by Toni Aleo
She shook her head desperately as she doubled over, her nails digging into his wrist. “Oh fuck no, we gotta go. Like now.”
“Oh my God.” Erik was freaking out.
“Unless you want me having our child in the middle of my best friend’s wedding, we gotta fucking go!” she screamed, causing everyone to turn and look at them.
“What’s wrong?” Erik turned to see Shea coming up to them. “Everything okay?”
“No, the baby is coming,” Piper hissed out. “Erik.”
But he wasn’t moving.
When a hard slap came to Erik’s back, he jumped in surprise. “Titov, get it together, man!” Shea yelled. “You need to take your wife to the hospital now.”
“Right,” Erik said, moving to her side to start for the front of the barn.
“Someone get Titov’s car!” Shea yelled, taking Erik’s keys and throwing them to someone. Erik was too busy trying to get Piper to walk. She was digging her nails into his arms, trying to keep from screaming. He could tell she was hurting and he had no clue what to do.
“Baby, tell me what to do,” he asked as they slowly made their way through the mass of people.
“I don’t know,” she hissed out.
“Piper, are you okay?”
They both turned to see Audrey rushing toward her. Piper nodded her head quickly as she said, “Just fine, I went into labor, no big deal, go be merry and happy.” Piper waved her off as she flashed a pained, scary grin at her. Erik wanted to laugh, but he knew better.
“What? You’re having the baby?” Audrey screeched.
“Yeah, no big deal, I’ll call you later,” Piper said before she bent over, gripping his arm as she gasped for air. “Oh fuck, I’m dying.”
“Shit! Don’t say that!” Erik yelled as Karson came running toward him.
“Your car is out front,” Karson said, handing Erik his keys. “Good luck, dude.”
Erik nodded. “Thanks, King. Baby, can we get to the car?”
Piper shook her head and when she glanced up at him, big wet tears fell from her sweet eyes. Erik’s heart skipped a beat as he leaned forward, pressing his lips to her nose. Picking her up, hoping he made it look easier than it actually was, he carried her to his Yukon. Thankfully Karson had left the passenger door open and Erik was able to place her carefully inside the big SUV.
“This isn’t your car,” she said as she took in some deep breaths.
“I traded in the other one for this one,” he said quickly before shutting the door and rushing to the driver’s side.
“Erik!”
Erik paused to see Elli, Fallon, and Audrey running toward him.
“Call me when you get to the hospital. We are leaving in a bit,” Elli said with a worried look on her face.
“We’ll be there after the wedding,” Fallon said in a rush as she waved to Piper.
“Tell Piper we love her!” Audrey yelled with tears rushing down her cheeks. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Okay,” Erik said, opening his door, but as he got in, Elli called out, “Erik! You make sure you take care of her!”
Erik smiled, then muttered, more to himself, “I intend to for the rest of my life.”
He slammed the door, started the engine, and drove off. Piper was taking in deep breaths as she squirmed in the seat, holding her middle. “Oh, it hurts.”
“I’m hurrying,” he said as he sped down the dirt road to the main highway.
“Why did you trade in your car? You love your car,” she said through breaths.
He looked over at her and smiled. “This is true, but it was small. This one is big enough for Dimitri, me, and hopefully you.”
“Erik, this one is big enough for the whole Assassins team.”
It wasn’t the comment he wanted but he still found it funny. His laughter filled the car until she started screaming; it scared him so bad that he almost drove the truck off the road. Taking her hand in his, he rubbed his thumb along her palm as she took in deep breaths.
“Baby, try that breathing thing from Lamaze,” he suggested.
Piper leaned her head back against the seat, taking in quick breaths as she squeezed his hand. “I haven’t been to the class since you left.”
He looked over at her and could see the fear on her face. She was freaking out and he knew he had to do something to calm her.
Bringing her hand to his lips, he said, “Well, I’m here now; we got this. No big deal.”
She looked over at him, her eyes dripping with tears as she slowly nodded her head. Looking back at the road, Erik pushed on the gas, rushing to the hospital. Scared wasn’t the word that could even describe how Erik was feeling. He was terrified.
