Best Friends to Lovers

Chapter 12

Being here in the hospital was driving me crazy. But being confined to a bed was killing me. Even the smell of disinfectant was enough to make me mad. Well, I would much rather be anywhere but here. But the babies are more important than anything else, even my wants and needs,

Hayden and I talked until the doctor came in. "Mr. and Mrs. Rowland, I wanted to discuss with the both of you what I think is best for your children. Melinda, your water broke a couple of days ago. The longer we wait to have these babies, the more likely there is for infection to occur. You are officially thirty weeks pregnant and the babies have gotten the steroid to help their lungs to develop. So I would like to induce your labor starting tonight."

"So, will I be able to have these babies naturally?" I asked.

"We are going to try it, but if at any time you or the babies start to get stressed out, I will have to do a c-section," the doctor says.

"What should we expect after the babies are born? Will they need a lot of help breathing or any help?" Hayden asked.

"It all depends on how developed they are. The babies could be strong and not need anything too major or need to be on ventilators. We just won't know until they are born," the doctor tells him. 

"Since they are early, how long are we looking at them being here in the hospital?" I asked.

"Well, since they are about eleven or twelve weeks early. They should weigh about two or three pounds. They will need to be about five or six pounds to come home. Just plan on them being here until their due date. It could be earlier," the doctor says to me,

"Alright, I think we have a good picture now, doctor. Thanks for letting us know what to expect." Hayden says, shaking the doctor's hand.

As Hayden and the doctor walk out in the hall, I let my mind wonder what my babies will be? Will they be alright? Will they need more help than we expect? I am excited yet scared. I can only hope and pray they will be healthy. Will I be a good mom?

Only time will answer my questions; I shouldn't be stressing about this. I want to be relaxed. I know they will be in good hands once they are here. I was getting lost in what if's again when Hayden walked back into the room. "Kitten, I called Brenden and Maddison to let them know what is going on. Maddison wants to know if she can let your parents know?"

"I don't want them here. I will call mom and dad after the babies are born. They get too protective and pushy when it comes to me. If I have to have a c-section, you can call them then. I don't want mom freaking out on me." I say. Then add, "Plus, I told mom about the things I went through with Tanner the other day she yelled at me, told me that it was my fault he did me that way; that if I were a better girlfriend, he would have been a better boyfriend. What mother says that to her daughter after discovering she was beaten and lost a baby? Sometimes I hate that woman, but I love her. That doesn't make sense at all, does it, babe?"

"I know you are upset with your mom. We will call her after the birth unless you have a c-section. Why don't you message Maddison and let her know." Hayden says, pecking my lips. "Then you can get some sleep; it may be along night for you, baby doll,"

"I will message her and then try to get some sleep," I say with a yawn.

***

Three hours later, I wake up, look around and find that my room is empty. I turn the tv back on and flip through the channels. I settle on a rerun of law and order. As I watched the tv, I felt a dull ache in my back. Then about five minutes later, I felt another. I picked up my phone and messaged Hayden.

Melinda: Babe, I think I am

having contractions

Hayden: What? They haven't 

started the induction yet.

Melinda: I know, but I am having

Contractions.

After I sent my last text, another contraction hit. I hit the button to call the nurse in. I was getting nervous. I am having contractions and none of my people are here. I am freaking scared. I felt tears run down my face. I am so pissed that when I woke up, Hayden was gone. He could have at least sent me a text letting me know where he had gone. Where the hell is Hayden?

A nurse walks into the room, "What can I do for you, honey," she asked me,

"I think I am having contractions. I felt an ache in my back and then five minutes later had another. They keep coming every few minutes. The pain is getting worse as well,"

"Alright, let me hook you up to the monitors and then see if you have dilated more than you were yesterday. Is that alright?"

"Yes, ma'am," I say as she starts to connect me to the monitors. She closes my door and checks to see how far I have dilated.

"You are at six centimeters. I will call the doctor and let him know. Call your husband and tell him that we will have babies before long," she says, walking to the door and leaving.

I grab my phone and call Hayden; the phone rings once and he picks up. "Kitten, I am on my way back. I had to go home and show the guards around. Are you alright?" He asked me.

"No, I am in labor, you i***t. I am at six centimeters dilated. Contractions are around five minutes apart," I say, grinding my teeth.

"s**t, baby, is Maddison and Brenden there?"

"No, they weren't here when I woke up?"

"Call them. They should be in the hospital. I am parking and will be there in a few minutes. I love you, baby doll,"

"I love you, too, but at the moment, I could kill you for leaving me alone. I am going to call Maddison now," I say, hanging up and dialing Maddison's number. She picks up after the second ring.

"Hey Mel, what up?' she says.

"s**t that hurt," I say after a contraction, "I am in labor, six centimeters dilated," 

"I am on my way back. See you in a minute or two," she says before the line goes dead. About a minute later, Hayden comes in looking scared out of his mind. He was out of breath and his hair was a mess. He rushed over to me and hugged me.

"Kitten, how long has this been happening?" he asked me after he caught his breath.

