canon au } { post-5b, of babies and impending arrivals

[hereditare]

Laura: [never let it be said that Hales aren't capable of being impatient. but in the late hours of the fifteenth, Laura is wakened from a dead sleep by the tell-tale signs of labor] ... Oh.

Parrish: [and he is asleep beside her, but stirs a bit] You okay?

Laura: Nope. [at least she's honest] I think the baby's coming.

Parrish: [that gets him sitting up] This isn't a drill, right?

Laura: [shakes her head] Don't think so.

Parrish: Alright, how far along? I'll get the bag. [and he will slide out of bed and reach for his pants]

Laura: [starts to do the same] Not far along I don't - [there's a pause as the next contraction comes in] Okay, so maybe ten minutes a part?

Parrish: Okay, so we have time, but not a lot. Got it. [he put his shirt on and stepped into his sandals, tossed the labor bag over his shoulder] Can you make it to the car?

Laura: [she nods as she slowly pushes herself to her feet and starts to effectively waddle towards the car] Yeah, I think I got that much.

Parrish: I'll bring it close to the door. [and he will go off to do that]

Laura: [and she will slowly make her way there and then off they will go to the hospital]

Parrish: [and he will get a wheelchair at the door to roll her in] We need assistance, she's in labor.

Melissa: [pokes her head over the counter] Already?

Laura: Apparently Hales are impatient.

Parrish: No comment. Where should I park her, Ms. McCall?

Melissa: [will give them directions up to OBGYN and she does intake as they walk and thus begins the waiting game]

Parrish: [and the texting to the Hale siblings]

Cora: [is in Berkeley but she will try and make it down this weekend and tell Laura good luck!]

Derek: [and he will wake up and then chuckle in bed] Dawn, Laura's in labor.

Dawn: Already?

Derek: Time flies. I guess they were wrong on the conception date.

Dawn: [squints] Well, I guess she's only a couple weeks early. That's not too bad. [a beat] Do you want to go now?

Derek: We can go in the morning. She may be like this for hours. [and he will text Parrish back that, and then text Peter the news]

Dawn: Mmmkay. [and she's going to go right back to sleep]

Parrish: Derek says he will be here in the morning, and Cora will be here this weekend.

Laura: Good. There's probably going to be nothing interesting here anyway.

Parrish: No need to lose sleep. We can do that for them.

Peter: [is on patrol with Buffy when he gets the text?]

Buffy: [sure, and she's ... possibly murdering a vampire as Peter is getting an update]

Peter: [and he will wait until the dust settles] Laura went into labor.

Buffy: [spins on her heel] Oh! Is she okay? Other than the labor-ness?

Peter: Derek didn't say, just that she's in the hospital and Parrish is with her and he will be going there in the morning.

Buffy: Okay. Do you want to go now, or wait until morning too?

Peter: I think I'll go now. Do you want to keep patrolling and meet me later?

Buffy: I'll meet you later. No one needs me falling asleep in the waiting room.

Peter: [leans in to kiss her] Don't have too much fun.

Buffy: [grins] No promises. Go see Laura.

Peter: [and off he will go, heading to the hospital and stealthily making his way up to the maternity ward and the labor unit like he's supposed to be there]

Laura: [and in the very early hours, because we're skipping all the gross stuff, Laura gives birth to a healthy baby girl]

Parrish: [and he will be waiting quietly with Peter at that point]

Melissa: [and she will poke her head around before flashing Jordan a smile] It's a girl.

Peter: Congratulations.

Parrish: [gets up, grinning] Can I see her?

Melissa: [nods] They're getting cleaned up, but I can take you to the room she'll be staying in.

Parrish: Thanks.

Peter: I'll wait until she's ready for family. Let me know if I can get her something.

Melissa: Will do. [and off they go to the empty room where he can wait for the bed to be rolled back in]

Parrish: [and once Laura is back, he will walk over and gently stroke her face]

Laura: [looks up with a small smile] Hey.

Parrish: You did good. We have a daughter.

Laura: Yeah, we do. [leans into him a bit] She'll be here soon.

Parrish: Does she look like you?

Laura: I couldn't really tell. [she laughs] Guess we'll see when she gets here.

Parrish: [nods] Peter's in the lobby, by the way. Your brother texted him.

Laura: [she nods] It's okay. We're better than we used to be.

Parrish: Good. He seems to be happier than he used to be

Laura: I think he is.

Parrish: But I'm seeing my daughter first before him. Just so we're clear.

Laura: Of course.

Parrish: [and then their daughter will be brought in and he is going to instantly fall in love]

Laura: [of course he is and she's just going to wriggle around like what's going on dude?]

