him less when she saw the rock he had picked out for her little girl. He had every intention of pulling it out once their son was wailing in his mother’s arms, but for now it would remain in its hiding spot.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“You got it, dude. Whatever you want, you’ll have it. Within reason. I’ll even rub your feet without complaint. For a month.” She peaked up at his and pouted. "You better." She grumbles softly, but he still looked overly amused. “And I wouldn’t recommend you keep him in there any longer. He’ll only get bigger and then it’ll be like Alien—he’ll just burst out of your stomach.” Jo's jaw dropped and she looked up at him with her most annoyed face. Did he really just say that? His hand came to her stomach and he pretended like there was an explosion and Jo reached over and smacked him a few times gently on the side. "Don't say such horrible things! I'm traumatized enough you jerk!" His laugh and her eye roll were enough for them both to know she wasn't completely serious, but she wasn't necessarily pleased with his tormenting either.

Jo walked silently beside her boyfriend for a while before he spoke up again, her eyes moving to meet his face. “Did you find out if any of your family is going to make it out here to see the baby?” She sort of hated this topic and her shoulders rolled into a shrug. "My aunt from Vegas said she'd like to come and visit and will try to by October. Mom said she's trying to find some cheap plane fare and as soon as she does I guess they'll come out." Jo wished her family was a little more supportive, but she understood most of them lived far, and many had sent gifts to their unborn son which was nice. Still, a visit would be really nice, and not one that had to be worked around a budget. Jo would help her mom with the tickets if she asked, but her mom would never accept her "charity". Jo grunted through another contraction, holding tight to Brandon. "This isn't working! I want to try something else." She whined, and so Brandon brought her back upstairs to the midwife.

Sonja checked Jo, and though she was getting closer, she wasn't close enough to start pushing just yet. She drew Jo a warm bath and Brandon helped her in it. The warm water soothed her, and the oils she added from her own shop felt nice on her skin. Jo wished the tub was bigger so she could get Brandon in there with her, but it wouldn't work. Besides, she had a feeling Bran would be uncomfortable if she started having the baby and he was in there with all the fluids coming out of her. Not even she would ask him to do that, though she would have loved him laying behind her. Even though he wasn't in the bath, Brandon was a good partner. He rubbed a sponge over her back and talked with her about their son, going over the name list again even though hey had pretty much agreed on River. Jo liked the name, and she was pleased that Brandon had, too. She had a feeling it was because it was a water related name, something that Brandon was drawn to anyway, but Jo didn't need to really pick it apart. They had fallen in love with a name together and that was really all that mattered.

The water soothed the contractions, and though it was still painful, it somehow seemed less so in the water. Though Sonja had warned that it might not help move the process of dilating along, it was doing just that. Jo quickly moved up to eight centimeters where she hit another plateau, stalling there again. After an hour of waiting, she wanted to get out of the tub because she was getting uncomfortable laying there and her digits were all getting too pruney. She moved to the bed where she squatted and hoped for the best, a robe slung over her shoulders so she might have just a little bit of modesty. She moved up to nine centimeters and she felt the intense urge to push through each contraction. Things were getting more uncomfortable and Jo was staring to really wish she'd gone with medication, because it really did hurt as much as they said it did! Sonja told her to hold back for now, not to push yet, and she cried through each contraction, which were getting closer and closer together. It was after midnight at this point and Jo was getting tired. Tired of contracting, tired of hurting, tired of waiting! "I want to push him out!" She insisted and Sonja checked again. Her face crinkled but she finally gave a nod. "Alright, if it feels right do it!" Jo pushed but Sonja stopped her almost immediately. "Remember what we practiced; bear down and concentrate on pushing where it counts. If this position doesn't feel right, we'll move you into one that does." Jo nodded and puffed air through her mouth as another contraction hit. Jo did as Sonja had practiced with her, but it seemed it was going to take some time for him to come on down.

