We Are Forever

Love And Loss

We make it to the hospital around one A.M. Aunt Jenna called my parents and they are on their way. Lexi and Adam are heading this way as well. But they won’t be here for a few hours. I just hope they are all careful and not driving like maniacs. Although they probably are so they can get here faster.

They get me into a room and verify that my water did break. They get my IV in my hand and hook me up on monitors. Aunt Jenna and Abbi haven’t left my side. Abbi also texted her mom that we were at the hospital. She said she will head this way soon as well. Luckily my room is huge at the hospital otherwise everyone wouldn’t be able to fit.

“I am so excited!” Abbi says while she sits in a chair next to me.

“I am in so much pain Abbi.” I say while panting through contractions. I am only a centimeter dilated. Apparently we are in for a long night. The nurse said when I get to four centimeters that I can get my epidural.

“Do you wanna get on the birthing ball or walk the halls?” Aunt Jenna asks.

“Yeah let’s walk. It eases the back labor some.” I say as I get up from the bed.

Let’s just say labor is not fun. It is so painful. We walk the halls for a bit. I have two hospital gowns on so no one can see my rear end. I look ridiculous with my big pregnant belly and bunny slippers but I’m too sore to care. I am going to be pushing out two babies in the near future.

When we get back to the room Joanne is there. She is chatting happily with my Aunt Jenna.

“How are you feeling sweetly?” She asks when she sees me.

“Ugh this is the worst. I know in the end my babies will be worth it but right now, I wish I’d never had sex.” Everyone laughs at that as the on call doctor steps in the room.

“I’m here to see if we have made any progress. I know your ready for the epidural.”

“Yes please! I need the drugs!”

After the doctor checks me he says I have a bit more to go and ups my pitocin level. Oh I hope this speeds up!

Around six In the morning Lexi strolls in with Adam behind her.

“How are you doing honey?”

“Oh ya know just breathing through the pain and having a dance party!” I am in so much pain. The doctor gave me something to help a little while they try to get me dilated enough for my epidural.

“Adam this is Abbi and my Aunt Jenna. This is Adam y’all.”

“Oh so your the little s**t that needs his ass handed to him?” Abbi asks eyeing Adam full of venom.

“Yup that’s me.” Adam says as he takes a seat in a chair.

“Alright Abbi I am uncomfortable enough. Let’s not do this. Your niece and nephew are trying to rip their way out of my vagina.” I say. Then a contraction hits and a suck in a breath and try my best to breathe through it.

“Is there anything I can do for you Marie?” Adam asks with concern on his face.

“Yeah tell the nurse I want drugs now!” I yell towards him. He runs out of the room to hopefully get me some help.

“They said the doctor is going to be coming in.” He says when he comes back not even two minutes later.

“You should dance to that baby mama song! I could totally video it!”

“Oh my God! Well we have been dancing and I have been on the birthing ball. May as well add one more song to it!” I say while climbing out of the bed.

“Does that hurt?” Adam asks eyeing my belly.

“No it itches and is uncomfortable but it doesn’t hurt. Wanna feel them?”

He put his hand on my belly and feels the babies moving.

“I am sorry you have had to do this on your own. I know I messed up. I know I should have wore a condom and that I had no right to tell you to get an abortion. I am glad you didn’t listen to me. I do want to be in their lives. If you will let me.”

“Adam I don’t want to talk about this. I just want to get through this in one piece. We will talk later.”

Abbi puts the song on and her mom videos me and her dancing. It is ridiculous and crazy funny but it takes my mind off the pain. She acts like the dad while we dance and like she is throwing money my way. I love her so much.

Everyone laughs at our behavior. Then the door opens and my parents walk into the room.

“Hey baby how you holding up?” My mom asks as she hugs me.

“Waiting for the doctor to tell me I can have my epidural.”

Just then the door opens and Dr.Evans appears.

“Hey champ I hear the babies are making their appearance today huh?”

“Yes so please tell me I can have drugs.”

“Well let’s check you and see.”

After he tells everyone to leave the room he checks me.

“Well whatever you have been doing the past few hours has worked well. Your at six and can have your epidural.”

After he leaves everyone comes back in and I tell them what the doctor said.

“Thank God. I couldn’t stand seeing you in pain anymore.” Abbi says while hugging me.

After a few minutes the anesthesiologist comes in and clears everyone out. The epidural hurt but not as much as the contractions do. The hardest part was not moving.

