Chapter 32
That was so amazing to watch, I’m in some serious damn pain but I wasn’t missing that for anything. I love Betty Mae and her sassy side. I’m currently just being pushed into the delivery suite and ready to push these babies out.
“Oooowwwww,” I groan out in this low deep voice.
Alexander takes my hand, his other gently brushing back hair from my forehead and kisses me.
“I’m so proud of you, Angel. You’re so strong,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. Amidst the waves of pain, I manage a weak smile, squeezing his hand with whatever strength I can muster, because it feels like I’m about to give birth to a bowling ball.
“Doccc, pain relief?” I question.
“Let me take a look and see how far you’re dilated.”
Doc’s head disappears under the sheet that has been set up over my legs for privacy and I hope I’m ready but really would like some pain relief.
“It’s too late for any pain relief now, Lily, you’re fully dilated,” Doc explains gently, meeting my eyes with a sympathetic hazel gaze. “But I’m right here with you, and you’re doing everything right.”
I groan long and hard because this is going to be really freakin’ painful and if I’m honest, I’m scared to death.
Alexander nods, trying to keep his emotions in check, focusing on being here for me. “We’re right here with you, Angel, every step of the way. It won’t be long until we meet our babies.”
I nod, focusing on my breathing, the room filled with the sounds of encouragement and supportive whispers. Alexander and Doc exchange a glance, both sets of eyes reflecting a mix of awe and empathy, united in their role to these babies safely into this world. Betty, barrels through the door with her signature ‘Move out of my way’ attitude and it makes me giggle. Betty is both ferocious and comforting, she comes to stands beside me, confidently ready to guide me through each contraction. Her face animated as she begins coaching me, blending humor with her directions, which brings unexpected bursts of laughter from me even amidst the intensity of these awful labor pains.
“Alright, Cupcake, when the next one comes, you show it who’s boss! These twins have no idea of their mommy’s strength,” Betty exclaims, throwing mock punches into the air, mimicking a boxer gearing up for the big fight. Her spirited demeanor is a welcome distraction and a burst of laughter fills the room.
I’m catching my breath between contractions and start chuckling and shaking my head. “Betty, how do you make pushing out twins sound like a pep rally?” I manage to joke, a wry smile playing on my lips even as another contraction builds.
“Because it is, Cupcake! This is the championship round, and you’re the star player!” Betty replies, clapping her hands enthusiastically like a damn cheerleader. “Now, deep breath, and let’s knock this out of the park!”
Her words seem to infuse me with strength, and even Alexander can’t help but laugh, grateful for Betty’s unique ability to lighten the mood. Her vivid personality adds a layer of strength to the room, making the hard moments a little easier and the painful ones more bearable. As I focus again, pushing with all my might, Betty stays close, ready with more encouraging shouts and lively banter, keeping the energy in the room positive and empowered. It’s this spirited support that helps me find humor and resilience, creating a balance of laughter and determination that helps guide me through this God awful pain.
“Angel, you got this, you teach our kids who’s boss,” Alexander joins in hyping me up.
As another contraction grips me tight, the door bursts open and Alexa comes flying in. Her small feet patter across the floor as she climbs onto the bed next to her me, her eyes wide with a mix of concern and excitement.
“Mommy, you gots to breathe, like this,” Alexa demonstrates with exaggerated deep breaths, her small chest rising and falling dramatically. Her innocent encouragement brings a smile to my face despite the pain.
“And boys,” Alexa continues, turning her attention to my belly with a stern little frown, “you bettaw be nice to Mommy!”
Her serious tone and the earnestness in her voice cause a ripple of laughter around the room, lightening the mood even more. Alexander squeezes my hand, both of us warmed by Alexa’s loving concern.
Betty chuckles from her side of the bed, nodding at Alexa in agreement. “That’s right, you tell them, Darlin’. We all need to be nice to Mommy, especially those little bugs!”
Doc smiles too at the scene playing out and shakes his head, Alexa stays close to me, patting her little hand on my tight belly and occasionally leans in, whispering that she is their big sister and that they have to be nice and not hurt their mommy.
