What We Never Knew We Needed

Chapter 51

"Wait!" Meryl said trying to understand all this. "You thought I had a massive heart attack, they didn't get our baby boy out in time and we both died?"

Don had calmed down a little bit; but hearing her recount his dream made his heart constrict once again. He sighed as he kissed her forehead while tucking her hair behind her ear. "Yeah; it was awful. No, it was beyond awful. It was HELL, PURE HELL. I begged you to come back. I thought it was because of our fight; that I killed you."

"Baby." Meryl choked; as she too had calmed down. "Yours might have been worse than mine."

Don nodded as he took a calming deep breath. "You thought I left you for fucking Sigourney Weaver and I took the baby?"

"Because I was a bitch to you." Meryl choked. "That I didn't deserve you; I was crushed at first and then fucking pissed off because you took our baby boy with you."

Don sighed as he gently kissed her lips and took her head in his hands; their nurse, Meghan, long gone by now. "That would NEVER happen, sweetheart; you are IT for me."

"You're it for me." Meryl choked as she rubbed her cheek against his; just needing to feel close to him.

Don placed soft kisses on her lips. "No wonder you smacked me; I deserved it. I think I actually deserved much worse than that; well, the nightmare me does."

"Oh my God!" Meryl exclaimed as she pulled away and stroked his cheek. "I smacked you! Are you alright? I'm so sorry, Don Man. Damn it, you just had stitches a week ago and then I fucking did that. I'm so sorry, baby."

Don shook his head at her. "I'm fine, Darl; really, I am. You know what this means?"

"That we are NEVER having another fight?" Meryl asked hopefully.

Don chuckled at his wife. "That would be nice; but we are human, and I know us a little too well to think that would happen. No, it means that we shouldn't eat Thai food late at night before we go to bed. I probably should have had something else delivered to us."

"It was pretty good, though." Meryl pointed out. "I don't think it was all the Thai food; or all the pregnancy hormones."

Don agreed with his wife. "Maybe a combination?"

"Maybe." Meryl shrugged. "It's also that stupid fight I started."

Don sighed. "Darl, that fight wasn't all your fault. I know you're going stir crazy. I know you're emotional. I know you're hormonal. I should have just let it go."

Meryl shook her head at him as the tears made their way, silently, down her prominent cheekbones. "No you shouldn't have; I was awful to you."

"Baby, you were being a 63 year old 8 1/2 month old pregnant woman who has been allowed to pee on her own in over a month." Don pointed out. "While putting up with a husband who is CONSTANTLY hovering over you."

Meryl kissed his hand as she lifted it up to her mouth. "Because you love us both so much; and are taking excellent care of us. I meant what I said earlier after the fight; YOU are why I am here, why we are both here, baby."

"I would do ANYTHING for the two of you; for our family. However, I shouldn't have stormed out and ignored your phone calls." Don sighed. "That wasn't very adult of me."

Meryl nodded as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I deserved it; I hurt you."

"And I hurt you." Don sighed. "You know I love you,  you know that this baby and our family mean more to me than ANYTHING in the WORLD; don't you? That I came back because you are a part of me; you know that, right? You aren't my other half...you are my whole! You know that I didn't LEAVE, leave; right? It was hard for me to even leave the fucking hospital but your brother convinced me. I could never leave you, baby. Please tell me you know all that."