Thrive

My alarm went off at six o’clock causing me to groan; Alex on the other hand, was still asleep. I laid in bed for five minutes before attempting to get out of bed, so I could walk into the bathroom and take a shower. I heard his alarm as I got there and heard him stir just as I did.

“Abby?” he mumbled.

“About to step into the shower.”

“You hear anything?”

“No. Not even about their parents.”

“I’m sure within a few hours, we will.”

“Wanna join me? We’ll get out of the house faster.”

“Always.” he said sliding out of bed.

I undressed and turned on the water, adjusting it to the right temperature when I felt his arms slide around me.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. Ready to get in?” I asked.

The feeling of the hot water on my skin felt invigorating.

“Feeling good?” he asked, noticing the look on my face.

“Feeling great.”

I stood on my toes and kissed him.

“I can tell.” he said backing me against the wall.

Fuck.

“You sure? It’s pretty early.”

“It’s never too early to make love to you.”

I felt his erection on my thigh and was so close to my opening that I moaned. I wrapped my arms around his neck with him lifting me up and me locking my legs around his waist.

“I love you so much, Alex.” I cried out as he moved in and out of me rather lovingly.

“I love you, too, Abby.” he said in a low voice.

“Oh, fuck.”

I held his face in my hands as I feverishly kissed him. I dug my claws into him as I was about to reach an orgasm.

“That was amazing.” I said into his chest once he set me down.

“You can say that again.” he said into my hair.

We showered in ten minutes and were out in a half hour. I got a call from Miranda’s mom on our way to the hospital.

“Hello?”

“Hey Abby. We’re about to get off the plane. I’m assuming you and Alex are already heading to the hospital.”

“We are. Do you know about Jack’s parents? Are they there yet?”

“We don’t and don’t know whether or not we should wait for them to catch a taxi.”

“We can come get you guys. It’s fine.”

“You sure?”

“It is. I’ll pick them up.” Alex added.

“Yes.”

“You two are so sweet. See you, soon!”

I hung up with a smile.

“Guess I’m headed to the hospital. No offense to her parents, but it would’ve been nice to have a heads up.”

“I’m sure they didn’t wanna wake us up.”

“Still.”

“I get it.”

Ten minutes later, we were at the hospital.

“I’ll see you soon. Love you.” he said before I got out of the car.

“Love you, too.”

“Let me know if anything happens. Ok?”

“Ok.”

I got out of the car and walked toward the building. Once I was allowed in, I walked into their room where I saw an actually awake Miranda and sleeping Jack.

“Good morning.” I whispered.

“Good morning.” she said smiling.

“Why you up already?”

“I’m having trouble sleeping. I got maybe six hours. So, what’s up? Where’s Alex?”

“He went to the airport to pick up your parents, along with Jack’s.”

“He’s too sweet.”

“Your mom said she’d wait for a text, but we insisted.”

“You two are the best. I love you.”

“I love you, too. So, any updates?”

“As of an hour ago, I was at seven. So, right now, I’ve been here for nearly twenty hours. He needs to be here already.”

I heard Jack stir.

“Morning Abby.”

“Morning.”

He asked what Miranda did and nodded. Close to an hour later, I heard my phone ring; it was Alex.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“What’s up?”

“We’re on our way. All five of us. Anything new?”

“She’s at seven centimeters. That’s all.”

“Ok. See you, soon.”

“They’re on their way.”

She smiled widely and hugged me. A few minutes later, her doctor came in to check her cervix.

“You’re at nine centimeters, Ms. Cullen. I’ll be back in a half hour. It shouldn’t be long.”

“Holy shit.” she said once she left.

“He’s gonna be here today.” Jack added.

She was beginning to tear up. He hugged her and she didn’t let go. I excused myself to go for a walk and wait for everybody. It wasn’t long at all, maybe twenty minutes, till I saw them get out of the car and Alex walk toward me.

“I forgot to ask how you’re doing. Sorry.”

“That’s okay.”

“No. It’s not.”

I lightly touched his face.

“Trust me. It is. I’m good. I just decided to go take a walk.”

He nodded and I pressed my forehead against his, smiling.

“Abby!” I heard from Miranda’s mom.

“Lana!”

She walked over and hugged me.

“How are you, honey? How far along are you now?”

“Good, for the most part. I’m 25 weeks.”

“Well, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

I greeted everyone before we all headed into the hospital. We saw her doctor head out of their room when we walked down the hall.

“Mom! Dad!” Miranda exclaimed.

Jack greeted his parents in a similar manner which melted my heart as I leaned up against Alex.

“So, we just saw your doctor. What’s going on?”

“I’m at ten centimeters.”

I could just read the anxiousness all over her face.

“I’m assuming we’re gonna need to head to the waiting room.” her mom said.

“Yeah. I was told when you guys arrived, you could only say a quick hello.”

“We’ll be out here. I love you, baby girl.”

Seconds later, they were out the door, but I still gave her one last hug before I left. I met Alex right outside the door; I smiled and leaned up against him.

“I’m ready for a nap already.” I said once we sat down.

“Go ahead. I’ll be right here.” he said running a hand through my hair.

His hand traveled to my bump and I drifted off in seconds. The loud sound of footsteps running down the hall woke me from my deep slumber; it was a nurse.

“Are you here for Miranda Cullen?”

“Yeah.” her mom said.

“The baby’s here and he’s healthy.”

“Can we go see him?”

“Yes, but immediate family first.”

As in, not us. I sat back and sighed.

“How did I sleep through all that?” I asked once they were gone.

“You really must’ve been tired.”

“Was she screaming at all?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. I really was, but I’m glad I didn’t have to hear all that and I’m sorry you did. You’re guaranteed to hear that in a few months.”

He sighed.

“I’m terrified about the pain. I really am. The worse pain I’ve experienced is the emotional kind.” I said squeezing his hand.

“You’re a badass. You can handle it.”

I laughed.

“I hope your hand can because I’ll be squeezing it like crazy.”

He laughed.

“I’ll be fine.”

Ten minutes or so later, we were able to meet the baby.

“Hey guys.” I said.

“Hi.” an exhausted Miranda said.

“How are you? Besides tired, that is?”

“The happiest I’ve ever been. Would you like to hold your nephew?”

“Of course. What’s his name?” I asked with her handing him to me.

“Luca Mason Barakat.”

“What a wonderful name for such an adorable baby.” I said smiling.

He did have Jack’s eyebrows, but damn, was the kid cute. I looked over at Alex who was smiling at me. Luca gurgled at me which caused me to giggle.

“I’m your Aunt Abby and I’m gonna spoil you. Ready to hold him, Uncle Alex?”

He nodded.

“Hey kiddo. Sorry you have your daddy’s eyebrows, but at least you’re rocking them better than him.”

Everyone laughed, including Jack.

Watching Alex with Luca melted my heart and showed me a sneak peek of what he’s gonna look like when our daughter is born. He latched onto Alex’s finger and I about died.

“Wow. You have such a stronghold there, kiddo.”

When we handed him back to Miranda, I kissed Alex.

“I love you.” I said.

“I love you, too.”

I wrapped my arms around his upper torso causing him to laugh.

“Now, we just have to wait for Baby Scarlett.” she said.

I smiled and buried my face in his chest with him kissing the top of my head. We spent a handful of hours longer before heading back to the house.

"So, what a day, huh?" I asked once we were in bed.

"A big day." he said smiling.

"I'm exhausted now and instead of us doing something tomorrow, I have to work."

I made a face and sighed into my pillow.

"We have tomorrow night, though."

"That we do. Goodnight. Love you."

"Love you, too. Goodnight."

Notes