A New Member

By: Cynthia

Email: cyn_rs7@yahoo.com.ar


Rated: PG


L.A. was great. S Club were having a great time there. They were singing at the café; they were going to the beach every day; they were helping Rachel with her pregnancy and they were trying to be famous at the same time. Yeah, everything was fine. They were living in L.A., in Joni's apartment, and they were having good times. But sometimes things aren't like we expect them to be...


That morning started as the others. Jon and Tina were chatting on the sofa, Jo was having breakfast by the table, Paul and Hannah were playing chess and Bradley was still sleeping. In that moment Rachel downed the stairs, annoyed. She was in her last month and that meant that she was going to have the baby soon.

- I can't down this stairs anymore! I'm too fat! - said Rachel bothered. - And I hate my look. It's so awful! - she added looking at her light blue maternal dress. She could only see her big belly so she got a bit depressed for not seeing her feet anymore.

- What are you saying? You look so lovely with that dress! - said Hannah sweetly.

- Yeah! Like a little whale! - said Paul joking.

With Paul's words Rachel got just irritable that morning. She was annoyed by her friends tons of times and was OK, but now it was different. She was mad.

- How can you say that?! You don't know what I'm living now!! You don't know how I feel!! - screamed Rachel with tears in her eyes. Later she started to cry. Yeah, that happened quite often. She'd been overly sensitive always, but now she was more than ever. That was cos her hormones were all mad for the pregnancy.

Tina went straight to her and hugged her tight.

- So sorry, Rach. We didn't mean to make you feel upset. It's OK. I know what you're living now. It's normal! - said Tina.

Rachel stepped back angrily.

- It's not normal, Tina!! Your boyfriend never got you pregnant and then chucked you! - said Rachel screaming. She was burning of fury and still crying, but she was right. When she was in Miami her boyfriend Matt went to visit her and made her pregnant. She told that to him after he came back to England and he told her that he was going to help her, but then she had to leave Miami and he never went to see her. When she was on the road to L.A., he dumped her, and after that he never took the responsibility of the child so Rachel became a single mom. She felt she was all alone, but that wasn't true. Her friends were there with her all the time and they were going to help her always.

Rachel calmed herself down and went to the kitchen. Then she took breakfast in the sofa really quiet. Suddenly Bradley woke up.

- Hi! - he greeted a bit asleep.

- Hi, Brad! - greeted everybody.

Bradley took his breakfast and had it by the table with Jo, Hannah and Paul. After chatting a long time he went upstairs and dressed up. Then the entire band dressed up and went outside. The girls went to the centre of the city while the boys went to the beach.

- I don't know where I am going to put the cradle and that stuff. We haven't got space! I have no idea where will I put my baby! That's pathetic! - said Rachel taking some teddy bears and other toys and putting them in the cartload. They were baby shopping that day and they were in a big baby shop. There were tons of shelves with toys and other things of any kind, colour and sizes. Long corridors were looked over by pregnant women and their husbands (some of them with young kids running around). The girls looked at them sweetly. There was a young couple with a big cartload with tons of things just in front of them. The guy was kissing the lady's neck. She was pregnant and her boyfriend was hugging her in a romantically form. Rachel looked at them a bit sad and then looked back at the shelf where there were tons of things like baby bottles, pacifiers, bibs, etc. Then she took a list from her pocket and read it carefully.

- I need a cradle, a changing table, a bath, a wardrobe, tons of toys, blankets, sheets, clothes, a place to put all the toys... - started Rachel looking through some stuff. She took five baby bottles, two bibs, and four pacifiers.

- Don't worry, Rach. We'll find a place to put all the things. - said Jo putting her hand on Rachel's shoulder. She smiled at her and Rachel gave her a little smile. Then Rachel read the list again and crossed the things that she already had.

- Yeah, and we'll find all that things. - said Hannah playing with a little blonde doll. She put it in the cartload and kept walking.