Birthing a baby sucked. Brandon spoke gentle words of encouragement as Jo moved around from one position to the next. She squatted,kneeled, sat, laid down.. nothing felt comfortable. Finally she got on her elbows and knees, which seemed to be more comfortable for her. The irony of the position made her want to roll her eyes, knowing it was how mice gave birth. She didn't want to push her son out this way, but dammit he was moving down her birth canal far faster in this position and Jo just wanted him out! She didn't care much at this point how stupid she looked as long as her son would quit stalling. It took thirty more minutes of pushing for River to crown. She was so close! Another contraction hit and Jo yelped, shutting her eyes tight as she felt the baby move out of her. and then there was crying..

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Sonja suggested that Jo get into the bathtub to help with the contractions and to help Jo dilate further. Brandon went into the bathroom with her and even though the tub was too small for him to get in with her, he was fine to stay right beside the bathtub. He rubbed a sponge gently over her back and down her arms to soothe her more, seeing how uncomfortable his girlfriend was. His talk consisted mainly of their son—what he would look like and how much he liked the name they had picked. Brandon loved the name River for his son, considering his affinity for the water. River Garcia. It just had a nice ring to it! He would bring up his hopeful nickname after he was born, though. Brandon wanted his son’s middle name to be his father’s name, Wade, just like Brandon had his grandfather’s name for his middle name. And the name Wade went nicely with a watery name like River, but it was still a decision for later. Not while Jo was struggling not to push.

Eventually Jo moved back to the bed with a robe tied loosely around her. The contractions were coming more quickly and with each one Jo was beginning to cry out. Though he had fretted over the neighbors hearing just hours before, Brandon didn’t care if they heard anymore. He only cared that Jo was in pain and there was nothing he could do to stop it. In fact, he’d sort of caused it. But where some women looked at their baby daddies and spat the accusation, “YOU DID THIS TO ME,” Jo never blamed him. Brandon sat with a furrowed brow beside her, holding her hand through each painful seizure of Jo’s stomach. Still, Sonja didn’t give her the okay to push. “I want to push him out!” He could hear the obvious frustration in her voice and his eyes turned imploringly to Sonja. The midwife checked beneath the robe again, studying the dilation for a long pause. Finally she looked up at Jo and nodded. “Alright, if it feels right, do it! Remember what we practiced; bear down and concentrate on pushing where it counts. If this position doesn’t feel right, we’ll move you into one that does.”[/b] Apparently, that position did not feel alright. As Brandon softly encouraged Jo’s breathing and her pushing, Jo tried several positions, but still she seemed restless. After trying what seemed like a hundred positions, Jo finally settled for being on her hands and knees and bearing down on the baby. Brandon briefly wondered why that position of all of them would be the most satisfying, but he didn’t vocalize his question. Whatever made Jo most comfortable at the moment was good enough for him! She cried out through her contractions, gritting her teeth and gasping for air in between pushing sessions. Sonja cheered her on and Brandon did the same, running his hand over her back and pushing her hair from her sweaty face. “That’s it, baby! You’re doing great!” She hardly seemed to hear him through her intense concentration, but it made Brandon feel better to think he was helping even a little bit.

“I see his head!”[/i] Sonja announced excitedly. Brandon’s heart leapt into his throat, his stomach churning. This was it! He was almost there! “Keep pushing, baby!” he cheered to Jo who did just that. “Quick, Brandon! Come catch him!”[/i] And that’s where he froze. Do what now? They hadn’t talked about this! Sonja looked up at him with something bordering on impatience. “Come on, now! He’s almost out!”[/b] Brandon swallowed hard. There was a very good reason he had stayed out of sight of Jo’s vagina throughout this ordeal—he didn’t want to know what it looked like to have a baby push out of it. Just the thought made a little bile rise in his throat. But when Sonja stood up and grabbed his arm, yanking him hard towards Jo’s backside, he didn’t really have an opportunity to say no. Reluctantly Brandon looked at what he had done to Jo. One look made all of the color drain from his face as he stared in wide-eyed horror. He’d destroyed it. He’d destroyed Jo’s vagina. It was gaping with a crown of dark hair stretching the folds mercilessly. There was blood and fluid everywhere and it looked like someone had inserted a medieval torture device into his girlfriend’s love tunnel. What on earth had he done? His lungs had stopped working and he couldn’t suck in any air. He was going to pass out. Sonja must have seen the horror on his face and she took his wrists and forced them forward, bracing his hands close to the bloody wreck that was Jo’s vagina. There were spots in his eyes as Jo gave her last push, forcing a wrinkled head into the cool air of their bedroom. As the tiny human shoulders emerged, Brandon was immediately compelled to grab them and gently pry the slippery creature from its mother’s nether regions. It slid out easily, warm and slimy in Brandon’s hands. He gripped the boy beneath his armpits, finally holding him up to inspect him. He was dizzy, but his heart was now racing as he lifted the little squirming creature higher.

