Chapter Text
Ava Rose Bradford
March 24, 12:37am
6lbs 5oz 20 inches
***
“Lucy,” Tim says staring at his wife hunched over the bed. She’s sweaty, and her face is twisted up in pain. “You’re in labor.” He says it in such a matter of fact tone, that he takes a step back when Lucy looks up to glare at him.
“No really?” She says sarcastically. “I thought—” Another contraction he assumes hits and she bends over again.
Tim steps towards her cautiously, and reaches out for her arm. She doesn’t push him away, and he takes that as a win. She has been pushing him away for the last few aways, always insisting she was okay.
“We need to get to the hospital Luce.” He says softly. “Where are the bags?”
“The nursery.” She mutters. Tim kisses her on the top of the head and lets her go, he’s a little hesitant to leave her alone. But he knows they need to get going.
He goes into the nursery, where he sees all the bags lined up. The baby’s bag is somehow the biggest. He picks his and Lucy’s up, and puts them on his shoulder before he picks up Ava’s and heads back to the bedroom.
“I can help.” Lucy says walking over to him. Tim doesn’t argue and hands her her bag. They head downstairs, but it’s slow moving because Lucy has to pause every other step, and he waits patiently knowing this is just part of the process.
Once downstairs, Tim leads her out the door and into his truck throwing the bags in the back.
“How far apart are they?” Tim asks her. She doesn’t reply, right away. Her head is tipped back and she’s looking up at the ceiling.
“Three to five minutes now.” She finally says. Tim blows out a breath, he had a feeling today would be the day. Lucy did some last minute stuff yesterday, and overexerted herself. And when she woke up this morning, she said she felt different. And as the day progressed, she started to get contractions.
She hid them from him at first, just waving them off but then they got more intense and she couldn’t deny it.
Tim reaches over to grab her hand, and she laces her fingers with hers squeezing it tightly. “We are having a baby.” She whispers. He looks over at her, and she still looks like she’s in pain but she’s smiling.
It has been a long time coming but—
“We are having a baby.” He repeats after her. He pulls into the hospital parking lot, and parks. He hops out first grabbing the bags and then helping Lucy out of the truck.
They slowly make their way to the entrance, and then are ushered to the labor and delivery ward.
Tim stands back, as they get Lucy settled, and he can see the relief on her face when they hook up the fetal heart monitor and he sees Ava’s heartbeat perfect and steady.
“The doctor will come in a check you.” The nurse says smiling. “Just hang tight.” Lucy nods and her head falls back on the pillow.
Tim bends over and kisses her on the forehead, she’s already sweaty. And she squirms uncomfortably on the bed.
“Try and relax Luce.” He mutters. Lucy just glares up at him, and opens her mouth to reply but then she snaps it shut as she groans in pain, whatever retort she has died on her tongue as another contraction hit.
He just smoothes back her hair, and reaches for her hand. There’s a long silence, the other sound is the heart monitor. And occasional beeps from the other machines. Tim keeps holding Lucy’s hand, she squeezes it hand when another contraction hits.
The doctor comes in and checks her. “You are doing great Lucy.” He says. Tim keeps his eyes on him, as he checks to see how far along she is.
“5cm.” He says taking his gloves off and Lucy groans, her head hitting the pillow.
“It’s going to take time.” The doctor says. “But you are progressing along just like you should be. Try and relax.” Lucy doesn’t say anything, just closes her eyes and squeezes Tim’s hand.
“You got this baby.” He whispers. “And we are going to meet our daughter soon.”
“Yeah.” Lucy mutters. “Soon.” It’s silent again, and Tim kisses her forehead and tucks some hair behind her ears.
“What time is it?” She asks. Tim looks at his watch, and then back at his wife who is looking at him.
“4:30pm.” He says. Lucy nods, her nose scrunching up and then she lets out a breath.
“What time do you think she will be born?” She asks. He can tell she’s trying to distract herself from the pain.
“Maybe 2am?” He says. Lucy gives him an unimpressed look, and he holds up his hands. “Maybe later then?”
Lucy groans softly and sits up, “My back hurts.” She says and he doesn’t hesitate. He knows exactly what to do. He massages her back, making her head fall forward.
She had a lot of back pain the last few weeks, and she never was able to get comfortable. So he started giving her massages, running her a bath and doing everything he could to relieve the pain.
“Thank you.” She mumbles. He hums softly, and kisses the top of her head. He doesn’t know when Ava will make her appearance but he can’t wait to meet her when she does.
***
Lucy’s contractions slow down around 6pm, and Tim can sense her getting frustrated. She’s still uncomfortable but she’s able to get up and go for a walk. But by the time they reach the end of the hallway, the contractions pick up again and he ushers her back to the room.
The doctor is in and out, checking her and telling her she was progressing.
“You’re 6cm now.” He says. Lucy groans and her head hits the pillow again. She squirms on the bed and looks up at Tim.
