Just us║E. Buckley x O.C.

It was five in the morning when Hope suddenly woke up, a sharp cramp shooting through her belly. At first, she thought it was one of the usual discomforts from the past few weeks, but when the second one came ten minutes later, she realized their baby was knocking, ready to enter the world.

“Buck,” she whispered, gently shaking him.

“Mmh?” he mumbled, still half-asleep.

“It’s time.”

Buck’s eyes snapped open. “IT'S TIME, LIKE NOW?!”

She nodded, squeezing his hand. “Yes. It’s happening.”

In the organized chaos that followed, Buck managed to wake Maddie, who arrived at their house with Chim and Jee in record time to stay with the triplets. They said their goodbyes with kisses and cuddles, then rushed to the hospital, where the 118 family, as always, was already one step ahead: Maddie had called Athena, Athena had called Hen, and so one by one, they were all there.

The contractions were strong, but Hope was stronger. She wasn’t afraid. She had already given life once, and now she was doing it again.

Buck never let go of her hand. He whispered sweet words in her ear, kissed her forehead, counted with her, and breathed in sync with her.

And then, at 8:26 a.m., with sunlight streaming through the delivery room windows, she arrived.

A sharp cry. A new life.

A baby girl.

A baby girl named Amelia.

Hope looked at her with eyes full of tears. “She’s perfect,” she whispered as the baby was placed gently on her chest.

Buck kissed the newborn’s head, his voice breaking, “Welcome, baby girl. You are already so loved.”

A few hours later, when Hope was settled in her room, the door opened quietly and Maddie peeked in with the kids. Charlotte walked up to Hope and climbed onto the chair next to the bed. She looked at the newborn with wide eyes. “Is she really ours?”

Hope nodded. “Your little sister. Want to hold her hand?”

Charlotte nodded immediately and gently touched the baby’s tiny fingers. Filippo and Margaret joined them shortly after, followed by Athena, Bobby, Hen, Chim, Eddie, Christopher… One by one, each piece of their family chose to be there for that first day. To bring love, promises, and affection.

But when the room finally quieted down in the evening, and it was just them, Hope, Buck, the triplets, and the newest arrival, Buck softly closed the door behind him. He sat next to Hope and wrapped his arms around her from behind, both of them watching their baby girl sleeping peacefully in the clear hospital crib.

Hope turned slightly toward him, cheeks still wet with happiness. Her gaze shifted from their children to her husband, then back to the newborn.

“We’re finally all here now that little Amelia has arrived,” she whispered, her voice full of love. “Just us.”