Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
“Can I speak to you privately, Raven?”
Gent had taken over walking Iago around the birth center, making laps like a champion power walker. Iago’s water had broken about five minutes after they had gotten to the birth center, and labor had been pretty intense ever since.
Xander wanted to know when this baby was going to come because Iago was in pain, real hardcore pain, and he couldn’t cope. He was going to—he didn’t know what, but he wanted to talk to Raven about it.
Raven gave him a knowing smile. “Sure, let’s just step out in the hallway.”
“Thanks.” They were going to go to the waiting room.
His parents were there. So were Colton, Law, and Mason.
Sebastian had corralled the kids at the hotel.
He had no idea how many other people were on call to help in case they were needed.
Devon was going to be coming in in a few hours if they were still… laboring.
He was going to ask but he waited patiently, that smile firmly in place.
“How much longer is this gonna take? He’s hurting so bad.”
“He’s close, Xander. Honestly. His birth line is open, so he’s ready. I’d say in the next hour or two.”
That was altogether too long.
He needed this over now.
“Is there anything we can do?”
“To make it happen faster?” When he dipped his head, Raven shook his. “I’m sorry, Xander. I know how difficult it is, but he’s doing really well.”
Ugh. “Okay. I’ll go see if he wants to walk with me and give Gent a chance to go get a coffee.” He needed to be the one with his lover. His omega.
“I know this feels like it’s endless. I’m sorry, but he’s proceeding as ex—”
“XANDER! I need you!” Iago’s scream split the air, and he and Raven both took off at a run, finding Iago in Gent’s arms, the head of their baby in Colton’s hands as they tried to get down the hall.
“Uh…help?”
“Here.” Raven pushed them into the closest room and got Iago down on a bed. His blond hair was matted with sweat, and he grunted as he got into position.
“Is it okay to be in here?”
“All the rooms are sterilized daily. No worries. Better than her plopping out on the floor.” Raven beamed at them. “Here she comes.”
“I got that all on tape!” Law called, and Iago snarled.
“Xander, get everyone out of here!”
“Okay, guys.” He barked like a chef yelling at his brigade, and thankfully, Gent herded everyone out of the room.
“It’s just us and Raven, baby. I’ve got you.”
Iago began to cry, holding onto him. “I’m doing this all wrong…”
“Oh love, you’re doing everything right. She’s almost here.” He stroked Iago’s back, rubbing when he sat up. “I love you so much. You’ve worked so hard.”
“He’s right, honey. She’s really on her way. we need to get her shoulders out.” Raven was gloved up and ready to help. “You’re doing great. She’s a good size. You’re lucky she didn’t wait longer.”
“We are?” Tears stained Iago’s cheeks when he looked up.
“Yeah. It could have caused blood pressure issues. And blood sugar ones. Come on, baby girl. One more push, Iago.”
Xander held Iago as he grunted and cried out and strained. He wanted to kill something. He wanted to go cook a huge meal and chop ten million onions. But Iago was so beautiful it hurt.
“All right, Iago. Breathe. One more push and it will be over.”
“Promise.” Iago stared into Xander’s eyes. “Promise me?”
“I promise. One more. We just need to get her here. And then she’ll be with us and you can rest.”
“Okay.” Iago panted, his body tensing up. And when Raven said, “Push,” he did. And Xander talked him through it, encouraging, holding him, wishing he could take it on himself.
“I swear to you. It’s almost over.”
There was a hard push, and then a harsh scream that preceded an angry little cry, Diana making her entry into the world known.
“Oh.” Iago slumped back against him. “Oh, wow.”
“Okay, Xander. I’m going to need a hand. Let’s let Iago rest for a moment, and we’ll get Diana good to go. Then we’ll get you all cleaned up, Iago, and you can crash.”
“What do I do?” He stared at Diana, just as stunned as if someone had hit him on the head. She was red and wet and furious at the world, screaming like she was being murdered.
“Wow. Look at her hair.” Iago was chuckling.
Xander looked close, and sure enough, she had a bright tuft of red hair. “Holy crap. Mom will be so tickled.”
“Uh-huh. Will you snuggle her, please?” Iago sounded a little peeved. “Raven needs his hands back.”
