#kazza-smith

The strong winds howled at the window and the heavy rain poured over London with no sign of stopping. Karen tossed and turned in her bed. It was one in the morning and she had barely gotten any sleep. She turned to her side and tapped Matt’s shoulder gently.

"Matt?"

He made a sleepy sound of acknowledgment. “Hmm?”

Karen realized with a pang of guilt that it was his birthday and she’d kept him up all week with her.

"No, never mind, it’s fine. You can keep sleeping."

He smiled at her and kissed her pregnant belly.

"Thanks Kaz."

Matt’s eyes fluttered closed and Karen watched him as he drifted off, his chest rising steadily and his hair mussed up against the pillow.

Karen tried going to sleep but the mix of hormones, the baby kicking, and sheer exhaustion made it near impossible. She managed to doze off for an hour but before she knew it, Karen was awake again. And everything ached.

She stood up to go to the bathroom.

Suddenly, a stream of water trickled down her thigh. Then it gushed out of her, wetting her clothes and getting on the carpet.

"Shit!" she screamed.

Matt woke up with a start.

"Kaz?"

He jumped out of bed and rushed to her side when he saw her.

"My water broke!"

Matt panicked.

"Ok um. Let’s change? And go to the hospital?" He said, trying his best to stay calm.

Karen nodded and rummaged through her dresser to find a clean set of clothes.

Matt searched for a shirt to put on but in his panicked daze, he put his head through the arm holes and put his pants on backwards.

The increasing pain of each contraction caused Karen to stop what she was doing and close her eyes. But she saw Matt struggling with his shirt and smiled.

"Come here," she said, pulling him closer. "You are ridiculous, you know that?"

She lifted his shirt over his head and turned it over in her hands. Karen scrunched the shirt around the head hole and placed it around Matt’s neck.

"There."

Matt stuck his hands through the arm holes and grabbed the bag sitting by the door. They’d been packed for weeks since Karen’s due date was today.

"Matt, can you call my mum?" Karen said, gently rubbing her hands over her stomach. "Call Lynne and Laura too. I’m getting something to eat."

She made her way to the kitchen and stuck a piece of bread in the toaster.

Matt picked up a phone and dialed for Marie. He typed the wrong number. Four times.

"Speed dial," Karen reminded him from the kitchen. "Relax, Matt."

Karen bit into her toast as she listened to Matt talk to everyone. Every so often another contraction would hit and she shut her eyes and gripped the counter.

They left for the hospital after another hour.

Matt held his hand out for Karen’s and placed his arm around her waist for support as they walked to the car. The storm was still raging around them as Matt ushered Karen inside.

"Damn hurricane," Matt said, sliding into his seat.

Karen looked at Matt with worry in her eyes. “Is it safe to drive?”

Matt responded with more certainty than he had. “Yeah it’s fine. Just gotta be careful.”

Matt grasped the steering wheel tight, trying to stay focused and in control of the car. The rain was falling heavier now and the winds had picked up speed.

He darted his eyes briefly to Karen next to him when they were stopped at a red light. She looked at him and smiled reassuringly. Matt’s fingers loosened their grip on the steering wheel.

Another contraction ripped through Karen’s insides and she moaned in pain.

Matt tightened his grip and his stomach flip-flopped.

"Kaz, you okay?"

Karen nodded.

"Just breathe through it, we’re almost there."

As soon as they got to the hospital, the nurse scribbled something on a piece of paper and led Matt and Karen up to a private room.

Karen changed out of her clothes and Matt kept dashing to the door to peek into the hallway for Lynne and his sister.

"Hey Kaz? My mum’s here." Matt said after a while.

Karen was relieved. “Great,” she said. Matt was trying, he really was, but someone with more experience sure would be nice.

Lynne came in and dropped her bags on the floor. She gave Matt a hug and headed over to Karen, who was standing by the bed. Laura Jayne followed, with some water bottles and a balloon.

"Hey Laura, hey Lynne," Karen said warmly. "Thanks for coming. At like…five in the morning." She laughed.

Karen tensed up through another contraction and Lynne held out her hand to her.

"Thanks," Karen said, after it had passed.

Matt was still pacing the room.

