Chapter 18-Part 2

FEDERICO

"Push, baby." I encourage Elenora as she strains during the ten count the doctor gives her. "You can do this."

She exhales and lays back panting. "I can't." She turns to the nurse who's on her other side holding her leg like I am. "Can't you give me something for the pain?"

"You've got this mama." The nurse tells her, patting her thigh. "The baby's crowning, not too much longer now."

"Do you want to come see dad?" Another nurse asks me. I start to move down, but Elenora grabs me.

"No, don't look. I haven't..." She stops and looks around the room. "I haven't done anything down there, because I couldn't see."

If her face wasn't already flushed from exertion, I'm sure she'd be bright red.

I smile and give her a soft kiss. "You're bringing our baby into this world and you think I'm going to focus on that?"

She gives me an exasperated look. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you, if you get lost down there." The room erupts in laughter as I move down as the doctor leans back.

"He's going to have a full head of hair." One nurse comments. I smile, hoping he has her curly hair.

Elenora hisses and another contraction is coming. The Doctor tells her to take a deep breath and push. I hold her hand—surprised by the sheer strength as she grunts with the effort.

"Okay, almost there, the head is out. Next is the shoulders, take another breath, Elenora. Ready? Push, ten, nine, eight, seven—ah, there we are! A beautiful baby boy." The Doctor holds our son up and Elenora collapses back into the bed exhausted. Panting she lifts her head to get a better view of our baby.

I'm mesmerized as he screams, and wails for such a small little guy; making his presence known to the world. His body trembles from the shock of leaving the warmth of his mother's belly. They place him on Elenora's stomach and she looks down at him with so much love.

"Hey, you. I'm so happy to finally meet you, my little fighter. You punched and kicked me so much I'm sure I'm black and blue inside." She chuckles through her tears as she runs her fingers down his beautiful face.

"A little warrior, just like your daddy." Her eyes meet mine and she smiles.

"He's the most amazing and beautiful baby I've ever seen." I run a finger down his tiny arm and hand. He grasps onto my finger like he's clinging onto it for dear life and I'm done for at that moment.

I would give my life ten times over to make sure he and his mamma are safe from everything and everyone.

I lean over to kiss Elenora's head but she turns and captures my lips. "I love you, Rico."

I kiss her again, pouring as much of my love into the kiss as I can. She sighs with content as she looks at our son smiling. I brush her hair back admiring her strength more now than ever.

"Dad, would you like to cut the cord?" The doctor holds out sterile scissors to me.

I nod reaching for the scissors and cut the cord in between two clamps he's placed. He hands my son off to the team of nurses waiting on hand. They rub down our baby vigorously and take measurements of his head and body.

I turn to Elenora but the look on her face startles me. "Baby?" Her eyes are glazed and unfocused before they start closing slowly.

"Elenora!"

"She's hemorrhaging!" The doctor announces.

Time slows as I watch everything unfold in front of me. A nurse cover's Elenora's face with an oxygen mask. My heart is beating so loud I don't hear the chaos that is happening. Bits and pieces filter through.

"Blood pressure dropping!"

My son is crying as they work on him. I'm torn between going to him or being with the love of my life who seems to be dying in front of me.

"Elenora, don't leave me, please!" I yell rushing over to her. "Elenora, wake up!"

"Sir, we need you to wait outside." Someone pulls at my arm. "Sir?"

"I can't leave her!" My voice sounds far away as they tug me with more force. But I get out of their hold.

"We'll take care of your wife, sir, but you need to wait outside."

A few orderly's come in and force me out of the room. I yell out in frustration, and anger, but mostly fear as I pound my fists into the wall.

This can't be happening.

"Sir, your son?" I face a nurse, who's holding my son. She hands me our baby boy, wrapped up in a blanket with a little beanie on his small head. "He's a strong little guy, five point eight pounds, twenty inches. Did you and your wife have a name picked out?"

A choked cry escapes me as I hold my son and he looks at me with his bright eyes that are just like Elenora's.

