Olive's P.O.V.
"You need to sit, Rose. The doctor said to sit and elevate your feet. You're starting to swell around your ankles again," Lucas reminded me as I waddled around the flat trying to get last minute things together.
The bassinet was put together and sat beside the bed. The bottles were sanitized and put away already. All the clothes were washed, folded and organized. My hospital bag was ready to go, along with Abi's. I packed her the cutest take home outfit. I love all the frills, laces, and colors on little girl clothes. Of course, I bought a shit ton of bows that are way too large for her head, too. I have those neatly organized as well. I still feel like I'm forgetting something, or missing something, but I'm not sure what.
Daisy had my baby brother a few months ago, and according to Joe everything is still going well. It made me wonder if Dad really had changed, but then I remembered that he's dad and it's only a matter of time until his ugliness resurfaces. I hope that when it does that Daisy is smart enough to get away. Joe gave her my number again for me. Maybe this time she'll save it and use it.
I felt another cramp coming, causing me to stop and lean against the closest thing around me. I gripped the edge of the table as I let it pass. If these Braxton Hicks contractions were any indication of how painful labor was going to be, well, I'll die.
Definitely getting an epidural.
I mean it's got to be painful if any woman is willing to stick a large needle in their back to stop feeling labor pains.
"Are you okay?" Lucas asked, placing his hands on my sides to steady me. "Have you been timing it?"
Lucas has been reading every, and any, labor book he could find. At this point I think he knows more about it than I do. His eyes held mine with both concern and excitement. I know he can't wait for Abi to be born and we're only a few days away now.
"No, I'm sure it's just Braxton Hicks again."
"You never know, Rose. You should always time them." I think he wanted it to be labor already.
"Okay, I will." I smiled at him, nodding my head, and stepping away from the table now that the pain had passed.
I let him guide me to the couch, and sit me down. He lifted my feet, placing pillows under them to elevate them. He's been taking great care of me all throughout this pregnancy. He's gone to every doctor's appointment, reminded me of my prenatal vitamins, bought all the food I crave, no matter how crazy or how late in the night it was. If I craved it, he'd make it appear before me. He refuses to let me squat down or reach for something too high.
He's my perfect man.
As I watched TV another wave of pain rolled over me, causing me to clutch the edge of the couch cushion. Lucas was by side in an instant again, taking my hand and eyeing me with worry. Once it passed I saw him log the time on his phone. This continued until, eventually, I knew it wasn't Braxton Hicks anymore. This was actual labor!
Our Abi is coming today!
I've never felt so nervous and so excited at once. It was crazy knowing that our Abi would be in our arms in the next 24 hours. We'll finally get to see her face, feel her skin, grab her hand. I'm excited to see what her hair will look like, what shade her skin will be, all the things I can't see on an ultrasound.
"Come on, Rose. It's time to go to the hospital."
Lucas helped me up, grabbing everything we needed. He rushed around the room like a maniac. He was excited, but worried for me. He hates to see me in pain, and fuck me are contractions painful. It really feels like someone has their hands around my uterus and is squeezing it with all their might. I grunted as I tried not to yell when another stronger contraction hit.
Lucas drove carefully as always, but he did so quickly. He had a wheelchair brought out to meet us, so that I wouldn't have to walk in. The contractions were only 3 minutes apart now, and felt like they lasted an eternity. I gripped onto the arms of the wheelchair as I bit my tongue, trying not to make a sound.
"You're doing so well, Rose. Remember to breathe," Lucas encouraged me, making me realize I was actually holding my breath.
I closed my eyes and focused on taking deep clear breaths. It helped a bit, giving me something to focus on that wasn't the pain. The nurse set an IV drip once we got to a room. She asked if I'd like an epidural and I immediately yelled yes. Lucas tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help the smirk.
"I'm so sorry, Rose. I don't mean to laugh at your pain. You just scared that nurse with your tone," he chuckled. I knew he wasn't laughing at me.
He kept me distracted by talking about things that would excite me. We talked about our wedding, our honeymoon, and my job prospects. I'd been offered a job at a few of the places I'd interviewed at. My worries about not being hired because I'll be a mom, seem dumbfounded. They didn't care about that, they cared about my work ethic, my ability, and my degree. I mark those check marks for a lot of places.
