Chapter Thirty
Jade
“Mmmm…” I groan as I try to roll over, but it hurts too much. Why does my stomach hurt so much? Why is there an annoying beeping sound so close to my damn head? I will kick Gray's ass if he slept through his alarm again. I reach down to hold my belly. Everything comes flooding back when my hand falls on my stomach and my baby bump isn't there.
“No, no, no.” I shake my head. The beeping in the room gets louder, and I realize my baby is gone. They cut her out of me. They took my baby. Tears stream down my face at the loss. Where is she? Is she ok?
“Hey, baby. Calm down.” I hear a voice, but I’m too distraught. I don't want to calm down. I want to scream, I want to fight my way out of this bed, I want to tear this whole damn city down.
“Clover, baby. You are alright. Please calm down. You're going to hurt yourself, baby.” Gray's voice finally breaks through, and I want to hang on to it. I want to comply, but I’m too broken.
“Our baby. I couldn't protect our baby girl.” I let out a soul-piercing cry.
“No, baby, shhh… it's okay. She's okay, baby. She’s perfect. Absolutely beautiful, just like her mama,” He tells me, and I finally open my eyes to see a smile spread across his face.
“You got to us? You saved us? Where is she?” I ask frantically.
“We found you on the table, baby. They had already cut you open. I had to finish it. I delivered our beautiful baby girl. You weren't doing good, but we got you to the hospital in time. You are both fine. See, she’s sleeping. Right over here,” Gray says, stepping back and showing me a small, clear bassinet holding our sweet baby. I break down in another set of tears at the sight of her.
“She’s perfect. Can I hold her?” I ask through tears.
“Of course, baby. Let me get her a new diaper, and I will get her right to you,” Gray says, heading toward our sweet baby.
“I know we wanted to wait until we meet her to give her a name, but I can’t wait to see what you have in mind,” He whispers as he changes her diapers.
Fuck, I may have just given birth, all of which I don't remember. Well, only the first part. I shudder at that thought. But the sight of my big, strong, tattooed badass changing our sweet baby's diaper. Yeah, that has me rearing to go.
The minute Gray changes her diaper, he picks her up and moves her swiftly but softly to me.
“I know mama is dying to meet you, little bug,” He whispers to her. It melts my heart and makes me fall even deeper in love with him at his rush to get her to me. He knows I’ve been dying to meet her, and he’s trying to make up for the fact I’ve missed so much. Where did this man come from? He places her in my arms, and I immediately lose my ability to breathe.
“She’s absolutely perfect,” I whisper, running a finger down the side of her face. Her skin is so pale and soft; her hair is dark black and covers her whole head. She’s simply… everything.
“So, having any thoughts?” He asks, leaning down and kissing her head before placing one on mine.
“Do you have a name in mind?” I ask, wanting to share this. Her.
“I do. But I want to hear yours first,” He grins at me. I roll my eyes but look down at my baby girl.
“Zara,” I whisper. “Zara Adams.” Gray smiles at that, but I’m still curious about his name. I lift a brow at him, waiting.
“Zara Grace Adams,” He says, smiling. I look down at her again.
“It’s perfect.”
We sit there watching her sleep, unable to get enough of her, until we hear a soft knock on the door. When it opens, Halle’s head pops through, smiling wide. When she sees we are awake, she comes bouncing through arms full of flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, and a bunch of other gifts I can't quite make out.
“I’m sorry, I can just drop this stuff off and head back out to the waiting room with the others,” she whispers, walking over to the couch and dumping her arms onto it. She turns to leave, and I notice Loki standing in the doorway with her. I smile at that, not surprised he wouldn't be too far behind her, especially on a day like today. I look over at Grim, but he's already staring at me with his eyebrow raised in question. I give him a nod to go ahead.
“Please stay, Halle. We would like you and Loki to meet someone,” He says, smiling as she stops abruptly and you can see her body visibly shake in excitement. Oh, she doesn't even know. She makes her way over to the bed, Loki following closely. I gently place Zara in her arms. She takes her, cradling her close. I see the tears well in her eyes, and Loki leans over her shoulder, running his finger down Zara's cheek. He’s smiling softly at her.
“Loki, Halle, we would love for you to meet your goddaughter, Zara Grace Adams,” I say softly. Halle gasps and both their heads shoot up to stare at Gray and me in surprise. I see the happiness in her whole demeanor.
“If you accept, that is,” Gray teases. Halle shakes her head up and down rapidly as she bursts out in tears.
“I would slit your throat for making my woman cry, but I can't have my goddaughter hating me for hurting her daddy.” Loki grins at Gray. I roll my eyes, knowing he might be telling the truth with anyone besides his brothers, but he’s all talk now.
Gray holds me as we watch Loki and Halle hold baby Zara looking at her like she hung the moon. I can’t wait for the day they get to share a moment like this with their own baby. I just know it's going to happen for them. I will give them all the good luck in the world to make it possible. Well, I’ll do my best.
“You did so good, mama. I thought I lost you, but you fought to get back to us. You are the strongest person I know,” Gray whispers.
“I had everything to fight for. Who wouldn't want this crazy, beautiful life?”