**A/N: Hello lovelies!
Ok, I know I was away FOREVER. I don't want to waste our time with apologizes cause this chapter is a LONG one. So I'll just say life happened. I'm so excited to share this with you. I forgot how much fun writing is. Till I had a new friend emison14 (on wattpad) reach out to me. She gave me the gentle kick in the butt I needed to get this out. Oh yeah... and she help me with Edits. So THANK YOU girly! I really appreciate all your help. You're an amazing writer and you help bring life to this chapter and give me the confidence to post it.
With that said... please as always vote and leave comments. Helps me know that people are actually reading this and I'm not wasting my time. As well as it give me confidence that this story isn't all too bad.
I want to thank all of you who have PMed me and voted and added my story to your reading list. It's like a domino effect when you guys do that. Because your friends see you're reading it, then they read it and then they add it and then their friends read it. You know...
Without further ado, here ya go...
~Andrea
PS. Remember if no ones POV is mentioned, then your reading Ali's.
~Noel's POV~
"I'm fine Noel" Aria tells me in her stern but loving voice. A voice I want to hear for the rest of my life but since the doctor left I can't help but imagining the worst. This girl... she's amazing. She has done nothing else but try to calm me down since the doctor told us about her condition. And she's comforting me while I should be comforting her. Just thinking about it... Oh God... I close my eyes as I can feel myself becoming dizzy. I try to relax myself because right now I feel like my heart is going to literally explode out of my chest right now. I might be having a mild heart attack for all I know.
"Aria, this is serious." I can't help but run my hands through my hair in frustration and desperately look at the ceiling, not being able to look her in the eyes... "Ali called 911 and you're in the hospital!" I tell my wife with concern and maybe a little louder than necessary. "I can't..." I say after I looked in her eyes, they always made me weak. My eyes start to tear up and I turn so she can't see me. Be a man Noel, be there for your family I encourage myself while looking out of the window, trying to control my breathing and myself. Breathe in... breathe out...
"Baby... its okay. We're going to be okay. Come here." Aria interrupts my thoughts, calling me over to her. She's laying on the hospital bed extremely pale, with an IV hooked up to her arm. I hate seeing her like this. She looks so weak and tired.
"How do you know it's going to be okay? I could have lost you! Both of you today." I tell her as I walk over to her, this time with no bite in my tone. You can hear the uncertainness in my voice.
She immediately pulls me down to her and brings my head to her chest. Rubbing the back of my neck as I can't help but to surrender to her and silently cry into her chest as she kisses the top of my head. She's always been nothing but loving towards me, even when I should be the one comforting her. God get yourself together man.
"I'll be more careful. I should have told Ali as soon as I started to feel off. I thought if I just took a nap and rest everything would have been okay." Aria tries to calm me, using her soothing voice.
"You've got to let one of us know if something isn't right Aria." I tell her in a scolding manner. "This is serious. Your blood sugar dropped so low and your red blood cells count is not where it should be."
"I know Noel. Hey...Look at me." My wife grabs my face and forces me to look into her eyes. "One thing at a time babe. I'm good right now. We're good. The baby and I are doing fine. We'll let the doctor's do their job. Everything is going to be okay." I look at her and nod my head in understanding. She's right... one thing at a time.
"We're okay. Baby and you are okay." I repeat trying to convince myself but something just feels off. I lean in and kiss her softly. Trying to show my agreement. She returns the kiss happily. She smiles into my mouth and playfully bites my lip as she holds my face in her hands, I pull away and it's the first time I've seen her smile today and just that gesture makes me realize everything's okay..for now.
"Our family is okay." She whispers to me and kisses me again. "Baby, Jessie and You." Aria gently caresses my cheek with her thumb and looks at me intensely. My God those eyes. Those hazel honey eyes are so beautiful. I love this woman so much.
"And You." I emphasizes that she's a part of this family. "I love you so much Aria." I tell my wife. "You're the head of this family. I can't do this without you baby. You've got to be strong for us. The kids and I need you."
"I love you too. All of you, my amazing loving husband." She brings me in for another kiss and hums her approval as she mumbles "I don't plan on going anywhere."
"You better not." I tell her as I finally relax and smile as I kiss her again sweetly as we take each other in. She then breaks our trance as she speaks.
