68- Jilly-Bean

**Daveed's POV**

Sav is all clear to get discharged, and we're about to go home to prepare for baby girl to arrive. I already called Doctor Ramirez; she wants to see Sav as soon as we get back to make sure she hasn't dilated more and check Jilly's development. I really hope Sav can have the birthing experience that she planned.
We have a seventeen-hour drive ahead of us. I rented a van so we can all comfortably fit and have room for luggage, but this rental is pricy.
All three women were asleep by the time I got five hours into our trip. Now, it has been eight hours, and I'm exhausted, so I pull into a motel to get proper rest.
"Wake up, ladies. We're stopping for the night so we can sleep comfortably." They stretch and yawn before they finally wake up enough to walk.
"I need two rooms, please," The man at the desk looks like he doesn't want to be here.
"We only have one room available right now, but it has two king-sized beds," He responded.
"Is that okay with you, Elaine?" I ask. I don't want her to be uncomfortable.
"That's fine by me. I'm going to be knocked out anyway," Elaine shrugged her shoulder and went to get her luggage. I offered to carry it for her, but she said I have enough to carry and got to it before I finished paying for the room.
This little motel isn't too bad. It's cheap, but the room is clean, and the bathroom comes with those little shampoos, conditioner, body wash, and lotion bottles. We aren't using them, but I'm sure other people need them. We don't even bother with showers tonight, but we at least change into comfortable clothes to sleep in. Zuri and Sav are already fast asleep when I come out of the bathroom, and Elaine is up reading a book.
"You're doing an awesome job, you know. It always makes me happy to see fathers so dedicated and involved with the babies before they're even born. Usually, fathers develop bonds later on with their children," Elaine looked up from her book.
"Thank you. I'm actually nervous as hell. At the same time, I can't wait to hold them. I couldn't imagine loving them more than I already do, but I know once I hold them, they're going to take over my heart right along with their mothers," I look at them sleeping not so gracefully. Sav is snoring as usual, and Zuri is drooling. They're still the most beautiful women in the world, regardless.
"You're right about that. Goodnight, Daveed, " Elaine closed her book and turned off the lamp beside her bed.
"Goodnight," I slide into the bed next to Zuri, and she rolled over. Before I am consumed by sleep, Zuri's fingers run through my beard, and I get a cheesy smile on my face.

After nine long hours, we finally make it back home. Long car rides are the worst because it makes you feel groggy for the rest of the day, but I'm thankful we all made it back without someone's water breaking. Now, we're getting quick showers and going straight to Doctor Ramirez. Sav started experiencing contractions again during the car ride, but they're about ten minutes apart and not incredibly painful for her.
We make it to the office, and Sav is getting restless again.
"They're getting closer together. I think this is the day," Sav breathes through a contraction.
"Come on back and let me check on you and the baby." Doctor Ramirez calls us back to the examination room.
She looks for Jilly's heart and finds it with ease, strong and healthy.
"Alright, let's see where you are with dilation," Doctor Ramirez does a quick check. "It looks like she is coming. You're dilated at five centimeters."
"Oh my God," Sav rubs her bump and sits up. "She's coming."
"I'll make sure your room gets prepared. You still want a water birth, correct?" Doctor Ramirez asks.
"Yes, I do." She answers.
"This is it! Jilly-Bean is coming!" Zuri is about to burst with excitement.
"Is she considered pre-mature?" Sav asks.
"Yes, she is, but only by a couple of days. You are almost three weeks away from your due date now, and she looks and sounds great. I think she's just ready to be here." Doctor Ramirez tells us to meet her at the Labor and Delivery area in the hospital, and Zuri calls Elaine.
We get settled in our delivery room. I'm glad we brought our hospital bags just in case this happened. Now we won't have to make a trip, later on, to get what we need. A nurse comes into the room; she is a ray of sunshine. She introduces herself to us, her name is Sara, and she helps Sav get onto a giant ball to bounce on it. She said it helps with dilation and might even break her water.
"If she needs anything at all, hit this button." She hands me the remote after showing me what each button does. Elaine comes into the room, and she looks tired from the trip.
"Baby girl is persistent, huh?" She asked with a huge smile.
"Just like her mother," Zuri added, and Sav rolled her eyes. She still smiles because it's true.
"How are you feeling?" I ask.
"Hungry as hell. I want strawberries," She whines.
"I'll have your parents stop on their way here to get you some. I sent everyone a message to let them know Jilly-Bean is going to be here soon," Zuri has been keeping everyone updated, and her phone has not stopped dinging.
"The nurses won't like her eating while she's in labor," Elaine said.
"Yeah, we were told ahead of time that it isn't recommended. Sav feels like she won't have the energy to deliver the way she wants if she has an empty stomach. We're going to trust her instincts and give her food if she says she needs it," I explain.
"I completely agree with you, and that's one thing I always support. I brought a few things that will help keep Saviera's body nourished while in labor," She goes to her bag and pulls out a box of granola bars and fruit popsicles, "I keep these in the breakroom freezer right outside the delivery unit. Do you want one?"
"Yes, please! You're the best," Sav takes the popsicle and eats off of it between contractions. They're even closer together, and they last longer. "I'm getting off of this ball. I need to stand up."
Elaine takes the popsicle, and I help her up. As soon as she stands, a gush of liquid splashes all over the floor and on my shoes.
"Your water broke! Let's get you into the pool," Elaine and I carefully walked her to the pool and helped her get into it. Sav took her hospital gown off because it was making her frustrated.
"Do you need anything, Babe?" Zuri asked as she held Sav's hand.
"I'm okay. This just hurts really bad, but the water helps," Sav is now breathing through a contraction every twenty seconds; each one is more painful than the next. Somehow, she stays strong through them all. Doctor Ramirez comes into the room and stands beside the pool.
"It looks like you're doing great, Saviera. Do you want the lights dimmed?" She asked.
"Yes," Is all she could get out before another contraction hit. I get on my swim trunks and get into the pool with her because I'll be catching Jilly. Sav leans her body against mine, and Zuri captures every moment. She's been taking pictures since we got here so we will always remember the little parts that might start to fade from our memories as the years go on.
"Are you wanting to get in the pool with them, Zuri?" Elaine asks. The pool isn't big, but she could fit.
"No, I would like to stay dry and get pictures. Can you take some of the three of us?" Zuri asked. Elaine happily takes the Polaroid camera that Sav insisted we use. Zuri and I smile for the camera, and Sav groans. That's going to be a great picture.
Sav requested no interruptions from nurses or doctors, so Doctor Ramirez respectfully checks in with Elaine until Sav starts pushing. I guess I should say, her body pushed on its own. She's on her knees now and leaning against Zuri for support while I get ready to catch our baby girl. In seconds, baby Jilly is in my hands, and I bring her up to my bare chest. Tears flow from my eyes as I hold her close and take in every detail of right now. She has a head full of brown hair, tiny toes, and fingers, and she's light as a feather. Elaine comes over and rubs Jilly's back until we hear her first cry fill the room. Zuri gets a baby blanket and helps me cover Jilly while Sav regains enough energy to hold her. Sav instantly gets started on breastfeeding, and Jilly's loud wails turn into tiny whimpers that make Zuri, Sav, and I cry even more. We have never been happier.