________

BRYAN – SIX MONTHS LATER

 

 

“Ugh, I feel like a bowling ball, I can’t wait to feel like myself again,” I lamented to Sebastian as I started to get out of bed that morning.

 

“I’m sorry you’re not comfortable, sweetheart.  What can I do for you?  Do you want me to rub your feet?”  He asked, concern written all over his face.

 

“Yes, baby, that would be great.  Thank you,” I said as I crawled back onto the bed.

 

He gently rubbed my feet and it was pure heaven.  From my swollen feet to my having to pee every five minutes, I was so ready for baby to come.  I was due any day and as scared as I was about the actual birth, I was more anxious to get that part over with so I could get my body back and enjoy little things like being able to look down and see my feet.

 

I woke up about an hour later and was a bit confused for a minute because I was in our bed by myself.  I realized I must have fallen asleep while Sebastian was rubbing my feet and smiled to myself as I smelled bacon wafting through the air and heard Sebastian in the kitchen.  He had cooked every single meal for me since I had moved in and he would not let me so much as put a fork in the dishwasher.  Even though we had a maid I did enjoy being somewhat domestic, but while I was pregnant Sebastian didn’t want to me to do a thing but relax.

 

I went downstairs and he rushed over to me and gently guided me to the table.

 

“Honey, what are you doing up?  I was going to bring breakfast to you.”

 

“I’m fine, sweetie, just very hungry and I needed to stretch my legs.  The food smells delicious!”

 

“Okay, have a seat and I will make your plate.”

 

“Thanks, honey,” I said.

 

I settled into my chair and smiled as I watched my beautiful husband dote on me.  He joined me a couple of minutes later and it was nice to just sit and enjoy each other’s company.  I took a bite of my eggs and my eyes rolled back in delight.

 

“I don’t know what you do to make your eggs taste better than any other eggs I have had before, but Sebastian these are amazi…!”  The sharp pain I felt in my belly cut off my words.

 

He jumped up and rushed to my side.

 

“Bryan, are you okay?!”  His face was fraught with worry.

 

It took a minute for the pain to pass but I was eventually able to breathe and nod my head.

 

“Yes, the doctor said I would feel pain like this.  I’m sure the baby was just moving around.”

 

He gently touched my round belly and gave me a sweet kiss when the baby kicked against his hand.

 

“I can’t wait to meet our child.”

 

“Me too, honey.”

 

We finished breakfast and decided to go for a short walk around the block. I really did need to stretch my legs and the fresh air would be good for me so I was more than happy to get out.  We strolled hand in hand in silence for a bit and it was nice to just be with him and our little one in my belly.  We rounded the corner to go back to our place and a searing pain caused me to double over and I let out a loud scream.

 

Sebastian quickly grabbed me before I buckled to the ground.

 

“Bryan!  What’s wrong?!”  He sounded panicked.

 

I couldn’t speak as another pain shot through my belly.  My fingers dug into his arm as I let out another scream.

 

 “Okay, that’s it, we’re going to the hospital.  Can you make it to the car?”

 

I nodded my head because we were close to the house and we didn’t have far to go.

 

“Breathe, baby, breathe, just like they taught us in the classes.  Everything is going to be okay.  I am not going to let anything happen to you.”

 

Thankfully, the waves of pain subsided and I was finally able to get out a few words.

 

“Shit, that hurt!  I have no idea what labor pains are like, but from what I have read and what we’ve been told in class those felt like labor pains.”  I turned scared eyes to Sebastian.  “Do you think I’m in labor?”

 

“I’m not sure, sweetie, but that baby is due any day so you might be.  Here, let me help you into the car.”

 

Just as I fastened my seatbelt I felt another sharp pain.

 

“Ah, fuck!  This shit hurts, Sebastian!”

 

“Hang on baby, we will be at the hospital in five minutes.”

 

He was not exaggerating about that.  We pulled up to the hospital in five minutes and in that time I had two more sharp pains.  Sebastian jumped out of the car and came around to my side.

 

“I need some help here!  I think my husband is in labor!”

 

In seconds I was being ushered into the hospital and rushed to a room.  Just as the nurses lifted me onto the gurney, my water broke.  My contractions were coming closer together and Sebastian held my hand in a vice grip through every bit of pain.

 

“Breathe, honey, breathe, you’re fine, you’re fine,” he said as he held my gaze.

 

I did not take my eyes off of him and looking at my honey was the only think that kept me calm until I heard the doctor. 

 

The doctor and nurses were all around me and I heard the concern in the doctor’s voice clear as day.

 

“This baby is breech, we have to perform a C-section stat!”

 

I was a bit confused with what was going on, there was a ton of commotion happening around me and I suddenly felt very warm.  My labor pains were excruciating and with each wave of pain I felt even warmer.  Just as I tried to let Sebastian know I needed to cool off, everything went black.