And then it cried. No…then he cried. The sparse dark hair was matted against his scalp and his face was scrunched up with pure dissatisfaction, red and wrinkled. His little legs kicked in protest but all Brandon could do was stare at him in amazement. He had never seen anything so beautiful. River was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. His eyes filled with tears and his cheeks ached with how wide his smile was. “Hey buddy…” he said in a half-choked voice. Still out of it, Sonja helped Jo pass her afterbirth and assisted Brandon in cutting the baby’s umbilical cord. Afterward, Brandon just held him while Sonja hustled away, staring at his son, amazed by every little movement and cry. He helped make this boy! The sound of footsteps approaching called his attention back to Sonja who was reappearing from the bathroom with a small tub. His tears were on his cheeks as he grinned blissfully at the woman. “I have a son!” As if she hadn’t known. But still she grinned wide and warm and nodded, placing the tub on his cleared off dresser. “He’s beautiful. But he’ll be more beautiful when you wash him off!”[/i] Right! Brandon nodded and hastened over to the tub, dipping River in it gently and then taking the washcloth from Sonja, watching River the whole time. “I think your mom has more to complain about than you, little man.” He grinned wider, gently washing the mess away from his son’s body. It didn’t take more than a few minutes and when he was done, he dried River off and then wrapped him in a soft, warm swaddling cloth. The warmth calmed the baby some and soon his screaming turned into mewling. He cradled the boy in his arms, running his hand over River’s soft, warm head. “Welcome to the world, River.” Finally he grinned up at Jo as he approached her. She looked exhausted but anxious to hold the fruit of her labor. Brandon didn’t disappoint. Though he wanted to cuddle River more, he knew how much more Jo deserved to hold him. “And here’s your mommy.” His voice was soft and soothing before he carefully slid his son from his arms to Jo’s. He had completely forgotten the horror of her birthing vagina. Jo was beautiful as she held their son for the first time. Brandon slid onto the bed next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, kissing her sweaty hair when he pulled her close. They both watched the miracle their love had made with pure content.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

The pain and pressure began to ease once the baby started sliding out, but that didn't stop Jo from screaming in agony. It still hurt! But the sound of a wailing baby shut her up and made her begin to pant. She had done it! She'd birthed a CHILD! Jo leaned forward, resting her body as her knees stayed tucked under her, her ass still raised slightly. She turned her head to watch Brandon, both shocked and in awe at what had just happened. She'd actually done it. She was actually a real mom! Her breathing became irregular as she tried to grasp this concept completely. Sure, she had been thinking it for the last nine months, but now he was here. It was so different now. “Hey buddy…” And that's when Jo actually lost it. Her hand moved to cover her mouth as a sob formed, tears welling in her happy, dark eyes. She'd never seen Brandon more happy or proud.

The afterbirth passed shortly after, not hurting nearly as much as she would have thought. In fact, it was just a mild cramp in comparison to passing the baby. After Sonja helped Jo to get more comfortable, changing the pad she'd been lying on and placing a fresh one down until she could really check her out. Jo simply watched the show in front of her, wanting to hold River, but not wanting to ask Brandon to give him up. He looked so at peace with the baby, and part of Jo was a little scared of holding him now. “I have a son!” Jo bit her bottom lip and smiled, a tear streaking down her cheek. “He’s beautiful. But he’ll be more beautiful when you wash him off!” A choked laugh escaped her and again her hand crept over her lips, watching Sonja take the baby from her boyfriend and wash him off. She wanted to see and craned her neck to watch, itching to see the baby better, but trying to be patient. What if he hated her? What if he cried when she held him? The baby fussed in the tub and Jo sat up more, alarmed. "Is he okay?" She asked nervously and Sonja simply grinned. "He's fine." She assured him and Jo sighed, leaning back again though she watched the other two like a hawk. “I think your mom has more to complain about than you, little man.” Jo couldn't help but let out a little laugh, wiping the wetness from her face. "I want to see him." She finally begged, still scared of actually holding him. Had she ever even held a newborn before? “Welcome to the world, River.” The soft words were meant only for her son, but they hit her deep. Jo felt her heart racing and pounding in her chest as Brandon approached her. “And here’s your mommy.” Jo had never heard Brandon speak so gently, and she instinctively reached her arms out to accept the small bundle that was her son.

