Chapter 32 #3
"Tell that to them." I gesture at my belly. "The doctor said twins often come early. Remember?"
"Right. Yes. Early." He's nodding but not moving, just standing there frozen in the doorway.
"Maksim." I grip the bed as another contraction rolls through me. "I need you to not panic right now."
"I'm not panicking." His voice is an octave higher than normal. "I'm completely calm. Totally calm. This is me being calm."
"You're panicking."
"Maybe a little." He runs his hands through his hair, making it stand up in all directions. "Okay. Hospital. We need to get you to the hospital. Where's your bag? Did you pack a bag?"
"Closet. By the door."
He rushes to the closet, grabs the hospital bag we packed weeks ago, then rushes back. "Got it. What else? What do you need?"
"Help me up." I extend my hand. "And maybe some pants that aren't soaked."
"Right. Pants. You need pants." He's moving around the room like a tornado, opening drawers at random. "Where are your pants?"
"Second drawer. Maksim, breathe."
"I'm breathing." He pulls out a pair of loose sweatpants. "Here. Can you put these on? Should I help? I'll help."
He helps me change, his hands shaking the entire time. Another contraction hits halfway through, and I have to grip his shoulder until it passes.
"How far apart are they?" he asks.
"I don't know. Five minutes? Maybe less?" Everything is happening so fast. "We need to go. Now."
"Going. We're going." He helps me stand, supporting most of my weight. "Car is downstairs. We can make it to the hospital in fifteen minutes. Maybe ten if I speed."
"Don't speed. The last thing we need is to get pulled over."
"Right. No speeding. Reasonable speeds only." He's practically carrying me down the hall. "Should I call ahead? Tell them we're coming?"
"Yes. Call them."
He fumbles for his phone with one hand while supporting me with the other. I hear him speaking rapidly to someone at the hospital, giving them our information.
"You're doing great," Maksim says, though he looks like he might pass out. "Really great. Just breathe."
"I am breathing."
"Good. That's good. Keep doing that."
Semyon is just pulling up to the compound.
"She's in labor," Maksim announces unnecessarily.
"I can see that." Semyon opens the car door. "I'll drive. You stay with her."
"No, I can—"
"You're shaking like a leaf. Get in the back." Semyon's voice brooks no argument.
Maksim helps me into the backseat, then climbs in beside me. I grip his hand as Semyon races down the driveway.
"Breathe," Maksim reminds me. "You're doing amazing. So strong. I love you."
Another contraction hits harder than before. I squeeze his hand so tightly I hear his bones creak.
"Fuck," I gasp when it passes. "That hurt."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He looks genuinely distressed, like he's the one in pain. "We're almost there. Just hold on."
“Call Anya.”
“I will,” he says.
Semyon pulls up to the emergency entrance, and suddenly there are people everywhere. Nurses with a wheelchair.
"How far apart are the contractions?" the doctor asks as they help me into the wheelchair.
"Three minutes. Maybe less."
"Let's get you upstairs."
Everything becomes a blur. Elevators. Hallways. A delivery room with too many bright lights. People helping me into a hospital gown while asking questions I barely process.
"How long has she been in labor?"
"Maybe forty minutes?" Maksim looks at his watch. "I don't know. Everything happened so fast."
"That's normal with multiples." The doctor is checking monitors, examining me. "You're already at seven centimeters. These babies are in a hurry."
"Is that bad?" Maksim hovers beside the bed, still holding my hand.
"It's fine. Fast, but fine. First babies usually take longer, but twins often have their own timeline."
Another contraction slams into me. I arch off the bed, gripping Maksim's hand.
"You're doing so well," he murmurs. "So strong. I'm right here. Not going anywhere."
"You better not," I grit out. "You did this to me."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm terrible. The worst." He's babbling now, clearly terrified. "But you're amazing. Our babies are going to be so lucky to have you as their mother."
"Let's have some babies,” the doctor announces.
"Already?" Maksim looks panicked. "But we just got here."
"Sometimes it happens fast.”
"Okay, Kira," the doctor says. "On the next contraction, I need you to push."
I nod, gathering what strength I have left. The contraction builds, and I push.
"Good! That's perfect. Again."
I push again. And again. Maksim's voice in my ear telling me I can do this is exactly what I need.
"I can see the head!" the doctor announces. "One more big push."
I bear down with everything I have. There's a moment of intense pressure, then sudden relief as the first baby enters the world.
"It's a boy!" The doctor holds him up, and I hear the most beautiful sound—my son crying.
Tears stream down my face. "He's perfect."
"He's amazing," Maksim breathes, staring at our baby in wonder.
"Okay, Kira, let's get baby number two out. You ready?"
I nod, exhausted but determined. Two more pushes, and our second son makes his entrance, crying just as loudly as his brother.
"Two healthy boys," the doctor announces. "Congratulations."
They clean the babies and wrap them in blankets, then place them both in my arms. I stare down at their tiny faces, their perfect features, and feel my heart expand in ways I didn't know were possible.
"We made these," I whisper.
"You made these." Maksim touches one tiny hand, his expression full of awe. "I just helped a little."
"More than a little." I look up at him and see tears streaming down his face. "You okay?"
"I'm perfect." He kisses my forehead. "They're perfect. Everything is perfect."
"Welcome to the world, boys," I whisper to them. "Your father and I are going to make sure it's a better place for you. We promise."
The End