“I can’t believe this is happening again,” Meggie cried into her husband’s chest.
“I know,” Nick said, wiping her tears away with his thumb. He brushed the damp hair off her forehead and kissed it gently. With her left hand, she grasped his hand, careful not to disturb the I.V. They looked up as the door opened. A doctor decked out in blue scrubs entered the room, slipping on gloves.
“Are you ready?” She asked, looking over her mask at the couple. Nick nodded, a nervous look pasted onto his face. Meggie gripped his hand as the doctor adjusted the hospital bed. She sat down on a stool at the end of the bed and turned on a bright light.
“Ok, Meggie, on the count of three, I want you to push. One… two… three.. push!!”
Meggie tightened her grip on Nick’s hand as she pushed.
“Good one,” The doctor said. “Ready.. one… two.. three…”
Nick helped Meggie sit up to push better, as he watched the mirror behind the doctor.
“The head’s crowning,” She announced. Nick peered down over Meggie’s knees to see a tiny head appearing.
“One more and we’ll have another Carter on our hands,”
Meggie pushed again, sweat and tears rolling off her face.
She collapsed back onto the bed as she heard the wailing of a baby. She smiled up at Nick, who watched the baby with tears streaming down his cheeks.
“It’s a healthy baby boy,” The doctor said, wrapping the baby in a striped blanket. She placed him on Meggie’s chest as she finished cleaning up.
“We did it,” Nick whispered, bending down to be level with his wife. “Ten fingers… ten toes,”
He kissed Meggie on the forehead, and then kissed his new son.
The nurse came over and took the baby away to be cleaned.
“Do you have a name picked out?” The doctor asked, finishing with Meggie.
“Ethan Zander,” Nick replied, looking down at Meggie. She nodded, smiling. The doctor took off her gloves and signed the birth certificate after writing Ethan’s full name and stats.
“Seven pounds, three ounces. Twenty-two inches long,” A nurse said, carrying Ethan back to the bed. He was wrapped in a blue baby blanket, and a blue cap covered his head. Nick’s eyes twinkled in happiness as he took his son from the nurse.
“He looks just like you,” Meggie said, noticing the resemblance. “He’s even got your blonde hair and blue eyes. And your lips.”
“Is that good?” Nick laughed.
“Very good… he’s going to have girls lined up,” She smiled tiredly. “Hey Nick… why don’t you take Ethan down the hall to the waiting room. He’s got a big brother waiting to see him.”
“Ok. You get some sleep… and we’ll be back,” Nick smiled again, walking towards the door. While Ethan slept soundly, snuggled in his dad’s protective arms, they walked down the hallway to the waiting room. Nick peeked in through the window before opening. Inside, Brian and Kari sat, entertaining a now two-year old Austin. Beside them, AJ sat watching CNN on the television. Everyone else was out of town or unreachable.
Nick opened the door and walked in, interrupting the silence of the room.
“Baby!” Austin exclaimed, standing up off the floor. Brian picked him up and walked over towards Nick so Austin could see his new baby brother.
“Congratulations,” AJ said, standing up.
“What’s his name?” Kari asked, walking over towards the small group.
“Ethan Zander. Want to hold him?” He asked.
She nodded eagerly and took the tiny bundle into her arms.
“Don’t scratch him with that big rock on your finger,” Nick teased.
“Nick I’m pretty sure I’m not going to hurt him,” She chuckled.
“We got a hold of your mom… and she said to call her as soon as there’s any news. And Meggie’s parents are on their way here,” AJ said.
“Thanks,” Nick said, taking Austin from Brian. “How are you doin’, little man?”
“Baby?”
”Yes… baby,” Nick laughed. “That’s your brother, Ethan.”
“Efan.” Austin said matter-of-factly. “Mama?”
“We’ll go see Mama real soon,”
“Do you want us to take Austin for the night?” Kari asked, giving Ethan to Brian.
“Nah…I’m going to go home tonight, so he can stay with me.”
After AJ held Ethan briefly, he gave him back to Nick.
“I think we’re going to get going… tell Meggie congratulations for us,” Brian said.
“Ok… I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye,” Kari and AJ echoed.
With Ethan in one arm, and Austin holding onto his pinky finger, Nick walked back down the hall to Meggie’s room.
~ Two Weeks Later ~
“Finally,” Meggie said, settling down beside Nick on the blanket. “Everything’s almost back to normal.”
“Yup,” Nick replied. “Everyone’s healthy… and happy,”
“We have two beautiful children…”
”Three wonderful dogs...” Nick continued.
Meggie hit Nick playfully.
“Bad Mama!” Austin suddenly said as he watched his parents.
“That’s right… Mama is being bad,” Nick said, acting serious, but then cracked a smile.
Austin giggled, then went back to playing in the sand. Beside the couple, Ethan slept peacefully on the blanket.
“Meg… I’ve been doing some thinking…” Nick said suddenly, looking out over the horizon.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Meggie teased.
Nick smirked before turning towards his wife. “I’m actually serious this time… Meg,”
“What is it?” She asked.
“After all we have been through… my illness… then Madison…and now having a new start to a real family…I don’t think I want to return to the band,”
“What?” Meggie asked, surprised at his sudden words.
“I was listening to Journey last night… and our song…”
“Faithfully?”
“Yeah… I was listening to it real close…and it made me make a decision. Meggie, I don’t want to raise our kids on the road. I don’t want them to have to be in the spotlight all the time. They shouldn’t grow up in a studio or an arena. I haven’t said anything to the guys yet… I wanted to talk to you about it first..”
“Baby, I want what’s best for you. If you feel this way… then that’s ok with me. I just want you to be happy.”
“I will be happy when I’m home with my two sons and you… eating every meal and going to sleep every night with my family. I want to be able to kiss Austin and Ethan every night before they go to bed. I want to be here to hear Ethan’s first words and see his first steps… and I want to teach Austin how to play tee-ball and basketball.”
“Ok,” Meggie said, offering Nick a reassuring smile as she reached over for a kiss.
“Thank you for understanding,” Nick said softly, looking into her blue eyes. “I’m forever yours… faithfully. I love you.”
They say that the road
(Lyrics by Journey; “Faithfully”)
[AN: It occurred to me earlier, that because Nick had been through chemotherapy and radiation, he’d be “sterile”, and they wouldn’t be able to have any children at all. So in this case, let’s pretend there was a miracle in medicine…]
Previous Chapter
Ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line
It's been you and me
And lovin' a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be
Oh girl you stand by me
I'm forever yours...faithfully
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