Ever lasting Nochelle(sequel to a Nochelle Pregnancy)

Chapter twenty-three || The hospital

Sorry it's been a while. School takes up a lot of my time now. Welcome to the final chapter of the book. This may be unexpected but I hope you understand. Love you guys, enjoy this final chapter ❤️💕

A few painful hours later
Noah's POV
You are perfect. From the ruff of brown hair that litters the top of your head to your little fingers which reach for mine. You are mine. My little son. My perfect little boy. I can't help but stare at you then over to your mother who lies on the hospital bed, exhausted and tired after a tedious nine hour labour. We made you. We created life. And now you are here. A tiny human, resting in my lap, wrapped in a pure blue blanket and hat.
Your eyes still haven't opened. They are shut tight making you oblivious to the world that you were brought into. I can't wait to see your eyes. Will they be pure bottle green or a dirty brown like mine? I hope you get Richelle's eyes. Mine are so boring. Hers are like the purest emerald.
"Uhh...Noah?..."
Says a voice groggily. Speaking of your mother. I turn away from staring out the window to look over at Richelle. She is sat upright in the hospital bed, her back resting against the pillows. The ugly hospital gown given to her has slipped down her shoulder, revealing her smooth tan skin prickling with goosebumps. Her long blonde hair has been thrown up into a messy pony at the top of her head.
"Noah.."
She says, glancing softly down at the babe in my arms, the bags under her eyes clearly prominent. She should be sleeping! I walk over to the bed, the clicking of my shoes against the floor echoing around the room. Eventually I reach the bed, sitting down on the old red chair beside it. Richelle continues to stare at the baby in my arms. I look down at him too.
"He's got my hair.."
I say randomly. Even though it's only a few stands, I could tell that it was deep brunette. Richelle's bed rustled as she moved slowly over so that her head rested on her pillow flat as she lay on her side.
"That's good.."
She's says gently reaching a hand out. I moved closer, shifting the little boy in my arms so that she could see him. Her eyes softened, a watery smile gracing her lips. She reached out her fingers, drifting them lightly against his forehead.
"Can I hold him?"
She asks. Even though I wished I could stay in this chair with him wrapped up tightly in my arms forever, I know it would be unfair to deny Richelle the chance of seeing her son after she just gave birth. I nodded my head slightly, lifting my body up from the chair. Richelle moved up and I placed the baby in her arms. He wiggled and his faced scrunched up in pain because he was moved from his comfortable position. In a few seconds he once again calm as Richelle rubbed his chubby cheeks. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
"Sit.."
It was all I needed to know that she wanted me to sit on the bed with her. And so that's what I did. I placed my arm around her waist pulling her closer as we stared with curiosity and adoration for our new baby.
I don't want to sound cheesy but no matter what I do I know I already will, so I'm just going to say it. He's perfect. I already love him with all my heart. I can remember sitting in this exact same spot, only four years ago when Sophia was born. I stared at her just like I'm doing know with my son and thought 'You are utterly perfect'. How did me and Richelle create something so wonderful?

KNOCK! KNOCK!