“I will.” He got to cut the cord, and as soon as she was cleaned and inspected, Raven swaddled her, and Xander took her in his arms. Thankfully, he’d had plenty of practice with Sebastian’s two kids, and he knew how to support a baby this wee.
“Iago. She’s beautiful. You did so well.”
“I love you. Let me kiss her, and then you can take her out to see everyone.” Iago was drooping, and he wasn’t even in the right room.
“Okay, baby. Here she is.” He put her on Iago’s chest, which was bare right now as Raven worked with him. He held her, just in case, but that way she could feel and smell her dad.
Iago stroked her cheek, and her lips pursed as she searched for food.
“She has her priorities right,” Xander said.
Iago nodded, but the movement was slow. He looked at Raven, feeling panicky, but Raven was smiling, not at all worried.
“Go on and take her out. And then get the guys to move all the blankets and pillows and Iago’s bag from the other room, hmm?”
“Sure. Okay. Are you fine with that, baby?”
“Just really tired, so yeah.”
“Sure. Sure, can I feed her?”
“Let me weigh and everything — give me a few minutes with Iago.”
“Of course. Come on, baby girl. Let’s go see all your uncles and your Grandma and Grandpa.” He took her out, even though he had to force his feet to move. He wanted to stay with Iago. But his daughter was a miracle, and he wanted to show her off.
“Oh, Alexander!” Mom began to sob, and Dad and Gent were taking pictures. Law was filming, and Mason just stood there, lips parted.
So he took her to Mason first. “Here she is, man.”
“I—wow.” Mason touched her cheek so carefully. “She’s stunning.”
“Thanks.” He beamed at the guy, because now they saw eye to eye. He moved on to his folks, laughing when his dad immediately started making faces at her.
Colton beamed at her. “She looks way nicer this way, Dad,” he teased.
“Yeah. I bet Iago thinks so too.” He stared at her, just overwhelmed.
“You did an amazing job, son.” Dad’s hand came up, supporting him and Diana both.
“Iago did all the heavy lifting. I’m worried about him.”
“Oh, he’ll be blown out for a few days.” Colton clapped him super-gently on the shoulder. “If Raven had an issue, he would have told you.”
“Oh. Someone needs to get all his pillows and blankets and bag and stuff from his other room.”
“On it!” Mason fled, with Law right behind.
Colton started chuckling. “They’re desperate to see him.”
“I know. So am I, truth be told, but they both told me to get my ass out of the room.”
Colton chuckled. “Trust me. You don’t want to be in there for this part.”
He blinked at Colton. “I believe you.” The man had been through it once. Not with Abby, but Xander did remember Bastian kicking them all out, too.
“He’s right, son. Just let him get comfortable, and then you can go in and sit with them while they both sleep. It might be the last time you all rest for a bit.” Dad was such a help.
Mom snorted. “She’s going to need a bottle. I’ll start making one up so she can have it as soon as Raven is done weighing her.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She was such a godsend. They all were, all their friends and family. “Thank you to all of you. I know this is hard on Christmas.”
“Nowhere else I would rather be,” Gent told him, cooing at Diana.
“Nope. Us either. The holidays are for family.”
Tears stung his eyes, and Xander figured he must be exhausted. He was too mean to cry.
“Okay, Xan. They’re ready for you.” Law and Mason came back into the waiting room, both grinning wide. “Raven needs to see the baby.”
Iago was dozing, Christmas carols playing softly. So, he kept it quiet, tiptoeing in to hand over the baby. Raven winked and jerked his head toward Iago, so Xander moved to settle in the chair at his side.
Soon he had his little girl in his arms again, and he was feeding her.
Iago rolled his head to face them, one eye opening. “She’s okay?”
“She’s perfect baby.”
“You okay?”
“I am now. Sleep, Iago. I’ll watch over you both.”
“I love you.” And then Iago was asleep again.
“Happy birthday, baby girl,” he whispered. “You’re the best birthday present I’ve ever had.” Since the twenty-sixth was his birthday too.
Maybe at some point today, there would be cake, too.
He was the luckiest asshole on earth.