A.N. – Well, folks, I'm pretty sure this is the last chapter. I'm so grateful to all those who kept up with this story, and I hope this is a satisfying end for you. I do have a couple sequel ideas, but I'm not sure when that will happen. Oh, and if you would so oblige me, I would like you to check out a blog on weebly called kitsunesbooks.; it's a blog where my friend has some of his original work on it. Thanks so much!

Anyway, on to the finale!

Chapter Nineteen - SADIE

"Oh, God, what we do, what we do!" Emma shrieked, hovering near me; Liz had one hand on my back and another on my arm as I doubled over, holding my baby, riding another contraction.

"We have to get her to the hospital," Zia said authoritatively. "Come, we must go to the car."

I shook my head. "But- but I had - ugh -wanted it to be - ugh - here!" I cried. I felt panicked; my baby was coming too soon! Fear and devastation accompanied the panic as I thought of the other babies, not wanting to lose this one when I was so close.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Sadie," Jaz said, though her tone was sympathetic. "Especially since it's come early; we don't have the equipment for a preemie." She moved to my other side, urging me to walk. "It would be better for the baby to be born in the hospital," she added.

That convinced me, as she must have known it would; I wanted to make sure my baby had the best possible chance at being born healthy, especially with this rocky start. Wincing, I nodded. "Alright. Alright, but - ugh - call Walt. He's - he's -" He was with Carter and the boys at a nearby park, but I decided it was better to focus on breathing and walking. Why did this hurt so much?

Annabeth held up her phone. "Taken care of," she affirmed.

So we began a procession to the car, which Zia had ready and waiting; Liz and Jaz were on either side of me, while Emma, Annabeth, and Cleo walked behind. At one point, Khufu came bounding after us, howling in worry, or perhaps indignation that we were leaving before we'd had cake, but Cleo gave him a stern talking-to before rejoining our group.

"You'll be fine, both of you," she assured me when she caught up to us; Zia was in the driver's seat and I in the passenger, while Liz, Emma, and Jaz piled in the back. "Your patron goddess is Isis, and Bast loves you; they're both mother and childbirth goddesses."

"And Tawaret, too," I said, smiling at her. Cleo grinned back, and then pressed something into my hand before joining Annabeth in one of their cars. As Zia squealed out of the driveway, I looked at Cleo's present, a small amulet of the hippo-goddess herself. I laughed at the coincidence, and focused on that instead of the pain on the way to the hospital.

...

It was the waiting that was really killing me.

When we arrived at the hospital, Zia had taken charge, informing the nurse of my name, my doctor, how far along I was, that my water had broken, and this was not my first pregnancy but the farthest I'd ever been. She'd also subtly – or not so subtly – threatened the nurse into making sure both I and my baby turned out fine. I'm sure it was not necessary, but I appreciated the sentiment.

The nurse, after checking my cervix (which had opened up much more than the nurse thought it would, as if I was – shockingly – actually in labor), ordered an ultrasound; much to everyone's relief, especially mine, it revealed my baby to be in seemingly good condition, if too early, though it was in the regular birthing position, head first. My doctor, Dr. Sanchez, had come around to check on me about an hour ago, and give me some drug that was supposed to delay the labor as much as possible, giving my child's lungs more time to develop. She'd told me I could go home, just come back if the contractions started again, but I had wanted to stay in the hospital, at least until Walt arrived (he and Carter had gotten stuck in some horrendous traffic); my friends had all promised to stay until then.

So it was to a roomful of women that Walt and Carter burst into, Walt a bit breathless, though I'm sure it had to do with worry and not any lack of physical prowess. Carter had Kander on his back, arms around his neck, and Jules' hand in his, staying a back a little while Walt moved quickly to my side; Zia and Annabeth moved over to make room for him, Zia going over to scoop her oldest in her arms.

"Sadie, are you all right?" Walt and Anubis asked at the same time, voices laced with worry. "What's happening? How's the baby?" Walt placed a hand over mine; I gave it a squeeze.

"We're fine," I assured him, though with a bit more confidence than I really felt, despite my trust in the doctors. "We just have to...wait."

