Chapter 16

Four wheels move the body.  Two wheels move the soul…and your body

- Truth

Ember

 “Are you ready?”  I asked Gabe.

 

We were at the courthouse.  It’d been one month since the accident.  One long month of drama.  One long month of hair pulling, scratching your eyes out fun, battling it out with a lawyer that Gabe’s ex employed.

 

She’d tried everything under the sun to undermine my abilities as a step-parent.  Today was the day the judge would rule over our case. 

 

I was scared shitless.  This was the day Cora would come home.  For good.  We’d been in deliberation for nearly five hours now with the judge listening to testimonies and evidence. We were on a lunch break, and I was about to die of starvation.  I was going on my eighth month of pregnancy, and I was still no bigger now than I was five months ago. 

 

Not that you could tell from my appetite.

 

I turned and studied Gabe’s beautiful face.  “I’m gonna go to the car and get my Lunchable.” 

 

He nodded, absently, and I left without looking back at him.  He was in a mood.  His ex was a total bitch, and kept bringing up things that “supposedly” made him a bad father.  Like the fact that he killed four men months ago.  Not that saving the life of his wife, unborn child, and himself was worth it.

 

We’d never been able to prove that Sidney set up the ambush that we drove into.  We all had our suspicions, but without proof, the cops could do nothing about it. 

 

I passed Sidney on the way out the door, heading to the women’s room, and I even managed the keep the disgust off my face. 

 

Bitch.

 

Once out in the parking lot, I shivered at the bite in the wind.  Today was cold for Texas, at twenty-seven degrees.  With the wind blowing, the temperature felt more like twenty degrees.  It was positively frigid compared with yesterday’s high of seventy.

 

I was weaving through the cars to get to Gabe’s new truck when I happened to see Sidney’s Audi three spaces over from ours.  I glanced at it quickly, but looked away again because I thought about keying it.  Something made me look at it again, though.  Veering off toward her car, I was nearly to the front bumper when it finally hit me.

 

Cora was strapped into her car seat.  She wasn’t moving.  It was colder than fuck, and she wasn’t even wearing a fucking coat.

 

Oh, Jesus help me.

 

“GABRIEL!”  I screamed.

 

I put everything I had into that scream.  It felt like a hot fire poker was shoved down my throat, but I didn’t stop screaming.  I tried all four doors, but they were locked.  I looked around frantically for something to break the windows with, but could find nothing.  Somehow, I found myself up on the roof of the SUV, and I was kicking the windshield with the heel of my dress shoes.  I kicked it over and over again.  On the sixth kick, the windshield cracked, but still didn’t break.

 

I found myself hauled down by a pair of unfamiliar arms, and I started kicking and screaming to get back to what I was doing, but stilled when I saw that Gabe had his Glock out prepared to break the window with the butt of the gun.  He had the door open in seconds, and was in the backseat with Cora moments after that.  Gabe worked diligently, getting the baby out of the car seat in short order.  Cradling her in his arms, he ran for the door to the courthouse steps.  I could hear sirens in the distance, but ignored the sound.

 

I ran after Gabe, and found him on his knees on the floor of the lobby.  Cora was cradled tightly to his chest.  His shirt was off, and he was wrapping his jacket around her back.  I ran and dropped down to my knees.  Mashing myself against her other side, trying to use the heat of my body to get her back with us.

 

The baby still wasn’t moving.  She was so motionless, I feared Cora was dead, and bile crept up my throat.  Gabe had a haunted look in his eyes, and I knew how he was feeling.  Over the last four months of knowing Cora, I’ve grown to love her and felt like she was my own child. She even slept with us when she was staying the weekends at our house.

 

The paramedics arrived, and Gabe rode with the baby to the hospital.  Seeing the two of them together made my heart kick.  They looked so much alike it was uncanny.  Once the stretcher was loaded into the ambulance, they took off out of the lot.  Feeling like a zombie, I turned to head back into the courthouse and came face to face with Sidney. 

 

Not one ounce of remorse showed on her face.  She didn’t even look at all affected.  She had a small smile on her face even.