I shake my head and wipe my face. "No, no, we didn't."

"I'm sure your friends and family will want to see and hold your son, Mr. Di Maggio." Another nurse says. "We'll let you know as soon as we hear about your wife."

They lead me to the waiting room which is full with Elenora's parents, sisters, Adrian, Clara and the guys. They all stand when they see me and Teresa holds her trembling hands over her mouth as she approaches me.

"May I?" Her eyes fill with tears as I hand her the baby. She smiles with love at him through her tears and starts talking to him in Italian. The girls surround her, gushing over him and smiling at the baby. Tiziano looks on but then approaches me.

"Elenora? How is she?" He asks and Domani, Clara, Mostro and Adrien surround me, too.

"She...uh," I struggle to keep the shakiness out of my voice. "She started bleeding—hemorrhaging." I can't hold it together as I picture her face again. "She was smiling, talking to the baby and then she just stopped."

"Is she going to be okay?" Clara asks with worry and Teresa joins us, now. Jackie is holding the baby while Luna sits next to her.

"Is Elenora okay?" Teresa stands next to Tiziano.

"They're working on her, she started losing a lot of blood, they said her blood pressure was dropping. They wouldn't let me stay with her." I sob as I hold my fist over my mouth. Tiziano and Teresa pull me into a crushing embrace.

"She'll be okay, son," Tiziano tells me.

"She's strong and she's a fighter," Teresa adds as she weeps.

"I just got her back, I can't lose her again."

The baby cries and I pull away from them as Jackie approaches. One of the nurses who walked out with me also comes to us with a small bottle.

"He's probably very hungry, and we are still working on your wife. Do you want to try to feed him, Mr. Di Maggio?" She holds out a tiny bottle.

Embarrassment washes over me with everyone watching. "I...I don't really know how to do it."

"It's okay, Rico; take your son in your arms," Teresa instructs. Jackie passes the baby to me and Teresa has me sit in a chair. The baby turns his face towards my chest opening his little mouth.

"He's rooting, a sure sign he's hungry," the nurse informs me.

Teresa sits next to me and hands me the bottle. "Place the nipple on his lips and then make sure the bottle is angled."

I do as she says and the baby begins drinking the bottle with vigor. I can't help but enjoy the sounds he makes while he looks at me.

"What's his name, Rico?" Luna asks.

"I don't know. Elenora and I didn't get a chance to talk when we found her before her water broke." I keep watching my son eat heartily.

"Boss, Ciccio wants me to send him a picture. He's with Maya," Mostro tells me.

"Do a video call instead," I tell him. Mostro nods as he dials Ciccio's number.

"I said send a picture, not a call, idiota!" Ciccio states. (idiota)

"I told him to do a video call, Cicc."

"Oh, sorry, Boss."

Mostro holds the phone over me and the baby. "Will you look at that? He's got Nora's eyes, don't he?" I nod as I look at my son, who's bright eyes are still on me.

"Oh my goodness! I love him so much. I just want to kiss his handsome face!" Maya's sweet voice comes through the speakers. "And the baby's cute, too!"

Teresa gasps. "Maya Elenora Borrelli!"

I laugh as does everyone else. "I'm happy to see you're awake and your old self, principessa," I tell her. (princess)

"I am so much better, but the doctors wouldn't let me go with everyone to see you, Nora and the baby. And I'm so bored! No offense, Ciccio." Ciccio grunts in response and Mostro chuckles.

"Where's Nora? I want to say hi to her, too," Maya says.

"The doctors are just giving her another check up, dolcezza," Tiziano informs her. (sweetheart)

"Mr. Di Maggio?" I stand when the doctor approaches. His stoic face doesn't give off any indication that something is wrong, but Mostro ends the call with Ciccio anyway.

"How is Elenora?"

"We were able to control the bleeding, but she needed a transfusion with the amount of blood she lost. She's stable and resting in recovery. You are more than welcome to see her after she's moved to her room."

I let out a shaky exhale, looking up grateful.

