Webs And Wishes - Tom Holland

Chapter 30.

Four months later.

Lily's POV

I woke up to a sharp pain shooting through my belly. Glancing at the alarm on the bedside, the glowing digital numbers told me it was 2:10.

There was only one thing that pain could be.

A contraction.

Yet instead of waking up my husband, rushing to the hospital, instead I waited.

I wouldn't admit even to myself that I was scared. Utterly terrified. Sighing deeply, I allowed the uncomfortable sensations to flood over me. My back aches miserably from the weight of the child in me. She would be in my arms instead, soon.

It didn't feel real. Another sharp pain shot through me. The clock read 12:15.

12:16

12:17

12:18

And suddenly, as if waking from a dream, the reality dawned on me. I shot up, hands resting on either side of my stomach. It was futile to pretend I wasn't in labour, because this baby was coming, and it was coming right now.

"Tom wake up!"

He grunted and rolled over. I threw a pillow at his head, and heard a satisfying thud as he rolled off the bed.

"Woah! What's happening, what's wro-"

"Shut up I'm in labour!" I looked at him with wide eyes.

"Well- I- are you sure?" He blinked quickly, surprised.

"Yes I'm bloody sure, contractions hurt!" I rolled my eyes at him, pulling myself up off the bed.

"Alright, alright. Ummm we've got the bag already right? Let's get to the car. Can you walk? How far apart are the contractions? Oh Lil, we're gonna have a baby!" He babbled on, now wide awake.

I felt another painful sensation shoot through my body, gasping in shock. The last one was a matter of minutes ago.

"We need to get to the hospital, and fast. Come on," I clasped his clammy hand, dragging him to the car. I was still panicking internally, but on the exterior, I was calm and controlled.

I'm actually going to have this baby. I was only 17, and in a matter of hours I'm going to have a baby.

The motorway flew beneath the wheels of the car. I held my stomach, almost worried that my baby would just fall out due to the slight bumps in the road. Tom was shaking a little, I noticed, and I wasn't sure whether it was because of what happened the last time he was on a motorway or because of the anticipation of the next few hours.

Before I knew it, I was being wheeled down the corridors of the hospital, easing myself into the bed. The contractions were becoming more frequent by the second. The midwife muttered something about 8cm, Tom glancing towards the sheet laid over my legs.

I squeezed his hot hand, my nail leaving a small indent in his soft skin.

"Tom, I can't do it." I stared pleadingly into his chestnut eyes, silently begging him to do something to help.

"Just keep breathing in the gas and air darling, I believe in you. I know you can do this." He smiled his beautiful little smile, eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Okay. Okay."

A head popped round the door of my room.

"Your mother is here." The blonde nurse smiled sympathetically before disappearing again.

She was quickly replaced with the face of my mother. The one who hadn't been around for a single second when I needed her. And now I no longer needed or wanted her, here she was.

"Lily love, I came to help deliver my grandchild! I'm sure Tom is great, but only a mother can look after you right now." She cocked one eyebrow, daring me to disagree.

Tears welled up in the corner of my eye. Now was not a good time. Really not a good time. I was all ready to submit, to just get it over with, because I couldn't fight her off right now. Tom's grip tightened, and all I could do was pray that somehow she would just leave.

"She already has a mother. A better one than you, too."

The new voice came from behind the woman, and there stood Nikki. I laughed delightedly at the sight of my mother in law, practically delirious between the drugs and heightened emotions.

"Oh Nikki, come here! I need one more hand to hold on to."

She did exactly that, hissing in my mother's ear as she passed her. The woman spat angrily, before turned on her heel and leaving, muttering about ungrateful children.

"What did you say to her?" Tom murmured.

"She's my grandchild, not yours."

I grinned at the feisty woman beside me. Then before I knew it, the midwife was saying I was at 10cm.

It was time.

With Nikki and Tom there to support me, I pushed.

And pushed.

And pushed.

And suddenly there was screaming and a bundle of towels was carried away from me.

For a second, I thought they were taking my child, but then she was placed in my arms, gurgling noisily. She was pink and looked like a potato, but she was so, so beautiful. She already had a full head of brown hair, curling slightly. It was thick and short, almost exactly like Tom's except softer.

My husband leaned over us, cooing back at our little one. He gingerly stroked her head with one finger, careful not to break her. She was so tiny. Tom planted a kiss on my forehead, hand still clasped over mine.

"We did it. You did it." He chuckily happily.

I cried. I was exhausted and my entire body felt horrible, but I had my baby in my arms and my husband at my side.

"What are you going to name her?"

We wanted a less common name, something that would stand out but which wasn't totally stupid. She was special, and her name needed to show it.

There weren't many names I liked though. The only one I approved of was actually Tom's idea.

"Indiana." I giggled a little at the sound of the name rolling off my tongue.

"Hey Indi. You're going to have the best life ever."

Tom grinned at me, "Of course she is, her dad is Spider-Man!"

THE END