Parrish: [smile and sit on the bed next to Laura, holding their daughter] She's perfect.

Laura: [smiles as she leans into his shoulder] Yeah, she is.

Parrish: We do need to name her.

Laurel: We do. What were you thinking?

Parrish: I was thinking Amelia.

Laura: Amelia Parrish.

Parrish: Or Hale Parrish?

Laura: Too many last names.

Parrish: Hale could be her middle name?

Laura: [shakes her head] She doesn't have to be a Hale.

Parrish: But she is one. At least half of her genes are.

Laura: Yeah, but there's so much baggage with that name. I don't want her to have to carry it.

Parrish: Like mine is baggage free.

Laura: Yeah, but yours doesn't have hundreds of years of weight to go with it.

Parrish: True. Okay, then Amelia Parrish. [looks down at his daughter] Hello, Amelia.

Amelia: [just stares up at him like what's happening]

Parrish: I'm your daddy, and that's your mommy.

Amelia: [okay, that's cool, she's going to try and eat her hand now]

Parrish: [he will lean down to kiss the top of her head] I will never let anyone hurt you.

Laura: Neither of us will.

Parrish: You're going to find out that both your parents can be very scary when we want to be.

Laura: And your aunts and uncles.

Parrish: Pretty much everyone you are going to call family. Including the human ones.

Laura: So you are going to be safe as houses.

Parrish: Safer. [looks at Laura] Want to hold her?

Laura: [she nods before shifting so that she's sitting up more and she can take her]

Parrish: [will shift to hand Amelia over to Laura, and then lean close]

Laura: [settles her easily, letting her take the finger of one hand in hers] Hey, little girl.

Parrish: [just watches them for a while] She has your eyes.

Laura: Yeah. Your nose, though.

Parrish: And my ears.

Laura: We'll probably see more as she gets older.

Parrish: I'm sure we will.

Laura: This is going to be an adventure.

Parrish: Yeah, it is. But I think we'll do just fine.

Laura: Me too.

Parrish: Want me to go get your uncle?

Laura: Sure.

Parrish: [and he will go get Peter, telling him that it's a girl and showing him to the room]

Peter: [knocks on the door as he opens it] Laura?

Laura: [looks up with a smile] Come in.

Peter: [walks in and looks down] She's beautiful.

Laura: Her name's Amelia Parrish.

Peter: [sits on the edge of the bed] Not Hale?

Laura: [she shakes her head] She's not going to have to be the alpha, and our name has ... a whole lot of baggage these days. Might be better to give her a fresh start.

Peter: [nods] I can understand that.

Laura: She'll still be a Hale though.

Peter: Of course she will.

Laura: That you can't just pretend away.

Peter: No, you can't. It will always be inside.

Laura: But I think she'll have a good life.

Peter: That I don't doubt.

Laura: [she nods again before looking up at him] Want to hold her?

Peter: Are you sure?

Laura: [she nods, shifting so that she's sitting up more] Just don't drop her.

Peter: I never would. [he will take the baby gently, holding the infant with a gentleness rarely seen]

Laura: [and she'll just lean back to relax for a bit, watching him carefully]

Peter: [rocking the infant carefully, running a finger along her cheek] Hello, Amelia.

Amelia: [stretches her arms up with tiny fists, almost like she's making to punch him in the face]

Peter: Look at you, a fighter already. Well, considering your parents I'm not surprised.

Laura: [smirks a bit] She'll be a handful.

Parrish: Then she'll be just like her mother was when she was little.

Laura: I wasn't that bad.

Peter: You used to sneak into my room and steal my toys.

Laura: You didn't know how to share.

Peter: I was never told I had to. [smiles a bit]

Laura: You shouldn't have to be told. You should just intrinsically be nice.

Peter: I was nice. I didn't bite you.

Laura: [he gets a look at that]

Peter: But you will at least have a cousin your age to grow up with, won't you Amelia? You will have to make sure you take care of them. I know it's a lot to ask, but it'll be your job.

Laura: I think she'll be good at that.

Peter: She's a Hale. We're pretty good at taking care of those we care about.

Laura: Yes, we are.

Peter; [goes to hand Amelia back] I should go. Your brother will be here soon I’m sure and you need your rest.

Laura: [she nods as she takes her back] Go tell Buffy, I'm okay?

Peter: I will. And if you want us to bring you something later, just text.

Laura: Will do.

Peter: [rubs Laura's shoulder gently] Congratulations, sweetheart.

Laura: Thank you.

Peter: [and he will leave, and Parrish will come back in]

Laura: [glances up with a smile] I think I'm going to pass out for a bit. Can you take her and put her in the bassinet?

