A Do Or Die Situation (Sequel to To Offset The Shakes) // Andy Hurley/Trohley

Good To Be Alive (Varying POVs)

*Andy's POV*

I woke up to the sound of Libbe calling from her bedroom. I quickly woke Joe up, knowing there was something off in Libbie's voice. We both jumped out of our bed and rushed down the hallway, quickly opening Libbie's door. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, breathing heavily and sweating. I rushed to her side and asked her what was going on. With a shaky voice, she told me it was time. I swallowed hard and glanced up at Joe, almost asking him if he knew how to handle this.

Without hesitation, we helped Libbie up from her bed, and while Joe helped her out to the vehicle, I called Gage, letting him know the situation. He said he would meet us at the hospital right away. I quickly packed a small bag for Libbie, then rushed out to the vehicle. Joe was sitting in back with Libbie, talking calmly to her. I hopped in the front seat and began driving to the hospital.

Joe was talking to Libbie the whole ride there, asking her when her contractions started. She said they only started maybe a half hour ago, when she said she woke up from a dream she was having about Halle. I made the connection and assumed the stress of the dream, rather nightmare, ultimately led her to go into labor. 

-

As we pulled up in front of the hospital, Joe helped Libbie out of the vehicle. I said I would go park, then meet them inside. Joe nodded and quickly rushed her inside. I eventually found a spot to park, then nearly sprinted towards the front doors. Joe and Libbie were talking to a nurse, and Libbie had since been put into a wheelchair. I ran to them, nearly out of breath. We were led to the elevator and told to go to the third floor, where the maternity section was. I thanked the woman, then opened the elevator.

As we arrived, Libbie hunched over in the wheelchair, gripping her sides. She tried her best not to cry at the pain as she reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly. I knelt down beside her and rubbed her back. As her contraction subsided, she breathed a sigh of relief. A nurse soon rushed over, and Libbie was soon put into a hospital gown and put in a room. 

A couple of nurses and a doctor walked into the room shortly after. They explained they were going to check to see how dilated she was, and that's when both Joe and I asked Libbie if we should leave. She gripped our hands, asking us to stay. We nodded, but looked away, because all of this was making us feel just as uneasy as Lib. 

The doctor said she was only two centimeters dilated, which meant two to three more to go until Libbie could get the epidural she so desperately wanted. As the doctor and one nurse left, Gage ran into the room, rushing to Libbie's side. She wrapped her arms around him, and Joe and I ducked out to leave them alone for a little while.

*Libbie's POV*

I wrapped my arms around Gage as he rushed into my hospital room. He seemed panicked, asking if he missed anything, and he kept apologizing for not being there right away. I mustered up a small chuckle, telling him that I had only gone into labor forty-five minutes ago. I swear he nearly fainted when I said this could go on for hours more. 

Gage pulled a chair over, sitting down and taking my hand in his. He rubbed small circles on it, and every time I had a contraction he was right there next to me. Joe and Andy came back in shortly afterwards, and I was glad, because their talking distracted me from feeling like I was never going to have this baby.

-

Hours seemed to pass before the doctor checked again to see how dilated I was. At four am, about four and a half hours after my labor started, I was finally five centimeters. I could finally have the epidural I had been begging for for the last four hours. 

The doctor instructed me to lie on my side. He told me when he put the needle in that I would feel pressure, but it wouldn't last very long. I felt him slide the anesthetic needle in first, then shortly afterwards, he told me he was going to administer the first round of the epidural. I breathed a sigh of relief fifteen minutes later when I felt the medication kick in. The guys laughed at me, but they'd be relieved too if they knew what I was going through.

-

As my labor progressed, it was nearing eight am. The guys had each fallen asleep at some point between when I got my epidural and now. My pains were getting closer together, maybe fifteen minutes apart, and I got to the point where I had to wake them up because the pain was almost getting unbearable again. They called the doctor in, and he administered the third round of my epidural. Shortly afterwards, I felt relief again, but there was still pain, considering my labor was progressing.

-

At eleven am, I was nearly crying from the pain again. My contractions were only five minutes apart, and the doctor told me it would be time to start pushing soon. The mere thought of that scared me, but I tried my best to remain as calm as I could. All three of the guys were by my side, asking if I needed anything, and I started to get a little annoyed, but I ignored them. 

Forty five minutes later, everything was set up for me to begin pushing, and once again, Joe and Andy asked if they should leave. I desperately shook my head no. I knew I needed my dads behind me on this, even if they didn't like seeing their daughter in this much pain, and even if they didn't want to see all of this happening. They nodded, then stood behind me. 

At about eleven-fifty, I began pushing. It hurt more than anything else I had experienced before, but I knew I had to do it. I was gripping Gage's hand with my right hand, and Andy's with my left. I was crying with nearly every push, but finally after fifteen minutes, part of our son's head was out. I kept pushing, surely over-working myself. I was nearly out of breath, but the doctor told me to push one last time before resting. I gave it everything I had, and after I stopped, the doctor told me I had finally gotten his head out.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and Joe wiped my forehead, chuckling at me, telling me how well of a job I was doing.  As soon as I was able to rest, the doctor almost immediately told me to start pushing again. I sighed, desperation in my voice. I gripped Gage's and Andy's hands and pushed with all I had, and after just a few more pushed, I was told I had gotten his shoulders out. I sighed again, smiling as I did so. Andy patted my shoulder and told me to keep going.

-

I felt my body relax as I heard tiny cries fill the small hospital room. I watched as a couple nurses took my son away to a small table, wiping him clean and clearing out his nose and mouth. I fell back onto the bed, letting go of Gage's and Andy's hands. Gage looked as though he was nearly crying as he bent down and kissed my forehead. Joe and Andy did the same, and I wrapped my arms around them, thanking them for staying with me and being supportive through all of this.

As soon as I let them go, a nurse brought my baby boy over to me, wrapped in a small, yellow blanket. I held him in my arms, crying at how beautiful he was. Gage stood over me, stroking the baby's cheek with his hand. I looked up at him and smiled, telling him that our baby was perfect. Tears fell down his cheeks as he nodded his head.

Joe and Andy sniffled from behind me, considering they were just as happy as I was; they got to witness their own grandson being born, and I imagined they were filled with happiness. I passed our baby onto Gage, then pulled Joe and Andy over to me again. I thanked them once more for staying, even though I knew it was hard for them. Neither of them had experienced this before, and with their first time seeing it being their daughter, I'm sure it was a little nerve wracking. 

-

After Joe and Andy had gotten to hold their grandson, they left the room, heading to the waiting room to give Gage and I our space. They also said they'd let Mack and Cody, and Gage's parents, know everything that had happened. As they closed the door, I smiled up at Gage, who was smiling down at our son.

"What should we name him?" I asked, patting the side of the bed for Gage to sit down.

"I'm not sure, but I've thought of a few, but I want us to agree on it for sure," he smiled.

"What are they?" I asked.

"Well, I kind of had my heart set on one in particular," he smiled. "Max Alexander."

I covered my mouth, smiling under my hands as my eyes welled with tears again. I reached for my baby again, soon holding him in my arms. I stroked his face, which was tinier than I imagined, considering he was born nearly two and a half week early. I looked up at Gage again and said, "Max Alexander, I love it."