 

“I saw this happening a different way, but this works.  For two years, I’ve resented him for what he did to me.  Seeing that just made it all worth it.  His stupid stepfather didn’t make it worth it,” she sneered, before leaving through the maze of hallways that led deeper into the courthouse.

 

Max came bursting through the door just seconds after Sidney left, and came straight up to me, pulling me into a tight embrace.  Once his arms closed around me I lost it.  I cried for that poor baby.  I cried until I had nothing left to cry.  Deep ugly sobs poured out of me.  Snot, snorts, the whole nine yards.  I prayed, repeatedly, that she would survive.  Hoping beyond hope.

 

Her lips and face were blue.  Her limp little body showed none of the signs of life.

 

“Max.”  I said gruffly.

 

“Yeah, honey?”  He asked.

 

I told him what happened in the hallway, and what Sidney had said only moments before he showed up.  A veil came over Max’s eyes, shielding something.  I didn’t know what, but whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good.  If he wasn’t my brother, I would’ve been scared of him in that instant.  He pulled his phone out and called Sam, telling him everything that’d happened in the last hour.  Grabbing my hand, he took me to his bike, and we climbed on.  The ride to the hospital was torture.  I knew that our lives were about to change, and I hoped that little girl would be there as a part of it. 

***

Gabe

I’ve gone through many things.  I watched my father waste away from cancer.  I’ve patched up men with their limbs blown off.  Stuck my bare hands in wounds to stop bleeding.  Witnessed one of my greatest friends die.  Saved the life of a woman that meant the world to one of the people I loved.  Killed four men while my wife was tied to the chair, scared shitless that she was about to die.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to this.  Seeing someone you love so deeply near the brink of death was heart wrenching.

 

My Cora was fighting a losing battle. 

 

I was in the back of the ambulance, close to the door.  I was doing my best to stay out of the way, so the medics could do their jobs.  They’d intubated her, and then started IVs in both forearms.  They started her on heated drips to help bring her temperature up to a more stable level.  Then they took her vitals, and monitored her levels.  Not much they could do but drive to the hospital as fast as they could.  The wail of the siren, the sharp honk of the horn, and the beeping of the monitors were nearly overwhelming.  I wasn’t prepared for this.

 

I was so goddamn mad at Sidney.  During the trial, she’d brought up every bad thing I’d ever done.  The time I smoked pot when I was sixteen.  When I took a joyride in my neighbor’s ’64 Ford Mustang.  The time I had sex with her in front of an open window, even going as far as saying that I’d forced her.  Everything she had on me was seriously stupid shit that I hadn’t done in over ten years. 

 

When Ember left me sitting on the bench, I knew she was a little miffed with my attitude, but I just couldn’t help the deep-seated hatred I felt for Sidney.  Every time I saw her, I wanted to choke the life out of her.  I was trying my hardest not to take my annoyance out on Ember, so I kept my mouth shut and waited for the judge to call us back in to his chambers.

  

I was about to get up and head after her when Ember’s piercing scream tore through me.  My heart dropped down to my toes, and I ran faster than I’ve ever ran.  I slammed the doors open and bounded down the steps.  I saw her on top of a car, kicking for all she was worth.  Taking in every little detail, I saw the form of a small child in the backseat, and knew exactly what she was trying to do. I instructed a guy that was getting out of his car to help my wife down from the roof as I was Extracting the gun from the small of my back, I used the butt to break the passenger window.

 

The next few minutes flew by as I tried my best to bring Cora’s temperature up.  The paramedics arrived, and I decided to go with them.  I rode with her, and left Ember on the courthouse steps looking devastated.  I sent Max a quick text telling him to get to the courthouse ASAP, and shoved it back into my pocket.

 

We arrived at the hospital, and I stayed out of the medic’s and doctor’s way, as they brought Cora to the trauma room.  One of the emergency room nurses told me to have a seat in the waiting area, and I did so reluctantly.  It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, walking away from her. 

