The guests were gone, it was late in the evening and I couldn't get settled. I had taken off my shoes and Lindsey was rubbing my swollen feet and ankles. My parents were having coffee in the living room and we were all just catching up. I knew it was getting late for them but they were trying to stay up for me.
"How is the nursery coming?" My mother asks, taking a sip of her decaf coffee. She didn't want to be kept up all night.
"It's done. If Steph's up to it, we can all look at it"
"Yes, please!" I say, taking my feet from his lap and placing them on the ground. He helps me up from the couch and we ascend the stairs. Lindsey pulls a key from his pocket and stops.
"Are you sure you want to see it, Steves?" He asks, teasing me.
"Open the door! Please!"
"Well, alright" He puts the key in the lock but before he does anything her turns back to look at me. "Wait, are you sure?"
"Yes! Please let me see!" I plead, though I'm giggling at this point.
"Okay, okay, okay" he says, finally letting us inside. I had seen bits and pieces of it when the work had just started but I wasn't prepared for the beauty of this room. Aria's room was bubblegum pink and princess-y but this room is much more moody and almost elegant. It was a deep rose hue, soft greys and cream. There was a canopy over the crib and lots of stuffed animals in a toy chest, some dolls placed throughout the room and lots of books. The bedding was plush and there was a soft grey baby blanket draped over the arm of the glider. I touch it and gasp at its luxury. "Cashmere" he says. He has teased me about the cashmere thing many times but I guess he gets it now.
"Oh it's perfect! I cannot believe you did all this"
"Well, I had a ton of help."
"What do you think?" I ask my mother and father. My mother turns around with tears in her eyes and hugs Lindsey then myself. "It's beautiful, you two. Perfect for another sweet baby girl."
"Thank you, mommy"
"Great job, son" my father says, hugging Lindsey and patting his back. "Do you love it?" He asks me.
"Yes, oh daddy, isn't it gorgeous? I am stunned. I loved Aria's beautiful room but wow..."
"I'm glad you like it, Steph. I tried to keep you in mind. No harsh lighting, the colors are nice together and they're gentle."
"It's perfect, you're perfect" I tell him, kissing his lips ever so softly.
"Thank you for showing us, guys. We should be going back to the house. We are pretty tired." My father says.
"Alright. See you guys in the morning. You're coming for breakfast right?" Lindsey asks.
"We are. Good night, kids" my mother says, kissing us on the cheeks.
"Good night" we say. We escort them out, saying goodbye once more and we retire to our room as well.
I change into my pajamas and get into bed, waiting for Lindsey. He comes out of the bathroom and he gives me a strange look. "I expected you to be asleep already" he says, laying next to me.
"I don't know...I'm tired but I can't sleep"
"Close your eyes. I can hold you and maybe that will help"
"Okay" I close my eyes and make myself comfortable in his arms. He rubs my belly and she's so still in there. It's freaking me out.
"Are you having a contraction?" He asks, feeling my belly like the midwives always did with Aria.
"Shut up, Lindsey. It's time to sleep"
"Okay, let's get some rest."
"I'm sure it's nothing" I tell him, dwelling on something I'm sure has already gone out of his head.
"Alright. Goodnight, my love" he says.
"Good night" I reply. We turn off our bedside lamps and resume our comfortable positions. "Is Karen here still?"
"Yes, Steph"
"Okay" After a few minutes, I'm getting antsy. Like I need to get up and do something, even though I'd much prefer to sleep. "I'm going to get a glass of water" I say.
"No, stay here. I'll get it"
"No, no! I'm fine. I will be right back"
He sighs. "Okay, but after that, sleep" I nod and go down to the kitchen. I grab a glass from a shelf that was overhead. I hate when he puts them up so high!
