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"I can’t believe h this three times," she said finally, as her contraction eased "All for us to be little shits to her at one point or another She must’ve wanted to slap the crap out of us Especially Brian"

"My mom always said there’s a reason I’m an only child Apparently, I nearly killed her"

"Great You’ve probably put so"

"Nah" He stroked her belly as best he could around her monitor belt "He or she will be perfect"

"Do you have any regrets that we didn’t find out the sex?"

"Nope" It didn’t irl--his only hope was for health and happiness Besides, the anticipation, the not knowing, was exciting

The anesthesiologist ca a needle in her spine--one of the hardest things he’d ever had to watch in his life But as she lay back afterward and sighed in absolute relief even when her next contraction was dalad for it Gabby still didn’t feel well, so her fa roo, it was ti in astonishment as his child, their child, came into the world Cheers went up from the staff Tiny, pink, wrinkled, perfect…and, after a briefwith a strength that hter

He wasn’t the only one ready to collapse Gabby’s head rolled onto his shoulder, her chest still heaving frohed breathlessly, and he wrapped his arled with emotion "You did it, sweetie I love you so much"

"I love you," she whispered

"Can you see her?" he asked, watching as the nurses…did whatever they did to the poor little angel If he hadn’t been so near tears, he ed cry

"I can She’s beautiful"

"Like you"

It seeht her over and laid her on Gabby’s chest Ian crawled onto the bed as best he could, ar down at their miraculous little creation Already, she looked so much like her mom, but he could see a resemblance to some of his own baby pictures too Her eyes opened and peered at the world around her; she grasped their fingers in turn with surprising strength

Gabby unwrapped her blanket and touched her miniature, almost transparent toes in wonder "Oh my God," she said, tears in her voice "She’s so perfect So incredibly perfect"

Ian placed a gentle kiss on the side of his wife’s dahter, she was still thehe’d ever seen Then he stroked the baby’s forehead, ood with the name?" Gabby asked

"Lia? I think it fits her I love it"

"Me too" She spoke to the baby in a cooing voice "Hi, Lia, sweetheart Mommy loves you" She turned her head and kissed Ian on the lips "And Mommy loves Daddy"

Daddy Wow He’d contemplated the moment when he could truly consider hi had prepared him for it The absolute awe and wonder and love andterror