"Gracie! Ender! Come help me!" Ashton's voice echoed through the house and I knew he was home from the grocery store.

I then heard the pounding of feet down the stairs and the excited voices of my kids.

I sat up and sighed before stepping out of bed and putting on my slippers before walking out of the bedroom and into the living room.

Ashton and the kids were putting away the groceries in the kitchen and I walked in to join them.

"Mommy!" Gracie smiled when she saw me and Ashton whipped around to look at me.

"Bed." He pointed back at our bedroom.

"I'm fine." I rolled my eyes.

"No. The doctor said you need bed rest the last weeks of the pregnancy because you're underweight and burning twice as many calories because you're carrying a boy. So go back to bed." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Five minutes." I said and he sighed before stepping aside so I could walk past him.

Of course my slipper chose this moment to slide on the wood and Ashton grabbed my elbow to yank me back up before I could fall. He gave me an "I told you so" look before letting me continue.

I hugged Gracie around her waist, kissing her cheek.

"Hi, baby girl."

"Hi, Mommy." She laughed.

"What have you been up to, today?"

"Ender and I make pictures for baby." She smiled up at me.

"That's very sweet."

Ashton put some cereal in the cabinet and then threw the bags away.

"Okay Gray, lets walk Mommy back to bed." He said to Gracie and I rolled my eyes as he began to lead me away.

"It's boring being in there all by myself." I pouted as he walked me to the room, his hands on my arms to make sure I wouldn't fall.

"I know. I can work in there to keep you company if you want me to?" He offered.

"Please?"

When we reached the bedroom I got in bed and Ashton went to get his laptop so he could do his emails and such.

I was laying there feeling the baby kick inside me and rubbing my hand on my stomach.

"Please stop kicking me. I know you're here." I whined and heard Ashton chuckled next to me.

"Calm down, bud. Let your Mum relax." He reached over and placed his hand on my stomach.

I looked over at him to see him looking at his laptop, scrolling through his email.

"Baby your interview came out today." He moved his thumb back and forth on my stomach.

"Oh let me read."

He moved the laptop between us so we could both read it.

I had done a magazine article with People, explaining my pregnancy and how we had caught on so late.

When they asked me how I had missed it my response was "My pregnancy symptoms were the same side effects of my epilepsy medication and since Ashton and I weren't trying to get pregnant at the time, I didn't think anything of it. I didn't find out until the baby kicked for the first time so it was definitely a shock."

When asked about Ashton's reaction I said "I was very nervous to tell him. We had talked about having more children but not until after the tour and we got married, so I was nervous of how he was going to respond, but he was so excited and happy for us. I had nothing to worry about with him, because he's already an amazing father, but I was just scared that this was too soon for us, and it's soon yes, but I think this baby came at the perfect time for us."

And then I was asked to give advice for other women to which my response was "Pay attention to what your body is doing. Take care of it. Take the proper precautions when sexually active and also make sure the person you're involved with is special to you. Ashton and I have always wanted more children so this worked out for us, even though it was unplanned and a surprise, it worked out because it's what we always wanted. Be with someone where if something like this happens, they will be with you and be with you for the long run."

Ashton smiled as he read the article and once we were done he put away his laptop and then cuddled me into his side.

"Ashton?" I whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I don't know how to have a baby."

He chuckled.

"We'll figure it out. We have plenty of baby books and my mum is here-"

"No. I mean have a baby."

"Oh." He said. "Well we have a birthing plan. You'll get the epidural, and then push."

"I don't know how to do that... how I can push a... I can't even think about it."

He laughed.

"Me either, and i've decided it's best if I don't. But i'm going to be there the whole time, and your doctors are amazing, and it will be okay. We have to keep telling ourselves that it will be okay."

I nodded.

This was terrifying as hell, but we had to believe we would make it through.

--

The closer I neared my due date, the more anxious I became.

It was now the 20th of December and the baby was supposed to be born in 10 days.

I was standing at the bar in the kitchen snacking on some carrot sticks when I felt something similar to a light menstrual cramp.

I put it off as just the baby moving around until they continued, becoming the pain of my normal period cramps which hurt.

"Ow." I said to myself and continued munching on a carrot stick, Ashton's head poking up over the back of the couch.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Nothing, I'm just cramping." I said.

"Cramping?" He raised an eyebrow and I nodded.

Ten minutes later I felt another one that started at my back and then went around to my stomach, my bump tightening.

"Ow." I whined again and Ashton stood up.

"Is he just moving around?" Ashton asked.

"If so then he's having an- ow- party." I said, wincing when the cramp continued to hit me.

"Carter, I think you're going into labour." He said, looking at me up and down.