I take a moment to hug Alexa, drawing strength from her beautiful little heart. “Thank you, little love, Mommy is trying very hard, and it helps having you keep the bugs in line,” I whisper back, the room filled with a new layer of love and support.
Just as another fierce contraction hits, the delivery room door swings open and the entire team bursts in, eager and anxious, each member talking over the other in a cacophony of concern and excitement but haven’t taken in the scene around them fully.
“What the fuck, get the hell out of here!” Alexander booms because the boys have not noticed the intensity of the moment they’ve walked into mid contraction, until I let out a deep, feral groan that echoes powerfully across the room. Startled by the raw power of my voice, the boys, my brothers and Dad react almost instantly. Their eyes widen, and without a word, they comically backtrack, stumbling over each other in their haste to exit the room.
“Too much, too much!” Cuddy mumbles, while Dad just shakes his head, muttering, “I think we’ll just wait outside...”
Betty, ever the pillar of support, can’t help but chuckle as she watches them file out. “You lot are weak,” Betty yells after them. “Looks like it’s just us girls. We’ve got this covered, right ladies?”
“Definitely better off without them right now,” I manage through labored breaths.
“Hooyah!” Doc, Alexander Betty and Alexa boom.
Their rapid departure sends ripples of laughter through the remaining staff, I see Dr. Sarah, chuckling as she is getting the incubators ready on the opposite side of the room. Alexa is still by my side and giggles at the sight of all the men fleeing the scene.
“Now that was funny, Mommy, can I stay? I’d weally like to be heaw faw you and see my bwothaws.” Alexa asks stroking my freckled heart, her green eyes full of love.
“If you want to stay you can, but stay up this end with me okay, sweet girl.” I say giving her a small smile.
“Okay, we got this!” She encourages.
“Chief you might want to come down the business end and leave the girls to it. Baby A is crowning.” Doc instructs Alexander.
I bear down this time and frighten myself with the sounds I’m producing, how my little love wants to stay is beyond me, but I know she’s a smart girl and knows what is going on.
“Now, Lily, you need to push, through your butt and hold for a count of ten.” Doc instructs.
The pain is searing as I feel the stretch burning me, oowww, shit!
“That’s it,” Doc encourages.
Holy shit, the pressure is beyond anything I’ve ever felt, I lock eyes with Alexander and his are pained with concern but I see his love shining bright.
“That’s good, Mommy, now bweathe, in thwough youw nose and out yaw mouth,” Alexa coaxes.
“You’re doing so well, Angel, I love you.” Alexander says as he strokes my shin.
“Doc, what’s happennnninnnggg”
Another contraction rolls in straight after the last with no breaks and omg-oossshhhh, shit, fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Baby A’s head is out just try to breathe through the next contraction,”
“Look at me Elizabeth, you focus on my eyes, now deep breaths in and out slowly, you’re gonna want to push but you can’t right now, let doc work his magic, you focus on me and breathe.” Betty implores, somethings wrong, I can feel it.
“W-why can’t I-I p-push,” I grind out through clenched teeth.
“Baby B is trying to beat baby A out of the... womb, Lily, please just breathe”
I close my eyes and zone out and concentrate on my breathing, as Doc does whatever he needs to do, I feel, my families touch, Alexander gripping my leg, Betty wiping my forehead with a damp cloth and Alexa sliding her little finger over my freckled heart. The babies have been competing right the way through my pregnancy and I’m definitely convinced they’re boys.
“Okay, you can bear down Lily, give it everything you’ve got!” Doc bellows.
And I do, I push for all my worth and it feels like I’m about to tear in two and then I feel a wiggly sensation as my tummy feels like it follows through.
“Angel, we have boys,” I open my eyes to find Alexander’s green eyes sparkling with unshed tears and a look of awe on his handsome face.
“I knew these bugs wewe boys,” Alexa says with tears and a massive smile on her face.
