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P/O fic: Bliss and Eternity
Bliss and Eternity
Author: Mancha.
Rated: T.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 5/12/12. Date Finished: 5/16/12. Hope
you will all enjoy! Thanks! Summary: Peter and Olivia enjoy a rare moment of ‘normalcy’ as they prepare for their daughter’s
birth.
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October 16th, 2012
Peter had never been in such a long line in the middle of the day before, especially on a Sunday. He’d gone on a trip to the supermarket to
gather whatever foods Olivia was craving at the moment. At this particular point in time it was: chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream, pickles,
cheese, twinkies, and tons of Milky Way candy bars. He’d just gotten to the front of the line when his phone began to ring. Stopping what he
was loading onto the conveyor belt he reached into his pocket and answered it.
“Yes sweetheart?”
He smiled at his phone when he heard his wife’s beautiful voice.
“Actually Peter, can you get me just the regular vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate and vanilla swirl? Oh and can you get me some nutty
buddies?”
Peter only smiled into the phone and laughed a little. He knew to keep her happy he’d get her whatever she wanted. He’d learned that the hard
way just last week when he came back with the wrong kind of cheese. He’d come back with Havarti instead of pepper jack cheese. Learning from
his mistake, he just contended with getting cheddar this time. If she stuck with cheddar he hoped that it would be the longest craving she’d
ever had.
“Of course sweetheart. Anything else besides the nutty buddies?”
He smiled into the phone once more when he heard her melodious laugh on the other end.
“No I think I’m good right now. I’m gonna have to let you go; this baby is sitting on my bladder again.”
Making a split decision to go back for the vanilla ice cream, he quickly shoved all of the items he’d acquired back into the cart and let the woman
behind him go ahead. Steering the cart away from the checkout line, he made his way all the way back down to aisle sixteen where the dairy
section was. When he got down the aisle, he became overwhelmed by the rather vast selection of vanilla ice cream the store offered. He wasn’t
sure where to start when he quickly moved aside for a very pregnant woman next to him opened up the freezer door.
“I never know which kind of vanilla ice cream my wife wants. These cravings of hers are something else. One minute its strawberry ice cream,
then its chocolate, last week it was rocky road, and now its vanilla.”
The woman next to him gave him a knowing smile as she pulled out three gallons of vanilla bean.
“I take it this is your first? Well take it from someone who knows about cravings. I’m eating for four and this vanilla bean is excellent. Don’t
worry; you’ll get the hang of it.”
Peter smiled politely at the woman and helped her put the gallons of vanilla bean into the cart for her.
“Yes, and thanks for the suggestion. I’ll keep it in mind.”
She smiled at Peter, grateful for the help and walked away. As he put two gallons of vanilla bean into the cart, he heard something fall behind
him. Quickly turning to see what it was, he rushed over to find the woman he’d just been talking to down on the ground clutching at her
stomach. He crouched down in front of her and looked into her eyes.
“Don’t try to get up. I’ll call 9-1-1. Just try and relax.”
She only nodded her head as Peter began to dial the life saving number. He waited for what seemed like eternity for the other line to pick up.
“9-1-1 what is your emergency?”
Peter licked his lips momentarily and looked the woman in the eyes once more and gave her a confident look.
“My name is Peter Bishop and I’ve got a woman here that needs medical attention. She’s in labor, but is unable to stand. We’re at Llanera
Supermarket at 260 E 8th St, South Boston.”
He hung up the phone and placed it back into his pocket. Looking into her eyes once more, he found that they had fear in them just below the
surface.
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
The woman shook her head no at Peter, but did stick her hand out for him to shake.
“I’m Tracy, and no I’m ok. I’ve just never had a fall like that before. The last time I had this happen to me, was right before my son Eric was
born. I’d managed to grab onto a shelf just down there.”
She motioned to the shelf just down the middle of the aisle. Peter gave her a comforting smile. He stayed until the paramedics came, making sure
she was alright. He gave her hand a squeeze and watched as the paramedics wheeled her out of the store on a gurney. He sighed in relief. She
was going to be ok. Going back to his abandoned cart, he made his way back to the checkout line. This time opting out and going for the u-
scan.
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“ ‘Livia, I’m home!”
Peter uttered out as he came in the front door. When no one answered he became worried and threw the bag of groceries onto the counter in
the kitchen. Making his way into the hallway, he searched for Olivia and called out once more.
“ ‘Livia? Where are you?”
As he rounded the corner to get to the living room, he found her frozen halfway between the hallway and the couch. She was staring down at
something on the floor. She looked up at him face red. His face paled momentarily, and his mind raced with the possibility of early labor. The first
thing that tumbled out of his mouth startled Olivia.
“How far apart are the contractions?”
Now it was Olivia’s turn to pale and look at Peter confused. Furrowing her left brow she threw her arms up in the air in frustration.
“Peter I’m not in labor. I couldn’t make it to the bathroom. I had an accident.”
Peter immediately softened his expression and helped her into the bathroom. It wasn’t until she was done changing into some dry clothes that he
apologized.
“Liv, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone. If I would’ve known this was gonna happen, I would’ve stayed here with you.”
Olivia instantly gave Peter a dark look, even fleetingly so and it went away. But her voice was filled with a bite Peter would take time to recover
from.
“Peter I’m not a child, I can take care of myself. On another note, did you get the food I asked for?”
Peter nodded his head and a smile began to grace Olivia’s lips. These mood swings were getting worse. But Peter would take the brunt of them,
just to make Olivia happy.
“Yes, and I’m sorry I took so long to get back from the store. A woman who was next to me picking out some ice cream went into labor. I was
the only one in the aisle, so I stayed with her until the paramedics came. Right before it happened she’d said not to worry and that we’d get the
hang of being new parents. She was eating for four so...”
Peter had trailed off on his last sentence. Olivia had already dug into the gallon of Vanilla bean ice cream and seemed to be enjoying it. She
stopped momentarily and made a face.
“Ow. Oh my god, brain freeze. I’m sorry baby. If mommy is getting a brain freeze, then you probably are too.”
Gently setting down the gallon of vanilla bean ice cream she waited for the sensation to go away. Swallowing, she looked at Peter with an
overwhelmed face.
“Eating for four Peter? Triplets? God, I could just imagine if I were carrying triplets how much more I’d have to pee. Three heads would be sitting
on my bladder all the time. Here, I’ll help you clean the mess in the living room.”
Peter put a gentle restraining hand on Olivia’s shoulder. Shaking his head no, he gave her his answer.
“It’s ok ‘Livia, I’ve got it. You just sit on the couch and enjoy the rest of your vanilla bean ice cream. Afterwards do you wanna watch a movie?”
Olivia took up the gallon of vanilla bean ice cream and settled into the couch while Peter went about cleaning. As he was throwing stuff into the
garbage can in the kitchen he heard Olivia give a loud groan.
“Oooh.”
He rushed back into the living room in panic mode. He would always be in high alert until this baby was born and afterwards.
“What is it?”
Shaking her head, she pressed her hand up against her back. Peter slid into the couch next to her and gently placed a hand on her lower back
and began to massage it. He let out a content sigh of relief.
“Baby starting to mess with your sciatic nerve huh?”
Olivia nodded her head, grateful that he was working the knots out of her lower back. After a few minutes, he could see relief wash over his
wife’s glowing face. He looked her up and down momentarily and smiled.
“You will always look beautiful to me no matter what Olivia Dunham. To think that you and I five years ago, thought that one another was a pain
in the ass, and now look at us, we’re having a baby. Opposites really do attract.”
The smile stayed in position on Olivia’s face as Peter popped in the DVD of Casablanca. Sitting back down next to Olivia he placed a protective
left hand over her baby belly, taking it away momentarily he spoke down to it, knowing the baby would hear him.
“Daddy will protect you from all the bad people out there. You are special, just like your mommy.”
After giving a kiss to Olivia’s belly, he placed his left hand back where he’d had it previously and looked back into her eyes.
“I’ll do everything in my power to protect the both of you. I won’t let anything hurt the two of you.”