When they were almost to the hospital Piper exclaimed, “Oh my God, I don’t have my bag!”
“We’ll worry about the bag afterward,” Erik said quickly, pulling into the parking lot.
“I didn’t call my sister. Reese needs to be here, and my mom and Harper, too,” she said through agonizing gasps. He was close to running over a group of old ladies when he finally stopped the car close to the emergency entrance.
“Sweetheart, let’s get you inside, then we’ll do everything else later,” he said as he waited for the group of ladies to pass by. “For fuck sakes! Move it!” he screamed, making Piper jump. “Shit, I’m sorry, you know what, fuck it,” he said putting the car in reverse and parking it in an available space. Jumping out, he rushed to help Piper.
“Wait,” she said, gasping for air. “I think I might be able to walk.”
“No, come here,” he said, taking her in his arms. She was wet but he didn’t care; all he cared about was getting her inside. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned her head on his shoulder as her body trembled. Kicking the door shut, he rushed across the parking lot to the emergency entrance.
“Almost there, baby,” he said, as he stepped up his pace to a full run. Her nails were digging into his neck and he felt like she was close to drawing blood. He silently thanked Shea for all the drills he had made Erik run because without the endurance it built, he was convinced he wouldn’t be able to carry her like this.
Busting through the doors, he announced, “My wife is having a baby.”
Two nurses turned and then everything was a blur. Erik watched as they took Piper from him, put her in a wheelchair, and wheeled her down the hall. He tried to keep up, but he felt like he couldn’t breathe and at one point as they fired question after question at her, he had to lean against the wall to catch his breath.
Today wasn’t supposed to be baby day; today was supposed to be get-Mommy-to-be-with-Daddy-forever day.
The nurses were fast as they got Piper into a pink gown, then into the bed before hooking her up to some machines and sticking her with needles. As he leaned against the wall in her room, trying to stay out of everyone’s way, Erik realized that this was the moment when he could prove that he loved her more than anything in this world. No matter how hard it was, he had to be her rock. He had to be the encourager, the one who would help her get through this. He could tell that she was hurting and that she didn’t do well with pain, so he would be there, just as she had been there for him.
“Told you you’d go early.”
Erik looked at the doorway to see the Abercrombie & Fitch model who was posing as a doctor. Erik still wasn’t convinced that guy was a doctor, or gay, for that matter. He had everyone fooled, but Erik was onto him. One wrong move and that dude’s perfect grin would be destroyed. When he turned and flashed Erik that perfect smile, Erik came off the wall and was by Piper’s side in seconds.
“Pain meds, stat,” Piper said, fighting for oxygen.
“First let me check you,” the doctor said, bending Piper’s legs. “Are the contractions close?”
“Yes, a minute and a half apart,” a nurse said from the side, holding a long sheet of paper. “Wow, have you been having contractions all day?” he asked before sticking his hand up into Piper.
Piper let ou
t a hiss of breath as she nodded her head. “Yeah, but I thought they were Braxton Hicks.”
“Apparently not, because, darling, you are in active labor.”
“Well obviously! My water broke!” Piper yelled. Her knuckles were turning white from where she was squeezing her thighs. Worried she might bruise herself, Erik took her hand in his, letting her squeeze him instead.
Dr. I’m Too Sexy laughed and Erik saw one of the nurses swoon as he said, “Oh hush.”
He pushed his hand inside her a little farther, biting his lip as he appeared to be thinking.
“So I have good news and bad; which do you want first?”
“Oh my God, Bryan, I don’t give two shits, just get him out!”
Dr. I’m Too Sexy laughed again, shaking his head. “That’s the bad news, Piper: You are at eight centimeters and seventy-five percent effaced, and so there is no time for an epidural. I have a feeling we are going to have a bouncing baby boy sooner rather than later.”
“What?!” Piper screamed as her head fell back. Tears rushed down the side of her face as she took in strangled breaths.
