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She lifted up Sasha's gown and her face underwent a startling transformation. "Oh, good heavens!" she exclaimed. "You’re fully dilated!"

"Is that bad?" demanded Kaleb.

"No, it’s wonderful," answered the midwife." It means we’re going to have a baby! And sooner, rather than later!"

"Kaleb!" Sasha's voice cracked as she gripped onto his hand, her body tensing up to face the next contraction. "Please don’t leave me."

"I’m not going anywhere, sugar!" Kaleb had never known an experience as powerful as seeing his child being born—but along with the pride came panic. He tried telling himself that women had been giving birth for centuries, in conditions far more threatening than the clean and antiseptic surroundings of this hospital delivery room.

But nothing seemed to take the edge off his fears for Sasha and their baby.

Nothing, that was, until Sasha gave one last shuddering groan—and a long, skinny object with a shock of dark hair emerged, shouting, into the world.

"It’s a boy!" beamed t