"Abbey, breathe," Jed coached, while allowing his hand to be squeezed in her death grip.

"I'm trying Jed...but...Oh God...this HURTS!" Her contractions were now like tidal waves crashing over her, one after the other.

"Come on baby...you've go to breathe...don't fight it...breathe like this," he began showing her how he wanted her to breathe.

"Oh Jed, shut up...just shut up," she groaned. "YOU breathe."

Jed ignored her and continued to watch her contraction rise on the monitor.

"It's peaking now Abbey...You're at the worst of it...Ok now it's coming down...it's almost over." Telling her when the contraction peaked helped Abbey because she knew the pain would fade after the peak. "You sure you don't want some Demerol?" He asked wiping her brow.

"No...no, I don't want to be groggy when it's time to push," she said taking a mouthful of the ice chips Jed fed her with a spoon.

"Hey Abbey, how are you doing?" Mia asked as she entered the room and began to look at the paper coming out of the monitors.

"I've been a hell of a lot better."

"She is at eight centimeters," the nurse said. "The contractions are getting very strong."

"You're getting there Abbey," Mia smiled encouragingly.

"You want some more ice chips?" Jed asked, trying to be helpful.

"I want this to be OVER...oh God Jed, here comes another one," she reached out and grabbed onto his ear nearly ripping it off his head. Jed pulled her hand off his ear and let her squeeze his hand again instead. "Oh…Oh GOD…Make it stop, Jed...I can't do this anymore," she cried.

"Yes you can hon...you are doing it...that's it, just keep breathing."

He looked down at her face and saw the tear trickle from the corner of her eye. Christ, how helpless that made him feel. She was asking him to help her and all he could do was tell her to breathe. He hated this. Hated Abbey being in this agony and not being able to do anything. He was a leader, a man of action. He gave orders and people jumped. But, he could not order Abbey's body to make this easier on her. He could not order the doctors to make this quicker. He could simply watch and wait and try to be there for her.

"Do you need an epidural, Abbey?" Mia asked while patting her knee.

"No," Abbey groaned, shaking her head.

"Abbey, let them give you something" Jed pleaded.

"Not yet, Jed. Not yet. I'll take something if I absolutely have to...I'm not there yet."

Mia could see Jed's frustration setting in.

"She's moving into transition. That's why the contractions are so intense. Why don't you go and get her some more ice chips and take a little breather? Get yourself a second wind. The really hard part is coming up." She saw his gaze move to Abbey. "Don't worry, nothing will happen until you get back."

"OK," he said. Ice chips, finally something he could actually do to help. He told Abbey he would be right back and left the room.

The waiting area was right outside the birthing room and he was spotted immediately. Everyone jumped to their feet but stopped when they saw how pale and absolutely shell shocked the President looked.

"Dad," Ellie said, "are the babies here yet?"

"Not yet, your mother is moving into transition which means it shouldn't be too much longer...I hope" he said grimly. "Jane, why don't you go sit with her so she isn't alone? I have to get more ice chips."

"OK," Jane said, getting to her feet quickly. Finally she could use what she had learned in the Lamaze classes.

"Ellie, Zoey, did you guys call your grandparents and let them know what is going on?"

"Yes," Zoey said. "They were watching the speech on TV so they knew something was up. We have to call them again as soon as the babies are born."

***

Leo followed Jed down the hall to get the ice. Jed's hand was shaking as he held the cup and Leo could see the half moon fingernail cuts where Abbey had been gripping his hand tightly.

"You all right?" Leo asked. "You don't look well."

"Yeah..Jesus Leo, I need a cigarette." Leo followed him outside while Jed lit up and took a long drag.

"It's hell Leo...I'd almost forgotten what hell is ."

"I think every father to be has said that, old friend," Leo said, patting his back.

"Yeah," Jed grinned. "She's so strong. God, you know, you look at her and she is this slender little thing but you should see her in there Leo. Man is she strong...Well, I better get back." He stubbed his cigarette out. "Oh Leo, could you also contact Charlie and have him bring the cigars I bought a while back?"

"So you think it will be soon?"

"Could be."

***

Jed re-entered Abbey's room to see Jane looking as pale as he was. Abbey was leaning her head against Jane's chest and Jane was stroking her hair.

"It's my back...my back hurts," Abbey moaned. "Oh Janey, tell me, is it almost over?"

"Almost Abbey...almost." Jane wiped her brow and Jed climbed in the bed behind Abbey. He began to push his fist into her lower back where the pain was worst.

"That better, Abbey?" he asked. She rolled onto her back and regarded him with weary hazel eyes. Her IV laden hand tiredly stroked his jaw.

"Don't go away again...kay?"

"I'm not going anywhere." Jane was moved by the intimate scene in front of her and turned to leave the room. Jed saw her leaving and stopped her.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"You don't need me anymore."

"I think Abbey would appreciate as much help as she can get."

"Well, OK then. I'll stay."

****

"What time is it?" Josh asked rubbing his eyes.

"After 5:00," CJ said sleepily.

"Do you think something could be wrong?" Charlie asked.

