Young Axl

————
1995

I rub my swollen stomach, carefully plodding down the stairs. Sighing in relief, my feet finally touch the ground of the hardwood floor.

I can hear Axl messing around in the kitchen, the clanging of pots and pans, and the sizzles and pops of bacon making their way to my ears.

The baby kicks, causing me to pause movement and wince. I gently rub the spot, and I carry on into the kitchen to see what Axl's doing.

I hear him mumbling profanities followed by the clanging of a pan in the sink. I sigh, knowing that he's probably burned himself. Shaking my head at the thought, I enter the kitchen to see eggs, bacon, and toast laid out on the counter. He pours two glasses of orange juice and puts the juice away.

"Is everything okay in here?" I ask cautiously. Axl turns to face me, guilt evident in his features.

"You're supposed to be in bed! I was gonna serve you breakfast in bed! And what did I tell you about going downstairs without my help? You could get hurt!" Axl fusses, taking my arm gently and leading me to the table.

I roll my eyes, grinning.

"Obviously, I'm fine! Now, what'd you cook for me, big boy?" I ask, slightly teasing him. Axl sighs, looking at the food.

"Eggs, toast, and bacon. The eggs are done the way you like them, and so is the bacon," he says. I smile.

"Thank you, Ax. I'm happy that you've done this for me," I say. Suddenly, the baby kicks again. Wincing, I rub the spot.

Axl, after plating a piece of bacon, notices my wince.

"What's wrong?" He asks, worry filling his gaze.

"The baby's kicks are particularly powerful today," I say, still rubbing my stomach. Axl smiles softly, and he crouches down next to me, placing his hands on my stomach.

"Hey baby, this is your daddy." The baby kicks quite powerfully, causing me to suck in a breath. Axl's gaze falls onto me, then back on my stomach.

"Be careful with your mommy, okay? You're hurting her. She's had to carry you for this long, and you'll be out soon. Be nice to her, okay? I promise that when you come out, the world'll be bigger, so you can kick all you want." He finishes his scolding by lifting up my t-shirt and pressing a soft kiss to my stomach.

I smile slightly.

Axl's only begun to do that recently. Every time he does it, my heart flutters with joy.

We're not officially together, but I live with him, and he takes care of me and the baby.

After I told him about the baby, he insisted that I move in with him so he could take care of us. I agreed reluctantly, not quite sure that it would turn out well.

My reluctance was unnecessary, as Axl has been caring and attentive the entire time. Although we're not in an official relationship, he treats me like a Queen, and I couldn't ask for more.

Most guys wouldn't go to the lengths that Axl has for girls that they've knocked up.

If I'm being honest, I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with this man.

He does anything I ask for without reluctance: he rubs my feet, makes me food, concocts whatever crazy thing I'm craving, he helps me get upstairs, he helps me downstairs, he helps me in and out of bed, he ties my shoes, helps me put on pants, sometimes he helps me bathe, and he shaves my legs for me. I don't think any other man would do such things for their baby mamas.

With that being said, my heart belongs to Axl, whether he wants it or not.

He rises from the floor, still sporting a small smile. He sits down next to me, and he begins to fill my plate with food, stopping once he's satisfied that I won't starve. He plates his own food, then looks at me.

Sheepishly, I begin to eat. Axl nods, seeing that I'm eating, and he begins to eat.

————
2 months later

"Axl!" I exclaim, perched on the edge of the bed.

At nine months pregnant, my stomach is so large that I need help to get up.

I hear his quick steps. Entering the room, he smiles once he sees me, and he takes one of my hands, wrapping his arm around my back. Carefully, he helps me up, steadying me once I get to my feet.

"Thank you," I say, breathless from the exertion.

"You're welcome. How's our baby doing?" He asks, putting his hands on my stomach with a dreamy grin on his face.

"Good. Kicking a lot," I say. Axl looks into my eyes.

"And what about you?" He asks.

"Baby's pressing into my spine," I say. Axl's smile falters a bit. Then, he sighs in mock disappointment.

"What did I tell you? I said for you to be nice to your mom! You little rascal!" He exclaims, smiling. Then, with admiration in his eyes, he rubs my stomach gently.

"Be careful with mommy. She's already got it tough," Axl reprimands softly, crouching down to be eye level with my belly button. He lifts up my shirt, pressing a soft kiss to my stomach.

