Epilogue 2
Ilya
I hated this. I hated this with every fiber of my being because I hated seeing her in so much pain. Her face was red and sweaty, her hair matted around her.
And the noises she made, like the pain was ripping her apart, were enough to send bile up my throat.
It looked and sounded like this was killing her, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to help her. There wasn’t even time for drugs that would have dulled the pain. Her labor was progressing much too quickly.
"Ilya," she panted, her sweat-slick hand gripped tightly around mine. "Ilya, I’m scared."
I was as well. In fact, I was terrified. All I kept thinking about was what happened last time—how they had wheeled her away from me, and I hadn’t seen her again in six years.
She’d come back from the dead once before; if they tore her away from me again, I knew it would be for good.
Swallowing down the nausea, I smoothed my hand across her sweaty forehead.
"It’s okay, baby," I murmured to her.
"I can’t do this." Wildly, her eyes swung everywhere, and I wasn’t even sure she was seeing or hearing me anymore. She was too deep into the pain.
My hand tightened around hers. "Yes, you can."
From the foot of the bed, the midwife straightened. "It’s time. This baby wants out to meet their mom and papa."
The panic I had been feeling surged to the surface. "No," I almost yelled. "No, you are not taking her down, you are not—"
For a second, the midwife looked confused, and with good reason, because I was acting like a crazy man.
"You’re not taking my wife anywhere without me," I said in a more even voice.
"I am not taking your wife anywhere, Mr. Popovitch. She’s going to have her baby right here. It’s time."
I threw a glance at my wife’s ashen face. "Hear that, baby? It’s time." Bending over her, I peppered her face with kisses.
"I don’t know if I can do this," she whispered.
"You can, Daisy. You are the strongest person I know."
A heartbeat passed as she stared at me, and then she nodded her head just once, sharply. Her face was determined as she tucked her chin into her chest and pushed.
I watched in awe as she pushed our child into the world, amazed by how strong she was.
Everyone always thought it was the man who had the strength, but I knew better. There was no one stronger or braver than my beautiful wife.
I lost track of time, coaxing her through it, holding her hand, feeling useless and powerless and all the things I hated to be. To be honest, once this baby is born, I don’t want her to have any more children. I’m truly terrified that something might happen to her.
"One more—" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the midwife nod and knew I was saying the right thing. "One more push, baby, that’s all."
Still holding Daisy's hand, I watched as my child crowned and then was delivered fully.
Daisy fell back, panting and completely spent, onto the pillows.
"You did so good." I lathered her sweaty face with kisses. "So good, so—"
A loud, piercing wail went up, and both of our eyes turned to the squirming bundle.
"Congratulations," the midwife beamed at us, handing the thrashing pink bundle into Daisy's waiting arms. "You have a healthy daughter."
My mouth went dry. "A daughter?" I whispered, unable to tear my eyes away from them.
"Yes, Mr. Popovitch, a beautiful baby girl." With a grin, she went back to business.
"Say something?" Daisy's voice shook.
I wanted to. I wanted to tell her everything I was feeling, but I couldn’t get the words out. They were locked inside my chest.
"Please, Ilya," she begged. "Please say you aren’t disappointed."
Her words snapped me back to reality. Gathering them both up into my arms, I pressed kisses on both of their foreheads even as tears ran down my cheeks silently.
"Disappointed?" I grumbled, and kissed her again. "Why would I ever be disappointed?"
"Because I—"
I silenced her with my lips. "You have given me everything I have ever dreamed of, Daisy. I love our son, I love our daughter. It feels like my heart is going to explode. I am so happy."
Tenderly, she reached up and wiped my tears away with her thumb.
"You have given me the family I never dared dream of, Daisy," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. Only this time, I didn’t bother to try and hide it.
What would be the point? It was written all over my face.
"And I love them all." Another brush of my lips against hers. "But I love you most of all, Daisy, and I always will."