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Adam tried to keep his wits about him as they entered the hospital.
"My wife is in labor!" he shouted to the people at the reception desk. He gestured to and looked at her, as Amy was directly at his side, already doing her Lamaze breathing as she clung onto the blond man.
"Yes, I can see that," the woman at the desk said after a quick survey of the redhead. "Name?"
"Copeland - Adam Copeland."
"Baby, she meant *me*," the pregnant woman said.
"Oh, right... Sorry. I'm just nervous. Amy Copeland," the blond man said. He was breathing heavily himself, and was damn near hyperventilation, it seemed.
The woman at the desk smiled easily.
"Relax, Mr. Copeland... Everything will be fine. I take it this is your first child?"
Adam shook his head as the lady picked up the receiver of the phone before her.
"Actually, no - we have a seven-year-old daughter, but I wasn't there for her birth... Long story." Inwardly, he thought, 'Okay, I'm babbling... Put a lid on it, Adam!'
"It's all right... A lot of expectant fathers are nervous." The receptionist dialed for an orderly to bring a wheelchair so Amy could be brought to a room.
The tall blond man turned to his wife, his face full of concern, worry and something else she couldn't quite name.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry I'm acting like this... You're about to give birth and I'm all thumbs, so to speak."
"Nonsense," Amy protested. She raised one hand and gently but firmly gripping him by his strong jaw. Their eyes met directly as she spoke again. "Adam Joseph Copeland, you are so incredibly sweet and kind and caring - and I couldn't ask for a better man than you. I don't know what I ever did in my life to deserve such a treasure, but I got it. You are the best husband in the entire galaxy, and I love you so much."
The blond man was so choked up, he was actually speechless. He swallowed hard as he felt the tears welling up in his eyes. The redhead placed her hand in his hair, a soft smile on her face as she stood on her toes to kiss him. Halfway through, she broke it, her hand clutching her belly, a moan escaping her.
"Not another contraction?"
Amy nodded, her face contorted with the pain, eyes closed as she endured it. The contractions were coming more frequently, and she knew the baby wasn't going to wait much longer. He or she was definitely a feisty one, and the labor seemed to be progressing much faster than what she'd gone through with Mandy.
The woman at the reception desk watched the young couple with wonder.
"You can take a seat while you're waiting," she offered.
Amy shook her head frantically as the contraction came to an end.
"Believe it or not, I'd rather stand right now - until I can actually lay down."
Adam didn't quite understand that one, but he wasn't going to force the redhead to do anything she didn't want to do. After all, she was about to give birth to his child.
He couldn't believe how nervous he felt. He hoped he would be okay to coach her in the delivery room. It absolutely blew him away when he recalled her telling him that she had done this alone with Mandy. It tore him up just thinking about it, but it wasn't the case this time... And if they decided to have another baby sometime in the future, it would *never* be the case again.
Before too long, an orderly appeared with a wheelchair to bring Amy to a room.
Moments later, as the redhead laid on her back on the bed, trying to control her breathing, the tall blond man remained at her side. Adam grasped her hand gently, and Amy held fast to it, her gaze on him. Somehow, he seemed suddenly so much calmer.
"Are you okay?"
The Canadian was taken aback and eyed his wife with wonder.
"I should be asking *you* that, Ames... I'm fine."
She smiled. He was really so very sweet.
"You don't seem nervous anymore... Suddenly, you're so calm."
Adam cocked his head as a smile came to his face.
"I actually am," he said. "But I'm excited, too. In a little while we're going to have a brand new little baby." He shook his head, his eyes taking on a faraway look. A sigh left his lips before he spoke again. "It's just... Well, it's all so amazing."
Amy smiled as she felt tears in her eyes. This was exactly what she'd wished they'd been able to share during Amanda's birth.
"*You're* amazing," she said in a choked up voice. "I love you."
"I love you," Adam said, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
"Sorry to interrupt," a voice suddenly spoke in the room. Adam raised his head, and they saw a smiling nurse. "Time to see how things are going."
The woman examined Amy as the blond man stood back, and she nodded and spoke again once done.
"Well, looks like it's time. Baby's crowning and you're at ten centimeters. It's time to rock n' roll."
Adam couldn't help but chuckle at the last sentence. He liked this nurse... And he was even more excited as he was
about to become a father for the second time.