Evaporate

chapter thirty-one.

Thalia's POV

Contractions began three days ago, but they would stop and start again throughout all three days. Even though I thought I was sure that the baby would be born every single day for the past three days, I know for a fact the baby is coming today. She's about 6 days early, but we anticipated this.

"Ooo, Grayson." I complain as I get another contraction. He runs around gathering everything for Theo to stay at Lisa's place.

"I know baby, I'm trying to go as fast as I can." Grayson panics as he hands Theo a backpack full of clothes.

"What happening?" Theo asks. "I already go to school?" He excitedly asks.

"No bubba, you still have a w-" I groan as a contraction takes my ability to speak. I hold my belly and lower back as I practice the breathing exercises I was taught to do.

"Week?" He asks. I nod as I grip the armrest of the chair. I stand up and try to walk off the pain, almost wishing it was a Braxton Hicks.

Of course it isn't. This time, it's the real thing, and I can't walk the pain off.

Within 20 minutes, everything is ready and in the car.

"What time is it?" Theo asks. Grayson checks his watch after helping me into the car and sighs.

"5:53 pm." He starts the car and makes sure we're all buckled up before driving to Lisa's. As soon as we get there, Lisa's already waiting outside and she rushes over, getting Theo's stuff from Grayson.

"Make sure to call me the second she's 8 centimeters dilated, I'll be there with Theo, Tim and Tommy." Lisa smile. I wave at Lisa but my joys are cut short when I crumple into myself from a contraction.

"Okay, thank you mom, I love you." Grayson yells before getting into the car. The second he gets in my eyes widen.

"Holy shit, Grayson my water just broke." I quickly say. "I'm sorry about the seat baby." I groan. He chuckles softly.

"It's okay, this car has so many memories, just one more." I blush and drop the topic. I just want to get there, get off of this uncomfortably soaked seat and have my baby girl.

Soon, I get another contraction and I clench my fists, trying to cope through the pain.

"Please drive faster." I mutter through the pain as Grayson bites his lip and puts his hand on mine. Suddenly, he's groaning and my pain lessens. I notice his veins bulging in his arm.

"That's a lot of pain." Grayson grits out as he focuses on driving. My eyes only widen as the contraction stops and we both stop groaning from pain.

"What was that?" I ask. Grayson blushes and returns his hand to the steering wheel.

"I took some of your pain." He attempts to smile softly as he drives just above the speed limit, but his nervousness makes the smile look odd.

I didn't even bother to ask him about it because I was too busy thinking about baby names. We still hadn't picked between two and now I'm about to have her.

Once we get to the hospital, the contractions have spread out a little and Grayson took a bit of the pain each time.

I was wheeled into the room where I would give birth and I smiled when I noticed it was the same room I had Theo in.

Grayson helps me into the hospital gown as the doctor comes to check on me.

"Oh, I'm afraid this will be a long night... The dilation is only at four centimeters." He takes notes. "Get some rest, you'll be needing it." The doctor smiles and leaves. My mind is too tired to be mature, and I can o my think of one, stupid thing.

How dare you smile at me.

I groan and lay on the bed. "Theo was so much easier."

"How so?" Grayson sits by me and holds my hand. I sigh again and stare at the spectacularly clean ceiling.

"Theo took less than 4 hours upon arrival and I'm sure our daughter is going to go into tomorrow." I look at him and he's smiling softly.

"What are you all smiley about?" I giggle softly, his smile rubbing off on me. He smiles wider and bites his lip.

"I'm just happy I could be here for this one." He blushes. "Plus, the thought of having our princess is great." He acts as if he didn't say the first sentence and so do because I know how sensitive he is about it.

I laugh softly. "She's going to be a daddy's girl." he nods proudly.

"Do you want more kids after her?" Grayson asks softly. I shrug. I can't bear the thought of even having sex right now, and I especially can't bear the thought of getting pregnant again. Not while I'm being torn apart by a child.

"Let's focus on getting her here before we plan more." I laugh nervously. He joins in with a genuine laugh and we enjoy each other's company.

I was able to fall asleep at 11:45 pm, but was woken up by a contraction.

Grayson of course tried to take most of the pain away, but I made him stop because I was strong and needed to do this myself.

By the time the contractions were officially over, it was already 12:11 am.

"You were right, she came right into tomorrow." Grayson chuckles. I nod tiredly and sigh.

"Before I fell asleep the doctor said I was 6 and a half centimeters dilated, do you think we should call your mom?" I ask, sitting up.

He shakes his head. "She said 8."

The night was a blur of sleep and contractions until the doctor woke me up.

"Thalia, you're 9 centimeters dilated." He says. I quickly wake Grayson up.

"Call your mom!" He groggily does so and when he returns, I'm already in the middle of another contraction.

"Shit, sorry." He rushes over and takes some of the pain.

"Stop! I did it before!" I growl through the pain. Grayson is shocked but does as told, reluctantly letting me deal with the pain.

Once it's over, I blush. "I'm sorry... I just wanna be able to do this on my own without you having to get hurt too." He nods.

"I know, but you're right, I should've listened to you from the start." I blush and smile.

"What time is it?" I ask, rubbing my belly as another contraction starts up. We're close.

"3:43." He bites his lip as my grip on his hand tightens and the contraction begins. "Shit, they're less than a minute apart. Doctor!" He yells out towards the hall. I groan as Lisa rushes into the room.

"Is it time?" Lisa pants a bit. The doctor nods as he comes in, followed by two nurses.

"Where's Theo?" I ask in between contractions.

"Waiting room with Timothy and Tommy." She smiles and stands to my left while Grayson takes my right.

At 3:49, I start pushing. At 3:55, it's almost too hard to push. At 4:00, I nearly give up. But at 4:03 am, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, my daughter's cries fill the room.

"Congratulations! It's a girl!" The doctor grins. The usual procedure of washing and testing her begins as they stitch me up.

Then, as they finish stitching me up, a nurss asks us for her name.

By then, I knew exactly which name.

"Gracelynn Mae Dolan."

"That's a beautiful name." Lisa smiles, her eyes watering.

Grayson blushes, knowing it's the one he wanted.

After a ten and a half hour labor process, our 7 pound, eleven ounce and 22 inch baby is finally here.

She was worth every single second of pain, every single tear, and the overexertion during labor. She was worth all of it, and everything that we will face.