There weren't words to describe how perfect he was. Even then, so brand new and squishy, she could see both Brandon and herself in him. His eyes were a deep gray that she knew would change, his nose was petite and buttoned, and his lips were puckered in the sweet way babies lips were supposed to. He had a head of fuzzy dark hair and chubby little cherub cheeks that melted Jo's heart and all she could do was stare at him. Perfection. Beautiful, incredible perfection and she had made him. She'd never felt more proud or accomplished in her life, which was saying a lot considering she was the founder of a very successful tea and beauty supply store. "Happy birthday." She whispered, all fear gone suddenly. Her free hand moved up to caress his tiny face. His cheeks were soft and she couldn't stop the smile from spreading. Jo looked up at Brandon as he moved onto the bed beside her before River grabbed her attention again. She leaned her body into his as his lips pressed into her dark nest of hair, River's fists flailing up towards his mouth.

"I think someone's hungry after his lang journey." Jo looked up at Sonja and then down at River. Right! Feeding! She nodded, but everything they had gone over seemed lost in the moment. She couldn't remember what she was supposed to do, but fortunately Sonja was there to guide her. He helped Jo position the baby right, explaining softly how to hold him best. After about ten minutes of trying and failing, River finally latched on and Jo could settle down once more. For a moment she was nervous he wouldn't get it, but nature was funny like that. The infants eyes closed as he happily nursed and Jo looked up at Brandon again. "We actually did it." She said, her voice shaky with nerves from the entire experience. "We're parents, Bran.." Her fingers felt the slight lumps on the baby's back, knowing they would need to do something about those wings in the next few weeks. She pushed her face close to his, her lips grazing the side of his gently before looking down at their son. "Look how perfect he is.." She cooed softly, resting her head against her boyfriends shoulders. "I can't even believe it. I love him already." Her mouth was just moving, the words forming without even thinking. She'd loved River before he'd even been the size of a pea, but seeing him now just overflowed her with adoration for the tiny creature who managed to steal her heart despite the discomfort he'd caused over the last nine months. "I love you." She whispered, nuzzling her face closer to him. "Thank you for giving this to me.."

[BRANDON GARCIA]

As Jo cradled their newborn son, Brandon watched him squirm in her arms. He knew he and Jo were thinking the same thing: River was perfect. But even though he was completely enchanted by the boy, he had to take a moment to admire Jo. She looked at her bundle with such tenderness and love, that it made Brandon’s heart ache. Had his own mother gazed at him with the same instantaneous and bottomless love? She must have. All mothers should have that look. He leaned in and kissed Jo’s cheek, his love for her growing exponentially as he witnessed the change in her. She wasn’t just his girlfriend anymore, now was she just the love of his life—she was the mother of his child. That outweighed everything. When he looked back as his son as Jo kissed his fuzzy head, he could see River’s chubby little fists flailing impatiently. It made him grin. He had never seen something so cute in all of his life. They had made the perfect being.

