A/N: Ok, I couldn't think of a title for this - but it basically stems from something Gina posted about comedic delivery scenes if Zendall were to ever have a baby. So, thanks, Gina, for the inspiration. And I couldn't go much further with this tonight cause I'd planned a Zendall drinking game - but if anyone's interested - I'll try to add more later.
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Zach wheeled Kendall into the ER and wasted no time in rapping on the partition that separated the nurses from the waiting room. “We need a doctor. . .now.”
A nurse, bearing the name tag Mildred, took her time sliding the glass window open and then lowered her spectacles to the tip of her nose as she observed Kendall panting in the wheelchair. “Is she in labor, sir?”
“Is she. . .” Zach deviated from his usual stoicism long enough to gape at the woman incredulously. “No, she swallowed a bowling ball and we’d like to get it out. Yes, she’s in labor and I’d like her seen about now.”
Mildred pursed her lips at his perceived rudeness. “Name, please.”
“Zach. . .”
“Not you.” She glared at him. “Her.”
“Kendall Slater.”
“Kendall Hart-Slater,” his wife ground out as she struggled to regulate her breathing. “It’s a business marriage. We’re married in name only.”
“You’ve been pregnant with my child for the past 8 months, 2 weeks and 5 days and you’re choosing now to go into denial about the state of our marriage?” Zach shook his head. “You’re something else.” He glanced back at Mildred. “What are you looking at? Why are we not in a room yet?”
“You have to fill out some paperwork first, sir.”
Zach heard Kendall whimper behind him and he nearly winced in pain himself. “You’ll get us in a room now or the only paperwork you’ll be seeing is in the unemployment line. Am I making myself clear?”
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Zach figured this was the hardest part. They’d been put in a private room in labor and delivery, Kendall had been given an epidural and now they were waiting. While he considered himself a patient man in most circumstances, he’d quickly discovered that this wasn’t one of those times. He didn’t know what to do with himself. “Can I get you some more ice chips?”
“Ice chips?” Kendall snorted as she tried to shift into a more comfortable position. “I want a Heineken. That would make this more bearable.”
“Is the pain medication not helping?”
“Yes and no. I’m not feeling any pain, but there’s like all this pressure on my lower back.” She shifted again before turning her huge eyes up at him pitifully. “I’m sorry about the crack I made about the business marriage earlier. I didn’t mean it.”
“I know you didn’t. Apology accepted.” Zach hid a smile. “You’re still not getting a Heineken. Would you settle for a back rub?”
Kendall glared at him without any real heat. “If I recall correctly, a back rub is exactly what got me into this position.”
“No, no.” He shook his head. “You were already pregnant with the little one when the back rub got you in. . .no, I believe it was that night at the casino that got you . . .”
“Ah!” She held up a hand to stop his recollection. “I don’t need you reminding me about that night.”
“Well, obviously you do if you think a back rub put you where you are now. I mean, the night our baby was conceived, I don’t believe I touched your. . .well, maybe I did, but I wasn’t rubbing your back. More like holding you up. . .”
“You’re doing it again.” Kendall couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped her lips. “You’re distracting me so I won’t think about the pain.”
Zach shot her a disarming grin. “It’s working?”
“A little too well.” She returned his smile, but it quickly faded upon hearing Erica’s raised voice in the hallway. Eyes wide, she turned back to her husband. “Zach, I don’t want my mother in here. If Bianca’s here, send her in, but Erica? No way.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Zach pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before putting on his game-face and entering the hallway. He saw Erica right away and his eyes lit up. “Grandma! You’re early. The little tyke hasn’t made an appearance yet.”
“Zach.” Erica greeted him coolly. “I’d like to see my daughter, Kendall.”
“I’m sorry, mom.” He shook his head. “My wife isn’t receiving any visitors. Unless, you know, it’s your daughter, Bianca.”
“Bianca will be arriving from Paris shortly,” his mother-in-law informed him regally. “In the meantime, Kendall will just have to make do with me.”
“Oh, come on.” Zach gently grasped her arm and led her back out to the waiting room. “We’ve got a little time. Why don’t you and I think up baby names, huh? Oh, I know. Who needs a baby book when we can just run down the list of your husbands? We might find a good boy’s name from that. If it’s a girl, I don’t know. . .”
“I don’t find you the least bit amusing, Zach.”
“I’m not trying to be.” His smile faded. “Kendall has made it clear that she doesn’t want to be bothered. Seeing as she is my wife and the mother of my child, I’m going to make sure that her wishes are respected. Now, if you feel the need to stay here at the hospital, by all means – please do so, but you’re going to have to wait out here unless or until I tell you otherwise.”
