CHAPTER 21 #2
After about an hour and a half, one of the nurses comes bustling back into the room and looks at the machine monitoring Avery’s contractions.
When she makes a clicking sound with her tongue, I narrow my eyes at the woman who is old enough to be my mom.
She kind of gives off the same vibe which has me instantly on alert.
Thinking of moms, Avery’s mom reached out once since the take down of Page and Prescott, but my woman put her in her place.
I was amazed at the way Avery told her to fuck off without actually using those words.
The woman is on her own now and even though guilt tried to worm its way into Avery’s heart, she’s made her peace with it.
Her mom doesn’t deserve help or support, considering she never found it important to provide the same for her daughter.
I’m so damn proud of my woman I could burst.
“I saw that you’re not planning to get an epidural,” the nurse’s voice is filled with condescending judgement, and it pulls me out of my thoughts and makes me focus completely on the woman. Her lip is pulled back slightly, and she looks at Avery patronizingly.
“Yes,” Avery begins and then sucks in a sharp breath and presses her hand to her belly.
I brush hair away from her sweaty forehead before leaning over and pressing a kiss there. She’s so damn brave. I didn’t realize I could fall deeper in love with her, but here I am.
The woman tsks and shakes her head like Avery is being ridiculous. “There’s no shame in getting an epidural,” the nurse points out.
Avery’s eyes narrow, but she doesn’t say anything because she’s too busy breathing through the contraction. They’re much closer together now and I can tell by the way she’s breathing that they’re getting stronger.
Excitement and fear are battling it out in my chest. I can’t wait to meet our daughter, but I don’t want Avery to be in pain.
That sure as fuck doesn’t mean I’m going to suggest something which goes against her birth plan.
We’ve already had those conversations. The fierce look on her face as she told me, “I want to try it natural. If I can’t do it, I’ll tell you, but if I need you to advocate for me about the epidural, then I need you to step up and have my back. Can you do that?”
I promised her I could, and I will. I won’t let my woman down, not while her body is preparing to deliver our daughter after all these weeks.
Even with my hand clutched in Avery’s like it’s her lifeline, I stand up and glare at the nurse. She notices but just rolls her eyes.
Then she proves to not be very bright when she motions toward Avery, “You should talk to her. This baby is going to be born with an epidural or not. She’s not winning any awards for doing it without the drugs.”
Fuck me, am I going to have to make a call and get this nurse fired?
It’s very tempting and I know how much SO has donated to this hospital.
“Back off,” I bark and the smug expression on her face, like she’s the end all and be all of labor and delivery, evaporates.
“My woman is going to deliver this baby without an epidural because it is what she wants to do. She is more than capable of doing it because she’s the strongest and bravest woman I know.
You say there’s no award for her doing it without the drugs?
Well, I think that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
The award is her being completely present for the birth of our daughter and feeling it all, every glorious, and painful second.
Because that is what love and sacrifice is all about.
You can’t have the good without the bad, you can’t have the bliss without the pain.
Avery knows that and she’s putting it into practice for our little heart. ”
“Well,” the woman sputters and I shake my head.
I point to the door and snarl, “Get out.”
She practically runs from the room, and I turn toward Avery who is looking at me with tears in her eyes.
I sit back down next to her and lean over her to press my forehead against hers.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t understand before and argued about it.
I get it now and if that nurse tries to come in here again then I’m calling Cole to get her ass fired. ”
Avery barks out a laugh and shakes her head. “Thank you, Papa Bear, but you don’t have to get her fired.” I grumble and she cups my jaw and tips her head back so her lips brush against mine. All thoughts of the nurse evaporate. “Thank you for standing up for me,” she whispers against my lips.
“I’ve got your back, Sweetheart.” I rub a hand over her belly. “You and little heart. Always.”
“I know,” she hums.
After that everything starts to move a lot fucking faster than I thought it would. It’s only a few hours later when I’m holding our daughter in my arms with tears in my eyes, ones I know are falling without any shame.
I thought I was in awe of my woman for growing our daughter, but after watching her give birth when I felt fucking helpless? I know she’s a goddess sent down to mingle with us mere mortals.
Avery hums as she watches me with our daughter.
“Freya Aviva Madison,” she whispers. I look up at her and all I can do is nod.
“Freya to honor the Norse god of love and war because life is both when you’re doing it right, and Aviva because she is the fresh start for both of us when it comes to having a family all our own. ”
“It’s perfect,” I rasp, my voice hoarse.
I gently hand our daughter over to Avery and watch in awe as our daughter nurses. Watching them bond makes me fall deeper in love with my woman.
When I reach for Avery’s hand and slip a ring on her finger, she doesn’t notice at first. But when she does, she looks up at me with wide eyes.
“I love you, Sweetheart. You and our little heart give me peace and a home. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
One word spoken through tears. It seems so small, but it’s not.
It’s everything.
Just like her. My heart. The mother of my daughter. The woman I will love until my last breath and then, hopefully, in every lifetime until the stars cool and the wild is tamed.