"Can we come, too?" Teresa asks.

"Let's limit the guests to three at a time, but yes, you're all welcome to see her. I'll send a nurse to notify you once she's in her room."

Pia arrives and introduces herself as Nora's family doctor, the two begin talking away from everyone.

I turn to Teresa. "I think he's finished."

She takes the bottle from me. "Now you just need to burp him. There's a few different ways to do it." She instructs me to position him upright on my shoulder and either rub circles or pat his back.

She chuckles when I pat his back. "A little harder than that, Rico. He's not going to break, figlio." (son)

I add more pressure, but I'm afraid of hurting him. "He's just so little, though."

She chuckles, holding her hands out and she talks to him in Italian, but in baby talk. She gives his back repeated gentle yet firm taps and not long after, he lets out the cutest burp I've ever heard.

"There you go, tesoro mio. You don't want to have bubbles in your little belly, now do you, mio bel principe." (My darling, My handsome prince)

"Mr. Di Maggio? You may see your wife now." A nurse informs me. I thank her and Tiziano and Teresa follow me.

My breath hitches when Nora turns to me, I rush to her and hug her, laying my head on her chest unable to hold in my crying.

"Shh, Rico. I'm okay. I'm okay." Her voice is raspy but I focus on the sound of her beating heart.

"I thought I lost you."

"I'm right here." She runs her fingers through my hair. "Where's the baby?"

I sit up and gesture for her parents to come in further as I wipe my eyes.

"Mamma, Papa!"

I move to the other side of the bed and take the baby as they hold and hug Elenora; crying together.

"I'm sorry I left. I was angry and hurt."

"You have every right to be, cucciola." Tiziano strokes her hair and kisses her temple. "We're sorry for keeping the truth from you, but you must know, blood or not, you have always been and will always be my daughter." (little cub)

Elenora cries as she holds his hand against her face and then kisses it. "I love you papá."

A nurse comes in to check on Elenora and then she asks me if I would like to do skin to skin with the baby.

"What does that mean?"

"Exactly how it sounds." The nurse smiles. "Newborns thrive on direct contact with their moms and dads. We'll unwrap him and lay him on your bare chest."

She holds him while I unbutton my shirt and she unwraps the baby, placing him face down on me as I sit on the chair next to Elenora and then she covers him with the blanket again. He snuggles, burying his little face into me.

"How long?"

The nurse chuckles. "There's no time limit, it's just a good way to bond with the baby, especially if Elenora will be nursing; this way you get to spend time with him, too."

Elenora smirks at me after the nurse leaves. "Pretty sure she just wanted to see you shirtless." I roll my eyes at her and she laughs.

Her parents spend a few minutes longer with us before they send her sisters back. Luna and Jackie talk excitedly with Elenora. It surprises me it doesn't wake the baby with how loud they are.

After they leave, Domani, Clara and Adrien come in. Adrien and Clara argue on who is going to be named as a godparent for the baby, while Domani asks if he can hold the baby. He's a natural compared to how I still don't know what I'm doing.

"It's a good thing he's going to have me around to show him how to play sports; all you ever did was get into fights as a kid," He jokes.

"Please, you only played sports because I did, Dom." We laugh about some of the things we look forward to teaching the baby.

When they leave, Pia, and Mostro come in. Pia hugs Elenora and rubs her hair. "You did great, Elenora. And your baby boy is beautiful."

"Thank you, for looking out for me, Pia." Elenora squeezes her hand.

"Of course, cara. You're family." Pia smiles at her. (dear)

"I'm proud of you, Federico." Pia kisses both sides of my face. "Your parents would be proud of you and how far you've come." I try not to let the bitterness come over me, remembering my fathers infidelity with my Zia.

"So, have you decided on a name yet, for the bambino?" Mostro questions. (baby boy)

I stand, wrapping the baby up carefully since he's sleeping and give him to Nora. She smiles and kisses his nose and then his cheeks.

"Not yet, but I'm sure we'll come up with something soon."