“All done Marie. I will send your family back in.” She says while gathering her supplies. I am feeling no pain. I can’t feel anything from my waist down.

Everyone comes back in the room and talks to each other for the most part. Abbi’s mom and Adams mom aren’t even looking at each other.

“What is wrong with y’all? Why won’t you even look at each other?” I ask. I am irritable and scared and have a lot on my plate right now. I do not need their tension.

They don’t answer me. Instead my dad comes over and sits at the end of my bed.

“So that the punk that upset my baby? Do I need to throw him out?”

“No dad I’m fine. I’m gonna nap for a bit while I can. I haven’t slept because of the pain.”

“Okay sweetie. Get some rest. Do you want us to go to the waiting room?”

“No it’s fine. I can rest with you all here.”

And with that I lay my bed back so I can rest.

I must have fallen asleep because the next time I open my eyes the sun is out.

“Well good morning sleeping beauty!” Abbi says next to my bed.

“Where is everyone?”

“They all went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Me and Adam stayed. He just stepped outside because his phone was ringing.”

“Oh must have been Yazmin.”

Just then Adam walk into the room.

“Oh hey your awake I see. I can’t believe you aren’t feeling those pains. I’m glad you aren’t because that monitor paper looks like someone is failing a lie detector test.”

“No I feel nothing. Everything okay?”

“Yeah just Yazmin being a pain in the ass. She is either demanding she get to come here or I go back home.”

“Oh I see and what have you decided?”

“I swear dude if she comes up here you won’t have a girlfriend, and someone will need to hire me a lawyer! I will murder her!” Abbi says while her face turns bright red. I have never seen her this angry. Like ever!

“I told her she is to stay there and I’ll be home tomorrow night.”

“Thanks Adam.”

“It’s the least I could do. After all I’m the reason your here.”

We get quiet for a bit when the door opens and Dr.Evans walks in.

“Well hey there sleepy head. How you feeling?”

“I’m feeling good but I am feeling some pressure down there.”

He sends Abbi and Adam out of the room and checks me again.

“Well you are good to go! Let me get the nurses in here and we can start pushing. Is there anyone here you don’t want in the room?”

“No they are all fine to be here.”

“Okay I will send the boy to collect everyone then. Is that dad?”

“Yeah that’s dad.”

“Alright I will see you in a minute then.”

He walks out and a few seconds later Abbi walks in with a smile on her face.

“I hear it’s pushing time!” Her eyes are being and I can tell how excited she is.

“Yup just waiting for the doc to come back and everyone to get in here.”

Right after I said that the door opened and my excited family came in the room.

The next few minutes were a blur of people coming in and setting up.

When the doctor came back in he had me scoot to the end of the table. Then he placed my feet in the stirrups. My dad was up by my head since he didn’t want to see anything going on down below. Can’t say I blame him. My mom was in front of him next to my arm. Joanna was on my other side by my shoulder. Lexi was next to her across from my mom. Adam and Abbi were next to my legs. They wanted to watch the babies come out.

“Alright Marie when I tell you to go you start pushing okay?”

I nod my head and wait for his signal. When he tells me to go I take a deep breath in and bare down with all my might. It takes a few times before I felt a burning sensation. I grab Adams and Abbi’s arms with each hand as a breathe through clenched teeth.

“You got this Marie. Bring our babies into the world.” Adam says encouragingly. Is he even the same man from a few months ago?

“Yeah come on Marie. I wanna meet my nephew and niece.” Abby chimes in.

I bare down with all I got and feel a huge relief from my body.

“It’s a boy!” Yelled Dr.Evans as he hands me my son.

Tears are running down my face as I take in my baby boy.

“Welcome to the world Eli John Blare. It’s nice to finally meet you.” I say as I look over my son. He has dark hair like his dad but his eyes? They are a startling blue that matches my own. The perfect blend. The nurse clamps the cord and detaches my son from me. She cleans him off and weighs him.

“Five pounds three ounces!” She calls.

“Alright Marie let’s get the placenta out so we can get to your baby girl.” Dr.Evans says from between my legs.

“Okay I’m ready.”

I push one good time and the placenta comes out. I must say that hurts worse then Eli coming out.

“Oh that was painful!” I wail out.

“Okay Marie time to meet your baby girl!”

I bare down and push some more. Sweat is running down my faces now I am so exhausted. I feel the burning sensation again and blink back tears.

