The Secret Of Us

thirteen

Hours passed.

It seemed like forever. My contractions slowly got worse, closer together, and God I'd never regretted having sex more. But I just tried to remind myself that it was all for my baby girl, who I'd find out soon enough if she was actually my baby girl, or my baby boy. 

I spent a lot of time walking, leaning over the rail, breathing through the pain. Travis was there to supply me with water and snacks, putting pressure on my back to help with the contractions, rubbing my aching muscles. He was so involved, so goddamn helpful, and I was so grateful for him. I didn't think I could do it on my own.

"Okay you are doing great, we're at four." Sara told me at three in the morning.

"Just four?" I moaned in pain. "It's been like five hours."

"I know, but you're such a trouper." She smiled sympathetically. "Baby is just taking their time."

"Tell her to hurry up." I mumbled.

"I'll get you some more ice for your water." Sara chuckled, taking my empty cup and heading off.

"You're doing so well Bug." Travis stroked some hair off my face. 

"Fuck you." I groaned, wrestling with my sweat sodden shirt and tossing it over by my bag.

"I know you don't mean that."

"I fucking do." I glared at him, but I couldn't keep it up. I sighed. "Yeah, I don't." I admitted, and Travis smiled sympathetically. "Oh don't give me that, I don't see someone pushing a watermelon through your dick."

Travis covered a laugh as he kissed my shoulder, rubbing my back. I huffed, moaning in pain through another contraction.

More hours passed, and I tried to snatch a few moments of rest in-between each pulse of agony in my lower stomach. I was progressing slowly, which killed me. It felt like someone was genuinely trying to push a watermelon out of me, which was not comfortable if you couldn't already guess. 

To his credit, Travis didn't move an inch from my side as hours passed. I was sweaty and exhausted and crabby, but Travis didn't even seem tired. He just held me, put up with my snappy comments, distracted me when I begged for the pain to stop. I'd insisted on an unmedicated birth and made Travis promise not to let me back out unless Sara said I needed meds.

By eight in the morning, I was at seven centimeters. My whole body ached and I was sobbing through each contraction, but I was fighting like all hell. All for my baby girl, my sweet little angel.

"Trav?" I whimpered.

"I'm here Bug." He squeezed my hand.

"If she really does turn out to be a girl I know her name." I sighed. "I can't tell you yet because I want to make sure, but I think I know her name."

"That's amazing Bug." Travis smiled. "I can't wait until you can hold her in your arms."

"Me neither." I mumbled, my eyes drooping as I leaned my forehead against the end of the bed, kneeling on the ground as I breathed. I felt like I was drenched in sweat and pushed to my limit, but I knew this wasn't even the hard part yet. "Trav, talk to me." I begged as another contraction rocked through my body. "Distract me."

So Travis started talking, rambling on about random shit just to keep my mind focused on something else. I pressed my face into the end of the bed as I rocked back and forth on my knees, wishing for this baby to be fucking out of me already. Travis sat with me, rubbing slow circles into my back muscles, reminding me to breathe, keeping me hydrated. 

"Okay, we're almost at ten." Sara told me at midday.

"About fucking time." I grumbled, wiping sweat off my forehead.