Author's Note - I'm so sorry this took forever. I've had it done but i don't know. I think i just didn't want to let go yet. I knew that when i posted this chapter that it would finally all be over. No going back. Anyways. I am truly sorry for making you guys wait so long. Hope you like it. Thank you to everyone to reviewed. There were so many of you. It meant the world to me. :)
Epilogue
5 years had passed by and Neela and Ray stayed very much in love. They both officially became doctors. Neela stayed in the ER, it was too much apart of her for her to leave. Ray left and opened a small pediatric clinic near the hospital so he could still be close.
On Neela's 32 birthday Ray had the perfect present planned. He asked her to marry him. Of course she said yes and less than a year later they were married. They bought a small house in a subdivision close to both the hospital and clinic.
Ray unlocked the door and quietly entered the house. No sooner had he removed his shoes a little girl came tearing out of the kitchen towards him. Ray smiled and opened his arms wide, catching her and picking her up. "Hey sweetie," he kissed her cheek.
"Daddy, I hep," the three year old gabbed.
Ray grinned. "What did you help with?"
"Mamma," she exclaimed excitedly.
"Really?" Ray spun her around. "Was Kiara being good for mommy?"
Kiara nodded seriously. "Yes. Just hep."
Ray nodded. Looking at his daughter he couldn't believe how much he loved her. He remembered when Neela had first found out she was pregnant. It had only been three months after they were married. They weren't ready for it yet. Neela had been the most nervous of the two. She was so scared she wouldn't be a good mother.
The day Kiara was born Ray had never seen Neela in so much pain. It was hard for Ray to see her hurting so bad.
"Ray you idiot, how could we have done this?" Neela screamed as she squeezed his hand tightly. Her head dripped with sweat.
"That's it, push," their doctor told her calmly.
"Get out," Neela screamed at Ray. Hurt Ray let go of her hand. "Where are you going? You're really going to leave?" Neela had shouted. Ray had been surprised the doctor was able to stay calm.
Ray watched Kiara continue to babble away.
"Here you go," a smiling nurse placed the pink bundle in Ray's arms. Ray blinked and looked down at the sleeping baby. She was so small and fragile. Ray was scared he was going to drop her. "First time parent?" the nurse asked.
"Yeah," Ray nodded.
"Well, your daughter is really beautiful," she replied before she walked off.
Kiara was one of the most beautiful girls Ray had ever seen and he wasn't just saying that because she was his daughter. She had fair brown skin, a mix of her mom and dad's. She sported Ray's green eyes and had her mom's dark hair and long eyelashes.
When Ray and Neela had first brought Kiara home they were scared about everything. When she cried they would spend hours worrying that something was wrong. Ray was always scared that when he held her he might drop her. Slowly but surly thought they grew out of that and began focusing more on her then being scared. Ray watched Neela become the most amazing mother and he fell even more in love with her if that was even possible. Ray didn't know you could love two people so much.
"Ray?" Neela's voice brought Ray back to the present. He looked up to see a very pregnant Neela waddle over to him. "Hey honey," she smiled.
"Hi baby," Ray placed Kiara on the floor and leaned forward to kiss his wife. "Hey you," Ray bent down and kissed her bulging belly. Kiara laughed, thinking that was funny.
Neela placed a hand on her stomach. The baby was due any day now. She couldn't believe how much she was looking forward to this. Last time she had been so scared. This time she knew what to do which made it easier for her.
"So what did you two lovely ladies do today?" Ray smiled picking up Kiara again and leading Neela to the living room. He motioned for her to sit and took the seat next to her. Kiara moved onto her mom's lap. Neela reached up and stroked her hair.
"We were making a special dinner for daddy right?" Neela asked her daughter.
Kiara nodded. "I hep."
"That's right, you did," Neela leaned forward as much as she could and kissed Kiara's forehead.
Ray grinned. "I can smell it. Delicious. I can't wait."
Neela was about to speak but Kiara jumped off her lap onto the floor. She was bored with her parents' conversation. She headed to the part of the room that contained her toys and started rummaging through them. Neela laughed and continued. "How was your day?"
