Okay folks, here's the chapter you've all probably been waiting for...enjoy!
Chapter 28
The moment her water broke, Lexi seriously began rethinking her not regretting anything statement. Without that cushioning bag of fluid between her and the baby, the contractions were so much stronger and lasted for longer periods of time. The intense pain damn near took her breath away and threatened to break down what little resolve she'd managed to retain.
One particularly strong contraction had her crying out as she gripped the sides of the tub. Roman wiped a cool cloth over her forehead as he encouraged her to work through it. She shook her head and she wasn't sure if it was at him or the pain. Something about this contraction was different from the others. It made her nervous and jumpy, more so than before. "It's different. I can't-" she gasped as her control began to slip. It' feels…" she panted. "It feels like something's moving inside me."
Her words had Doctor Amman by her side in an instant. "Are you feeling more pressure between your legs?"
Lexi nodded.
"Okay, I'm thinking it's time. Roman, help me get her up and out of the tub."
Time? It's time? "Can't I give birth in the tub?" she pleaded as Roman began to help her up. Despite the pain, the warm water still soothed her. Plus, she'd watched a few water births on Youtube and they seemed easier than lying on the bed.
Doctor Amman shook his head. "I'm sorry, Lexi, but you can't. The tub really isn't big enough for it, plus I need to be able to gauge your blood loss to know if we have an issue with your scar tissue. Disappointed, she allowed Roman to guide her back to the bed that was now covered by the shower curtain.
She'd just settled onto the bed when Dean and Seth, both soaked to the skin, reappeared. Each man carried a nearly full trash bag of items and Seth had a box in his other hand that contained the bouncy chair Trinity and John had bought them.
The girls took the bags and began pulling items out in preparation. "I called the front desk," Amber said. "I spoke with the manager and he's going to have a crib sent up."
To Lexi it felt as if Amber were the teacher from the peanuts. Focused on getting through the next contraction all she heard was the droning 'waa wa wa wa'. She grabbed Romans hand and squeezed as the pain escalated. Despite her best efforts to contain it, a moan ripped from her.
This time when Doctor Amman checked her, she whimpered and received a gentle kiss on the temple from Roman.
Doctor Amman set back and smiled. "Ten centimeters and fully effaced. You're ready to push, Lexi. Just let your body guide you and tell us when you're ready."
Amber stepped forward. "I know we've kinda been just hanging out and doing what we can, but if you guys don't want us here now, we'll just wait in the common area." She angled a thumb over her shoulder toward the door leading into the other area of the suite."
"No," Lexi shook her head. "Please stay. You guys are my family and if you want to stay for the birth then I want you here."
"Actually," Doctor Amman added. "I could use a couple of willing hands to help out. Preferably, someone who isn't going to pass out at the sight of blood. Lexi watched as Amber, then Seth of all people, step forward. She also caught the subtle back step that Dean took.
While the man was known for his near legendary bloodbaths during his hardcore wrestling days, she knew he wasn't much on seeing other people bleed. She barely had time to ponder that thought when a new and disturbing sensation slid through her. It felt as if her internal organs were shifting.
"I feel weird," Lexi grasped for Roman.
"What kind of weird," Doctor Amman questioned. "Describe it."
She was trying to find the words when a sudden and overwhelming need to push swamped her. "Oh God. Oh God. I gotta push."
"Okay, here we go," Roman, moved into position with is front to her back and slid his arms around her, letting her use him for leverage. With Roman behind her as support and Seth and Amber assisting Doctor Amman she pulled her legs up and working with the contraction, with the pain, she bared down. Her entire body seemed to tighten and she had to bite back a scream. "That's it Lexi. Push hard," Doctor Amman encouraged.
"Good job, sweetheart, "Roman whispered against her ear. "You can do this. I know you can do this."
A half hour later, she let out a breath as yet another contraction ended, then sagged against Roman. "This is so much harder that I expected," she managed a small smile.
"Yeah, but you've got one of the highest pain thresholds I've ever seen," Seth complimented. "You got this." No sooner had he finished his statement than her urge to push returned.
"It's not high enough," she grunted the words as the pain threatened to drown her.
