"How are you feeling?" Carter asked as I glared at him.

"How about you be in labor for over ten hours and tell me how you feel," I signed to him, hoping he caught most of it.

Carter sighed as he walked over to me, rubbing my back. I was currently leaned over the bed, gripping the sheets for dear life as another contraction hit me.

"They're getting closer together, about five minutes apart now. It shouldn't be too much longer," he said as I groaned out.

I was so ready for this baby to be out. My water broke around noon yesterday, my labor was slow and mild at first, but after a few hours it really started to pick up. Carter keeps telling me to listen to my body, that it'll tell me what to do and when I should do it.

All I could feel right now was my body telling me a big fuck you. I groaned out as another contraction started.

"I'm never having sex again. Fuck men," I signed to Carter, causing him to chuckle at me.

"I'm so glad you're getting enjoyment from my pain."

"Mhm," Carter said as he walked away to the bathroom, grabbing a few towels, before coming back over to me, placing the towels on the bed.

"Do you feel like you need to push?" He asked.

"I don't think so," I signed.

Carter nodded his head before leaving me again. I could hear him moving around the room, probably prepping everything. Carter has been a lifesaver in all of this, well, besides him saving me that night. Carter bought me a bunch of baby stuff like the crib, bottles, well I guess everything really, I owe him so much.

I snapped my fingers, getting his attention as I eased my way onto the bed.

"Is it time?" He asked.

I nodded my head as I grabbed the soft towel he got and put it beside me. That way, when the baby was here, I could lay them on it.

Carter grabbed one of the towels before helping me slide it under me. He placed a silver tray full of medical supplies on the bed before he slipped on a pair of surgical gloves.

"Ready?" He asked as he sat down on the bed.

I shook my head no as he smiled at me.

"You got this. When you feel the next contraction come, I want you to push with it and stop once it's over, ok?"

I nodded my head as I tried to remember to breathe. I knew people said labour hurt, but fucking hell, this shit wasn't a walk in the park.

I breathed in a deep breath once I felt my next contraction coming and began pushing like Carter instructed. I knew I was in good hands with Carter. He was the one who fixed me up after I had been shot in both legs.

Carter is a doctor, who helps with some of the gangs around town, for the right price, of course. His father was good friends with Sam, so he grew up helping his father tend to the wounded.

"Very good, now take a few breaths before the next one hits," Carter said as I relaxed, well tried to, that is.

I took a few breaths before I began pushing again. This time it is definitely more painful than before. I yelled out as the pain intensified. All I could feel was this intense burning sensation followed by the feeling of being stretched.

"Ok, I can see the baby's head. The head is going to be the worse part. Once the head is out, it'll be easy sailing from there," Carter said as I groaned out in pain.

I propped up on my elbows as I pushed again. I screamed out as the burning sensation grew worse. Oh God, how big was this child's head? I thought as I continued to push.

"The heads out."

I'm never having another child, I thought as Carter instructed for me to give him one more big push. I breathed in before pushing as hard as I could. I kept pushing until the pressure I was feeling subsided.

"The baby's out," Carter said as I fell back into the mountain of pillows I had stuffed behind me.

Thank God, I thought as I tried to catch my breath. I laid there for a minute before I realized I couldn't hear the baby crying. I looked over at Carter to see him using the aspirator on the baby.

Why isn't it crying? I tried moving so I could get to my baby, but Carter stopped me.

"Don't move, Phoenix, you need to rest."

"Is my baby ok?" I asked as I could feel tears burning my eyes.

Carter didn't have time to answer because the baby started to cry. Thank god, I thought as I let out a sigh of relief.

"She's fine, just had to suck some of the gunk out of her air way," he said as he placed her on my chest.

"It's a girl?" I asked as I wrapped the towel from earlier around her, hugging her close to me.

"Congratulations momma, you just had a very beautiful little girl," he said, smiling at me as I basically became a blubbering mess.

I always thought that I didn't want kids, but now, at this moment. I can confidently say that I was dead wrong. I know I had her under terrible circumstances, but she was already so precious to me.

"Phoenix, I need to get the placenta out now so when I tell you to, give me a big push, ok?"

I nodded my head as I began pushing after Carter gave the order. I could feel a slight burning again before it quickly disappeared. I let Carter cut her cord. I'm too exhausted right now to trust myself with a pair of scissors.

"Let me see her real quick, so I can get her cleaned up," he said as I reluctantly handed her to him.

"Any names yet?" He asked, giving me a quick look waiting for my reply.

"Don't make fun of me," I signed as I watched him clean her.

"Ok?"

"I really like the name Lilac."

"Lilac?" He asked.

I bit my lip, nodding my head.

"It's pretty, definitely different," he said as he put a diaper on her, wrapping her in a soft blanket before handing her back to me.

"Why Lilac though?" He asked.

I shrugged my shoulders as he gave me a look. The truth is that ever since I came here, all I've been seeing is Lilac flowers outside. Carter even brings some in from time to time. They make the house smell so good.

I looked down at Lilac snuggling up to me. I couldn't help but smile. Her name fit her so well, because she was just like the beautiful flowers outside. They were both like a breath of fresh air.