AN; i only got 7 reviews but i couldn't not post this chapter cause i really hate to leave you guys waiting. so, here's your twist :D
(don't worry, it isn't a bad twist... well it is, but i didnt leave it bad haha)
Jared's POV
I could feel the excitement running through me at the thought of seeing Mel. This was the last time I'd be going on a raid for a while and I found that I wasn't even saddened by the fact. I loved going on raids. I was needed on raids, but they would have to survive without me for a few months so that I could be there with Mel whilst she had the baby and took care of it with me by her side every step of the way. I smiled as I thought about holding my baby for the first time. The tiny hand that would wrap around my finger like I had seen so many times with my younger brothers. I felt my face drop as my brothers came to mind but I kept my smile at the fond memory of holding the youngest brother when I was eight.
The ride back to the caves was excruciatingly slow. I just wanted to be back with Mel, hoping to god she had forgiven me for being overly protective of her. I felt Ian watching me from the side and glanced over at him. "What?"
He smiled knowingly. "Nothing, I just think it's funny how happy you are now compared to how angry and hell bent you were when she first told you."
I sighed looking down for a moment feeling ashamed. "Yeah, well, things change. I was stupid. She didn't deserve what I almost did for her and honestly, she makes me happy when she's happy. That's all I can ever ask for." Ian smiled at me again.
"You know, Wanda said she wants to try for a baby now. She said she wants a mini Ian running around," he chuckled softly. I nodded towards him, feeling my excitement rise as I pulled into the desert track. "You go straight in to see Mel, Kyle and I will unpack everything. And take the van back to the hiding place."
"Thank you, Ian." He nodded to me as I drove at full speed towards the entrance to the cave. Quickly jumping down I ran full pelt into the main cavern. When I got there I was shocked to see everyone milling around the entrance to the south tunnels. Trudy looked at me with pitiful eyes. My breathing sped up as I realised what it meant. Something had happened to Mel. I felt tears prick my eyes as panic set in. I pushed my way through the crowd not caring who I elbowed or pushed as I ran full pelt down the south tunnel. When I got there the sight that hit me sent my emotions into a whirlwind. All the happiness and excitement was washed from my body before I was filled with pain and dread. There was Mel, stomach completely flat, covered in blood with a huge scar around the base of her stomach. Candy was there bundling something in her arms trying to coax a reaction out of it whilst Doc was attempting to reopen the wound and kept yelling at Wanda to find some more heal.
It was times like this I was glad I always carried around medical supplies with me after and during a raid. I ran over to doc frantically asking questions and shoving my bag at Wanda. "What happened? What's wrong with her?" I could feel my emotions starting to spill out into my voice but I kept them under wraps, this was not the time to be emotional it was the time to be practical.
Doc didn't answer me but made me stand over near the back wall. So that he could concentrate on the task at hand. Wanda handed him all the bottle of heal before coming over to me. Tears were running down her face. "I'm so sorry, Jared. I didn't take care of her I'm sorry. Her placenta tore away, we had to do an emergency c-section." She sobbed softly into her hands. I wrapped my arms around her suddenly stiffening up.
"Shh, Wanda it's okay, you did everything you could. She's okay. She's going to be okay... She's a Stryder, a fighter." I whispered the last sentence as I remembered her telling me that herself the day after she woke up from having Wanda taken out of her. I stared at her motionless face, tears coming to my eyes. "Where's the baby? Is it okay?"
As if to answer my question a small cry emitted from the other side of the room. Wanda visibly relaxed before moving away as Candy approached with the bundle still in her arms. "Your daughter is right here, Jared. She's perfectly fine." She placed the bundle of blankets in my arms and moved back as I stared down at the perfect little pink face poking out of the white blanket. I was in awe of her. She was so beautiful, so perfect. Her tiny little pink lips, tiny little baby blue eyes staring up at me and her tiny button nose with the wisps of jet black hair. I slowly sank to the floor holding her close to me before tears began to spill from my eyes. She was truly perfect.
"She'll need feeding in a couple of hours, I hope you guys brought some formula back with you." I nodded not taking my eyes from my baby girl's face. I couldn't help but smile. But my emotions were conflicted. Mel should be seeing this, seeing her baby girl for the first time with me. I closed my eyes holding her tighter to me.
A few minutes later Doc walked over to me. "Jared, I fixed her up best I could. But I'm not going to wake her up yet, she lost a lot of blood. She needs to wake up on her own. She may go into shock otherwise." I nodded feeling my throat constrict.
"How long will it take?"
Doc shrugged. "It could be a few hours, it could be a few days. I don't know." I closed my eyes exhaling the breath I was holding.
"I'll be here when she does. I'm not leaving her. Not for anything." Doc nodded seeming to understand. He walked off muttering congratulations before sitting at his desk and putting his head in his hands. I heard distant muttering as Wanda and Candy tried to comfort him and told him it was a job well done. I just got up shakily and sat in the cot next to Mel's unmoving body.
Three days later and she still hadn't moved. I could see Doc becoming more and more anxious. But I couldn't bring myself to care. The only thing I cared about was the girl laying unconscious beside me, and the girl lying in my arms, sleeping softly, rhythmically breathing. I was conflicted by love and depression. There was not a thing I could change. My baby girl still didn't have a name because I didn't want to give her one without consulting Mel.
I took Mel's fragile hand in mine I held it close to my chest where our little girl was resting. "Mel," I croaked, "baby it's me, please wake up. You still have to meet your little girl, our little girl. She's perfect Mel. I can already see you in her, she is so defiant and determined. Every time I do something she doesn't like she screams at me. Not a long scream. Just one short scream. Like you used to when you got frustrated with me. You're gonna love her Mel. The only thing is, she doesn't have a name and I don't know what to name her. I need you Mel. We need you. You said I wasn't going to loose you again. Please, don't break that promise." I started crying softly, holding her hand to my face. I saw a tiny hand reach up and grab Mel's little finger, as if knowing her mummy was close. This only served to intensify my sobbing.
"We need you Mel, please come back to us. She doesn't even have a name yet, I want you to give her a name. Please, come back to us."
"Hope," I tiny far away voice sounded. "Her name is Hope."
My head snapped up to her face as I stared into the now open eyes of the one person who I loved more than anything in the world. "Mel!" I jumped up and pulled her into me tightly. "Oh god, Mel, I was so scared. I thought I was going to loose you. Please, never leave me again. Please."
She whispered into my ear, "I told you I would never leave didn't I? I could never bear to break your heart again, Jared." I held her tighter, beginning to cry into her hair. I kissed the top of her head squeezing my eyes shut tightly. "Now, where's my baby girl?" she said with a smile pulling away from me. I gently laid Hope in her arms whilst looking over at where Doc was, only to find that he wasn't there. I silently thanked him for allowing Mel and I this time alone. "Jared, she's perfect."
"I told you she was." I smiled wide as Hope cooed at her mother. I sat on Mel's cot and hugged her tightly from behind, watching the mother daughter bonding process happen right before my eyes. It really couldn't get more perfect than this.
so do you think i should leave it here or would you guys like an epilogue? let me know in your reviews!
and last time, please please check out His Mel :)