Change of Plans

Chapter Twenty-Three

I smile as I pull into our driveway. "Home, sweet, home," I mumble as I get out of my car. I rest my hands on my huge stomach as I wait for Ayden to grab my suitcase from the back. I walk in the house and head up the stairs. I stop in my tracks when I see one of the guest bedrooms. It had crib parts lying on the floor and a changing table set up already.

"Ayden!" I call, tears of happiness coming to my eyes.

"Yes?" I hear him yell as he races towards me.

"When did you have time to set this up?" I wander farther into the room. I try to move past the crib parts that were in the middle of the floor. My graceful self ends up tripping and I would have fallen had Ayden not caught me.

"You have to be more careful, Alexandria. I really don't want you to get hurt. I could sleep at night with you gone, so I decided to start on the baby's room." Ayden shrugs like its no big deal.

"We don't even know if the baby is a boy or girl yet," I remind him, looking at the white changing table.

"I know, that's why when I bought the crib, I bought one that came with neutral colors on the sheets." Ayden explain, kissing the top of my head.

This conversation reminded me of a question I wanted ask Ayden a while ago. "What do you want, a boy or girl?"

"It doesn't matter to me, just as long as the baby is healthy."

I hug Ayden as he helps me out of the room. We go to our room and cuddle together on the bed. It was great while it lasted. A minute after we lay on the bed, someone begins to knock on the door. I groan and hug Ayden tighter to me.

"Let them think we are doing naughty things to each other. I really just don't want to go downstairs and open the door."

Ayden kisses me and rubs my back, knowing it is aching like crazy. I curl tighter to him until I hear the front door unlock. 'Okay, the only other people who have keys to this place is my parents and Haven. Who could be coming in now?'

I plan on getting up and going to the door, but Ayden beats me to it, letting me relax. I try to hear what is being said, but I don't get much of the conversation.

"-she really needs to rest. You can-" I catch Ayden saying to someone.

"-want to see Alexandria now." A gruff voice spoke. I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

I pull myself up and reach the top of the stairs. I worry about going down them, memories of my miscarriage flashing through my head. When I hesitated, everyone who was downstairs saw me.

"Honey, you can go back to bed. I've got everything under control." Ayden's voice brings me back to reality.

"It's okay. I don't really need to rest. I want to be with our parents." I say, daring to take a step down the stairs.

Ayden runs up to me and helps me down the stairs. "We can just shove them out the door," he whispers in my ear.

I giggle and shake my head slightly. We make it down the stairs and we visit with my parents. We send them away when night falls.

I rest my head against Ayden's side and give a huge yawn. Ayden chuckles and scoops me up in his arms. I give a surprised yelp and try to wiggle out of his arms for a second.

"Ayden, I'm too heavy, you'll drop me! Put me down!" I yell.

"You are not too heavy. What gave you that insane idea?" Ayden asks looking down at me as he climbs the stairs.

"I'm pregnant and have gained about thirty pounds." I say in a duh tone.

He merely shakes his head and stands me on my feet in the bathroom. We brush our teeth and get ready for bed. I giggle as Ayden puts his hands on my stomach and kisses the baby goodnight. I drag myself to our bed and lay down.

'My water breaks and I have to go to the hospital. I go through nine hours of labour and the nurses and doctor look a little nervous. 'Isn't nine hours of labour normal?' I think as I push one more time. I feel Ayden holding my hand and whispering encouragements in my ear. Finally, after one more push, I feel relief, but it doesn't last. There is no wailing. The doctor and nurses rush my baby out of sight. I turn to Ayden and a look of worry passes between us. The doctor returns what must have been thirty minutes later- though it felt like days.

"Your baby... was still born. I'm sorry, but there was nothing we could do."

I refuse to believe him, can't believe him. "No, there must be some mistake. You must have made a mistake." I repeat.

Ayden rubs my shoulder.'

I jerk awake, close to sobbing. Ayden is woken by my movement.

"Wha' 'appened?" he mumbles, rubbing his eyes.

"I had a nightmare is all," I stutter. "Just a nightmare," I repeat more for my benefit than his.I feel arms wrap around me and pull me close. "What was it about?" Ayden whispers. His voice calms me down more and I am able to tell him about it. When I am finished, he hugs me closer and gently rocks me back and forth.

"We have to go to the doctor tomorrow for a check up. When we hear the baby's heartbeat, you'll be able to relax again. It was just a nightmare. It won't become reality, I promise." Ayden huskily whispers in the dark as he continues to comfort me.

I nod against his chest and soon, sleep takes me once more, but not without a fight.