The baby wakes up crying before he starts screaming.

"Oh, wow, he's a screamer, boss. You're not gonna be getting sleep any time soon," Mostro laughs.

"He may be hungry again Nora, do you want to try nursing him?" Pia asks. Nora smiles nodding her head.

I turn to Mostro. "I know, I know. I'm outta here." He leaves as Pia helps Elenora and then instructs her on what to do.

She gasps when the baby latches on. "Oh, wow. And here I thought you sucked hard, Rico. Yikes!" Elenora states, wincing as she looks at me.

Pia laughs, shaking her head. I feel a twinge of jealousy for a fleeting moment but as I watch her feed our baby with her beautiful body my heart swells. Pia excuses herself telling us she'll be by tomorrow.

"Hi, baby." Elenora smiles as she looks at our son and caresses his face. "I didn't get a chance to see everything before, but I'm just going to count your cute little fingers and toes, okay?" She unwraps him and inspects both of his hands and feet.

She kisses his head. "Yup, all ten fingers and toes."

"He looks just like you, Rico." She whispers.

"He has your eyes." I sit next to her and kiss her shoulder.

She chuckles as she nudges me. "Be honest, you're a little jealous right now, aren't you?" A mischievous smile plays on her lips.

"No."

She laughs hard. "You definitely are."

"Fine, a little but," I place my arm around her shoulders, squeezing. "As long as we're together, I don't care, mia patatina." I kiss her head.

"I was so scared, Elenora."

She places the baby in between us, holding his little chin up and burps him in a sitting position. And then pulls her gown down to feed him on the other side. As I watch in awe at how natural she makes it all seem.

"Well, you're stuck with me, but...you might be wishing that wasn't the case because I'm still mad at you and who was that woman you were with?" Elenora raises an eyebrow at me.

I hold her and the baby close to me. "You can be mad at me all you want but I'm just happy you're here with me, amore. And the woman's name is Celia. She is a designer I hired to stage the penthouse, since I'm selling it."

"You are?"

I nod, running my finger down our baby's arm and tiny hand. He holds onto my finger and I smile.

"Why?"

"Because it was too hard being there without you. Rosetta redecorated it a month after you left, but I still saw you everywhere and now with the baby, there wouldn't be a lot of room anyway."

"That place is huge, Rico."

"But for a nursery and a red room for your photography equipment?" I counter and she smiles at me.

"So you're not with Celia?"

I shake my head. "No, you didn't see her shove me after the elevator doors closed." I can't hide my sheepish smile. "She's a lesbian believe it or not."

She laughs then winces. "Stop making me laugh."

"Never." I lean in to kiss her and slip the wedding band on her finger again. They had her remove it once she changed out of her clothes when we had first arrived. She pulls away and looks down at our hands.

"I love you, Elenora Maria Di Maggio."

She smiles, biting her lip. "Not Barone?"

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing the ring on her finger then her hand. "Barone is my mothers and Zia's maiden names, and Di Maggio my fathers name, so it's like picking a lesser of two evils." I can't hide the bitterness in my voice.

She reaches over and turns my face to her. "Don't think of it like that, mio polpetta." She brushes her lips against mine. "You are more than a name, Federico; so much more." (my meatball)

The baby fusses and she lifts him up. "Do you mind holding him while I use the bathroom?"

"Of course not, but do you need help?" I ask, taking the baby.

"I'll page the nurse." She hits the button on the bed and a few minutes later a nurse comes in and helps Elenora to the bathroom.

Afterward, the nurse teaches us how to wrap the baby up snuggly in the blanket to help him feel secure and warm.

We watch him sleep for a few minutes before I set him down in the bassinet. "I think I need some skin to skin time, Rico."

I smirk at Elenora, but she rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "I mean, come lay with me, husband. I'm out of commission for at least six weeks." She pouts, making me chuckle.

I roll the bassinet closer to us and sit next to her; she reclines the bed and she lays her head on my chest.

I kiss her head. "You're worth the wait, mia patatina."

***

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