"Baby, go get Jessie and Ali. They're both probably scared." I nod my head in agreement and leave the room to go get the girls.
...Five Minutes Later...
"Jessie, wait for your Daddy." Ali calls to my daughter who is running down the hall to my wife's room. Excited that Aria called for them and wants to see them both.
"Hurry, Daddy and Mama! I want to see Mommy!" I can't help the blush that creeps on my cheeks. My daughter just made it sound like I have two wives. I look over to Ali and she's just as red as me.
"Jessie. It's God Mama Ali." She corrects the little girl loudly so everyone can hear her clearly. She then bows her head when she sees a nurse who is chuckling at us and the excited little girl still running down the hall.
Ali brings her hand to her face, covering half of it, in embarrassment. Then looks at me and mouths, "Oh my God." Which makes me just chuckle louder as I shake my head.
"I know right. She makes it sound like we have some crazy sister wives thing going on." I tell Ali as I'm opening the hospital door and Jessie impatiently runs in.
"MOMMY!" Jessie screams.
"Jessie!" Aria screams back just as excited with a big smile on her face
"Jessie baby, be careful with your Mommy." Ali tells my daughter, who immediately calms down at Ali's command. I then go over to her and lift her up on to the bed with my wife.
"Jessie, we need to give Mommy and Baby soft, gentle touches. Okay?" I tell her before letting her go.
"Okay Daddy." She agrees before Aria scoops our little 4 year old into a huge hug.
"I love you baby girl." My wife tells my daughter while a few tears escape her eyes.
"I love you too Mommy." Jessie kisses Aria's cheek. "Can we go home now Mommy?"
"Not just yet baby. We've got to stay in the hospital for a couple days." My wife explains to my daughter. Then looks over to Ali who is silently watching, she then looks at me and nods her head towards the door signaling me. I gently place my hand on Ali's shoulder in comfort, before going to Jessie.
"Come here Ali." Aria calls her over. Ali listens to her best friend. Jessie moves aside to allow my wife to embraces Ali were they hold on to each other for dear life. Ali starts to cry sniffling into my wife's neck. "Hey, it's okay. Everything is okay." Aria runs her hands up and down Ali's back comforting. "You took care of us all. Thank you Ali."
"You scared me Aria." Ali tells her with tears staining her cheeks. I then pick Jessie up from the bed and walk out the room. To allow the two to talk in private.
~Ali's POV~
I watch as Noel takes Jessie and they both walk out of the room. I know he doesn't want her to hear the conversation we're about to have. It's too adult and she wouldn't understand.
"Thank you Ali." Aria tells me as we both settle into a comfortable silence.
"No... please don't thank me. You're my best friend." I shake my head at her.
"Yes, Ali. I have to thank you. You've help me so much. Not only today but since we've had Jessie. You've helped me and Noel raise her." My small friend starts to tell me.
"Aria, don't..."
"No Ali. I need to tell you this. More than likely everything will be okay and I'm being overly dramatic because truth is I scared myself today." She looks at me with the most serious stare. "I hope to God you never have to do this but I've got to say it and I've got to ask you something." She looks down and starts to play with her hands.
"It's okay Aria. You can tell me anything. You're my best friend. You and Noel have helped me too. You've allowed me to be so much a part of your family. When you didn't have too. It wasn't your responsibility to take care of me after she left."
"Ali, I don't mean to hurt you or make you upset but when I was being brought here by the ambulance, I got this idea. You know how Noel and I haven't come up with a name for our Baby Boy yet right?"
"Yes." I look at her confused.
"Ali... I-I want to name the baby Addison." She looks at me for my reaction. I look down. I wasn't expecting this, I wasn't expecting any of this. Standing here visiting Aria in the hospital but sometimes something unexpected happens and sometimes it's for you to realize what you have and what you could lose. Something I realized today with Aria and every time I hear that name.
"Why?" I ask genuinely confused. Aria bits her bottom lip and I thinks she's relieved that I'm not upset.
