Wedding Bells

Chapter 25

*Carter's POV*

The day was finally here. Finally I was able to walk across the stage, to graduate. No more long school days for me, no more working a job over the computer. My life was finally falling into place, one step at a time.

I tucked the light blue shirt into my dress pants, working on fixing up the rest of my appearance. I needed to look somewhat decent today.

I straighten the tie turning to look at my beautiful wife. Hopefully she would be able to help me. Her smile warms up the room as she laughs at my appearance.

"Oh sweetheart, your hair is a mess, your tie is crooked and it doesn't even match your shirt," She closes the distance between us, placing her fingers on my chest as she trails them up the material. Ending with them tapping lightly on the tip of my nose.

I grabbed her waist holding her as close to me as I could with the massive belly protruding in front of her. Damn, she looked like she was having twins. I searched her face for the happiness behind her eyes. Feeling a warmth wash over my body as soon as I find it. We were finally here. Finally right where I wanted to be.

I lean down to kiss her, holding her hips so she couldn't run away as my lips crash into hers, engulfing her in passion. She was beautiful, and she was going to make the most amazing mother.

"What would I do without you?" Brushing her hair away from her face, I look into her gentle blue eyes, wishing for our baby girl to have the same ones. Maybe I didn't, because if she did she would be a heartbreaker just like her mother.

If the baby had half the looks Erin has she would be a heartbreaker. My palms grew sweaty, my nerves finally kicking in as I glance at the large clock on the wall. The pretty black one we got as a wedding gift. People were insane when it came to those things, buying us random decorations and every kitchen item you could possibly think of.

Why did we need so many waffle makers as well?

The memories of opening the presents with Erin, brought a slight cough to my throat, as I tried my best to hold back the tears. We sat in the living room of this very house about two weeks after her mother got the news. I sat on the couch, watching my beautiful wife tear at the wrapping paper like a ravage animal, before turning to the most gentle creature as soon as she pulled it out of the box. She'd mark it down, so she could remember who it was from on the notebook sitting beside her--after unburying it every time of course.

The clock had seemed a little excessive to me, a package that large barely fit in our doorway. I took pictures of Erin, as she tried to climb on top of it to show it who was boss. That was how she ended up with the bruises on her legs.

"What are you smiling about?" Erin's voice rang through the air, she watched me from the doorway, leaning against it for the support she needed. I shook my head trying to push the thoughts away. I needed to focus on the day.

"You," I was trying to be romantic, and it must of worked because the smile on her face told me it made her happy. She left the room, taking the mood with her.

I grabbed my suit jacket, deciding she was right. This tie really didn't match. I tossed it to the side grabbing a simple darker blue tie to offset the light blue of my shirt. Maybe I could get away with this? Once I felt presentable I placed my jacket on and head into the kitchen.

Erin was struggling with her shoes, her body propped against the couch as she tried to tug the flats on her feet. I knew she was missing wearing regular shoes, her outfits all tucked away neatly in her closet for the day they would fit again. I felt horrible that she was dealing with this, not feeling like her best self.

"Here, let me help," I mumbled, mostly to myself as I rush over, jumping onto my knees to help pull her shoes on for her. She smiles, rolls her eyes before leaning forward to plant a quick kiss on my forehead.

"Thank you," She whispered. I nod in response, helping her up off the couch and ushering out the door. It was go time. I Carter Summers was graduating from medical university today.

~*~

*Erin's POV*

Clara was here and her new fiance David, my mother sat all cozy in the seat next to me. Everyone was here to help me cheer on my amazing husband and best friend. Our hearts all beating as one as we hold hands, waiting not so patiently for him to walk across that stage. This was years in the making and though I hadn't been there for most of the years, I've seen the struggle he has gone through. Everything just to make sure things were perfect for us.

His school was supposed to have him placed in a job within the next few weeks, allowing him to finally quit the job from California. He was sad about that, but so excited at the same time. Ready to start doing something instead of sitting at a desk all day. He wanted to save lives. Take care of people. Just like he does for me and our soon to be child.

