Work Text:
Midnight
Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor were asleep in bed on a cool night in Wiskayok, New Jersey. Eight months ago Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor were in a doctor’s office waiting to see if the IVF treatment worked on Shauna to become parents.
Sure enough it worked. And Shauna was pregnant with her and Jackie Taylor’s child. And the last several months they were preparing for their arrival of their child. They waited until after college and Shauna got a job at Wiskayok High and financially set to become parents.
Shauna slept on her back due to her baby bump keeping her from sleeping on her stomach. They had been living at Shauna’s house with her mother Deb since before college. Deb Shipman insisted on having her daughter and Jackie live with her to help them out with impending motherhood while Shauna wanted to prove to her mother that she and Jackie could be a team and raise their baby with little help.
While Jackie was asleep next to her in her bedroom Shauna got up from bed and walked out of her bedroom unable to sleep. The last few weeks Shauna looked like she was ready to pop any second so Jackie and Deb were fully prepared in case Shauna went into labor which was any second.
Over the last several months after getting pregnant Shauna Shipman was excited but scared to become a mom. She imagined a universe where she slept with Jackie’s ex boyfriend Jeff Sadecki and having his baby and hurting Jackie who was Shauna’s wife since college.
Also since 1996 Shauna and Jackie had coped with the guilt with missing their plane to Seattle where it crashed in the Canadian wilderness killing all their teammates and friends on board and the fallout from it. And the man who saved them from that flight Sid Strickland their close friend.
Shauna for nine months suffered through morning sickness in her first trimester and hormones too. Shauna and Jackie each took parenting courses that Deb made them take to care for a baby even though they kinda learned about it during high school but they needed to make sure how to properly change a diaper, give a bath, learn CPR and all the stuff that comes with a baby.
Shauna and Jackie waited to hear if their baby was to be a boy or a girl and the doctor told them the color was blue meaning a baby boy.
Shauna and Jackie spent a whole Saturday setting up the nursery not before getting a crib, changing table, rocking chair, and clothes for their son of course going to second hand clothing stores.
Janet, Susan, Casey and Becca, Shauna and Jackie’s college friends from Wiskayok Community College along with Allie Stevens threw the two a surprise baby shower delighting Shauna and Jackie.
It had been a lovely baby shower for Shauna and she was so touched she had a wonderful wife like Jackie and her friends while wishing Taissa, Nat, Misty, Laura, Lottie and Van could be there to celebrate with them lost to the plane crash in 1996.
By the third trimester Shauna was excited but scared about being a mom confiding to Dr. Stone about her fears as well as to her mom and Jackie.
Shauna walked in the empty hallway of her house and saw a door at the end of the hallway. Shauna opened it up and there it was.
Their child’s nursery
It was painted blue and yellow with a shade of red. The crib and changing table were set up and ready to go. Shauna entered the nursery and looked around it for a moment. She saw her cat Rosie resting on the changing table. Shauna and Jackie didn’t know how Rosie would adapt to a human brother coming so they cuddled with her as much as they could.
Shauna sat on the rocking chair holding her stomach. “Baby...” she said to her stomach. “I know your cooking in there, it must be like a oven in there” Shauna said chuckling softly.
She could hear the sound of crickets outside “if anytime you’re ready to come out of me I want to tell you one thing before you do, Jackie and I cannot wait to meet you and to see your little face” Shauna rubbed her tummy lovingly and smiling “but you know, I haven’t met you yet and I love you so much already, I cannot wait to see what person you will become when you come and me, Jackie, Uncle Sid and Grandma Deb will love you and protect you from danger that will come your way”.
“Jackie is more excited than me to meet you but I’m just as excited too, no offense” Shauna said jokingly to her stomach.
“Also I want my old body back when you’re done in there or maybe a new one I don’t know” Shauna wondered if she would get her pre baby body back.
“But either way, it’s you, me and Jax against the whole world, so anytime you’re ready come on out and join the family” Shauna said blowing a kiss to her stomach.
And right on cue as Shauna got up from the chair her water broke. The baby was coming and quick. Shauna knew he was ready so she went into action quickly.
“Jackie….” Shauna opened the door to her bedroom awakening Jackie from sleep “Shauna?” Jackie said mumbling “My water just broke” Shauna said calmly to her. Finally Shauna decided to get her house’s attention “THE BABY’S COMING!” Shauna screamed at the top of her lungs awakening the whole house.