"I'm not sure but I wanted to ask you first before I told Noel. I just have this feeling that his name should represent your loss... Our loss. His name should be celebrated by us and be heard daily, in remembrance. Now when we hear his name we'll think of life, it will bring a smile to our face. Does that make sense?" I can't help it to let tears fall down my face. I quickly wipe my face and try to control my breathing. It hurts, God it hurts to hear the name but it deserves a place in all of our hearts and in some weird and twisted way I understand it. And the mention of the name actually makes me smile.
"I'd like that..." I nod my head 'yes' at her in agreement and cry happy tears. Then for the first time in almost in 4 years I say her name out loud. A name that still brings butterflies and nervousness to my stomach. "I think Emily would too." As I speak on behalf of my ex-wife. I then look at my best friend a smile on my face as I think of my family... the possibilities.
"Ali?" Aria calls to me and breaks me out of my thoughts of Emily.
"Yes?"
"I still have one more thing to ask of you." I look back at Aria with teared filled eyes.
"Don't get mad." She tells me in a whisper.
"Never..." I reply.
"If anything were to happen to me. I need you to take care of my family, Ali. I need you to take care of my babies and Noel." Aria starts to cry and brings her hand up to her mouth trying to control her sobs. "I need you to lead them."
"Aria? What are you saying?" I look at my small friend petrified.
"Ali, I don't know what's going to happen but I need to make sure if the worse does happen... that you'll take care of them. Please."
"Oh my God. Aria. Why are you talking like this?"
"Promise me Ali."
I shake my head. "Nonono, you're going to be fine. You're going to take care of them."
"Ali. Promise me. Please." She begs me.
"Okay..." I whisper. "Yes, of course I'll take care of them if anything ever were too happen to you." With that I embarrass my best friend as we both cry together.
xxxxxxx
~Emily's POV~
"Damn... look at you Emily Fields. 23 soon to be 24 years old and with her masters. That's so great" He grins at me widely as we both share a cold beer on his porch. Sitting on two rocking chairs. Well I mean mines a root beer in a bottle and his is real beer but yeah. We're bonding.
"Not yet..." I remind my friend. "If I've learned anything... it's how drastically life can change in one moment."
"You're just a few months away. Stop being so pessimistic. How does it feel?"
"It feels fuckin great. The last 4 years just diving myself into my studies, taking every class that I can and all those crash courses in summer school. Studying abroad. All just awesome. Almost exactly how I pictured it." I tell my friend as I sip my root beer, with a smile on my face and then look down.
"You miss her still huh?" He looks over at me reading me so well.
"Yeah, Toby. I miss her." I look over to him and nod my head with sad eyes. "She's the one who made this all possible and she doesn't even know it."
"You give her too much credit. She's the one who divorced you. You're the one who worked your ass off Em."
"She's the one who paid all off my student loan debit and made sure that all my future education was paid for. She split everything 50/50 and truth was. None of it was mine to begin with. It was all hers." I tell him in her defense. "She didn't have to do any of that."
"Yeah... well..." Toby nods his head in understanding. "How about Cece? How are things going with her?" I chuckle at his change of topic and the big ass grin he has on his face.
"She's great. Too great. That's why I feel so bad." I groan as I stand up and lean against the rail of the porch.
"Bad about what? That girl will follow you anywhere Em. She's head over heels for you. The way she looks at you is like you can do no wrong." Toby stands up next to me and lightly nudges me with his arm.
"Yeah, that's why I feel so bad. She's not her man." I look at him seriously.
"She's been a good companion though right? She takes good care of you? You like spending time with her?"
"Yeah, I mean definitely. I love Cece, she's one of my best friends."
"Then go out with her. I mean it's been over 4 years Em. You've got to be horny." Toby chuckles at me. "She is nice on the eyes Em. You've got to admit. I've seen you staring a couple times."
"She is." I admit and can't help but blush. "She's incredibly hot..." I mentally think about it for a little bit then shake the thought out of my head. "She's not part of the plan Toby."
"You and your 'plan' Em. You've had this 'plan' since I've met you."
"That I have my friend." I look over at him and can't help but smile. It has to work out.
"How do you know that you'll get her back? What if she's already with someone else when you're ready to go get her?"
"I don't know, man. I haven't thought that far into it." I look at him seriously. "But I know one thing. She loved me. She really loved me and if she lets me. I'll work every day to get her to fall back in love with me again. She deserves it after what I put her through. I'm going to give her everything I couldn't when we were younger. I'm going to fight for her."
xxxxxxx
"Ugh... I hate being here." Aria whines. "I'm hungry."
