Tabitha Smith screamed in agony, and clutched Julio Richter's hand tighter. The mutant now as Rictor winced, and tried to pull away, but she held tight, still screaming.
Demona Wagner, Rictor's girlfriend, stood on the screaming blonde's other side, encouraging her as best she could.
"You're doing fine Tabitha! Just fine!" Demi cheered her on, ignoring Rictor's death glare.
"It hurts…"Tabitha whimpered, the contraction passing. Rictor patted her hand gently, wincing from the pain in his own hand.
"Yeah, but just think. Once this is all over, you'll finally have the kid you haven't shut up about for the past nine months." Rictor teased gently, looking up at Demona.
Tabitha sniffed softly, a few tears trickling down her cheeks. "God, I wish Sam was here."
Rictor swallowed hard, and squeezed his best friend's hand. "He'd have been eating this up. Either that, or passed out on the floor."
Tabitha laughed sadly, and squeezed Ric's hand back. "Probabl-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"Here we go again…" Rictor muttered, trying to keep his hand in one piece.
"Push, Tabitha! Push!" The doctor ordered her. Tabitha nodded, and did as she was told, still screaming in agony. Rictor and Demi both held her hands, helping her as best they could.
"Oh, God! It hurts!" Tabitha wailed, still pushing as best she could.
"Come on Tabby!" Rictor tried to encourage her, but yelped when she tightened her grip on his hand. "My hand!"
Suddenly, the wail of a baby sounded in the not quite silent delivery room. Tabitha collapsed against the pillow, her eyes glowing with tears and happiness. The nurses quickly cut the umbilical cord, and checked the infant over, cleaning the child as well.
"Congratulations, it's a little girl." The doctor told the new mother, depositing the new little girl in her mother's arms.
"She's…omigod. She's perfect." Tabitha whispered, tears slipping down her face. The infant took that opportunity to open her eyes, and look at her mother. Tabitha was suddenly struck with an agonized blow to the heart. "She-she…she has her f-f-fath-father's eyes…"
Rictor laid a supportive hand on her shoulder, and Demi looked at her sadly. Tabitha sniffed again, more tears pouring down her face. The child made a slight noise, and waved a little hand at her mother. The young mother caught it, and pressed it against her lips, inhaling the way the child smelled.
"She smells like him, too." Tabitha whispered, still staring at the child. "My beautiful little Samantha."
"Is that what your going to name her?" Demi asked, leaning over and looking at the child.
"Yes…Samantha Zacharia Smith-Guthrie." Tabitha kissed the child's head softly as she whispered each name.
"Dang, that's a mouthful." Rictor commented. "Ain't it…Sami?"
"Sami?" Tabitha asked, looking up at the Mexican. Julio shrugged.
"Doesn't look like a Samantha, and I didn't think you'd wanna call her Sam." He said the last word softly.
"Sami. I like it. My little Sami." Tabitha whispered, staring at the child. The newly named Sami closed her eyes and yawned. The trio watching her took that as a sign that she approved.