Welcome To The World

A/N: This story is a continuation of Our Own Miracle

"You're fortunate that you weren't pregnant during the summer like I was with both boys," Emma stated, gathering up the empty teacups and teapot from the table near the fireplace, where she and Louise had been having a nice cozy visit.

"I was so miserable with the heat. Poor Sam! He didn't know what to do to try and make me comfortable." Emma smiled to herself as she remembered all the misery she must have put her husband through with the births of their sons.

After putting the cups in the kitchen, Emma returned to the living area where Louise was sitting, staring into the fire.

"How's Jimmy taking all of this?" she asked, curious on how the young man was dealing with impending fatherhood.

Louise chuckled. "He's so funny Emma. I swear I ain't never seen him so worried or concerned before. Why just yesterday when we went to the doc's for a checkup, he wouldn't even let me walk into the office. He insisted on carrying me in, as big as I am, because he didn't want me to slip if it was icy. I almost made him fall with all the laughing I was doing

Emma laughed, the image of Jimmy carrying a very pregnant Louise was very easy to imagine.

"I'm really glad you stopped by, Emma. Since I quit working at the library and being as big as I am, I don't get out much anymore. Gets kind of lonely with Jimmy gone all day."

Emma leaned over and patted Louise's hand. "My pleasure, Lulabell. I'll make sure to send those books you wanted home with Jimmy since I was going to stop and see Sam on my way home. Maybe the two of you would like to come for dinner on Sunday?"

Sighing, Louise replied, "You may want to ask Jimmy when you see him. Since the baby's due in a month, he's been wanting to stick as close to home as possible in case it comes early." Patting her belly, she couldn't help adding, "Which would be just fine by me. I'm ready for this baby to be born!"

In Lou's mind, February couldn't arrive soon enough. Emma smiled, knowing the feeling.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm not going to be able to move from this chair without your help Jimmy," Lou complained trying unsuccessfully to rise from where she sat.

Jimmy tried to stifle his mirth at the picture she presented. It was one of the loveliest sights he'd ever laid his eyes on.

His very pregnant wife's face was marred by a frown at her inability to maneuver and do simple tasks such as lying down or getting out of a chair without help, which she was having trouble doing now.

"Here, let me help you," Jimmy told her, surprised at how much strength it took to get her out of the offending chair.

"I know you're laughing at me Jimmy Hickok! Just you wait, next time you can have the baby!" she declared shaking off his helping hand.

Jimmy snorted, "Now, that I'd like to see happen."

Lou had been out of sorts for the past few days. The baby was due any day and it was getting hard for her to do anything other than lay in bed, which became uncomfortable after a time too.

With a slight whine to her voice she complained, "When will this baby be born? I don't know how much longer I can take this Jimmy..."

Rubbing the small of her back for her, Jimmy tried to be sympathetic to her plight. 'It sure can't be easy carrying a baby around like that. Especially with Lou being so small in the first place.'

"Doc said he'd stop by this evening to see how you're doing. Are you still getting those pains in your stomach?" he questioned with concern.

"No. They stopped a while ago."

It was those same pains that made him take the afternoon off when he came home for lunch and found his wife crying.

Helping his wife back into bed, Jimmy asked her, "Do you want me to send for Emma? Maybe having her here will help you relax."

"Don't bother her and Sam right now. I'm going to try and rest for a while. I didn't get much sleep last night. The baby was really moving around."

"If you need anything, call. I'll be downstairs waiting for the doc."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jimmy was dozing in front of the fire when the first scream broke the silence. Taking the steps two at a time, he raced up stairs yelling, "Lou?"

He hit into the doorframe of the bedroom as he tried to stop. "Lou? Lou, what's the matter? Is it the baby?"

Lou was panting, trying to fight the next wave of pain as it washed over her. Gripping the sheets in her fists she nodded.

Fear flashed in Jimmy's eyes. At her moan, he dropped to the bedside, brushing her bangs from her face. By now covered in sweat as she was he figured she'd been experiencing the pains for a while.

When she relaxed somewhat, Jimmy nervously called her name, "Lou..." When she didn't look at him, he tried to get her to focus on him again. "Lou! I've got to get some help. I'm gonna run to the Morgan's next door and get someone to go get Doc. I'll be right back."

Lou nodded and smiled weakly. "I'll be fine Jimmy. Just hurry, please."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The doctor and Emma Cain arrived at the same time from different directions and none too soon for Jimmy's way of thinking.