“This is your fault.” She grumbles. Tim laughs and hands her a cup of ice, she takes an ice chip out and puts it on her forehead.
“It takes two.” Tim reminds her. Lucy just glares at him, and then her face twists in pain.
“Fuck.” She moans. “I don’t think we are going to have a whole baseball team.” Tim snorts and helps her adjust so she’s in a more comfortable position.
“I don’t think we ever discussed that.” He says teasingly.
“Well we aren’t. This is too much.” She says. “You and your super sperm.”
“I didn’t need to hear that.” Says a voice and they both turn to see Angela. Tim rolls his eyes and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“What are you doing here?” Lucy asks. Angela looks at Tim, and then at Lucy.
“Well this is my goddaughter right?” She asks. Lucy gives a soft nod, and reaches for Tim’s hand.
“I just wanted to check on you.” Angela says. “How long has it been?”
“Too long.” Lucy replies. Angela laughs and Tim squeezes Lucy’s hand.
“I will be right back Luce. I have to use the restroom.” He says. He gives Angela a look, and she rolls her eyes.
“I won’t leave until you are back Tim.” She says. Tim nods and gives Lucy another kiss before he’s on the way to the bathroom. Once he’s gone and he is washing his hands, he looks in the mirror.
He’s going to be a dad soon.
He’s going to have a little life, a little human to take care of.
He’s going to be a dad.
Oh.
He runs his hands down his face, and he knows this is not the time to freak out.
But—
There’s a knock on the door, and then it opens a tiny bit. “Tim?” And it’s Angela, he frowns and walks over to the door.
“What? What’s wrong? Lucy—”
“She’s fine.” Angela says. “But she’s wondering where you are.” Tim blows out a breath and steps out of the bathroom.
“You good?” She asks looking a little concerned, and he doesn’t blame her. She could probably read his face.
And he is good—great even but—
“I’m going to be a dad.” He says. “And I just—”
Angela laughs and reaches out to squeeze his shoulder. “I know it’s scary.” She says. “But the minute you see your daughter for the first time. It’s going to be the most amazing feeling. Having a kid is going to change you in ways you never would expect.” She says. “But you are going to be a great dad Tim. And Lucy will be a great mom. You guys got this.”
Tim nods and takes a deep breath before he’s heading out of the bathroom and back to the room.
Soon. They would meet their daughter soon.
***
Lucy starts pushing around midnight, the doctor comes in and tells her she’s fully dilated. And she can start pushing on the next contraction. Tim holds her hand, as she bears down and pushes.
He pushes some hair out of her face, and she pushes again. After three more pushes, she falls back on the pillow.
“I can’t.” She whispers. “I can’t.” Tim bends down and kisses her on the forehead.
“You can Luce.” He says. “You are almost there.” Lucy squeezes his hand, as she pushes again.
“You’re doing good Lucy.” Her doctor encourages her. “A few more pushes.” Lucy falls back against the pillows again and Tim can tell she’s getting tired.
“It’s too hard.” She says. Tim bends down to kiss her forehead.
“You got this Luce.” He mutters. “We are going to meet our daughter soon.” She closes her eyes and then pushes. He watches as her face changes, like something is different and then—
He hears her before he sees her, the first cry and Lucy’s hard breathing.
“She’s here.” He says breathlessly as they put Ava on Lucy’s chest. The baby wails and Lucy shakes her head, tears falling from her eyes.
“She’s here Luce. You did it.” Tim whispers. He stares down at his daughter, his baby girl. Lucy lets out a small sob as Tim cuts the cord and then they take her away to weigh her.
“She’s perfect.” Tim whispers in Lucy’s ear. “We have a baby Lucy.” They bring her back, and put her in Lucy’s arms.
“She is perfect.” Lucy agrees. “We have a daughter.” Tim nods and runs his finger down Ava’s cheek. She opens her eyes a little, and Tim sees her eyes are blue like his.
And it hits him like it did when he was in the bathroom, he’s a dad. He has this little life to love and care for.
“Ava Rose.” He mutters. Ava makes a soft noise that has Tim choking on his next words. “You are so loved baby girl.”
“Here.” Lucy says and her eyes are full of tears. She hands the baby to Tim and he takes her ever so gently. And then goes to sit down in the chair, rocking the baby in his arms. He feels Lucy’s eyes on him, but he is staring down at his daughter. His baby girl. The one he knew would expand his heart.
He finally looks up, and sees Lucy watching him closely. “You are going to be an amazing dad.” She says softly and then adds. “You already are.”
“You are going to be an amazing mom.” He says looking back down at Ava. “As long as you don’t lose our kid.”
Lucy scoffs at him, but she’s grinning. “Oh shut up.” She says. Tim grins at her and stands up, he hands Ava back to Lucy and kisses the top of Lucy’s head.
He sits down on the edge of the bed, watching his two favorite girls. And this was the start of their new chapter, raising their first baby.
Their baby girl.
And he couldn’t wait to get started.
Just the three of them.