EARLY (Chapter 110)

It was mid-August, and Warren and Sophia were at the Oceanview ice rink with Liz Cushman.

Andrea and Brett had already been out, and Warren and Sophia had choreographed them a short program to "Opus One" that they were thrilled with. Warren and Sophia had originally tried to find a big band piece that they had never skated with, but, as Sophia said, "There's so few of them!" "Opus One" really suited Andrea and Brett's skating, plus Sophia and Warren had skated to it years ago, when they were still juniors. Everyone loved the program when they were done.

Liz had come out next. It was a Thursday, the fourth day of them working together, and they had planned a fifth, then Liz would go back to California to finish the program with her coach. The choreography of it had to be done this week, and they had made great progress.

Warren had hit on a piece of music for her, a surprising one--"Finlandia" by Sibelius. It was different from the more lyrical pieces that Liz had skated to in the past. She was surprised at first, and then decided she loved it. "It's dramatic, moreso than my usual, and a lot more punchy. I like it--if we can come up with a program."

They had, and were working on fine-tuning it by the time Thursday arrived. It was about eleven in the

AM, and Warren was on the ice with Liz trying to fine-tune a transitional section before they broke for lunch. Sophia was in the stands, adding her input.

"Guys," Sophia said, "is there any way she can turn in that section, so that she's facing the other way when she comes out of the triple flip? I think that's the big problem, the abrupt turn after the flip."

"Oh, you mean change direction in the transition steps, so I do the flip going the other way?" Liz asked.

"Yeah. Because you need to be going the other way to set up the spiral sequence. That quick turn after the flip is screwing everything up. If you can turn during the steps leading to the flip, and do the flip so that you come out heading up-ice from the corner instead, it would be smoother."

"I have an idea," Warren said, "and I think it will work, but will you have enough room to set up the flip going the other way?"

"Let's see," Liz smiled at him. "What did you have in mind?"

Warren showed her. "Hmm," she said, "I think that would work."

"Hey, Pookie, music?"

"Coming right up. Starting it from the spin." It started, Liz picked it up, and did the sequence, including the flip.

"I think that worked!" Liz said.

"Looked good to me. We should do it again, though," Warren said. "Hey, Soph, rewind the music, would you please? How did that look to you?" Warren looked over, and saw Sophia sitting behind the boards, on the stands, looking down at her feet. "Soph, you OK? Did you see that sequence?"

"Huh?" She looked up.

"What's wrong with you, Sophie?"

"Ummm…..well…….it seems my water just broke."

"WHAT?"

"I was sitting here, watching Liz start the sequence, and I realized my pants were getting soaked. And it ain't pee. My water definitely broke."

"SHIT! We got to get you to the hospital!" Warren took an abrupt, ill-thought-out step in Sophia's direction, forgetting he was on ice skates. He ended up on his butt.

"WARREN!" Sophia yelled.

"I'm fine," he said as he scrambled to his feet. "Just think, you'll be able to tell the kid that her father bruised his tailbone getting her mother to the hospital because he forgot he was on skates."

"There's a story," Sophia grinned. "We have time, Snugglebear. I have no contractions yet. Go get your skates off. I'll call the doctor with my cell phone."

"Can I help?" Liz asked.

"Yeah, go get your skates off, too," Warren grinned. "Don't want the blades scuffing up the hospital floors."

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They were in the car driving to the hospital.

"Are you OK?" Liz asked from the back seat as Warren drove.

"I'm fine," said Sophia. "No contractions yet."

"So, you're not actually in labor?" Liz asked.

"No," Sophia replied.

"Well, color me confused."

Warren laughed. "She's not in labor, but she's going to have to be. Once the water breaks, the baby needs to come out, or there's an increased risk--of complications for the baby, and of an infection for the mother. If she doesn't go into labor on her own in the next few hours, the doctor will induce it."

Suddenly, Sophia yelped, and hunched forward in the seat. "Oh shit," she gasped. "Well….don't think we need inducing……." She attempted to catch her breath.

"Contraction?" Warren asked.

"Oh, yeah. And this wasn't one of those puny Braxton Hicks ones, either."

"Hey, Liz, got a watch? You mind timing those for me? Can't do it while I'm driving," Warren asked.

"Sure. Damn, Warren, I can't believe how calm you are."

"Well, I had one moment of not being calm, and fell on my ass on the ice. I figure I'd better stay calm or I'll really do some damage." Even Sophia managed to laugh at that.

They drove along for a bit, chatting about Liz's program, moving quickly but safely towards the hospital. They had hit a bit of traffic when Sophia cried out again.

"How long, Liz?" Warren asked when it was done.

"Thirteen minutes."

"Plenty of time, and we're almost there. How you holding up, Soph?"

"Thank God you have a van. I wouldn't want to be contracting and be all squooshed in something like that damn tiny Geo I drive."