There’s no cry, oh, no, “Alexxxanderrrrr why is he not crying? Doc?”
“Just suctioning goo out of his lungs, he’ll be rig–”
Doc’s words are cut off with the sound of my baby boy’s first cry. Alexander comes up the head end to kiss my forehead.
“You did good Mommy, I’m so, so pwoud of you, you’ve got this. One maw, and you can west.” Alexa whispers.
I nod, but I want to see my baby, to know that he’s okay, “Can I see him?”
“Lily, we have to get baby B out he’s being impatient, you need to push on the next wave.” Doc yells above my first son’s cries as Alexander kisses my forehead then he’s back down the business end, holding my leg for support, not sure if it’s more for me or for him at this point.
“Come on, Cupcake, you’ve got this baby girl, I know you’re tired but another couple of pushes and you’ll have your boys in your arms.” Betty says assertively in my ear.
“Weady, Mommy, let’s push.” Alexa beams at me.
And on the next roll of the contraction I bear down again with determination, it hurts so bad, it’s the burn that’s the worst, the ring of burning feels like my nether regions are being scorched by the sun, Owwwwww, fuck, fuck, fuckkkkkkkk.
“Alexxxannddeerrr, no more I swear to allllll thaaatt’s, ahhhhhhhhh dear Godddddd.”
I hear the scream as my second son is expelled from me fast, and again it feels like my insides are falling out, it’s a weird frightening feeling. Baby B doesn’t sound happy to be coming out second best, and amongst all the pain and icky going on downstairs I let out a laugh.
“You, okay, Angel,” Alexander comes to me with the babies firmly in his arms and I see my boys for the very first time.
“They’re beautiful,” I whisper to Alexander.
“They are, my love, they look just like their Mommy, but with my coloring,” Alexander says proudly.
My boys have a light dusting of black hair just like their daddy and sister and the cutest button noses, they’re small but so, so, perfect, “What do they weigh?” I ask as I look to Alexa who is crying happy tears and then to Betty and so is she.
“Dr. Sarah, comes over as Doc is tending to my nether regions, “Baby A was born at 7:07pm weighing 4lb 6oz. Baby B was born at 7:11pm weighing 4lb 7oz. Both are healthy and scored well on their Apgar testing, they will need the heat of the incubator after you’ve had a cuddle but I don’t think they’ll be in there for long. Congratulations, Lily, and congratulations, Alexa, you did so well helping your Mommy, now you’re going to have to keep these brothers in line kiddo.” Dr. Sarah smiles happily.
“Oh, I’s will, we alweady have wowds and I will help my mommy wangle them.” Alexa in big sister mode is so stinkin’ cute.
“You did real good, Angel, I’m so freakin’ proud of you, today you became my wife and birthed our babies, I love you, Angel, mine.”
He lowers our babies and lays one in the crook of each arm. Alexa is sitting at my hip smiling and crying and so happy it’s such a special moment that we shared this together as a family, never would I thought to have Alexa in here for the birth, but I’m happy she was she has been by my side from the very start.
I step out into the waiting room and notice the boys pacing like caged lions outside the door, and the rest of the family comes rushing up the corridor.
“Mommy and babies are doing great,” I say with a proud grin, making these men sweat just a little longer for bursting into the delivery room.
“Boys or girls?” My Mom says with impatience.
“Sorry, Mom, just wanted to make these idiots wait a little longer,” I say gesturing to the team.
“I’ve already beat their asses down, Son, now tell me what my grandbabies are or I’ll do the same to you!” Mom says using her Mom voice and I chuckle.
“We welcomed healthy happy boys.”
“HOOYAH!” Booms through the corridor.
I smile proudly, “Mom’s and Dad’s come with me. The rest of you lot can wait here until Lily is sitting up and decent.”
“Chief, so, sorry man, we were thinking it was her hospital room not the actual ‘Oh, shit room’.” Blake says.
Everyone laughs at his phrase. It’s fitting really and I have to chuckle, “Just find our angel a cup of hot tea in a real teacup and saucer and all will be forgiven. Can you boys handle that.
