I had some help

Forty-three

The doctors gently placed baby Indigo Wilder Wallen in his crib, his tiny breaths barely audible in the room. Katie, exhausted from the delivery, fell asleep almost immediately, leaving Morgan and Alex standing awkwardly by the bed.

Alex glanced at Morgan, feeling a mix of emotions. She hadn't expected to be here, let alone play such an intimate role in the birth. Morgan's gratitude was evident in his eyes as he looked at her.

"You can take the bench." Morgan offered, gesturing towards the small, uncomfortable-looking bench. "You didn't have to come here, but I appreciate you so much."

Alex shook her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "I couldn't let you go through this alone." She said softly.

Alex knew she was too tired to drive herself home. It was 5 AM and none of them got a blink of sleep.

Morgan smiled back, his eyes filled with warmth. "Thank you."

There was a pause, the weight of the day's events settling around them. Alex looked at the bench bed and then back at Morgan. She knew he needed rest as much as she did.

"Come sleep with me?" Alex asked, her voice gentle as she lay down on the bed, she took less than half of it.

Morgan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, his exhaustion evident. He carefully climbed onto the bed, settling beside her. They lay there in silence for a while, the sounds of the hospital a distant hum.

As they lay side by side, the tension between them eased. Alex reached out, taking Morgan's hand in hers. "I'm glad I could be here for you, Morgan." She whispered.

Morgan squeezed her hand gently. "Me too."

They drifted off to sleep, finding comfort in each other's presence, a shared history and an unspoken understanding bridging the gap between them.

The next morning, Katie was the first to wake up. She looked around the room, her eyes narrowing when she saw Morgan and Alex lying together on the bench bed. Scoffing quietly, she stumbled to the bathroom on her own. The flush of the toilet roused Morgan from his sleep, though he continued to lie still until Katie came back out.

Morgan watched as Katie walked over to Indigo's crib, her movements slow and careful. Just then, the doctor entered the room to assist Katie with feeding Indigo. Their whispered conversation stirred Alex from her rest.

Blinking sleep from her eyes, Alex took in the scene: Katie, with the doctor's help, gently feeding Indigo, and Morgan watching with a mix of awe and exhaustion.

"Mornin." Alex whispered, sitting up and stretching.

Morgan gave her a tired smile. "Mornin."

Katie glanced at Alex, her expression still tinged with irritation. "Did you sleep well?" She asked, her tone colder than she intended.

Alex nodded, sensing the tension. "As well as I could." She replied softly.

The doctor finished assisting Katie and turned to the group. "Everything looks good. Indigo is healthy and feeding well. Just make sure Katie gets plenty of rest and support."

Morgan thanked the doctor, who nodded and left the room. He turned to Alex, gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you again for being here." He said earnestly.

Katie's expression softened slightly as she looked at Indigo. "I suppose we should be grateful you were here." She admitted reluctantly. "It's not every day you get unexpected help."

Alex smiled, trying to bridge the gap. "I'm glad I could help. He's beautiful, Katie. Congratulations."

Katie nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips as she looked at her son. "Thank you."

Morgan watched the interaction, relieved to see some of the tension dissipating. "How about we all get some breakfast?" He suggested, hoping to further ease the atmosphere.

Alex and Katie both nodded, the unspoken agreement hanging in the air. They were all here for Indigo, and that was what mattered most. Together, they navigated the delicate balance of their relationships, united by the tiny new life they had welcomed into the world.

Alex and Morgan went to Katie's favorite breakfast restaurant to get her food that she'd enjoy.

"Alex, I can't thank you enough. I'm so sorry I wasn't there." Morgan said. "I wanted y'all to talk and bond, I didn't want to miss the birth of my son." Morgan explained, clearly distressed.

"Morgan, you're ok," Alex said, reaching over the center console to grab his arm as he kept his eyes on the road. "It was hard at first, but you just have to have great actions following." Alex looked at him reassuringly.

"Thank you, for everything. I bet four years ago if someone said this would be happening, you wouldn't believe it." Morgan said with a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"Four years ago, I wouldn't believe that I'd be talking to you right now." Alex replied, looking at him sympathetically. "So much has changed since then."

Morgan sighed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Yeah, life has a way of throwing curveballs. But I'm glad you're here. I don't think I could have done this without you."

Alex smiled softly, squeezing his arm. "We're all doing our best. That's what matters."

They arrived at the restaurant and ordered Katie's favorite breakfast. As they waited, they chatted about the tour, reminiscing about the good times and laughing at the absurd moments.

"You know." Morgan said thoughtfully. "Despite everything, I'm grateful for the journey we've been on. It's made us who we are today."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. And it's brought us back together, in a way. Maybe not how we imagined, but still."

Morgan smiled at her. "Yeah, still."

With the food in hand, they headed back to the hospital, both feeling a sense of calm and unity despite the complexities of their past. The road ahead was uncertain, but they were ready to face it together, step by step.

In 2016, Morgan Wallen and Katie Smith's relationship blossomed through Snapchat, sparked by Morgan's longing for a love like his parents'. Their connection deepened swiftly, leading to a heartfelt proposal just months into their courtship. However, as Morgan's music career soared and he embarked on tours, the strains of distance and the temptations on the road took a toll, leading to moments of infidelity that shattered Katie's trust.

Their relationship became increasingly on and off, with both of them trying to navigate the pressures of Morgan's rising fame and the challenges in their relationship. Despite the heartbreak, they kept coming back to each other, hoping to repair what was broken. It was during this tumultuous period that Morgan unexpectedly encountered Alex again in 2017, reigniting dormant emotions.

By 2018, when Morgan became one of Alex's clients, the old sparks between them had reignited. The whirlwind of their 2019 tour led Morgan to a profound realization: he couldn't fully commit to Katie while his heart still longed for Alex. Their relationship didn't unravel dramatically but rather dissolved with a quiet understanding that they were better off apart.

During this period of uncertainty, Katie became pregnant, although they weren't really together at the time. It was a period of profound growth for both of them, as they grappled with the complexities of love, trust, and the weight of public scrutiny. Katie found solace in moving forward, while Morgan embarked on a journey of introspection, learning valuable lessons that would shape his future relationships and personal development. Their story, marked by passion and hard-learned lessons, underscored the challenges of navigating romance under the glaring spotlight of fame.