Chapter Twelve
“Luke?” Sierra said when Luke grumbled a greeting.
“Baby? Are you ok?” Luke asked, and Sierra heard the panic in his tone, which made her smile. He’d clearly been expecting this phone call.
“That depends,” she replied, gripping the door handle of the Escalade as Cole drove.
“On?”
“Whether or not you’re ready to be a daddy.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Luke’s growl sounded a lot like Cole had just a short while ago when she told him she was pretty sure the baby was coming. “Where are you?”
“Cole is taking me to the hospital,” she answered, gripping the door handle and holding a protective arm across her protruding belly instinctively. “You might want to hurry.”
Sierra wasn’t sure she’d ever been in so much pain in her entire life. She was grateful that Cole was by her side, holding her hand as they rushed to the hospital while she listened to Luke on the other end of the phone. She could tell he was in a panic, and she honestly didn’t want to worry him, but knowing Luke, he wouldn’t listen to her anyway.
“Baby, I’m on my way now. Don’t hang up.” Luke’s desperation was palpable, reverberating through the phone. “How far apart are the contractions?” he asked.
“Three minutes,” she told him calmly.
Cole glanced her way, announcing loudly in hopes that Luke would hear that they were less than that at this point, but she managed to cover the phone as she laughed. She didn’t need Luke having a wreck on his way to the hospital. He sounded as though he were running as it was.
The contractions were actually about two and a half minutes apart, but her water was still intact and she hoped that it would remain that way until they reached the hospital. Cole had calmly called the doctor, informing her of the status of the contractions, and they were told that if they made it to less than three minutes and they were consistent, to go on over to the hospital. Sierra smiled as she remembered how Cole paced the floor, asking her every few seconds whether she was having another one.
She wondered whether it was normal to be scared. Or maybe she was just anxious. Either way, her heart was beating like she’d run a marathon when in actuality, Cole had practically carried her to the car. But, there was a nervous flutter in her tummy to go along with the rapid thump in her chest, so she was pretty sure she was just nervous.
Luke’s voice came back as he yelled at Kane. Sierra only could imagine what the other man was thinking at the moment.
“Baby, are you there?” Luke asked.
“I’m here,” she whispered, gritting her teeth as another contraction took hold. “Please hurry, Luke.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
As it turned out, five minutes were actually more like ten, but Sierra stopped counting as soon as Cole pulled up to the emergency room doors, leaving the truck running as he practically leaped out of the vehicle while it was still in motion. Sierra tried not to laugh, which wasn’t all that difficult with the pain from the last contraction still fresh in her mind.
By the time they made it to labor and delivery, Luke was by their side, sweat dotting his forehead and his beautiful brown-green eyes appearing slightly dazed and confused.
It wasn’t until she was situated in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines that Luke and Cole both finally managed to calm down. Well, that was only partially true. It was after the nurse gave Luke a glare that pretty much told him not to push his luck, or she’d be happy to escort him right out of the room. Not that he would’ve allowed it, but Sierra knew Luke realized his hysteria wasn’t going to benefit any of them.
Ten long, incredibly painful hours later, Sierra was holding their baby girl against her chest.
It no longer mattered that the doctor had opted to get her rest in between checking in with the nurse on her progress, only having shown up twice during the long, drawn out process throughout the night.
All of the pain, both from the contractions and the giant needle they shoved in her back – an epidural they called it – were a thing of the past.
The fact that Luke had turned a not so attractive shade of green there for a few minutes or that Sierra had nearly broken Cole’s fingers during the last push weren’t important anymore.
The perfect tiny body lying against her breast was now the only thing that Sierra could focus on. She was beyond perfect. So tiny, yet she had her daddy’s temper and no qualms about expressing herself, and not at all happy about being extracted from her warm little cocoon.
Cole and Luke were both standing at the head of the bed, one on either side, each leaning over to peer down at their little girl. Sierra was pretty sure her heart wouldn’t be able to expand much more than it was already without bursting.
The next few minutes were a blur of movement, the nurse taking the baby, cleaning her up as the doctor finished the process of taking care of things down south. Cole and Luke both opted to follow the nurse, standing there like two kids in a candy store, eyeing the one thing they’d longed for more than anything.
With heavy lids, Sierra tried to stay awake, but the exhaustion was quickly pulling her under. The last thing she saw right before she gave in to sleep was Luke pulling Cole up next to him, their fingers cautiously linking between them. Sierra’s heart took a major tumble one last time before she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
~~*~~
Cole felt the breath rush from his lungs the instant Luke’s hand made contact with his. The last ten hours had been a complex mix of so many emotions, Cole wasn’t sure which way was up at the moment. Having Luke by his side suddenly helped ease some of the weight that had been steadily growing heavier on his chest for the last few hours. That and the fact that their baby girl was just as perfect as he imagined she would be and according to what he could tell, based on the reactions from the doctor and nurses, healthy as well.
