Don't Give Up On Me - Unedited

Epilogue

Hunter stood next to the hospital bed, holding the small caramel hand in his. He looked down at the forehead covered in a sheen of sweat followed by a mane of honey and blonde swirls. His heart filled with pride and love for the strong spitfire and everything they had to overcome to get where they are today.

The sudden loss of blood circulating to his hand and sharp intake of breath broke his train of thoughts. He gritted his teeth as her long slender fingers embedded her nails into his hand. Hunter sucked in a breath of his own, the sound whistling through his teeth. Where did she get her strength from?

He looked down at Charley panting through her contractions. The bustle of nurses, beeping machines and barks of orders couldn't make him lose his focus on the love of his life. Her dishelved hair, perspired skin and protruding bump just made her all the more beautiful. He found the bigger her bump grew the sexier she looked.

Even the scar that ran across her lower back. Although some may find scars unsightly, Hunter seen it as a battle wound with a story he could tell his future kids. Heck, maybe even his grand kids!

How he thought his world would collapse that day. The moment he was told there was good and bad news was enough to stroke his breath away. He legs had turned to the consistency of jelly and for one second, he had doubted if the baby would make it.

But the baby had survived, thankfully. Charley was left nerve damage. She couldn't feel a small area of her side and back. They were so relieved it wasn't anything more serious. And although Charley was never bothered by the scar, she complained day and night about the few stretch marks she gained on her stomach. Hunter was forever reminding her she earned her stripes and it would all be worth it when she held the tiny bundle in her arms. He would kiss each stretch mark every night and tell her she was more beautiful in his eyes than what she was the previous day.

Her hand cradled his in a death grip as another contraction surged through her. He patted the cool, damp cloth across her forehead offering words of encouragement.

"I can't do it. I really can't do it. It's too painful."

Hunter wanted to laugh at her but feared her wrath.

"You can angel. You can do it, just think after this is all over, we'll have our little one in our arms, ready to go home and be a family."

"Hunter, I understand if you don't want to be here. I can handle it on my own." She took a deep breath. "I know how hard this must be for you, so of you want to run, do it now please."

"I have told you over and over again I am for the long haul. Get that through your head. I am not going anywhere."

"I'm only saying it because this is the last chance I can give you. I won't hate you for it, but if you don't go now, then you are stuck with me." Charley meant every word spoken. She knew it wasn't going to run all smooth but as must as she loved Hunter with every fibre of her being, her child had to come first. She was just blessed he had stuck through every mood swing, food craving and when the tears fell hard, he was there to comfort her.

"I know you keep offering me a 'get out of jail free card', but I am not going anywhere Charley. I love you and the little one. So stop the insecurities. I love you."

Charley's eyes twinkled in appreciation of the words she needed to hear. That or the pain of another contraction.

She faintly heard a midwife call out to another, to engrossed in the pain to make head or tails of what they were saying.

"Charley, Charley, I need you to listen to me. You are ten centimetres dilated. On your next contraction, when I say push, I want you to push for me okay pet?"