Chapter 19

Reece 

As workers in the house cleaned up from the baby shower downstairs, I went over everything we got as gifts. Nearly the entire pack got us things we would need in mine and Asher's room. We got diapers for newborns, a waterproof changing pad for the changing table, unscented wipes, rash ointment, a pack of T-shirts (most of which were pinks, reds, and purples), one piece outfits (same colors, which was starting to worry me), pajamas (same colors, and a couple were even striped two of the colors, and had various animal patches on them), white socks, soft booties, pink and black cotton stretch pants, and an assortment of winter wear.

For me to help care for the baby, I was given at least three packs of four burp cloths, a nursing pillow, more bottles, as well as a bottle brush, and a breast pump. We even got tons of bath things we didn't pick up before, like hooded towels, baby body wash, wash cloths, cotton swabs, baby nail clippers, a soft brush, and a baby thermometer.

On top of all that, we got more blankets, a crib mattress pad, a waterproof liner for the crib, lullaby CDs and a radio to play them on, and sun screens for the car windows.

Even with all this new stuff we acquired, I still don't think we have everything we need for when our child comes. I'm due any day now. It's starting to worry me. I still have that fear that I could end up dying during child birth. I try to hide it, but I think Asher knows, and he hasn't said anything.

Speaking of Asher, he and Nyl had to suddenly run off after the baby shower, several warriors following after them. That has me even more worried. What could have happened that made them run off so suddenly? Lana told me not to worry about it, but I still do. She said it was nothing, but something tells me that it is something big.

Then again, this could all be in my head...

As I sat on the bed, the gifts already put away, I thought about inconvenient it would be for me suddenly go into labor. Fear spiked in me and I waited for the signs my mother told me about. It would feel like I had wet myself, which would be my water breaking. Some time after that, it would be the contractions.

I'm dry, but that doesn't mean it couldn't suddenly happen. Would Asher be able to tell when I went into labor? Would he feel the pain of giving birth with me, since the Connection is strong between us? Or will he just stand there watching me suffer through the pain alone? He said we were in this together.

The door suddenly swung open and Asher staggered in, letting out a heavy breath and running his hands through his hair. I scooted over so he could flop on the bed, which he did once there was space. He was panting heavily, nearly out of breath. I carefully reached out with my hand and ran my fingers along his back, hoping it would help calm him faster.

It worked. "Nothing to worry about, Reece..." He sighed heavily as he turned over and grabbed my hand. "We're still a little cautious with Rogues and a couple Wolves on patrol saw some crossing the land. We had to make sure they weren't going to try anything funny. They're gone now."

"Okay," I placed my other hand over his and held it tightly. "So long as everything is good now."

"It is," He assured. "They were simply passing through and wandered too close. Nothing to worry about." He smiled up at me.

I grinned back. "If you say so. I'm glad you're back now. The doctor had said I was due at any moment now. I want you to be here for when that happens."

"I'm right here, Reece." He sat up and cupped my hands with his other one. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right with you throughout the entire thing. I'll be holding your hand, rubbing your shoulders, and I won't leave your side for a second."

A small smile spread across my lips and I tipped my head a bit. He cupped my cheek and ran his thumb just under my eye.

Who would have thought the bad boy player of the school would actually be this amazing man underneath that exterior he had created for himself? How did I get so lucky to know his real side?

Asher leaned forward a bit and kissed my forehead, making me softly shut my eyes at the comforting touch. "Together forever. Just you, me, and our child. The perfect family."

I chuckled softly and carefully maneuvered myself so I was sitting in his lap. He held me against him, a hand holding me in place while the other was draped over my stomach. "I love you so much, Reece." He said as he placed another kiss to my head.

"I love you, too." I leaned my head against his chest, his steady heart beat filling my ears, soothing me to sleep. I don't know what it is, but the sound of another's heart beat calms me. It's very soothing and relaxing to fall asleep to ones heart beat.

"Let's get ready for bed." Asher suggested, pulling me from my daze. "You've had a long day and you need your rest."

"Okay..." I said sleepily as Asher helped me to my feet. We dressed in our pajamas then shared a quick kiss. He pulled the sheets back for me and I climbed in under them. The lamp at my head was turned out before Asher crawled in on the other side of me, pulling me towards him so my back was against his chest.

"Sleep well, Reece..." He whispered into my ear. I hummed back in response as I settled in closer to him.

But our moment was short lived. I gasped as my water broke just as Asher and I were getting settled down for bed. "A-Asher! Th-the baby's coming!" I stared down at my bloated stomach, fear filling me. "Asher, the baby is coming! Don't let me die!"

"Sh, it's okay, Reece. It's okay!" He made me look at him as my breathing came fast and rapid, close to hyperventilation. "I'm right here, I'm right here. Look at me, Reece, look at me! Right here. My eyes are here. You're going to be fine. I won't let anything happen to you. Now, tell me what just happened."

I swallowed hard as I tried to get my breathing under control. "M-my water broke!"

"Any contractions?" He asked.

I shook my head. "N-no... Not yet... But they'll come! Asher, I'm scared! I-I don't know what to do! I've never done this before! What if something bad happens? What if-" I gasped as a small pain went through my abdomen. "Th-there was one! There was a contraction! Asher, it's happening! Help me!" He scooped me right into his arms and calmly, but swiftly took me from the room.

"I just contacted Dr. Strone." Asher said as we went up a flight of stairs. "He's going to meet us there. You're going to be fine, Reece. I promise. We'll get through this." Soon, we were in one of the medical rooms and I was placed on a bed.