We turned our attention towards the door of the hospital room in curiosity. It slowly started to drift open to reveal our friends. There stood Riley, James, Emily, Chloe and Max. Michelle stood front and centre, a big smile prominent on her face. In her hands she held a balloon. I watched as her eyes widened with glee as she walked forward towards the hospital bed.
"Omg Ritchie! It's adorable. Wait! Is it a boy?! That blanket is blue!"
She exclaimed with excitement. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her eagerness. I looked down at Richelle, only to see her looking back up at me with a smile.
"Should we tell them Noah?.."
She asked teasingly, a smile gracing her lips. I heard Michelle groan.
"Come on guys! Tell us!"
She exclaimed forcefully. I turned to look at everyone else only to see them also looking at us with curiosity. I guess we should take them out of their misery.
"Should I tell them or do you want too?"
I asked Richelle. She pondered the thought a moment before looking up at me.
"You can tell them.."
She said tiredly. She bounced the baby up and down in her arms as he became to make a fuss. I turned my attention to the group of people who stood before us.
"Well..."
I drew out the words cheekily, watching as I started to get there hopes up before they dropping slowly down again.
"Get on with it dude!"
Exclaimed James exasperated. Riley gripped onto his arm, nodding her head along with what he was saying.
"Okay! okay!"
I said, shaking my hand out to indicate for them to calm down. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle as I stared down at my son before back at them. They are going to freak out!
"It's a...BOY!!"
I told them excitedly. I was right. They did freak out. Michelle gasped putting her hands on her mouth before rushing forward and placing her hands around Richelle's neck. Emily and Chloe jumped up and hugged each other, before looking down at the baby with glee. I looked over at James and Riley who were hugging each other before looking over at Max who was talking to...my mum? Huh? I felt my eyebrows furrow in confusion. How? She definitely wasn't there a minute ago.
"Mum?"
I asked getting up from the bed. Everyone was to busy to notice what I said. However she did. She turned to me a smile on her face. We both walked forward at the same time before meeting each other on the middle.
"Congrats my boy!"
She exclaimed with a smile, placing her hands around me in a hug. She gave me a feather light kiss on my cheek before letting go.
"What are you doing here?"
I asked confused. In hindsight I have to admit I was a little dumb. My mum looked at me with disbelief, her eyebrows cocked.
"Noah, my boy. Why do you think I'm here?"
She said with a laugh, patting my chest lightly.
"I'm here to see my grandson of course! Plus I think you might be forgetting about someone. Someone you left at the party.."
She exclaimed with a tut. Huh? What is she talking about? Who did I forget? I looked at her with confusion. My mother let out a sigh.
"Oh Noah my boy. I know you might be a little tired but come on! Something small. Blonde. Green eyes"
She said slowly hoping I would get what she was saying. Small? Blonde? But I've been with Richelle all day. It can't have been her. My mother once again let out an exasperated sigh.
"Christ Noah!"
She reached down behind her and pushed someone forward. Something small and blonde. SHIT! Sophia! I totally forgot about her! I felt my eyes widen. There she was clutched tightly to my mothers leg, her small mouth in a pout. I looked up at my mother. I tried to open my mouth and say thank you but it wouldn't come out. She must have took her in after the party.
"It's alright Noah. She's fine-" she pointed behind her to a tall dark figure in the background- "Max brought her to me after everyone left the party and told me what happened. I can't blame you for forgetting she was there when your main focus was on Richelle."
She told me with sympathy. Max was soon beside her, looking at me with a mix of anger and also sympathy.
"You better hug her"
He said forcefully, pointing down to the little girl beside my mother.
"It took me ages to calm her down and explain to her that you and Richelle hadn't left her. It took a McDonald's and ice cream to stop her crying. By the way...you owe me 20 pounds dude"
He said with laughter. I couldn't tell if he was joining or not. However that didn't matter at the moment. I squatted down onto the floor beside Sophia and reached a hand out to pull a piece of hair from her face. As I did so, she turned so that her head was no longer resting in the crook of my mothers leg and was now staring at me. Her eyes widened as her sparkling green eyes bore into mine.
"DADDY!"
She exclaimed happily, reaching forward and placing her little arms around my neck. I can't believe I ever forgot about you! I pulled her close to my chest, dragging a hand down through her hair.
     I stood up so I was the same height as Max and looked at my mother and best friend.
"Thank you!"
I mumbled gratefully. My mothers eyes softened as a small smile graced her lips.
"Your welcome my boy"
She told me. I clutched Sophia in my arms tightly, bouncing her up and down to calm her. She soon took her head ways from my shoulder to stare at me.
"Hey monkey"
I said opinion her chest lightly in order to get her to giggle. She did.
"How would you like to meet someone special?"
I asked her softly with a smile. She nodded her head up and down, dragging her hair back from her forehead.
"Good"
I mumbled before kissing her cheek. I think it's time that Sophia met her younger brother. I walked forward towards the hospital bed with Sophia in my arms. All the girls had gathered around the bed hoping to catch a glimpse of the baby. When they did, they would let of a coo of adoration. Riley saw me first. She gave me a smile before moving away from the bed. Next was Emily, then Chloe and the finally Michelle.
      I watched as Richelle looked up and around the room before finally stopping at me and Sophia. Her eyes widened just like mine did as she spotted Sophia clutched in my arms. She turned to me, her eyes saying so much. 'What? How? Did we-?' I just nodded my head in agreement. I moved forward so I was sat on the bed once more, only this time with Sophia in my lap. I noticed she was staring at the baby with a mixture of confusion, curiosity and nervousness.
"Sophia..meet you little brother"
I said softly, rubbing her back up and down. Richelle shifted the baby in her arms so that it was facing her. Sophia didn't move an inch.
"It's alright! He won't hurt you. Why don't you give him a kiss?.."
I said, pushing her forward slightly. However she hesitated, squirming until she was back in the safety of my arms. She dug her head into my chest again. I looked over to Richelle, she stared at Sophia with sadness.
"Don't be disheartened Richelle. It takes every child a little while to get used to a new baby. She'll come round soon"
Reassured my mother, stepping forward until she was beside Richelle on the other side of the hospital bed. Nancy stared down at the baby.
"Could I hold him?.."
She asked Richelle cautiously, her eyes hopeful. Richelle nodded before gently lifting her arms out and towards Nancy. In a few moments that baby was soon resting in her arms. Nancy looked down at him with adoration.
"He's beautiful. I'm so proud of you guys!"
She said, tears starting to gather in her eyes. Oh don't cry mum.
"Have you decided on a name yet?"
She asked curiously. Well...me and Richelle have been talking about it. I think we've came to a suitable name. I looked down at Richelle, nodding my head. She gave me a small smile before opening her mouth.
"We would like you to formally meet...Leo James Oliver Erlick"
She told everyone proudly. All the girls let out a sigh before congratulating us. I noticed James ears pick up at the fact one of his Leo's names was James.
"Why my name?"
He asked curiously. Why does he think? I turned to look at him.
"You're one of my best friends, and..you have always been there for me ever since I was little so it was only fitting that you'd be apart of Les life too"
I told him proudly. His face started to heat up as he looked towards the floor.
"Thank you mate!"
He mumbled gratefully. Well I guess this is it. The story of how Leo was brought into this world. It's been an adventure but one I would never let go of. For now I have a son, a daughter and a beautiful fiancee.
I turned towards Richelle before placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. She didn't turn to me but I could tell a small smile had graced her face. She leant backwards, leaning against my chest beside Sophia letting out a sigh.
Life might not always be perfect....but in this very moment everything was. Everything was perfect. Like the world had been frozen in one happy moment. For a new life had been brought into the world. A beautiful baby boy!

'Welcome to the world Leo'

This is it. The end. The final chapter of 'Everlasting Nochelle'. It has been a pleasure to write this book for the last few months but unfortunately all things must come to an end. School has become to much work now, and is a big part of my life at the moment. If you couldn't already tell from the face that this chapter was so late, I literally have no time left to write anymore. I hope you guys understand. I love you all so much ❤️ who knows, if I get the time I may be back with an epilogue chapter but only time will tell.