"An impossible task for you, I'm sure," Anubis commented jokingly. I huffed indignantly while our group laughed.

"I'm sure we'll be able to find something to pass the time," Annabeth commented. "Have you picked out names?"

"Yes," Walt answered. "Boy or girl, he or she will have two middle names, because Sadie wanted "Kane" in there somewhere -"

"You said you didn't mind!" I reminded him, not particularly pleased with his tone. My husband shot me a sheepish glance, and nodded.

"I know; I don't," he replied. He then continued, "And if it's a boy, we'll name him Patrick Carter - Patrick is my dad's name - and if it's a girl, Ruby Bast."

"Red perfume jar, or a perfume jar made from a ruby?" Zia asked.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I know it's for Bast," my sister-in-law answered with a smirk on her face, "but that name technically means "perfume jar," and since ruby could be the gem or a shade of red, I was wondering which you were going for."

Walt and I stared at her, while Carter, Annabeth, and Jaz chuckled. Cleo, a smile on her face, piped up, "Well it must be the gem, considering her last name will be Stone." That got the rest of them laughing, even Walt, while I made a huge show of rolling my eyes at their immaturity.

"Yeah, yeah, joke if you want," I told them, waving my fist, a begrudging smile on my own face. Walt leaned over and kissed my forehead.

"They're all beautiful names, no matter their meaning," he said.

"I'm glad you agree," I reply. I turned to the others. "Alright, now you lot, move it. I'm ready to go back to the comfort of my own home."

"Yes, ma'am," my friends all said in unison, Liz and Emma even saluting. My smile grew wider. Just you wait, Baby, I thought to my child, when you come - and I hope it's only when you're healthy and ready - they'll be a whole bunch of wonderful people waiting to meet you,

...
Brooklyn House, 3:00 pm

"Walt."

His reply, though somewhat sleepy, was immediate, "Yes?"

"We need the hospital, now."

"I'll get the car."

...
Hospital
After delivery

I was a nervous, excited wreck waiting for the nurse to come in, despite my exhaustion. It had been determined that I could have the baby naturally, since it was in the birthing position, and after ten long hours, my sweet baby girl had been born. I had yet to hold her, though, as the nurses had been concerned about her prematurity. It would be a while before we could bring her home, a fact which made my heart hurt, but they had decided little Ruby was stable enough for me to hold her - we had to introduce her to my milk, after all.

Walt, who'd been by my side this entire time, looked about as tired and yet strangely awake as I felt. Zia, Carter, and Amos had come with us to the hospital, and they were waiting outside, along with Emma, Liz, Cleo, Cleo's husband Joao, Jaz, Annabeth, and Percy; and Carter told me Gran and Gramps called, along with well-wishes from former initiates and some members of the House of Life.

Finally the nurse came in, a tiny, tiny pink bundle in her arms. My breath caught in my throat as she lowered my daughter into my arms. Walt thanked her, but I hardly spared her another glance, my attention solely focused on the child in my arms. The baby I'd waited for for so long.

"Walt, look!" I breathed. "Look at her! Anubis, you too!"

"She's beautiful," they both answered. Ruby's skin was a few shades lighter than her father's, but her eyes were mine. It might be too early to tell now, but it looked like she also had Gran's nose and Walt's mouth

"Oh, my baby," I murmured. She had taken to my breast quickly, a good sign, so the nurse informed us. "Sweet girl, I'm so happy to finally meet you." I nodded towards the door, outside of which everyone waited. "And out there are - are the rest of your family. You have some amazing relatives, sweetheart, and I can't wait to tell you all about our adventures."

"And you will be relieved to know," Anubis said to me, gazing lovingly at Ruby, "that there is nothing in her immeidate future but life. Death does not hang around her."

Happy tears filled my eyes. "Oh, I am," I exclaimed. "Oh, I am."

Just then Carter and Zia popped their heads in. "Hey," Carter said, "can we see our new niece yet?"

My smile, impossibly, grew wider. "Yes," I said. "Yes, you most absolutely can."