by Aria Grace
His logic was sound. I did owe him a blowjob. How about that.
“That would never hold up in court,” I pointed out, trying to save my losing claim. Not that losing wasn’t the best option.
“Fine.” He took my hand in his and lay his head next to mine as he sat on the chair. “You don’t have to.” He kissed my nose, a sweet and comforting gesture.
“No, I want to.” Oh, how true those words were. “I’m at the always horny all the time segment of my pregnancy. Trust me, I want to.”
And before we could go any further into our foreplay, as inappropriate as it was, the doctor came in and explained to us his suspicions, suspicions that were very shortly thereafter proven accurate. I had severe preeclampsia and HELLP. It was a dangerous combination and I was terrified of what it meant. I was immediately hooked up to an IV, given steroid shots to help the baby’s lungs develop faster, and told I’d need to spend the next three days in the hospital while they got at least the blood pressure and anemia components under control.
It was almost four days exactly from when I walked into triage that I was finally allowed to go home. Of course, I was only released under the condition that I be put under house arrest—or as the doctor put it, bedrest.
The worst part of the three days in the hospital were being away from my beautiful baby girl. I promised the doctors and nurses I would follow through with their every single suggestion and order if they would let me go home to her. They agreed, giving me a packet of instructions so thick the folder wouldn’t close properly.
The assured me time and time again that my sweet baby might want more time in my slow cooker, but that they had everything they needed to keep her safe if she were to decide to come into the world early. And by decide, they meant if my condition was no longer under control and they had to do a C-section sooner rather than later. In any case, they planned to force the baby to come at thirty-seven weeks if she hadn’t already.
If this had happened with Sylvia, I had no idea how I would’ve survived. Having Coop by my side made me stronger. And I needed all the strength I could get. I had three people counting on me.
24
Coop
“But what about the bird seed and live band and fireworks as we’re whisked off by horse-drawn carriage to a romantic bed and breakfast?” Ash was only teasing but I knew there was a hint of truth in his words. I promised him a perfect wedding, and what he was getting was my brother and his Minister of CyberWeb ordination certificate and Mama as our witness. Of course, Sylvia, Marcus, and the kids were there too, but it was a far cry from what we’d talked about for the past six months.
“I promise I’ll give you all that after the baby is born.” I held his hands in mine, hoping he would just agree with me for now so I could avoid the ulcer I felt brewing in my belly. “Right now, we need this piece of paper to be legally binding. You could end up in the hospital at any moment, and if I’m not legally your spouse, I won’t have any of the rights to you or the baby that I need.”
He stared into my eyes, knowing how much this meant to me. “Okay, Coop. I get it. And I don’t care about all the fancy stuff. I just want you with me every step of the way…”
I released the breath I’d been holding and dropped my forehead against Ash’s. “Thank god! The marriage certificate is only good for another week.”
Ash smiled at my pragmatic response. “Well, then, we have plenty of time. How about next Thursday after The Price is Right. You know how I love watching people win boats and washing machines.”
I chuckled and gave Ash a soft kiss before sitting up in the bed beside him. “Nope, the family will be here before dinner. If they get here at six, we can be digging into Mama’s special wedding lasagna by six fifteen.”
“Special wedding lasagna?” Ash raised a suspicious eyebrow in my direction. “Is that even a thing?”
“According to her it is.” I shrugged. “And if it wasn’t before, it will be after tonight.”
“So, what you’re saying is that tonight will be our wedding night?” Ash gave me his sexy smirk, knowing what a sucker I was for it. “Are they keeping Sylvia overnight?”
This man is going to be the death of me. Between worrying about him and the baby, my heart couldn’t also handle sex at the same time. And in his current condition, neither could his. “Yes, they are, but don’t get any ideas. The doctor said sex is off the table right now, and you know it. Besides, you’re still a week away from the thirty-seven-week mark all the books say is important. So, sorry....”
Ash was adorable when he pouted. “But I need you…”
I leaned forward and gathered him up in my arms. “I need you too, babe. But it’s just another week. Then we can have all the sex you can handle.”
He pretended to push at my chest in frustration. “That’s no fair since you know I’m not gonna want sex for while after that.”
I laughed at his keen observation. At least his mind was still sharp even if he wasn’t as physically active as usual. “When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting. But not a second before that.”
“Ugh!” Ash shoved at me for real this time. “If you’re not going to knot me, at least get me some chocolate. I think there’s still some mixed in the peanut butter jar. Just bring that and a spoon.”
“Anything you want.” I hopped off the bed and turned to the door to fetch his snack.
“A big spoon,” he called out to me as I entered the hallway. “Not one of those little teaspoons you think you’re being tricky with.”
Once my family was on their way, I helped Ash into one of my nice dress shirts. Even with his huge belly, it fit well enough for a bedside wedding. Since he wasn’t getting up, he stayed in sweat pants and made me swear that no photos would be taken below mid-belly. I knew Killian would sneak a few embarrassing pictures if he had the chance, but I hoped he’d be distracted enough by trying to officiate our wedding ceremony that he wouldn’t get an opportunity. Of course, there was always Marcus. And as sweet and kind as that man was, he also had an evil side that loved to mess with me.
