7. Theo
T he day had arrived.
Well, that wasn’t entirely accurate.
I couldn’t say for certain that today would be the day, but dammit, I was going to do my damnedest to make sure it was.
“Theo, honey, are you sure you want tacos for breakfast?” Michelle asked.
I nodded.
“And can you bring the hot sauce out? Oh, and extra jalapenos.”
Spicy food was almost guaranteed to kick start labor, and after carrying this little darling of mine for the past four months, I was ready.
Luca had it so easy only carrying his eggs for a few weeks.
Humans had it worse.
A nine-month pregnancy?
No, thank you.
Michelle left with a sigh, and I leaned back into the booth.
My enormous belly made it hard to sit normally.
I couldn’t even reach my arms to the table because my belly was in the way.
At least I could use it as a sort of table-like thing when I was eating.
Tyler slid into the booth across from me.
“Sweetheart, your order has Michelle a little concerned. Are you sure spicy tacos are your best idea?”
“Yes. And after I have breakfast, I’m going for a walk.”
Tyler sighed.
He was nothing if not supportive, even though I had tried the same thing yesterday and yet here I was, still pregnant.
“Baby, everything will happen in its own time. I know you’re eager to meet our little one, but these old wives’ tales don’t always work.”
“Luca and I went on a two-mile walk the day his eggs hatched.”
Tyler’s brow furrowed.
“Somehow, I don’t think that did anything to help the eggs hatch at all. Have you talked with Dr. Quinn? Perhaps another appointment?—”
“He said it was fine to do any physical activity as long as I wasn’t in pain.”
Tyler was quiet for a moment, and then he let out a sigh.
I knew I had won.
He may have wanted me to be patient and let nature take its course, but he wasn’t the one carrying around this beach ball that periodically kicked me in the bladder.
“How about I walk with you?”
“Perfect. You can also finish my tacos, because we both know that I’m only going to eat two bites.”
I managed to have almost a whole taco.
Tyler put the other two in a doggy bag for me, then we made our way down the street.
It was slow.
Almost agonizingly slow.
I took short steps and waddled awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Tyler walked next to me like he was afraid I might tip over at any moment.
We were just outside of the medical center—lucky thing—when the pain hit me.
At first, I thought I’d pissed my pants.
Then when the liquid didn’t stop gushing, I realized my water had broken.
“Tyler!”
“Yes?” He had a hand on my elbow, braced and ready for anything like whatever happened next, he needed to be prepared physically.
And maybe he would need to be.
Maybe he would need to carry me into the clinic.
“My water broke.”
He looked down.
“Holy shit. Wow. Okay. Well. We’re right here, so that’s lucky.”
He was remaining way calmer than I expected.
Meanwhile, I was freaking out.
My breath came in heavy pants and the pressure in my abdomen grew.
“Tyler!” my voice took on a panicked tone, and he swept me into his arms.
“I’ve got you. Let’s get you inside.”
We were already very familiar with the medical center.
Tyler and I had helped to determine what needed to go into it years ago when it was built.
At the time, I didn’t think about the fact that I’d be giving birth here.
Tyler took me directly to the birthing suite.
Dr.
Quinn was already there.
“Ah, fantastic. I was expecting you.”
“You were?” I said.
He nodded.
“After all the jalapenos you ate yesterday? I knew you’d be giving birth soon, so I wanted to be ready.”
I poked Tyler in the ribs.
“See?”
Tyler placed me on the bed.
“His water broke. So far, he’s had one contraction, I don’t know how far apart they are?—”
Just then another one hit me, and I groaned.
I reached for Tyler’s hand.
“Perfect,” Dr.
Quinn said.
“Let’s call Luca. He is going to be assisting me today. Birth takes time, so we will be here for a while. Go ahead and get comfortable, Theo. The birthing gown your mother made for you is already here, and she has some incense she wants us to burn.”
“Wait. What do you mean birth takes time? I want this baby out now. He’s been in there for four months. How much more time does he need?”
Dr.
Quin raised a brow and looked at Tyler.
“Sweetheart. You know that birth can take several hours, right? It’s not instantaneous. We are going to be here all day.” Tyler spoke gently, his words treading carefully like he was approaching a bomb.
“I know that.” I didn’t.
I mean.
I knew it, but I guess I never really thought about it.
In all my fantasies, I’d fast-forwarded to holding my child.
It was several hours later when the cry of my child finally pierced the air.
Luca stood on one side of me.
Throughout the entire process he got more views of me than he ever needed.
Lucky dragons got to lay eggs in the privacy of their own home.
He had things so easy.
Then again, he had three children and I only had the one baby to care for, so perhaps they both had their pros and cons.
Tyler held my hand.
He cut the cord as soon as Dr.
Quinn gave him permission, then he placed our child—our son—into my arms.
“He’s perfect, Theo. All ten fingers and toes.”
“A boy? A boy for sure?” We didn’t care about gender.
I was happy with any child that was mine and Tyler’s.
We’d suspected I was carrying a boy.
Well, my mom suspected.
She had been so sure of it.
I guess she was right.
“Yes. An alpha.”
I held him to my chest and breathed in his scent for the first time.
“A bear,” I said.
“Well, he had to take after you in some way,” Tyler said.
“He’s perfect.”
“He is. Lincoln Tyler.”
The pain from the labor began to subside as my body healed itself.
I moved over and allowed Tyler room to join me and our son on the bed.
“I love you so much, alpha.”
He kissed my temple.
“I love you, Theo.”