"I had a contraction after I woke up. I don't know if I was having contractions when I was asleep or not, but they are getting stronger," I say, then grab his hand as another contraction hits me. After it was over, I looked at Hayden, "These babies seem impatient to meet us,"

"That they do, baby doll. So, is the pain bad yet? Do you need me to do anything?" Hayden asked me.

"Can you rub my lower back?" I say as the door flies open and in walks Maddison and Brenden.

"How are you holding up, Mel? Is the pain still manageable?" Maddison asked.

"How in the hell do you think I am doing? I am in labor. No one was here when I woke up in pain. These fucker hurt, but…." I grab Hayden's arm and squeeze. "I can handle them," I say after the contraction eases up.

"You have always been able to handle pain. I still can't believe that your babies are going to be here before mine." Maddison says, shaking her head.

"They just can't wait to meet their mommy and daddy," Hayden says while still rubbing my back.

I look around at my people and say, "I can't believe that this is happening. Things have changed a lot over the last seven or so months." I smile and it is cut short by another contraction. "s**t, that f*****g hurts,"

It has been a couple of hours since I woke up and started feeling the contraction. The nurses just left after checking to see how far I was dilated. She let us know that I am currently at an eight and could be punching in the next hour. "Mrs. Rowland, your labor is moving right along. The babies heart rates are great and your blood pressure is also good. The more relaxed you are, the faster this will all go. If anyone you want here isn't here yet, please call them and have them get here quickly," she said as she walked out of the room.

"Mel, are you sure you don't want your mom here?"

"I want her here. I just don't want to hear her putting me down. I want people here that are supporting me." I say, then add, "Maddison, call her and tell her I am about to push. That the babies will be early and I need her here for support. Tell her that if she can't support me to just stay at home."

"Okay, Mel, I will," she says, picking up her phone and dialing my mother's number.

"Mrs. Clark, I am calling to let you know that Melinda's water broke and she is in the hospital ready to push." Maddison is silent for a few minutes, "She wants you here if you can be supportive and not put her down," Maddison is quiet for a few minutes, then states, "Do you not understand what happened with Tanner?' She walked into her house and found him in bed with another woman; he had beat her so severely at one point that she miscarried. Melinda is married to Hayden. They are getting ready to welcome premature twins. Those babies could be sick. If you want a relationship with your grandbabies, get your head out of your ass and act like an adult," Maddison says and hangs the phone up. "Gosh, that woman is a pain in the ass. I can't believe she thinks that you cheated on Tanner with Hayden. I still don't know if she will show up,"

"Honestly, I could care less. That woman was never much of a mother to me; I have you here, Maddison. I don't need my mom. Everyone in this room is my family," I say as I grab Hayden's hand as a contraction hits.

***

Our baby boys were born at six forty-five and six fifty-eight yesterday afternoon. 

Xander Michael was the firstborn; he weighed in at just over three pounds. Xaidyn Alexander came next; he weighed three pounds; both are healthy, breathing independently. Right now, we are waiting for me to get discharged, then I am going up to the NICU, To drop off my breast milk. 

My mom showed up this morning. She cried and said that after she talked to Maddison, she was left thinking that she had screwed up big-time, thinking that I was the one that cheated on Tanner. She said she didn't remember me telling her about my miscarriage and asked my dad about it. He had confirmed that I had told her about it. She and I talked for a while; then I told her that the twins were boys. I also told her their names and weight. Then I took her to see my little guys.

After mom left, I called Maddison and talked to her for a while. She and Brenden were on their way to a doctor's visit and would stop in to see the boys and me right after. I am currently pumping so I can bring the milk to my babies. 

Earlier this morning, when I was up pumping, Hayden looked at me, "Kitten, you are so freaking amazing; watching you give birth to our amazing kids made me fall in love with you all over again. I don't know what I have done to be blessed with the three of you, but I am so glad I did whatever it was," he says.

"I am amazed that these babies are ours; we created them out of love. The fact that you never ran when we found out I was pregnant and stayed when you found out that we were having not just one but two showed me what type of man you truly are. Whenever I think I couldn't love you more, I am proved wrong. Seeing your face when our boys were born made me fall head over heels in love with you all over again," I say, then asked him, "Are the guards set up at home?"

"Yes, they are. They are under strict orders to call the police and contact me if anyone is spotted on our land. So when you come home, there will be a few around the home watching you. When the boys come home, the guards will be doubled." 

"Good, I knew that Tanner would be a pain in the ass after he was arrested. I just never thought that this Brittany girl would do something to appease him that could cause her life in prison. At least Lisa realized that Tanner was full of lies and had nothing more to do with him," 

"Mason called this morning and wanted to know if we have seen or heard anything from Brittany. I told him, no, but we have been at the hospital. I also told him the babies were born yesterday. He said congratulations. Keep your eyes open and watch for Brittany,"

"Well, I don't want to think about that mess right now; let's go see our little guys," I say, giving Hayden a much-needed kiss.

"All right, kitten, let's go," Hayden says.

We left my room hand in hand, heading to the NICU, where our sweet little boys were.