Olivia lay her head in Peter’s lap and stared at the tv screen about 30 feet in front of her. Peter stroked her hair with his right hand while his left
never moved from its protective nesting spot on her stomach. He watched her breathe in and out for a few minutes. He’d never seen anything
more beautiful than this moment, and he wanted to cherish it forever. So he sat there a little longer, hoping to burn this moment into his
memory, because he knew that there might not be another moment quite like this again.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So, what’d you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!
Last edited by Mancha; 06-06-2012 at 11:53 AM.
LOVE IT! More please!!!
Dawning Realization
Author: Mancha.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 5/17/12. Date Finished: 5/19/12. Hope
you will all enjoy! Thanks!
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December 16th, 2012
Peter realized with dawning realization that his impending fatherhood was getting closer to its end. The life growing inside of Olivia was no longer
an ‘it’ but an actual baby girl. For hours sometimes, he’d park himself in front of the refrigerator in a kitchen table chair and stare at the
sonogram of his and Olivia’s little girl safely tucked away inside her womb. He marveled at how tiny her fingers were, she had her thumb in her
mouth and was sucking on it. The other hand was placed so it looked like she was waving hello. Tears began to form in his eyes; he just couldn’t
believe that they’d both created this little miracle. He hadn’t even noticed when Olivia came into the room. At 7 months she was glowing with all
the happiness any new mother had. Hers seemed to be amplified. Olivia struggled momentarily to get down to Peter’s level in the kitchen chair.
She knelt down on her knees so that her belly was at Peter’s arm length. Pulling him from the chair, she placed his head into her lap.
“Hey, why are you so emotional? I thought I was the one who was supposed to be emotional.”
Peter swiped away the tears and looked up at Olivia momentarily and then looked back down when he felt a foot kick at his head. Olivia tilted his
chin up so that he was at eye level with her.
“She knows your upset. She feels it. Now you can tell me what’s wrong.”
Peter gently placed both his hands on either side of Olivia’s enormous baby belly and gave it a firm but gentle kiss.
“I’m just afraid that something is gonna take you away from me again. My mind keeps going back to the day Walter shot you while we were on
William Bell’s boat. I just don’t wanna lose you again.”
Olivia’s face softened even more as she pulled his head back into her lap. She stroked his hair momentarily, hoping to soothe his aching soul and
his irrational fears.
“Peter, you are not going to lose me again. You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were experiencing a sympathetic pregnancy with
me. You’re feeling everything that I am.”
Taking a deep breath Peter pulled himself to his feet and helped Olivia up off the kitchen floor. He pulled her in for a chaste kiss and held her
back.
“You are looking more beautiful everyday sweetheart. I can’t believe we only have two more Lamaze class sessions before the baby comes. We
haven’t picked out a name...”
Olivia had a twinkle in her eyes. She opened up the fridge and dug around, not finding what she was craving for; she turned to Peter with puppy
eyes.
“Can we order Damianos? Please? Etta is in the mood for Italian.”
Peter was surprised, this was the first time Olivia had mentioned any names for girls. They’d talked a lot about boy’s names in the beginning, but
hadn’t thought a lot about if they were having a girl.
“You said Etta is in the mood for Italian. Etta? You like the name?”
Olivia bit her lip shyly and leaned in for a kiss. Afterwards, when she pulled away, she nodded her head and placed a hand over her stomach.
“It’s classic. Henrietta no. But Etta just has a certain ring to it when it rolls off your tongue. Try it.”
Peter smiled and tried the name out.
“Etta. It’s perfect ‘Livia. I’ll get the number from the take-out menu.”
Olivia waved him off and grabbed for the phone, dialing the number she handed it to Peter.
“Have it memorized remember?”
Peter gave her a smile and ordered the food. As they waited for the food to be delivered to their front door, they sat on the couch watching the
news.
“Oooh, Peter. Feel this. Etta’s kicking.”
Peter swore he could see Etta’s tiny feet tap dancing against Olivia’s womb. Smiling, he put his hand up to her stomach and felt the movement.
It was hard for him to believe that such a tiny thing could kick so hard.
“How can something as little as her kick so hard? Doesn’t it hurt?”
Olivia only smiled at Peter and reached up for another kiss. Shaking her head she looked into his eyes.
“Nope. But you feel my stomach. It’s as hard as a rock. It just feels strange to be stretched from the inside out. Sometimes she feels very happy
and does summersaults when I’m trying to sleep. That’s what my pained expression is in the middle of the night sometimes.”
Peter’s smile grew more and he kissed the crown of Olivia’s temple. Olivia sprang to life as fast as she could when she heard the doorbell ring.
Waddling her way over towards the door she opened up the door and a young teenager was on the other side.
“That’ll be $46.50 for four cartons of Penne pasta with tomato basil sauce and for desert, chocolate truffles.”
Olivia quickly snatched the bags from the unsuspecting teenager and went back to making herself comfortable on the couch. Peter paid the
teenager and shut the front door, making his way back to his glowing wife.
“I see you’ve already dug in ‘Livia. Hope you’re enjoying yourself. We already know Etta likes chocolate. Can I have that carton of Pasta next to
you?”
Olivia handed Peter the untouched carton of Penne pasta and continued to dig into her own.
“I never thought my stomach would become so big I could use it as my own personal table. Can you pass me the chocolate truffles?”
Peter nodded his head and gave a full-fledged smile.
“You’ve made me a very happy man Olivia Dunham. Etta’s gonna be a little princess. First thing on my list is I’m going to build her a castle out
back. She’ll be spoiled rotten.”
Olivia only smiled more and placed a chocolate truffle into Peter’s mouth.
“Mmm. Forgot how good these taste. I’ll give you a foot massage when I’m done.”
Olivia only laughed and finished off the last of her food, leaning back into the couch satisfied.
“Who would’ve thought carbs would make me so full at this late a stage? Etta’s already got daddy wrapped around her little fingers I see.”
Peter laughed and his mind went back to the single black and white sonogram photo on the refrigerator in the kitchen. This was real, this was
now, this was their family.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So, what’d you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!
Chapter3: Lamaze Class
Author: Mancha.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of theFringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 5/19/12. DateFinished: 5/27/12. Hope you will all enjoy! Thanks!
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January 16th, 2013
By now Peter was starting to wonder how he could possibly fit his arms aroundOlivia’s waist. They’d brought the usual with them: pillow, snacks and somefruit juice. For snacks Olivia had insisted on bringing pork rinds.
As Peter had suspected, the cheddar hadn’t lasted long past the second week of wanting the stuff, and pork rinds remained champion among countless other food stuffs she’d asked him to acquire. He was tossed out of his thoughts when he heard hergroan.
“Oooh. If I breathe it’ll go away.”
Peter suddenly looked alarmed. His hands found her belly once again and tried to find the source of her pain.
“Where does it hurt sweetheart?”
Olivia tilted her head back so that she could peer up into his eyes. They were shining with knowing, but also a shroud of mystery seemed to follow behind it.
“It’s just Braxton and Hicks Peter. If I breathe through it, it goes away... This is just my body’s way of saying; the time is almost near. It’s practicing for the next four weeks. Maybe I should eat somepork rinds. It always seems to calm down when I eat pork rinds.”
Instead of getting the pork rinds, Peter helped her into a half lying-half sittingposition. She took a breath and relaxed. With her head and her waist halfway inhis lap, he could place both his hands over her stomach.
“Take deep breaths. Relax your entire body. That’sit. They’ll be stronger if you don’t relax.”
The pair of them were zoning everything out when the Lamaze teacher Karen came overtowards them.
“Very good Peter, Olivia. Wait... Is she, is she in labor?”
Olivia wildly shook her head and continued to breathe deeply through her nose and outher mouth. Pausing briefly, she looked Karen in the eye.
“No I’m ok. It’s just Braxton and Hicks.”
Karen gave Olivia’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and spoke to the rest of the class.
“Olivia and Peter here are a prime example of what to do if you are experiencing Braxton and Hicks contractions. Here are three thingsI would suggest trying: Drinking a glass of water. You may be experiencingBraxton and Hicks because you are dehydrated. Changing position and restingalso helps. And three walking around helps tremendously.
