âMorning Ni.â You sigh, seeing Niall sitting in front of his laptop at the mini bar that was used for small parties at the Horan household. A few small rounds of morning sickness and not having a good nightâs sleep was very evident on your face, as you quietly yawned. With the 7 month pregnant belly you were sporting, sleep didnât come easy for you. Itâs been impossible to lie down in a comfortable position at night, and with the constant pushing against your bladder and mild nausea becoming worse when the moon was out, sleep was the last thing Cara let you do.
âMorning Princess.â He smiles, but doesnât turn around from his laptop he was working on. He had been like this for some time now. Being distant and nervous. You could understand the nervous part. It was just a few more months until his first child would be born into the world and he would become a father. This meant that he would have another life in his hands. This meant he would now have another person that would have his eyes and your hair. This person, a combination between the both of you, would count on him to come a quiet her down every other time when she either needed a changing, a feeding, or just a warm cuddle from her father. This meant that he would have to protect her from everything up to the small ant she would scream to âget awayâ, to the boys that she would meet in her middle school years who only thought hot girls, having their pants below the waistline of their boxers, and Buffalo wings were the only important things that mattered in the world right then. But what you didnât understand was the distant part. It started at 6 and a half months. He would rub your swollen belly at every chance he was given anymore. Long, passionate âgood morningâ and âgoodnightâ kisses turned into small pecks that were sometimes forgotten. Snuggling during when you could get some sleep peaceful turned into, âSorry, I probably wonât be home by the time you go to sleepâsâ. Sometimes when you did have the energy to stay awake until he got home he would give you a quick greeting with a small kiss and rush upstairs. When you got up to your shared bedroom he was already asleep, leaving you feeling cold and alone. You wanted to ask him about his actions, but you feel that asking would just make it worse.
âDo you want to hear about the appointment yesterday? Cara was sad that you werenât with us yesterday. She wouldnât kick or anything.â You joke, hoping he would say yes. He hadnât gone to the ultrasound appointment with you. Or the one before that. Or the one before that. Or the one before that. You had let it slide because he had important things to do. Interviews or appearances were apparently more important than the health of your baby. You had tried not to show any emotion when he gave an excuse, and it was hard. It almost seemed like he didnât want anything to do with Cara, and that scared you. You couldnât do this alone. You needed him and so did Cara.
âI would love too, but the boys and Sophia are coming over remember. Maybe you could tell us all together, yeah? Theyâve been dying to hear about Baby Cara. Especially Sophia. Liam keeps texting me questions from her at least 6 times a day.â Niall laughs, and despite your glum mood, you let out a small giggle too.
âI should go and get dressed then. Donât want to look like an old hag now, do I?â You joke.
âYou do not look like an old hag. You are the most beautiful thing on the planet Earth.â Niall says, as he presses a kiss into your forehead, making your heart flutter.
âNow go and get dressed, while I make breakfast. Eggs and bacon okay?â You nod, mouth nearly watering at the sound of food.
âSounds amazing.â You groan, as he smiles and starts to get out the food to make for breakfast. As you walk up the stairs, your thoughts go to Cara. She had been kicking a lot lately, and you had been having little pains throughout areas on your stomach, but you didnât think much of it. It was getting closer and closer to the due date, and you thought it was just her way of showing that she was ready to make her appearance in the world. Hopefully you were right...
âYouâre looking as lovely as always, Mrs. Horan.â Harry smiles, walking through the front door of your friendly, inviting home, pressing a friendly kiss into your forehead. You smile, closing the door behind him. He was the last one to arrive, being fashionably late, as always.
âHeâs right, babe. I hope I look as good as you when Iâm pregnant.â Sophiaâs voice echoes through the semi empty hallway.
âYou will.â You smirk, but then wince when Cara gives a particularly hard kick. Both Harryâs and Sophiaâs eyebrows furrow, looking at you with worry filled eyes.
âWhatâs wrong?â Harry ask, lightly gripping your elbow. You look at him briefly, before softly rubbing his forearm, letting him know that youâre alright.
âIâm fine. Caraâs just been a little more active the past few days. I promise.â You smile at him and Sophia, but they still donât look convinced, which made you drop your shoulders and sigh.
âIâm really am fine. Her due dates is just a few months away, and the doctor said that they get more active as the due date gets closer. Trust me.â You finalize, and they not dare argue, though they wanted too. They knew you should never argue with a pregnant lady. Ever.
âSo hereâs her head, her feet, and her body.â You says, pointing to each one as you say it. You were all standing close to the couch, hovering over the picture everyone was excited to see.
âThatâs amazing.â Louis breathes out, Liam, Harry, and Sophia agreeing with him. You loved how they were so fascinated with her. Sometimes more than Niall, who was in the bathroom at the moment.
âHow excited was Niall at the appointment?â Liam giggles, expecting he was about to hear how he was basically jumping up and down, with fat tears running down his cheeks. None of them knew that he hadnât gone to the past few appointments, let alone engaged with your swollen belly.