"Be good for me, okay? And be good for mommy." Axl rises, a grin on his face.

"Can you help me downstairs?" I ask, dreading going down. Axl's grin widens.

"Yeah. But first, let me get something out of my room," he says. I nod. Axl hastily exits, and he comes back in a minute later.

"Alright. Let's get you down the stairs."

He puts an arm around my waist and takes my hand in his, carefully guiding me down the stairs. When we reach the bottom, I put my hand on his chest, pausing to breathe.

"I need a minute," I say, out of breath. Axl smiles softly in understanding.

"Take all the time you need, sugar," he says, using the term of endearment he had recently begun to call me. I smile in thanks, exhaling a long breath.

"Okay. Into the kitchen," I say. Axl leads me to the table, where he helps me sit down.

"What's the craving for this morning?" He asks, a large smile on his face.

"Cheese toast and scrambled eggs with mustard," I reply instantly. Axl chuckles at the odd request, but pulls out the bread and eggs regardless.

"Are you going to the studio today?" I ask, watching as he mixes the eggs in a bowl.

"Nope. The band's coming over here. Is that okay with you?" He asks, glancing toward me.

I shrug, not really caring since they were aware of my condition and attentive to it.

"That's fine. It's your house and your buddies. Plus, they're nice, I guess," I say. Axl pours the eggs into a pan, scraping the bowl with a fork to get the remaining eggs into the pan.

"Yeah, but I want to make sure you're okay with them coming over. If you're not okay with it, I'll tell them not to come over," he says, turning on the burner. He turns to me, awaiting my answer.

"It's fine if they come over. Why would it not be?" I ask, confused. It's his house, and he can have whomever come in as he pleases.

"Well, I just want to make sure you're okay with it. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I promise they won't be drinking or smoking in here. They know that if they pull the same shit as last time, they won't be back," Axl says.

"It's honestly fine if they come over. I don't mind," I say, giving him a smile of assurance. He nods, turning back to the eggs.

"So, what did the doctor say yesterday? About how long do we have?" Axl asks, popping some toast in the toaster.

"He said it could be at any time, not necessarily on the due date. He said the due date's just an estimate for around when the baby could be born," I say. Axl nods, taking in the information.

"So you could go into labour right now?" He asks, brows furrowed and arms across his chest. I nod.

"Any time."

————
3 hours later

Slash starts the riff of Welcome To the Jungle, and Duff backs it up with the bass. Izzy, bored, sits on the couch, watching the performance. I, worn out from carrying a kicking child, rub my stomach slowly as I prop my feet on the coffee table. Matt leans over the table, prepared to use it as a drum kit.

Axl watches me cautiously as he starts singing.

I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen, which causes me to inhale sharply. I cease my rubbing motion and hold my stomach, wincing in pain. The pain occurs again, and I know. I'm about to go into labour.

Axl eyes me worriedly, his singing not as consistent as usual.

Suddenly, another sharp pain occurs, followed by a wet sensation. Immediately, my eyes widen.

"Axl!" I exclaim. The music stops abruptly, and Axl jumps over the table to help me up.

"What's wrong? Is it time?" He asks. I nod frantically, tears welling in my eyes from the pain. He commands Slash to get the hospital bag, and he tells Duff to start the car.

"Izzy! Help me!" Axl exclaims, taking my hand and wrapping an arm around my waist. Izzy immediately sets into action, taking my other side.

"Get the door, Matt," Izzy says. Matt quickly runs to the door, opening it.

Another sharp pain hits me, lasting longer than the first.

"Oh my God, Axl. It hurts," I say, sobbing. He shushes me and presses a kiss to my cheek.

"It's okay, sugar. We're almost to the car," he says.

"Matt! Get the car door!" Izzy exclaims.

Matt bounds to the car door, opening it quickly. Slash runs out of the house with a huge suitcase trailing behind him.

"Pop the trunk!" He calls to Duff, who sits in the driver's seat. Duff does so, anxiety prominent in his features. Izzy and Axl help me into the car.

"I'm going to ride in the back with her. Slash, you ride shotgun. Matt and Iz, follow behind us," Axl commands, sliding in the backseat with me. I cry out in pain as another contraction hits.

Axl places his hand over my stomach, shushing me.

Duff hits the gas.

"It's okay. Just a little longer," Axl says, his deep voice soothing me. He gives me a smile with admiration in his eyes. Sobbing, I nod.

