Author: Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 or higher
Category: J/A, L/G
Summary: One way or another someone�s always late. The outcome could either be serious or lucky
Disclaimer: I own no one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, Luke woke up to the phone ringing. He groaned and closed his eyes. He didn�t want to wake up yet. The phone rang again and he opened his eyes. It rang again before someone finally picked it up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, reaching for his glasses to put them on. He turned and noticed Grace wasn�t in bed anymore and her pajamas were tossed carelessly on her side. He got up and grabbed his clothes from yesterday to put on.
He went downstairs and saw Grace hanging up the phone. She turned to see him.
�Hey, you�re finally awake.�
�Yeah. Who was on the phone?� Luke asked.
�That was Rove on the phone. Joan�s about to have the baby.�
�Already?�
�It�s been more than 15 hours dude. The kid wants out.� Grace grabbed a pop tart from the toaster and handed another to Luke. �Here. I wasn�t sure what you�d want.�
�This is good.� He grinned.
They left the house to go to the hospital.
They arrived to find Kevin in the waiting room.
�Hey. I was about to send a search party.�
�We like to walk.� Grace said.
�Where�s dad?� Luke asked.
�He�s in the cafeteria. He�ll be up in a few minutes.�
Luke nodded and sat down with Grace.
In the delivery room, Helen and Adam were on either side of Joan coaching her through the labor. The doctor was checking her cervix.
�Okay Joan. Your 10 centimeters dilated. It�s time to bring this baby out into the world.�
�Uh�finally!� Joan breathed out. She was all sweaty and tired from all the pain of labor she had been in.
�Okay when I say so push. One, two, three, and push!�
Joan pushed as hard as she could. Helen counted to ten while Adam held her hand.
�You�re doing great, Jane.�
�Agh! This hurts!� she cried.
�You�re doing just fine Joan. Okay rest. Good girl.� The doctor said.
�Good girl? What am I, a dog?�
�Okay, give me another good push.�
Joan pushed and after her mother counted, she stopped. She panted heavily.
�I can see the baby�s head. Just a few more Joan.�
�I can�t. I can�t.� Joan cried.
�Yes you can, Jane. Jane, you came this far. You can do this. I know you can.� Adam said stroking her hair.
Joan looked into his eyes for a few moments before nodding and pushing. She pushed harder than she had before and stopped after ten seconds.
�The head is out. Just two more and he�ll be out.�
Joan gasped and pushed. Adam looked over to see the baby and was amazed.
�Oh my God. This is amazing.� He said.
�It really is.� Helen smiled. �Joan, he�s almost here.�
Joan breathed in and out then she pushed one last time. She let out a gasp as she stopped pushing and leaned back against the pillow. A few seconds later, a piercing cry filled the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the hallway, Luke was pacing when he heard a scream and then silence. Then he heard a cry and he turned towards the door. The crying continued and he grinned. He looked at Grace and Kevin, who had amazed looks on their faces.
�He�s here.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the delivery room, the doctor cleaned up the baby boy, had Adam cut the cord, and wrapped him in a blanket before handing him to Joan. Joan held the baby close and looked at his little face. His time of birth was announced at 11:32 A.M.
�Hey. Hey there. It�s mommy. So�you�re the one who�s been making me emotional, huh? Yeah.� Joan laughed softly. The baby looked up at her with a curious look in his eyes. His hands were clenched together in little fists.
Adam kissed Joan�s forehead. �You were amazing, Jane.�
�Thanks. Adam isn�t he beautiful? Mom?�
Adam nodded in agreement.
�He is, Joan. He is.� Helen said smiling.
Joan smiled and gently rocked the baby when he began to cry again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A few hours later, Joan was in her own room and was holding her baby. She wanted to spend a few minutes alone with him before anyone hounded them so Helen and Adam were with Kevin, Will, Luke, and Grace.
�Hey. I already introduced myself. I�ll be the one who hounds you wherever you go and embarrasses you when you go on your first date. So I guess I better explain myself huh? Why I almost let you go? I was afraid. I was afraid that if I had you, all I would see was him. But I was wrong. I see you and only you. I love you so much and I hope that when you find out what happened, you won�t have any doubt that your mommy loves you so much. You�ll also have a cousin who will be your best friend and will help you when I can�t or when your daddy can�t. Yeah that�s right. Adam Rove is your daddy. We�re going to take care of you.� Joan stroked his soft cheek and he squirmed. She smiled.
The door opened and Grace and Luke walked in.
�Hey.�
�Hey. Come on in.�
Grace and Luke walked over and Grace looked at the baby. She looked at him in amazement. Joan didn�t notice that Grace was looking at every inch of Matt�s face.
�Wow. He definitely looks like you.� She looked at Luke pointedly. He could tell that she meant it.
�Yeah. You want to hold him?�
�Oh sure.� Grace carefully took the baby and rocked him. �Better get the practice. Hey. I�m your aunt Grace and I�m going to teach you how to stand up for yourself. Yeah there will be no mushiness from me.� The baby started to fuss and Grace gently swayed back and forth to settle him down.
Joan raised an eyebrow at Grace�s earlier comment but she smiled. �Should I be worried?�
�Joan, it�s Grace.� Luke stated.
�You have a point.�
Grace ignored them. �Don�t worry you�ll get used to that. Oh? What�s that?� She looked at Luke. �He wants you to hold him.�
Luke looked between her and Joan. �Me?�
Grace nodded. Joan gave Luke a pleading look. Luke looked at them both before nodding and carefully taking the baby. He squirmed and cried a bit.
�Oh it�s okay. It�s all right I got you. I got you, Matt. Uncle Luke�s got you.� Luke paused as he looked down at his nephew. Matt opened his eyes and looked right up at Luke. Luke felt his heart melting and all the doubt he had been carrying for nine months was washed away. �How could I have been so stupid?� he asked softly.
Grace put her hands over her mouth. Joan smiled through her tears. Adam walked in and upon seeing Luke holding the baby he smiled. Kevin and Helen also came in and saw the moment. They were all proud of Luke.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Helen stood beside the hospital bed as she held her grandson in her arms. He was curled up in her arms sleeping.
�He�s so little. Almost the same size as you were, Joan.�
�Okay let�s not go there.� Joan said. Everyone laughed.
�Hey Matt. How do you like the world so far?� Kevin asked.
Matt continued to sleep.
�Uh�should I take that as a yes?�
Helen shook her head. �I think he�ll get used to it.�
Will walked in and smiled. �Hey how�s my girl doing?�
�Sore but I�m fine.� Joan grinned. �I can�t wait to fit in my old clothes again.�
�Me neither.� Grace said patting her stomach.
Luke smiled.
�So Will, what do you think of Matthew here?� Helen asked.
Will looked at the baby and Luke thought he spotted a hint of emotion.
�He�s beautiful.� Will smiled. He looked at his daughter and saw that she looked happy.
�Would you like to hold him?� Helen asked.
Will frowned slightly but smiled. �Um�maybe later. I have to get down to the station.�
Joan looked disappointed and both Kevin and Luke shook their heads. Grace and Adam put a hand on their prospective partner�s shoulders. Helen looked like she wanted to retort but she didn�t.
Helen nodded. �Oh�okay.� Matt cried a bit and Helen handed him to Joan.
�I�ll come by later to check on you sweetie.� Will said to Joan.
�Okay daddy.�
Will left and Luke sighed.
�Luke. It�s all right. Don�t worry about it.� Joan said.
�I won�t. I just�thought he was okay that�s all.�
�It takes time, Luke.� Helen said.
�How much time does he need?� Luke sat down in a chair. No one had an answer.