Page 17 of Zin and Celeste: A Fortis Family Christmas

In seconds Ava and Lauren were guiding her towards her bedroom, their hands gently supporting her.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and in something comfortable,” Lauren said.

Celeste stepped into the bathroom and let Ava help her take her wet leggings off. Lauren came back in and offered her one of Zin’s t-shirts and hoodies, and she sighed in relief, knowing her friends understood her to need to feel him close. Delilah sat by the door, never leaving her sight and Celeste figured that her dog had known her waters were going to break before they did and was trying to tell her something was wrong.

Halfway through changing another contraction hit and she sat on the toilet seat and did what she’d been taught to do while Lauren gently laid a hand on her belly to feel the strength of the contraction.

“That was five minutes but lasted slightly longer.” Lauren looked up at Celeste. “You’ll probably find they become closer and last longer now that your waters have broken.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to stay in here or go back out? I can light a fire in this room, but you may find walking around helps, or not. Everyone is different. I gave birth standing up.”

Ava cocked her head waiting for her answer. Celeste really didn’t know but decided going back out into the main room where she could hear updates on Zin and the others might help her. “Main room, but maybe a fire in case I change my mind later.”

Ava nodded once. “Yeah, we can do that. Nate cut enough wood to last until next Christmas.”

Celeste walked slowly back to the main room and saw most of the adults and all of the kids had gone. “Where is everyone?”

“Smithy and Nate built a fire in the other room, and they’ve taken the kids in there. The little ones can sleep, and the older ones can play or whatever for a bit. We have enough people to sort them out. I’ll need to put my two to bed though. I’ll send Lizzie and Skye to sit with you while Lauren and I get our kids to bed and then come back. That work for you?”

Celeste nodded and watched her friends leave. She knew they were trying to give her as much control as they could and loved them for it. As she went to stand behind Roz and see if there were any updates, another pain gripped her, and she held on tight to the back of Roz’s chair.

Drew stood and faced her. “Hold on to my arms, Celeste. I’ve got you.”

Celeste did, and the human connection, strong and stable, helped ease the terror riding higher than the pain. Drew was like a brother to her, and she knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He was also the calmest of the men despite what he’d been through and sometimes being lost. Meeting Mara had changed everything, as if he had found the piece that made him complete.

As the pain eased, she let go and nodded when he smiled. “You good?”

Celeste gave a half-laugh. “For a minute, yes.” Turning, she saw Roz watching her with fear in her eyes. “What is it?”

“Are you going to be okay? Because I can’t lose anyone else I love.”

Her words warmed Celeste, and she awkwardly hauled the woman in for a hug. “We got this, Roz. We’re women. We eat stress and pain for breakfast. I just might need you to hold my hand if things get hairy though.”

“You’re right, we can do this and when K and Zin get back, I’m going to kick their asses for scaring two pregnant women like this.”

Celeste pulled away and smiled. Roz was terrified and needed Celeste as much as she needed her. Showing her vulnerable side was alien to her sister-in-law, but Celeste would take care of her; they all would. “Any updates?” she asked as a voice came over the comms.

“We’ve made contact with the target and are closing in. ETA thirty minutes.”

Zack sounded relieved, and Celeste felt it to her toes.

Roz responded. “Good but pick up the pace. Celeste is in labour and her waters have broken, so tell that brother of mine if he misses the birth of my nephew, I’m going to castrate him.”

A laugh burst out of Celeste at the words and silence greeted them on the other end.

“Zack!” Roz spoke.

“Received. Will be with the target in ten minutes. Tell Celeste to cross her legs until we get back. Zin is going to be murderous if he misses this.”

Celeste would have laughed, but she was too busy breathing through another contraction, this one lasting longer and coming quicker than the last.

They needed to hurry or she’d be doing this without her handsome Russian.