One Promise Too Late

Chapter 19

She Matters To You

"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick."

Mick came sprinting up the stairs as fast as he could and ran into their bathroom. He flung open the door. "What is it? Is it time?"

"Can you help me out, please?"

He smirked. "You scared me to death, Steph. Yes....where are the towels...."

"They're in the cabinet near the sink, second one." She said pointing.

She sat up and he wrapped the towel around her and lifted her out. "Why didn't you just have a shower? We have one now you know?"

"I know, I was just scared that maybe I'd slip and fall." She said as she wrapped the towel around her tighter.

She struggled to tie it up due to the fact her stomach had grew so big the towel barely fit around her. "You know, they should make maternity towels." She complained.

"I'm sure they do somewhere. Hurry up and come downstairs, I'm almost done assembling the rocking chair."

"You better not be spray painting in my new house!" She threatened.

"No I'll do that later outside."

"Okay, thank you honey."

He left her to get dressed and went back downstairs. She walked into their new bedroom and took off the towel. She searched for a pair of pants that fit her very pregnant self. She put them ontop of her underwear and then threw on one of her maternity shirts that her and Christine had picked out the other day.

That night in bed Stevie cuddled into Mick's side like a bird burrowing into its nest. He had one arm around her and the other laying ontop of her's on her stomach. "Any day now." She said.

"You know, I was thinking of some names this morning..."

"Yeah, what were they." She asked, laying her head on his chest.

"I liked the sound of Elizabeth and Lucy."

"Oh! Lucy, I like that. That's a beautiful name!"

"Okay then if it's a baby girl, she shall be named Lucy!"

"I'm so excited Mick! I just want to hold my little baby girl." She gushed.

"I know, me too, Steph. You're going to be a great mother."

"And you're going to be a even better daddy."

The next day they had lunch on the back porch. It was a sunny day and Stevie had her sun hat and sunglasses on. They sat on the swing with her head in his lap and her legs spread out. "I called my parents this morning and my mom said dad's busy with work and he'd take time off as soon as he needs to." She explained.

"Good. Mine called and said they had been wanting to come down for a while to see the new house, so they said they were going to try coming over next month. That way they'll be able to see the baby too."

"Yeah... at this rate the only thing they'll be seeing is the new house and their 300 lbs. daughter-in-law."

He laughed. "She'll come soon, don't worry love."

He kissed her nose and she tried sitting up. "Oh!" She squeezed his hand as hard as she could.

"Stevie, are you alright!?"

"Yeah, it's been happening all morning. It's fine."

"Shouldn't we go to hospital?"

"No everythings fi- OOOOW." She nearly screamed."

"Stevie, I really think we should-"

"Mick."

"What, love?"

"I think my water just broke."

"Okay, let's get you in the car."

He helped her in and ran back inside to grab a few things as she had told him to the previous week. He packed a bag with a few recieving blankets, diapers, outfits and a few other things."

He started the car and raced to the hospital. "Mick, drive faster!" She instructed.

"Stevie, if I drive any fast we'll-"

"Do you want to deliver this baby on the side of the highway!?" She shouted.

He stepped on it.

"Okay, Mrs. Fleetwood when we say push-"

"I knooow!" She yelled.

She had a firm grip on Mick's hand which she wasn't going to let go of any time soon.

"Okay." Said the nurse. "Push now!"

She pushed as hard as she could as the doctor counted to ten. She fell back against the bed as she finished the first push.

The midwife instructed her to push again and she did as told squeezing Mick's hand so hard he was sure she had enough strength to have carried Casa Loma across the ocean on her own.

"Okay you're doing well Mrs. Fleetwood. Just a few more and the head will be out."

"You hear that Steph, just a few more."

He kissed the top of his wife's head before she went back into battle.

She tried her best smile. Her hair was all sweaty and her face was beat red. She just wanted it over.

"Okay push... harder Stevie." Said the widwife.

She did as told. "Oh Steph, I can see her little head." Mick said grinning widely.

"One more, Stevie."

She nodded and gave the final push using all remaining energy in her body.

Mick swore that everyone in every corner of the world could hear his wife scream as the rest of the baby came out.

She shut her eyes blinking away the tears. The nurses soon later handed the baby over to Stevie. She was hesitant to opening her eyes. The past nine months all came down to this moment. She was scared for the life of her to open her eyes and see either Mick's eyes or Lindsey's eyes looking back up at her. Mick's or Lindsey's nose breathing out air that one of them had help give to this baby. One of their smiles open and waling at the top of their lungs. She definitely had her lungs! She was ready, she opened her eyes.

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