 

I was in the rickety waiting room chairs for a little over ten minutes when Ember burst through the doors.  Her hair was wild.  What was once a braid now resembled a rat’s nest.  She had bruises forming up and down each of her arms.  Her face was a tear-streaked mess.  Her mascara was running down her cheeks in little black streaks.  She looked horrible.

 

She saw me and ran full tilt towards me.  She barreled into me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

 

“Oh God, Gabe.  Is she okay?”  She rasped.

 

Just as I was about to answer, a hysterically screaming Sidney entered through the doors of the main entrance.

 

“My baby, my baby!” The deceitful bitch screamed.

 

My blood ran cold.  That fucking bitch.

 

***

Ember

 

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!”  I screeched. 

 

I sounded like I’d just chain smoked twelve packages of cigarettes.  My throat burned with each word I said, but that woman made me see red.

 

I made it two steps before Max was able to catch me.  I struggled to get away from him while security went over to the horrid woman.  Two cops that were inside the trauma room came out into the lobby at the sound of the commotion.  One split off and came in our direction, and the other went off towards Gabe’s ex. 

 

“What’s going on here?”  The cop asked.

 

“That woman was the one who left her child in the car to die.  I saw her in the hallway when the ambulance pulled out.  She said she resented Gabe, and seeing all that happened with her baby made it all worth it.  She also said something about Gabe’s stepfather, but didn’t elaborate.”  I managed to get out.

 

Gabe passed me like a shot.  One second he was behind me, and the next he was shoving the cop out of the way to get to Sidney.  Max cursed and let me go, heading to intercept the fight that was about to break out.  That was the last thing that Gabe needed right now.

 

Coughing to get my voice to come out a little stronger, I listened as the officer addressed the one trying to get Gabe away from Sidney.

 

“Murphy.  Give it a second.”  The uniform yelled.

 

Murphy backed up, and let the train wreck play out.  Max had his arms banded tight around Gabe’s chest from behind.  Muscles were bulging on both of their bodies.  Gabe looked like he was about to choke the life out of her. 

 

“How could you forget our baby in the mother fucking car?”  He roared.

 

“You’re nothing to her.  Where were you when I had to give birth to that little rat?  That’s right; you were deployed.  I needed you and you weren’t even there.  So, I did what I had to do.”  She sneered.

 

“Sidney!  You told me you aborted her!  How was I supposed to be there with you when you told me you aborted her, and then wanted to break up?” he said with deadly calm.

 
She must have sensed that she was in serious danger because she retreated two steps back and bumped into the wall.

 

“That kid ruined my life.  My husband left me when he found out that kid wasn’t his.  He was skeptical in the beginning when he saw the black fucking hair and the dark skin and he left me, but I managed to convince him to come back.  All was fucking great until that bitch of a kid came along and ruined everything.  I lived for the day that I got to rub her in your face.  Today turned out a little differently than I’d planned, but it all worked out well in the end.  Too bad your step daddy wasn’t here to witness this.”  She snickered.

 

The bitch was not only crazy, but she was suicidal.  Max strained, but his grip held true.  Time for me to intervene.  I walked up slowly and placed myself in between Gabe and Sidney.  I was plastered right up against Gabe so I didn’t touch Sidney at all.  He was looking over my shoulder, not acknowledging me in the slightest.  I got up on my tiptoes to look him in the eyes. 

 

“Gabriel.”  I said to him.

 

Still, he didn’t look down at me.

 

“Gabriel Luca Maldonado Junior, look at me.”  I demanded.

 

My throat felt as if I was rubbing a barbed spike up and down my throat, but I ignored it and concentrated on Gabe.

 

His eyes snapped to mine so fast that my head spun.  He looked scary.

 

Swallowing past a lump in my throat, I held his eyes and grated.  “This isn’t accomplishing anything.  Let’s go see how your daughter is doing.”

 

Giving a sharp nod, he shrugged off Max’s arms as if they were tiny irritants, and walked towards the nurse’s station.  I nodded at Max to follow, and he walked off abruptly with a scowl in Sidney’s direction.  Turning slowly, I regarded Sidney.  She was wearing a cat ate the canary smile.  As the officer’s closed in, having heard enough, I asked her a question.