Jackie suddenly arose from bed and Deb came out of her bedroom in a flash “SHAUNA?! IS IT HAPPENING?” Jackie screamed “YES IT IS!” Shauna screamed back slumping in pain of contractions.
Deb Shipman rushed to her daughter “Jackie call Sid! I’ll get her suitcase!” Deb instructed Jackie to call Sid and his family to alert him of her and Shauna’s child coming.
“Shauna start to breathe calmly let’s go to the hospital!” Deb told her to breathe as she escorted her downstairs.
Jackie grabbed her phone and found Sid’s number calling it rushing downstairs with Shauna’s suitcase to the hospital her heart racing with excitement.
Jackie was now in the view of Shauna being helped to the car by Deb as the phone was ringing.
“Hello?” Sid Strickland said on the other end with a tired voice “SID its JACKIE MEET ME AT THE HOSPTIAL SHAUNA’S HAVING THE BABY!” Jackie screamed into the phone.
It took a second for Sid to rise from his bed quickly “I’ll be right there Jackie! I’ll call my folks and meet you guys!” Sid said to Jackie on the other end.
“Gotta run!” Jackie ended the call.
Sid grabbed a red shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes and was out the door in a second he awoke his parents and told them what was happening before he left and they would meet him at the hospital.
Jackie and Deb helped Shauna into the van now starting to really go into labor by Shauna now screaming. “I called Sid he’ll meet us there!” Jackie said to the two as Deb started the van “floor it!” Jackie said to Deb as they took off to the hospital.
Deb feared Shauna would give birth to her grandson during the drive so she wasn’t taking any chances so she sped as fast and safely to the hospital luckily there were no cops to pull them over.
HOSPTIAL
Deb Shipman pulled the van into the hospital entrance. She, Shauna and Jackie got out of it carrying Shauna slumping while Jackie ran inside to the nurses telling them her wife was in labor. Within seconds Shauna entered the waiting room with Deb.
Nurses quickly grabbed Shauna a stretcher told her to remain calm and in no time she would be in the delivery room.
“Shauna, it’s everything I saw on TV happening for real” Jackie could say to her “tell me about it” Shauna said now sweating.
“I cannot wait to meet our little guy!” Jackie said to Shauna “Me too but he needs to do one thing for me… HE NEEDS TO GET OUT OF ME!” Shauna screamed loud.
Before they went into the delivery room they were stopped by a doctor “Only one of you needs to be with Shauna during the delivery” the doctor said to the three.
“I’ll go with her she’s my daughter!” Deb said to the doctor but Jackie stopped her “Mrs. Shipman you don’t need to” Jackie said to her “But Jackie…” Deb protested “She’s my wife, I need to be with Shauna, and we’re in this together, once he comes out I will come for you, I promise” Jackie said to Deb Shipman who looked at her for a moment then nodded.
“Ok” Deb smiled at Jackie and Shauna as they went into the delivery room together leaving her alone for a second.
Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor were now escorted to the delivery room.
They looked at each other for a moment. Jackie held Shauna’s hand “Are you ready?” Jackie asked Shauna “I’ve been ready for this my whole life, but I’m not going to like this part!” Shauna admitted to Jackie “I’ll be right here” Jackie told Shauna.
“By the way after this I will NEVER EVER do this again you can count on it!” Shauna said to Jackie making her nod in agreement.
Just then the doctor walked in Shauna was ready to proceed.
“ok, Shauna you ready to make the miracle of life” the doctor ordered her.
Shauna took a deep breath and began to push the baby out; she grunted in pain and screamed loud while Jackie held onto her hand tight.
Shauna was sweating now, still in pain from labor “You’re doing good Mrs. Shipman, keep going” The Doctor told Shauna who was now crying in pain. “It hurts! It really hurts!” Shauna sobbed in pain “You can do it Shauna! its just like pulling a giant band aid off your back” Jackie joked with her but Shauna was in pain so she didn’t laugh at that.
The Doctor saw a head about to come out. “I see the head! One more push make this one count!” the doctor ordered Shauna to make this one count.
Shauna gulped for a moment, tightening her hand with Jackie’s as she looked on then let out a ear piercing scream that would have awakened the whole world.