- It's just that... I thought I was going to be married when I had my own child and I'm not. I thought I was going to be in a big house with all my things and a lovely husband who'd take care of me and the child, rather than live in that small apartment where we live now, and... - said Rachel. And it was true. The apartment was really small to put all the baby's things. There were only three rooms and they were quite small. The rooms were crowded and there wasn't enough space for lots of things. If the 7s hadn't got enough space for themselves, how could the baby stuff fit there?

She was upset again. She took a deep breath and then added: - I have to move. -

With those words Tina, Hannah and Jo were a bit shocked. They looked at each other really worried and then Tina said:

- What do you mean that you have to move, Rach? We all live together in the same apartment and we're OK. -

- I know, but the baby needs space and we haven't got it so I thought I could move to a place nearby. - answered Rachel checking the list and taking a package of white sheets with animals.

- Alone? - asked Jo.

- Not at all. I mean, I'll be with my baby. - said Rachel with a little smile. She looked back the list.

- Yeah, but are you really sure you want to do that? - asked Tina.

- Absolutely. - said Rachel. Now they were near a shelf with lots of cradles.

- But what will you do if you need help? - asked Jo seriously.

- I'll call you, or if the baby's ill I'll call the doctor. I won't be too far, I'll promise you; only a few blocks away. - said Rachel laid-back. She read the price of a white made-of-wood cradle with a white tul upon it. It looked really nice. In fact she liked it so she said to the personal to put it in other cartload. Tina took it and they kept walking.

- But you know you need money to buy something, don't you? - asked Jo again.

- Yeah, I know. - answered Rachel.

- And you don't work so how will you get the money? - asked Jo. Rachel stopped.

- I don't know. I'll ask my dad for some or... I just don't know, Jo! - said Rachel fed up.

The girls were a bit bothered. They didn't want Rachel to move out. They kept walking.

- Have you looked for apartments or something? - asked Tina.

- Yeah. There is one with two bedrooms about two blocks from our apartment. It's not really big, but It's not too expensive either. It's OK. - answered Rachel. They kept walking in silence. It was so bad. What would they do? Rachel wanted to move far from them and they were so upset about that. They knew they had to do something. They had to find a place where they could live all together.

When they got all the things, they went to the register and paid for them. Then they came back home, and there they found some news...

- Guys, I have good news for you: I bought a new apartment for you! - said Joni excited sat on the sofa. They were all there waiting for the girls to come back.

- REALLY??!! How come?! - asked S Club. The girls sat down.

- Well, I know Rachel's going to give birth soon, and I know this apartment isn't big enough for a baby so I bought a new one. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a big kitchen and a big living room. Also you have a bathroom in each bedroom. You have a big playground too and the bedrooms are really big. It has furnitures (except for the baby´s one) so you can move there when you want to. - answered Joni. They all thanked her and hugged her.

- Now you haven't got to move out, Rach!! - said Tina happily. She nodded and went immediately to her bedroom to pack.

They all packed their things and moved to the house. Joni was right. It was really big. It was about two blocks from there. The first thing they noticed when they were entering was the living room. It was huge, with a big white sofa in the centre, two beige armchairs and a little glass table. There was the TV in front of the sofa. Next to it there was the kitchen. It was big, with a wood table with seven chairs to have meals, a big refrigerator. Next to the kitchen was the playground. Out of the kitchen there was a bathroom and then they went upstairs.

- Oh, no! Stairs! - said Rachel looking at them bothered. They all laughed and Jo and Tina helped her to up them. They went straight through a corridor and saw some doors: the bedrooms. They were huge. One of them had three beds, two of them had two beds and the other one was empty. The boys shared the bedroom with three beds, Jo and Tina shared other bedroom, Rachel and Hannah shared other bedroom and the last one was for the baby. They put all the things there and decorated it really fast. It looked amusing! The white wallpaper had little angels all around. The window had a curtain with the same subject as the wallpaper, and a white bureau was there with two little bears and a blonde doll upon it. The cradle was next to the changing table, and next to it was the big wood box with toys.

