The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Epilogue (Nico): Even Better

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

What was better than a fire-breathing dragon ninja?

My wife. 

Costanza was better and tougher than any badass in the world. 

I woke up, just after midnight, and my wife was standing beside the bed, one hand at the small of her back. She was staring at me, but had been waiting for me to stir.

"She's going to be two weeks early, Nico," she said somewhat breathlessly. "I started having some contractions before I went to bed, so I tried drinking water and walking around to see if they'd stop. If they're Braxton-Hicks, that can stop them. But they've just been getting worse. Do you think she's going to be OK?"

"She'll be fine," I assured my wife, speaking to the slight panic in her voice because she needed me to be strong right now. She needed a Body-trained husband, I realized as I calmly got out of bed. I'd taken to showering right before bed for the last month just in case a situation like this arose.

"Do you feel like you need to get to the hospital right now? Do you want to take a shower? Tell me what you want to do."

"I took a shower earlier. So...hospital."

"How far apart are the contractions?"

By this time, I was beside her, rubbing her arms.

"Nico," she said softly and I knew what she meant.

Nico, I'm scared.

"How far apart, Costanza?" I prompted her for an answer.

"Just under five minutes apart. They're lasting at least forty-five seconds."

Thank fuck for Body training because without it, I felt like after that answer I'd be running around screaming and waving my hands wildly in the air.

"Let's get dressed," I suggested. Walking her to the closet, I helped her change and when she was ready, I pulled on my clothes faster than I ever had. I grabbed the little bag she'd packed weeks ago and with my arm around her waist, we walked out to the car and headed for the hospital.

The five hours that followed only cemented in my mind how amazing my wife was. She battled like a warrior to bring our little girl into the world, her eyes holding mine through every contraction. I battled not to use the hand Costanza wasn't trying to break and pull my gun on the doctor so he'd make the birth happen faster.

But at last, our little girl was on Costanza's chest, her baby eyes trying to figure out what the fuck had just happened to her. 

"What did you decide on a name?" my wife asked me once she could finally look away from our miracle. "Janie or Ginevra?"

We'd decided that I'd name our girls and Costanza would name our boys. We'd thrown dice to decide it and my wife was still trying to figure out if I'd cheated to win, ensuring there'd be no fucking Janie "Psychopath and Proud of It" Junior. 

"I'm naming her after you," I said. "Matilde."

My exhausted wife grinned at me. "Umm..."

Pressing a kiss to her lips, I explained. "Matilde means mighty in battle or strength in battle. You keep amazing me, Costanza. I thought you were perfect the day I married you. First I found out you're skilled like a ninja. Then I actually saw you with your knives. And today, I just watched you give birth like a fucking warrior queen. So yeah, Matilde to honor you."

"Hormones," she sniffed as her eyes teared up.

"Cry all you want, Costanza. These are happy tears. I'll never make you cry sad tears again."