AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You got it. Should I...do we need to prep for a cesarean?” I don’t know why I’m surprised that Cooper knows that. He was a donor after all. He grew up with sisters. The procedure isn’t as common as it was in the back-world, but it still does happen. But I don’t want to resort to it unless I have to. She’s already lost enough blood. I’m afraid that sort of trauma could really mess things up. She’s already fully dilated. I just need her to be able to push. She can hang on another minute. I know Sawyer will reach her. I just know it.
I lick my lips and nod my head. “The nurse should already have everything ready to go in the room across the hall. But I want to give Sawyer another minute. The blood should help Hayley. I know she is strong enough to handle this.”
Why do I question it, though? I know it in the very core of my being that she would want me to do everything first. She wants to be present.
A soft whimper sounds of the air drawing my attention away from Cooper as he leaves and back to Hayley. She blinks her eyes, tears smearing down her cheeks, and I rush closer and take her hand.
“Welcome back, vixen. I know you’re in pain, but it’s almost over. The baby is crowning. I’m going to need you to be strong for me and push.” I might have medical training, but I’ve never delivered a baby. We’ve always sent women to the Labor and Delivery triage in the back-world from the emergency room. But I still remember everything I’ve learned. I’ve always been excellent at handling an emergency, and I know I can handle this now.
“It hurts,” Hayley says, her voice shaking. “It fucking hurts so bad.”
Monroe holds out his hand to her. “Show me. Show me how bad it hurts. I will experience this fucking pain with you.”
Hayley gasps and laughs in exasperation. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then I’ll fucking hurt him.” Sawyer grabs onto Monroe’s hand and squeezes his fingers, breaking at least one of them.
Monroe howls and grinds his teeth, hugging Hayley. “Fuck yeah. We got this, Hayley! You can do it. Get this beautiful baby out of you, so I can give you a damn bloodbath and let you drain me to your heart’s content until you’re completely healed. Then we can fucking celebrate. You’ve got this.”
I can’t stop the smile crossing my face because of Hayley’s reaction. She manages to gasp a couple more breaths. Her heart rate settles, and her blood pressure returns to normal as her body heals with the blood, allowing her to focus on delivery.
“I can’t believe you’re mentioning fucking our girl during labor. Not the time, man.” Cooper says with his return, punching Monroe playfully.
“It’s always the time. I’m starting to think I have a kink for this. I want to knock her up all over again. A dozen times. More. Just imagine.” Monroe grins.
“A dozen mini-Monroe’s? Fuck no. I can already see you teaching stabbing techniques to toddlers. Just no.” Sawyer cups Hayley’s face, kissing her nose.
“Aw, come on. Knife safety is important—” Monroe’s eyes widen as Hayley squeezes his hand, groaning. “Shit.”
“It’s time to shut the fuck up. Hayley’s gotta push.” I focus on my decades of training, my mind steeling itself. Nothing could’ve prepared me for this moment though. No class. No prior experience. Nothing. I never expected such love and terror to course through me as Hayley begins pushing on my count.
Nothing in the world matters in this moment. Sawyer, Monroe, and Cooper support her with their words, helping her reposition to be more comfortable.
My mind and body feel as if they separate, my movements coming automatic as I guide our daughter into this world. Everything slows around me, and it’s as if time stops altogether. The moment between Hayley’s final push and me cradling a crying baby girl blur. I quickly clean her up and grin, holding her out to Hayley to take. She gasps a couple breaths, sweat sheening across her forehead, and I can’t help savoring the look on her face as she sees our daughter for the first time. The love emanating from her fills me up in a way I never expected. I believed in love at first sight before, because I know I felt it the moment I saw Hayley on the stage of Vampire Nights, and this moment solidifies it. I never expected to be so in love with someone I’ve just met, and this beautiful, miraculous little girl has my whole heart along with her mother.
“Holy shit. We have ourselves a baby girl,” Monroe says, wrapping his arm around Hayley’s shoulders. “We are in so much fucking trouble.”
Sawyer barks a laugh, the lightness of his voice adding to the joy coursing through me. “So much fucking trouble.”
“No doubt she’s going to be as wild as her mother.” Cooper grazes his fingers along our daughter’s forehead, staring at her with the biggest grin on his face.
“And just as perfect,” I add, quickly and quietly attending to Hayley, knowing that she and the baby are going to be fine. They’ll be better than fine. They’ll be absolutely fantastic.
Silence fills the room as Hayley stares at our daughter, holding her as if she’s still in disbelief. Sawyer moves out of the way, and I examine both Hayley and our baby girl, ensuring everything looks good. I still can’t believe how fast she’s grown and how resilient Hayley is.
“Do you think the bite had any effect on her?” Hayley asks after a minute, her mind finally settling enough that she can speak.
“I’m not sure, but she looks healthy. Her vitals are all good. She’s not showing any signs of distress. You seem to be close to full-term, so we will just keep an eye on her. How do you feel? You’ve been through so much.” I stroke my fingers along our baby’s cheeks, watching as she puckers her mouth, already showing signs of suckling. I never in a million years thought I would have to put this information to use, and now I can’t wait to help Hayley in any way she needs.
“I’m better than I thought I would be. I’m super hungry though. Everything feels so out of whack. Is it weird that I just want to cry and laugh at the same time?” A tear trickles onto Hayley’s cheek and Monroe quickly swipes it away and kisses her.
Cooper offers her his arm to give her blood. “It’s not weird. I feel the exact same, and I don’t have the same reason you do.” He chuckles and swipes his eyes before they sheen over.
And damn, now that he mentions it, my eyes blur with tears. I can’t remember the last time I felt so overwhelmingly emotional.
“Fuck. I think we need a group hug.” Monroe stretches his arms, motioning to Sawyer, who remains quiet and collected, just staring at the beautiful baby in our amazingly incredible woman’s arms.
Hayley giggles with her tears and allows us to smother her with our affection. I adjust the baby and help her latch, trying not to interrupt the snuggle fest. Hayley sucks in a breath and her eyes widen and she looks at me. This is going to be a huge adjustment, but she is so adaptable, that we are going to get through this easily.
