The Night That Changed It All

The Birth

"Do you see them?" I asked Liam, who was standing behind me with his arms rapped protectively around my waist. We were in London airport, waiting for my parents to appear so we could head back to our apartment before Liam's parents arrived.

"No....... Wait; is that them?" Liam replied, waving his hand over his head to get the attention of my parents, who'd just appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Ma was the first to notice us, so tugging on Dad's arm, she all but skipped over to us, and pulled us into a tight hug, which I was stuck in the middle of.

"Boys! It's so good to see you!" Ma exclaimed, pulling away with tears in her eyes so Dad could greet us. "Ni; honey, you should be relaxing! You're having a baby in just a few days." She chastised disapprovingly, dragging me over to the closest table and chairs while Liam and Dad went to go get their bags.

"I know, I know. I just couldn't wait to see you and Dad; I didn't want to sit at home while Liam came to get ye." I sighed with a slight smile, pulling Ma into another hug, which she was quick to return. 

"I missed you so much......" Ma sniffled, kissing my forehead and pulling me slightly closer as she did.

"I missed you, too." I sighed, pushing my face into the crook of her neck and only pulling away when Liam and Dad came back to get us so we could leave.

Not long after we got back at our apartment, Geoff, Karen and Ruth, who was on her Christmas holidays, arrived; all happy to see us. Nicola hadn't been able to take time off work for the whole week, so she'd be coming up for the weekend which was what Greg, Denise and Theo were doing too as they had their own family stuff to deal with.

The four of them would arrive on Friday afternoon, which was my due date, and would be returning home late on Sunday, which was also when the others were leaving, and, hopefully, when we'd be able to come home with Lily Ann.

"So boys; are you ready for this? You know; the whole parenting thing?" Karen asked as we all lounged around the living room some time later.

"Yeah; I think so." Liam sighed, smiling down at me where I'd situated myself between his legs as he rubbed circles and other patterns into my stomach. Leaning back against his chest with my head resting on his shoulder, I smiled back at Liam until he leaned down to kiss me softly.

"Remember we'll always be here if you need us." Ma reminded gently once we'd pulled away, smiling at us as Liam continued to draw patterns into my stomach with his fingertips.

"We will; don't worry. You should be prepared for panicked and confused phone calls at three in the morning." I laughed, threading my fingers through Liam's and smiling up at him as the conversation drifted on to other things.

That night I was still wide awake and shifting uncomfortably at two o'clock in the morning when Liam rolled over to face me; looking slightly concerned and very sleepy.

"Ni? Are you OK?" Liam asked as he rubbed sleep from his eyes and propped himself up on his elbow; his voice was drowsy from sleep, yet still concerned.

"Yeah; Lily Ann's just move- Oh!" Cutting myself off mid sentence -mid word even- with a pained gasp, I sat up quickly and laid a gentle hand on my stomach.

"Ni? What is it? What's wrong?" Liam questioned hurriedly, suddenly completely alert as he sat up beside me, rapped one arm around my shoulders and resting his other hand just under mine on my stomach.

"I think the baby's coming." I gasped, breathing deeply as I tried not to panic and to remember everything I'd read or been told about cesareans and raising a child.

"What?! But she's not due for another four days!" Liam exclaimed, freezing as he stared at me; completely and utterly dumbfounded.

"Well, I'm so very sorry, but she doesn't seem to agree with that." I snapped, grunting when another of what I was assuming were contractions hit.