It happened….
The doctor pulled out a baby covered in white stuff from Shauna’s stomach. It fell quiet for Shauna and Jackie except for the sound of their baby crying.
“Congratulations, it’s a boy!” the Doctor said to the now happy moms.
On September 29th 2004 at 4:48 A.M that Friday morning Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor were officially parents to a baby boy.
Shauna began to cry and Jackie did as well. “Would you like to cut the umbilical cord Mrs. Taylor? The doctor asked Jackie as she did so happily.
“Can I see my baby…” Shauna said to the doctor “We’ll clean him first” he said to her as the nurses began to clean him from the goo.
“Here you go Mrs. Shipman” The doctor put the crying baby in the arms of Shauna Shipman and the view of Jackie Taylor. “Hi… baby boy…. Welcome to the world” Shauna said sweetly through tears “I’m your mommy and this is Jax” Shauna said to her baby as Jackie smiled at her two loves tears rolling down her eyes. “hi little fella” Jackie said sweetly “I’m your momma Jackie, I’m going to teach you everything in this life” Jackie said in a quiet little voice to her baby.
Jackie and Shauna looked at awe at their baby. Shauna laughed happily through tears as Jackie kissed her head the moment they would remember forever. “I’m so happy he’s here I’m so happy!” Shauna said crying to Jackie.
In the waiting room Deb Shipman sat in a chair nervous and scared. Just then Sid Strickland and his father and mother entered “Sid!” Deb said to him running toward him “Mrs. Shipman!” Sid embraced Shauna’s mother as did Mr. and Mrs. Strickland. “Is Shauna ok?” Mr. Strickland asked Deb “They took Shauna and Jackie to the delivery room, I wanted to come with her but Jackie told me she and Shauna could handle this” Deb said to Mr. Strickland which made him sigh.
Deb sat down on the chair with her head on her hands as Sid and his mother sat next to her. “Mrs. Shipman, I know how you must feel not being with Shauna giving birth” Mr. Strickland assured her
“My girl isn’t so little anymore and now she’s about to understand what I went through now” Deb said remembering becoming a mother when Shauna was born.
“In fact I remember the day Shauna was born, she was so beautiful the moment they placed her in my arms I wanted to protect her and never let her go”
Deb reflected as Sid and his parents sat with her “I almost lost her eight years ago when she and Jackie missed the plane” Deb remembered almost losing her daughter in 1996.
“then I almost left Shauna but in some way we’re both here now” Deb said.
“I have your son to thank for saving my girls” Deb said to Mr. Strickland about Sid saving Shauna and Jackie’s lives making them smile and Sid as well.
“So you’re going to be a grandmother Deb” Mrs. Strickland said to her “just without the grey hair and all that” Mrs. Strickland joked to Deb “Easy there! I’m not THAT old yet!” Deb said laughing “and believe me I WON’T be getting grey hair” Deb joked making them laugh.
Deb was glad He wasn’t there and so was Mrs. Taylor. He she called Shauna’s father that she moved on from and she didn’t want to think about Mrs. Taylor with them at the hospital. Deb knew Mrs. Taylor was going to be a grandmother but the latter didn’t care about Jackie at all and Jackie disowned her and she walked out of her life and that was years ago.
Just then as Deb leaned back on the chair Jackie Taylor walked toward her, Sid and his parents smiling for joy.
“Mrs. Shipman…. Shauna and I have a sweet little boy that wants to meet you” Jackie said happily to them “It’s a boy and he’s perfect” she said to the now happy grandmother.
Deb Shipman, Sid and his parents followed Jackie Taylor to the maternity ward. Upon entering they saw Shauna holding Henry in her arms smiling proudly it was glowing like the morning sun.
“hi mom, or should I say grandma” Shauna said to her mother. Deb put her hand over her mouth as tears fell down her eyes at the sight of her daughter holding her new grandson in her arms.
“Shauna he’s beautiful” Mrs. Strickland said to Shauna as she, Mr. Strickland, Sid and Deb looked at the new parents in awe.
“He is gorgeous” Sid said to a smiling Shauna looking at her son in her arms. “Thank you” Shauna sweetly said to them “We did it” Jackie said proudly to them.