"I'm not due for another week." I shook my head. "Ow, God." I contorted my face up, placing a hand on my stomach.

"Car..." He said, sounding concerned.

"I'm fine, I'm just going to use my heating pad and lay down." I smiled, patting his arm reassuringly.

I did just that and went into the bedroom to lay down, hoping they would go away by the time I woke up from a nap. But, I was unable to sleep due to the cramps getting worse until I felt like I was about to cry.

I heard Ashton come into the bedroom a few hours later to check on me and tried to pretend to be asleep but a pain worse than all the others pierced my back, a stabbing pain in my uterus.

"Car." Ashton said as I whimpered.

"I think something's wrong." I whined.

"Okay, we're taking you to the hospital." He ordered, me nodding. I slowly stood up so I could get my things, lacing up my shoes and looking for my phone.

I paused to wince occasionally, holding my back or stomach while Ashton went to get Ender, Gracie and his mom

I was in the bathroom putting my hair up into a pony tail when a particularly sharp pain hit me, almost bringing me to my knees.

"Ashton!" I called out and a few moments later he jogged into the room, his eyes widening at my crouched state on the floor.

"Woah, hey, I gotcha." He ran over and picked me up, cradling me in his arms. "You're going to be okay. We're going to take you to the hospital and it's all going to be okay." He said as he carried me into the main part of the house.

"Come on, let's go!" Ashton shouted and everyone else tromped downstairs.

"Car are you okay?" Ender asked with wide eyes when he saw Ashton carrying me.

"I'm fine, End." I gave him a little smile but winced as the cramp carried on, biting my lip as I pressed my face into Ashton's chest.

"Alright, Ender, grab the baby car seat and take it to the car. Mom, get the baby bag and Gracie, make sure she has a toy." Ashton walked to the door and bent down to get the bag we had packed for when we went to the hospital and slung it over his free shoulder while he still had me in his hold.

Everyone scrambled around to get everything while Ashton held me, saying soothing things in my ear until we were ready to leave.

Ender locked the front door and Ashton carried me up the docks and to the car, Ann getting in the drivers seat of the SUV and Ender got in the passenger seat after buckling Gracie into her car seat.

Ashton slid the both of us into the back next to Gracie so he could hold onto me.

Ann began to make her way to the hospital in Haven Harbour, trying to get us there quickly.

The vehicle was silent except for my occasional gasp or wince. Ashton rubbed my back while I clutched onto his shirt.

"Ashton." I almost cried into his chest.

"It's okay. We're almost there. You're going to be fine." He comforted me.

We pulled up to the five story tall brick building, Ashton opening the door and taking me out of the car.

"I'll take her in, you go park the car and meet us inside." Ashton told his mom and then carried me in the building.

He walked right up to a receptionist desk where a nurse immediately stood up.

"What's wrong?" She asked, fumbling around for her clipboard.

"I think she's going into labour." He said almost frantically.

"Okay." She answered, grabbing her phone and pressing a few buttons.

I didn't pay much attention to what she was saying because a massive pain came over me and I griped to Ashton's shoulders, letting out a cry.

"Follow me." She said and she took us back to a hall where suddenly several other nurses rushed up to us with a gurney next to them. Ashton laid me down on it and then I was being wheeled off to a room.

I couldn't see Ashton, but I could hear him talking to the nurses, telling them my information.

Then all at once I was in a room where the bed was rolled into place and the obstetrician I had been seeing since I returned home, Dr. Roland, walked into the room.

Ashton was by my head writing out things on the clipboard the nurse had given him.

"Carter, how are we feeling?" Dr. Roland asked me.

"In pain." I replied.

"Well let's take a look and see how dilated you are." She smiled and I nodded.

I was changed into a hospital gown and then Dr. Roland checked to see how far along I was.

"You're at 2 centimetres, and you need to be at 10 to start pushing." She informed me. "So yes, Carter, you are definitely in labour."

"Well how long is it going to take?" I asked her.

"Every woman is different, sometimes it can take hours, maybe up to even a few days in some cases, it typically takes a little longer if it's your first baby."

"Okay." I nodded.

"I'll be back to check on you in a little bit." She patted my leg and then left.

I leaned back onto the pillow, whining.

"You good?" Ashton asked, still filling out my chart.

"This is literally the most uncomfortable I've ever felt."

"I'm sorry." He placed a hand on my shoulder that I reached up to hold.

He finished filling out my information and left for a minute to give it to the nurse at the desk, coming back in and moving the chair that was in the room over to the side of my bed.

"Hey, look at me." He took my hand in his and I turned my head to the side to face him.

