Blame It (Of Mice & Men)

Waking Up

"Oh, fuuuudge," I groaned as my eyes openedz. The smell of the sterile hospital floors filled my nostrils and I coughed from how strong it was.

I looked down to my flat stomach and sat up, looking around the room. No one was here. I fumbled around until I found the bed remote, pushing the call button to get a nurse.

"Hi, Mrs. Ashby! It's about time you woke up! Let me go get your party," a nurse said through the intercom on the remote. I heard them page for the "Party of room 309" before Alan, Tino, and the rest of the band was in my room, engulfing me in hugs.

Alan kissed my lips before holding up a finger and walking out of the room. "What happened? I feel like shit," I said, looking over at Tino. "April, you almost died." My eyes widened. "What?"

Tino shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "After the baby was born, your heart rate dropped. The doctors think you went into shock of some sort and they had to revive you." I gulped.

"Where's my little girl?" I asked. As if on que, Alan walked into the room, a pink bundle in his arms. Tears came to my eyes and I reached out, Alan placing my baby in my arms. She had Alan's hair, no doubt. Her eyes were already turning his chocolate brown as well. She had my lips and nose, and I couldn't help but smile at how perfect she was, and that Alan and I made this perfect little human.

My hand went to my mouth and for once I was crying from happiness. "What's her name?" I asked softly, as her hand wrapped around my index finger. "Julia Harmony Ashby," Alan said, smiling at the two of us.

"It sounds like Jellyfish," I said, and Alan nodded. "Exactly." I grinned and when I knew he couldn't contain it anymore, I looked up at Austin, "You wanna hold her?"

"YES PLEASE! I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK!" I handed him Julia and looked over at Alan. "How long have we been here?" I asked. "Three days. The doctors wanted to make sure you were okay before sending you both home. They said you get to come home today, though," he said, grinning.

I nodded and he handed me my hospital bag. "Can you guys, um, turn around for a sec?" I asked, remembering I only had on the hospital gown. The four men turned and I walked to the bathroom, throwing on the clothes before walking back out and setting the gown on the bed. "Okay, I'm good," I smiled. Aaron handed me Julia and we walked out to the sign out desk where I had to fill out some forms before we could go.

A nurse was required to push me out of the hospital in a wheelchair so I sat down and talked to Julia while the nurse rolled me to the car. I sat in the backseat with Julia and Alan got in the drivers side. I propped an elbow on the car seat and watched Julia sleep, her chubby cheeks bouncing as we rode along. I smiled at her and looked up in the rear view mirror to see Alan looking at me. "What?" I asked, still smiling. "I'm just glad to have you."

We got home and I walked to our bedroom and placed Julia on our bed, climbing up beside her and laying down, watching her sleep. I felt like if I looked away, she'd get hurt or something. I felt the bed dip and I looked over to see Alan. He kissed my forehead and placed his chin on my shoulder.

"I can't believe we're parents," I whispered, smiling at Julia. "I know," Alan said, and I could feel him smile a bit. "But I'm happy we are. And I'm happy it was with you," he said, grinning at me. "I may be a jerk sometimes, but in the end, I don't know what the hell I'd do without you," he said. I turned my head and he kissed me softly before getting off the bed and going out of the room.

I checke my phone to see that Alan mentioned me on Instagram and Twitter.

"@AlanAshby: Never did I think I could love someone as much as I love my girls."

It was a collage of photos. One was Alan and I when he proposed, another was of Julia after she was born and cleaned up, another was of Alan holding Julia, and the last was of Julia and I in the backseat, my smile reaching my eyes as I watched her sleep.

I looked down at my baby and couldn't help but wonder what in the hell I did to deserve something so great.