That’s all we’recovering today. I want all of you to go home and practice what you’ve learnedtoday. I want you all to practice your deep breathing with your partners. Andremember to practice the Alexander Technique. Remember, we have one more classleft. Two more weeks until the next class. We’ll be exclusively covering moreon the Alexander Technique. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you in two weeks!”
Peter gently helped Olivia into a sitting position at first, and then into a standing one. She rubbed noses with his own momentarily. She was getting more and morebeautiful each day. They took their time getting back to the car. Peter noticedthat her walk had become much slower; this meant the weight she was bearing wasstarting to get to her. By the time she had gotten to the car, Peter could seeshe was exhausted. As they were driving home, at each stop light, he wouldglance over at her sleeping form.
A strand of hair had landed in her face, buthe left it because he didn’t want to wake her. The drive home was spent thinking about the days to come, and the ever looming impending birth of Etta. When they got home, all he could think about was what she would look like, if she would have her mother’s eyes, or his. If she would have his brown hair orher mother’s golden trusses. His smile grew when a song popped into his head.He followed Olivia over onto the couch.
She was already asleep. He wanted to show Olivia the song, but he imagined that at this stage of her pregnancy she was very uncomfortable. So he’d let her get as much sleep as she wanted. It seemed no matter what now though, she was exhausted. Most of the time other than going to Lamaze classes she would eat, sleep and use the restroom. Part of him wished he could take all her discomfort away as he pushed the wayward strand of hair away from her face. But he knew that this was the natural courseof things. He had pulled her head into his lap, and kept running his hand through her hair. He saw her take a sharp intake of breath and blazing green eyes shoot open. She was on the verge of tears.
“Ow. Ow, Etta come on sweetheart. Please let mommysleep.”
Peter placed his other hand on her stomach and splayed all his fingers in a wide expanse. Taking his index finger, he gently tapped on the side of Olivia’s stomach.
“Hey there sweetheart. It’s daddy. I know you wantto play, but mommy is trying to sleep.”
He heard Olivia moan more as Etta gave ten more defiant kicks inside her womb.
“She’s trying to tell us that she’s too cramped upin there. Her cozy little bedroom isn’t so cozy anymore.”
Olivia only nodded sleepily and returned her head to Peter’s lap. Peter resumed running his hand through her hair. He marveled at every inch of her. She was already a good mother. He began to rub big wide circles over Olivia’s stomach.This helped Etta calm down, and it was only a few minutes before she was asleep. Over the course of the entire pregnancy, Olivia had only gained a scanttwenty pounds, though she’d tell you it was much more than it really was. Sometimes in the back of his mind he worried about her. He worried about hersmall frame and if she’d be able to deliver naturally. But the doctor had said that she was just the right height.
Any smaller she’d said, and they would haveto perform a c-section. He pressed a kiss against her temple and continued to rub circles over her stomach with his left hand while the other hand ran through her blond locks. He'd borrowed Walter's stethoscope, never growing tired of hearing the movement of hisdaughter safely tucked away inside Olivia.
His brows furrowed together as hetook away the stethoscope from Olivia’s ever growing stomach. He fingered the strange shaped bump on the lower left side of her stomach. His eyebrows furrowing even further, he began to worry. He didn’t want to wake Olivia up, but this was genuinely concerning. That large bump wasn’t there before. He took a breath and shook Olivia’s shoulder.
“Sorry to wake you sweetheart, but there’s something on your stomach I think you should see.”
Olivia stirred groggily and put a hand where Peter’s fingers were at. She only sighed and closed her eyes once more, giving him an answer.
“Peter, that’s Etta’s butt.”
She began to laugh a little, and then Peter joined in. His face turned red momentarily, and then he felt Olivia’s hand on his cheek.
“Don’t be embarrassed. You didn’t know. Hold that thought. I need to use the bathroom.”
Peter helped her up and watched her make a bee-line to the bathroom. He sat back onthe couch and did a check-off list in his head of all the stuff that needed to be prepared still. The changing table still needed to be put together. But other than that, they had all the stuff they needed to bring home a new baby. He was pulled from his thoughts when Olivia came to sit by him on the couch. Surprisingly, she looked wide awake.
“You look refreshed sweetheart.”
Olivia smiled and placed her hands on his rough stubbly cheeks. Shrugging, she gave a short laugh.
“Must be my second wind. I still can’t believe she’ll be here with us in four more weeks. I know we discussed a natural birth with no drugs, or a water birth, but neither of those sound right. I’m not evengoing to take Rachel’s idea of a midwife into consideration. Ella’s birth was very dangerous, and I just don’t want to go through the motions of giving birth that way.”
Peter cringed at her words. She saw and gave him an apologetic look.
“Sweetheart, that’s not going to happen to you.Besides, you will have a qualified team of doctors and nurses watching every hiccup that comes along. I’m going to be with you every moment. Etta is going to come out beautiful. You’re concerns and fears are normal. Every new mother goes through it.”
Olivia smiled quietly and rubbed noses with Peter. It’d become an endearing gesture between the two ever since finding out that they were having Etta. Her eyes were sparkling. He loved that everything about her was glowing. Peter had helped her set up in the den a couple of months prior because her doctor had told her not to be climbing stairs anymore.
The strenuous activity would causeearly labor, and neither of them wanted that. For weeks Olivia had wanted Peter to show her the nursery, but he’d purposely kept the door closed and told her it was a surprise.
“Peter I know you’ve said that the nursery is asurprise. What it looks like and everything, but I promise if you show me, I’ll try to be surprised later.”
Peter gave Olivia a warm smile. Shaking his head he placed another kiss to her temple.
“Now you know I can’t do that sweetheart. It’s a surprise. You’ll see it when we bring Etta home. Right now I think it’s best ifwe get you to bed.
You’re looking a little tired again. I’ll make you some Chamomile tea to help you sleep.”
A quiet smile spread onto her lips and she wiggled her eyebrows at Peter as she retreated towards the den. Everything in the den was setup in accordance with what Olivia’s doctor had suggested she’d do to make herself comfortable. There was a bed in one corner of the room, with a tv and DVD player at the end of it against the wall.
There was a large medicine ball for Olivia to do exercises with and the mattress was equipped with an extra foam pad under the sheets to help her be comfortable while she slept. Peter the good husband he was, brought Olivia the tea. She’d already gotten under the covers and was doing a crosswordpuzzle, though he could see she was dozing off. Gently shaking her shoulder, he saw her groggily open up her eyes and give a faint smile.
“Your tea my lady.”
She’d never gotten tired of him calling her that. She’d never met anyone that wouldtake care of her as well as Peter did. He waited on her every whim. Every want.He’d protected her at every turn and he’d be there every step of the wayhelping Olivia through the birth of their first born.
“Thanks Peter. Oh no you don’t have to sleep downhere with me.”
Shaking his head no, he made himself comfortable on the cot next to her bed. Cupping her face after she drank the last of her tea, he gave her a look of knowing.
“Sweetheart, I want to be down here in case something happens. In case your water breaks. Husbands are supposed to take care of their wives every step of the way, you and Etta are the most important things to me. I’m here for you. Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
To Be Continued...
A/N: So, what’d you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!If this was slow, I apologize; I’m not exactly feeling well at the moment. Ipromise the next
chapter will pick up significantly.
It was so sweet! Can't wait for her to be born!
Chapter 4: In The Blink Of An Eye
Author: Mancha.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 5/29/12. Date Finished: 6/6/12. Hope you will all enjoy! Thanks!
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February 16th, 2013
“Peter. I forgot a case file in the office.”
At this point, Peter knew better than to argue with his very pregnant wife. So obliging by her request, he proceeded to turn off the truck engine. It was bitter cold outside, and nothing Peter did kept it from seeping into his skin and deep into his bones. Once in the building, the two did their best to shutter out the cold that made a nesting spot deep down in their limbs. When they reached the lab, they found it surprisingly empty.
“Astrid must have taken Walter out for a treat.”