"I can't believe it is taking so long," Sam said. "I can't believe that she can be going through what I saw in there all this time."

"You don't think she already had them and they just haven't come to tell us yet, do you?" Toby asked.

"Guys, chill out," Leo said. "Abbey's only been here 8 hours. That is nothing in childbirth. I told you all to go home hours ago. Well, everyone but CJ. She may have an announcement to make at any time."

"We've been here this long," Toby said, "we may as well stay until we get to see them."

A few minutes later Zoey pulled Leo aside.

"Uncle Leo, I know what you said about it being only 8 hours, but do you think there could be something wrong?"

"No kiddo," Leo smiled, putting an arm around Zoey's shoulders. "When I talked to your Dad he said your Mom was doing fine. In fact he kept saying how strong she is."

"She is strong," Zoey smiled.

"These things take time honey. I'm sure your Dad will be out soon to tell us all about your new siblings and that your Mom is fine."

Zoey nodded and smiled. She was very glad Uncle Leo was there to keep everyone calm and it certainly made her feel better to think that he wasn't worried about the amount of time her Mom had been in labor.

***

Abbey's contractions were now incredibly intense, longer and stronger, and were requiring all her attention to keep herself in control. At the peak of each one she felt like she was going to throw up. She wanted to cry. She wanted the whole thing to stop.

"Oh...oh Jed...I'm going to be sick," she moaned. Jane held the basin and Jed held back her hair, stroking her neck while she vomited. Jed's eyes held Jane's. Jane was incredibly nervous. She had never seen anyone in as much pain as her sister was in and while Jed had, it didn't make it any easier.

With the next contraction Abbey was consumed by an overwhelming urge to push.

"I have to push!" She cried out. "NOW."

"Not yet Abbey," Mia said. "Your body isn't ready yet."

"Well it thinks it is...I HAVE to!!" She cried urgently. Jed was shaken by Abbey's pain and loss of control but knew he had to focus on getting her through this.

"Abbey, look at me," he instructed, "look in my eyes...thats it...now pant through it...come on pant with me." Slowly Abbey regained control, her eyes locked with her husband's as they panted together. Jane was again amazed at what a good team they made. How connected they were. All Abbey had to do was focus on his eyes and his voice to regain her control.

"Why can't I push?" She whimpered pitifully. "Please let me."

"OK Abbey," Mia said. "You're fully dilated now. It's time to get these babies out." She dropped the bottom down off the birthing bed and Abbey was seated upright so gravity would help her deliver the babies. "Here comes another contraction. Do you feel the need to push?"

"Oh God, yes."

"OK, then I want you to take a breath and bear down."

Jed rubbed her back with one hand while his other was being crushed in hers. By now he didn't even feel it. His hand was numb. His forehead was pressed against Abbey's cheek as he counted for her. When Abbey cried out loudly, his eyes closed and he muttered a curse.

****

It seemed to Jed that Abbey had been pushing an awfully long time and she was wearing down from the grinding pain and hard work. Strands of auburn hair were plastered to her face with sweat.

"She can't go through this much longer," he said to Mia, his hands tearing through his hair.

"Relax Jed. Abbey is doing fine. I know this is tough but women do this every day."

"THEY aren't my WIFE," he growled. "Isn't there something you can do to speed things up, make it easier for her?"

"Jed!" Abbey cried out and he moved back to her side. She reached out blindly and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling a few chest hairs with the shirt.

"Ow!!" Jed exclaimed, dislodging her grasping fingers to again clutch his hand. He felt it was unwise with what she was going through to bring up the fact that, at the rate she was going, she was bound to end up ripping one of his appendages off.

Abbey could feel her body opening wider as the baby moved through her pelvis. Could feel the burning as the baby's head pushed down on her stretching her to her limits.

"Push down Abbey," Jed coaxed her, "come on, push DOWN."

"Just where the hell do you think I am pushing?" she cried, “UP, Oh Jesus, Jed, this is a heavy price to pay for forgetting to take a couple of pills."

"I know," he said sympathetically, and again knew better than to bring up the fact that he had tried to withdraw from her body. He was proud of the fact that he was definitely starting to learn when to keep his mouth shut."

"Jed," Mia said. "Come down here. Your baby is about to crown." Jed moved down between Abbey's thighs watching with awe as he saw the head getting bigger and bigger as Abbey pushed and then retreating as she fell back.

"I see the head Abbey. It's almost over. Jane, come and see this."

Jane moved to join him stunned by the first sight of her niece or nephew.

"Where did it go?" She asked

"It will be back the next time Abbey pushes," Jed told her.

"It's really burning now," Abbey breathed. "Oh, God, It’s BURNING so bad, I’m going to split in two! Oh…oh…Dammit I wish I'd had that epidural...Please…Get this baby out. NOW."

"One more push, Abbey, and we'll have the head."

"I can't," she whimpered.

"I know it hurts but you can. Your body is made for this."

"I can't," Abbey insisted.