"I can go get you something love. What do you feel like eating?" Noel tells Aria as he stands up from his chair, stretching.
"Chinese!" Aria's eyes go wide with excitement. Noel and I can't help but chuckle.
"Doesn't take much to make you happy huh?" I tell her as Jessie is sitting on my lap playing with her tablet.
"No, not really. I just have to have my favorite people around. Which you all are and food. Is that too much to ask for?" Aria smiles brightly. She's still pale but her spirits are up and that's great.
"Ali you want anything." Noel asks while he picks up his suite jacket and puts it back, getting ready to head out.
"Yeah, sweet and sour chicken please." I tell Noel sweetly as he comes over and kisses the top of Jessie's head and then mine. Gently then petting our heads, affectionaly.
"Jessie sweetie. Listen to Mama Ali while I'm gone. We want to be good for Mommy, okay? She still isn't feeling good." He tells her sternly.
"Okay Daddy." The little girl answers automatically not taking her eyes away from the tablet.
"GOD mama Ali." I look at Noel and say sternly. He and Aria just chuckle. I then mouth so Jessie can't hear me. 'I hate you both.' And point at them, glaring.
"Yeah, yeah... I'll be back as quick as I can." He walks over to Aria then leans over and kisses her sweetly on the lips. "Be good okay? No scaring us while I'm away." He kisses her sweetly again.
"Thank you babe."
"Of course my love. Anything for you." Noel give her a sweet Eskimo kiss and then kisses the top of her head as well.
"Call me Ali if you girls need anything." I nod my head at him.
"Daddy!"
"Yes princess?"
"I wanna go with you." Jessie tells him. He then rolls his eyes.
"Okay shorty. Hurry up." My little god daughter then jumps out of my lap and gets her coat. She hands me the tablet and kisses my cheek.
"I'll be back mama." I can't help but roll my eyes and look at Noel and Aria.
"See... this is exactly why you both need to back me up." Jessie looks at me confused then goes over to her Mom's bed. Where Noel picks her up so she can kiss Aria.
"I'll be back Mommy." The little girl tells her. Aria can't help but smile.
"I know baby girl. Take care of your Daddy. Make sure nobody takes him from us." She chuckles and winks at Noel.
"Got it." The little girl replies confidently, even though she probably had no idea what her mother is referring to.
"We'll be back." Noel leans in for another kiss from Aria then winks at me as he leaves.
I find myself sitting at the edge, watching them. Loving how they interact with each other. The love they share. Sometimes it's kinda like I'm watching a movie and I feel a little detached. I know I probably shouldn't be here sharing this moment with them. It's theirs to remember. It's moments like this that I think of her. How it could have been...
xxxxxx
...3:54am at Saint Joseph's Hospital...
"What happened? Where's Noel?!" I say as I rush into the hospital with Jessie in my arms. I'm panicked. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery immediately stand and both come to me. Mr. Montgomery takes Jessie from me and walks into the waiting room as Ella starts to tell me the situation.
"Ali, Aria isn't doing so well." She gently gets me by the arm and walks me to the hall so Jessie can't hear our conversation. "We've called the Khans and your friends."
"What?" Everything was fine when Jessie and I left for the night. We we're watching movies and eating Chinese food!"
"Ali dear. Calm down."
"I will not clam down. I want to talk to Noel!" I shake my head 'no' at her.
"Ali the baby is coming. They took Aria into surgery. She's going to be having a C-section. Noel is with her right now as they prep her."
"What?! No, the baby's not ready to come out yet. He still has 2 and a half months to go." I look at my best friend's mother with fear in my eyes.
"Aria can't hold him any longer her blood pressure keeps dropping. Doctor needs to make sure the baby and her are safe. The best way for survival for both of them is to do this now. Noel and Aria talked about this and they decided." I close my eyes and try to collect myself. I know I need to be clam for Jessie or she'll be scared. Ella pulls me in for a hug. "Everything's going to be alright. We just have to have faith." She pulls back and looks at me. Wiping away a few tears that escaped my eyes.