 

“Are you stupid?”

 

She only thought she accomplished something, but, really, she’d just made this all the more easy.  Turning in disgust, I didn’t wait for her response.  Gabe and Max had disappeared.

 

Great. 

***  

I was sitting on a gurney in the minor ER when Cheyenne came through the room. 

 

“What the hell is going on?”  She yelled at me.

 

She knew everyone here, so no one questioned her when she picked up my chart and started scanning it.  She was in her last few months of nursing school, and knew what she was doing.  She was also massively pregnant. 

 

“A vocal hemorrhage?  Really Ember?”  She asked.

 

I shrugged my shoulders.  It wasn’t as if I planned to do this.  I didn’t know that such a thing was even possible.

 

“Alright, they released you.  Where did they move Cora to?”  She asked.

 

I shrugged.  I had no clue.  I hadn’t seen Gabe in a little over two hours.  I didn’t even think he knew that anything was wrong with me.  Not that I would’ve told him right now.  He needed to be with his daughter.  Not down here worrying about me, too.

 

Cheyenne went to the nearest computer and started typing. 

 

“Third floor.  That’s the Pediatric ICU floor; it looks like she’s more stable than we originally thought or they would have sent her to Children’s hospital in Dallas.  Let’s go.”  She said.

 

Gathering my strength, I walked with Cheyenne to the elevators, and then rode them up to the third floor.  My throat was throbbing like a son of a bitch.

 

Sam had arrived about twenty minutes after Gabe and Max went into the trauma room to see Cora.  I was telling him everything that had happened in more detail when blood started to leak out of my mouth after I coughed.  I didn’t even realize that it was happening until Sam’s face went sheet white and he called for a doctor.

 

That’s when I was told I’d had a vocal cord hemorrhage.  Sam settled down once he found out it wasn’t life threatening, and I sent him off to make sure Gabe was doing okay.  I also threatened his manhood if he told Gabe about my voice before I did.  He must’ve taken it to heart because Gabriel hadn’t made an appearance yet.

 

We arrived on the floor, and walked up silently to the nursing station.  Cheyenne must’ve been on this floor during her schooling too because she was saying hi to all the nurses and even started talking to one particular lady about her cats; I was getting impatient.  Walking away, I wandered around until I heard low murmured voices.  Peeking around the corner, I saw Gabe, Max, and Sam talking in low quiet tones.  I leaned my face against the cool tile and listened.

 

“What do you want us to do?”  Sam asked.

 

“Take her home with you.  I think I need to be alone for a while.”  Gabe said.

 

I knew immediately he was talking about me.  Fuck that.  I marched right on up to Gabe’s back, and saw Sam and Max’s mouths twitch.

 

“I will not go home and leave you here.  I will stay here, with you!”  I ground out.

 

Oops.  Too late, I forgot about my throat.  Shards of agony shot through my throat again; I started coughing, and everyone knows once you start it doesn’t stop until it wants to stop.  Gabe was staring at me waiting for me to get myself under control when suddenly his eyes widened.  He snatched me up into his arms so fast that my neck whipped back with the force.  Blood dribbled out of the corner of my mouth, and that’s when I realized why he’d reacted badly.  I pinched my eyes closed, and counted down from twenty to get my mind off the feeling of fire ants biting my throat.  Slowly it dialed down to a more manageable notch, and I opened my eyes. 

 

Gabe’s eyes were panic filled.

 

“She’s not supposed to be talking.  Dammit Ember.  You could lose your voice permanently if you keep that up.  Is that what you want?  All you need are a few days of vocal relaxation, and it’ll all be fine.  Shut the fuck up already.  How many times do I have to tell you this?”  Cheyenne grumped.

 

I gave her a sheepish look and turned my gaze back towards Gabe.

 

Understanding flashed over his face, and he gave me a soft kiss on the throat.  Tears threatened to spill over my eyes, but I reined them in.

 

“Did she tell you what’s wrong?”  Gabe asked Cheyenne.

