Rainbow

Link POV

Our beautiful baby is about to come. We checked in at the hospital 3 hours ago and Amelia is suffering so much already. I tried to convince her and ask for an epidural but she categorically said no. She knows what to do and she says this would be faster this way. She is tired already since she started contracting way before heading to the hospital. Addison is coming from LA since she is the only doctor Amelia trusts and there is no way Amelia will let anybody else deliver our baby.
She is 3 cm dilated and there is still a long road ahead of us.
"It hurts...too much" she whispers "I can't do it,Link. I'll hurt the baby..."
"Amelia,we can ask for an epidural,there is still time... you need to sleep a bit. Let me help you. Trust me,Amelia"
"Link,I've waited for this baby to come for so long that I don't want to miss any second of this,even if it hurts like hell" she says firmly.

8 hours. 8 long hours of pain,screams and tears. Addison has finally landed so it's a matter of time for her to come and Amelia definitely needs her here.
"It hurts,Link" she says sobbing
"I know,I know...but our baby will be here soon" I answer caressing her cheek.
"I need Addison"
"She is coming,Amelia...she is on her way" hoping she will be here sooner than later.
Knock knock.
"Where is my little sister?" a voice says cheerfully
"Addie, Addie!!" Amelia starts crying
I look at them and I step aside because I want this to be their moment together. Addison is whispering something to Amelia's ears and she answers nodding vigorously and smiling softly.
"Can I check you out?"
Amelia nods weakly.
"Okay honey,you are 5 cm at the moment"
"FIVE?!" She screams in horror "I've been like this for 14 hours,Addie. I'm tired and I'm in pain...I don't want to do this anymore"
"Okay darling, I can try to speed this up a little giving you oxytocin but this is going to hurt more"
"I want this to be over...please" she begs and my heart breaks because she is begging for some help or relief or whatever.
Addison says to her "listen...I know that you are tired and I also know that we have still a long road ahead of us so...what if I give you an epidural so you can sleep a bit?"
"No Addie,I don't want anything"
"Amelia,just for a couple of hours and then we take it away? Trust me,honey. This is going to be a long process and I want you to be strong enough to push the baby out quickly...this is why I want you to sleep"
"I'm scared,Addie" she starts to cry again
"I know Amelia...but I'd been by your side the first time and I'm here this time too. But trust me,you need to rest a little for yourself and for your baby" Addison smiles gently.
"Do you think this is the right thing? But just for a little,okay? You promise me?"
"Promise,darling"
And then,Amelia looks up at me with those big blue watery eyes "is it okay for you?",I smile at her and caressing her hair I whisper to her "if it's okay with you then it's okay with me too" and all of a sudden shaking her head she says to me "thank you...for everything you are doing for me".
The anesthesiologists did his magic and finally she is calm and relaxed,stepping up on her bed I hug her whispering "sleep baby,sleep. I'm here" and soothed by my words she falls asleep in a few minutes.

"Link?" Addison calls me
"Yeah?!" I smile at her
"You can't imagine how hard it is for her..."
"She told me,Addison. That was the reason why she wanted to terminate at first"
Addison smiled between herself and then she looks at me "Amelia might be difficult sometimes but she is a gem. I've never met in my entire life a woman like her: the way she went through the loss was incredibly brave. You are a lucky man,Link" she winks at me "and,she is in love with you"
"To be honest she didn't tell me that...not even once"
"She doesn't say it but she has a lot of love to give and by the way she looks at you,I guarantee she is in love with you. We talked a lot during this pregnancy and she said many things about you... 'he is what I've never had' to use her exact words. What she is giving you right now is probably the biggest gift she could ever give you in her life. Being pregnant again has been the hardest challenge for her but she is overcoming her fears for you".
"Addison, I think I love her...but she doesn't want me to say it out loud"
She smiles at me "the minute she will meet your baby,she will figure it out. But now I have to check her out"
"Amy? Wake up,darling...I have to check you out" she whispers to her ear.
"Addie,take the epidural away...please" here we go,begging again
"Amelia...I'll do what you want but this is going to hurt like hell"
Looking at her,Amelia says "I know,Addie...but I've waited 10 years to have this: unimaginable pain and then unimaginable love."
"Okay,baby...whatever you want".

3 more hours have passed and Amelia is crying silently. She keeps whispering while caressing her belly "please,baby...please...I need to see you,honey....please" and this is breaking my heart.
All of a sudden she says "Addison,I'm fainting...I feel like I'm fainting"
"No,you are not...breath Amelia,deep breaths. Do you know what you are having?" Addison offers trying to light up her mood
"Nope" I say "we want a surprise"
In the middle of a contraction,Amelia says "Boy"
"Sorry darling?" Addison says tenderly
"My baby...it's a boy"
"How do you know it?" I say to her
"I just know it...we have been together for 9 months" she smiles to me-did I mention she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen when she smiles?!
"Okay guys!- Addison says full of enthusiasm- showtime! Whenever you feel like pushing,push Amelia!PUSH!"

2 hours of pushing and still no baby.
"I'm giving up" Amelia starts crying
"No,you are not" Addison says firmly
"I'm not ready to meet this baby...I can't"
"Amelia,you have never been this ready in your entire life! PUSH!"
"No,I can't...it hurts too much"
"Amelia,look at me -Addison starts- hold Link's hands. You have a man here who is ready to support you forever and who will be by your side every step of the way. You have this...fight for this baby. Close your eyes and think about the fact that soon the baby you have imagined for the last 9 months will be in your arms"
She looks at me and with a raspy voice "Link...Link...I can't"
"You can. You can do whatever you want to do"'
"Link...I'm...I....I'm in love. With you"
I'm speechless. The only thing I can do is kissing her forehead "I love you...both of you" I answer putting a hand on her stomach.
"Amelia? Listen...you have to push,your baby is crowing. Let's help this baby who wants to meet its mama. Come on,well done,darling...so well done"
Heavy breathing,sweat,tears,pain but suddenly she says to Addison "baby is coming...I feel him"
And before Addison could answer a strong cry makes Amelia cry with joy. Addison put the baby on her chest with tears pooling in her eyes "congratulations Amelia" she whisper her kissing her forehead.
But Amelia's focus is only on her baby: she is kissing this kid with overflowing love "my love...hi,my love! Ssssh,I know you are scared but you are safe here in mama's arms...ssssssh" nothing can distract her and then she looks at me "you are a dad...to a beautiful baby boy". I'd like to take my son in my arms but she has to do it first for as long as she wants after all the pain she went through.
"Amelia,I love you...I know you don't want me to say it...but it's true...I love you"
And she smiles and the smile is warming my heart "he is my rainbow"
"He is our rainbow"