Erik watched as the doctor took off his glove and then came to Piper’s side to smile down at her. “You’ll be fine,” the doctor said.
“It hurts.”
“Well, yeah, but just think of the prize at the end. Sit tight; it’s almost baby time,” he said, patting her knee.
“But it’s early; will he be okay?” she cried.
He gave her a reassuring smile. “He was measuring a week ahead, Piper. I have a good feeling he will be fine, but just in case I’ll have the NICU girls in here, too. Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine.” He turned to say something to a nurse.
Erik moved his hand along Piper’s face, catching her tears as his other hand rubbed her belly. “I’m here, remember. I’ll be here for you to claw at,” he said softly, as the tears poured down her face.
“I’m so scared,” she whispered, as she took in shuddering breaths.
“I know, I am, too, but we can do this together,” he whispered back, kissing her nose. “Piper, you are so strong, so beautiful, and the most amazing woman in the world, sweetheart. I am so lucky you came into my life and brought this amazing gift to me.” He moved his gentle hand up to hold her beautiful chin. “We got this baby and I—”
“Piper!”
For fuck sakes!
Erik turned to see Rowan running toward the bed with Harper and Reese flanking her. When Alla came in behind them, with Cooper and Blake, Erik knew that his moment to tell Piper he loved her was gone. Letting out a frustrated breath, he backed away as Rowan leaned over and kissed Piper on her sweaty head. “My goodness, are you okay?”
“No, I can’t have an epidural; the baby is coming too quickly,” Piper cried as she whipped her hands along her cheeks. Her makeup was smeared to hell but she didn’t care. Alla came up beside him, wrapping her arms around his middle.
“How are you?” she asked quietly.
He gave her a pained looked as he said, “Scared.”
“It’s to be expected,” Cooper said, wrapping an arm around Erik’s shoulders. “Everything will be fine, though.”
“You two looked pretty close when we entered,” Alla whispered as they all watched Piper’s family fuss over her.
Looking back down at his mom, he said, “I was about to tell her I love her but we keep getting interrupted and I’m starting to think I’m not supposed to tell her.”
Alla smiled as she shook her head. “You just wait, the perfect moment will come.”
“Ah, Erik, Erik, ah, oh my God.”
Erik moved from his parents and through the circle of family that surrounded Piper. Her face was showing her pain, sweat dripping from her brow.
Taking her hand in his, he kissed her knuckles before saying, “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay.”
“Ah, it fucking hurts!”
“That’s childbirth,” Harper said with a laugh.
Erik swore it was like he was in the movie The Exorcist. Piper whipped her head around and almost came off the bed, shaking her fist at Harper.
“Shut the hell up!” she yelled as she leaned her head back.
“Ha-ha, she’s gonna kick your ass,” Reese said as she ran her hand up and down Piper’s other hand. “It’s okay, sis, you got this,” she said reassuringly as she smiled down at Piper.
“This sucks. I feel like a crazy person,” Piper cried as she squeezed Erik’s hand.
A nurse came in at that moment. Going to the end of the bed, she looked up from her chart and over at Piper.
“All these people can’t be in here, honey; you are too close to delivery,” she informed them.
Cooper threw his hands up. “Well that’s my cue to make my exit,” he said, coming toward the bed to kiss Piper before patting Erik on the back. “I’m proud of both of you, and I can’t wait to see this little guy. Good luck. You can do this, Piper.”
Piper managed a smile as Alla kissed her on the temple, and whispered something in her ear. Leaning across the bed, she kissed Erik’s cheek and smiled as she said, “Good luck. Keep her safe.”
“I will, Mom, thanks.”
Piper’s dad, Blake, held Erik’s shoulder before kissing Piper’s forehead. “Next time I see you, you’ll be a mommy. I don’t think you realize how proud of you I am.”
Piper cringed in discomfort but nodded. “Dad, tell me that later; my vagina is dying here.”
Erik chuckled as he rested his forehead against her temple but she pushed him away. “Don’t touch me right now, please.”