"Yes you can," Jed said moving back to her side. "Come on Abbey, you're the only one who can do this. Our baby is almost here. Come on, you're not a wimp remember." Abbey glared at him but with the next contraction she screamed and pushed with everything she had. Jed blinked the sweat from his eyes as he watched Abbey push the baby's head out.

"It's out, Abbey," he said. "My God you did it."

"What is it?" She asked tiredly.

"Right now it's just a little blond head," he smiled, "you have to push the rest of it out so we can tell."

With a harsh cry of anguish and triumph, Abbey pushed the rest of their baby into the world. Jed stood stunned, while Abbey fell back exhausted and gasping for air. Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of a squalling newborn. Jed's broad smile met Abbey's tired one, and Mia placed the crying infant on Abbey's belly.

"It's a girl Abbey," Jed beamed, "and she's a gorgeous blond." Abbey looked down at their new daughter and the baby looked straight into her eyes. Abbey fell in love in an instant. She reached a hand out to stroke her daughters warm wet back and watched as Mia handed Jed the scissors so he could cut the umbilical cord. Mia then placed the wet, slippery, squalling infant into Jed's arms.

"Oh, you sweet, sweet little girl," he murmured holding the baby close to his chest. A tear slid down Abbey's cheek as she watched her husband and daughter. The look on Jed's face made it clear that he was in no way disappointed with a fourth daughter. "Time to meet your Mommy," he said, placing her in Abbey's arms.

"Oh sweetie," Abbey said through tears as she began to trace her daughter's tiny eyebrows and lips with her finger. "She's so beautiful Jed."

"So is her Mom," he said, kissing her forehead.

"Yeah right," Abbey said, wryly touching her sweat dampened hair.

"You are," he insisted, "and you did so good."

"She's really perfect, Jed?"

"Yeah, 10 fingers, 10 toes. I told you all you needed was to have a little faith." Their eyes met and Abbey mouthed the word perfect. Jed turned back to his daughter and said, as he had to all his daughters, "Welcome to the world, Aislinn Faith Bartlet. I'm your Dad and I am going to take care of you for the rest of my life." Abbey's smile faded as her body reminded her that her ordeal was not over. There was another baby waiting to be born.

"Abbey, we have a little problem," Mia said examining her, "baby number 2 is breech."

"Damn," Abbey swore, "tell me you don't want to do a c-section."

"No, the baby is already engaged in the birth canal. I think we can do this naturally."

"Is it safe?" Jed asked, worried.

"I'll make it safe," Mia assured him, then turned back to Abbey."I am going to give you a shot of oxytocin to keep your body producing strong contractions. We want to get this baby out as fast as possible."

Abbey nodded, but fear filled her eyes now. Fear that something was going to go terribly wrong with her second baby.

"OK, now you are going to feel a pinch. I'm giving you a local so I can do an episiotomy. Sorry, I know you wanted to avoid that."

"It's OK, just please get it out fast," she began to push again. Jed was holding on to her leg and made the mistake of looking down just as Mia made the cut. He took a deep breath and froze.

"Jed, Jed," Abbey said watching all the blood drain from her husband's face. "You can let go of my leg now."

"If I let go, I'm gonna fall," he breathed.

"Are you alright, sir?" The nurse asked, moving to his side.

"He's going to pass out. Make him sit down," Abbey instructed.

The nurse helped Jed to sit down and he put his head between his legs. Through the blood rushing into his head, he heard his wife crying out and made his way back to her side just in time to see his second child enter the world, buttocks first, and be placed right away on Abbey's belly.

Abbey fell back with a groan, too exhausted to look and see if it was a boy or girl. She waited for the baby to cry, waited to hear Jed tell her what it was, but instead there was only dead silence.

"Jed...Jed...," she said, panic lacing her now hoarse voice. "Jed, what's wrong? What's wrong with our baby?"

"Nothing's wrong, sweet knees," he said in a stunned voice, "we...my God Abbey...we have a son."

"It's a boy...it's really a boy?" Tears of wonder filled her eyes and at that moment her son let out a lusty cry causing her to laugh tiredly.

"He's gorgeous, Abbey," Jane said. "Another blonde. I guess your streak of auburn haired kids is over."

"Well, come on Daddy," Mia said handing Jed the scissors, "let's officially bring your son into the world." Jed cut the cord, still unable to believe that he had a son. After all these years he had a son.

"I want to see him," Abbey was saying, "let me see him, Jed."

Jed took the baby from the nurse and brought him up to see Abbey.

"He IS a boy," Abbey smiled.

"What, did you think I might be wrong?" Jed grinned.

"I love you so much," she kissed his cheek.

"I love you more," he kissed her sweaty brow.

At that moment Abbey felt a warm rush between her legs. It didn't feel like the afterbirth.

"What's that?" She asked, puzzled.

"Dammit, she's hemorrhaging," Mia said tightly. She turned to one of the nurses. "Give her a shot of pitocin. STAT."

"What the hell is going on?" Jed asked while holding his crying son. He looked down and saw a huge pool of blood under Abbey's hips. Oh dear God, he thought...NO!!!

TBC...