“Can I hold him Shauna?” Deb asked Shauna looking at her grandson “Yeah Mom you can hold him be careful though he had a long morning” Shauna said leaning up and softly bringing Henry to her mother “Careful ok, there you go” Shauna said as Deb put her grandson in her arms as he gurgled softly.
“Hi….. I’m your grandmother” Deb said with tears rolling down her eyes “welcome to the earth my sweet grandson I am definitely going to spoil you” Deb whispered as Sid and his parents looked at Mrs. Shipman holding her grandson making Shauna smiling at her mom. “In case you’re wondering pretty sore from the miracle of life” Shauna said laughing. “and Jackie and I talked and I am NEVER doing that again” Shauna smiled in victory.
Deb handed her grandson to Sid who held him in his arms as he smiled at the baby. “Um.. Sid we have a question to ask you.” Before Jackie could finish her sentence “I will be your son’s godfather and I will be the best uncle too” Sid said to his two best friends. “Hello there mister, I’m your uncle” he said in a little voice to the baby in his arms.
Deb walked to the bed and hugged Shauna and Jackie. “I love you two so much, you don’t have any idea what this means” Deb said to them both. “You are going to be the best moms in the whole world” Deb with a sob in her voice said to them.
“Yeah.. we know” Shauna replied back to her mom.
The blinds had opened in the maternity ward to reveal a glowing sunrise symbolizing a new beginning for Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor to the journey of motherhood.
7:00 AM
Three hours after Shauna gave birth. Sid and his folks went back home after meeting the baby and Deb went to get Wawa lemonade and mickey d’s for the new mom.
It was the three of them, Shauna Shipman, Jackie Taylor and their new baby. Shauna held the baby boy in her arms as Jackie looked on.
“What should we name him?” Jackie said to Shauna. “I didn’t really think of a name for him I completely zoned out on that subject” Shauna admitted.
“Wait a minute; I have a name for him Shauna.” Jackie said softly. “Henry…” that made Shauna look at Jackie. “After that kid you saw at the children’s hospital?” Shauna said to her.
Jackie nodded sadly “yeah” she said to her. Shauna wiped a tear from Jackie’s eye “But what should his last name be?” Shauna said worriedly. “Should it be Shipman or Taylor?” Shauna asked as a nurse came in with the birth certificate.
“I have the birth certificate right here just fill it out when you’re ready moms” the nurse said to them sweetly.
“Why not both your last names?.” Deb said to them as she came in with the stuff Shauna asked for. “so that way he has both your names”
After a pause Shauna and Jackie shared looks and decided Henry would be his name and his last name would be Taylor.
Jackie took a pen and wrote down the name.
Henry Shipman-Taylor
Born September 29th 2004
Parents
Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor
They liked it and it would be his name.
Later that day
Shauna Shipman was sleeping in her hospital bed across from her was Jackie Taylor asleep on a couch. They both took a nap from the morning’s events. Sleep was going to be so precious moving forward but after today was going to be uncertain.
She heard a quiet whimper from the bassinet in her hospital room. She rose up from the bed and saw Henry whimpering softly while Jackie was asleep in a chair across from her.
She picked him up and put him in her arms. Shauna settled back into her bed in the room putting a blanket between her legs.
“Are you hungry?” Shauna whispered to her son pulling out her breast beginning to breastfeed her son and feeling a bond with her new baby.
Shauna sweetly smiled at her newborn son as he began to feed and looked at his mother.
She began to softly sing.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
tears rolled down Shauna’s eyes as Henry looked at his mother.
“Henry… I want you to know I am going to be the best mother I possibly can be with your mama Jackie too, we love you so so much” Shauna kissed his forehead as he gurgled at his mom. “We will always be there for you and we will love you very much” Shauna whispered to him smiling at a now sleeping Henry. “There’s a lot of people in this world who can’t wait to see you make your mark here and that’s how you got here with us and thank you for choosing me and Jackie to be your moms” Shauna said crying softly but it was happy tears.
"It's you, me and Jackie kid, it's us against the whole world" Shauna whispered to Henry as he slept in her arms.
That late September day in 2004
Their names were Shauna Shipman and Jackie Taylor.
His mothers.
and soon Henry Shipman-Taylor would begin his journey into the world with his moms, uncle, and grandmother following behind him.