"We might have our baby today Car, just think about it...a little me and you that we get to hold and love."

"I know." I bit my smiling lip.

He kissed my hand and I tried to relax only to have another contraction a few minutes later, squeezing his fingers.

Four hours later Dr.Roland came by and checked, I was only at 2.5 centimetres.

Ashton timed it on his phone and I was a getting a contraction every ten minutes.

Almost two hours later I was at 2.7 centimetres, and a knock was heard at the door to my private room, Ari walking in.

"Hi." She smiled.

"Hey. When did you get here?" I asked.

"A few minutes ago. Ann called me and I had to convince my boss to let me out of work so I could be here." She took the hand that Ashton wasn't holding.

"You didn't have to do that." I shook my head.

"Um, my best friend is having a baby, yes I did."

I laughed.

"Do you need anything?" She asked me.

"Something to drink?" I asked and she nodded before scurrying out of the room.

She came back with two cups, handing one full of coffee to Ashton and one of just ice chips to me.

"The nurse said you can only have ice chips."  She handed me the cup.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Okay, well I'm going to wait with Ann, Gracie keeps asking where you and Ashton are." She half smiled.

"I'm glad you're here." I told her.

"I'll come back to check on you in a little bit." She squeezed my hand and then left.

As the hours ticked by the contractions became increasingly more painful and closer together. It got to the point when I would squeeze Ashton's hand as one came along he would even say "Ouch."

"I don't think he wants to leave." I made a comment as Dr. Roland was checking so see how dilated I was.

Ashton chuckled at this and rubbed my shoulder.

"You're still at 3 centimetres; you have seven more to go." Dr. Roland said and I let out a frustrated sigh.

"I know it's tough. You're almost there." She smiled. "I'll be back to check in a few."

Once she left I looked up to Ashton.

"How long have we been here?" I asked.

"Uh 15 hours." He answered and I dropped my head back against the pillow.

"Hey," He leaned in and began to play with one of the two braids Ari had done in my hair when she'd come to check on me, "You're doing great. In a few more hours, you and I are going to have a little  baby boy that's going to make all of this pain you're going through worth it."

"Well I wish he'd hurry up." I said and Ashton laughed before pressing a kiss to my lips.

It was late and I needed to try and rest so Ann brought the kids in to say goodnight to me.

Ari and Jason were taking them home and Ann was staying with us.

Ender gently hugged me and kissed my cheek, and Gracie did the same before they left.

The night passed slowly and painfully as I continued to have contractions. My water broke at around three in the morning and while I was changed into a new hospital gown Ashton paced the room.

"Why is it taking so long?" He asked Dr. Roland. "It's been 21 hours."

"Labour can last a while." She patted his back.

Ashton came back over to me and sat in the chair, his hands nervously moving around.

"Ashton when I was pregnant with you my labour lasted 26 hours. This is normal." Ann said and Ashton sighed.

I was able to get a little bit of sleep between contractions but not much.

I was exhausted when Ari brought the kids by in the morning, and I told them hello and kissed them before she had to take them out so Dr. Roland could examine me.

"Five centimetres." She said and I groaned.

"I know. Just a little bit longer." She smiled at me.

As the day progressed I was more and more uncomfortable, the baby moving down in my cervix.

The day passed with my cervix widening only two more centimetres.

The next morning I was miserable, Ashton now in a state of panic as Dr. Roland looked to see how much I had dilated.

"If you haven't reached ten centimetres in the next 12 hours then we'll have to do a c-section." She said and panic raced through me.

"No! I can't have surgery!"

"It's a normal procedure, women have them every day. There will be a scar, yes, but if the baby doesn't come out soon that's the safest option."

She left and that's when I began to cry.

"I can't do that." I sobbed as Ashton tried to calm me down. "I can't have a c-section."

"Baby that's what they'll have to do."

"But I don't want surgery."

"Sweetheart I know you don't, and I don't want you to, but the baby will be hurt if he doesn't come out soon."

Ann decided to take the kids out to the waiting room so Ari could take them home and wait there.

After seven more hours, 10 more visits from Dr. Roland, and many many contractions that had me crying, Dr. Roland looked up from in between my bent up legs.

"You're at ten centimetres. It's time to start pushing." She smiled and I looked up at Ashton who squeezed my shoulder a smile on his face.

"No c-section." He smiled.

"No c-section." I repeated.

Other nurses that were in the room began to move around getting different things ready while I was focusing on what was happening below my line of vision.

"You decided on the epidural?" Dr. Roland double checked and I nodded. Soon I was turned on my side and the medicine was injected into my back, making me numb from the waist down.

Then the panic really set in.

