World Tour

Brisbane XXIII

The silence, after the doctor left, was deafening. Eddy had let Belle go again and had grabbed Brett's hand once more. Brett was so pale, he looked like he could fall at any moment. 
And Belle was sick. So sick, Eddy had never seen her this way. She'd already thrown up a couple of times again since they'd been here, and she kept clutching her belly and her head. 
Eddy had never felt more helpless in his life. 
¨You guys should go home, get some rest.¨ Belle said in her brittle voice. 
He looked at her incredulously. ¨Are you kidding me? No way! I'm not leaving you alone through this.¨
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and a young male face peeked around the corner. 
¨Fuck, Belle! What's wrong with you?¨ he said, walking quickly into the room. 
The guy was young and cute and blonde and Ozzie looking, but his handsome face was creased with worry. It hit Eddy straight away. This must be the guy. 
¨Steve, hi, come in.¨ Belle said, trying to sit up a bit. She sighed.
¨Right, guys, I'd hoped to do this after it was all over, but I guess we're doing it now. Steve, this is my big brother Eddy, Eddy, this is my boyfriend Steve.¨
¨Hey mate, you 'kay?¨ Steve drawled. 
Eddy got up and extended his hand. ¨It's... it's real nice to meet you, Steve. I wish it was in under  different circumstances. I... I'm so sorry Belle's like this.¨
A ghost of a smile crossed Steve's lips. ¨Don't kid yaself, mate. You may have known her a lot longer, but I've known her long enough to know she doesn't do things she doesn't want to do. It's nice to finally meet you too.¨
Eddy nodded. Yeah. He did know that. Didn't do anything to make him feel less guilty though. 
Steve made his way over to Belle and hugged her awkwardly. Hugging someone wasn't made any easier by lots of wires hanging off and out of them. 
¨Don't you even consider kissing me, Steve. I was sick about a thousand times today.¨
Eddy smiled, because this sounded so like Belle. It gave him hope. 

They all sat around her bed for a while as Belle started drifting off a bit. Then she opened her eyes and looked seriously at Steve.
¨Steve, you know I love you, but you should go home. I... I have to finish this process with these guys.¨
Eddy wanted to say he'd go instead, that Steve should stay and support Belle. But, really, he'd never needed to be anywhere as much as he needed to be here, with his sister and with his babies. 
¨Are you sure, Belle?¨ Steve said, his face serious, but full of understanding. 
¨Positive. I'll whatsapp you if anything changes. I want to see you again when I'm feeling better and I'm an auntie to two healthy babies. Okay?¨
He nodded. ¨Okay.¨
Eddy could see, despite the circumstance, what a good match this was. He seemed to get her, like other boyfriends just... hadn't. Steve seemed a real good guy. 
¨Alright, mates, hang tight then.¨ 
Eddy got up to shake Steve's hand, but he was unexpectedly pulled into a bro-hug. 
¨Take good care of my girl, okay?¨
Steve kissed Belle's forehead, gave Brett a hug too and walked out. 

¨So... Steve!¨ Eddy said then.
Belle smiled brittly. ¨Yeah. Steve. I really like him, Eddy... but he doesn't need to see all this after we've been together for about 2 seconds.¨
Eddy grinned. ¨You'll have to tell me all about him when it's not so late and you're not so sick, okay?¨
¨Okay.¨

----

He knew Belle was worse before the alarm even went off. She groaned and she seemed so far away; it chilled him to his core. When the machine started screaming it just solidified what he'd already seen. He thought it was the blood pressure meter that made the noise? He wasn't sure. He couldn't remember anything the doctor had told them, really. Just... just that they'd have to act quickly and the babies would be born via Ceasarean section. Just the thing Belle had hoped to avoid. 
Brett, who'd driven home to grab some baby clothes and stuff, even though they knew all the clothes would be too big now, had just walked back in the door. He grabbed his hand tightly once more, his lips clenched together, as they waited for the doctor to come in.

¨Okay, ms Chen, this is our cue, I'm afraid. The injection has had some time to work, it's time to deliver these babies. Now... I'm afraid only one of the fathers is allowed to come with you into theatre. I'm sorry, but that's protocol.¨
Eddy shot Brett a panicked look. Shit! What would they do? But Brett's eyes were sure.
¨You go, Eddy. Absolutely. Belle needs her brother.¨
¨Fuck, are you sure? I don't want to take this from you.¨
¨A hundred percent. Go.¨
And just like that the room was full of people, wheeling Belle off to the operating room.
A nurse gave Eddy some blue scrubs.
¨Go put these on, I'll fetch you as soon as the epidural is in.¨

Everyone left then, and Eddy got his clothes off as quickly as he could and stepped into the blue scrubs.
And then they waited, and waited, each second lasting an hour. They held each other tight, not speaking, until finally the door opened again. 
¨Okay, you can come with me now, mr. Chen.¨
He looked at Brett, who kissed him quickly.
¨I'll see you in a minute, Eddy. Go see our babies.¨