Right then that's when Spencer and Hanna show up. I haven't seen or talked to Hanna in over 4 years. I nod my head at her as a greeting as Spencer comes and engulfs me in a hug, holding me tightly.
"Where's Jessie?" She asks, looking around.
"Inside the waiting room with Grandpa M." I can't help but stare at Hanna who is looking down. My heart speeds up because I can't help but think about her. Is she going to be coming too? Did they call her? When Spencer leans in to my ear and whispers, almost like she's reading my thoughts.
"I called Hanna. She isn't in the state. She's still lives in Texas. Don't worry." I can't help as an audible sigh leaves my mouth. It's not that I'm relieved. Okay, maybe it is. I just I can't handle more excitement for the night.
"How are they?" Hanna asks.
"Okay for now. They just took Aria in for the C-Section. We should know more soon." Ella answers her.
Right then is when the Khan's walk in. Both immediately come to me and hug me and give a polite hi to the rest. I let them know what's going on as we all walk back into the waiting room.
"Mama!" Jessie yells and comes running to me. I pick her up and she immediately buries her face into my neck and whispers "Why is everyone here? I want to go see Mommy." I run my hands up and down her back comforting her. I can tell she's scared. You can just feel it in the air that something isn't right.
"I know baby. So do I but we've got to wait. Your Mommy and Daddy are having your baby brother. Aren't you excited?" Jessie then pulls her face away from my neck and looks at me.
It's like she's looking at me to figure out if she should be excited or not. I give her a little smile but I can tell I haven't convinced her this is a good thing. My God daughter then brings her small hand to my face. She gently with her finger tips pets my left eyebrow in a loving motion. All of a sudden I feel calm. She relaxed me with just that simple jester. One that Aria has done to her many times when she is sick or not feeling good. I can't help it as now a genuine smile graces my lips and Jessie's too as we stare at each other.
"I'm excited Mama. I can't wait to meet my brother." The little girl tells me as I hold her. I can't help as a tear escapes my eye and I give a sad chuckle.
"Me too baby girl. I can't wait to meet brother. He's going to be amazing just like you." I tell her as I try to control my tears and kiss the side of her head as I bring her in for a tight hug. Then looking around I noticing that everyone is watching us. I slight blush creeps up on my cheeks as I sit down with Jessie in my arms.
xxxxxxx
~Noel's POV~
I was sitting the waiting room with my family and friends. I can't help but worry. Aria and I had talked about this in length this morning when the doctor told us her blood pressure dropped again. We had two choices. One Aria can continue with the pregnancy but there could be more complication with her blood pressure dropping which can put the baby... Addison at risk or we can try to save both of them. By Aria having Addison early, prematurely then doctors once she's stabilized can put her on medication to get her body back on track. While attending to the baby Addison separately.
We've been waiting for the past hour for someone to come tell us what's going on. I'm sitting next to Ali who is just as nervous as I am. She's holding my hand as Jessie clings to her for dear life. When out of nowhere a nurse comes up to me.
"Would you like to hold your son?" The nurse asks me. I wasn't allowed to be in the operating room as they performed the C-section.
"Yes, of course. Are they both okay?" The nurse smiles back at me and I can't help but let out a nervous sigh as Ali squeezes my hand in comfort.
"Yes, they are both doing great right now. Come... We want baby to have skin on skin contact since he can't have that with his Mom right now."
Both, Ali and I are happy beyond belief. "Thank you God." I say out loud and chuckle as I reach over to hug Ali and my Jessie. I then stand up pulling Ali with me. I then address the nurse "Is it okay if I bring the God mother and daughter in with me?" I hear everyone in the waiting room talking and excited that everything is okay.
"Yes, of course Mr. Kahn." She tells me with a huge smile as she ushers us to the door to meet my son.
"He's so small." Ali says in amazement. I can't help but give a sad/happy chuckle as tears escape my eyes. My baby boy is in an incubator. He has a tube in his mouth, helping him breath. With IV's hooked up to him.
"Wash your hands Mr. Khan. You're going to be the first one to hold him with no gloves on. Also we'd like for you to remove your shirt. We'd like you to hold him on your chest for skin to skin contact." She instructs me to the sink and has me wash properly and sanitize my hands.
