-In which, despite Indigo and Bucky's shattered and bruised state, their love for each other is the anchor that prevents them from completely crumbling.
Mature Content 18+
[Book Two]
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1 Month Later...
"It's too early," Indigo gasped, her body feeling like it was on fire. Each contraction squeezed her abdomen with an intensity that made it hard to breathe, move, do anything.
Asha had flown in when her Braxton Hicks contractions had started a week ago. Knowing how important it was for Indigo to have someone she trusted by her side during labor, Asha had insisted on being there to support her.
Tony and Pepper had arrived the previous night after Indigo's water broke, their presence a comforting reminder of the family that surrounded her in this trying time.
Indigo lay in a hospital bed, her body racked with the pains of labor. The thought of doing any of it without Bucky weighed heavily on her heart. For the past seven months, she had wandered the halls of the compound, lost in memories and haunted by the absence of her beloved.
Her belly swelled with each passing day, a visible testament to the life growing within her. Nights were spent poring over parenting books, trying to prepare herself for the arrival of her child. Days, however, were a different story—filled with thoughts that always seemed to circle back to Bucky.
Now, in the dimly lit room of the compound's medical wing, Indigo clutched at the sheets, her face contorted with pain as another contraction gripped her body. The contractions were coming faster now, each one more intense than the last. Her body throbbed with exhaustion and ache, the culmination of months spent grappling with grief and the physical toll of carrying new life.
Indigo's grip tightened on Nat's hand, her knuckles turning white as tears streamed down her face. The pain of each contraction wracked her body, and she felt utterly overwhelmed by the enormity of what was happening.
"Nat, I'm not ready," Indigo gasped between contractions, her voice trembling with fear and exhaustion. "I can't do it without him."
Nat wiped Indigo's forehead with a cool towel, her expression a mix of sympathy and firm resolve. "This is happening, Indie," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the chaos of Indigo's emotions. "You need to suck it up and listen to Asha."
Indigo winced as another wave of pain surged through her, causing her to groan loudly. "FUCK," she cried out, the agony threatening to overwhelm her.
Asha, focused and composed, continued to guide Indigo through the ordeal with steady hands. "I can see the head," she announced calmly, her voice a reassuring anchor in the midst of Indigo's turmoil.
Indigo shook her head weakly, her thoughts spinning with doubts and fears. How could she possibly raise a child alone? How could she face the future without James by her side?
"I can't do this," Indigo whispered hoarsely, her voice cracking with despair. "No, no, no," she cried out, the weight of her fear and grief pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.
