Spitting Bullets

Chapter 10

Yells and grunts filled the room and Gabby stood at Nicole's bed side while she brought her daughter into the world.

"I wish I had drugs!" cried Nicole as she pushed.

"One more big push Nicole!"

And just like that baby girl Dawson was born. The sound of her little screams filled the room. Nicole was crying herself as she panted in exhaustion.

"Gabby, would you cut the cord?" asked Natalie, following Nicole's wishes.

Gabby did so and her eyes tested up at the sight of her beautiful niece. Her skin color was a mix between Nicole and Antonio, but she had her Mom's blue eyes. She had a little bit of hair on her and overall she was adorable.

"She's beautiful" sighed Nicole as she briefly held her baby girl.

"Just like her momma".

***
After Nicole had gotten herself fixed up and had gotten a few hours of rest, Natalie came back with the baby.

"So, does this little angel have a name?" asked Natalie as she set the birth certificate on the table to fill out.

"Isabella Gabriela Dawson" smiled Nicole, looking over at Gabby.

"You named her after me?" quietly asked Gabby.

"Of course. Before everything happened Antonio and I knew we wanted to name her after you because we want her to be strong like her auntie".

"Nic, I'm truly honored".

They quickly hugged before getting back to Natalie. She asked a few other questions before handing Isabella to me. Natalie left and Gabby sat beside Nicole. She was completely smitten with her baby girl.

"Not that we're rushing you" began Gabby, "but Kelly was wondering if you wanted him to come up with Noah".

"Yeah they can come over now. I'm ready".

20 minutes later Noah was bouncing into the room, all excited to meet his baby sister. Kelly came walking in behind him with a smile on his face.

"Remember what I said about hugging momma?" questioned Kelly, placing a hand on Noah's shoulder.

"Be careful" cutely responded Noah.

"Atta boy. Go ahead".

Noah walked up to Nicole's bed and Gabby picked up, so he could sit on the bed. He crawled up beside Nicole and gave her a nice hug.

"Hi little man" murmured Nicole as she pressed a kiss to Noah's forehead, "Momma missed you".

"I miss you too" he cooed, "is that little sister?"

"Noah this is Isabella, your little sister".

"Hi Bella" he waved.

Instantly Nicole's heart melted. She absolutely adored her little family, but she couldn't help but notice that someone was missing.

***

Nicole sat outside the building with Isabella asleep in the backseat. Her little girl was two weeks old and Bella already had Nicole wrapped around her finger. Noah was with Kelly for the day while Nicole picked up Antonio from rehab. Today was the day he was released. She didn't know if she wanted to be there or not but overall decided to.

Nicole was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of a door opening. Antonio climbed in, looking clean shaven and not at all like the last time she saw him. He turned around to put his bag in the backseat and that's when he saw her.

"Is that her?" he asked, almost out of breath.

"Yeah. She's two weeks old today" grinned Nicole.

"She's precious".

Antonio turned back around and buckled before Nicole headed towards his place.

"Nic, I-"

"Before we get into the big conversation I want to put something out there" interrupted Nicole, "You broke my heart and truly broke me...but believe it or not I still love you".

"Really?" Antonio asked in almost a whisper.

"I know the man who broke my heart wasn't the Antonio I know and love. And if you're back to being the Antonio I love, I think with a lot of taking things out and time...we can be us again".

"I'm so happy to hear you say that. I honestly thought I had lost you, and Noah and our baby girl-"

"Isabella. I named her Isabella".

"That's beautiful".

"I know it was one we talked about and when I looked at her I just knew".

The two engaged in minor chat until they reached the house. Nicole carried Bella inside and sighed as she sat down on the couch. She carefully handed Antonio the baby. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes as he held his daughter for the first time.

"She's absolutely stunning like her momma" complimented Antonio, "Where's Noah?"

"At Kelly's. Do you remember me telling you that?"

"I remember what happened once I was reminded of it" he sighed before placing Bella back in her carrier and taking Nicole's hands in his, "I know this probably means nothing. But I am so sorry for every once of pain I've caused you. I was a mess and I shouldn't have dragged you down with me. I could never figure myself for the way I hurt you".

"Antonio...it's going to take time for me to be able to really trust you again. I love you and I want to make us work more than anything. It'll just take time".

"Right I know. I fell pretty hard, but I promise from here on out I am here for you, Noah, and Isabella no matter what. You guys mean everything to me and when I thought I had lost you guys due to my stupid mistakes, I broke down. I can't imagine my life without my family with you. I love you".

"I love you too".

Nicole slowly leaned in and before you know it, their lips were colliding. It was a slow, sensual kiss full of love. Nicole would be lying is she said she hadn't missed this. She missed his touch and his care. She missed him more than she thought she did. When they pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other.

"I missed you" he admitted with a shaky sigh.

"I missed you too Tonio".