Parrish: Sure. [and he will pick Amelia up and snuggle her a bit before putting her in the bassinet]

Laura: [and she will snuggle down into the blankets so she can get comfortable]

Parrish: [and he will snap a quick photo on his phone of the baby] I need to go put in my leave with the Sheriff. I can grab a quick shower there then be back. Want me to bring you something?

Laura: [she shakes her head] I'm okay. Wake me up when you get back.

Parrish: [leans down to kiss her] I love you.

Laura: I love you too.

Parrish: [and off he goes to go show off baby picture at the station]

Lindsay: Aww, it's a little Winston Churchill.

Parrish: [eye roll] It's my daughter, Lindsay.

Lindsay: I know. All babies look like Winston Churchill.

Parrish: She does not look like Winston Churchill.

Lindsay: Whatever you say, dad.

Parrish: Well, I'm going to be taking a few weeks off while we adjust to the baby. Think you'll be okay without me?

Lindsay: I think I will manage.

Parrish: Maybe come by every once in a while and make sure I'm still breathing.

Lindsay: You got it.

Parrish: Awesome.

Lindsay: Seriously. Congratulations.

Parrish: Thanks. Let me go tell the boss... and his second in command... [since Jody is in the sheriff's office]

Jody: [yep, she's chatting with her man and when she sees Parrish she waves him in because BABY PICTURES!!!!]

Parrish: [walks in, smiling] Morning Sheriff. Deputy sheriff.

Jody: Lemme see!

Parrish: [and he will hand over his phone for the few pictures] I’ll take more this afternoon. She came early in the morning.

Sheriff: That's usually how it happens.

Jody: [grins as she sees them because she does love baby pictures] How long are they going to be in the hospital?

Parrish: She was a bit early, but is healthy so probably a day or two.

Jody: Well, when you're ready, I wanna come over and see her.

Parrish: I'll check with Laura and let you know.

Jody: Good. [And she'll send the pictures to herself before giving him his phone back]

Sheriff: So I will put in that leave request starting today?

Parrish: Will that wreak havoc on the schedule?

Sheriff: No, we can manage it.

Jody: Yeah, you just enjoy being a dad.

Parrish: But if you need me, just call.

Sheriff: We will.

Jody: Congratulations, Parrish. Really.

Parrish: Thank you. I'm... gonna grab a quick shower.

Sheriff: Yeah, get used to the ones here. I took a lot of mine here to avoid a certain child sneaking in and flushing the toilet

Jody: I don't know the Hales well enough to know whether or not you're still at risk for that.

Parrish: I may just install an interior lock at adult height in the bathroom just in case now.

Jody: Might be a good idea.

Sheriff: Go shower, Parrish. We'll see you later.

Jody: Enjoy your time off.

Parrish: Thanks. [and off he will go to shower]

Sheriff: [once he's gone] That's one down.

Jody: One to go?

Sheriff: Yeah. [rubs the back of his neck]

Jody: [she glances over to him] Worried about number two?

Sheriff: Yeah. Always going to be worried about those two.

Jody: They'll be okay, Noah. They've got a plan.

Sheriff: I know, and I think they're making a wise decision. But it's still getting to me.

Jody: [moves to sit on the edge of his desk] How so?

Sheriff: Just... my kid having a kid. I'm not old enough to be a grandfather.

Jody: [reaches over and takes his hand with a small squeeze] I think all grandparents think that.

Sheriff: I'm only in my forties, Jody. Grandparents are supposed to be old.

Jody: Once upon a time, forties was old.

Sheriff: I don't want to be old.

Jody: I know.

Sheriff: I'm going to have a midlife crisis soon, I can just feel it.

Jody: [she laughs] You'll survive, I'm sure.

Sheriff: Don't be surprised when I come home dressed in something completely too young for me in a Porsche.

Jody: I'll try to contain my amusement.

Sheriff: The one thing you won't have to worry about is some cheap floozy on my arm.

Jody: That's good at least. Because we may have to have words about that.

Sheriff: I don't think I could handle any more women in the house anyway.

Jody: Aww we aren't that bad.

Sheriff: No, you guys aren't. And I happen to enjoy your company the most.

Jody: Good.

Sheriff: We should probably get back to work now.

Jody: Yes, we should. But we can keep talking about this later.

Sheriff: Good thing I scheduled you off at the same time as me this week.

Jody: How fortunate. Good on you for thinking ahead.

Sheriff: Well, I am good at my job.

Jody: That you are. [gives his hand another squeeze as she gets up] See you at home.

Sheriff: See you there. [and back to work]

Jody: [yep, off she goes]