It was as quick as that. I was just beginning to fill the glass at the tap when I stop, turning off the water. It was odd- I was fine and then I wasn't. The energy shift took place hours ago and I called it a false alarm but I knew this time it wasn't. I drop the glass with this contraction and it shatters everywhere. Then my water breaks, as if I needed anything more to happen at this moment. Glass, water and amniotic fluid cover the floor around me. I'm leaning against the counter, the pain intensifying immensely. Lindsey flies down the stairs and enters the kitchen.
"Let me clean this up" he says, grabbing the broom and trying to sweep it up around me. "Did it fall?" He asked.
"N-no, I, I dropped it. I'm sorry...my water...." I say, weeping.
"Don't worry about it, angel. Are you okay? Are you cut?" He asks, checking me over.
"No, I'm fine, honey" I tell him but I'm clearly not fine. I resist the urge to cry out from the sensations. I'm miserable and totally frozen to the spot. He looks at me a moment and it all clicks.
"The baby...I'm getting Karen" he says and I just nod, breathing through another contraction. They're so close together, I'm getting no break to collect myself. Karen comes into the room and I feel everyone staring at me.
"Stop it" I say, but they don't. I attempt to leave the room but the contractions get stronger than I even thought possible, bringing me literally to my hands and knees on the floor. It feels like every bone in my body is being crushed all at once.
"Get her to the hospital and I will watch Aria." Karen says, being the calm I need.
"Call my parents?" I half ask and she nods.
"It's taken care of"
"Thank you" I say, but it comes out more of a pitiful whimper.
We arrive at the hospital as quickly as possible and this place is a mad house. I start crying again, feeling hopeless. There is chaos all around us. A nurse spots us and ushers us into one the triage rooms, then leaves again.
"I need to push" I tell Lindsey.
"No, honey. Wait for a doctor"
"I can't, I can't. She's coming"
"Let me go get someone"
"No, don't leave" I whine but he doesn't hear. He runs out of the room and returns with a very young, frightened looking nurse.
"Hi, I'm Nina" she says, awkwardly trying to shake my hand.
"Stevie" I say, not really wanting to talk to someone. She lowers her hand, realizing it wasn't really an appropriate thing to do. Thankfully instead of standing around, she prepares for the birth of this baby and gets into ready mode. A doctor is paged to my room but it's such a blur. I bring myself to actually get on the bed with lots of help from Lindsey. My legs are like jello and I honestly feel like I might pass out. He kisses my head and I lean into him, feeling such a calm wash over me. The high I felt with Aria was here again and in this room with us. Someone was watching over me, over us. I'd like to think it was Robin, watching her second little niece emerge and enter this world.
In an instant, my second chubby baby girl was on my chest. Her soft, sweet cry broke the silence that had fallen over all of us. Tears streamed down my cheeks looking at her. Dark hair, much darker than Aria's was. And so curly.
"You did it" he tells me, kissing my cheek then my lips when I turn to meet him.
"Thank you. I love you, thank you" I cry, kissing him again.
"She's beautiful. I can't believe it...well, I can believe she's beautiful but I---"
I cut him off "I get it. Kiss me again" He does as instructed and I feel his tears on my face when we make contact.
For more than a year, it's been hell. We have been torn apart and put back together again. We have loved, lost and loved again. We've laughed, cried, screamed... but this moment has made it worth it. Every bit of pain was necessary to get what we have right here. My love, my life, my everything.
"Linds, she doesn't have a name..." I say after hours of just staring at her. Everyone is gone and it's just the three of us.
"Willow" he says confidently. "They're one of the only natural things in this world that can bend without breaking"
"Willow" I repeat. "Willow Rutheda Buckingham"
He smiles, nodding. "Welcome to the world" he says planting a tiny kiss on the top of her head. He turns back to me and gives me the most beautiful and special kiss I have ever experienced. We press our foreheads together, gazing into each other's eyes. "I've waited all my life for you, sweet girl." He whispers.
The End
A/N: thank you so much for all of the amazing support, the comments and the votes! This was a beautiful journey and as I type this, I'm in tears. I so loved writing this and I hope that my next fiction will be just as well received. You are all so amazing! Thank you for reading this long story!
