After: a Maxerica Story

Part 24

--THE THIRD CHILD--

The labor was the same as last time. Not fun, but the result is beautiful. Except something's not right. I can feel it, and I don't know what it is. The doctors haven't come back yet. They've been gone for a while.

Finally, after what seems for like forever, the doctors come. Their faces are somber.

"What's wrong?" Maxon asks, worried.

I can't breath.

"Your majesties... the baby isn't breathing."

I suck in a breath and Maxon let's out a strangled cry. He wraps me in his arms and I cry into his chest. Another baby. Dead. Because of me.

"Why?" Maxon asks, sniffling.

"We think it's because of the gash on her stomach."

I let out a cry. "It's all their fault!" I jump up angrily and doctors have to hold me down. "I will kill them! All of them!"

"Honey, no, there's nothing we can do. I'm sorry, I really am, and I'm just as upset as you are-"

"No!" I scream. "Two babies dead because of me! I can't take it! What's wrong with me? Why is this happening?"

I'm sobbing uncontrollably.

And then I hear something. "He's breathing!"

I light up. I look at Maxon and he's beaming.

Doctors push a cart with a machine on it our way. There's a tiny baby hooked up to a machine. Probably to help him breath. I almost cry, because I'm so happy and because I'm so sorry for the little guy.

Anne and Mary come rushing in, with Amberly and Gerad. Both of them are getting so big. Gerad is five and Amberly is almost four.

Marlee races in with her husband. They're expecting soon!

"Oh America!" she squeals. Then she sees the machine and gasps. "Oh no, what's wrong?"

"He can't breath very well," I whisper.

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaims and hugs me. "But congratulations. He's so adorable!"

I smile. "Isn't he?"

~•~•~•~•~

Today is Marlee's day. Our babies aren't born that far apart- a week or so.

I'm standing outside. She's screaming. I can't bear it.

It seems to go on longer than expected. She never told me the gender. She wanted it to be a surprise.

So finally, she stops screaming and we're allowed to go in. I run in, to her side. "Marlee! Are you okay?"

She looks weak. "Yeah, I'm fine. And so are my children."

Children?

Twins!

I look down at them. One's a boy and ones a girl. Immediately I think of Gerad. He was supposed to have a twin sister.

But I perk up again, congratulating Marlee.

"I'm so proud of you Marlee. They're adorable."

The girl looks like her dad and the boy looks like his mom. So cute.

Our babies will be friends, I'm sure.

-

I run into Lucy in the hall. She's not talking much, but she's out of her room. And looking healthier. But... A little... Bigger.

"Hey, Lucy. Are you okay?" I ask. I'm carrying our newest baby in one arm. We named him Logan Anthony.

She shakes her head wildly and pushes something into my free hand. It's a pregnancy test.

And it says positive.

Oh.

Oh God.

It's Aspen's baby.

"Oh, Lucy. This is great... But I'm so sorry."

She just nods, silent tears running down her face. I hug her and Logan starts giggling.

"Oh, stop it," I whisper gently. "This isn't funny."

Lucy laughs a little bit.

"Would you like to hold him?"

Her eyes widen. "Me?"

I laugh. "Yes, who else?"

I gently hand her Logan. She rocks him back and forth, shaking.

"It's okay. You'll be okay.

"It'll all be okay."

She hands him back. "I'm not ready. I'm still not ready."

"I know. It's hard."

She starts balling. I start crying too, just thinking about Aspen.

"You make me feel..."

He never finished.

And I will never tell Lucy what he said.

It would shatter her broken heart.

I remember him crumbling to the ground. Seeing the bullet wound.

Leaving him behind.

It's all too much.

"Lucy... I have to go. I'll see you later, okay? Treat yourself well."

She's about to object but I run away.

I find myself in my bed. I dropped Logan off with Anne and Mary. I curl up into a ball and sob.

Someone knocks on the door. I don't respond. The door opens and someone walks over to the bed and puts their hands on my back.

I look up.

Maxon.

"Oh, Maxon."

"What's wrong, my dear?"

"I was going to tell you, but I'm not your dear."

"Well, it was worth a shot."

He sits down next to me.

"America, what's the matter?"

I wipe away the tears and lean into him. "It's Lucy. She's pregnant."

He gasps. "With Aspen's baby."

"Yes. With Aspen's baby. I feel so sorry for her. It's just too much."

"It is too much. Life as a whole is too much." He lies down and I lay next to him, my head in his chest. He kisses the top of my head.

"It'll all be okay."

That's what I told Lucy.

That doesn't mean it's the truth.

-

I promise the next chapter will be longer! I'm using my phone so it's hard to type. Thanks for all the support,

And 5k reads! WOW!

Love you all!

Eve