“Come on Marie. Let’s meet our daughter now. You can do it.” Adam says next to me.

“Alright Marie I need you to give me one big push. Let’s get this girl out.” The doctor says.

I push through the burning pain I feel. Tears are mixing in with the sweat as it runs down the side of my face. I just want to be done already.

“I swear to God someone best get her out of me! I am never having anymore kids! I feel bad for any other girl you get with and pray you use a condom with them! I’d castrate you right now if I could!” I scream at Adam. My mom starts laughing and tells him not to take it personally.

“I know Marie. I would apologize but then our son wouldn’t be in a baby bed and our daughter wouldn’t be coming into the world right now.” Adam says looking happy.

I just glare at him as I push using the last of the strength I have. After a moment another cry fills the room. And of course hearing her cry her brother joins in. They place her on my chest as I look her over. She looks exactly like me. Her red hair in curls on top of her head and bright blue eyes.

“Welcome to the world Ellie Jane Blare” I say softly as I run my finger over her pale cheek.

After they deal with cutting her cord they take her to the table and clean her off and weigh her.

“ Four pounds fourteen ounces! You did great Marie!” The nurse says from the weighing table.

I look around and see everyone with tears in their eyes. I did it.

“Alright Marie let’s get this placenta out and take a look at you.”

I deliver the placenta in no time. I still think it hurts worse then delivering the actual baby.

“Alright Marie I am going to give you some local anesthesia to numb this area and stitch you up. You got just the tiniest rip but it could cause issues later down the road when your able to be intimate again. Let’s not have anymore pain down here for a while right?”

I nod my head even though I will not be having s*x again any time soon! Adam looks at me like he swallowed his tongue.

“Are you seeing anyone Marie? I know I have no right to ask but call it curiosity.” Adam trails off.

“No Adam it is none of your business but I’m not seeing anyone right now. Although now that my body is just mine again I am hoping after some time I may meet someone. I just want to be really loved. I want to be happy.”

“I know Marie. I am sorry I messed up and did you wrong. I just hope we can work past it and work together to be parents to our kids.”

I nod my head as the doctor finishes stitching me up. After a moment they bring me my babies wrapped in matching blankets. Eli is wearing a hat and Ellie is wearing a hat with a bow on it. I hold a baby in each arm and just smile down at them. Everyone looks at them with big smiles. Abbi snaps a few pictures of me and my babies while wiping a tear from under her eye.

“They are perfect Marie. I am so proud of you.” Abbi says sincerely.

Adam grabs Ellie from me and holds her close. He looks at her and I can see the proud smile on his face. He looks truly happy in that moment.

After everyone takes turns holding each baby they make excuses to leave. My parents and Abby are going back to Aunt Jennas to rest and shower. Joanna says she is going home and will be back up in a bit. Lexi rented a motel room just down the street and heads there to rest and shower. Adam stays with me to watch over our kids and so I won’t be alone. We let the nurses take the babies to the nursery so we can rest in my room. They bring a cot in for Adam to rest on too.

We each have a bracelet for each baby this way they know they are our babies. Adam looks like such a proud father. I know I don’t have anymore feelings for him and that it’s over between us. But I can’t help but feel content around him.

Adam left about an hour ago to check on our babies. He said he would be back in a bit and that he just wanted to see what they were up to. So I decide to go and check to see what they were doing. Only when I get to the nursery I don’t see him.

I ask the nurse if they seen him and she said he was here for a few minutes. I go in and sit with my babies holding them close to me. After a few minutes I feel like I am being looked at and look around. Only I am met with a hard stare of none other then Yazmin. What the hell!

I put my babies in their bed and tell a nurse to let no one anywhere near them including their father. I also tell her to phone the police. I rush out of the room and find Yazmin going through a door that leads to the stairs. I know it’s stupid but I follow her out.

Once we get through the door I gasp as my hair is pulled to the side. I try to pry the hands off me but I can’t see anyone.

“Yazmin what the f**k are you doing here?!” I scream out. I am furious. I only hope I make it out of this alive and that my babies are safe.

“b***h I warned you to get rid of the kid! Imagine my surprise when there are two brats! You should have heeded my warning!” Yazmin yells in my ear.

She shoves me down the set of stairs. Have I mentioned I just had a baby and I am super weak and sore? Being thrown down stairs is no fun!

