Surrogate

Twelve

Demi

"Oh, you've grown" I ran my hand down my stomach as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror with just a towel wrapped around my body. "Shall we take a photo and send it to your daddies?" I grabbed my phone off the counter that was quietly playing Ariana's new single. I quickly snapped a photo, smiling to myself as I sent it to Matthew and Damien. I jumped as my phone began to ring in my hand, and the smile on my face only grew at the caller ID.

"Hello, Dal."

"Hey Dem, it's Luke."

"Hey Luke. What's going on?" I grabbed my pyjamas and draped them over my arm as I began back into my bedroom where Batman and Ella were curled up together on my untidy bed.

"Dal and I have just got to the hospital, Dal's in labour" excitement instantly bubbled away inside me.

"Oh my gosh, are you serious?" I dropped my pyjamas down onto the bed, giving Batman a fuss as he lifted his head up off his paws.

"Yeah, she's like 6 centimetres dilated, whatever that means" I lightly chuckled. "You still okay to come? She still wants her little sis."

"I will be straight there. Tell her not to have this baby without me" he chuckled and I can imagine him playfully rolling his eyes.

"We'll try. I'll see you soon, Dems."

"See ya" I hung up the phone, a huge smile forming on my face. "Auntie Dal's having her baby, Guys" I took a seat on the bed, lowering my phone down onto the bed beside me. "And you have no idea what I'm talking about" I lightly chuckled to myself as Batman and Ella just stared at me with blank expressions. I caught sight of the sonogram photo on my nightstand, the photo that I swore to myself I'd move. I just haven't yet. I released a sigh and pushed myself up from the bed, my hand momentarily settling on my stomach before I removed it. I began into my closet, pulling out a simple outfit which was basically leggings and a t-shirt. I don't wear jeans often, I haven't for years. "You guys be good while I'm gone, okay?" I pressed kisses to the top of both of their heads before I left for the hospital.

-

"Thanks, Max" he gave me a smile and a nod.

"Wish her luck" I chuckled, playfully rolling my eyes. "If you need me to drop you back at home, just message me, okay?" I gave him a smile as I nodded.

"I will. Thanks, Max" I grabbed my bag as I slid from the car. I began towards the hospital entrance where I met up with Luke who gave me a hug. "Hey, how is she?"

"She's alright at the minute. She gets a contraction around every 5 minutes but she's doing amazing" I gave him a smile as we began through the hospital, heading up towards the maternity department. "She's just in there. I'm going to go and grab a coffee. You want anything?"

"No, I'm alright, thanks" he gave me a smile and I watched as he disappeared before I turned to enter the private room. A smile spread across Dallas' face as I stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind me. "Hi, Dal. How are you doing?"

"I'm not doing too bad" she adjusted herself slightly on the bed. "I'm so ready to get him out of me though."

"Are you sure you still want me in here? I don't mind if you just want it to be you and Luke?" she shook her head with a smile, reaching out for my hand as I took a seat on the chair beside her.

"I want you in here. Unless you don't want to be, then I completely understand" I smiled at her, taking her hand in mine. "How is baby?" she nodded towards my stomach. I adjusted my shirt slightly so the bump was less noticeable. It's slowly growing harder to hide. I'm 18 weeks today. Matthew, Damien and I are going to have to have a conversation about how we're going to announce this baby because I'm not going to be able to hide it for much longer and everyone needs to understand that this baby isn't going to be mine. The thought of that though makes my heart break so I try so hard not to think about it.

"Growing rapidly by the day."

"Everything's okay though? You're not having any more pains or episodes of bleeding?"

"I haven't had any since the threatened miscarriage" Dallas winced, her hand moving to her stomach. "Contraction?" she nodded, her grip tightening slightly around mine. I ran my thumb along the back of it. "I'm so proud of you, Dal."

"You're proud of me? I haven't done anything" I rolled my eyes as she chuckled through her pain. "I'm the sister who should be proud, and I am so incredibly proud of you, Dems" I gave her a small smile, tears unwillingly welling up in my eyes. "You are so incredible" she relaxed back against the bed as the contraction seized. "You're doing something for your best friends that not many people are willing to do. You're making them parents, Dem. There aren't enough words in the world for me to describe how proud I am of you."

"Okay, we're both proud, let's not get into an argument" she rolled her eyes as I chuckled.

"I'm still so proud of you though" it was my turn to roll my eyes and for Dallas to chuckle.

"Does mom know you're here?"

"Luke phoned. You're the first to get here" I beamed as I leant back against the chair, my hand settling instinctively on my stomach. "Did Max bring you?"

"Yeah, he says good luck by the way" she chuckled before she whimpered. "That wasn't five minutes, Dal" she shook her head, her face scrunching up in pain.

"Can you get my midwife?" I nodded, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before I turned to leave the room, bumping into Luke on the way.

"Hey, everything okay?"

"Could you grab her midwife and meet me back in the room?" he nodded and turned to find her midwife while I went back into the room, going back to comforting Dallas as she whimpered through her pain.

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