"Hey, Liz, when we get to the hospital, you want me to get someone to drive you home?" Liz had been staying the week at Warren's parents' house.

"Um, well……if you want…….."

Warren glanced at Sophia, who grinned at him. "Liz, you're welcome to stay. We'd love you to. But only if you want to. If you don't, I'll get you home."

"I'd like to stay."

"That's settled. You can herd the troops in the waiting room once they all show up."

"No problem," she grinned.

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They got to the hospital, got Sophia checked in and up to the delivery room. Warren got on the phone and called all the relatives.

"You guys want me outside?" Liz asked after Sophia was settled.

"Not yet," Sophia grinned. "The real action hasn't started yet. You can help keep me company while Warren calls everyone. "

"I'm glad I was here for this," Liz admitted.

"We're glad you were, too," Sophia grinned. "Although I must admit that I wish you weren't, only because I'd rather not be going into labor more than three weeks early."

"Ah, everything should be fine," the nurse interjected. "Three and half week preemies usually don't have any problems."

"I know, but it's still a little worrisome," Sophia admitted.

"Hey. Think happy thoughts. Elizabeth will be fine. How could she not be, with her namesake here to see her grand entrance?" Liz joked.

Warren hung up the phone. "That's everyone. Mom and Dad are on their way, as are your mom and Kate, and they are trying to get a hold of Dan. I got Michelle, she's going to call your Dad at work, and they'll head up, although it will take them a couple hours. And Jessie is coming, and she's trying to reach Crash."

"I hope that's a big waiting room," Sophia joked.

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Three hours had passed. Everyone has shown up, and had been into the room to check on Sophia. Warren and Liz were still there. Things were moving rather slowly--in fact; Sophia had been coherent enough to watch a videotape of Liz's practice with Liz and Warren.

"Good thing we still had the video camera, it gave us something to do," Warren joked.

"Just as long as you don't get any crazy ideas about taping the birth," Sophia joked.

"How we doing?" Warren asked the nurse.

"Still 8 minutes apart, but slowly getting closer. She's dilated about a centimeter. It will still be a while."

"Why don't you guys go get something to eat? I'll be fine," Sophia told them. "Warren's going to need his strength!"

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When they got back to the room, Sophia's doctor, Vicki Mullins, had arrived. "Everything's fine," she told Warren, "but we might want to try to speed this up a bit. Why don't you guys take her for a walk around the floor? That helps. Go to the waiting room, say hi to your family."

"You up for that, Pookie?" Warren asked.

"Sure, why not? Just be prepared to hold me up during those contractions!"

Warren helped Sophia out of the bed, and they started walking around the floor. As they moved, slowly, they noticed a woman looking at them. "I think we just got recognized," Warren told Sophia.

"Well, I ain't in no condition to be signing autographs!"

They heard the woman who was staring at them talk to a companion. "Look over there. Isn't that…"

"Yes!" Warren turned to her and interrupted. "Yes, we are. I'm Bruce Springsteen, and this is Stevie Nicks!" Sophia practically doubled over with laughter.

"Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks?" Sophia sputtered.

"Hey, it was the best I could do at short notice."

They walked into the waiting room.

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Six long hours later, after a couple of walks and a trip into the tub, Sophia was finally in serious labor.

"This is more tiring than skating that damn Riverdance program, three times in a row," Sophia said in between contractions.

"You just remember that when we're skating Riverdance three times in a row," Warren quipped.

"YEAUUGGGHHHH!!!!" Sophia screamed as another contraction hit.

"Breathe, Pookie."

"All those childbirth classes, and all you can think of to say is 'breathe, Pookie.' Lovely," Sophia muttered as the contraction passed. Warren just grinned at her.

"You're doing fine," Vicki told them. "Dilation is almost at ten centimeters. Not long now."

"Good," Sophia said. "This has been way too long."

A couple more contractions passed. Vicki checked Sophia, and said, "OK,. Sophia, everything is great, you can start pushing with the next one."

"Oh, finally," Sophia panted.

"You're doing great, Sophie," Warren told her.

Three pushes, and it was all over. Vicki held up their daughter for them to see, as she let out a healthy cry.

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"She's a little small. 6 pounds even, but she's perfectly fine," Warren told the assembled throng in the waiting room a half hour later. "They're taking her up to the nursery to clean her up, and then you can all go and see through the window."

"How's Sophie?" Ellen asked.

"Great. They're taking her up to her room now, you can see her in a little while, too."

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After everyone had left, the nurse brought Betsy into Sophia's room. "Time for the first feeding, Mommy. You think you need any help? There's a breastfeeding expert on staff if you need it," the nurse told them.

"I'll give it a shot myself and call for help if I need it," Sophia grinned.

"Good enough," the nurse said and left.

"She's so tiny," Sophia said in wonder. "I still can't believe we made this."

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?"

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