Rushing up the steps, they could hear Lou let out a scream as another contraction took hold of her.

With a calm and reassuring voice the doctor strode into the room divesting himself of his coat and rolling up his sleeves. "Well now, looks like we got us a baby that's ready to meet its momma and daddy," he said as he lifted the sheet to check the baby's progress.

Emma came into the room just as the doctor let the sheet down. "Looks like we're gonna be needing that water soon Mrs. Cain."

Turning back to Lou he inquired, "When did you first start having the contractions, Mrs. Hickok?"

Lou tried to remember when she first felt them. "I'm not sure. I was feeling something like a twinge all last night and then they got worse around lunchtime. Then they stopped, until about an hour ago."

"Um-hmm," he nodded, listening. "And how often have you had them like the one when we came in?"

Lou looked over at Jimmy who shrugged, not knowing how long it had been since the last one.

"I see," said the doctor. "Well, I do believe you'll have this little one in the next couple of hours."

Jimmy squeezed Lou's hand and bent over to kiss her, tears in both their eyes at the thought of their baby's impending arrival.

Emma was bustling around the room, laying out towels and a soft, cozy blanket to wrap the baby in when it arrived. Turning to Jimmy, she suggested, "Why don't you go down and wait for Sam? He should be here soon. He was waiting for the Kinley girl to come over to watch the boys before coming to be with you."

Jimmy didn't want to leave his wife's side, but Emma's suggestion sounded more like an order to him and he felt he'd best do as he was told.

Lou looked at her husband with panic in her eyes. "Stay, please Jimmy! I don't want to do this alone. I need you!"

That was all he needed to hear to keep him rooted by her side.

Emma smiled at the look of love that passed between the couple. "Well, I'll just go down and wait for Sam and let him know what is going on. Doc, you call me if you need me."

"I sure will Mrs. Cain."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The look of pure agony on Jimmy's face would have made Lou laugh, if she wasn't occupied by her own pain as the doctor said, "Push. Come on Mrs. Hickok, just one more push..."

"I...am..." she replied as she strained, her face turning red. Jimmy was sitting on the bed behind her, trying to help support her as she pushed, his hands numb from all the squeezing as she held them in her death grip.

Lou's body slackened against her husband as the first cries rose up to greet them. Lou leaned up trying to see the baby, but it was hidden from view as the doctor wiped it off with Emma's help.

"Congratulations! You have a healthy daughter!" Doc declared, handing the baby into Lou's outstretched arms.

She was crying as she looked down into the face of her precious angel. Jimmy's arms reached around her and he moved the blanket away so he could see the baby's face better.

With tears in his eyes, he kissed Lou's temple and whispered, "You did it Lou. I love you so much..." never taking his eyes off the baby.

Emma congratulated the couple and hurried down to tell Sam the good news.

Once the doctor was finished and Emma had helped Lou change and she'd put new sheets on the bed, Sam was finally allowed to see the new mother and child.

Lou was sitting comfortably against the pillows as he peeked in the door. "Is it ok to come in?"

Smiling, the new parents welcomed their friend. "Come on in Sam. We have someone for you to meet."

Jimmy took the sleeping infant from Lou and handed it to the man. Watching the sleeping baby, Sam got a goofy look on his face, before telling them, "She's beautiful..."

Emma peeked over his shoulder and smiled tears in her eyes. "She sure is. What are you going to name her?"

Lou looked to Jimmy and nodded. He grinned as he announced, "Olivia Louise Hickok."

"What a beautiful name for such a beautiful baby," Emma told them. "She's an angel," Sam added looking over to Emma and adding, "Makes you long for one of our own doesn't it sweetheart?"

Just then, little Olivia let out a cry, causing Sam to quickly hand the baby back over to her father, who was just as bewildered as the marshal was as to what he should do.

Looking to Lou for guidance, Jimmy gently handed her the baby and Emma shooed the new father and Sam out the door mentioning something about, "feeding" and closed the door behind them.

Later that night, after Sam and Emma had left, Jimmy was sitting next to his tired, but very happy wife, both watching their new daughter sleeping in her mother's arms.

Jimmy touched the little hand with one of his fingers, marveling at his daughter's small fingers, when the little fist opened and grasped the offered finger in its tiny grip.

Emotions he had never felt before welled up in him as he watched the sleeping baby holding his finger.

"Welcome to the world, little one," he whispered, knowing that his little girl had him wrapped around her little finger at first sight.