Love Bites

Ch. 18

Onika // Nicki

I just got home, and I'm already overwhelmed as all hell. My mom being here was a surprise to me. A pleasant surprise but a surprise nonetheless. She wouldn't stop hugging me and crying, neither would Ari for that matter. Mama has a million and one questions, and I just do not have the strength for that conversation just yet. I'll tell her everything, but she's gonna have to wait until another time.

Beyoncé and Robyn placed me into the bath after we'd gotten home, and they hadn't been back since.

I didn't want to be too needy, so I kept my mouth shut and rubbed my big belly back and forth. I sent a text to my obgyn and told her I needed her to come over when she had a chance to. She responded almost immediately and said she'd be here within the next hour, so I'm thinking I've got about ten, maybe fifteen minutes left before she gets here.

I step out of the tub and feel a sharp pain in my side. I scream out at the top of my lungs from the horribly uncomfortable pain coursing through me. I grip the counter tightly to try and steady myself.

"Nicki?!" A muffled sound is heard over my ringing ears.

"Baby?!" I hear the voice again, but it's much closer than before. My body is then picked up, and I'm quickly placed on to a plush surface, digging my nails deeply into the soft fabric below me.

I inhale and exhale harshly through my nose as I try to get through the pain.

"Nicki, it's me, Dr. Gard. Can you hear me?" I quickly nod my head, unable to respond verbally. I feel something cold on my chest and hear her and my girlfriends talking about my heart rate.

After a few more tortuous seconds, the pain finally subsides, and I can breathe.

I open my eyes and see Rihanna and Bey standing beside me with scared expressions on their faces, and Dr. G on the other side still checking my vitals.

"Behbey, you aight now?" Rihanna asks as she combs my hair softly with her fingers. I nod my head slowly and give them a soft smile.

"What was that, princess?" Bey asks after leaving my side for a second and coming back with underwear and a bra. Monica turns her back, so Bey can quickly get me dressed. They're so damn possessive. I chuckle softly, and she gives me a small smile before kissing my cheek. "So?" She asks again.

"Oh, um... I don't know. It happened once while I was... away, but it hasn't happened since." I shrug and rub my stomach to try and sooth myself.

"Rihanna and Beyoncé, would you mind going down and getting the sonogram equipment from my car? I'd planned to ask at the door until we heard Onika crying out." Monica asks with a polite smile.

Both girls look hesitant and look down at me. I smile and nod my head, telling them to go. "I'll be fine. Promise." I say with another smile.

They both reluctantly agree and kiss my forehead before leaving out the room.

I look at the doctor and wait for her to say something, but she doesn't. She just stares at the door. It's not until a few more seconds later when she finally speaks.

"Nicki, I think there might be something wrong with the baby. Where were you the past few days?" My heart drops when she says that and my breathing quickens.

I explained what had happened and what we'd been going through in as little detail as possible while still being informative.

"Did they feed you while you were gone?"

"Not really. They made sure I was hydrated, but that's it."

"I think your body's starving, which means the baby's starving. You need to drink blood. If you want this baby to survive the next few weeks, you really need to take care of yourself." I bite my lip to try and stop the burning in my eyes as I nod my head. She's about to say something else but stops as her ears perk up.