The tears were in the back of my throat, but as I squeezed everyone hands I tried my best to hold them back. There was no sense in crying, the hormones from the pregnancy making that a common event these days. I searched the lines looking for his sweet face staring back at me. The eyes that could change my mood just by looking at me.

There he was.

He was the third one away from the stage, preparing for his name to be called pretty quickly once they started.

Damn why haven't they started already?

"Erin, this is so amazing, I'm glad we were all able to make it tonight," My other gushes, using her other hand to squeeze my arm. She was so proud of Carter as well, watching him grow up into the man he was today. I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of her setting me up with him a few years ago. She was the one who called him, told him to come back.

He was the guy she was going to set me up with if I hadn't found a boyfriend by the end of the three months. The whole reason I found myself with a Tinder account in the first place.

It was a long journey to get us here, filled with lots of roadblocks and speed-bumps, but by god did we finally do it. The birthdays had come and gone, just like the bad times. Here we would forever be together, like a family truly should.

"You know your name was his password to all of his school notes? I know because I used to sneak on his computer and steal them without him knowing when we were still doing our generals," David leaned forward to tell me. Clara popped him on the chest, pulling him back in line before chuckling to herself.

I couldn't help but smile at the little tidbit. I hadn't ever thought about it but Carter was always my passwords as well. An inside joke that only the two of us would know.

"Shhh, they are starting now!" Clara shouted, defeating the purpose of her shushing those around her. My mother let out a cackle, both by embarrassment and pure humor. I just hoped Carter hadn't heard us clear up on stage, but when we made eye contact I knew that wasn't the case.

He had heard every single loud shout.

The announcer begin announcing names, his words muffled by the foam around the microphone and people would cheer, as their graduate walked across the stage. I felt like we were in high school again, up there getting our diplomas for the very first time.

Carter was by my side for that moment as well.

"Carter Summers," The voice announced as our group erupts with screams, shouting through the stadium, cheering on our amazing graduate.Carter was embarrassed you could see it in his eyes from a mile away. But me...suddenly I was scared.

The warm sensation on the lower half of my body startled me. For a moment I stood there, thinking I had possibly just had an accident. I was pregnant, that was a normal thing to do...but then it kept flowing. There was nothing I could do to stop it. No amount of kegel exercise would stop this.

I tried to sit down, maybe I could just act like it wasn't happening until a little later tonight? I didn't want to ruin Carter's dinner, his big day. The more I sat there in the gooey liquid I realized we couldn't wait. A wave of pain washes over my body, like a sudden tightening on my stomach.

My mother was the first to notice, she glanced down inspecting the floor as if that was the most important thing before turning to look at me.

"Oh thank god you wore black, come on let's go honey," She grabbed my shoulders pushing me up off of the chair to see how bad it really was. Her gasp told me it was bad. She stood behind me ushering to Clara and David before pushing me. "Get. Carter. Now." She growled through gritted teeth.

"What right now?" Clara questioned, turning to look at the chair I was just sitting in. "Oh, OH!" She shouted the second one loud enough to alert the people surrounding us. If it hadn't been so dark in the room I knew Carter would have been watching. The pain subsided allowing me to finally breath for a second, but it felt like there was no air left in the room. People sat in the chairs around us stuck up their noses like we were the most annoying thing that could have ever happened.

They were telling me.

I did my best to tuck my dress around me, hoping to both cover and catch as much of the remaining liquid as possible, but it continued to drip down my legs as my mother pushed me out of the auditorium.

"What about Carter?" I question. My purse dangling off my shoulder as it falls down my arms to my wrist, nearly tripping me in the process.

"Clara and David will go get him, for now we have to get you to the hospital," My mother didn't seem panicked at all. Her voice soothing, not nearly as harsh as it had been with Clara.

Another wave of pain took over my body, stopping me in my tracks as I tried to focus on not crying. My body was telling me it was time, but I just couldn't leave without my husband.

"This is what you get for jumping up and down a week before your due date honey," My mother teases, trying to bring my attention anywhere but the stretching feeling in my stomach. "Little girl is ready to come out," She rubbed my stomach for a few seconds, turning to glance back into the auditorium.