“All right, baby girl.” I lifted Sylvia off the changing table and nuzzled my nose against her neck, tickling her. “Today I’m gonna make an honest man out of your daddy.”
She giggled then grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked. Hard. Good thing I didn’t bother trying to comb it yet.
“Ow, ow, ow.” I gently pried her chubby fingers opened and released the hairs that were still attached to my head. “Your daddy is already making me go bald from worry. I don’t need you to yank out the few still hanging on.”
She laughed louder then turned to clamp down on my arm with her newly sprouted teeth. This girl was an alpha if I ever met one. “Dang, woman. You trying to draw blood?”
It took a few minutes, but I finally got her dressed in what would have been her flower girl dress. She wasn’t walking yet so her cousin would have been the ring bearer had things worked out differently. But they didn’t. And I was just as happy to marry my omega in our bedroom as I would have been in any reception hall or banquet room. More so in fact because we didn’t have to deal with the drama of a big wedding. It was just my family and the marriage license we picked up at the courthouse weeks ago.
Sylvia was just finishing lunch when Killian’s heavy fist pounded on the door. “Open up if you still wanna get hitched.”
I rolled my eyes but gave Ash a shy smile. “Do you?”
He nodded without taking his eyes off me. “More than anything.”
I gave Ash a gentle kiss before going to let my family in. It was a tight squeeze in the smallish bedroom but we made it work. And despite all my concerns over my brother screwing things up, he did a great job reading the simple ceremony I sent him. Sitting next to Ash on our bed, I was much more calm than I expected to be. In fact, it felt like a regular afternoon, chatting with my family.
Until the time came for us to repeat our vows.
We went with the standard wording I found on google.
Nothing fancy. But after I said my vows to Ash, he seemed to have trouble focusing. Like he was distracted and not completely present. “Are you okay, babe?”
He nodded and shook his head. “Yes, um, I do. Of course I do.” His smile was meant to be reassuring but it was anything but.
I squeezed his hand to help him focus on me. “Babe, are you okay?”
He took a deep breath then gave me a real smile. “Just happy...and tired. But mostly happy.” He turned to Killian and looked him right in the eye. “I do.”
“Good man.” Killian shifted his weight so he was facing Ash. “Ashton Crawford, please repeat after me..”
Ash seemed to get a second wind as he asked me to be his husband. Obviously, I didn’t hesitate to accept and give him a hard kiss on the mouth, even before Killian officially told me to. He was just too damn slow, and I was just too damn anxious.
“I guess you can kiss your husband, again,” Killian deadpanned. I heard soft chuckles in the room but I ignored everyone but my husband.
“I will, Ash,” I whispered against his mouth. “Now and forever. I’ll never stop kissing and loving you.”
He smiled and wrapped his arms tightly behind my neck. “I love you, Coop.”
“I love you too, babe.”
Mama cleared her throat, forcing me to reluctantly pull away from my husband.
“Sorry, Mama.”
She waved off my concerns. “I know we planned to stay for dinner, but Ash looks tired.”
He sighed heavily and leaned against my arm. “I’m sorry…”
I rubbed his back to reassure him that he had nothing to be sorry for.
“Nonsense.” Mama gave him a long hug, whispering something into his ear that made his eyes glassy. When she released him, she gave him a kiss on the cheek then held his face in her palm. “You get some rest and finishing growing that baby of ours. We’re taking Sylvia tonight so you can have the illusion of a proper wedding night.”
“Mama...” I still blushed whenever she teased us about sex...which she did often. “Thank you for taking her tonight. I’ll come by in the morning to get her.”
“No rush.” She came around the other side of the bed and pulled me in for a long hug, whispering how proud she was of me and what a good man I’d found to spend my life with. I couldn’t argue with her on that point. “I’ll spoil her for as long as you let me.”
Ash laughed. “I think that’s what he’s afraid of.”
Marcus gave Ash a quick hug. “Yeah, he should be. Sylvia will be hooked on fresh cookies and homemade play dough if you leave her for too long.”
“Oh, hush, you!” Mama swatted at Marcus’s arm as she made room for him to give me a brief hug.
“What?” He scooted out of her reach and tried to hide behind me. “You know Ez will never look at the store bought stuff the same again.”
She just shrugged, feeling absolutely no guilt at all.
Killian was last to step up to Ash and give him a hug. “Welcome to the family, brother. I’m happy you and Coop found each other.”
Ash nodded and swiped at a tear trying to escape his eyelid. “Me too, Killian. And thank you.”
That moment, with my family surrounding me in love and pride, was one of the best of my life.
Little did I know that just a few minutes later, I’d be thrust into one of the most frightening.
Mama held Sylvia in her arms while Killian carried her car seat and overnight bag. “Have fun, Daddies.”
“Thanks, Mama.” I gave them both one last kiss before they family disappeared out of the apartment, leaving me alone with my husband.
“That was perfect, Coop.” Ash had that dull pallor again and seemed to be cringing more than usual.
“Are you feeling okay?” I went to his side and put the back of my hand to his forehead. He felt warm but not unusually so. “You know you can’t go into full labor. If you’re feeling any pain or contractions, we have to go in.”