“I think someone’s hungry after his long journey.”[/i] Brandon and Jo were both surprised to hear Sonja’s voice and for a long minute he just stared at her. Hungry? What did that mean? Oh right! River needed to eat! It clicked for Jo just a second quicker than it clicked for him and he watched her adjust to try and prepare to feed River. It was a process for Jo to learn how to feed and he took that time of trial and error to slip over to the dresser. His hand searched at the very back of his sock drawer where he kept the dress socks he rarely had to wear. A small, velvet box containing a very special ring[/u] fell under his fingers and he deftly pulled it out and shoved the box into the small space of his lower back where his jeans left just enough room and where his shirt would cover the slight bulge. The women didn’t even notice him as they tried to get River to take Jo’s nipple. It was strange seeing a baby attached to his girlfriend’s boob, but he didn’t mention that. Soon the baby was sucking away hungrily, with his little fist resting lazily between his mother’s breasts. Brandon slid in beside Jo again, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and tucking her close to him. She looked up at him and he looked down at her, smiling warmly. “We actually did it. We’re parents, Bran.” His grin grew and he reached up to lovingly stroke her cheek with his fingers. “It was all you, babe.” She leaned up and kissed the corner of her mouth, encouraging him to nuzzle his nose into her temple when she turned away to look at their son again. Had he ever been so content in his life? “Look how perfect he is…I can’t believe it. I love him already.” Brandon resting his cheek against the top of her head as she leaned against him. His own hand reached out to place his index finger into his son’s curiously clenching fist. Just that squeeze filled him with more pride and joy than any gesture had before. His son was alive and healthy and he needed Brandon to be there for him. And Brandon knew he would never leave him. “I do too. I love him so much.” Jo’s face nuzzled closer but his dark eyes stayed focused on the miracle that was River. “I love you. Thank you for giving this to me…” Her whispered words enticed his eyes away from River finally and he cupped her cheek. “No, thank you, Jo. You did all the work to give me the best gift a man could ask for. I love you more than you could ever know.” With that he kissed Jo, his fingers slipping affectionately into her sweaty, dark hair. He didn’t think it was possible to love a woman so much.

A slight rustling towards the end of the bed called his attention away from Jo and River and he looked over to see Sonja with a wide warm smile on her face. He flushed slightly and gave a nervous, lopsided smile. “Sorry, Sonja. I forgot you were here for a second.” She laughed and waved her hand. “Don’t worry, Brandon. It happens all the time.”[/i] Her eyes focused on Jo, bending down to pick up all of the supplies she had brought with her. She looked tired and Brandon didn’t blame her for making her retreat. “I’ll be by in the next few days to discuss those wings.”[/i] The mention of River’s tiny wings made Brandon frown slightly. He didn’t like the idea of his son losing half of his heritage by having his wings removed, but he knew it had to be done. The boy would shift when he was old enough and if he took after his mother, he was going to be a creature too small to bear even small, useless wings. It would be a quick and easy fix, like circumcision, but it still left a bitter taste in Brandon’s mouth. Poor boy…At least he wouldn’t remember it. Brandon began to slide off the bed. “Let me walk you to the door.” Sonja shook her head and held her hand up. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I know the way. You stay here with Jo and River.”[/i] He smiled gratefully and nodded, staying put on the edge of the bed. Sonja congratulated them one more time while they showered her with thank you’s and a few minutes later the front door could be heard shutting softly. Brandon looked at Jo and River and grinned. “And now we’re alone.”

He turned so that he was facing Jo and River, watching as the baby suckled her breast. Reaching out and placing his finger in his son’s grasp again, he simply watched the pair for a couple minutes, admiring both of them. When his black eyes came to Jo’s, he smiled wide. “Even after labor, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Seriously.” He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Still hovering close, his hand moved behind him and slowly into the waistband of his jeans. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, Jo. I never would have expected to meet my match by destroying her tea stand on the pier. If I ever find that kid who knocked me over with his bicycle, I’m going to shake his hand and say thanks…before I knock him upside the head.” He grinned, his hand coming to grab her left one that was resting idly on River’s back. “But I did meet my match that day. You are my perfect match in every way. It’s been the happiest year and a half of my life. Even when you were getting on my last nerve and sending me out in the middle of the night for ice cream, I loved you.” The box was in his grasp, but he still kept his hand behind him, drawing as little attention to his secrecy as possible. His other hand held her left one, running his thumb over her soft knuckles. “I love you from your hair to your toes. You’re smart and fiery and you always keep me on my toes. You’ve never judged me or thought I needed to make a better life for myself. I’ve never known anyone like you, Jo. And the last nine months I’ve seen just how loving you can be. Every day I watched you and knew that I wanted to be this way with you forever. I want a home, a family, a life with you. I can’t even imagine being without you. So I have a question for you…” Brandon slid from the bed, releasing Jo’s hand as he got down on one knee and pulled the little black box from behind him. He cracked it open, letting Jo see the brilliant diamond ring sparkling inside. “Jordanna Haile, will you marry me?”

