Life.
“Ha ha ha, I am so late!” You screeched in annoyance to yourself. Every time. Every time. Keys... shit. Where are my keys? I swear, I would lose my head if it wasn’t attached to my- there! Grabbing the keys, you jumped towards the door. You pulled the house key out from the small bundle you had collected without your own proper knowledge. BRRT. BRRT. shit. “Hey, Em. I’ll be there in ten minutes tops.”
“I hope so because-hey no!- Because it’s getting packed. Hey, Leah? Can you whack him over the head? Yeah, thanks. As I was saying, you need to get here now because this is getting out of hand.” Embry complained as he moved around the room.
“I’m getting in my car as we speak.” You continued as you put all your stuff in the boot of your car. “And Em? Please don’t end up in jail today. Not today.” You laughed as you got in the driver’s seat.
“I make zero promises. Be safe, I’ll see you soon. I love you.” Embry whispered.
“I love you, too, Em.” You smiled into the conversation while hanging up and pulling out of the drive way.
Pulling into the lot you began to shake from nervousness. This is it. No going back. You’ll be fine. Parking you walked into the west wing. Maternity Center. It felt with every passing step the seconds ticked on like hours. Suddenly you were aware of all of your body, from that very annoying piece of lint you just can’t get rid off above your brow bone. To the way your shoes are hitting against the smooth floor. Every passing second made your existence so much more clearer to you. Third floor. This is it, in a couple of hours there will be three of us. You stepped off the lift, having to remind your body how it is you’re meant to walk you pushed yourself further through the floor. Even from afar, the chatter was prominent. People were making a clear effort to stay as quiet as possible but even the energy wasn’t having it. The entire floor buzzed with life. Turning the corner you found six people looking expectantly back at you, recognizing your steps almost too familiar.
“Only you would turn up late to the birth of your own child.” Joked Paul. Rolling your eyes you moved towards Embry was waiting for you with open arms. If you looked anything like him you knew you looked like hell had ran through you.
“You’re not in prison.” You joked to Embry only loud enough for him to hear.
“I was very close. Sue had to remind me a couple times that I have waited a little too long for this.” He laughed nervously as he answered.
“Thank you, Sue. Thank you, Leah.” You said pulling away.
“I got you.” She smiled comfortably from her seat next to Seth.
“How’s college little dude?” You asked moving to hug him.
“Crap.” He smiled his sunny bright smile before pulling you in as close as he could.
“Has the doctor been in to see her yet?” You asked walking back to Embry, making sure to hold his hand as tightly to you as you could.
“Yes, she said maybe another three hours.” He said with a leveled tone.
“How is she?”
“Happy.” Embry said, his smile reaching his eyes much more than his lips possibly could.
“We’re going to be parents.” You breathed quietly.
“Nine months wasn’t enough time for you either, huh?” He asked pulling you closely.
“A life time wouldn’t be enough for me, Em.” You said honestly.
“I cannot imagine a better parent for our child, or children, than you.” He said sincerely.
“I hope so. Can we go in to see her?” You asked. He nodded as an answer and started walking towards the delivery room. Tk tk. Embry knocked lightly.
“Come in.” Said a tired voice. Pulling the handle back to you, the door opened to reveal a small room with only a bed and a guest chair. “Hi.”
“Hi, Emily.” You said as lightly as possible. “How are you?” You asked walking towards the sink to wash your hands before pulling your mask closer to her. Taking every precaution possible before moving closely to her.
“This one is going to be a fighter for you.” She said laughing lightly. “Has not stopped moving since we got here this morning.”
“I cannot thank you enough for doing this.” You said while sitting next to her.
“I’d do it a thousand times over.” She laughed lightly.
“Oh no, next one is getting adopted.” You said shaking your head as quickly as possible.
“Embry said the same thing earlier.” She laughed.
“Like we’re meant to be.” You laughed looking back at him. He had already gone to move things around the room. “Embry. Relax.”
“Yeah, because you’re so relaxed.” He said sarcastically before turning around, “Sorry.” He chuckled. “Nervous.” He said quietly.
“Where’s Levi?” You suddenly wondered for her own son.
“Sam decided to have a father-son day to keep him occupied. He said next pregnancy better be his little sibling.” She said while moving her hand around her belly.
“Are you thinking about it?” You asked her.
“Yeah, Levi is eight. He’s more than ready.” She smiled down at her round belly.
“Eight? Jeez, I remember holding him as a new born. It was not eight years ago.” You looked puzzled.
“I think we’re getting old.” She agreed.
“Maybe you’re getting old but I am still a youngin.” Embry said while holding out a cup of water to Emily.
“No kids say youngin.” Emily retaliated.
“You wouldn’t know. You’re old.” He mocked.
“Hey remember how we have a lovely couch? Don’t end up on it tonight.” You warned.
“Noted.” He replied before moving the cup of ice closer to Emily.
“How far are you dilated?”
“Almost at ten. Shouldn’t be too far now.” She informed.
“You said three hours.” You turned to Embry in a panic.
“Oh no, honey. Three hours was said to us about forty minutes ago.” Laughed Emily.
“In my defense you took a long time.” Embry turned shocked.
“Yeah, the last centimeters went by super quick.” Emily explained.
“Do you want us to be in the room when it happens?” You asked her suddenly aware no agreements had been made before.
“Yes.” She smiled brightly. Right before she could say anything else, the doctor came in with a report.
“How are we?” She asked.
“Could do without the pain be alright.” Emily answered.
“Every time.” The doctor sympathized. “Let me just check and we’ll be on our merry way.” She confirmed. “Oh my, you’re almost at ten. We’ll have to move everything up as quickly as possible.” She said frantically as the nurse walked into the room just by and quickly turning to gather all the equipment and the other nurses that would be assisting.
“Anything we could do?” You asked.
“Stand in the corner until we tell you otherwise. You’re the parents, right?” She finished.
“Yes. Us.” Embry spat quickly.
The next forty minutes were a blur. Everything moved so quickly that there was no time to register anything that was happening. The baby was coming. The baby was coming now.
“Okay, Emily. Push.” Said the doctor. One push. Two. Three. Again. One. Two. Three. Again.
Let the record show to anyone out there that when someone is giving birth. All Herculean strength comes out and there’s a fraction of a moment where your brain shuts off and you have a certainty that you’re going to have your hand fractured in ten minutes at most.
“I see the head!” The doctor exclaimed.
“I sure hope so!” Shouted Embry as his hand was also being crushed by a super Hulk- Emily.
“There’s not much left. Go on, Emily.” The doctor continued.
One. Two. Three. Oh, boy. One. Two. Three. There’s the cry. I’m a mother. You looked over at Embry who was already on the verge of tears himself. But somehow that look didn’t register because your focus was back on the baby’s cry and Emily gripping your hand tightly as the doctor called for the last push before the baby was safely and secured out.
The baby was cleaned as much as possible before being placed on Emily’s chest.
Emily laughed while looking at Embry, “looks like your name one, buddy.” She said through tears.
“Artemisia.” Embry whispered.
“Little Arty.” You smiled with tears streaking your cheeks. The nurses cleaned her before handing her back to you not too long after. “Hi Artemisia. I’m your Mom, this is Dad and this wonderful lady here is named Emily. She housed you, and nursed you, loved you and held you for nine long months. But she’ll always be your mother because she’ll be your godmother this day forth.” You said through more tears as Emily cried from happiness. “Thank you.” You said to her as you held your baby closer to you.
