Chapter 119: Welcome Lyndsay!

Goddess’ Note: Most of this post was lifted directly from the Football Forum fanfic on [the old] T’s Place. I made some modifications to make it fit into my view of the story, but the Sam/Jon stuff was written by T.

When Jon got to the hospital, he was happy to see that Hath had been in true Goddess form. Upon arrival, she had informed the hospital staff just exactly whose baby they were delivering, explaining the need for extra security, private waiting rooms, and the discretion of every member of the staff. She had known that Jon would be extremely pissed if paparazzi managed to reach Sam or the baby. A concerned staff member hurriedly led him to the labor and delivery room where they had put Sam. He heard her long before he ever actually reached the room. She was screaming that she was going to cut off a piece of his anatomy that he was kind of fond of. At his ashen face, the nurse told him not to worry, that lots of women threatened that during labor but that they seldom meant it.

"Oh, she means it," Jon said, grinning. "She rarely says anything she doesn't mean. But, I'm sure I'll be forgiven before the morning."

"Somehow, I'm sure you're right," the nurse told him, flashing a knowing smile and opening the door. "Here ya go."

Sam was in the bed, sitting up with Hath wiping the sweat off her forehead and Lucy sitting by the bed holding her hand. However, after closer inspection, he realized Lucy wasn't holding Sam's hand, Sam was squeezing Lucy's.

After the contraction had passed, Sam yelled, "I want an epidural!" that's when her eyes focused on Jon. "Jon, get me an epidural!"

Lucy quietly moved away from the bed so that Jon could take Sam's hand and sit in her chair. Jon wrapped Sam's small hand in both of his. "Baby, you said you wanted to do this naturally, without any drugs," he calmly reminded his wife.

"I lied," she said quickly, "no, actually, I've just changed my mind. In fact, I've changed my mind about all of this. I've decided I don't want to be a mom; I don't want to have a baby." She said the words with such determination that for a brief second he almost thought she could accomplish that.

"I think it's a little late for that now, baby," he told her. Hath and Lucy nodded in agreement.

"Don't you tell me it's too late," she demanded. "I'll do whatever the hell I want to."

"Okay, baby," he placated. "Do what you want," he told her that just as the next contraction hit. Her grip on his hand almost cut off the circulation. He wouldn't have been surprised to find out she'd crushed bones. He waited until the contraction had faded away, before asking her, "Sam, baby, are you sure you want the drugs? I don't mind going and getting someone to give you something." He didn't say it out loud, but he actually would prefer if she'd take some sort of drugs. He couldn't stand to see her in this much pain.

Both Hath and Lucy watched Jon closely. They could see his struggle to remain calm for Sam's sake. Hath jerked her head toward the door and Lucy got the message. The two women quietly left the room, leaving the couple alone. They made their way to the private waiting room that had been arranged for them and found Richie, David and the others already there.

Richie stopped his pacing at their entrance. "Any news?"

"Not yet," Lucy answered, moving into his arms.

Through the long hours of Sam's labor, Hath, Lucy or Stephanie would quietly enter the labor room and sit on the opposite side of Sam's bed and hold her hand, or just get news to take out to the others.

Several threats, pleas and screams later, at 3:36 am EDT, Lyndsay Katherine Bongiovi screamed her first cries. Her father was the first to hold her, holding her down close so that her mother could see her beautiful face. Jon was barely able to tell Sam how much he loved her before she was falling asleep in exhaustion.

When Jon went out into waiting room, the grin on his face told the occupants of the room that their wait was over. "All's fine. Sam's sleeping, and Lyndsay's being taken care of. They've said that you could all go to the nursery and see her through the glass. The name on her bassinet is Sinclair, just to try and avoid the paparazzi getting a picture."

There were loads of handshakes and hugs and kisses, and backslapping going on, with Jon taking it all in stride. Everyone was just happy that mother and baby made it through it all okay.

When Hath and David went to the nursery to visit Lyndsay, Hath’s eyes teared up. “They’ll be looking in on our babies next,” she said.

“Hopefully you won’t go into labor at a show.”

Hath laughed. “Hopefully Jon won’t schedule anything for this fall,” she countered.

“But there’s Joe,” David said. “We have that musical...”

Hath flapped a hand. “I can handle Joe,” she said. She wrapped her arms around her babies. “Another couple months, kids,” she said softly, “and you can meet your cousin.”

*****************************

The next morning, standing at the nursery window, Lucy was wrapped in Richie's arms looking at the beautiful addition to the Bongiovi family when a flash went off startling them both and a voice called out, "Richie, which one is the newest Bongiovi?"

Richie didn't even have time to react before Lucy had snatched the camera, slammed it against the wall and told the reporter to send Richie the bill. Security guards appeared quickly to drag the guy away.

"Let's go see Sam," Richie said, trying not to laugh, as he pulled his little spitfire away from the nursery.

Later, in Sam's room, Lucy was surprised when Sam asked if she wanted to hold Lyndsay, but gladly took the baby from her mother's arms. Staring down at the baby in awe, Lucy began to tear up. This was what it was all about. Love. Love of the unconditional variety. She made her decision then, but decided to wait until they were alone to tell Richie. She wanted to get started immediately on a baby of their own.

After Richie and Lucy left, Jon sat on the side of Sam's bed while she held their sleeping daughter in her arms. "I love you," he told her, the emotion pouring out of him.

"I love you too," she answered. "Do me a favor?"

"Of course, anything you want."

"Go on the forum and tell anyone that might not already know that Lyndsay is finally here."

"Sure thing, baby. As soon as I get back to the hotel."

"Baby," Sam began, "It's almost 3:00. You need to get back to the hotel now. You have another show tonight."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he reluctantly agreed. "I hate to leave you two."

"We'll still be here tonight when you're done with work," she said, smiling up at him.

“And we’ll be here with her,” Hath said, coming into the room. “D’s outside waiting on you, Boss.”

“Thanks for everything, Hath,” Jon said, crossing the room to give her a brief hug. “Sam told me you took charge at the venue, then here until I arrived.”

“Isn’t taking care of you part of my job description? I don’t know of anything that’s a bigger part of you than Sam and Lyndsay,” she said. “Congratulations, she’s beautiful.”

Jon looked at his daughter, now returned safely to her mother’s arms.

“Yes,” he said. “She is. Both of them are.”