He and Luke silently stood side by side, watching as the nurse handled the baby like she’d done it a million times, using random instruments to check her, suction her nose and mouth, as well as clean her. In truth, Cole wasn’t sure what he expected to see when the baby came out, but he had to admit, he felt a little like Luke looked for a brief second. That’s when reality broke through, and it dawned on him that their baby had officially made her presence in the world.
He remained right where he was, glancing over to see that Sierra had given in to sleep, and he couldn’t blame her. She’d been so strong, stronger than any of them probably expected. Then again, she had to deal with him and Luke. Cole smiled, remembering the way Luke had nearly launched from nervous father-to-be to neurotic in a few seconds flat.
That wasn’t the case now. He was pretty sure they were all a little shocked, sobered by the fact that they were parents, and the only thing that mattered from here on out was the baby girl with her little eyes closed, her tiny fingers and toes all perfect and entirely hidden from view inside the security that she had found nestled in a pink blanket right there in the bassinette.
“We’re going to take her to the nursery while mom rests for a few minutes. We’ll bring her back as soon as she’s awake. The two of you are welcome to come visit her,” the nurse told him after she finished putting the hospital bracelet on, checking Sierra’s, then Luke’s and Cole’s before wheeling their daughter out of the room.
Another nurse was caring for Sierra, and Cole suddenly needed a little air. Moving back across the room, he kissed her on the forehead lightly before disappearing out the door, not looking back to see that Luke was following him. By the time he reached the main entrance to the hospital, he was pretty sure he was shaking and on the verge of hyperventilating.
Within a minute of being in the fresh early morning air, he was feeling only slightly better.
“You all right?” Luke asked, moving in close and not giving Cole the space he tried to convince himself he needed.
Looking at him, Cole tried to force a smile. He felt like an overemotional wreck. “I will be.”
To Cole’s complete amazement, Luke pulled him in close, palming the back of his head as he forced him to lean against him, chest to chest, forehead to forehead. God, the man’s simple touch was enough to ease the undercurrent of tension he’d had to endure thanks to his nerves.
He loved this man.
The sound of a throat clearing caught their attention, but Luke didn’t pull away abruptly. His voice came as a whisper between them, “she’s perfect. Everything’s perfect.”
Cole pulled back, looking directly into Luke’s eyes, and this time his smile wasn’t forced. She was perfect. For just that brief moment, everything was right in the world.
“I come bearing gifts,” Logan announced, moving closer to where Cole and Luke stood off to the side of the main entrance. Cole turned to face him at the same time as Luke, then they both were pulled into a hug, followed by solid thumps on the back as Logan congratulated them each in turn.
Seeing that Logan had brought cigars, Cole merely laughed. He was suddenly grateful for the distraction because the emotional whirlwind he’d just endured had been enough to put him on his ass and he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t be laid out right there on the ground if it hadn’t been for Luke. Glancing over at his lover, he managed to exhale, forcing himself to release all that he’d held in. He was right, everything was perfect.
Half an hour later, Cole was standing beside Luke as they peered through the glass window of the hospital nursery. They’d endured endless congratulations from Logan and Tag, and now they were showing off their daughter, letting their brothers see exactly how perfect their baby girl truly was.
“Damn, bro. It’s a good thing that little girl looks like her momma.” Logan’s laugh echoed through the hall, causing Cole to grin. He was right, she did look like her mother, a tiny little thing with a head full of black hair.
“I was thinkin’ the same thing,” Tag added, standing beside him, another thump on the back made Cole grin.
Ever since he’d managed to let go of the tension, he found he couldn’t stop smiling. The euphoric feeling had suddenly taken over, and he was more than happy to stand right there with Luke beside him, a grin much the same as his own on his handsome face.
“Shouldn’t you be taking care of your wife?” Luke asked, giving Logan a hard time.
“What do you mean by ‘take care of’?” Logan smirked. “We already had to find a way to pass the time for a few hours.”
“Nope. Don’t want to hear it,” Luke laughed and the rumble hit somewhere deep inside of Cole, making him relax even that much more.
They’d done well.
“You hanging in there?” Cole asked Luke when the silence descended around them, wondering if the same roller coaster of emotions was on a wild ride inside of him as well.
“Yeah. You?”
“Barely,” Cole whispered. “It’s still a little surreal.”
“Is she as perfect as she looks?” Luke asked, sounding as though he didn’t mean for the words to slip out.
“She is,” Cole reassured him and their hands touched, their fingers linking together between them again as they both stood in awe.
“Like I said, just like her momma.” Logan once again chimed in.
“So, what’s it feel like to be an uncle?” Luke asked, seemingly filling the time with idle chatter.
“It feels like I’m gonna get to give you a hard time about a lot more now. A girl, huh? I hope she gives you two a run for your money.”
