Page 20 of Zin and Celeste: A Fortis Family Christmas

Chapter 9

The pain was relentless,now coming in wave after wave. As soon as her waters had broken, it was like a switch had flipped. Her body had gone mad in its attempt to bring her son into the world. She held onto Lauren’s hand as Ava coached her through the contractions. Each one seemed to be worse than the last as the overwhelming urge to push began to move through her.

Celeste sobbed as the last one eased and tried to fight her body, not wanting to do this without Zin. She loved her friends, but she wanted him to hold her and she didn’t know if she could do it without him.

Her tear-filled eyes held Ava’s in desperation. “I can’t do this without him.”

“You can and you will. Your son needs you now.”

Celeste knew she was right and rallied some of her earlier fight as the next contraction crashed over her in a wave of pain and the urge to push became too much. “I want to push.”

“Let me check you, is that okay?” Lauren squeezed her hand as Celeste lay back against the stacked cushions. At this point, she didn’t care about who saw what.

Lauren, who had helped deliver Lucy’s baby and had been training as a doula under Doc’s watchful eye, examined her and looked up. “You’re fully dilated and ready to go.”

Ava smiled at her. “On the next contraction, you need to push into your bottom as hard as you can.”

Celeste smiled and with her friend beside her did what she knew was needed, pushing with every ounce of energy she had past the pain and burning that was the most hellish thing she had ever known.

“You’re doing great, Celeste. Keep going. I can see the head, and he has his daddy’s hair.”

Contraction after contraction she pushed until she was exhausted, and she saw her friends exchanging worried looks. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Celeste, but he’s a big boy, and I need you to give us a little more, okay?”

“I don’t think I can.”

“Sure you can. Now let go.”

Celeste would have laughed at how much Ava sounded like a drill sergeant, but she was spent.

A scream tore through her on the last push, and she fell back on the bed in defeat. She was about to start crying when the door to her room opened, and the most beautiful sight she had ever seen greeted her.

“Zin,” the sob tore from her.

He hobbled towards her, and Lauren stepped to the other side so he could hold her. His freezing cold arms around her was the best feeling in the world and seemed to revitalise her. He let go when she tensed, and her body took over.

“What should I do?”

“Get behind her body and support her. She’s been pushing a while, and we need to get this baby out soon.

Zin slipped behind her, and she lay back against him as he held her and whispered encouragement in her ear. “You’re so amazing, Pixie, and I love you so much. I know you can do this.” She felt his lips against her temple as she bore down and pushed with everything she had.

“That’s it, Celeste. You’re nearly there, one more push and the head will be out.”

Celeste relaxed for a moment against Zin, feeling her love for him overwhelm her. Her hand came up to trace his face so beloved to her. “I thought I’d lost you.”

He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Never. Nothing could ever take me away from you. I’ll always come back to you.”

Daniel came into the room and she looked at Zin with a feeling of panic. Lauren knelt beside her. “Celeste, this is a big baby, and I think he might be a bit stuck. I need Daniel to help me as he has medical training that I don’t.”

Celeste felt fear grip her as she looked at Zin. “What shall I do?”

“If Daniel can help, then he needs to be here. Your safety and that of our son is the only thing that matters.”

Celeste nodded, and Daniel came fully into the room just in time for the next contraction. Celeste pushed as if her life depended on it and in some ways it did, but nothing happened, and she was getting so tired.

“How long has she been pushing?” Daniel was looking at Lauren, and she could see the concern in his eyes even as his words were calm.