Marriage by Bargain - Book 2

Chapter Twenty-Two

6 months later

Naia

Our little princess had been born exactly two months ago today. I smiled softly down at her as I watched her suckle from my breast. There was literally nothing in the world to compare to the bond between mother and child in these moments.

Zidana Danielle Alexander, my beautiful girl.

"Zandre! Stop hovering I'm fine!" I snapped, as I tried to shove away his hands that had been on me constantly for the past hour.

I had been feeling odd pains all day and it had Zandre in a tizzy, he was worrying that something might be wrong with the baby. I guess the fact that I was a week over my due date may have been a contributing factor to his uneasiness, but I knew without a doubt that everything was fine. Besides the doctor had told me that they would induce labour if the baby didn't come within the second week after I was due.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital Naia? Please?" He begged.

I opened my mouth to tell him no for the millionth time when I felt liquid pooling beneath me on the couch. I sighed in annoyance as I pushed myself up slowly with Zandre springing up to help.

"Okay, let's go," I told him as I started shuffling towards the front door of our new house.

"Wait, what?" He asked, confused at my sudden change in opinion.

"Come on! Unless you plan to deliver our baby yourself on the couch," he hesitated a moment as my words penetrated his mind, then he sprung into action.

He grabbed the car keys, his phone and our hospital bag from their place near the doorway and quickly loaded them into the SUV before coming back and actually sweeping me into his arms. Once he deposited me in the passenger seat and my seat belt was securely on, he more or less sped to the hospital. I wasn't complaining though, because I felt like I was dying and I knew if I opened my mouth I'd be screaming in pain. So for both our sakes I held it all in, I knew he wouldn't be able to stay calm otherwise. When we were five minutes away from the hospital he called ahead and confirmed that a nurse would be at the entrance waiting to take us to our private section of the ward. I thought that was a bit much but he insisted that it was to help my concentration so I wouldn't be distracted or spooked by other screaming women. Personally, I knew it was because he wouldn't be able to keep it together if he was hearing the blood curdling screams of women other than me. I respected that, because I'd have to kill him if he fainted while I was giving birth to his daughter. He had been drilling himself with birthing videos that he got from only God knows where, trying to prepare himself for all the best and worst case scenarios.

We got to the hospital and as planned a nurse collected me at the entrance and rushed me to my room with my anxious husband close on her heels. Once we were in the room, Zandre helped me change into my night gown and adjusted me on the bed so the nurse could do her checks on my vitals. As if on cue, the minute she was done our doctor walked through the door with a genuine smile on her face. Dr Henry was a middle aged woman, her dark hair had streaks of grey all throughout and she was slightly plump in build, most importantly we both liked her. Mr Jealous hadn't wanted a male doctor tending to me and I hadn't cared to argue with him. The more comfortable he was, the better support system he would be and that was what I needed more than anything so there was no time to argue over every detail with him.

"Mr and Mrs Alexander, I had wondered when I would be seeing you two," she commented.

I gave her a weak smile which I think she took as a sign that I was in a lot more pain than I was letting on. She commenced her preliminary checks and asked me if I wanted any pain killers. I shook my head, Zandre would have preferred that I take them but I really didn't want any drugs clouding my mind during this monumental moment in our lives. I wanted to be totally conscious of every second of bringing our little girl into the world. The doctor nodded her head in understanding, she was a mother after all so I knew she'd get it. She had just asked me as a part of protocol so the nurse could note that I had refused it.

"Alright, you're just about eight and a half centimeters dilated, you should be ready to push in another five minutes," she told us.

I nodded and clutched my husband's hand, pressing my sweaty cheek against it. He used his other hand to stroke my damp hair as he brought his face close to mine and whispered comforting words of love into my ear. We stayed that way until I felt a particularly strong contraction rip through my body.

"Aaaaaaah," I gasped in pain, making my first sound of distress since the minute I had realized that I was in labor.

The doctor took that as a signal that I was ready and got into her position at the foot of the bed.

"Alright, Xanaia whenever you feel ready to push you go right ahead and push," she instructed me.

I didn't need to be told twice as I was pushing before she had even completed the statement. I clutched Zandre's hand as the pain shook my entire being. I felt as though I couldn't go on but Dr Henry encouraged me to give one final push. I did as I was told and put everything I had behind that last push. The relief that swamped my body convinced me that I had clearly died which sucked because I didn't even get to hold my baby, but it was okay I guess. She would have the best dad and godparents in the world so she wouldn't miss me too much.

The piercing cry of a baby brought me out of my unconscious state. With some effort I was able to peel my eyes open.

I was greeted by a room full of smiling faces, which led me to the following conclusions:
- a bomb must have blown up the hospital so everyone else was dead too,
- I had made it to heaven where angels were apparently shape shifters and had taken the forms of my loved ones so I wouldn't be sad or
- I hadn't died after all.

Zandre stepped forward with the fussing bundle in his arms and a tender smile on his face. My heart raced as he sat on the edge of the bed and placed the most beautiful baby in my arms. I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face as I saw my daughter for the first time. I was definitely dead.

"No sweetheart, you aren't dead you're very much alive and our daughter is hungry so you need to feed her," he said gently while the others chuckled behind him.

He helped me up, Lia gave me a few tips and soon my baby was suckling hungrily. I stroked the soft dark curls on her head.

"Zidana," I whispered, loving how much better it felt to say our daughter's name while looking into her sweet little face. I sighed in contentment at what was one of the best days of my life.

"Baby," Zandre called, pulling me from the memory, "is everything alright?"

I smiled up at him, "everything is perfect."

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead before settling himself on the couch next to me. I relaxed against him and we both watched Elle feed with her little fist bunched against my breast as if it would somehow bring her more milk.

"I love you," I told him in a matter of fact tone.

"I love you more," he replied with a kiss.