Olivia smiled as she opened up the door to the back office. Finding the intended case file she was looking for under a stack of newspapers, she quickly scooped it up into her arms. Peter was amazed that even at this late stage in her pregnancy, she was almost gliding across the floor as if it were nothing but a cake walk.
These days she took everything in stride. Every day more excitement seemed to fill her eyes. It was almost as if she were a small child in a candy store having a hard time deciding on which candy to select. Peter too was smiling, that is up until they entered the hallway and were just in front of the first classroom to their right when he saw the smile slide right off her face. Olivia grabbed for Peter’s arm, in a tight vice-like grip. She stopped momentarily and gave Peter a knowing look. He seemed a little apprehensive.
“Cramp?”
Olivia only shook her head at Peter and gave him a serious look, she was being very serious. This was no cramp.
“No Peter. I think this is it. It’s time.”
Peter gave Olivia a dumbfounded look for a split twenty seconds or so before wiping it from his face.
“What? Here? Now?”
Nodding her head in certainty, she pulled him forward. His mind was racing in a million different directions. This was really happening. Now. This was all falling into step so quickly.
“Oooh. Yes Peter, it’s really happening.”
Peter seemed distracted though as he carefully ushered her out towards the car. Once in the car, he made sure she was buckled up. They were barely out of the parking lot when she began to scream. Olivia had grabbed for Peter’s hand just as they were pulling out into traffic. When he tried to pull away so that he could put his right hand on the steering wheel, Olivia belted out her answer.
“DRIVE WITH THE OTHER ONE!?”
But because he knew not to argue with his very pregnant wife, now very much in labor, he let her keep his right hand and turned into traffic. He’d turned the sirens on in her truck hoping that it would help some. Plowing through a couple of red lights, he managed a glance at his beautiful but ailing wife.
“Tilt the seat back a little sweetheart. Lean back. Remember to breathe.”
The last part of his sentence warranted a death glare from Olivia. He was letting all the hostile tension towards him, though it was a not intended at him, roll off his shoulders in waves.
“I DON’T THINK YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH PETER! DO YOU WANNA DO THIS FOR ME?”
Peter swallowed and considered the implications of the whole ordeal. Grimacing, he did his best to reassure Olivia that everything was going to be ok.
“You know I would if I could sweetheart. But it’s just not physically possible. Everything is gonna be just fine. Lean back and breathe. Big breath in and out. In and out. That’s it.”
When the next contraction subsided, Olivia seemed out of breath, and there was worry written all over her pretty face.
“Peter, I’m really concerned. I’ve been dilating for the past twenty minutes and my water hasn’t broken.”
Peter did his best to remain calm, but the look in his eyes didn’t fool Olivia any. She could see fear, plain and simple just below the surface. He patted her hand for reassurance.
“It’ll break sweetheart. Just give it some time. It just means your body isn’t quite ready yet.”
At the corner of Peter’s eye he could see Olivia beginning to sweat. She absent-mindedly swiped the sweat away and continued to focus on her breathing. When Peter pulled into the emergency area of Boston General, he barely had time to think about what was happening around him, and the fact that an ambulance was blasting its horn behind him to move the car.
Olivia was having a hard time standing on her feet, so Peter helped prop her up under his arms. They were maybe twenty feet or so away from the emergency doors when Olivia began to speak to Peter in what seemed to be confused words.
“...Peter I’m ok... I just need to...”
Olivia was suddenly dead-weight on Peter and he couldn’t move her, no matter how hard he tried.
“Olivia? Oh my god! I need some help over here!”
Several hands helped with Olivia up onto a stretcher while he got to his feet. A slew of doctors and nurses looked to him and began bombarding him with questions.
“Sir can you tell us what happened to your wife? Did she smell anything strange before she collapsed? Does she have a history of epilepsy?”
Everything was happening so quickly, it was giving Peter a headache. He felt dizzy. He tripped a little and a doctor off to the side caught him by the elbow. He tried waving him off, but when it happened again the doctor ordered him to sit down in a wheelchair.
“Sit down Mr. Bishop. I realize that what Olivia is going through right now is overwhelming. Put your head between your legs and breathe.”
But Peter didn’t want to put his head between his legs and breathe. He wanted to be with his wife. It was a few minutes before he felt he was able to stand again. He had to be brave. This was their little girl that was coming into the world.
He made sure that he could stand on his two feet before proceeding towards the emergency room they’d taken Olivia to. He’d found her by pure chance. Barging in, he wasn’t really zoning in on what anyone was saying, other than Olivia’s form beginning to regain conscious on the stretcher in front of him. Her eyes were filled with fear.
“Peter? What happened?”
Peter ran a hand through her hair as the light glinted off his wedding band.
“You fainted in the parking lot. Don’t worry these nice doctors are gonna take care of you. Once they look you over, we’re going to a nice room where Etta is going to be born.”
Olivia frantically grabbed for Peter’s other free hand as a contraction presented itself. A fetal heart monitor had already been placed around her large baby belly and was monitoring everything simultaneously. Olivia and Peter both froze when they saw the 3D image of Etta on the screen in front of them. The doctor to the left of them smiled enthusiastically.
“My, looks like this little girl is very anxious to get out. I’ll tell you what Olivia. If your water doesn’t break in say 45 more minutes, I’ll have Doctor Sanders here do the honors of breaking it. I promise, we’ll be gentle. You my dear get a clean bill of health. Your blood pressure’s fine, all we need to do now is get you into bed and set up.”
Olivia smiled at the doctor as he turned off the ultrasound machine and a nurse helped clean the excess conducting gel from her stomach. Before she realized what was happening, they were wheeling her out of the emergency room and towards a birthing suite. Her gaze clung to Peter’s as they went down the hallway.
“Peter, I can’t believe this is really happening. I can’t believe she’s coming. I can’t believe Etta’s really coming.”
Peter gave her his own confident smile and placed a kiss first on her forehead, then her hand, and then on top of her stomach. They were both a bundle of nerves when they got to Olivia’s birthing suite. Everything was happening in the blink of an eye really. But Peter knew that soon it would be time enough for their tiny daughter to come and greet the world.
It was literally only ten minutes later when Olivia was all set up in her oversized bed. Peter could tell by the position that she was in, that she was not comfortable in the slightest.
“It’s alright sweetheart, I’m right here. Anything you need I’ll get for you. If you think that bed is uncomfortable, those stirrups don’t look too inviting. Some ice?”
Olivia nodded her head in agreement and she savored the piece of ice Peter had popped into her mouth. She by this point, was very dehydrated. She wished Peter would bring her a bucket of water and she could just dunk her head in so that she could cool and drink to her heart’s content.
“Peter, can’t you just sneak me a bottle of Dasani? I’m so damn thirsty... This ice just isn’t gonna cut it...”
Peter ran another hand through her hair and kissed her knuckles. Placing another piece of ice into her mouth, he could hear her sigh in frustration...
“I know you’re thirsty sweetheart, but hospital rules say that you can’t have liquids... Just ice... I’d sneak in a thousand water bottles if I knew that’d help rehydrate you, but this time we have to follow what the docs say. Ok?”
Olivia only huffed in disapproval, but it was only momentary as a contraction completely side-swiped her. She let herself give a good healthy scream and eyed the machine, though she knew very well that Peter was timing the whole thing.
She could very well see the green lines of the machine reaching its peak, which was much worse than she had anticipated. Peter and his unending support for his wife stuck by her side and held her hand tighter as the contraction went on.
“Almost there sweetheart. Coming down now.... That its sweetheart, breathe. That’s my good girl. Ok, all done for now. Have a rest. You’ve earned it.”
Olivia smiled at Peter tiredly and he popped another piece of ice into her mouth. She accepted with great pleasure. She gave a confused look to Peter when she saw her sister Rachel and Ella come into the room.
The smile slid right off Ella’s tiny face. Her curious eyes locked straight onto Olivia’s. She wasn’t frowning at Olivia, she was worried about what was happening.
“Aunt Liv, what’s going on? Is Etta coming?”
Olivia smiled brightly at Ella, and nodded confidently. Peter went and squeezed Olivia’s hand again when the machine next to the bed beeped. Olivia tried to remain brave for Ella’s sake. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until the contraction was over.