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo felt Brandon's hand cup her cheek and push it up towards his face. Her watery, deep umber eyes met his and she blinked a little, trying to pull back the tears as she cherished the moment they were sharing as a family. “No, thank you, Jo. You did all the work to give me the best gift a man could ask for." She swallowed hard as a fresh wave of tears threatened to slip down her already damp cheek. "I love you more than you could ever know.” His kiss pushed her over the edge and she felt her breath tremble in her chest and come out choked as her boyfriends fingers slid gently through her dewy hair. Jo let out a soft mewing sob, never having felt so content in her entire life. What more could she ask for? Her boyfriend loved her and she had his child. A beautiful, perfect, healthy baby boy. They lived together in a nice home in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, and they both had thriving companies. What more did she need?

A motion at the end of the bed made them both stop, and Jo looked up at her doula, Sonja. She blushed and smiled as the other woman witnessed their affection, but Jo was comfortable with Sonja seeing it all. The woman had had seen her most intimate parts for crying out loud! Brandon apologized for them and Jo nodded, rubbing the wetness from her cheeks as the pair exchanged kind words. Sonja promised to be back in a few days to discuss their tiny sons wings and Jo looked down pitifully at the mewing creature. Her fingers absently moved to touch the appendages she knew needed to go. It wasn't safe for him to keep them. They would never be useful, and if he took after her then it could cause some real problems in the future. Still, she was sad at the thought of them being removed. Sonja congratulated them again and made her way out of their home. A slight panic struck Jo as she realized the only person who actually knew how to care for a newborn was leaving, but she also knew that she was a phone call away if she needed her. “And now we’re alone.” Jo bit her bottom lip and smiled shyly at Brandon, her cheeks warming as she nodded. "And now we're alone." She repeated gently sighing as though a great weight had been lifted somehow.

Jo looked down at River again, finding the feeling of breastfeeding strange and unfamiliar, but somehow empowering. His tiny tongue flickered across her and she wrinkled her nose. It was an odd sort of feeling. She looked back at Brandon, ready to tell him how strange it all felt, when she caught the adoring look in his eyes and she stopped herself. No one had ever gazed at her the way Brandon was now. Hell, she wasn't even sure Brandon had ever gazed at her so deeply. It was as if he could see straight into her soul, and simply thinking that made her feel cheesy. Who thought things like that? But it was true. He was watching her so intently and it somehow soother her, “Even after labor, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Seriously.” Her cheeks flushed hard at his sentiment and she felt a fresh wave of tears once more. Would she ever stop crying? “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, Jo. I never would have expected to meet my match by destroying her tea stand on the pier. If I ever find that kid who knocked me over with his bicycle, I’m going to shake his hand and say thanks…before I knock him upside the head.” She let out a choked laugh, wiping the tears that decided to fall despite her silent plea for them to stay in place. Brandon took her hand and she squeezed it gently, wanting to say something but seeing he wasn't done talking. “But I did meet my match that day. You are my perfect match in every way. It’s been the happiest year and a half of my life. Even when you were getting on my last nerve and sending me out in the middle of the night for ice cream, I loved you.” The tears fell freely now. "Brandon.." She whispered in that choked voice. River had fallen asleep at her breast and pulled away, his head resting at her bosom with his lips pursed gently in his sleep.

“I love you from your hair to your toes. You’re smart and fiery and you always keep me on my toes. You’ve never judged me or thought I needed to make a better life for myself. I’ve never known anyone like you, Jo. And the last nine months I’ve seen just how loving you can be. Every day I watched you and knew that I wanted to be this way with you forever. I want a home, a family, a life with you. I can’t even imagine being without you. So I have a question for you…” As he spoke she became slowly aware of what he was doing. Her heart began to race, her breath quickening. Was he going to do it? Was Brandon proposing to her? Her doe eyes widened, pink with tears and weariness as Brandon slipped his hand away from hers and moved off the side of the bed. As he got down on one knee her free hand slipped to her mouth, covering it in shock and excitement. He was doing it! "Oh my god.." She whispered softly to herself as he pulled a box from behind his back. "Ohmygod, ohmygod.." “Jordanna Haile, will you marry me?”