"Daddy, when can I hold him?" Jessie asks me as Ali holds her on her hip so she can see her baby brother in his incubator. As I do what the nurse instructs.
"Soon baby girl..." Ali whispers to her. "First, we've got to make sure Addie is healthy and strong. For right now Daddy is going to be the first one to hold him. So they can bond."
My little girl nods her head in understanding, hugging Ali closer to her. I mouth a 'thank you' to Ali. God... I have no idea what I would have done without her.
"Baby girls... meet Addison Emilio Kahn." I tell Ali and Jessie. Accidently calling Ali baby girl and immediately blushing. I hope she didn't catch that. I place my son on my best and try to calm my heart beat. As I hold him for the first time against my chest. My poor baby being so cold and tiny. I can't help but just look down at him and play with his little fingers. When I look up I see Jessie staring in awe and Ali slightly crying. Her nose is red and you can tell she's holding in sobs. "Come say hi girls." I motion them close.
"Hello Addison" Ali says as she stares. The nurse notices this and asks her.
"Would you like to hold him? I can take the baby from you? You just have to wash up like I showed Daddy."
"No... I really shouldn't even be in here. I'm just here to hold Jessie and keep her clam for her dad."
"Ali, come on. I know you want to hold him." I tell her with a smile.
"No, but Aria hasn't even held him yet Noel." She tries to defend.
"Al we both know she'd have no problem with you holding him." I convince her with a smile.
xxxxxxx
"NO!" Noel screams at the top of his lungs. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
"Noel... please." I beg feeling myself about to go faint.
"NO! I WANT TO SEE MY WIFE."
"Mr. Kahn... I need you to calm down." The doctor tries to tell him.
"I WILL NOT CALM THE FUCK DOWN! YOU JUST SAID MY WIFE IS DEAD! HOW CAN SHE BE DEAD! THE NURSE JUST SAID LESS THEN 30 MINS AGO SHE WAS FINE!"
"Noel baby... clam down." Mrs. Kahn tries to calm her son down and touches his arm which he backs away from.
"Nononononono!" Noel cries as she continues to scream. "Don't touch me! Don't anyone touch me!" He drops down to his knees and starts to hit the floor hard with his fist. "No! NO!"
"SON! Stop. You're scaring your daughter." Mr. Kahn tries to go to Noel who just backs away then looks over to Jessie who is in my arms crying, holding on to me for dear life. With her face buried in my neck.
Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are both holding each other crying. Silently. Trying to console each other. While Hanna and Spencer just look on with blank stares and tears falling from their eyes. Noel then looks at me and stares into my eyes.
"Ali... Please Ali. Tell me this isn't happening?" Noel has now calmed down and is asking me as I slowly start to walk to him. "Please Al. Tell me this is all a bad dream." I can't help but shake my head at him as my tears pour down my cheeks. I try my best to remain strong for him and Jess.
"It's going to be okay Noel." I continue to hold Jessie close to me and reach out to cup his face. He starts to shake his head gently 'No' at me. "It is Noel. We are going to be okay. I'm here to help you."
"No Ali..." He cries letting me hold his face as I run my thumb over his cheek. "She's the love of my life Ali. I need her... We need her. The babies need her." He sobs. "I have no idea what I'm doing. I can't raise two kids on my own."
"You're not going to Noel. I'm going to be here with you. I'm not leaving you. It's going to be okay..." I tell him trying to remain strong for both of us. He then engulfs me and Jessie in the biggest hug. I then turn Jessie so she can hug her father. I walk away slowly letting them two have their moment as the doctor comes to me.
"Mrs. Dilaurentis?"
"Yes?"
"Can we talk?" I nod my head in agreement as the doctor starts to pull me towards the hallway.
"Ali?" Noel calls in a weak voice and I immediately look back.
"Don't leave me Ali. I need you to stay with me. Please Ali." I look at my best friend's husband and nod my head. I look at the doctor apologetically.
"I'm not going anywhere Noel." I walk back over to him. Where he pulls me into a hug after Spencer takes Jessie and holds her. I wrap my arms around him pulling him closer.
"Please don't leave me..." He starts to cry again. I then run my hands up and down his back.
"No... I'm not going anywhere. I promised." Noel then starts to sob again in my arms.