“Yes, your cousin Etta’s coming baby girl.”
Ella still looked concerned. Looking down at her stomach, Olivia knew that Ella had a question on her lips.
“I know that Etta’s coming from your tummy Aunt Liv, but I don’t want her to hurt you...”
Olivia lifted Ella’s chin so that their eyes met.
“Etta’s not going to hurt met baby girl. You know why? Because all these nice doctors and nurses are taking very good care of me. I promise the moment the doctor’s put Etta in my arms, I’ll let you see her ok?”
Ella nodded her head and smiled. Her innocence was overwhelming, but Olivia loved that in Ella. It was something she’d never had when she was her age. She was too busy looking after Rachel and keeping an eye out for her mom.
“Ok Aunt Liv, but when will I get to see her?”
Olivia gave what amounted between a laugh and a gasp. Ella hopped off the bed and gave her an uneasy look.
“Ew Aunt Liv, why is the bed all wet?”
Avoiding Ella’s gaze momentarily, she trained her eyes on Rachel.
“My water just broke. Peter and I have been waiting for that all day. I guess I just hadn’t progressed far enough.”
Ella had more questions on her lips, and they came out so fast Olivia almost didn’t have time to process them.
“What kind of water Aunt Liv? And how does Etta breathe inside you?”
Olivia gave Ella a bright smile and placed her hands over her enormous baby belly.
“Well you see Ella, Etta lived inside the water for a long time. But now that she’s ready to come out of my tummy, the water leaves me. Etta needed that water to help her breathe. But when she gets out here with us, she’ll breathe air just like the rest of us.”
Ella took the explanation with a smile and took her mother’s hand. Rachel gave her sister a kiss on the forehead and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“If you need me Liv, I’ll be right out here in the waiting room.”
Olivia moved slightly in the bed to get comfortable.
“Peter this catheter is uncomfortable. Why can’t I just use the bathroom like a normal person?”
Both Peter and Olivia gave each other looks of fear when the monitor tracking Etta’s heart flat-lined. Olivia was doing her best not to panic. But her voice was betraying her. A nurse came into the room and patted her leg.
“What’s wrong? Is my baby ok?”
The nurse nodded and adjusted the band around Olivia’s stomach. The two sighed in relief when the tone of Etta’s rhythmic heartbeat began again.
“Nothing to worry about Olivia. Sometimes these bands slip and can give false readings. Etta is just fine. Sometimes we just have to move the band to where we can find the heartbeat again. See? Normal healthy heart rate.”
Peter and Olivia both sighed in relief again. When the nurse left the room Olivia broke down and cried for a minute.
“Peter, I don’t know if I can handle something like that happening again. I can’t do this.”
Peter could see the doubt and fear in his wife’s eyes. But he also knew she could do this. He knew that fear wouldn’t stop her. Cupping her face, he gave the look of all the love in the world.
“Yes you can sweetheart. You are the strongest woman I know. Etta is gonna come out just fine. She’s gonna come out of her mama and belt a healthy scream from those big healthy lungs of hers.”
Olivia’s smile disappeared as the strongest contraction of all decided to show itself at that very moment. Her eyes seemed to gloss over. Peter watched the monitor screen and kept hold of her hand tightly woven in his.
“1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40-41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100. Ok coming down. Wow. Look at the spike on that one.”
Olivia’s face and forehead were covered in sweat. Peter had climbed into the bed with her and had her in his arms. She shut her eyes and leaned her head against his chest breathing rapidly.
“That’s the longest one yet... I’m going to try and sleep before the next one comes.”
Peter smiled and kissed her forehead. It wasn’t long until she was fast asleep. The only thing that he could hear was her breathing and the soft beeping of the machines that seemed to synchronize both Olivia’s and Etta’s heartbeats.
He placed his hands over Olivia’s semi-bare stomach. A small hand was pressed up against the right side. Peter’s fingers gently traced Etta’s little fingers as she pushed her hand more against her mother’s stomach. His smile grew as Etta’s hand seemed to connect with his own. He turned his attention back to Olivia when she seemed to jerk awake.
“Uh oh Peter. I gotta go.”
Peter creased his forehead in confusion. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“Where do you gotta go sweetheart?”
Olivia seemed to shift nervously in the bed and tried to take the covers from over her. Holding her hospital gown closed, she attempted to get out of bed. Peter put a hand on her shoulder.
“No Peter, you don’t understand. I really gotta go. Nature calls and it waits for no one. Not even you...”
Peter kept his hand on Olivia’s shoulder. But she was getting more nervous and started to pick at the iv in her hand. He took her hand and looked at her seriously.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, but if you have to go, you’re gonna have to do it here... Doc’s orders are not to get out of bed.”
Olivia folded and leaned into Peter as another strong contraction hit. His hand gripped hers in a loving support she never knew existed until this day. She was leaning into Peter hard, and he didn’t care that her nails were digging into his shoulders. She was doing her best to hide her pain, but she broke down and began to cry again.
“Peter, I can’t do this...”
Peter held onto her quivering body and kept reassuring her that everything would be alright.
“Sweetheart, you can do this. Think about Etta. Her ten fingers, ten toes, beautiful green eyes, or that patch of blond hair just like her mama.”
A smile went all the way up to Olivia’s eyes and she continued to lean into Peter for support. He ran a hand through her long messy locks of blond hair and kept kissing her temple.
“Do you really think she’ll have my hair?”
Peter gave her a quiet smile and continued to rock her back and forth.
“Of course. But I think maybe she’ll have brown streaks in with those blond ones. I couldn’t imagine having a baby with anyone else. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege of knowing.”
Olivia gave Peter a look of knowing and leaned into him more. He knew what was happening now.
“You feel like you have to push don’t you?”
Nodding her head, she leaned into Peter as he pushed the call button on the remote on the bed. Another slew of nurses and a doctor came into the room. Olivia took a breath in and looked at the dark-haired doctor with glasses in front of her.
“Doctor Sanders Olivia. Doctor Elker is on vacation. Don’t worry; your baby is in good hands. Let’s see where we’re at shall we?”
Olivia nodded her head as Peter helped her lie back on the pillows. He kissed her knuckles and held her hand tightly. Peter swallowed down any fear he had forming in the pit of his stomach. With no sheet covering nearly half of Olivia’s body, he could see everything. He had to admit he was nervous, but he was there for her every step of the way. He’d see her through all the pain she was going through right now, and he’d take care of her.
“Ok we’re at ten centimeters. Let’s get some blankets, a heat lamp, and a bulb syringe.”
She wasn’t ignoring her need to push. Doctor Sanders assumed her position in front of Olivia. Two nurses were on standby. Peter pressed a kiss to Olivia’s crown and watched the miracle of life unfold in front of him.
“Doing great Olivia. You’re crowning. That’s a good thing; it means the baby’s head is coming down. Keep pushing. Give me a strong push, that’s a good girl. Once more and this baby’s head will be out ok? Good girl... One more, one more... Ok the head is out... Here come the shoulders, now I want you to push as hard as you can. Can you do that for me? Good girl. Keep pushing! That’s it. One more, one more... That’s it! Ok, ok we’re almost there... Good job Olivia, here comes Etta... Here she is!”
Peter couldn’t help the tears forming at the corners of his eyes. He didn’t care that his daughter was still covered in vernix and blood, she was perfect. Her cries and screams filled the room with all the melody a new baby could bring. Olivia was a bundle of nerves and emotions. And she wasn’t afraid to let her tears go now.
This was the most beautiful moment in her entire life. Peter was still in awe over the whole ordeal even as he began to cut the umbilical cord separating mother and child. It wasn’t until the nurse placed Etta into his arms that the tears began to fall.
“Look Liv, she’s got blond hair... A good patch of it I might add... She has my nose and your eyebrows. Here, I don’t wanna be a hog. Mommy should get a turn holding Etta.”
A nurse couldn’t resist the happy moment of all three family members and took the camera Peter had said to take a picture with. Their family had grown larger by one, but it was the happiest day in both their lives.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So, what’d you guys think? Let me know! Thanks! If this chapter was drawn out, sorry. But I figured to make it more real, that labor should last a long time...
