My Mate's Joy

Chapter: Twenty Nine

Chapter Twenty Nine: Joy
Vale

I refused to go home.

Not before seeing her, so the nurses kindly cleaned her up and allowed me to see Shelby one last time.

"Does she have any family that you'd like to notify?" The doctor asked me.

I shook my head, "only her best friend...I'll call her and let her know what happened."

"And the baby...we've got her in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, She's rather small as she had to be born much too prematurely...would you like to see the baby?"

"Joy...Shelby wanted to name her Joy." I said almost robotically as I stood there and looked at my Mate, cleaned and covered up like she was, she looked like she was only sleeping.

"Of course Alpha, I'll go ahead and notify the nurses to change the baby's name, we've just had her listed as baby Kirkshaw." He said before leaving me in the room alone.

Of course they'd assume the baby was mine, I had told them she was my Mate after all.

I sighed and moved to kiss her forehead, the same tears fell but much more softly this time. I knew this was my final goodbye, the last time it'd be just her and I.

I couldn't bring myself to physically say goodbye, so I simply got up and left the room. I took in a deep breath, cleaned my face and pulled out my phone to call Nico.

"Hey bro, long time."

"Hey...is Claire around?" I asked immediately, this wasn't a call I had wanted to make so I didn't want to shoot the shit right now.

He paused, "Yeah..."

"Can I talk to her really quick?" I asked.

"Hold up."

"Hello." She sounded cheerfully.

"Hey Claire..." I sounded as normally as I could muster.

"Vale?" She asked, "what's up?"

"Claire...uh, Sh...-" I was getting choked up again and she heard it.

"Vale...Vale hun what's the matter?"

"She's dead...Shelby..."

The line went silent

"Vale?" Nico sounded worried, "Vale you said Shelby's dead?"

"Yeah..." I said as I cleared my throat to try and keep my voice from cracking. "There was a complication with the baby..."

After a brief pause he spoke again. "And the baby?" He asked.

"She's fine as of now, she's being held in the NICU."

I heard as he relayed my message to Claire I presume.

"Alright brother...we're on our way."

"I'm at the hospital with George."

"We'll meet you there man, don't worry." He said before we hung up.

I went back to the lobby and was greeted by George's wife Annette.

"I brought you guys some coffee...George told me what happened...I'm so sorry Alpha."

I thanked her and took a seat next to George.

"I called Wexler and filled him in as well..." George said shaking his head. "This night can't come to an end quick enough for my liking."

"Nico is on his way with his new wife...no doubt they'll be bringing his parents."

"My wife and I can can make sure the rooms are ready for them." George sounded. "Do you need us to bring you anything back from the house?"

I shook my head.

"I will uh, I guess I have to... to arrange her funeral." I suddenly realized, a few tears escaping me.

"I will handle that for you Alpha, you shouldn't have to do this alone."

I nodded, "no expense spared Annette, George you have access to my bank cards."

"Of course." He said.

I stood up and hugged them both once again before I watched them leave.

But I wasn't alone long before the doctor returned.

"Alpha...we've assessed Baby Joy and have more Information for you if you'd like?" He sounded unsure.

I nodded, "of course."

"So after looking her over, given her weight and length she was born at just a few days over 30weeks so while we still have a long road ahead of us she does seem to be as healthy as can be expected..."

"It's a relief...thank you Doctor."

He nodded, "would you like to see her?"

I hesitated but nodded.

I followed the doctor back to the viewing area of the newborns.

All of the babies were covered in blankets and looked like chubby little burritos with hats, even at a time like this I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them.

"Baby Joy is in a private room where we will continue to monitor her for the next few months at least...I have to warn you that she is much much smaller than the babies you've just seen and at the moment she is in an incubator so that we can control her temperature and keep her warm...she's still covered with a blanket and donning a cap as well since she will need to be kept much warmer, she also has a couple of tubes in, one for oxygen another for liquids."

I didn't really know what to do but nod along to his words.

"At the moment we are restricting her contact so we aren't permitting anyone to touch her just yet and we also advise that we keep the traffic into the room as low as possible to lessen the germs and bacteria brought into the room."

After that I was given the proper attire before I was shown inside.

Even with the heads up I was still shocked to see the tiny baby encased in the tiny medical bed.

"Miss Joy is just under 15 inches and weighs just a little over 2 pounds."

I looked down at her, she was so tiny, I'd never felt so large in my entire life.

"I'll give you a moment alone, but I must insist that you can only be left alone for a few minutes and we'll be watching you as well...we understand that the heartache is still fresh."

"I wouldn't hurt her." I growled.

"Even still Alpha..."

I relented and he stepped out of the room.

I let out a heavy breath and took a seat in the chair in the corner of the room. But with the doctor gone suddenly the air cleared and very very faintly I picked up on a new scent...it was light and airy and ever so slightly I could've sworn I picked up on the same hint of strawberries I'd smelt in Shelby's scent.

I smiled and let myself sit forward as I just looked at her, My Mates Joy.