December 31, 2014
9:45 PM

It was New Years Eve, Natalia and James where at home this year, just having both their parents over to celebrate the end of 2014. It was the first time since Eric and Christina were born that they were allowed to stay up late and watch the fireworks, however about twenty minutes ago the twins were put to sleep in their beds. They were so exhausted that Natalia had taken them to bed. But she promised to wake them in time to watch the fireworks.

This morning, Nat had been quite happy about the family get-together, but when the guests arrived and they started into dinner, Natalia couldn't really enjoy the little party. Three hours ago she started to have small, irregular contractions, nothing she was concerned about until they got stronger and more frequent about an hour ago. It was bad enough for Christina and Eric to notice the pain she was in and the little toddlers were worried about their baby sister, but Nat assured them that everything was fine. Luckily they were tired enough to fall asleep fast.

Now, sitting on the couch in their living room, Natalia began to wonder if anyone else had noticed the change in her behaviour. She was pretty sure that James would have noticed, but he hadn't let her know if he did. Natalia got up from the couch to get herself a glass of water. But she hadn't even reached the door to kitchen, when she stopped in her tracks as a quite strong contraction started, forcing her to hold onto the sideboard next to her. With the contraction her waters broke, leaving her in a puddle of water around her feet. Now she couldn't hide it anymore. Their new baby was on her way...

James was standing with his dad at this time. He had noticed the pain that Nat was in, but didn't think much of it. James knew that Nat was strong woman and felt that she could tough it out. He got back to the conversation he was having with his dad while waiting to bring the kids back so they could see the fireworks. As he was talking with his father, he got the feeling something was wrong. He walked over to where Nat was and saw her holding onto the sideboard that was next to her.

"Nat, what is....." he started to say before seeing the puddle at his wife's feet. It was not lost on him what had happened. His dad came over at the same time and saw the same thing. "I'll get the car ready." James's dad said gently before leaving them. James nodded, then gently took Nat's hand. "Nat stay focused" he said to her in a calm tone while holding her hand.

Naturally Nat fell back on what she had learned the first time she went into labour. Back then she had visited a preparation course and it came in handy today. Being through a twin-pregnancy already, Nat did not visit the courses this time around. What she had learned back then was still vivid in her memory. But she was worried and scared. She still had three weeks to go before the estimated due date. When she was pregnant with Christina and Eric she knew that they would probably be born prematurely, or at least earlier than her forty weeks, but with just one baby this time, Natalia was worried that something could be wrong.

“Damn it.” she cursed under her breath, just loud enough for her to hear it. Or at least that was what she thought. Maybe she should've said something earlier and maybe she should have gone to the hospital much sooner, but she just didn't want to ruin their family's New Year's Eve. She didn't think that it was this serious before now. But obviously it was.
She looked up at James, the concern still written on her face, but she was focused in that very moment. “I am... focused... just... this wasn't supposed to happen today...”

Natalia's parents were at her side in no time, when they realised what had happened. While James' dad was getting the car, Natalia's parents decided to stay and take care of the twins.

“Don't forget to wake the them for the fireworks... I promised them.” Nat said, even now wanting to keep her promise.

“Don't you worry.” her mother said. “We'll take care of everything here. You just take care of our new granddaughter. And don't worry too much about it, she'll be fine.”

Of course her mother would notice the concern on her face. How could she not? She knew her daughter.

James noticed the look on Nat's mother's face before getting her to the car. His dad soon got the car around for them. James helped Nat out to the car and helped her into the front passenger seat. James's dad helped his son get his wife into the car, then stepped back while his son buckled Nat in. After doing that, James gently squeezed Nat's hand before closing the door and getting into the driver's seat.

Once in the car, he buckled up and took Nat to the hospital, holding her hand at the same time. "You're doing great Nat" he said while driving along. He was moving a quick pace, but not to fast as he didn't want a fellow cop pulling him over.

For Natalia all these things happening around her seemed like it was just a dream. Mainly because she didn't really pay any attention to what exactly was happening around her. Her thoughts were with their unborn baby girl about to make her entrance. There was no other way, with her waters already broken. Natalia figured that the baby would be born as soon as they would reach the hospital, but she would be very wrong about that timeline.
But there was something else keeping her mind occupied. Something she hadn't felt in a while: fear. She was still scared that something might be wrong, even though, subconsciously she knew that babies did come sooner and were perfectly fine. But there was still the chance... wasn't there?

She looked over at James when she heard him talking to her. She shook her head in reply. She didn't think she was doing fine. She was scared and that didn't count as doing great. She wasn't supposed to be scared, she's been through this before...
“I'm not...” she said quietly, then grid her teeth together as another contraction came. “I'm scared... I'm not supposed to be, but... I am.”