Oh I like how you're a moving the story. I want to see how the new parents react
The most beautiful moment ever written. I hope to see this played out on the show.
Chapter 5: The Overwhelming power of Love
Author: Mancha.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 6/6/12. Date Finished: 6/9/12. Hope you will all enjoy! Thanks!
February 16th, 2013
Peter sat in a rocking chair and stared at his daughter in awe. Her tiny fingers wrapped around his giant index finger. She gave a semi-loud yawn and kept wrapping her fingers around Peter's index finger. He put one of his index fingers up to his mouth momentarily.
"Shh baby girl. Mommy's trying to sleep."
He glanced up at Olivia's sleeping form in the bed. He was glad she was finally getting the rest she needed. After her trying ordeal of giving birth to their little miracle in his arms, he knew that she would need all the rest she could get. She'd been brave through the whole process.
He wasn't sure if he had been in her shoes he'd had been as brave. He thought back to the moments when she first began to push. It amazed him that she could be so strong, because he knew the pain must have been unbearable. He'd never wanted to experience it himself after Walter had convinced him while Olivia was in her seventh month to watch the video of his birth. He was embarrassed because it was his mother. He could still hear him and Walter's words.
"Son, why are you so embarrassed? This is a natural process. Two months from now, Olivia will be going through the same..."
Shaking his head he looked his father in the eye.
"Walter, you seem to be forgetting that this is a very private matter. Now why in the world you came up with the idea of having someone with a camera filming my mother especially when she was delivering vaginally is grossly irresponsible and disgusting. I can't sit through this anymore Walter. Olivia let's go."
But Olivia only shook her head and stayed sitting on the couch in Walter's bedroom, which was the back office.
"Peter, don't you think you're overreacting just a little? Walter is only showing us the miracle of life..."
Peter was frustrated by the fact that Olivia was actually going along with all this. Shaking his head he tried walking out of the room. As he turned to walk out the door Olivia stood up and gave him a cross between a startled look and deep set fear. His eyes widened when he heard water splash out onto the floor. It made him almost turn green as he saw all the liquid spill onto the floor. His mind rolled into a panic. Making her lean into him, he heard his father's voice.
"Remember to breathe Olivia. Uterine contractions can take several hours."
Olivia nodded her head as Peter led her out to the hallway. Walter following them the whole way. As they got into the car, Olivia shifted and stared straight ahead. With Walter in the back, Peter jumped into the driver's seat about to turn the car on.
"Peter there's something I need to tell you..."
Peter grabbed for her hand and kissed it. He wanted nothing but the best for the two of them, her and Etta.
"Anything you need sweetheart, I can get it for you. Name anything. Now I realize that since this baby is gonna be early, sweetheart your 29 weeks... We're just two months out... We're going to be spending a lot of time in the hospital with a very tiny baby..."
Olivia was getting very nervous by Peter's words at this point, and he could see at the corner of his eye that Walter had begun fidgeting in the back seat.
"Peter, I'm ok. I'm not in labor and my water hasn't broken. I'm fine. We're both fine."
Peter's eyes darkened at first, but it was gone just as fast as it came. After he got over being angry, he looked Olivia over. She wasn't surprised that Peter knew what he was doing. She winced as he pressed on all the softer spots on her stomach.
"Tender there huh?"
Olivia nodded her head yes as he had her lean forward. Her back was hurting, but she didn't worry about it.
"You know your back hurting you is a sign of active labor sweetheart. Now when your water broke was the fluid clear? Or cloudy?"
Olivia shut her eyes and changed leg positions. Sighing she opened up her eyes and looked straight into his. A frown was now plastered onto her face. She became even more annoyed as he asked another question.
"I just need to make sure it's not a partial rupture."
Olivia placed her hands on Peter's arms to stop him. Frustrated she looked him in the eye; it was hard to be mad at him though when his eyes held such warmth and concern for her.
"Come on Peter you can quit playing doctor now. I know your smart and you could've made a great doctor. Look I'll show you what's really going on..."
Peter's hands stilled as Olivia pulled out a large water bottle and dropped it into his hands. He gritted his teeth and almost wanted to crumple the water bottle.
"I'm sorry Peter, it was a cruel joke I know, Walter knew about it too... But it was my idea... Walter and I thought you needed a good dose of reality..."
Peter couldn't stay mad at Olivia. He cupped her face and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.
"I'm sorry 'Livia, it's just everything is falling into place so fast, that's the only way I know how to cope. I promise to help you in any way I can..."
Peter was pulled out of his thoughts as Olivia's voice cut through the memory.
"I think Etta's getting hungry. Here I'll take her."
He smiled and placed Etta into Olivia's arms. She smiled at her tiny daughter as her fingers flexed and she ate happily.
"I was just thinking about that joke you and Walter pulled on me two months ago. I know you realize it was wrong, but I wasn't taking everything as seriously as I should have... I'm sorry for that..."
Olivia only smiled at him and continued to watch Etta eat.
"I know you're sorry. I'm glad we're past all that now. We had our issues, but we worked it out... Its part of marriage, working out issues we have with each other. But look, we have our beautiful daughter. She's our miracle Peter. We have to protect her at all costs."
Peter nodded his head yes and looked at the door when Rachel walked in. By now, Olivia had finished feeding Etta and had made herself decent. She was doing her best to burp Etta the way the nurse had showed her how to.
"Where's Ella?"
Rachel smiled at Olivia and walked towards her.
"She's out in the waiting room with Walter. I told her to give me a few minutes with you before I let her come in here. I did it just in case you were feeding the baby. How are you feeling Liv?"
Olivia felt overwhelmed, but it was a good overwhelmed.
"Well let's see, uh I felt like I pushed out a large watermelon, I pooped during labor and you just missed the nurse that massaged my uterus to make it firm up..."
Peter grimaced at the last part of Olivia's sentence.
"Believe me Rach; you didn't want to be in here for that. That was something else I'll tell ya."
Rachel put her hands up in protest.
"I'm glad I didn't go through the last part Peter. She looks a little dehydrated. Is she getting fluids?"
Peter nodded his head yes and gave Olivia's arm a squeeze.
"Don't worry she's getting plenty of intravenous fluids. When she was in labor she kept begging me for a large bottle of Dasani. That ice wasn't helping her too much. Speaking of water bottles, I should tell you about the cruel joke her and my father played on me a couple of months ago... Ironically, we were watching the video of my birth and Olivia and I had, had a small argument about how we weren't filming Etta's birth. I told them both that I couldn't stay in the room and as I was walking out the door Olivia stood up to come after me and her water broke. I made her lean against me all the way to the car. I'd found it odd that she was strangely calm as I went to turn the car on.
That's when she revealed to me that her water hadn't broken and that she wasn't in labor. Of course I took everything in stride and had to make absolutely sure she really wasn't. She told me that I should quit playing doctor and that she was serious. She had somehow rigged a water bottle between her legs to open up at just the right moment... I'll never figure out how her and my father did it... Maybe I don't want to... But the point is, it was a terrible joke, one I never want to experience again. I did earn it though, you see Olivia and I had been having arguments over how I wasn't taking anything seriously. Well I was being a smart ass about some things she wanted to do before Etta got here and this was her pay back for my arrogance."
Rachel could only look at Peter and nod her head. She gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"Well Peter, I think it's made you a better man and a father. Olivia has always been the stubborn one. Did she have any drugs when she was in labor?"
Olivia put a finger up in protest.
"I didn't. Peter and I wanted to do this naturally. Well, I take that back now, our next child, and regardless if it's a boy or another girl I'm definitely taking an epidural. The pain isn't something I really wanna deal with again. I felt like someone was tearing me apart... God I'd wished it'd been more than ten centimeters to bring this kids head out...
I'd thought my contractions were bad, once she started moving down and out of my uterus I wasn't sure if I could make it through the pain... I really thought I was gonna dislocate my pelvic bone. Our bones have to bend and take a lot of stress when delivering vaginally. Maybe I'll opt out for a c-section next time. I can handle the scarring. Etta's completely healthy. 8lbs. 6oz. 20 inches long. She has her daddy's nose..."