- It looks great! - said Jo from the door when they finished.

- Yeah. And just in time. According to my doctor, the baby's going to born soon! - said Rachel excited.

Some days later Hannah, Paul and Rachel were in the apartment. Paul and Hannah were in the living room playing chess that morning while Rachel downed the stairs.

- Hey, there! Where is everybody today? - said Rachel happily.

- You're not supposed to down those stairs by yourself!! Don't you know that?! Why didn't you call us or something?! - said Hannah angry.

- I didn't know if you were here, and I didn't want to bother you. So sorry. - answered Rachel ashamed.

Hannah calmed herself down and gave her friend a big smile. Rachel felt better. On the sofa Paul was still trying to do a move. After a while he moved his Queen and said to Hannah:

- Done. It's your turn. -

Hannah took her sit on the sofa and continued with the game.

- So where is everybody today? - asked Rachel going to the kitchen and taking a glass of orange juice.

- Oh, well. Let me see... Tina and Jo are doing shopping, and Bradley and Jon are on the beach. - answered Hannah. Rachel came back from the kitchen with the glass of juice in her hand. Suddenly she threw the glass and put her hand in her belly. The glass broke in little pieces and the juice was all spilt on the floor.

- What's up, Rach? - asked Paul.

- I need help. It hurts too much. - answered Rachel still with her hands in her belly. She had pain and she felt like she was loosing liquid or something. After that Hannah realised what was happening.

- Rachel you're leacking! You broke font! We have to take you to the hospital quickly!! You're going to have the baby!! - said Hannah. She went straight to Rachel and screamed at Paul: - PAUL!!!!! Get Rachel's bag from my room and the keys!! We have to go now!! -

Paul left the chess game immediately and took Rachel's bag from the room and the keys while Hannah was helping Rachel to walk to the front door to go outside. Paul helped them and they soon got to the car. Paul drove really fast to hospital and they were there in a minute. When they got there, Rachel was taken to a room and Hannah and Paul had to fill out some forms. They went to Rachel´s room immediately and Paul phoned the others. Meanwhile Rachel was having contractions every 10 minutes and was really nervous. She nearly breaks Paul's hand! When the seven of them where there, the nurse entered to the room and asked Rachel who was going to be with her in the Delivery Room.

- I don't know. I think I'll be all alone. - she answered trying to breath while she was having another contraction. That one was really hard cos she screamed so loud and nearly breaks the ears of all of them.

- Well, someone has to be there with you. You can't be there by yourself. You can choose or we'll call a nurse to be with you. - said the nurse.

- Yeah, Rach. She's right. You can't go there alone. You need company. - said Jo.

- Yeah, you're right. I want someone to be with me, just to see my baby with me for the first time. Who wants to go with me, guys? - asked Rachel looking at them. They all kept quiet but then they started to discuss it. They all wanted to be there. After some things, Hannah said:

- We've decided that I'll be there with you, Rach. I'll see your baby with you for the first time. -

Rachel thanked her with a smile and minutes later three nurses took Rachel and Hannah to the Delivery Room. The rest of S Club 7 waited in the Waiting Room. They were all nervous. Paul was trying to get some candy from the machine while Bradley and Jon were sitting in the armchairs, quiet, and Tina and Jo were on the Nursery seeing babies.

- Will it be pretty? - asked Jo looking at a baby girl that was really small. She was sleeping.

- I'm sure of that. Rachel's really pretty, so the baby will be just like her. - answered Tina.

- Yeah, but remember it's Matt's baby too. It'll have some things of Matt too. - answered Jo looking at Tina. Then she looked back at the baby girl in front of her. - I'm sure it'll be a girl. I can feel it. It'll be really tiny and beautiful. - added later. She was still looking at the baby girl.

- Oh, no. I'm sure it'll be a boy. When we were on the beach I felt it. It was moving too much there. It'll be a great football player. - said Tina seeing a baby boy crying. He was wearing a light blue pyjama and looked so cute. They kept watching all the babies.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Hannah were in the Delivery Room. Rachel was pushing really hard to get the baby out.

