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“Penny just ran for him. I’ve been calling him for a half an hour, but he was out on those death traps with Ollie.” I hissed and she flinched at the anger in my voice aimed at her boyfriend.
Pretty boy Ken doll Doc had wooed my sister while she was under his care, showing up here for ‘follow up’ check ins after she was released until she gave in and let him take her out on a date. Now he was my husband’s most unlikely best friend, and they hung out constantly.
It was so fucking weird.
“Delilah,” My husband’s voice boomed from the patio door as I was wracked with another contraction.
“Kitchen, Fox,” Maddie called out as he, Penny, and Oliver, aka Ollie, ran inside.
“Baby,” Fox’s strong arms pulled me from my sister until I leaned on him like I had been with her.
“Back.” I hissed, hating how close to tears I was in the moment, “My back.”
“I got you,” He put his big hands on my hips and squeezed, putting the perfect amount of pressure on them and I groaned in satisfaction and took a deep breath for the first time since the contractions really started. “I’m right here.”
“I’m scared.” I whispered, not wanting to frighten Penelope, even as tears tracked down my cheeks into his shirt. He smelled like sunshine and sweat, and I focused on the combination and groaned as he gave me such relief with his hands.
“I know sweetie, but I’m right here. Let’s get you in the truck and we’ll go to the hospital.”
I shook my head and cried harder as I acknowledged what I’d been trying to avoid. “I don’t think there’s time.”
“Talk it down to me, D.” Oliver said, stepping forward as an emergency medicine doctor and I actually appreciated the clinical approach in the moment. Because I could focus on the facts and forget the fear if I looked at it that way.
“My water broke a few minutes ago, contractions are less than two minutes apart. Penny’s labor was only two hours long start to finish,” I pulled up to look at the clock again, “And I’ve been having them for forty-five minutes now.”
“Do you want me to check you, then we can decide if you can make the trip or not?”
“Fuck no.” Fox snapped at his friend, and I felt his body bristle under me, but I bit down on his shoulder as another contraction burned straight up my back, letting his shirt muffle my scream of pain.
“Fox,” Oliver tried gently.
“No, don’t think I won’t knock you on your ass just because we’re friends, man,” Fox hissed, “You’re not touching her there.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I snapped, and then grunted as my body started pushing on its own with my next breath, “He’s coming! God, he’s coming.”
“Fuck.” Fox hissed and I could hear the fear in his voice. This was his first birth even though it was baby number two for us.
“I’ll get my med bag. Maddie get towels and Fox get her on the ground.”
I trembled and screamed through my teeth as the pain turned blinding like our son was trying to walk out through my belly button instead of through the birth canal. Everyone snapped into motion. Fox laid me down on the kitchen floor and held my head in the crook of his arm as Maddie ran around throwing towels down next to us. Seconds later Penelope slid her unicorn pillow under my head before backing up in fear.
“I’m okay PJ.” I tried to calm myself for her as tears welled up in her eyes, “This is sometimes how births happen, it’s okay.”
“Come here, darling,” Fox pulled her down next to him at the top of my head and put my hand in hers, letting her be a part of it, which we had already discussed doing under normal circumstances. I just hadn’t planned on it being on the kitchen floor, home birth style. “Are you excited to meet your brother?” He asked her and she nodded eagerly.
Oliver knelt down at my feet and risked a glance at Fox before gloving up and lifting the hem of my dress up and cutting off my underwear.
I groaned in mortification and then my body started pushing again, not even giving me the choice to participate or not.
“You’re right, D, he’s right there.” Oliver said and Fox leaned down to see and cursed, paling a bit. “On the next one I want you to go ahead and push for me. Push hard and we’ll get him out in no time.” Maddie slid down to her knees next to him with every towel in the house and smiled brightly at me with excitement coursing through her.
“This is all so exciting still.” She smirked and I flipped her off.
Fox leaned down to kiss my forehead, “I’m so proud of you baby.” He said against my temple, smoothing back my hair.
“I love you.” I replied and kissed him, forcing myself to take some calming breaths and bask in the moment with him. “You were the only thing I wanted during PJ’s birth and I’m so happy that you’re here now. Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else baby.” He tightened his hold on my shoulders and I tensed as another contraction started.
