What Is Left Unsaid : An Ashley Purdy Love Story

Welcome To The World

TIANA'S POV :

      "Babe, I think it might be easier for me to get out of the car if you unfasten my seat belt first," I tell Ashley, as he reaches into the car and grabs my hand.

      "Right. Sorry, love," he replies, as he reaches for the release button. "I think I'm freaking out a little."

      "Never woulda guessed. Relax, babe. Having a panic attack isn't going to do either of us any good, so let's just get in there and let the doctor do his job." 

      I finally get out of the car, and Ash puts his arm around me, helping me into the hospital, and a nurse gets me settled into a wheelchair, while he takes care of all of the paperwork crap. I called my doctor as we were leaving the house, so he should be here soon.

      They wheel me to the elevator and get me to a room, and Ash joins me a few minutes later. I'm on the phone with my mom when he gets here, so he calls Brian and Scott, who say that they'll be leaving the house immediately. After that, he starts calling the guys, letting them know that things are about to happen, while I call Rick and Shan.

      When he's done, he sits down on the edge of the bed and runs his fingers through my hair. "How are you feeling, babe?"

      "Crowded and uncomfortable."

      "Sorry, dumb question," he says, kissing me on the top of my head. "I guess I'm just a little wired. I want all of you to be okay, and all the waiting is making me a nervous wreck."

      "Well, I'd be glad to change places with you, if you want."

      He sort of chuckles, and kisses me again. "I'm not even sure how to respond to that. You know that I'd do just about anything in the world for you if I could, T, but that one I'd seriously have to sit and think over."

      Before I can answer, my doctor comes in, and starts timing my contractions. It turns out that I'm barely three minutes apart, so he starts making arrangements to have me taken to delivery, while one of the nurses takes Ash to get fitted out in his garb.

      A few minutes later, he comes in and I start to laugh, which seems to confuse him. "What's so funny?"

      "You look like you're auditioning for a role as a mad scientist!" I inform him, between giggles. "I'm pretty sure the real medical people don't wear their aviators with their surgical masks."

      He whips off the sunglasses and stuffs them into his pocket. "Crap! I thought something seemed off."

      He starts to say something else, but breaks off when I nearly come up off the table from the next contraction. My doctor moves the sheet to check things out, and says, "Well, I think we're just about ready to get things going here. You're already fully dilated, Tiana, it seems like they're in something of a hurry to get out here and meet their folks."

      "And they're already almost two weeks early, too. Shan isn't going to like me very much, after all of the waiting she had with Tanner."

      "Well, it's not like you have any say in it, babe," Ash reminds me. "So she can't actually get mad at you. Not reasonably, anyway."

      Another pain hits, and I wind up grabbing Ashley's arm hard enough to leave red dents from my fingernails before it lets up, actually making him flinch. "Ooo-kay, then!" he mumbles. "Doc, I think she's trying to tell me she's ready to get started."

      He takes another peek under the sheet and and says, "Yes, I think you may be right, Mr. Purdy. So why don't you take your place, and start helping her fold herself forward when I say 'Push'?"