James glanced over to her. "Its okay to be scared Natalia....'There can be no courage unless your scared.'" he said to her in reply, using part of a quote that was a favorite of his. James gently squeezed her hand as he drove her to the hospital. It was not lost on him that she was scared, he had to be strong for her as he drove along. "Sweetie, you are one of the strongest people I know." he said to her honestly, remembering all that she had been though before this.

James noticed the sign indicating that they were closer to the hospital. He smiled a bit, then glanced over to Nat. "Hang on Nat, were almost there." he said to her before looking back to the road after saying that to her.

Nat sighed and then took a deep breath. It was of no use to her or their unborn daughter if she overreacted and was overly concerned now. She was still worried that something might be wrong, after all, three weeks is quite a long time, but then again, she knew that sometimes babies came earlier and were just fine. And the last check-up was just last week and everything was perfectly normal back then, so... was there really a reason to be concerned?
"Please... just let my baby be okay." she thought to herself, waiting for the contraction to finally stop.

"Just get us there... I'll be glad when this is over and I'll hold my baby." she said to James, not really paying attention to her surroundings anymore. "I just want to know that everything is okay."

James nodded in reply when Nat said that. "I have a very strong feeling that our child will be okay....our daughter is a fighter." he said to her, his voice calm and honest as he spoke to her. Moments later, they got to the hospital, James parked as close as he could. After shutting the van off, he got Nat inside, calling for a doctor at the same time.

A nurse saw them first and acted instantly. She brought a wheelchair to the couple and helped Nat sit down. Natalia was glad that she didn't have to walk anymore, because at the moment a new contraction was on the way and she had trouble to keep it together. This time it was really painful. But at least Nat had the training from the first prep course.
"How far along are you, ma'am? Did you call ahead?" the nurse asked Natalia, while she guided them to the elevators.

"37 weeks... and... I don't think we called. But I've been here last week..." Natalia replied.

"Okay. Then I guess your husband knows the way up. I'll call upstairs and let them know you're coming." the nurse said when they reached the elevators. She turned and headed for the phone on the wall nearby.

James watched her as that was said, then got Nat up to the right floor. Once there, a nurse helped him get Nat into one of the rooms and set up. James stood back as the nurse worked with Nat, watching as two other workers came in to help out. As he watched, James started to pray for Nat and the baby while resting his hands on the wheelchair that was used to get Nat inside.

Natalia was glad to see a familiar face in the second nurse... actually a midwife, entered the room. She had seen her a few times before and hoped that she would attend to her when she would give birth to her new baby. It was a relieve for Natalia, but still, she was worried that something might be wrong with her daughter.

About twenty minutes after arriving, Anna - the midwife - came back into the room with the doctor who had duty that day: Dr. Jessie King. The doctor checked the CTG that Nat was attached to, to monitor her contractions and of course the monitor of her baby's heartbeat. Her face had a satisfied look when she looked at the monitors and nodded. She set up a ultrasound-machine and started to examine Natalia's belly.

"Well, Mrs. Hamilton... there's no need to worry." Dr. King told her in a gentle tone. "Your baby is absolutely fine. She's simply eager to finally meet her mommy."

James looked at Dr. King when she said that to Nat, then smiled a little. He looked back to Nat as he held her hand in his. "She will be here soon" he said before kissing her hand as Anna watched them. It wasn't lost on her that James adored and doted on Natalia every chance that he got. "You're a lucky lady Mrs. Hamilton." she said to her honestly while watching them. James glanced over to Anna when she said that, then looked back to Natalia, smiling a bit at the same time. Anna watched him do that, then got back to helping Dr. King and the nurse get everything ready for the delivery. "You ready?" James asked Natalia as he held her hand while looking her in the eye.

Natalia sighed a little. This was going to be a long night, she just felt it. She wasn't prepared for this, not yet. She didn't think that their daughter would come this soon, she wasn't even done preparing her room, yet. There were still furnishings to be put together and some decoration to be put up and so much more that she left for the last few weeks before the baby would come.

She wasn't ready.

"Pull yourself together, Nat... it's now or never. You have to do this... you can do this." she thought to herself and took a deep breath. Her brown eyes looked up at James, fixing on him for a moment. In times like these, he was her rock, the one to draw her strength from. And she did by just looking at him right now.
"I have to be." she answered his question.

James nodded in reply when Natalia said that to him, then kissed her hand. "You're going to do great Natalia." he said to her, it was clear that he ment that. James knew that Nat was a strong willed woman and that it took a lot to get her rattled. However, he had that nagging feeling that this night would be different. Either way, James was not about to leave his wife's side until she and the baby were clear to go home.

Dr. King and the nurses soon had everything ready moments later. Before stepping out of the room, Dr. King checked Nat to see how far along she was. James looked over as she did that, holding Nat's hand at the same time.