Olivia laughed a little and gave Etta to Rachel to hold. Rachel's face lit up as Etta gave a large yawn in the shape of an 'O'.
"She's beautiful Liv. Seeing this beautiful miracle makes you forget the pain you went through doesn't it?"
Olivia smiled over at Rachel and Etta. Etta seemed to take to her aunt almost instantly. She saw Rachel sigh but handed her a burp rag when Etta spit up all over her shoulder. Rachel gave Etta to Peter while she went over to the bathroom to wash the sour milk from her shoulder. Peter watched Etta's movements and frowned. Olivia's smile left her face.
"Peter? What's wrong with Etta?"
He stayed quiet for a moment while he watched Etta's movements. Not sure what was going on he motioned for a nurse to come towards him. The nurse's eyes widened and she carefully took Etta from Peter's arms.
"She's having an epileptic seizure; I'll get Doctor Sanders in here..."
Peter was doing the best he could to keep it together. But he was feeling his lip quiver. Olivia had already completely lost it and was in tears. Peter pulled her in and held her tight.
"Everything's going to be fine sweetheart. She's going to be fine."
But Olivia felt like she didn't believe him. She'd felt in her gut that something had been wrong. Why she'd been hesitant to tell him that she was pregnant in the first place. Now all she was doing was blaming herself.
"Peter this is all my fault..."
Peter pulled her sobbing form away from his chest and gave her a confident look.
"Sweetheart, this isn't your fault. We don't even know if it's Epilepsy. This could just be an isolated incident. Remember what the doctors said when they drew amniotic fluid at 18 weeks? They didn't find anything wrong. And she doesn't carry the gene for the disease I had. We'll be alright. The three of us."
This only alleviated some of Olivia's worries, but she was still afraid of the unknown, the unknown of what was happening to her baby. Taking a breath she looked up, hoping that some higher power would hear her cries. She hoped that the overwhelming power of love would help save their family.
"You're daughter is stabilized. We ran some tests and she doesn't have Epilepsy. This seizure she had was an isolated incident. We did find something else that is far more serious Mr. Bishop. When we examined the sample of your blood and that of your father's; it seems your side of the family carries the genetic disorder ALD."
Peter's breath seemed to leave his body, and the whole world began to spin. He took a couple of deep breaths before he could finally look Doctor Sanders in the eye. His voice crackled as he seemed to spit out the non-abbreviated name for the disease.
"Adrenoleukodystrophy. Addison-Schilder's disease. And you're absolutely sure?"
Doctor Sanders put Etta's chart back on the plastic basinet. Olivia was comforting Etta who was getting fussy in her arms. She was placing tons of kisses to Etta's small temple. Peter felt absolutely helpless.
"Typically male children get it. But Etta has a very high chance of carrying it."
Peter's eyes darkened, but he was strangely calm. Swallowing he nodded his head, taking the brunt of the blow.
"How high are the odds are we talking about here?"
His eyes flashed back to Olivia and Etta who he was fiercely protective of. Olivia was a fiercely protective mother already.
"We're talking 85% Mr. Bishop. We can definitively diagnose it when she's a year. Though the odds are very high, there is still a small chance she may not even get it. Girls rarely get ALD. Tested Olivia's blood, she's not a carrier for it. Have hope, and the best we can do is run more tests."
Peter was solemn as Doctor Sanders left the room. His mind was racing once again. Why had Walter never told him? He glanced up as Walter came into the room with a smile on his face. The words that came out of Peter's mouth came out so fast; Walter barely had time to react.
"Walter why didn't you tell me?"
Walter gave Peter a confused look and shifted his eyes nervously around the room. Olivia being over emotional, burst into tears again and held Etta closer to her.
"Tell you what Peter?"
Peter was angry with Walter. There was no doubt about that.
"Tell me that our side of the family had Adrenoleukodystropy. Who in your family had it Walter?"
Peter felt like he was begging now, which he didn't do often, but he wanted the best chance for his little girl. Walter stared at the wall beyond Olivia, his eyes boring into it.
"My younger brother Carl had it. He passed away when he was seven. What are Etta's chances?"
Peter gritted his teeth at Walter, as if blaming him for this misfortune.
"85% Walter. Though rare in girls, she's in the high risk group. Doctor Sanders said we can test Etta when she's a year and can know for sure if she has it or not. We have to know for sure. The youngest child to ever be claimed by this was only 2. I don't want to have to watch her suffer."
Walter knew of the pain of watching his son suffer. He didn't want Peter to have to go through the same with his own child. He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder and squeezed it before pulling him in for a hug.
"Don't you worry son. I will do everything in my power to make sure that this doesn't happen. You have my word."
Olivia now had hope written across her face, and she knew now, looking down at Etta, she was a real miracle. Now she had to figure out how break this to Rachel and Ella gently. Astrid would come next. She just wasn't ready for the changes in muscle tone, especially muscle spasms and spasticity, Crossed eyes, Hearing loss, Worsening nervous system deterioration, Lack of brain-to-body coordination, Loss of control and temper in outbreaks (random abrupt berserk behavior) Coma, Decreased fine motor control, Paralysis, Seizures, Swallowing difficulties, and Visual impairment (Blindness). She hoped that this was all just an awful nightmare and that Etta would be in the 15% that wouldn't have it.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Don't worry; I'm not going to do anything drastic here. So, what'd you think? Let me know! Thanks!
Chapter 6: Ella and Etta Meet
Author: Mancha.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fringe characters. So no InFRINGEment is intended. Date Started: 6/9/12. Date Finished: 6/13/12. Hope you will all enjoy! Thanks!
February 18th, 2013
"Aunt Liv? What does 'possible ALD' mean?"
Olivia's heart sank at the words that came out of Ella's mouth. Her eyes wandered down to a comfortable and sleeping Etta in her arms. She traced her nose and she snuggled closer to Olivia. She knew her mother's touch.
"It's a disease that causes brain damage, and people, some little boys, they have it. What has your Uncle Peter and I so worried is that both him and grandpa have that disease in them. But they aren't sick."
Ella seemed to sadden as she held her cousin. She placed a kiss onto her forehead and rocked her a little.
"Don't worry Etta. Aunt Liv, Uncle Peter, and grandpa will make sure you're ok. I'm your cousin Ella. I'll protect you too."
Etta gurgled and closed her eyes. Ella looked up when she saw her mother enter the room.
"Can I see your cousin Ella? Go find your Uncle Peter."
Ella smiled and bounded out of the room to find Peter once Etta was in her mother's arms. Rachel placed a few kisses onto Etta's head and held her close.
"Liv, just how serious is this ALD? I heard Peter and Walter talking about it and they said that it primarily shows up in boys. But that Etta has an 85% chance of having the disease. Is it curable?"
Olivia's stomach churned again and she gave Rachel a weak smile. Her eyes began to water.
"No. There is no cure for Adrenoleukodystrophy Rachel. I'm clinging to the hope that she's in the 15% that doesn't have it... You don't know how hard it's been to sleep at night knowing that she might have this genetic disorder and that if she did, she would leave us so young..."
Rachel placed another kiss against Etta's forehead and gave her back to Olivia. Olivia smiled when Peter came through the door singing. A quality she loved about her husband dearly.
"Esclavo y Amo, No sé, qué tienen tus ojos, No sé, que tiene tu boca, Que domina mis antojos, Y a mi sangre vuelve loca, No sé, cómo fui a quererte, Y cómo te fui adorando, Siento morir mil veces, De noche cuando me acuesto, A Dios le pido olvidarte, Y al amanecer despierto, Tan sólo para adorarte, Qué influencia tienen tus labios, Que cuando me besan tiemblo, Hacen que me sienta esclavo, Y amo del Universo, Cuando no te estoy mirando, De noche cuando me acuesto, A Dios le pido olvidarte, Y al amanecer despierto, Tan sólo para adorarte, Qué influencia tienen tus labios, Que cuando me besan tiemblo, Hacen que me sienta esclavo, Y amo del Universo."
