A Fighting Chance (Tom Holland AU) [2]

Twenty-Two

As I laid in the hospital bed, I looked over at Steph as she held my hand. "Where's--ahh!" She had told me that I could squeeze her hand as hard as I needed when I felt contractions, but the way she contorted her face showed me that I may have squeezed a little too hard.

"Harrison said that they were on their way when I called ten minutes ago." I nodded at that, looking over at her.

"Steph, I'm so scared." She sighed, rubbing the back of my hand as she held it. I knew she could see the tears forming in my eyes.

"I know, honey. Do you think doing something to distract yourself will help?" I nodded a bit.

"Can I have my phone?" She nodded, handing it to me.

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alibell she's so gorgeous without even trying and im the luckiest woman in the world

Tagged: zendaya

zendaya 😘

fullofgrace you two are so in love and i love it so much. its making me so happy and distracting me from the child thats coming out of my body as we speak

user1 she definitely is and y'all are so cute! #Zali

alibell @fullofgrace WAIT WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU IN LABOR ALREADY YOURE NOT DUE UNTIL THE END OF MAY

zendaya @fullofgrace HOLY SHIT WELL BE THERE SOON

"That didn't help." I winced at another contraction, and she sighed gently as I squeezed her hand. Tears were now freely falling down my cheeks.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon." True to her word, Tom came bounding into the room five minutes later. I looked at him, and his face fell as he came rushing to the bedside.

"It's okay, darling. I'm here now." I nodded, and he wiped my tears as another contraction came. I squeezed Steph's hand again. As soon as I stopped squeezing, her hand was soon replaced with Tom's and a doctor came in.

"Grace, I know you're not at full gestation term yet, so we are preparing a delivery room for you completely stocked with all the staff we can to make sure both you and baby are doing okay." I nodded, and Tom rubbed my hand gently. Steph and Harrison bid their goodbyes, telling us that they'd be in the waiting room. It was soon just Tom and I as we waited for me to be moved to the delivery room.

"I called my parents on the way here, and they'll be here as soon as they can." He kept his voice soft, knowing I was petrified about giving birth so early. "Steph called yours, right?"

"Yeah. The soonest flight they can get is three days from now." I looked over at him, and I sighed gently. "I'm so scared, Tom," I whispered softly as more tears fell.

"I know, darling. I am too. But we have some of the best doctors here, and they're gonna make sure our little princess is perfectly healthy." I could see a tear roll down his cheek, and I sighed as I reached over and wiped it gently.

After a few hours of agonizing wait, we were in the delivery room as I began pushing. It was all a blur, but the next thing I knew, I could hear the weak sound of a baby crying. A doctor came over to us, and even in my tired and drained state, I could see a sympathetic look in his eyes. "You did so well, Grace, but we can't let you hold her. We want to make sure that everything is okay."

"Oh." I nodded softly, looking back at Tom. He had been holding my hand the whole time, and he still was.

"We'll have you deliver the afterbirth, and then we're going to move you to a regular room while we observe your daughter." I nodded softly. In all honesty, the whole ordeal was a blur.

Once Tom and I were settled in a regular room in the labor and delivery ward, we laid on the bed together. We were just wrapped up in each other, and it was all quiet as we laid there alone in the room. "Do you want me to go out and let everyone know the situation?" His voice was soft as he looked down at me.

"No. Stay. Please." I looked up at him, and he nodded sadly. He pulled his phone out, and I knew he was texting someone outside to explain the ordeal.

After a few more minutes to ourselves, there was a knock at the door as the doctor walked in holding a piece of paper. "Hello. I have an update for you two."

"Yes?" Tom looked at her, and I took a deep breath.

"With the timeline of her birth, there was an increase in likelihood of underdeveloped organs. After some tests, we were able to determine that she did have underdeveloped lungs." It felt like my heart stopped as I heard that. "We've placed her in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for care so we can bring those to full development."

"For how long?" I whispered, and the doctor sighed.

"However long she needs it." I took a deep breath as the doctor handed the piece of paper to us. "This is her birth certificate that we need you both to fill out and sign." I gently took the pen, looking back at Tom before clicking it in place and filling out the name we had decided on.

Annabelle Stella Christina Holland-Chance.

After the doctor took the completed and signed certificate, I looked up at Tom. "Can you go get your parents?" I could feel the tears forming, and I saw him nod sadly.

"Of course, darling. I'll be right back with them." He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and I took a deep breath.

After a moment alone with my thoughts, I looked up to see the door opening and my future in-laws walking in with Tom. "How are you feeling, Grace?" Nikki's voice was soft as she sat down in the chair next to the bed.

Shit's getting real, guys. Thoughts?