"Long," Ray rested his head on Neela's shoulder. "I saw Sam and Luka though."
"Really?" Neela brightened up. Neela had gone on maternity leave two months ago and she hated not being able to see all her friends at work. Occasionally they stopped by but it wasn't the same as seeing them everyday, all day.
"They were happy. Just got back from the honeymoon," Ray reached for Neela's hand.
Neela smiled. "That's great…" but Neela stopped wincing a bit.
Ray immediately sat up. "Are you ok?" he asked concerned. The baby was due any day now.
"I'm fine. Just gas or something," Neela brushed it off.
"Are you sure?" Ray urged. Sensing the tension Kiara looked up from her toys and over at her parents.
"Positive. I'm a doctor. I know I'm fine," Neela assured Ray.
Ray still wasn't so sure but he decided to let it go. He wasn't about to start a fight with his very agitated, pregnant wife. He placed a hand on Neela's belly. "We still have to decide on a name."
"I know," Neela agreed. "I still like Andrew for a boy," Neela tilted her head to the side and stared at Ray.
Ray nodded. "That's good. I like Kyle too."
Neela shrived up her nose. "Kyle? No," she shook her head.
"And Lucy for a girl," Ray continued on, ignoring Neela's obvious distaste for the name Kyle.
"That one we agree on," Neela smiled.
Kiara, who had gone back to playing piped in. "Derella."
Ray laughed. "You want a sister named Cinderella?"
Kiara ignored her dad and went back to moving the plastic horse across the floor.
Ray raised an eyebrow and looked at Neela. "How about Cinderella?"
Neela rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth but instead of speaking she let out a shout of pain. Kiara jumped and looked at her mom. Instantly she started to cry.
"Neela?" Ray jumped off the couch. "What is it?"
"Ok Ray. Something is wrong. I think I'm having contractions," she winced slightly.
"You think? I thought you were a doctor, shouldn't you know," Ray darted across the room and picked up Kiara trying to settle her down. She continued to scream.
Neela shot Ray the death look. "Stop being a smart ass. We need to go to the hospital now," Neela tried to get up but couldn't manage.
"Um," Ray started to go into panic mode.
"Ray, look at me," Neela demanded, breathing heavily. "Get the phone. Call Abby to get over here and baby-sit. I'll meet you in the car," Neela gave the instructions. Ray stood still. "Go," she shouted and Ray snapped into action.
15 minutes later Abby and Kiara were waving goodbye from the front door as Ray went tearing out of the driveway. They were at the hospital within minutes.
"I am never getting into a car with you again," Neela muttered as Ray helped her into a wheelchair.
'Here we go,' Ray thought as he wheeled her into the hospital.
Nearly 10 hours later Neela lay exhausted on the bed, her body tired, her head drenched in sweat. She didn't care though. She stared down at the tiny face in her arms. Ray stood beside her, his arm around her shoulder, stroking the baby's hand.
"He's amazing," Ray murmured.
Neela felt her eyes well up. The baby yawned and closed it's chocolate brown eyes.
Kiara burst into the hospital room, Abby right behind. "The nurse said we could come in and we had one very excited sister here," Abby grinned.
Kiara rushed to the bedside and Ray hoisted her up into his arms. "Meet your new brother Ki," he wanted to laugh as he watched Kiara's eyes widen with amazement.
"It's the baby," she looked at her dad questioningly.
Ray nodded. "That's the baby."
"You want to give him a kiss?" Neela smiled up at Kiara. The look on her daughter's face melted Neela's heart.
Kiara nodded furiously and Ray lowered her down. She placed a tiny kiss on the baby's forehead. "Derella?" Kiara asked as Ray pulled her away.
Ray chuckled. "No honey. It's a boy. Your brother."
Kiara gave him a look that said, so?
Neela laughed. "This is Andrew sweetie. Andrew Kyle Barnett."
Kiara paused for a moment. "Drew?"
"Yeah darling," Neela nodded.
Kiara seemed satisfied with this and turned to Ray. She took his face in both her hands. "When do I get a sister?"
Ray looked over at Neela and the two exploded into a fit of laughter. At that moment Ray knew everything was perfect.