I was having a baby.

Suddenly it was like everything hit me; the reality hit me. I was having my first baby and my mother wasn't here to be with me.

"I want my mom." I mumbled, tears beginning to flow down my face. "I want my mom!"

"Car." Ashton looked down at me sadly.

"I can't have my first baby without my mom!" I sobbed.

"Carter, I know you want her here, and if I could I would do whatever it took to bring her back to you, but I can't, and this baby has to be born one way or the other."

The doctors watched as I cried and Ashton squeezed my hand.

"I know you're scared, i'm scared too. I'm scared for you. But I need you to remember how brave and strong you are."

He wiped off my cheeks with his hands.

"Would it help if my mom was in here too? I know she's not your real mom but you know she loves you and you're her daughter in law now. She may not be your mom but she's the closest thing you've got."

I nodded.

"I want her in here."

"Okay." He nodded at me and then looked up at the doctors. "Get my mom, she's in the waiting room."

The doctors rushed to find Ann and when she entered the room she came to me and smiled, taking one of my hands in hers.

"Okay sweetheart, are you ready?" She asked me.

"No." I shook my head. "But I don't really have a choice do I?"

"No." Ann chuckled, smoothing her fingers over my hair.

"Okay Carter, it's time to start pushing now." Dr. Roland said and I nodded, taking a deep breath as they put me in the pushing position.

Ashton had a hand on my back and then one griping my hand so I could squeeze it.

"On my count I want you to push, Carter." Dr. Roland said. "Three, two, one, push."

I pushed.

"You're going to have to push harder than that." She said and I breathed before trying again.

"Come on, Carter." She said.

I pushed and pushed until my body felt like it couldn't do anything else. A sweat had broken out across my forehead and I was breathing hard.

"I can't." I whined, completely drained.

"Hey listen to me." Ashton said and suddenly his face was right there in front of mine. "You're doing such a good job, you just have to keep going. He's almost here Car."

"Okay." I whimpered and felt him press a kiss to my nose.

I inhaled a large breath and then pushed again.

"There you go Carter. He's almost here, just a few more." Dr. Roland said.

"You're doing wonderful, Carter." Ann encouraged me.

"You can do it Car." Ashton said as I pushed again, biting my lip to keep myself from crying out.

I'd rather the contractions again. Even with the epidural this was the most excruciating thing I had ever felt.

"Okay he's crowning." Dr. Roland said. "Carter, I'm going to need you to push as hard as you can for me."

I nodded, teary eyed and breathless, before I gathered up all the strength I possibly had left, and pushed with all of my might.

Suddenly, everything seemed to happen at once.

The baby was out, Ashton got to cut the umbilical cord, and the doctors injected me in the thigh so I could deliver the placenta.

Then I heard a little cry, and saw one of the nurses carrying a pink thing over to a table.

"You did it Carter, he's here." Ashton was suddenly up by my face, his hands coming to both of my cheeks.

"I did it? He's here?" I asked and Ashton nodded, a stupidly happily smile on his face.

"You did. He's really here Car." He kissed my lips a few times before moving back so he could watch what was happening.

Most babies were placed directly on their mothers chest after birth to start breast feeding but all of my doctors had advised me not to breastfeed since my body hadn't gained a healthy amount of weight during my pregnancy.

So the nurses were checking his heartbeat, breathing and other things while I tried to look around Ashton and Ann to see what was happening.

A few minutes later a nurse turned around with the baby wrapped in a blanket and made her way towards me, my body becoming more alert. My arms were adjusted and then he was placed into them, and I was holding my baby for the first time.

His skin was slightly pink, his eyes closed and his little mouth parted open. I could feel him breathing and moving in my arms, my jaw dropping in awe.

"Oh my goodness, look at him. He's so handsome." Ann cooed.

"He's so beautiful." Ashton said and I realised his head was right next to mine, his eyes staring down at the creation we had made.

"He's perfect." I managed to say and then his little eyes fluttered open again and I gasped as his eyes met mine.

He stared at me, his hazel irises locking with mine. He blinked, our contact flashing away for a millisecond before he was looking at me again.

I was so in love.

"Hi." I managed to get out, one of my fingers moving to touch the soft skin of his cheek. "Hi."

Ashton moved in too to touch his newborn baby's other cheek.

"Hey there little mate." He said softly, and the baby looked up to lock his eyes with Ashton's. "Oh my God, he's amazing."

I smiled, a few tears coming down my face.

This was the moment we had been waiting for: our baby had finally been born.

--

He's here! They have a baby!

How do you think their first days with the new baby will go? And how will this change them as people?

More to come!

Much love xx-m