 

“Vocal hemorrhage.  Apparently, when she was screaming for you, a blood vessel blew in her vocal cords.”  Sam said. 

 

“You really should go home.  I think you need some rest.  I’ll be fine here by myself.”  Gabe said.

 

Shaking my head, I opened my mouth to tell him how it was when the glare he shot my way snapped it shut.

 

“You’re not going to give in, are you?”  He asked quietly.

 

Shaking my head, I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.  Once I got my tears sucked back in, I peaked around his big body into the room that housed Gabe’s daughter.  Following my line of sight, Gabe started in on what was going on with her.

 

“Cora’s stable.  Apparently, she was in there since they’d arrived at the courthouse at eight this morning.  They’re not sure if there will be any lasting brain damage.  Her brain shows activity, but, really, we won’t know until she wakes up.  They’re keeping her sedated for another twelve hours to make sure everything’s back to normal before they start waking her up.”  Gabe said with a pain filled voice.

 

“I checked in with Luke.  He was outside when I got to the ER.  The little bitch tried to get you in contempt of court when you didn’t show.  Your lawyer was off site for lunch, so when he got back he didn’t know what happened.  The freakin court reporter and half the courtroom started yelling at the same time, all trying to tell them what happened.  The dumbass thought she could get away with it, too.  They also have her in custody for child endangerment.  They think it’ll stick, too.  Luke was a fountain of information, not that he was telling me this.  He was talking to another officer.  He may have more; I just don’t know what it is yet.”  Cheyenne supplied cheekily.

 

All the men stared at her as if she’d grown a second head.  I was impressed myself.  Sneaking up on a man of Luke’s caliber was freakin’ awesome!

 

“I’m fucking dead on my feet.  My vagina bone feels like it’s been pummeled to death.  Can we go sit down?”  Cheyenne asked Gabe.

 

Nodding my head in understanding, I untangled myself from Gabe and walked into Cora’s room.  She was hooked up to multiple wires, and machines.  Her body looked swallowed in the large hospital bed.  The monitors beeped with each beat of her heart.  The lights were turned down low for her comfort.  Her hair was a beautiful riot of curls, and her little body was covered under mounds of blankets.  One of Cora’s arms was thrown up above her head, and it reminded me of Gabe.  This was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.

 

Reaching forward, I ran my fingers lightly through her hair.  It was so soft.  Gabe came up behind me and wrapped me up in his arms.

 

“I feel like a failure.  She could’ve killed her.”  He said brokenly.

 

I stretched my arm up and cupped his face with the palm of my hand, patting it consolingly.  I let my hand drop and then reached into my pocket for my phone.  I had a lot of stuff to tell him, and since I couldn’t speak, this was the next best thing.  Sitting down in the chair that was next to the bed, I started explaining about what I thought of Gabe, and how he was a wonderful person.

 

Gabriel,

You are the most wonderful person in the world.  You have a tender heart, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.  You care about others.  You save people’s lives.  Never once, have I feared what would happen to me since I met you; I feel safe and loved.  You are the type of person that your father would be proud of.  It breaks my heart that Cora wasn’t with you for the last year, but she has you now.  You will always have her, and she will always have you.  Don’t beat yourself up over this.  Everything will be okay.  I love you.

 

Once I had it all typed out, I handed him my phone.  He was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Cora’s hand.  He took the phone in his other hand, and started reading.  Once he was finished, he let out a breath and hung his head.  A few minutes passed like this, until finally he raised his head.  His eyes were shimmering with emotion.  Taking the phone back, I started a new note.  This one was simple.

 

I need ice cream.

 

I turned the phone around so he could read it, and he busted out with a deep belly laugh.

 

Smiling, I rested my head on the back of the chair and let myself drift off to sleep.  This had been one hell of a day.

