Loved By You

Eight

Demi

"How's Kalen?"

"He was asleep when I left him. Think he's worried about his little brother though" I nodded as I sniffled.

"I know the feeling" Odell gently leant in to kiss my temple. "Thank you for being so calm" he lightly laughed as he shook his head, stroking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I wasn't calm on the inside, Baby. I just did what I knew I needed to do."

"That's why I'm saying thank you" his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Without you we would probably still be stood in our bedroom" he lightly shook his head as he cupped my face in his hands.

"You would have done what I did, Baby. You even said that he needed to go to the ER" I sniffled, my eyes welling with tears.

"I doubt it" I bit down on my lip as my chin began to quiver.

"You would have, Demi" he leant to kiss my forehead. "You're an amazing mom, Baby. Our children are insanely lucky to have you. I'm lucky to have you" I lightly smiled up at him as he caressed the side of my face. He leant in to kiss me. "I love you" before I could reply, the door to the room was pushed open and Georgia stepped in with a light smile.

"Hi Demi" I flashed her a smile. "You must be dad?" Odell nodded as he reached out to shake her hand. "I'm Georgia. I'm the nurse on Hunter's care" I leant to grab a tissue from the box on the table as Odell wrapped his arm lightly around me.

"Is there any news?" I was thankful that Odell spoke.

"We're still waiting for some results to come back but he's been moved into a private room and you're both able to see him" I glanced instantly to Odell who nodded. "He's in room 3. It's just down the corridor."

"Thank you, Georgia" she nodded, flashing us a final smile before she turned to leave. "Come on, Baby. Let's go and see Hunter" Odell took my hand and helped me to stand. My heart pounded against my chest as we walked down towards Hunter's room, the memory of him on that gurney instantly made me nauseous. I began to take deep breaths as Odell pushed the door open to Hunter's room. He was the only person in the room other than Georgia who was writing something down on a piece of paper.

"I'm just monitoring his vitals. Just pretend I'm not here" I stepped up to Hunter, holding my breath as I stared down at him.

"Hi Baby" I slid my finger along his arm, biting down on my lip as his eyes fluttered open and his lips lightly twitched at the corners. I leant to press a gentle kiss to his cheek. "You're okay, Handsome. Mommy and daddy are here" Odell gently placed his hand over Hunter's belly. "You're such a brave boy" his hand instantly clamped around my finger. We sat staring at Hunter for a while until a team of doctors stepped into the room.

"Hi, I'm Dr Stevens" I smiled as she reached her hand out for us to shake. "Hunter has what we call Bronchiolitis. It's a viral respiratory infection that's very common in babies. It's easily treatable and it normally clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. We're constantly monitoring his oxygen saturations so we're aware if he requires any oxygen but at the moment, that's stable" I glanced down at Hunter who whined, his fist moving to his mouth. "When was the last time he fed?" I glanced to Odell in hopes he would know that answer. The fact that I couldn't remember made my heart ache. What mom doesn't know what time her baby last ate?

"It was before we put him to bed around 11" Dr Stevens nodded.

"We'll leave you to try and feed him. We're going to keep him in for the day and see how he is later on. He'll either be discharged tonight or tomorrow morning. Just grab me if you have any further questions" we thanked her and then she turned to leave.

"Are you hungry, Handsome?"

"Is he breastfed?" I nodded as I attempted to lift him up from the bed. Georgia helped me with the wires attached to his body and then left once he was settled against me. Odell pressed a kiss to my cheek as Hunter instantly latched on.

"The problem is, I don't know how much he's eating. What if he isn't eating enough?" I glanced to Odell who stroked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I'm sure he is, Baby" I released a breath as I relaxed back into the chair. I caressed the side of Hunter's face as he fed. "You're an amazing mom, Dem. I don't know why you suddenly think that you're not?" I nibbled on my lip as I glanced to him.

"It-It's scary how well you know me" his lips ever so lightly twitched at the corners. "It's just-I didn't know how to help him."

"And that's why we needed an ambulance, Baby. We're not going to know how to help him all the time but you're an incredible mom" he lightly caressed the side of my face. "I don't want you to doubt that again, okay?" I nodded, lightly smiling as he leant to kiss me. "I love you more than anything. We're good at this parenting thing, we make a good team" he kissed me again. I glanced back down at Hunter who's hand was pressed against my chest. "He loves his mommy, Dem, and so does Kalen" I nibbled on my lip as I lightly caressed Hunter's hand. "You're not Kalen's mom biologically but you sure act like it. You're his mom, Demi, and he loves you. All he wanted today was you and all Hunter needed was you. I love you, Beautiful."

"You can stop trying to make me feel better now" my cheeks were on fire. "I believe you" the smile on his face was victorious. I lightly laughed as he shimmied in his seat. "You're such a dork" I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I glanced back down at Hunter.

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