“Hooyah!”
Our parents have all gushed and cooed over our boys and Alexa for being so brave and helping her mommy. And now it’s time to tell them the boys names, I perch my ass on the edge of the bed and wrap my arm around the top of Lily’s head.
“Do you want to tell them the names we picked, my beautiful wife.” I whisper as I kiss her forehead.
She smiles up at me radiating happiness, “You can, Handsome, you look so proud.”
“Okay, my beautiful wife.”
“So, baby A, was born first and we have decided we want to honor our family who have passed, we introduce you to Andrew Dennis Harrington. Andrew in memory of my brother and Lily’s father, and his middle name for you Dad, you have always been the backbone of our family and an amazing father, I hope I can be half the man you are, for my wife and children.”
I hear the choked sobs from our mom’s but I continue, “And introducing baby B, Xander John Harrington, who fought his way to try and beat his older brother out of the exit point, quite literally, his right arm was punching alongside his brothers head as Andrew was trying to exit.” Everyone laughs, because it’s been a long running bet on who is in first place and who will enter the world first. “Named after me which my beautiful wife requested and you Commander, you have taken Lily on as your own, and have always been like a second father to me throughout my career, and we wanted to honor you. We love you all.
“I need to cut in, Son,” Davies is serious, “We have unfinished business, you signed the certificate, yes, but you didn’t get to say; I, do. Or exchange the rings.”
We all laugh because none of our day went to plan, but it absolutely perfect for us. We do things at warp speed and that’ll never change.
“I’ll go round the boys and girls and we’ll get this show back on the road.” Betty announces as she powers out of the room.
The whole familyis in the suite the women to Lily’s side and men on my side in our wedding party with Alexa and Eve standing either side of Commander at the foot of the bed.
My angel holding Xander and I have Andrew firmly in my arms.
“Do you, Alexander James Harrington, take Elizabeth Anne Harrington to be your beloved wife?”
“I do.” I say proudly.
“Do you, Elizabeth Anne Harrington take Alexander James Harrington to be your beloved husband?” Lily smiles radiantly at me and chuckles, “Hooyah.”
The whole room explodes with a resounding, ‘Hooyah.”
My wife making me the proudest man alive has come a long way since she first ever heard our battle cry, to now be using it herself is freakin’ awesome.
“Heaw Mommy, this is Daddy’s wing,” Alexa says kissing it before handing it to Lily.
“Heaw Daddy, Mommy’s wings, you needs both now, Auntie Lottie gave me the othaw one.” Alexa says kissing Lily’s rings and handing them to me.
I look to Charlotte and smile wide, “Is that what you’ve been doing? I wondered where the hell you were,” I question.
Charlotte laughs, “Yeah well I didn’t think the babies would be out that quick, I ducked back to the apartment and grabbed the other ring.”
“Thank you, Charlotte, I appreciate it.”
“Thank you, Lottie, sorry you missed the birth.” Lily whispers with tears flowing.
“Manhattan traffic is a bitch Lils, I’m just glad the bugs are out and everyone is safe and healthy. I love you Lils with every inch of my heart.”
“I love you to Lottie, forever more.”
I gently slide my wife’s engagement ring and slide her wedding band onto her ring finger and kiss her ring, then slide her engagement ring back on and follow it with her eternity ring. And kiss her rings as a whole.
Lily takes my left hand and slides my wedding band onto my ring finger and kisses it firmly in place.
“I love the angel wings, handsome.” Lily whispers looking at both our rings.
“I can’t take credit for that, my love, that was all Mrs. Kim, she really is brilliant at what she does, but they are perfect for us. I love you, Angel, mine.”
“They are perfect for us my amazing husband. I love you, Handsome.”
I stare into my wife’s beautiful blue eyes, and see peace, love and happiness shining brightly and I will cherish my angel, for all of my days. What Lily has brought into mine and Alexa’s lives is such profound love and I’m grateful that I have found my one, my forever love.
Angel, mine.
The End