Hers To Love (complete) Cover By @army_ss841

Epilogue

Right after our honeymoon we moved into our new home in upstate New York.  It had a magnificent backyard, plenty of room for family get togethers, swing sets, you name it.  I was literally weeks away from giving birth, uncomfortable as hell and feeling like a beached whale.  Luca assured me that I was beauty personified.  We were excited about our baby; we were having a little boy.  I was excited for Luca because he would have someone to carry on his family name.  Alessandro Antonio Luciano Constanti; we picked Alessandro because it meant 'Defender of Men' and of course we added both of our father's names.  We hadn't told them yet because we wanted to wait until he was born to tell them.  Both parents were here, Paulo and Natalie, Roberto, Fabio and his wife and Luigi.  We were having our last family lunch until after the baby was born.  I was so uncomfortable and both mothers had commented that it looked like he had dropped.  I knew what that meant but I tried to push it out of my mind.  I still had about 2 1/2 weeks to go but Dr. Gideon assured me that should he decide to make an early appearance all would be good.  We were both healthy and that's all that mattered.  I'd made sure that I had a bag packed for about a month sitting by the garage door; we could grab it, jump in the car and go to the hospital.

We were all standing outside getting the table prepped when I heard a whoosh sound.  I gasped and then all eyes were on me as I looked down at the wetness between my feet all over the concrete.  "Uh Luca...I think my water just broke".  I was so proud of him.  He didn't panic.  No one panicked.  He gently led me to the house, I changed my leggings and put fresh shoes on, he grabbed the bag and helped me to the car.  Our parents followed in their car and Paulo and Natalie and everyone else followed in theirs.  We had a caravan going to the hospital!  We finally arrived and Luca pulled up to the emergency entrance as Fabio jumped out and told him he would take care of the car.  Luca grabbed my bag before Fabio drove off and the others said they would be in as soon as they parked.

A nurse greeted us at the door.  "Could you please call Dr. Gideon and tell him that Arienne Constanti has gone into labor?"  Luca was so authoritative, it was so sexy to see him order people around.  The nurse grabbed a list and punched a number into her cell phone as she led us to the elevator.  "We are going up to Labor and Delivery" she said calmly.  "The nurses down in Emergency know to redirect your family if they should come back in that way."  Luca nodded.  "How are you doing baby?" he asked me concern in his eyes.  I nodded, grabbed his hand and squeezed as a contraction hit.  I started to breath just like we were instructed in birthing classes.  I felt the pain subside and let go of poor Luca's hand.  When we got off the elevator all of our family was waiting on us.  The nurse had gotten in touch with the doctor and he was on his way.

"Mr. Constanti we are going to get your wife settled and as soon as we do this we will come get you and the rest of the family.  They can be in the room but they will have to wear gowns and masks.  Is there anyone that doesn't want to be in the room?"  No one spoke up so she smiled and said that she would be back.  Luca let out a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair and looked at the family gathered around him.  "I'm going to be a father!" he said looking dazed.  Paulo slapped him on the back and then pulled out six cigars.  "Yes you are!"  Everyone started laughing.  True to her word the nurse came and got everyone about 15 minutes later.  We all filed into the room and Ari was in a gown, in bed and hooked up to monitors.  She had a monitor going across her belly and the machine next to hear was registering the baby's heart beat.  She looked so tired but beautiful.  We put our gowns and masks on and then gloves; about that time Dr. Gideon arrived.  "Well young lady it looks like we are having a baby today!" he boomed cheerily.  He put Ari's feet in the stirrups.  "I need to check and see how many centimeters you are dilated."  "You are progressing nicely he said.  You are already at a 7!  Have you decided if you want an epidural?"  I shook my head.  I was going all natural baby.

"Oh God here comes another one!" I moaned grabbing Luca's hand.  "Oooohhhh!"  I was a sweaty crying mess.  I had been here two hours already and the contractions were closer together now.  I think to myself it's going to be soon.  Dr. Gideon makes an appearance and starts to check me again.  He chuckles and says "alright Arienne are you ready to do this?  You are at 10 centimeters now and you are going to want to push.  When that feeling comes you bear down, push, counting to ten and then let up.  I will guide you on when to push again.  Okay?  Let's do this!" he says clapping his hands.  The room is now full of nurses and a scale and an incubator and all eyes are on me and the monitors.  I glance around the room and all I can see are watery eyes.  I close my eyes silently praying for God to give me the strength I need for this and a healthy baby.

"Oh here it comes!" I yell out grabbing the side rails on the bed.  "Bear down and push!  Luca count to ten!" the doctor instructs.  Through the pain I can hear Luca counting and Dr. Gideon cheering me on and a nurse wiping my brow.  "Relax" the doctor says as I collapse against the bed.  "Again!" he says and we repeat the steps again.  After about four of these I hear him say "I can see his head!"  Everyone gasps in joy as we know it's just a matter of minutes.  Luca kisses me on the head "baby I'm so proud of you!  You can do this!"  I'm exhausted from all of the pushing.  "I think about two more good pushes and your son will be here" Dr. Gideon announces.  Another urge to push has me hunched over while Luca counts and our doctor says once more.  I make energy come from somewhere as I give my final push and I hear a baby's wail.  "He's here!  You have a beautiful baby boy!  Congratulations!  Dad would you like to cut the cord?" he asks Luca.  He is bawling by this point but takes the instrument from the doctor and cuts where instructed.  Meanwhile the nurses are cleaning him up and weighing him and measuring him.  I'm laying there blubbering like a fool when a nurse brings him over.  He's swaddled so all you can see is his little pudgy face.  "He's perfect" she says laying him in my arms.  "8 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches long and you should see the full head of black hair!"

I kiss him on his little head, sniffing snot and crying.  "Hello baby.  I'm your mommy.  This is your daddy and these are your nonni (grandparents), Uncle Paulo and Auntie Natalie, and Uncle Fabio and Uncle Roberto."  I'm still in awe of this beautiful creature laying in my arms.  Luca starts to speak.  "Thank you so much for being here" he says his voice on the verge of breaking.  "We would like to introduce you to our son...Alessandro Antonio Luciano Constanti."  The grandfathers immediately reach for each other and everyone has tears of joy in their eyes.  We let each of our family take turns holding him while Luca and I just stare at each other.  "You are so amazing" he says stroking my hair.  "Kiss me you fool" I whisper as he leans down to kiss me tenderly.  "I love you so much Luca".  "I love you too piccolo" he answers.  Our families leave to get rest and so we can rest and Luca looks on with adoration as I breastfeed our son.  "I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful" he says adoringly.  She looks at her beautiful son and then her gorgeous husband and thanks God that he was hers to love.

The End.