"Duff, speed it up! We don't have all day!" Axl exclaims. Then, he sets back to soothing me.

"It's going to be alright," he says, then directing his attention to the baby, "Come on, hold out just a little longer. Be nice to mommy. She's in a lot of pain right now."

Slash and Duff look at him in the rear-view mirror in shock. I guess they've never seen him like this before.

"Squeeze my hand when you feel the contractions, okay?" Axl says. I nod, sniffling. Axl gives me a soft smile, rubbing his thumb along my knuckles.

"How much longer?" I manage to ask.

Duff casts a glance toward me.

"Ten minutes," he says sheepishly. I groan.

"Duff, can you do anything to get us there faster?" Axl asks, anxiety bubbling up in him.

Duff takes a sharp turn.

"Seven minutes," he says, cautiously glancing toward us. I cry out in pain, squeezing Axl's hand.

"It'll be just fine," Axl soothes, rubbing my stomach slowly. He hums a sweet tune, pressing kisses to my cheek. I continue to cry, the pain getting stronger.

Slash watches him in awe from the passenger seat.

Duff makes another sharp turn.

"Okay, three minutes if the traffic's not too heavy," he says. I nod, trying to concentrate on Axl's humming and feather-like touches.

Before I know it, Duff swerves into the ER drop off. Immediately, the boys set to work, helping me into the hospital and grabbing my stuff.

Axl and Izzy calmly guide me into the hospital, steadying me when I sway on my feet. Duff, Slash, and Matt follow, not too far behind.

Once inside, Izzy and Axl steady me. Matt heads to the reception desk and alerts the receptionist of our situation. She calls a doctor out.

The doctor rushes out with a wheelchair.

"Which one of you is the father?" the doctor asks calmly. Axl raises his hand. The doctor nods.

"You'll be coming with us. The rest of you will be shown to the waiting room for labour and delivery."

I'm placed into a wheelchair and ushered into a room. Axl follows, worry etched into his features.

When we get in the room, they help me out of the wheelchair and perch me on the side of the bed.

"Sir, I'm going to give your wife a gown. Help her put it on. When I return, we will get her hooked up to some equipment that will measure her vital signs and the baby's, and it will monitor her contractions. If you have any questions, ask me when I return."

The doctor tosses Axl a gown.

"Remove everything. All clothing and undergarments. If you're wearing socks, you can keep those on, but that's it. I'll give you a few minutes."

Axl helps me undress and put the gown on. Gently, he ties the gown in the front.

He gives me a small smile, helping me lie on the bed.

"Look, I know now's probably not the best time to say this, but I just have to say it before you have our baby: I love you," Axl says, holding my hand gently, "I've loved you for a while now, but I wasn't sure when to tell you."

I squeeze his hand as a contraction hits me.

"Fuck! That hurts!" I exclaim, tears welling up again. Axl begins to soothe me.

"Hey, hey. It's going to be alright. Just think of when you have our baby. The baby's going to be so beautiful, and you'll be so in love, that the pain will all be worth it," Axl says. He presses a kiss to my cheek.

"Axl, did you mean it?" I ask, hysterical over the pain and Axl's confession. He smiles softly.

"I meant every word, sugar. I love you. And when you have our baby, I'll love our baby even more than I do now," he says.

"Okay good, because I love you too," I say, beginning to sob. Axl strokes my cheeks gently, wiping my tears.

The doctor enters and hooks me up to the medical equipment.

"I'm going to take a look, if it's alright, to check the dilation of your cervix," the doctor informs. The doctor checks and nods.

"It's going to be a few minutes. Your cervix is almost fully dilated." The doctor exits the room, leaving Axl and I alone for the time being.

"Since we both confessed that we love each other, will you marry me when all of this is over?" Axl asks, gently stroking my knuckles.

"Yes!" I exclaim, giving him a watery smile.

————
Several hours later

Exhausted, I lay back in the bed. Axl coos at the small infant in his arms, admiring the tiny babe. Duff, Slash, Izzy, and Matt enter the room cautiously.

I give them a tired smile.

"Hey, how're you holding up?" Duff asks.

"I'm tired, but I'll be fine," I respond.

"Where's the baby?" Slash asks. I shake my head softly, a small laugh sounding from my chest.

"Axl has him," I say, gesturing toward the ginger, who is too busy admiring his son to notice his buddies.