Not ten seconds later, Dr, Strone entered the room, a man in his late thirties, as well as four nurses. "How she doing? How many contractions, and how far apart are they?" He asked as he prepped himself, then swiftly and thoroughly washed his hands, the nurses doing what he did after.

"Um," Asher suddenly drew up blank. "One, so far... Maybe two, three minutes ago?"

"Alright." He then addressed me. "Reece, on a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst, what was the pain?"

I thought for a second. "Um, one, maybe two? It wasn't too bad."

"And how are you feeling?" He asked as he went to another part of the room, checking to make sure everything was in place and ready. The nurses milled around to check the minor things.

"Absolutely terrified." I replied as a nurse tossed Asher a sterile cover for his front and gloves. The nurses helped me off the bed then set to work in getting me dressed in this short hospital gown.

"I know you are," He said calmly as he sat in a chair, the proceeded to roll around the room, doing a check and sound off. "All women are their first time, though not Shelbie."

"No?" I questioned as I was laid back down.

He shook his head and I followed him around the room with my eyes. "Not at all. She was laughing and joking with us, even as the contractions got closer together and more painful. She only cried out maybe once or twice throughout the entire procedure. Even then, she still managed to have a small ghost of a smile on her face."

I blinked, shocked. "I always knew Shelbie was a little spitfire, but I didn't think she was that fearless. I think she'll start experiencing real fear when her son starts walking." That got the room to laugh.

About an hour later, I had my next contraction. I quickly notified the doctor and he took note of it, as well as the pain, which I ranked a three.

This went on for at least another two hours, the contractions getting closer together in about the last half hour, the pain quickly climbing. I was already sweating profusely and Asher had to keep wiping my forehead and neck with a cloth as I latched on tightly to his free hand.

"We're getting close, Reece." Dr. Strone said as he got ready and down at my feet. "Just keep your legs positioned like this, alright? Don't move them from these spots. Can you do that for me?" I nodded slowly as my breathing was coming out hot and heavy.

"Keep breathing, Reece." He said softly. "Three in, four out. Can you do that for me? In... Out... That's it... Keep that up. Asher, be sure to keep her breathing as even as you can get it."

"Reece, baby, you're doing great." Asher wiped off more sweat. "You're doing just fine. See? I haven't gone anywhere. I'm right here. Breathe in... and breathe out. That's it! You're doing great!"

My body suddenly shook in pain and I clutched Asher's hand even tighter as I cried out, almost folding over myself. Asher was quick to make me right myself and lay me back against the bed. He and another nurse held me down as we waited for the contraction to pass.

"Contractions are roughly six to seven minutes apart," A nurse said. "Doctor, it's getting close."

"Okay," He replied and gave my foot a pat. "Reece, we're getting close to the point to where I'll need you to push. I'll tell you when, but you have to push when I tell you to." I couldn't respond, so I simply nodded. Asher gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as he wiped up more of my sweat.

Yet another contraction ripped through me at that point and I threw my head back in agonizing pain. I wanted to kick my legs, but something was preventing me from doing so. "Stay still, Reece! I promise it will all be over in a bit! I promise!" A voice from somewhere said.

Another voice was at my head, trying to whisper comforting words into my ear. My God, I knew it was painful, but I didn't think it'd be this bad!

"We need to hook her up to a monitor!" A female voice shouted. "Her heart is beating out of control and her blood pressure is spiking!"

"Get that done quickly!" A male voice responded. "Reece, we have to push soon. Get ready, Reece. Keep your feet here." I can't even really feel my feet right now! A light prick went into my forearm and soon a frantic beeping sound filled the room, just as I was feeling another contraction.

"Push, Reece!" I tried, but it hurt too damn bad. "Come on, Reece! You can do better than that. Keep breathing, Reece. Push! Come on, push!" My hand that was gripping Asher's tightened significantly as I tried desperately to push, followed by yet another shriek. A soothing hand went across my forehead as a hand squeezed mine right back.

"You're doing great, baby..."

"Push, come on! You can do it!"

"A-Asher..." I barely panted out as I tried pushing again. "I-I can't..."

"Yes you can!" He urged as he placed a firm kiss right on my forehead. "You can do it! I know you can!"

"We're almost done, Reece!" The Doctor said from at my feet. "I see the head! Just a couple more solid pushes and your child will be out!"

"You hear that?" He shook my hand a bit and I slowly rolled my head over to face him. "Almost there! You can do it! Come on, Reece!"

I swallowed hard, my chest rising and falling hard and fast. "I-it hurts... I-I can't-"

"Don't speak like that!" He placed yet another kiss on my face, this time on my lips. "You can do this! We're in this together! I love you, Reece. Don't forget that!"

"Alright, Reece," I turned my head back to the ceiling. "Twice more. Let's go! Push!" I tried. I swear I did. The pain wracked through me as I tried to push our child out of me. I could feel myself starting to slip. I could feel the darkness creeping up on me.

"One more!" A slightly muted voice called. "Almost got it! Hang in there! Push!"

"Doctor, her heart rate just spiked!" A frantic voice as I tried to give that one last push. "Doctor, it's dropping... It's dropping!" Soon, the voices began to mesh together.

But one stood out. "No, no! Reece, don't you dare close your eyes! Look at me, Reece. Look at me! Here! Here into my eyes! I'm right here!" My face was turned and I was soon looking into the red and tear filled gaze of Asher. "We're almost there, baby! We're so close! No, you open those eyes right now! Open them, Reece! Yes! Just like that! Come on, one more push you can do it! No... No. No! Reece, open your eyes! Reece... Reece!!" My eyes shut for the final time just as Asher's cry of heart break and anguish filled the air, as well as a high pitched cry of a baby.

Then there was nothing.