I try to breathe in and out but my heart is pounding very fast. I close my eyes trying so hard to stay calm.
I feel hands stroking my hair gently.
" You will be fine, I'm here," says Daniella's soft voice in my ear. I'm scared but it makes me feel better. I slowly open my eyes and everyone is looking very worried. Nikolas is confused and disturbed. I open my hand to him, and he slowly takes it.
I expected to be in so much pain but I'm not.
" Let's begin," the doctor announces.
Nikolas' hand tightens around mine, and I look at him for a long time
"Can you wait?" Requests Daniella to the doctor but I shake my head, I can't hold it, it's coming and the contractions are getting unbearable.
" My back," I complain.
" Are you in so much pain?" Asks doctor Amos.
" I can bear it," I answer quietly.
...
" It's time," my legs are already spread as the doctors and nurses come closer to me, my hand gripping Nikolas' wrist.
" Push Ava, remember what we learned," I try to push once, but the baby just won't come out. I can do this, it's time, we've waited far too long.
Daniella gives me a mug and I drink its contents again,
" Drink it all,"
I've been pushing for a few hours now and I'm getting exhausted and Jeremy has fainted twice already.
" One more time Ava, this time give it your all," I nod, sweat glistening on my forehead as I push.
" Now!" I scream and push, again and again,
" It's here," Doc Amos breathes, and I collapse in the bed, breathing heavily until the realization hits me, the baby is not crying, why is my baby not crying?
" What's wrong, Amos?" kat asks, panicked. I get in a sitting position, as the doctors start to run around the room, inspecting the baby.
" Is she breathing?"
" Why is she not crying?" Newborn babies are supposed to cry, why is mine not crying?
" Nik, why is the child not crying?" I grip his shirt, tugging it but his eyes are fixated on the newborn. Even the witch looks distraught.
" Why?" She breathes, shaking the child. I feel hot tears run down my cheeks
" Why is she not crying? What is happening?" I'm unable to believe this. What kind of fate is this? What did I ever do? Was I so terrible in my past life?
" Alpha, the child... " The doctor is trembling, still inspecting his future alpha female. Next to me, Nikolas has frozen.
" Oxy... Oxygen," Kat stutters.
A powerful growl resonates in the room, making everyone freeze
" Give me my daughter," Nik whispers, the doctors are shaking in fear, they are reluctant in giving him the child and he roars, making everything in the room vibrate.
" I said give me my DAUGHTER!"
With trembling hands, the doctor hands the child to her father. Nikolas holds the baby as the whole room goes silent, he smiles softly, and a tear escapes his right eye.
A MOTHER
Nikolas holds the tiny baby in his arms, looking helpless. Another tear escapes his eyes, and as If sensing her father's helplessness. The baby suddenly burst out crying, loudly. Nikolas sighs audibly and relief fills the room, I chuckle at the same time a sob escapes me, for a moment there, I died.
The baby is crying, and honestly, I don't want her to stop.
" Hey, my little one," Nik whispers, kissing her forehead and then giving her to me. I smile and place her on my chest, it's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.
" Welcome baby," I kiss her.
....
" The Alarie brothers sent gifts," Announces Dina, she has been helping me with the baby.
Aurora picks up her niece and places a gentle kiss on her lips and I gasp, " I wanted to be her first kiss!"
" How do you feel?" I ask the baby daddy. I feel the happiness radiating from him,
" Good," he mutters.
" It's your birthday today," he whispers again to the sleeping baby.
" What are we going to call her?" I ask and all eyes turn to look at the father. We didn't talk about baby names yet, during the baby shower, everyone was told to write a name on a piece of paper but none just fit right with me.
" Amber, like my mother, and Sela like your mama," He answers. My eyes water with tears, that's the sweetest gesture anyone has ever done for me. I wish my mama was here, she would have just loved baby Amber Sela Wulfric.
" Thank you," I cry.
After leaving, I finally close my eyes to rest, someone should have told me that giving birth is not so easy. It's good the siblings were here to encourage me. I smile again when I look at the crib not too far from me, I think about how my life changed so much this year, I went from being an abused woman, a woman who had absolutely nothing to a mother, a mother to the most perfect baby girl in the world and this feeling is pure bliss, happiness is overflowing in my life and my heart is full.
...
I stir awake in my bed, slowly opening my eyes and then shutting them close, the sunlight coming from the thin curtains blinds me for a while but I adjust them slowly. I look around to the familiar big and my eyes find their way to the crib, worry overtakes me as I see it's empty, I get myself in a sitting position, wanting the go out when the door suddenly opens revealing Mrs. Smith, she smiles at me but I scowl.
" Where's the baby?" I question in a hard tone, she looks taken back a bit, her smile deflating for a while but gets it back on her face.
" The nurses were just running some tests, it's fine," She explains. Why didn't they wake me up? They just can't take a baby from its mother. What If they hurt it? Or If Mario gets her. Oh god no, Mario.
I am so in love with this baby. I change her diaper baby Amber's diaper and she continues to fuss, making loud baby sounds.
" She's so cute, am obsessed," Gushes Dina.
" Hey, little one, who is the cutest?" I ask going closer to her face, I make funny faces, but she doesn't smile, just looking at me with a small scowl, her green eyes holding so much curiosity.
" Whose mama's cutest baby? Who? Who? Amber?" I continue to make humorous faces, bringing my fingers and shaking my head until a toothless smile appears on her perfect little face. I lift her up into my arms as I hum to her, quietly, it's time for her nap, I continue to hum falling in love with you.
"Wise men say only fools rush in but I can't help falling in love with you."
I keep humming the song my mother sang me until she stops fussing in my arms, and her eyes slowly start to drop.
I kiss her forehead, I don't ever want to part from her ever.
" Ma'am, everyone is waiting for you downstairs, " A servant says, I put Amber back in her cradle but her eyes snap open and she begins to cry loudly. I sigh, today we are having dinner with family and friends right here. I hum to her again until her eyes close again, but every time I try to lay her down, she opens her eyes and starts to cry.
" Wise men say...." I continue singing the song
" Give her to me, Madam," Dina extends her arms to get her but I'm reluctant to give her even though I do leave Amber with her when I have to. She smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
" I'll call you if anything," Dina gives me a reassuring smile. I nod and give her the baby, then go to my room to change. I short cut dress.
I apply minimal makeup on my face and put my hair in a messy bun, it does look really nice and I feel radiate. I get ready to put on my shoes when Nikolas clears his throat, he is already dressed in black pants and a dress shirt. I smile as he walks closer, and removes the pin I used to put it together. My hair falls to my back,
" I like it when you let your hair down," he says, still taking it between his fingers.
" You have soft and beautiful hair,"
" Thank you,"
He gets on one knee before I can stop him, getting the shoes from my hands, I watch as this beautiful man helps me in my shoes and my fingers, my naughty fingers caress his silk hair, running my fingers in it.
" Done," he stands up, giving me his hand to take.
" Shall we, we have guests?"