More Than Friends

Chapter 76: The Moment Arrives

It was the middle of the night when Nicole woke up with a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. At first, she thought it was another false alarm, like the early contractions she'd had before. But when the pain came again, stronger this time, she knew something was different.

She sat up slowly, glancing over at Devin, who was sound asleep beside her. She took a few deep breaths, trying to stay calm as she waited for the next wave of pain. When it hit, it was undeniable—this was it. The baby was coming.

"Dev," she whispered, nudging him gently. "Dev, wake up."

Devin stirred, blinking groggily as he turned to face her. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

"I think it's time," Nicole said, her voice calm but urgent. "The baby's coming."

Devin shot up, instantly awake. "You sure?"

Nicole nodded, wincing as another contraction hit. "Yeah. It's happening."

Getting to the Hospital

In a flurry of activity, Devin jumped out of bed and started grabbing their hospital bags, trying to stay calm even though his heart was racing. Nicole slowly got out of bed, steadying herself against the dresser as she breathed through another contraction.

"I'm gonna call Tasha to come watch Amani," Devin said, grabbing his phone.

Nicole nodded, moving carefully as she started getting dressed. The contractions were coming more frequently now, and each one felt stronger than the last. She knew they didn't have much time.

By the time Tasha arrived to stay with Amani, Nicole was fully feeling the intensity of the contractions. Devin helped her into the car, and they made their way to the hospital in the quiet of the night, the streets empty and calm.

Arriving at the Hospital

When they arrived at the hospital, Nicole was immediately taken back to the delivery room. The nurses were calm and reassuring, helping her get settled as they hooked her up to the monitors. Devin stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand and whispering words of encouragement as the contractions grew more intense.

"You're doing amazing, Nic," Devin said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

Nicole squeezed his hand, trying to stay focused as another contraction hit. "I just want him to get here," she said through gritted teeth.

"He's almost here," Devin reassured her, his voice steady. "We're almost there."

The Final Push

Hours passed, and the intensity of the labor increased. Nicole was exhausted, but she knew she was close. The doctors and nurses encouraged her, telling her it was almost time to push.

"You're doing great, Nicole," the doctor said. "Just a little longer, and you'll meet your baby boy."

Nicole nodded, her heart racing as she gripped Devin's hand. She was ready. She had been through this before, but nothing could prepare her for the emotions flooding through her now.

When the time came to push, Nicole gave it everything she had. The room was filled with the sounds of encouragement, the doctor guiding her through each contraction, and Devin whispering in her ear, telling her how strong she was.

"You're almost there, babe," Devin said, his voice thick with emotion. "You got this."

And then, with one final push, the sound of their baby's first cry filled the room.

Meeting Their Son

Nicole collapsed back against the bed, tears streaming down her face as the nurse gently placed their baby boy in her arms. He was perfect—tiny, pink, and letting out strong, healthy cries as he squirmed in her arms.

"Hi, baby boy," Nicole whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. "We've been waiting for you."

Devin stood beside her, his eyes filled with tears as he looked down at their son. He leaned over, kissing Nicole's forehead and then gently brushing his hand over the baby's head.

"He's perfect, Nic," Devin whispered, his voice full of awe. "You did it."

Nicole smiled through her tears, feeling an overwhelming surge of love as she gazed down at their son. "We did it," she whispered back.

The Name

As they sat there, holding their newborn son, the weight of the moment settled in. Their family was complete. Amani would have her little brother, and they had another child to love and raise.

"What should we name him?" Devin asked softly, his eyes never leaving their son's face.

Nicole smiled, glancing up at Devin. They had tossed around a few names during the pregnancy, but now that he was here, it felt right to decide.

"How about Mason?" Nicole suggested, her voice soft but certain.

Devin grinned, nodding. "Mason Coleman. I love it."

Nicole smiled, feeling the name settle perfectly in her heart. "Mason it is."

The First Moments as a Family

As the night turned into morning, Nicole and Devin spent their first hours with baby Mason in quiet awe. They took turns holding him, counting his tiny fingers and toes, and marveling at how perfect he was.

When Nicole finally closed her eyes to rest, Devin stayed awake, cradling Mason in his arms as he stared down at him with a look of pure love and wonder.

"You're gonna love it here, little man," Devin whispered. "You've got a big sister who can't wait to meet you, and we're all ready to love you like crazy."

And as the sun began to rise outside the hospital window, Devin knew that their family had just entered a new, beautiful chapter—one filled with even more love, laughter, and memories to come.