âUm, actually he didnât go. He hasnât been to last 3 to be honest.â You say, tearing up. Looking down at the picture of your tiny, unborn baby, scary thoughts coming back to your mind.
âHey, donât cry, love.â Sophia coos softly, slipping next you.
âI canât help it. Iâm just scared that he doesnât want anything to do with her. He hasnât been treating her the same. Half the time he doesnât want to hear about what the doctor said, and when he does, something comes up and he has to leave.â You sob, tears starting to pour out of your eyes. Everyone was stunned. Hearing that Niall was acting like this was surprising, considering the way he had acted earlier in the pregnancy. Hands never leaving your belly unless forced too, and he somehow always got them back to where they were resting, despite Louâs request to come back and sit in the chair so his hair could be finished.
âHeâs probably just nervous. I mean, I would be if I was going to be a father.â Harry sighs, if anything a little upset with how Niall has been acting.
âBut-â You start, but get cut off by a throbbing pain between your legs, making you nearly scream out. Looking down, you see flashes of red just running down your legs. Your knees give out, causing both Liam and Harry catch you on either side. Your eyes start to pour out more tears, as you see a blurry Niall rushing up to you.
âOh, my god! Princess, whatâs wrong?!â He ask, tears now falling from his eyes.
âI-I donât know! Somethings not right, Ni.â You sob, as you see Louis calling an ambulance out of the corner of your eye. All you can hear is your heavy breathing and Niallâs voice. Everything seems hazy and like a nightmare. Noises that you know you would pay attention to are as loud as ever right now. The dial tones as Louis calls help, the big grandfather clock ticking on the wall.
âI need you to breathe for me, okay?â Niall says. But you canât. Somethings wrong with Cara. Somethings wrong with your baby. She may not make it. You might not make it. You become very lightheaded, and the last thing you remember is falling into your husbandâs arms.
âI feel like a douche. You needed me, and I was too worried about whether I was going to be a good enough father.â You hear someone sob. Opening your eyes, you let out a small groan, catching the attention of the person in the room.
âPrincess?!âNiall rushes over to you, and crouches down next to your hospital bed. You hold his hand, as his head falls onto the bed and he lets out loud sobs. But then you remember why youâre in this uncomfortable hospital bed, and start to notice the pain in your abdomen.
âNiall...â You tearfully whisper. His head raises at the sound of his name. He looks into your teary eyes, and knows why your about to burst into tears.
âSheâs alright, love. Sheâs a fighter. She wanted to see her Mummy and Daddy a little too early, and some of her organs were under developed. Mainly her lungs, but her heart is a little smaller than it should be. Sheâs getting treated and helped out right now, and god, you were so brave. Iâm so proud of you, and you did so well. You both did. She couldnât cry much because of the lung problem, but I did hear a few whimpers, and let me tell you it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.â Niall tearfully laughs, after catching you up on everything. You felt like the world was lifted off your shoulders.
You were okay.
Cara was okay.
Hopefully it would stay that way.
âNiall? Do you mind if we come in? I hear more than one voice in there.â You hear a deep voice say from the other side of the door. Niall looks at you questioningly, not knowing if you were okay with anyone in the room at the moment, considering you had just woken up. You nod at him, wanting to see a few other familiar faces. Niall hesitates before calling out an answer, but not taking his eyes off you.
âCome on in.â The door opens slowly and you see a long haired head peeks into the room. His face lights up, as he sees that youâre awake and okay.
âHey, love birds.â A smiling Liam, Sophia, and Louis appear behind Harry. You laugh slightly, ignoring the slight pain, seeing that Liam, Louis, and Harry have at least 6 balloons and stuffed animals each.
âWhatâs all this?â You ask as they fill into the room, setting down their gifts, and walking over to your hospital bed.
âHow are you, love?â Liam ask, sitting on the other side of you, rubbing a light hand on your leg, causing you to smile.
âRight now, fine. But, is it possible that I could see Cara?â Niall, nods before paging to get a nurse to help you all.
âSheâs beautiful. Just like her mother.â
âJust be very careful.â The nurse says cautiously, before gently handing over the little bundle that you and Niall had created. With you in a wheelchair, just waking up from an emergency C-Section, and your little one hooked up to all of these tubes and wires, you could understand why. As you feel her being put into your arms, you gasp. She was gorgeous and so small. One of the smallest things youâve ever held.
âNiall⊠We made her. Sheâs ours.â You cry, feeling Niall lightly wrap his arms around you.
âI know, Princess. Or should I say queen.â Niall chuckles, seeing Caraâs little hand move to grasp your pointer finger, which just makes you want to cry even harder.
âWhy Queen?â You ask, not taking your eyes off of the wonderful creation before you both.
âBecause now, Cara is my Princess, and you are now my Queen.â He explains, pressing a soft kiss into your hairline, before rubbing a feather like stroke on Caraâs little head.
âI love it. I love her. I love you, Niall James Horan.â You smile, looking up at him and smiling, before looking back down at your baby girl, and pressing a kiss on her head.
âI love you too, Queen. And I love you, Princess.â