***

Gabe

It’d been two days now.  Cora still wasn’t awake.  They stopped giving her the meds that kept her from waking up nearly twenty-four hours ago.  Everyone had been here on and off for the past two days, hoping to lend a supporting hand.  There was food brought every time someone entered the door.  Blaine visited quite often with Justin since he was portable and didn’t move much being so young.  Cheyenne dropped in during her clinical shifts.  Sam and the rest of the guys came in after work, or during lunch.  All were hoping to see Cora open her eyes, but it hadn’t happened yet.  They removed her breathing tube; now we were playing the waiting game. 

 

Ember was laying down next to Cora on the hospital bed, running her fingers through her springy curls.  I could tell when she fell asleep.  Her passes through Cora’s hair got slower and slower until it stopped completely resting with her palm curling around the apple of her cheek.  She was cradling Cora’s head to her chest, and their breathing seemed to be in harmony.  Turning my attention to the Ranger’s game, I watched another three innings before I noticed something different.

 

Slowly turning my head in Cora and Ember’s direction, cerulean blue eyes met mine.  They watched me carefully.  My heart started beating a mile a minute.  Joy surged through me.

 

“Hey, sweet girl.”  I whispered to her. 

 

She continued to study me.  Reaching out, I took her small hand in mine and rubbed it with my thumb.  Her hand with the IV in it had a death grip on Ember’s braid, and she brought it up to her mouth and started sucking on it.

 

“Uh oh, big girl.  Better stop doing that before she finds out.”  I said to her.

 

“Too late.  She’s already found out, but she doesn’t really care.”  Ember said sleepily. 

 

I flicked up my eyes to find Ember’s on mine.  Tears were shimmering in her eyes, threatening to spill over.  I gave her a huge smile, and continued to talk to Cora.

 

The doctor came in a short time later to give her a thorough exam.  He was very optimistic that since she was responding well to us, and interacting, and that she would recover fully.  He ensured us that if all went well the next day or so that we should be home by the weekend.

 

Sidney was officially charged with child endangerment, and the custody case was thrown out.  The judge formally awarded me full custody of Cora, and didn’t approve supervised visits with Sidney.  I would maintain full custody until the trial was over and her sentence was served. 

 

Ember’s cell rang on the bedside table.  I knew it was Cheyenne by the ringtone, but I was too confused as to why she would be calling since she was supposed to be taking her nursing school exit test today.

 

“Cheyenne?  Did you finish already?”  Ember answered on speakerphone.

 

“Sure did.  Sat in a puddle of amniotic fluid the whole time, but I got that bitch knocked out!”  Cheyenne said panting.

 

Ember’s startled eyes met mine.  “Does Sam know your water broke?” 

 

Her voice quivered for a second, but came back stronger after a few panting breaths.  “I can’t get a hold of him.  My mom isn’t answering either, but she has the girls today, so she might be taking a nap with them.  Could you come get me?  I’m not sure I can drive.” 

 

Gabe was on his feet with phone in hand.  “I’m gonna send Gabe.  He’s on his way to come get you.  It’s the college, right?”

 

“Yes.  Hurry.”  She panted.

 

“She’s at UT Tyler Longview Campus.  She’s probably waiting for you outside.  Hurry.”  Ember pleaded.

***

Ember

A quick peck on the lips and he was gone.  I looked over at Cora who was playing with her bed remote; she smiled at me when she caught my eyes on her.

 

A nurse entered the room, the one that knew Cheyenne so well, and checked Cora’s fluids, as well as her temperature.  I learned over the past two days that her name was Jacie, and she was retiring later on this year after thirty-five years as a nurse.

 

“She’s looking great.  It’s amazing how well kids bounce back from these kinds of things.”  Jacie announced.

 

I grabbed her hand to stop her advance to the bathroom to pour out the pitcher of water. 

 

“Jacie?  Do you think it’ll be okay to take Cora down a flight to see Cheyenne?  She’s in labor, and I want to go see her, but I don’t want to leave Cora alone.”

 

 “Well, let me see what I can do.  I’ll speak with her doctor, and we’ll figure something out.  If anything else, I’ll stay in here with her.”  She said as she bustled out of the room, taking the water pitcher with her.

 

I started the round of phone calls, and was finally able to get a hold of Sam.