“Would you get over your self?! You can have Adam! I don’t want him!”

“Yet you called when you went into labor. Makes me wonder if you trapped him on purpose.”

I sit with my back against the wall and look up at her. She is slowly walking down the steps near me.

“I called because they are his kids. And I didn’t trap him on purpose. I didn’t plan to get pregnant. Unlike you I was a virgin! I didn’t know he didn’t have a condom on!”

I don’t know why I am explaining s**t to her. The only reason I can come up with is that I’m waiting for help.

“Whatever b***h. You won’t be around any more to stand in my way.”

She steps in front of me and raises her hands holding a gun. I know I am going to die. I can only hope that Aunt Jenna loves my babies as much as I do. I stand up slowly as I stare her down. I so wish she didn’t have a gun. I would have no issue trying to beat her ass right now.

“Yazmin please don’t do this. I just had my babies. I haven’t even gotten to really spend much time with them. You don’t have to do this.” My heart is pounding so loud. My entire body is shaking. Full of anxiety. I am completely full of fear.

She smirks at me and aims the hun right at my face.

“Marie! Yazmin no!!” I hear Adam holler as he runs up the steps toward me. She pulls the trigger just as I am knocked out of the way. BAM! The gun goes off and Adam falls limply on the floor. Blood oozing out of his chest.

The doors to the stairs fly open as the police rush in guns raised. They tackle Yazmin to the floor as I rush over to Adam.

“Adam please tell me you will be okay. Our babies need you.”

“Marie I am so sorry for how I treated you. You deserved better.” He says gasping. Tears fill my eyes while I hold his hands

I start crying as Adam runs his hand over my cheek. Nurses and doctors rush in to take Adam out of the area and assess him. He closes his eyes and stops breathing.

“I need a crash cart now!”

I hear someone yell. There’s a flurry of activity as the doctors work on Adam and the police take Yazmin into custody. She is handcuffed and screaming that she needs to right a wrong.

After a moment I call Lexi on her cell.

“Hey honey have you rested? Where’s Adam?”

“L-L-Lexi?”

“What’s wrong Marie?” She says through the phone.

“Yazmin showed up and sh-sh-she t-t-tried to ki-kill me. She ha-ha-had a gun. Lexi he pu-push me out the way.” I start sobbing uncontrollably.

“I am on my way baby girl. Tell my son to hang on.”

She hangs up the phone and I call my family back up here. I hope he is okay. I know he has been an ass and hasn’t been very good to me but I don’t want him to die.

“Miss? Why don’t you go on back to your room. Someone will call you about your boyfriend when they know something.” A nurse tells me while gently leading me toward my room.

“His mom will be here any minute.”

“Okay we will handle everything.”

After a few minutes my parents, Aunt Jenna and Abby all rushed into our room.

“What happened?” Abby says as she hugs me.

The door opens and Lexi walks in with her face full of tears. We hug each other for a moment before she pulls away. I tell them what happened from the time I went into the nursery until I was sent back to my room. Lexi is sobbing uncontrollably at this point and my mom tries to console her as best she can.

“I’m calling our lawyer real quick. I’ll be back in a moment.” Dad says as he steps out.

“They said they will come in here with any news. They will also bring the babies back in here in a moment. I know it’s a lot going on but I need to be close to my babies after that experience.” I say while wiping my face.

We all wait quietly for a a while after the nurses bring my babies back into the room. It feels like it’s been forever when the surgeon walks into the room.

“I am sorry. We did all we could to save him. The bullet went straight through the main artery to his heart. I will say he didn’t suffer. If there is anything we can do please let us know.”

Lexi screams as she sobs and I start crying. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be! We were supposed to bicker over visitation and what school they would go to. I was supposed to get mad at him for hitting on the kids teacher.

Abby hugs me and my dad holds Lexi. My mom and Aunt Jenna each have a baby in their arms and tears running down their faces.

“He saved me Lexi.” I cry.

“I know honey. He’s a hero.” Lexi says as she hugs me and puts her face in my neck.

After a moment Lexi looks at me. She rubs the tears under my eyes.

“Can I ask one thing? Give the babies his middle name. Hyphenate their middle names. So Eli would be Eli John-Grey Blare and Ellie would be Ellie Jane-Grey Blare.”

I nod at Lexis request. I wish there was more I could do. We gained two wonderful babies today but we lost their father. Noting would ever be the same again. I just know it.