The world stopped spinning. Jo stopped breathing. Time simply stopped as she stared at the stunning engagement ring that had to have cost a small fortune. He was actually doing it! Brandon was proposing! She shook gently, almost dropping the baby but catching herself at the last second. Her eyes darted between the ring and the man holding it out towards her. "Really?" She asked as if this could somehow be some elaborate joke, though clearly it wasn't. He assured her he meant it and she shook her head in awe, her free hand moving from her mouth to her heart as she nodded, unable to speak just yet. Her gentle nod turned became almost frantic as she held her hand out to him. "Yes!" She finally exclaimed, her nose and eyes leaking of their own accord. "Yes, of course! YES!" She gushed, watching him slip the ring onto her finger. Her breath was labored as she watched. When the ring was in place she reached down and grabbed his shirt, pulling him back up towards her on the bed. "Yes!" She insisted as her lips met his. "I love you." She whimpered against his mouth between kisses, smiling like a complete moron. This was, by far, the happiest day of her life. She barely cared about the throbbing ache between her legs anymore. Hell, she barely felt it! "We're getting married!" She gushed, beaming at him when she finally let him go, only to draw him in for another kiss.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Jo looked completely stunned. At first it was endearing and Brandon grinned through it. But as she started to shake, he felt his heart beating faster, his stomach clenching in anticipation. Was she going to answer him? He swallowed hard, trying to reassure himself. “Really?” The corners of his mouth twitched up, a laughing breath escaping his throat. “Yeah, really.” Her hand went to her mouth, her big doe eyes as big as saucers as she stared between the ring and his face. To his immense relief, she began to nod slowly. Soon her slow nod was frantic and insistent and she was shoving her left hand into his face. “Yes!” He released the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and his face was like to split open with how wide his smile was. There were huge tears dripping down her face and his own hands were trembling as he reached out to take hers with one hand and plucked the ring from the black velvet with the other. “Yes, of course! YES!” His laugh sent his heart into his throat as he finally slipped the sparkling diamond onto her thin finger. It was a perfect fit.

Brandon barely had time to admire the way it looked on her finger before she grabbed his shirt with her hand and yanked him up towards her face. He laughed louder, elated that she had agreed to be with him for the rest of their lives. “Yes!” She cried again just as his lips met hers. He kissed her hard, his hands pressing into the bed to keep him from falling into their newborn son. It didn’t matter how hard he kissed her, though—she pulled away again to whimper into his mouth the three words that got them to this place: “I love you.” Their lips met again and he grinned into her mouth. “I love you,” he replied in a low voice before the magnetic pull of their lips drew him in again. Every kiss was heated, deep and too short-lived. Her hand untangled from his shirt just as one of his was twining into her short brown hair. “We’re getting married!” she gushed and all he could do was laugh again. She pressed her mouth into his once again and the hand in her hair held her there so she couldn’t escape again. His kiss was hard and deep, his tongue pushing past her lips to tickle against her own. The hand in her hair slipped to her jaw, his thumb brushing across her warm cheek. It wasn’t until he felt his son’s flailing fist bump against his chest that he finally pulled away. His eye lashes were damp, but he couldn’t tell whether it was from Jo’s tears or his own. He grinned like an idiot, his eyes warm and loving before he pressed his forehead gently to his fiancée’s in a light nuzzle.

Finally he pulled away to look down at his baby to see him focused entirely on nursing. His hand reached up and brushed the back of River’s tiny head, the dark hair soft beneath his fingertips. “We’re really going to be a family now, River.” The words were softly cooed and River simply responded by pressing his fist into his mother’s chest. Brandon took the tiny hand, feeling the boy’s fist grasp his forefinger instinctively, and he pressed his lips to his son’s fingers. He then looked up at Jo and kissed her lips again. “I love you.” His mouth moved to her cheek and pressed against the tears trailed there. “I love you so much.” He pressed his forehead to the side of her head, his mouth hovering close to her ear. “I never thought I could be this lucky.” Now he knew he had to be the luckiest man in the world.