Chapter 45
The common room was usually loud and full of life, but today it was quiet – all the men were locked away in the back room for an important meeting. That left just us women out front.
Rose was sat on the edge of the big sofa, looking worn out.
Her bump was huge now, and she’d been shifting and sighing all morning, too uncomfortable to settle anywhere for long.
Ivy sat close by, resting her own bump comfortably beneath her sweater, rubbing her own back sympathetically every time Rose shifted.
She had been doing a lot better these past two months since finding out the good news of twins.
“You need to lie down,” I told Rose gently from the chair opposite, leaning forward. “You’ve been on your feet all day, and Dr Cole said to take it easy.”
“I just want to stretch my legs,” she huffed, and forced herself to stand up.
The second her weight settled on the floor, everything shifted.
She froze, colour draining right out of her face. A sharp cry tore out of her, raw and loud enough to make the windows rattle. Her legs buckled, and I was across the room in two strides just in time to catch her before she hit the ground, wrapping my arms tight around her shoulders.
Her waters had broken. It had started, way too soon. She wasn’t even a full eight months yet. My stomach dipped for a second – earlier than planned – but then that steady part of me kicked right in. This was exactly what I was here for.
“Butterfly, run and get them!” I called out loud and clear. “Now!”
She bolted down the hall like lightning.
I lowered Rose slow back onto the sofa, slipping a cushion behind her back and holding both her hands tight. “I’ve got you Rose, you’re alright. Just breathe with me, nice and steady,” I murmured, guiding her through what I’d learned, rubbing her back in long calm strokes.
Back in the meeting room, the heavy thud of the lock being undone echoed through the whole building. Then Rose’s cry cut through the door like a knife.
Pres was out of his chair before the door was even fully open, looking like he’d been carved from stone one second and ready to tear the world apart the next.
Rage was right there at his shoulder too, face twisted in pure rage at seeing her hurt, his eyes locking straight onto mine for one sharp second before landing on Rose.
All the other brothers were right on their heels.
Pres dropped straight to his knees beside us, gathering Rose up into his arms like she was the most precious thing on earth. “Rosie? I’ve got you, baby, I’ve got you. I’m here.”
“It hurts Leo… it hurts so bad,” she gasped, clinging tight to the front of his cut.
He didn’t even stop to think. He lifted her up like she weighed nothing at all and started running down the corridor, the whole crowd of brothers trailing after him. I fell into step right beside them, ready and steady.
They got her straight through to the club’s medical wing. Dr Cole was already waiting, and he nodded straight at me. “Good, you’re here Danika. Step up – help me get her settled. This is exactly how you learn.”
I jumped right in, just like he showed me – adjusting the pillows, handing over warm cloths, holding Rose’s hand through the hardest waves, talking her through every breath.
This was better than any textbook, better than any online lesson – real, kind, steady care when someone needed it most. I have only done the hands on training for after birth, now I was learning the birthing stage.
When Pres had laid her down gentle on the bed, she wouldn’t let go of him, her fingers digging in hard, almost ripping his cut clean open.
He didn’t hesitate for a second. He kicked his boots off, stripped his top away, and climbed right in behind her, skin to skin, pulling her flush against his bare chest. Even when her fingers tangled in his hair and digging into his shoulders, he just held on and whispered soft to her, never once pulling away, never once telling her to ease up.
I passed Dr Cole what he needed, kept water to Rose’s lips when she could take it, and stood right where I was needed most. It was long, it was hard, and Rose fought for every breath like the warrior queen she was.
But she never once had to fight alone. And every minute I was there helping, I knew this was exactly what I was born to do.