 

“Yeah?”  Sam answered.

 

“Sam!  Where are you?  Why aren’t you answering your phone?”  I demanded.

 

“I was underneath a car, we were trying to get the timing right.  Why?”  Sam asked.

 

“Cheyenne’s water broke during her test.  Gabe’s gone to her and he’s bringing her to the hospital.  You need to hurry up and get here.”

 

Cursing was heard, and a bunch of commotion as he said, “Okay.  I’ll be there.”

 

“Cheyenne’s in labor?”  Blaine said from behind me.

 

I whirled around to find her standing with Justin propped up on her shoulder sleeping.

 

I laughed out and told her exactly what Cheyenne had just told me.  “Yeah.  Can you believe that?”

 

Blaine was laughing, and we both sat to wait for some news.

 

Jacie hurried in with a bright smile on her face.  “It’s a go.  You can take Cora; just have to leave the IV in just in case.  I’ll come down to check on her during my next rounds.” 

 

It was going on an hour later when Gabe called me to tell me he was on the Maternity floor.  We gathered up Cora, Justin, and the IV pole, and made our way down one floor.  When we stepped off the elevator, I was rewarded with the sight of Gabe, except he had crazy eyes going on.

 

Speed walking up to him.  “What’s going on, Gabe?  Is Cheyenne okay?”

 

“She’s fine.  I swear to God, if you make me deliver our baby, I will never forgive you.  I can’t handle that stress.  First Blaine, and now Cheyenne.  Why the hell is everyone always making me deliver babies?  Sam knows some medical too!  He should’ve been the one to deliver his own kid.  Not me!”  Gabe gestured wildly.

 

From what I was gathering, Gabe had to deliver Cheyenne’s baby.  I snickered.  His eyes blazed when he caught the smile on my face.

 

“You saw Cheyenne’s vagina?”  I snickered.

 

His eyes narrowed, and I decided to shut up while I still could.

 

“That’s not even the least bit funny, little girl.  You’re lucky you have Cora or I’d spank the shit out of you right now.”  Gabe threatened.

 

I rolled my eyes at that comment.  He was all bark and no bite.  He wouldn’t even have rough sex with me anymore.  Just because I was eight months pregnant didn’t mean I was fragile.

 

I couldn’t help it.  I’m a glutton for punishment.  “Did she poop?”

 

“This is not even remotely funny.  Would you knock it off?”  He growled.

 

“I didn’t poop, Ember.  You probably will though.  Everyone and their brother will probably witness it, too!” Blaine piped in.

 

I gave her the stink eye, and returned my attention to my husband.  “Did Sam make it?”

 

He smiled wide.  “Yeah.  He made it just as the head came out.  He almost passed out, too.  He saw all the blood, and would have taken a nosedive if he hadn’t sat down.  It was great; I’ll be able to remind him of it for years.” 

 

“Suck my dick, Maldonado.”  Sam said from behind us.

 

We all burst out laughing at Sam’s pale complexion, and jittering hands.  He really was a big ol’ softie.  I walked up to him, and gave him a huge hug.  Well as good of a hug, one could give with a toddler asleep in my arms.

 

“Let’s go see her, I’m dying here.”  I said, snapping my fingers at them.

 

We walked to Cheyenne’s room where the party had started.  Everyone was there.  Even an uncomfortable Jack was sitting in the corner.  Cheyenne was sitting up, crossed legged in bed, laughing at the girls as they sat with James; he had the baby in his arms, and was showing Pru and Piper their new baby sister.

 

“You just had to have my husband see your vag, didn’t you?”  I announced loudly.

 

Cheyenne’s laughter filled the room.  “It was an accident, I swear.”

 

After transferring a sleeping Cora to Gabe’s arms, I stole the baby from James, smiling widely when she scrunched her nose at the jostling.  “What’s her name, oh holy name hider?” 

 

“Phoebe Elise Mackenzie.  She was seven pounds twelve ounces.”  Sam said proudly.

 

Looking down at Phoebe, I couldn’t help but long for my own baby in my arms.  This would do for now though.