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VIVIAN
They ate lunch and Cillian allowed her to go to two more stores before he decided to end their day. They were walking back to the rental truck when pain ripped through her abdomen, causing her to drop the bag she was carrying, doubling over to hold her belly.
“Viv,” Cillian shouted, rushing to her side. He dropped the bags to the ground and pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his body. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he insisted.
“It’s the baby,” she cried. “I think something’s wrong.”
“Don’t panic, Love,” Cillian said. “I’ve got you.”
“I think we need to go to the hospital,” she said.
Repo pulled up beside them in his pick-up and cut the engine. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Viv’s having pains,” Cillian said. “I need to take her to be checked at the hospital.” He looked around the parking lot at the scattered shopping bags.
“Don’t worry about anything but your girl,” Repo said. “I’ve got all this and will meet you over at the hospital. It’s one of the best, Kill. Don’t worry, Viv will be in good hands.”
“Thanks, man,” Cillian said. Viv’s abdomen cramped and she cried out. “Shit—call the others for us.”
“Will do,” Repo agreed. “Just get her to the hospital.”
Cillian slid her into the passenger seat and buckled her in. Viv felt a fresh wave of panic wash over her as another sharp cramping sensation felt like it knotted up her insides. She doubled over and groaned, clutching her belly.
“Shit,” Cillian spat. “I’ll have you to the hospital in just a few tics, Love,” he promised. Viv knew that something had to be wrong. If she had to guess, she was in labor and it was too soon.
“I’m just five months,” she whispered. “It’s too soon.”
“No,” Cillian said. “Don’t think like that, Viv. The baby will be fine. We just need to have you both checked out.” Viv knew he was trying to make her feel better but she wanted to tell Cillian he was wrong. She wanted to tell him not to make her false promises and give her hope because that wasn’t usually how the world worked. At least, not for her.
Cillian had them to the hospital in record time and pulled up to the ER, not bothering with finding a parking spot. Two women rushed out of the building with a gurney and helped her from the truck and up onto the bed. “She’s five months pregnant and we think she’s having contractions,” Cillian said. “She keeps having pains in her stomach.”
“It feels like sharp pains, almost like my muscles and skin are being stretched,” Viv added.
“Have you timed them?” the woman Viv assumed to be the nurse asked.
“No,” Viv admitted. “I didn’t know I needed to.”
“That’s okay,” the woman said. “We’ll get you in and hooked up to a machine that will be able to tell us if you are contracting and how far apart they are. We’ll also get an ultrasound to check on your little one. You’re in good hands.” Viv nodded, not able to speak past the lump of emotion in her throat.
“We got this, Love. Our babe will be just fine—promise,” Cillian said.
“Don’t make me promises that might not be true,” Viv whispered.
“How are you two related?” the second woman asked.
“I’m her fiancé and the baby’s father,” Cillian said. “Where she goes I go.” He looked about as mean as they came and when he stared down the poor nurse Viv wanted to laugh. But, none of this was funny.
“You alright with this, Ma’am?” the first woman asked.
“Yes,” Viv said. “I need him with me. Just find out what’s wrong and fix it, please,” she begged.
_______
They got her hooked up to a machine that could measure if she was having contractions and the nurse said that the steady lines that the machine was producing, was a good sign. It felt like it took forever for a doctor to see her and after he checked her out, he left the room, not offering any explanation. Viv couldn’t help her worry. She felt consumed by it and when she started to cry, Cillian was by her side, holding her hand.
“Whatever it is, Love, we’ll get through it—together,” he promised.
“This is all my fault,” she sobbed. “I wasn’t sure I wanted this baby and now, we might not have him or her. I did this.” When she found out she was pregnant Viv thought about having an abortion. Hell, she had only just met Cillian and they were so new to each other. Viv didn’t expect him to stick around when she told him about the baby and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to raise a kid on her own. But then, she thought about what her grandmother would say about the baby being a blessing and how they bring so much joy to a family—it was almost impossible to follow through with her initial plans. Viv decided to keep the baby and tell Cillian, letting the chips fall where they may. It had all worked out—she got the man she loved and a baby she was falling more and more in love with each passing day. If something happened to the baby, she’d be the one to blame.