We were weighing my options when I felt a trickle of water between my legs. It was like a leaky faucet had just opened up between my legs. The nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 6 now. Just 4 more until it's time to push. My contractions only intensified after my water broke. They'd placed a towel between my legs, to try and keep me from getting too wet as my water continued to leak out of me. It definitely wasn't like the movies where it looks like a large water bottle popped. It was slow and constant, and frankly a bit annoying.
I held onto Lucas' hand for dear life as I reached an 8. The pressure I felt below was insane. I thought my tailbone would snap from it. I could feel my body wanting to push, but I held back as it wasn't time yet. The nurse started to wheel things in and I tried to focus on what she was bringing. She brought in a little warmer that she went ahead and turned on. There was a scale and a rolled-in instrument tray. I tried not to look at those, worried I'd see an instrument that would scare me.
The doctor came in next, and before I knew it, it was time to push. I'd never been so grateful before. I was ready to release the pressure I was feeling. My legs were placed on the stirrups as my ass almost hung off the bed. My OB was covered in a blue disposable gown, cap and booties. This was apparently a very messy ordeal.
"Okay, Olive, it's time to push. On the next contraction I want you to grab the back of your knees and push until I count to 10 as hard as you can," the doctor instructed me.
I nodded and did just that on the next contraction. Lucas helped by pushing my back up and my legs close, almost like he was folding me in half. It helped though. I felt a strong burning for just a second and wondered if I had just torn.
"There's the head, mama. You're doing great," the doctor called out, giving me more motivation to push harder.
The shoulders were next and then she sort of slid out with the next push. I laid back utterly exhausted when I heard her beautiful little cry. She was placed on my chest as Lucas cut her umbilical cord. We both cried as we stared down at the life we created. She was so small and absolutely perfect. Lucas kissed my sweaty forehead without a care.
The overwhelming feeling of pure love had me in tears for a while. Abi was everything to me. My number one priority. Lucas and I will give her the childhood neither of us were able to have. She'll grow up in a home like Ian's. A home that is warm and loving, and welcoming to all.
Welcome to the world, my Abi Rose.
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"She's beautiful, Twinkle Toes," Davis cooed as he peered down at her from my arms. He refused to hold her, worried that he would somehow hurt her. "She's so tiny. I remember when my daughter was that small. Now she's grown and wants nothing to do with me half the time." He shook his head lightly as he spoke.
"Don't tell me that," I scolded. "I don't want to picture her grown up already. I just had her."
Davis chuckled that hearty laugh of his.
"Sorry, kid. I guess I should stop calling you that too. Can't call you kid when you have a kid."
"Mhm," I hummed. There was something I have been meaning to ask Davis for months now, but haven't had the nerve. Even though I am still exhausted, I feel like now is the time, or I'll never do it. "Davis can I ask you something?"
"You already did," he joked, earning him a shove from me. "Alright, what's up? If it's about babysitting, the answer is yes, but only on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Those are my free days." He smiled widely, surprising me by the offer.
"It wasn't about babysitting, but I'll definitely keep those days in mind." I smirked.
"Okay, what's up then?"
"Well, you know I'm getting married in September," I started.
"Yes, of course. I got the invite, thank you." He was all jokes today, letting me know he was in a great mood.
"Normally the bride has her father walk her down the aisle," Davis stiffened beside me as I continued. "Obviously, I'm not having my dad at my wedding. Hell, he doesn't even know I'm getting married or that I had Abi, yet alone that I was pregnant."
"Rightfully so, that asshole," Davis interrupted again.
"Yes, that asshole," I agreed, nodding my head. Abi began to fuss in my arms, but Lucas took her so that I could focus on my conversation with Davis. Lucas was already so great with Abi, calming her instantly. "Well, I was wondering if maybe, I mean if you're okay with it. I know you have a daughter of your own but-" I started my sentence about three different times but never once got to the point.
"Spit it out already, twinkle toes. Quit dancing around, this ain't the ring," he urged me.
"Will you walk me down the aisle?" I quickly blurted, blushing hard.
I'd never seen Davis look at me the way he was now. He seemed so taken aback by the question. His eyes seemed to cloud for a moment before he rubbed them. I guess he never realized how close I felt to him before.
"I'd be honored, kid." He smiled, a whole hearted smile I'd never seen before.
"Thank you, Davis."