As Time Goes By - MHB Sequel - Ross Lynch/R5 Fanfic

Chapter 14 - Deliveries and Decisions

Chapter 14

Ashley-

It has been just about six months since Daisy and Aron – I don’t feel comfortable calling them ‘Mom and Dad’ – came to ‘come back’ into my life. I’ve been thinking though. They seem like really nice people, but if hadn’t started the drugs and came back into my life sooner, then I would be more trusting now. I mean, I know that sounds really self-centered, but if you put yourself in my shoes for a minute, then you’d understand.

“Mom?” Carter walks into the living room, sitting on the loveseat beside me. “How’re you feeling? When’s Dad going to be home?”

“I’m feeling alright,” I say, lightly smiling. “Don’t worry too much about me, C. And I’m not sure, I’ll have to call and ask him.” He nods, a small smile on his lips, as he stands and leaves the room.

I lean back against the couch, then stand, walking into the kitchen, retrieving my phone, dialing Ross by heart. It rings three times, then he picks up.

“Hey Ash,” he greets. “You okay? Is the baby coming?”

“No,” I laugh slightly. “But it’ll be soon. Anyway, when do you think you’ll be home? C’s looking for you.” He sighs quietly. “I dunno. If I’m not home by the time he’s in bed, please tell him I apologize.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand, babe. I-” I stop halfway through my sentence when I feel a small contraction. “Ash? Ash, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah,” I breathe. “As I was saying, I think-”

“Ashley! Did you stop because the baby’s coming? Oh my gosh, okay um – I’ll be there in ten.” Ross hangs up just as another contraction comes on, and I cry out, then I hear thumping coming down the stairs, then Carter arrives in front of me.

“Mom?! Mom, are you okay?! Oh my god,” he breathes, coming to my side in an instant, wrapping a supportive arm around my upper back, his hand resting on my upper arm. “Is Dad coming home?”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s going to be okay. I’ll be fine until then, C. Don’t worry.” He shakes his head. “Stop this, Mom. You’re going into labor, I can’t just leave you until Dad gets here.”

I choose not to reply, just nod, as one of the first big contractions come on. I start to take deep breaths, trying to keep calm. I finally feel my water break, and Carter’s eyes widen at the sight of the wetness between my legs.

“Belle!” He calls, and Annabelle’s down in an instant. As soon as she sees the scene in front of her, her eyes widen. “Yea, C?”

“Go up into Mom’s closet,” he pauses, rubbing my arm up and down soothingly. “And get a pair of sweatpants, and bring them down here.” She nods quickly, running up the stairs, and comes back with a pair of my sweats in record time.

“Here.” She hands them to Carter. “Where’s Dad?” He takes a deep breath. “He’ll be here soon. Could you grab Mom’s bag she’s packed and put her phone charger, phone, and car keys in it?” Again, Annabelle nods quickly, running out, and Carter helps me into my sweats.

“Thank you C,” I get out in between staggered breaths. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Ashley?! Where are you?” I hear Ross’ frantic voice, and he runs into the kitchen, and frantically, but quickly, observes the scene in front of him.

“How’d you get the-”

“I helped Mom into them,” Carter tells him gently, still supporting me with his arm, his hand still rubbing up and down my arm soothingly. “Here, I’ll let you take it from here Dad, but I want to stay by Mom’s side with you.” Ross nods, coming to the side of me he is on, taking me in his arms, but Carter stays beside me on my other side.

“Okay, C, I got Mom’s bag. Let’s go guys.” Annabelle comes in, and Annabelle starts out the door, and Carter stays behind with Ross and I.

“C, go,” I breathe. “I’ll be okay, I promise. We’ll be out in a minute.” I tell him, and he hesitates before turning and going out to the car as Ross helps me out.

“You okay?” Ross asks softly as he helps me into the car. I nod silently, taking a deep breath, rubbing a hand over my swollen belly.

~~~

“Ahh!” I cry out loudly, and Ross’ head whips toward me at a red light. “Ash?! We’re almost there, just hang in there.”

We pull into the ER entrance parking lot, and Ross pulls into a parking spot quickly, turning off the engine, running to my side of the car, the kids coming out, following us into the ER waiting room.

“My wife’s in labor,” Ross tells the receptionist at the desk, just as another contraction comes. “Alright, I’ll get you a nurse right away.”

She walks briskly down the hall, bringing back two nurses and a wheelchair, and Ross helps me sit in it, and thank god it had footrests.

Carter-

I watch as the nurses start to wheel Mom down the hall. I wrap an arm around Annabelle’s small shoulders, just as Dad quickly turns back.

“You going to be okay?” He asks, and I nod. “Call Grandma okay?” I nod again, and he jogs down to meet up with Mom and the nurses again.

“Let’s sit here, Belle,” I tell her, sitting down in the waiting room chairs, pulling out my phone, dialing Grandma.

“Hello?” She answers on the second ring. “Hi Grams,” I say. “Mom just went into the delivery room now, and Dad’s in there with her too.”

“Oh my goodness,” she breathes. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” We hang up, and Belle looks up at me.

“Is Mom going to be okay, C?” She asks quietly, making me wrap a soothing arm around her. “Don’t worry, Belle. Mom’s going to be okay. And Dad’s there, so she’ll be okay. We’re about to have a baby brother or sister.” She smiles a slight bit now. “Okay.”

~~~

“She’s beautiful,” I breathe, smiling down at my newborn sister, then looking up and Mom and Dad. “What’re you naming her?”

I listen to her slow breathing, and observe her appearance. Her blonde hair was peeking out from under her pink hat. I reach up to softly stroke her cheek with my index finger, and it’s very soft. I do this for a few moments, and I feel calmer than I did before.

“Jewel Rydel,” Mom tells me, and Annabelle stands beside me, and her face fills with awe as she stares at Jewel. I nod, still smiling down at her.

Ashley-

“She’s so beautiful,” Carter breathes again. “Just like you, Mom.” He smiles up at me, and I smile as Ross kisses my forehead. “It’s true.”

“Let me see her, hun,” Mom says to him gently, and he gently places Jewel in her arms.

I look around the room, and smile. I’m so glad Mom and Dad adopted me when they did. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here. I’m so happy, and now I have my own happy family who I love, and they love me.

That’s all I need.

---

A/N: Hi hi!

I am so so sorry for not updating in almost a week! School’s got me busy.

Anywho, what do you think about Ashley making that decision? What do you think about Jewel? About three kids?

Leave your thoughts! :D

Love you all,

~Ashley xx