"Where are they?" I nearly shouted. My teeth were gritted as hard as they could be without locking my jaw. I found I was holding my breath, trying to focus on anything but the pain.

It was so sudden, bringing me to my knees.

"Erin, we do not have time to wait for Carter. He can meet us at the hospital, alright?" My mother grabbing my arms pulling me up once again, just in time for Clara, David and Carter to come rushing out of the auditorium, nearly crashing into us.

"Erin!" Carter shouts as soon as he sees me, wrapping his arms around me, quickly pulling away once he realized how wet I was.

"let's go," My mother reminded everyone, pulling the group towards the exit.

"David run away and get the car!" Clara shouted, holding her hands together next to her chest. This was something she did when she was getting uncomfortable. Join the club.

David nodded his head rushing towards the front door, leaving us behind in his dust. I was lucky that everyone was around when this happened, I wasn't sure what I would have done if I was alone. Carter holding me, while my mother helps stabilize me.

The waves weren't too close together, allowing for some time to recover in between but they were hard, hitting me like a brick wall every time they arrived.

"Breathe Erin, we will get you to a hospital and all with be just fine. I just need you to breathe," Carter smiled, wiping my forehead. We stopped for a moment to rest, allowing myself to catch my breath.

The more I freaked out the worse things were going to get, so I needed to take a moment to go within and try to calm myself down.

This was going to happen, there was nothing I could do to stop it. If I didn't want to go through this, well then I shouldn't have had adult time in the first place. My heart was still racing, and I could feel our little girl stirring inside as she threatened to come out.

"Luckily the hospital isn't too far away from here," My mother commented, forcing us to take a few more steps towards the door. "I know right now you just want to lay down and die, but I need you to keep walking, if we can just get to the hospital all will be fine." She was the driving force of this train, keeping everyone in line when they realized they were panicking.

I was amazed with how well she was handling this. Keeping her calm.

Another contraction hit me, this one not as hard as the last, but it felt different, like pressure more than pain. Suddenly my heart was going a million miles again, begging for a drink of water and a nice cool bed to lay down in.

David rushed back into the building to make sure we were making it. Only a few more steps and we would be outside and in the car.

"Car is parked out front running, we can put her in the backseat, I have a towel to make yourself more comfortable," I glanced at him thankful for the towel but a little confused as of where he had it from.

"He towel drys the car after he washes it, just use the towel so he doesn't have to steam clean the seats," Clara chuckled, throwing her car loving fiance under the bus. I'd be lying if I said her comment didn't at least make me smile.

My body was aching, my knees growing weak but finally we were all able to climb into the back seat of David's car. My mother and Carter held onto me tightly as David floored it in the direction of the hospital. The car lurched forward as David pressed the gas. Zooming through the parking lot like a bat outta hell.

I was thankful he was driving so fast, doing his best to get us there as quickly as possible.

"Breathe Erin, you are doing amazing," Carter wipes the sweat from my forehead, holding me tightly into his chest. I push myself away from him, trying to get myself some more air to breathe.

"I'm trying, give me a little bit of space," I grabbed the towel wrapping it further around my legs. I was trying to cover up as much as i could, growing more and more uncomfortable in my own skin.

Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion, the changes in my body surpassing the surrounding around us. My mother rolls down the window, allowing a crisp breeze to swirl through the car. The colder air was welcoming, and it gave me something to focus on. A wafting smell of cinnamon comes through the car, bringing me a little sense of joy as David turns onto the next road.

"Almost there," Clara muttered looking out the window, her leg was thumping against the floor of the car, echoing slightly throughout the cab. I wanted to scream, but I was stopped by another startling contraction. My stomach tightens once again, pulling me forward as I hunch towards my knees.

Carter rubbed the back of my neck, tickling my hairline. Comforting me as I tried to work through the last few moments of the pain.

"In...out...in...out," My mother whispered as a small reminder to breathe.

"Are we there yet!" I shouted, leaning forward even further trying to put more pressure on my stomach. Anything that would stop the pain.

My heart threatening to burst out of my chest.

We were actually having a baby.