Outside, the ocean is still dark, just starting to lighten at the edges. The sky shifts slowly toward gray. It’s exactly how it was with Connor—black when it began, with early morning light creeping in by the time he arrived.
And this feels the same.
When the contractions get closer, Saria fills the tub. The water’s warm, and Dane helps me down into it, his hands steady on me. The relief is almost immediate.
“Good?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “It helps.”
He stays right there, one hand always on me, finding wherever I need it most. He brushes my hair back from my face and runs a cool cloth over my forehead, down my neck, never letting me forget he's there.
Another contraction builds, stronger and deeper. I tense, drawing in a breath.
“Ooh… Mmm.”
My grip tightens on his arm.
“Saria, there’s a lot of pressure with this one.”
It hits low and hard, different from before.
“I need to push.”
Saria is beside me instantly, pulling on gloves. “Let me check.”
I hold myself steady and breathe through the worst of it, anchored by Dane’s arms around me.
A beat.
“Ten centimeters,” she says. “You’re fully dilated. You can start pushing.”
Dane’s mouth presses to my temple. “He’s coming, babe.”
Another wave builds, and my body takes over, bearing down without waiting for permission.
“You’re almost done now. He’s almost here.”
“It hurts, Dane. There’s so much pressure.” My breath breaks. “Connor didn’t feel like this.”
This is a million times worse.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, holding me tighter. “I’m so sorry, babe. I’d take the pain for you if I could. You know I would.”
And he would.
I nod, but there’s no space to answer. Another surge hits, stronger, instinct taking over completely. I can’tnotpush.
The pressure turns sharp and burning.
“Oh God—why is it burning so bad?”
It feels like I’m splitting open. I grip Dane harder, a sound tearing out of me.
“I need this to be over. Now!”
“You’re almost finished,” he says. “You’re so close.”
I drag in a breath and push, everything narrowing to that one effort.