"You can't fight the pain, Alexandra and you're making it harder by trying. Embrace it, sweetheart," Roman whispered, using his Dom voice she hadn't heard in months. "Accept it. Let it flow through you, then take control." Something in her mind shifted, opened and she stopped fighting. She could do this. The thought barely had time to take root before the pain changed, intensified, blooming bright and fast as a new an intense burning sensation began and her thought of control exploded on a scream Dear God she'd never felt pain like this before.
"Oh my God, Lexi, I can see the baby's hair," Amber nearly squealed the words.
Seth's eyes widened and his mouth opened, but for the first time since Lexi had known Seth, he appeared speechless.
The contraction passed, but the burning and pain remained. It felt as if she was being split in two. "It hurts," Lexi gasped as she dug her fingers into Roman's arms. "Oh God, it hurts." Never in all her years of wrestling had she ever experience anything so intense or painful.
"I know baby," Roman pressed his lips against her hair. "I know, but you're almost there."
"I don't think I can do this," she whimpered as for the first time she began to doubt her own abilities. This was so much harder and taxing than she'd expected. She was exhausted and in sheer agony.
"You can do this," Roman encourage. "You're the toughest person I know."
"I'm only tough because of you," she groaned as her body tightened again, the need to push overwhelming. "Roman I need you. Please, I need you so much. I need your strength."
"I'm here sweetheart," he assured. "I'm not going anywhere and you have it. You have my strength."
"And mine," Seth took her leg, holding it for her.
"And mine," Amber took Lexi's other leg.
"You even have mine," Dean said as he knelt next to the side of the bed and placed a hand over Lexi's.
The sudden and overwhelming feeling of love and support mixed with a fresh shot of adrenaline and poured through her. Maybe with them behind her she could do it. Doing her best to ignore the pain Lexi pushed again.
"That's it." Seth's eyes widened. "That's it, Lexi. You're doing it."
"Come on, sweetheart," Roman soothed against her ear. "You're almost there. It's almost over."
"That's good, Lexi," Doctor Amman offered. "Easy. Take it slow and easy. I don't want you tearing."
Her body felt as if someone had set it on fire and her limbs began to tremble. Could they possibly understand how frightened she was at that very moment?
"Almost there," Doctor Amman coached. "The head is almost out."
The sudden pressure ended and she watched through the pain induced haze as Seth nearly jumped up and down in excitement. "The head is out. Wow!" He put a hand over his mouth, glanced up and exchanged excited looks with Amber.
"Our baby is almost here," Roman's deep voice rumbled against Lexi's ear. "It's almost over, sweetheart. You're doing so great. I'm so proud of you. Now just one more push."
She was so tired now. Her limbs felt heavy and cold. "I can't," she whispered. "I can't."
"You can," Roman argued. "You have to, Alexandra. Nobody can do this for you. Come on now. One more push."
The urge returned and with everything she had left, Lexi bared down. On one last final painful scream a new life slid into the world.
"She's out," Doctor Amman announced even as Lexi sagged against Roman in relief.
"She?" Roman asked as he peered over Lexi's head that now rested against his shoulder. Giddy but more exhausted than she'd ever been in her life Lexi stared dreamily down at where Doctor Amman used the little blue bulb to suction out her daughter's nose and mouth. After a few seconds her little one let loose a cry that filled the room and a cheer went up from the common area.
Seth grinned at Lexi. "She's definitely got Roman's lungs."
Doctor Amman then lifted the new born and placed her on Lexi's chest, covered her with a blanket." She forced herself to lift her arms and hold the squirming newborn even as tears slid down her cheeks.
"My baby," she whispered on a sob "My baby." She couldn't think, couldn't quite believe her dream had finally came true. "Hello, precious." She stared down into the owl eyed gaze of her daughter. Overwhelmed, she turned to look at Roman and received another shock. Her rock, her protector, the man who split people in half on a nightly basis, the Shield's big, bad enforcer was actually crying. Tears trickled down his faced as he reached around and grazed hand over the infant with an almost reverent touch.
His awed gaze drifted from the infant to her and as slow smile slid across his face. "Thank you," he whispered, then leaned into her and pressed a soft kiss to Lexi's lips. "Thank you for our daughter."