He knew not to let that hurt his feelings, but it still stung a little. Letting out a long breath, he nodded and backed off only to have her pulling him back to her as she screamed out in pain. He hated not being able to take away the pain. He didn’t doubt that she had the strength to get through it; he just wished she didn’t have to.
“But she can have two people, right?” Harper asked.
Erik looked up. He thought they had all left, but he found that Harper, Rowan, and Reese were all still standing there with worry and confusion on their faces. The nurse turned to Harper and said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, so me and Mom, right?” Harper asked, turning to look at Piper.
Erik’s mouth dropped as he glared at Harper. Surely she wasn’t that stupid.
“Huh?” Piper asked, squeezing his hand as she took in deep breaths.
“Me and Mom for the birth.”
“Um, Erik is the dad, Harper,” Reese said, shaking her head. “And I’m her twin, so if anyone’s going to be in here, it’s me and him.”
“I gave birth to her! I know what I’m doing,” Rowan protested.
“And I’ve given birth, so we should be here,” Harper said with a shake of her head.
It all seemed so unreal and Erik was about to go apeshit on Harper when Piper turned into the Linda Blair character again and screamed, “I only want Erik!”
“But y’all aren’t even together!” Harper complained.
Erik had never wanted to kill his sister-in-law before. He loved Harper, but if looks could kill, Harper would have been dead. Erik watched as Rowan’s brow came together and she turned to look at them.
“What?”
“It doesn’t fucking matter because he is here now. He is the father, get the hell out!” Piper yelled before dragging her hands down her face. “Please, I can’t deal with you people right now!”
“Oh, Piper,” Rowan said in a way Erik knew bothered Piper.
Piper looked up at the ceiling and let out a long breath before turning to her mother. “If you want to ever see me or your grandson after I am done birthing him, you better leave right now.”
“You don’t mean that,” Harper said. “Stop being a bitch.”
“Do you want to die?” Piper asked, cutting a glare at her.
“Okay, I think we need to go,” Reese said, looking over at Erik. “I think he’s got this.”
“I d
o. I promise,” Erik said sternly before looking down at Piper. “We got this.”
Piper looked at him hopefully before closing her eyes, tears snaking down the side of her face.
“Whatever,” Harper said, turning to leave.
Reese rolled her eyes before leaning close to Piper. “I know you probably don’t care why she is acting like a bitch, but you know it’s because she is jealous. Don’t hold it against her, okay?”
Piper closed her eyes, nodding her head.
Reese smiled as she looked up at Erik. “I trust you.”
Erik nodded. “I won’t leave her side.”
Kissing Piper on her cheek, Reese said, “I love you, sis, good luck.”
“Love you,” Piper strained out as she cringed in pain.
“Can you call Elli for me?” Erik asked.
Reese nodded as Rowan leaned over the bed, kissing Piper’s cheek. “I love you, baby girl, you can do this. I know it hurts but the Allen women are strong. I am so proud of you.”
Piper opened her eyes. “You are?”
Rowan smiled. “My goodness, baby, you act so surprised.”
Piper shook her head as she leaned back into the bed, closing her eyes again. “I love you too, Mom,” she said softly. Rowan gave Erik a strained smile before she turned to leave with Reese. Once the door was closed, Erik moved in close, bringing his nose up to her jaw.
“It’s just you and me now, babe,” he said softly.
“And the pain,” she muttered.
“Yeah, but soon our baby will be here.”
She nodded. “Believe me, that’s the only reason I haven’t tried to kill myself yet.”
Erik chuckled, moving his hand up and down her stomach.
“God, my back hurts so fucking bad.”
“Well sit up, I’ll rub it,” Erik said, sitting up so she could do the same. Helping her up, he moved his thumbs along the middle of her back as her head fell forward.
“It hurts so bad … so bad.”
“Okay, what do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know, Erik; we really should have kept going to those classes,” she cried before looking back at him. “I wish you’d never left.”
Looking up into her eyes, he nodded. “Me, too.”
She turned, letting her head fall as she whispered, “I just want the pain to go away.”