Lynne and Laura Jayne glanced at Karen with an Is-He-Okay? look.

Karen shook her head. “He’s been like this the whole time. Can you calm him down?”

Laura sat down next to her baby brother and talked to him while Lynne supported Karen through the pain.

Karen had never been more grateful for her darling Smiths.

Five long hours of labor later and everyone was drained. Laura Jayne had quickly stepped out to get some coffee from downstairs and Lynne was seated on a chair in the corner of the room. Matt remained standing by Karen’s side, thankful he had worn decent shoes.

Karen grimaced. “Ow ow ow, they’re getting stronger!”

Matt rubbed circles on her lower back and squeezed her hand.

"You’re doing great."

Just then, Marie burst through the door.

"Mum!"

Karen reached out her hands for her mother. Marie rushed across the room.

"I didn’t think you’d get here in time," Karen said.

"I wouldn’t miss it for the world darling." Marie replied, wiping the sweat from Karen’s forehead.

Karen smiled as her mother took her hand, and then she winced and bit down on her lip.

Lynne and Laura Jayne cleared off an empty seat next to them just in case Marie ever wanted to sit down. Matt turned and looked at them thankfully.

The doctors and nurses in the room hovered around the bed, watching Karen and making sure things were going smoothly.

Another contraction sent Karen pushing involuntarily and she started to hyperventilate.

Matt stroked her hair, trying to calm her, and the doctors checked on the baby.

"Karen, I’m going to need you to push now," the doctor said.

Karen glanced promptly at Matt, and pushed.

"Hey guys? Um, can I just have Matt with me right now?" She asked, hesitating.

Marie, Lynne, and Laura Jane all smiled understandingly and exited the room.

"We’ll just be out in the hallway, Kazza." Marie said.

Karen squeezed Matt’s hand as contraction after contraction tore through her.

"Good Karen. Keep it up, you’re doing great," the doctor said.

Karen reached her hand down.

"Oh God, I can feel her head. Shit."

Matt laughed. He was unbearably anxious, but he remembered what Laura had said to him.

Matt kissed Karen’s hand and the doctors instructed her to push again.

Karen screamed.

"Oh honey, you’re so close. Just one more push." They told her.

Karen looked up at Matt with panic in her eyes.

He smiled at her and nodded reassuringly.

In those next few moments, time seemed to stop. Matt squeezed Karen’s hand and she stared into his eyes.

Their trance was interrupted by the sharp breaking cry of a newborn baby.

Karen dropped back on the bed, completely exhausted. Matt breathed out and ran a hand through his hair.

"Kaz you did it," he said beaming.

Matt brushed the hair from Karen’s face and kissed her gently on the forehead. She reached her arms up to him and pulled him down into a tired hug.

"Karen?" The doctors carefully handed the baby to Karen as she held out her arms.

Matt felt his blood rush through his veins. His heart went into overdrive, pumping blood, pulsing his love to every inch of his body. Matt was about to burst. Sitting right there before him were the two most beautiful things he’d ever seen in his life.

"Aw Matt," Karen said softly. "You’re crying."

Matt wiped the tears from his eyes.

"God I love you so much." He leaned over to give her another hug. Karen lifted her head instead, and Matt kissed her tenderly on the lips.

"Happy Birthday Matt.” She choked up.

"See, now you’re crying too."

Matt climbed into the hospital bed to lie next to his girls.

"Want to hold her?" Karen asked, sliding the baby into Matt’s arms.

The nurse left the room to call Marie, Lynne, and Laura Jayne, who entered shortly.

"Jemma Smith," Matt presented. He looked to Karen and smiled. "Our daughter."

The three ladies hugged Karen and fawned over the little girl in Matt’s arms.

"Well, we’d better get a picture of the three of you," Lynne said, pulling a camera out of her purse.

Matt and Karen marveled at their wonderful force of nature and the camera clicked, capturing the special moment forever in time.

Karen rested her head on Matt’s shoulder and stared at Jemma, her eyes slowly drifting shut.

She fell asleep flooded with happiness, surrounded by her favorite people in the world.

Matt glanced at his side and turned to kiss Karen’s hair.

"Look, Jems, Mummy’s fallen asleep."

"Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?"

Jemma cried a response.