I was so exhausted, but not matter how many different ways I moved the pillow or switched sides, the cramps in my lower stomach would just not go away. It was getting worse and worse by the hour. This last month had been driving me crazy all together. I could barely lift my weight, my poor legs hadn't been shaved in so long because I couldn't see them, I was always burning up and cranky. Tom was a trooper for sticking this out with me.


Giving up on my efforts to sleep, I slowly lifted myself off of the bed. Not being able to do anything was driving me nuts. Mommy brain prevented me from working on school. Tom refused to let me lift anything heavy. I honestly kept myself busy by repeatedly packing our hospital bags.


"Tom?" I called, waddling through the house. "I think we should call the doctor again. I know how it feels when Xander's on my nerve and it's just not the same."


Tom didn't answer me, which made me nervous. I picked up my pace the best I could until I entered the living room. Tom was on the phone, a sad look on his face. Having no idea what was going on, I made my way to the couch and sat down beside him. He mumbled a few words into the phone before he hung it up.


"What's wrong?"


"It's Stella," Tom sighed. "She went into labor early."


"Oh no," I frowned. The idea that Stella couldn't handle the birth didn't even cross my mind. My best friend was too strong to let go. It was more or less the fear of the infants not being fully ready to be born. "She'll be okay, won't she? The twins will just be in NICU for a while. I can deal with not being able to touch them for a while so long as everyone's okay."


"Yeah.." Tom nodded, like he didn't really believe that everyone would be okay. "Come on, we're going to the hospital. And I want you to get checked out while we're there. I'll go see Stell after you've been checked. I can't handle something being wrong with both of you."


It didn't take long for Tom to get my purse for me, even less time for us to be on the road to the hospital. I signed myself in and requested to see a doctor while Tom went to meet his dad to check on Stella's condition. I was a little worried about myself and Xander, but I was more concerned about Stella and her family. She'd been so scared that something like this would happen and now it has. The moment I was free from my exam I planned to go see her.


"Aubree Gaskarth," A nurse appeared in the waiting room, a smile on her face. "This isn't the first time you've called about the cramps. We have you on record and your exam shouldn't take long. Come on."


I rose an eyebrow. This wasn't right - I should have been waiting for at least an hour, not ten minutes. Still, I was thankful. I followed the nurse back, reluctant to go without Tom, and climbed up on the exam table in my room. She gave me a paper gown, a paper to sign and left me to change. By the time the doctor returned, my cramps had gotten worse.


"Aubree," he smiled, looking over my chart. "What's brings you here?"


"I haven't been able to sleep because of these horrible cramps I've been having. My regular doctor said the baby is on my nerve.. But it's just not right."


"When was the last time your cervix was checked?"


"About a week and a half ago."


"All right. Lay back for me, okay?"


I nodded, worry feeling my gut as my legs were lifted and parted. Tom should be here holding my hand, but it's not like I didn't understand why he rushed off to check on Stella. They were more than twins, they were best friends, but I was scared.


"Oh wow." The doctor mumbled, making my heart race. "Aubree, I have some good news and some bad news."


"Oh God."


"The good news is we need to get you upstairs and ready to push this baby out. The bad news is you're dilated so far you won't be able to get an epidural. You'll have to do this naturally. The worse news is, your contractions are going to start coming on stronger within the next hour."


I was in a daze as he helped me sit up. My nerves had gotten the best of me as I slid into the wheel chair and passed so many people in the waiting rooms. Next thing I know, we're in the elevator, on the labor floor and rolled into a private room. Had it not been for Tom's voice calling out to me, I never would have realized he's there.


"Whoa, what's going on here? Aubree why are you up here?"


Smiling to Tom the best I could with the sudden shock in my mind, I nodded towards the room that would be ours.


"We're having a baby."


________


"Push!"


It's no wonder women load themselves up on drugs the moment they hit the hospital bed. The doctor wasn't lying, my contractions really set in and it was the worst pain I've ever felt. Until now, that is. Every throb, every tear, every contraction.. Fuck, it hurt!


"Ahh!" Screaming to the top of my lungs, I pushed with every bit of energy I had. My body was worn out - Xander was giving me an incredibly hard time - I'd been pushing for over an hour. "Tom, I hate you!"


My husband shrugged off my insult and wiped my forehead with a damp rag. Natural labor was not an easy task and it was something I never wanted to do again. My entire body was in pain and my lungs couldn't handle much more pushing. I needed this baby out, now.


"He's crowning! One more time, Aubree. Push with all your strength!"


I sucked in a sharp air as my eyes trailed to the machine hooked up to my stomach. Three.. Two.. One. Contraction. I let out my breath, gripped my legs and pushed as hard as I could possibly push. There was an horrible pain in my lower body, then the gasp of a nurse.


Just by the look in Tom's eyes as he stared at my exposed lower half, I knew my son was born. I let my body fall back on the bad, not having the strength to sit up, as his screams filled the room. Everything was spinning, but I was crying.. Joy totally consumed my body. The pain seemed to be fading.


"Tom, cut the cord?"


My husband beamed and left my side to snip the cord. I wanted to see what was happening but I just didn't have it in me. Thankfully, it didn't matter. A nurse placed my son on my chest, his screams making my heart melt as she roughed him up with a blanket. My hands naturally went to his little face and my lips were kissing all of his forehead. He was perfect! It was too soon to tell who he'd look like most, with his litter wrinkles and open mouth, but he was beautiful.


"Xander," I whispered, my tears slipping at a fast pace. "You're amazing."


"You did great, baby," Tom bent over to kiss my cheek, then to kiss Xander's forehead. "I'm the happiest man alive."


"Time for baby to take his test," the nurse grinned as she pulled my son away from me. "Dad, you might want to stay with mom while she gets stitched."


"Stitched?"


"She has some pretty serious tears. She'll heal just fine, though."


"Well that explains the pain," I murmured, wiping my tears from my face. I was just so.. Happy. "I love you, Tom."


"I love you more, baby."


With a smile on my lips, I relaxed into my pillow. As soon as the doctors were done stitching me up, I knew I'd have my son in my arms and I'd be sending Tom on a trip to get me a food and drink. Ice chips just weren't cutting it anymore.


I was still worried about my best friend and her little family, but for the first time in my life, I understood Stella like I never had before. Being a mother was the best feeling in the world. I, Aubree Gaskarth, just gave birth to a beautiful 7 pound baby boy.


He was my world. Tom was my heart.

Notes

Meet little boy Gaskarth. (:
-Jess.