- OK Rachel. Push! Push!! - screamed the doctor.

- I'm pushing!!! I can't do it more!! - screamed Rachel with tears in her eyes.

- Course you can, Rach! C'mon! Everything's gonna be fine. You just push, Rachel. - said Hannah trying to cheer her up. Then Rachel pushed even harder than before. And Hannah was telling her what was happening. The head was out first, then the shoulders and the rest of the body, and finally it was there. In the moment that the baby was totally out, Rachel lost her conscious just for a sec and woke up just in time to see her baby and hear it crying while Hannah was saying happily:

- It's a girl! A beautiful baby girl! -

Rachel looked at her and was thrilled to pieces. The baby was so tiny and beautiful. It was her baby and it was crying a lot so the nurse wrapped up her and gave it to Rachel. In that moment the baby shut up and opened her eyes for the first time. She looked at her mom. Her eyes were so small and dark brown as Rachel's eyes. Yeah, and she was looking at her mom. That was a magical moment for Rachel. She was looking her baby girl in the eyes and she could see all the following good times there. A tear fell from Rachel's eye and ended up in the baby's face. She dried her baby's face, but then she started to cry. She was so proud.

- Congratulations! - said Hannah quietly. The baby was nearly asleep.

- Thanks! - answered Rachel with a big smile. She was looking at her daughter in that moment. She looked really pleasant and beautiful. Then she said:

- She's perfect. -

- Yeah, she is. - said Hannah. - I'm going to tell the others that she's here. - she added later going out of the Delivery Room.

In that moment the doctor came to Rachel and asked:

- Have you got a name yet? -

- Yes. I have one. Eileen. - answered Rachel smiling.

- Eileen Stevens. Sounds beautiful. - said the doctor. They took the baby to the Nursery and took Rachel to a new room. After an hour the band went to the Nursery to see Ellie.

- Is that her? - asked Bradley pointing at a tiny baby girl with a pink hat on her head. She was wrapped up with a pink blanket and was asleep.

- Yeah, it is. - said Hannah smiling.

- She's gorgeous! - said Jon fascinated.

- Yeah, like Rachel. - answered Jo.

- And as tiny as her! - said Paul giggling. They all laughed and looked at her again. In that moment Ellie started to cry and was taken off the cradle by a nurse, who took her to Rachel's room. There Rachel fed her. She felt so fine with the baby in her arms. Then the entire band went there to see them. They gave her a big bouquet of lilies and lilac flowers (Rachel's favourites) and some teddy bears and pink balloons where they said "It's A Girl!" with silver letters. Some of them were with the shape of a heart. Each member had the baby in their arms and then Ellie went back to her mom's arms.

- How are you feeling, honey? - asked Tina putting her hand on Rachel's shoulder.

- Like I'm in Heaven. I'm so happy I can't explain it. - answered Rachel looking at her baby fascinated. - Oh. By the way, I want you all to meet my baby girl. Everybody, she's Ellie, my Ellie. - she added later looking at them and kissing her baby girl on the front. Some tears started to fall again.

- Hi, Ellie! - greeted S Club with a big smile. Ellie started to cry again. Rachel tried to calm her down, but Ellie just didn't stop. She wasn't hungry cos Rachel did feed her before.

- What happens to her? Is she ill or something? - asked Bradley worried.

- No, Brad. - Rachel started laughing. - I think she's a bit tired. - she added and cuddled Ellie.

- Maybe she needs a song to sleep. - said Paul. They all sang "Two In A Million" and then kept quiet. Ellie was getting asleep but before that she opened her little eyes and looked at her mom. It was just a moment, but Rachel looked at her too and the baby gave her a little smile. Then she went to sleep. It was wonderful for Rachel because in that moment she realised she had become a real mom and that she wasn't all alone. She looked at her friends. She had a big family for her baby and was so happy for that.


*** The end***

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