Olivia laughed a little after he stopped singing. Rachel raised her eyebrows. Ella was out in the hallway with Walter so Olivia told her what the song was about.
"One of my favorites that Peter likes to sing to me to show me he really loves me. It's about a man who really loves his girlfriend. Sometimes he gets lost in my eyes when he sings it to me..."
Rachel smiled and watched the couple as they looked down at their tiny daughter. Peter then looked up at Rachel.
"Hey, I used to moonlight as a Mariachi singer. Much better than being a traffic cop in Mexico. Traffic cop was better money, but eh, I liked the singing more, and there were always men willing to pay me to sing just to dedicate a song to their girlfriend or wife."
Rachel looked at him with wide eyes for a moment.
"You were a traffic cop in Mexico?"
Peter gave her a 100 watt smile.
"Mexico City actually. But the tan uniform didn't suit me well. All I did was direct traffic all day and if someone got into an accident someone else would take care of it. I just directed traffic. The men in blue took care of that. I directed traffic in one of the poorer parts of Mexico City. Also the more dangerous one.
Tepito was a neighborhood I wouldn't call home. And I lived in Mexico for almost 8 years. Most spent in Mexico City itself. I myself lived in Cuitlahúac. It was one of those middle of the road neighborhoods. But Mexico City is a large place, over 20 million people. Hence giving it the title of largest city in the world."
Peter took Etta from Olivia's arms and stood up with her. He was enjoying every bit of getting to know his tiny daughter. He burned into his memory her every feature. Her blond hair, his nose, Olivia's eyes, he wasn't sure whose fingers she had, whether it was Olivia's or his, he was still proud he had a daughter.
He would do everything in his power to make sure she was safe. They had been there a couple of days and the doctors said Olivia was perfectly healthy and that she could go home, as soon as Doctor Sanders came back with the discharge forms. Peter and Olivia seemed to hold their breath as Doctor Sanders came into the room.
"Here are the discharge forms, if you would just sign here Mr. Bishop."
Before Peter took the pen to sign Olivia out of the hospitals care, he looked up at Doctor Sanders seriously.
"So, the blood test you did on Etta, what are we looking at here?"
Doctor Sanders gave him a sigh of discontent.
"Like I said before, we cannot definitively diagnose ALD until she's a year. Her test results came back inconclusive. We'll keep running tests against the sample taken from the umbilical cord stump. I know the two of you are worried about this, and if this were my own child, I would be too. But I have a very strong feeling Etta will be in the 15%. All I'm saying is let's wait and see. Let's take this one step at a time."
Peter and Olivia let out bated breath at Doctor Sanders words. Etta was once again in Rachel's arms as Olivia shook hands with Doctor Sanders.
"Thank you for everything you've done for us Doctor Sanders. Don't hesitate to call us if you find anything. Good news is hopeful. Etta is relatively healthy no?"
Doctor Sanders nodded his head yes.
"Of course Olivia. Every standard scan and procedure we run on newborns turned out normal. She is a relatively healthy child. I'm certainly hopeful that the odds aren't stacked against us."
Being home felt good. Peter was treating Olivia and his daughter like queens. He'd propped Olivia's feet up on a pillow on the sofa. They'd been home a few hours. Olivia had just finished feeding Etta and was about to get up and put her in the baby swing when Peter stopped her.
"Here Liv, I'll do it. You need to rest some more. God only knows how sore you are and feel right now."
Peter gently took Etta from Olivia's arms and carefully placed her in the swing. Pushing the '1' button on the swing he let it start its gentle back and forth glide. Placing a pacifier in her mouth, he watched as his daughter became blinky. Soon she was fast asleep with the rocking motions of the swing. A knock on the door startled Olivia out of her slumbering state. Peter went to open up the door, and on the other side he found Broyles with a big bouquet of roses just for Olivia. Olivia sat up on the couch and attempted to get up.
"Sir."
Broyles waved at her to stay sitting.
"No need to get up Dunham. I just wanted to give these roses in congratulations. I see Etta's already taken a liking to the swing. I remember my son hated that thing with a passion. Well, I won't keep the three of you. I just wanted to stop by and drop these off and say congratulations to the both of you. She's beautiful."
Olivia smiled and nodded her head in thanks.
"Thank you sir."
Peter showed Broyles out and closed and locked the front door. Etta was still fast asleep in the swing. Olivia and Peter both watched Etta sleep and suckle on her pacifier. It wasn't long before she spit it out and belted out an angry cry.
"Guess that means duty calls for daddy to change his first diaper."
Peter went over to the swing and picked up his screaming daughter and brought her back to the couch. He cooed at her as he set her down on the couch.
"Shh. Don't worry, daddy is gonna change your diaper so your all nice and clean."
Olivia handed Peter a clean diaper and some wipes. She found his reaction hilarious when he opened up Etta's diaper.
"Ugh! What is mommy feeding you? I was hoping you just peed not popped. You did both little missy."
Etta let out a gurgle as Peter discarded the dirty diaper and continued with cleaning her bottom with a fresh baby wipe. Once she was clean, he placed a dry diaper on her and assumed the position of trying to put her back in her onesie. Olivia laughed as he saw him put all the buttons back in the wrong places.
"Need some help Peter?"
Peter shook his head and continued to struggle with the snaps. Finally, he relented and he handed Olivia Etta who expertly put all the snap buttons in the right places. He looked at her momentarily, almost defeated.
"Ok how'd you do that?"
Olivia gave him a mischievous smile.
"Mother's natural instinct to help her baby. Don't worry Peter; you'll get the hang of it."
Peter took Etta from Olivia's arms and watched her make faces as she squirmed. The two sat and watched their daughter squirm and make noises newborns made. It was the most perfect moment in the world. Peter had put Etta's pacifier into her mouth and was watching her suckle on it.
"You'd think she'd realize that there isn't going to be any milk coming out of that. But it's a comfort thing. Pacifiers are easier to take away than thumbs. I still can't believe my mom breastfed me until I was three. It's just a little unsettling. Well I'm not gonna raise Etta like that."
Olivia gave Peter a tired smile and pulled in for a kiss. When they pulled away for air, she looked down at their little miracle.
"Don't worry; as soon as she starts teething, she's off the breast and on the formula. Against anything that Walter says. Cause you know what he's going to say."
Peter sighed and went back to marveling at Etta's miniature features. It was like looking back at Olivia. Minus the nose of course. The nose was all his. He smiled down at her as she cooed. He carefully placed her pacifier into her mouth and stroked her tiny head with his seemingly enormous one.
They say babies can't smile when they are this young. But Peter swore that Etta was smiling up at him, even with her eyes closed. He wished her could see her eye color. But he knew that with Etta being so small, she wouldn't open her eyes until she was at least a few weeks old. She licked her tiny lips and smiled again.
"Look Liv, she's smiling. They say babies this young can't smile. But I think she's giving us a natural smile. I think she has my lopsided smile. Bishop trait."
Olivia was beaming. She'd been beaming over Etta ever since the doctor's had placed her into her arms. Of all the strange and scary things the both of them had seen over the last 4 years, their daughter seemed to heal all that. Having her was the best thing that had ever happened to Olivia and Peter. The euphoric high was completely immeasurable to anything they'd ever experienced. And watching her now was a miracle in itself. They'd enjoy each and every moment they had with her. Peter smiled more as she stuck the tip of his enormous index finger into his mouth. Olivia pulled Peter's finger away.
"Peter, don't let her suck on your finger. She'll choke. Her mouth is tiny. Now both you and I know CPR for infants and children. But I really don't want to have to perform it on her. She's gonna want to nurse soon. I can see she's getting that 'I'm hungry' look. Even with her eyes closed."
Peter kissed Etta's forehead and then kissed Olivia's knuckles.
"Etta is perfect. You were the one that did all the hard work. I just helped guide you through it. Giving birth is an exhausting experience. But you did wonderfully. I'm so proud of you."
Etta's cooing brought out the two of them out of a strong gaze. They felt they could spend two lifetimes doting over Etta. She really was their little miracle.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!
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