"It's a boy?" Izzy asks. I nod.

"Yep! His name is Jeffrey William Rose. Axl picked out the first name, and I chose his middle name," I say, grinning. Izzy clutches his chest, his usually stoic face showing a hint of emotion. His eyes well up with tears.

"Ax, you named your kid after me?" Izzy asks loudly, startling Axl. Axl turns to Izzy, cautiously glancing at him. When he sees Izzy's expression, Axl smiles.

"Yeah, I did," Axl says softly. Izzy moves closer to him, peering at the snoozing baby.

"Do you want to hold him?" Axl asks, a look of pride in his eyes. Izzy nods, holding his arms in the proper position. Axl gently shuffles the baby into Izzy's arms. Slash, Duff, and Matt gather around the babe, admiring him.

Axl glances at me, tired, but still smiling regardless.

"Go ahead and rest, sugar. You deserve it after all that you've been through," Axl says. He presses a gentle kiss onto my temple.

————
Two weeks later

Axl smiles at the sleeping boy, watching him kick his tiny feet.

"If I didn't know any better, Ax, I'd say that he's going to be a hot-head like you," Duff says, a small grin appearing in his features.

"Don't provoke him, Duff. He's been good for the past few months," I scold, rolling my eyes to my friend Susan, who laughs a little.

"You know, I think I'm going to give up the booze and drugs," Slash pipes up. Susan, Duff, Axl, and I look at him in shock.

"What makes you want to quit all of a sudden?" I ask. Slash shrugs.

"If Axl can be tamed by having a kid, why can't I give up drugs and booze?" He asks. The comparison is confusing, but I understand it somehow.

"Well, good for you, Slash! That's awesome!" I exclaim. He gives me a small smile.

Axl gives him a slap on the back.

"Good job, man!"

"That's awesome man," Duff says. Slash looks proud of himself. Honestly, I believe he could do it if he really tried.

Suddenly, baby Jeff wakes up, crying loudly.

"He's probably hungry. I'll be back before you know it," I say, picking up the infant carefully.

"Oh, honey, I know. I know. Come on, sweetie. Let's get something in your tiny tummy. Yes," I coo, smiling softly at the small boy.

I manage to get him suckling before Axl walks in.

"Hey, sugar," He says, sitting down next to me and pulling me close.

"Hey, Axl," I say tiredly.

"I love you," He says, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"I love you too, Axl."

A small silence surrounds us; the only noises are from baby Jeff, who suckles my breast with all his little might.

"Man, I wish I could be in his place," Axl states. Confused, I look at him with brows furrowed.

"Whose place?" I ask, positioning my arms to better support Jeff.

"Our little rascal's," Axl states. Laughter rolls out of my chest at his remark.

"You naughty, naughty man," I comment, shaking my head. Axl smiles sheepishly.

"Sugar, I haven't had sex in nine months. What did you expect?" He asks, a small smirk tugging at his lips. I roll my eyes.

"If you can last nine months, you can last one more," I say sternly, "My body is in the process of healing, and I don't want to do anything that would jeopardise the healing process." Axl sighs in resignation, smirk completely dropped.

"Alright, alright. Cold showers it is, then," Axl says, his smirk returning. I roll my eyes again.

The babe stops suckling, and I remove him from my breast, propping him up to burp him.

"You'll be alright, big boy," I say, referring to Axl, "Now can you get Jeff? I need to put my shirt back on."

Axl smiles at the infant as he takes him; Jeff gives Axl a huge grin, making Axl kiss him on the cheek.

"You're such a good boy, aren't you? Yes, you are!" Axl coos. I smile, straightening out my shirt.

"You know, I never gave you a ring," Axl says, pausing his movement in the doorway of the room. I furrow my brows, then I realise what he's talking about.

In a mood to tease, I say "Then I guess our engagement's not official." Axl catches my joking tone and turns around, smiling.

"In that case," he starts, pulling a black velvet box out of his pocket with his free hand and getting down on one knee, "Will you marry me?"

I pretend to consider it, before smiling with a nod.

"I'll marry you," I say, "On one condition: we get married as soon as possible."

Axl grins like never before, rising from the floor.

"I can do that. How about tomorrow?" He asks, "Me and you at the courthouse, tomorrow morning."

I nod in agreement.

"Tomorrow morning."