From Rome with love (Book 3)

Someone is busy

10 days later
*Dahlia*
"Come look darling". Zac comes into the kitchen, looking very excited. He has paint on his cheek and some sawdust in his hair. He looks absolutely handsome.

He grab my hand, pulling me along and I groan. "Relax Zac, I can't walk that fast".

"Oh sorry. Is it Your pelvic again ?" He asks softly and slow down. "I can carry you ?"

I nod. The last week my pelvic has acted up a bit. And today it has been worst. "I can still walk Zac. It's just acting up. The doctor said it was normal, it's all the ligaments softening, getting ready for birth".

He walks really slow, almost bouncing on his feet with excitement and I can't help smiling at how cute he is. "I did it, the crib is finally done".

"I told you that you could". I say proudly. He leads me to the nursery, and there it is. "Oh Zac it's beautiful. She will love it".

"Oh I hope so". He say. "I was thinking now I have the hang of it, maybe I could build a bench by the window, if I have the time".

I suddenly feel something wet and warm running down my legs. "No Zac".

"Uh no ? You don't like the idea of a bench or you don't think I can build one". He look a bit hurt. "Maybe something else. We also need to get a rocking chair for nursing".

"No..". I grab my stomach, was that a contraction ?

Zac still looks confused and I groan. "No.. no time, my water just broke.. she is coming now".

"Now.. as in like now". He looks about to panic. Then he takes a deep breath. "Okay, where is the bag ? Can you walk or do you need me to carry you to the car ?"

"The bag is beside the bed and I can walk". What is definitely a contraction runs through me. "Slowly.. I can walk slowly".

Zac shakes his head, gently lifting me and carrying me swiftly to the car. "Here darling, I'll run in to get get bag".

"Yeah better hurry, I have a feeling she is impatient to get out". I don't know why, but I just have this feeling.

He almost run inside, and shows up with the bag and a bassinet to bring her home in after only a few minutes. Putting the things behind my seat and getting in. "All buckle in love ?"

I just nod, grinding my teeth. These contractions are starting to get real painful really fast here. And I am gasping through the pain.

Zac reach one hand over to softly rub my lower back as I lean forward, holding myself, trying not to scream. "I know it hurts love. You are doing great. Just breathe and hold out, we will be there soon".

"Tell her that.. damn brat is trying to rip her way out alien style". His warm hand rubbing circles on my pained lower back actually feels heavenly right now.

"Stella, be nice to Your mother, no going alien kung fu on her". He say, clearly suppressing a laugh.

"Ha ha very funny, better focus on driving wise guy". I mumble. No matter how prepared you are, you are just not prepared for this intensity. It feels like my body is getting broken apart from inside, and the breaks in between feels way to short. "Zac go faster, I don't want to give birth in Your damn truck".

He seems to go a little faster, but not enough, not nearly enough. "We also need to get there safely darling. And the doctor said that most first times births takes 6-12 hours".

I grab his thigh. "Zac, I know what the doctor said, but this is not going to take 6 or 12 hours so please get a move on or you will have to catch her yourself".

"Okay baby, I'll get you there as fast as possible". One look at my face seems to stop him from arguing. "But I still need to get us there in one piece too".

I focus on my breathing, and on telling my daughter to at least wait till we get to the hospital before popping out. The contractions comes like pearls on a string and I hardly have time to breathe between them.

About ten minutes later we drive up in front of the hospital and Zac parks as close as possible. Then he slings the bag over his arm and comes to pick me up. "I can go back for the bassinet when we need it".

"Zac you don't have to carry me". I try telling him, but as another contracting rips through me I bury my face in his shoulder, gasping.

*Zac*
I carry her into the reception area. The way she clings to me and the way her body tenses up tells me that this hurts even more than she lets me know. I wish I could take that pain away. I hate seeing her hurting.

A nurse immediately comes with a wheelchair and I lower Dahlia down on it. "My wife is in labour, please help her".

"Is it her first baby ? How long has she been having contractions ? How far apart are they ? Did the water break ?" The nurse starts asking.

I look at the clock. "First kid, water broke about 35 min ago and contractions started immediately after, they are very close and seems strong".

"Don't worry, this is just the beginning. We'll get you settle into a nice room ma'am and a doctor will be along to look at you when there is one free". She sends us a friendly smile. "First times always drags out, you have hours left".

Dahlia grabs my arm. "Please, she is wrong.. I can feel her press.. It is very close".

"Could you get a doctor now please ? My wife say it is close, so could you get her checked now ?" I say insisting.

"Sorry sir, but Your wife is just being a bit hysterical because of the pain. There is plenty of time to get a doctor to look at her". The nurse say with a condescending smile. "There is no special treatment here for being famous".

I think she should be happy Dahlia is in too much pain to react or she would have been in trouble. I know my voice is a bit harsh here, but I know my wife and she isn't hysterical. "Listen, you are going to get a freaking doctor now, and don't you dare call my wife hysterical or hint that I want special treatment again. I just want my wife checked out".

She huffs slightly, but scuttles of. Dahlia squeezes my hand. "Thank you".

Soon after the nurse returns with an older woman, who looks a bit like we are wasting her time. Probably the nurse has given her the story of how demanding we are. "Mr and Mrs Pugh ? You are saying that you believe the birth is close I hear ?"

"My wife feels a need to push, so yes". I say calmly, hoping it will make the doctor listen.

"Can I take a quick look Mrs Pugh ?" The doctor ask and Dahlia nods through the pain.

The doctor squat down, and carefully lifts Dahlias dress a bit, gently pulling her panties to the side. Then she get up. "Why weren't I called immediately ? The baby is crowning. Get her to the nearest room and get things ready as fast as possible, we have a baby coming now".

The doctor looks at me, then at Dahlia. "Sorry, you should have been taken to a room right away. Please try not to push Mrs Pugh. I just need to scrub of and get ready. I'll be there in less than five minutes".

Another nurse have shown up and they quickly roll Dahlia into a room, running around getting things ready. I hold her hand and slowly rub her back. "Breathe baby, I know it's hard, but hold back, the doctor will be here in a second and then you can push".

When the bauble is ready I gently lift her up and one of the nurses get her panties of. Dahlia smiles at me. "This is it, we are going to be parents".