Ash took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, I guess I am feeling kinda...weird.”
“Weird, how?”
He shrugged. “Maybe I need to walk. I’m just...restless.”
I’d read that restlessness was a sign of labor so I was immediately on alert. “Okay, we’re going in. Let me grab your bag.”
“No, not yet.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and held his hand out for me to help him stand. “Just let me try to walk it off. I just need to stretch.”
With my jaw clenched, I gritted my teeth and gently pulled Ash to his feet. “Hold my arm. And if you feel dizzy, let me know.”
Ash nodded and took a few slow steps. “I’m feeling better already. I think she was just sitting wrong and needed to shift her position.”
I took a look at his belly and could visibly see the difference in her position. “She’s low. Like, really low.”
He pressed his hand into his back and arched. “Yeah, I think—” Ash didn’t get to finish his sentence before a flood of fluid poured out of him, leaving him standing in a puddle. He looked up at me with terrified eyes. “Okay, yeah, it’s time.”
25
Ash
It was all a whirl wind from the time my water broke and we got to the hospital. The doctor had relaxed significantly once I crossed over the thirty-four-week mark, so while there was much trepidation in my heart, I knew my baby was cooked enough to make it in this world. And that made the rest of it far less terrifying.
I’d teased Coop about waiting another week to get married, but relief flooded me knowing we were officially legal in the eyes of the court. We’d have done it weeks ago, but Coop was overwhelmed by taking care of me and Sylvia, so I didn’t rush him. And a part of me, a much larger part than I wanted to admit to even myself, was afraid I wouldn’t make it through this pregnancy.
I’d made the mistake of googling my condition, and the possibility of not surviving delivery was very real. Being married comforted me, knowing there would be no question where our baby would go. Our state had craptastic laws when it came to unwed parents not listed on the birth certificate, and if I died before meeting my sweet baby, there wouldn’t be a certificate yet.
And yes, that was another thing I googled like an idiot. But what else was I going to do. I’d had to step down from my teaching assignments once the doctor insisted on bedrest. It was a relief in many ways, but it also meant I didn’t have much to do. Coop had been a champ taking care of Sylvia, and Mama took every opportunity she could to snatch her away for grandma time. But that left me alone for hours with nothing but my tablet for company. Googling was going to happen.
We were checked in at the hospital and in a triage room within minutes. The nurse connected me to all kinds of machines and the IV team immediately put my IV in place. It was so different than the last time I’d been in labor, when the nurses looked down on me because my lack of marital status. Of course, this time, the tinge of urgency they tried in vain to hide added a different level of stress.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Harrison. I’m the on-call OB today.” A woman’s voice pulled me from my focus on the beeping machine beside me. I’d found comfort in hearing the baby’s heartbeat. “Looks like we are having a baby tonight.”
Coop squeezed my hand, his shaking slightly. “His water broke.”
“It would appear so, but according to the readings of that little sensor on your mate’s belly, contractions haven’t begun, so we’re in a very good place.” And by little, she meant the size of a coffee mug. But she was right about one thing. I had no contractions that I could feel, which was why the water breaking surprised me. With Sylvia, I was already hours into labor when that happened.
“I have a team prepping the operating room as we speak. Now, because of your condition, you will be seeing quite a few extra people in there. Rest assured, it is only because we are a teaching hospital and your condition is unique, and not because I’m at all worried.”
“You’re not worried?” I asked, not sure I heard her right
.
“You are the ideal case for a patient with HELLP. You’ve managed to make it far enough along in your pregnancy to be considered full term without increasing any of your symptoms, and you aren’t contracting. You, my friend, are what we call the best case scenario.”
Before I could ask her any questions, a man, about my age and wearing a doctor’s coat, walked in.
“Oh, excellent,” Dr. Harrison exclaimed with far too much enthusiasm. Although, she had been all sunshine and roses since she walked in, so it shouldn’t have surprised me. “This is Dr. Martin, the anesthesiologist. I saw in your records that your doctor indicated the spinal anesthesia did not go well last time?” She tapped on her tablet a few more times for good measure.
“They had to call in someone else after several failed attempts, and the headache that followed was almost as bad as the labor.” And I wasn’t even exaggerating. I was sure I’d had an aneurysm. I spoke to the anesthesiologist as I answered her question, wanting him to be one hundred percent in the loop.
“Well, we will be having none of that today,” she fluffed off my concerns. Normally when people were this stinking happy it came off as fake, but with Dr. Harrison, it felt sincere and made things just a tiny bit better. “Dr. Martin is the best of the best.”
“And he is standing right here,” Doctor Martin sassed back with a smirk. It was apparently an inside joke, and they both chuckled.
“Okay.” Doctor Harrison pointed to Coop who had been uncharacteristically quiet during the entire exchange. “Out with you.”
“He’s my husband!” I bit out because fuck no seemed a bit harsh.
“And as such, he needs to meet the nice nurse in the hallway for his scrubs and instructions on OR procedures while you get your epidural. That is, unless you want him to pass out and miss the entire thing.” She pointed to Coop, and it was the first time I saw what she saw.