PREVIOUSLY

Todd breathed deeply, trying to rid himself of the horrible claustrophobic feeling that was strangling him. He was sweating profusely underneath the Santa suit.
Just as he felt about to snap, the doctor rounded the corner. He smiled and extended his hand.
"Congratulations, Mr. Manning. You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl."

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Part Eight : Nôel

Tea stretched, feeling the strain in her muscles. Opening her eyes, she saw Todd hovering over her anxiously and Viki, Starr, Rachel, Jessica, Cristian, Roseanne, Carlotta and Antonio peering in through the window outside her room.
Her brow creased in confusion. "Where..."
"In the hospital," Todd said gently, smiling, and Tea noticed that he was still clad in the Santa suit he had on the night before.
Tea closed her eyes again, and then suddenly opened them, sitting semi-upright, her hands coming to rest on her stomach in terror.
"My baby. Where is the baby?"
Todd chuckled. "Our *daughter* is in the nursery," he said tenderly.
Though the cobwebs of sleep had just begun to disappear, Tea realized what Todd had said.
"Our...our daugher...you mean, I had a little girl?"
Todd nodded proudly.
"And...she's alive...and in the nursery..." Tea let out a deep breath and collapsed back onto the pillows. "And healthy?"
Todd laughed. "Ten fingers, ten toes. Big blue eyes. She's beautiful, Tea. She's gorgeous."
"B-but she's two months premature."
"She's fine. She came into the world at 4:47 this morning."
"Christmas Day..." Tea said softly, tears of happiness beginning their journey down her face.
Todd grinned again. "Yep. Christmas Day. She weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces. I haven't been able to hold her yet, but the doc says everything's great."
"I want to see her," Tea said firmly, wincing as she sat up and pulled the covers away.
"I knew you would," Todd said, opening the door.
Carlotta rolled a blue wheelchair through the door.
Tea smiled as Todd lifted her gently from the bed and into the chair, tucking a blanket onto her lap.
He knelt in front of her, placing his hands on her knees to support himself. His eyes were serious.
"What is it, Todd? Is there something you're not telling me?" Tea said, her voice rising.
"Dr. Lancaster says....that he's going to begin your treatment this afternoon. It's going to take a lot out of you, Tea...you'll be here awhile."
Tea closed her eyes. "That's okay," she said bravely. "I want to be strong and...and healthy. For her."
Todd kissed her forehead and stood, pushing the wheelchair slowly out of the room. Tea was greeted by her friends and family.
"Can I see the baby too, Tee?" Starr asked, eyes hopeful.
"Of course you can, Starr," Tea smiled, "Come here." Starr climbed into Tea's lap and Tea held her close as Todd pushed them toward the nursery, Viki, Jessica, Rachel, Cristian, Roseanne, Antonio and Carlotta close behind.
"So what is her name, Starr? What did you decide?"
Starr smiled shyly.
"I had a name all picked out a long time ago. But since the baby was born on Christmas, I decided that Noelle is a good name. Nôel means Christmas, in French. I learned how to say it at school."
Tea turned to look at Todd, who was smiling. "I think that's a perfect name, Starr. And it was very clever of you to think of it."
Starr bowed her head, blushing.
"What about a middle name?" Todd asked.
Tea was silent for a moment. "How about...Irene?" she replied.
"After your mother, Todd."
"Noelle Irene. Noelle Irene Manning." Todd let the name roll off his tongue a few times. It's perfect. I love it."
At last they entered the pediatric ward. Pulling the wheelchair up in front of the huge window, showing a room full of sleeping or crying babies, Todd said,
"That's our little one, right--"
"Right there," Tea said, pointing to a tiny baby sleeping under a pink blanket in the third row.
"She's right there."
"How did you know?"
"She's my daughter. I-I just knew." She grinned. "Plus it says "Baby Manning" on the crib."
Todd chuckled.
Todd, Tea, Starr, Viki, Jessica, Cristian, Roseanne, Rachel, Antonio and Carlotta stared through the window at the tiny miracle before them.
Tea raised her fingers to the glass, waving. "Hello, Noelle."
"Welcome to the family, kid," Todd whispered, putting his hands on Tea's shoulder.
"This is the best Christmas present ever!" Starr exclaimed.
And no one laughed at her childish excitement.
Because it truly was the best present anyone could have ever hoped for.
TO BE CONTINUED

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