The conversation continued around him, but Cole didn’t participate much. He smiled when it was expected, but he was more content to stare at their baby girl.
Hannah.
For the last six months or so, they’d tossed around so many names, Cole had a hard time keeping up, but the moment their daughter took her first breath, Cole knew she was their Hannah. Ever since they laid her precious body on Sierra’s chest, he had known his life would never be the same.
For months, he’d been preparing for this day, secretly wondering whether it would be awkward for him and Luke, knowing that only one of them had created her. Thankfully, from the moment she made her appearance in the world, none of his insecurities seemed to matter. Only her. It was a blessed relief from all of the confusion he’d been facing lately.
Now, with Luke’s hand in his, Cole felt the security of the love he’d embraced so many months before. He had a hard time even remembering why he worried so much.
“You think Sierra’s ready to see us yet?” Luke asked, glancing over at him.
He nodded his head, glancing into Luke’s hazel eyes, seeing the pure joy on his lover’s face. “Let’s get her some flowers first,” he told him, squeezing his hand before pulling away.
To his absolute shock, Luke grabbed his hand, linking his fingers with his once more and turning to face him completely. “Don’t pull away from me,” Luke demanded and Cole felt the tension in his words.
Their relationship had taken a turn in the last few weeks, probably because Cole had revealed more of himself than he truly expected to. He loved Luke with every piece of himself, and he accepted Luke and his inability to say how he felt, but there were times it got to be too much. Right this minute, seeing this side of Luke, the man who didn’t hide his true feelings, even in public, sent his heart soaring higher than he thought it could possibly go.
Squeezing Luke’s hand once more to let him know he wasn’t going anywhere, they released one another and turned toward the gift shop.
Three hundred dollars and practically every gift the tiny gift shop had to offer later, Cole and Luke were once again heading back to the labor and delivery floor where Sierra was.
After gently knocking on the door to announce their presence, Luke pushed it open, and they both moved forward. To Cole’s surprise, Sierra was sitting up in bed, Hannah cradled in her arms as mother and daughter stared back at one another. Cole’s breath lodged in his chest. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen anything as perfect as the picture they presented.
When Sierra’s eyes met his, a brilliant smile tipping her perfect lips, Cole couldn’t contain his own grin.
“Hey, baby,” Luke greeted Sierra as he moved around to the far side of the bed standing beside Sierra’s mother Veronica while Cole moved to stand on the opposite side of the bed, closest to the door.
“Never better,” Sierra said sweetly, cupping the back of Hannah’s tiny head and looking up at Luke.
Cole’s heart swelled as he stared down at his girls, then back up at Luke. A few hours ago, they’d been standing in the same place, holding her hand as she tried stoically to suffer in silence. To his amusement, that hadn’t lasted very long after the contractions began to increase in their intensity. No matter how tough he or Luke thought they were, it had been brutal to watch.
But when Hannah was born, Sierra’s tears of joy streaming down her face as they laid her against her chest, the weight of the world lifted. Mom and baby had made it through without complications. It was as though the final piece of the puzzle was now in place, completing the three of them in ways they hadn’t expected.
Cole watched as Sierra stared down at Hannah, the baby’s pretty blue eyes roaming briefly before her lids slid closed as she dozed. Their baby girl, so utterly perfect, was the little piece that solidified what they had started so many months ago.
“So, how does it feel to be fathers?” Veronica asked, glancing back and forth between him and Luke. At this point, Cole had no idea how to explain the feeling.
“It’s a bit surreal at this point,” Luke admitted honestly, and Cole met his gaze.
“Well, I’m going to leave the four of you alone to bond for a little while. Xavier is on his way over, and I told him I’d meet him in the lobby. We’ll be back soon.”
Cole watched as Veronica kissed her daughter on the forehead, then her granddaughter before slipping out of the room.
“Do you want to hold her?” Sierra asked, sounding understandably tired as she looked between him and Luke. “Not that I want to give her up, but I will.” The smile on her face lit up the entire room, and Cole couldn’t hold back his answering smile.
Even though the elation of Hannah’s birth hadn’t worn off, and he hoped it never would, Cole couldn’t help but wonder whether Hannah actually would change the way he and Luke reacted to one another. Up to this point, it didn’t even appear to be an issue, but his fears still lingered down deep. He knew Hannah’s birth had changed him, and he was pretty sure it’d changed Luke as well, maybe more so, he just wasn’t sure how yet.
When Luke leaned over Sierra, smiling down at the baby in her arms, Cole felt a pang in his heart. Seeing Luke with a baby, their daughter, was heartwarming.
Cole watched as Luke took the tiny bundle, the strong, powerful man looking infinitely softer with a baby in his arms.
Cole could’ve sworn he noticed a fleeting moment of uncertainty flash in Luke’s green-brown eyes, but if he did, Luke quickly masked it.