chapter 36

AURORA

I was sleeping. But then I heard the door close lightly. Mark finally got home. I heard him in the bathroom for a couple of minutes. But I kept sleeping.I felt him beside me. He was caressing my cheek lightly with his fingers. He started speaking softly.

"Aurora. God, how I love you. I know you're probably not listening to what I'm saying right now. But I'ma say it anyways. That ring...you're the first and only woman I've ever had that I've ever given a promise ring to. Now weather you believe me or not, that's the truth. Damnit, I want to marry you. I want to make you my wife. I'm not going to give up on us until I do."

I felt him lay down next to me and put his arms around me. I felt him put his hand on my belly.

"I'm in love with you, Aurora. I always will. I just hope you know that."

I smiled and doze of to sleep.

THE NEXT DAY

WHEN I got out of the shower, Mark was already up. He was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Sorry, I took so long."

"That's okay." He grabbed my hand and pulled me close. He put his hands on my belly and kissed it. "Hey, son." I smiled down at him. But then we heard a knock at the door.

"I'll answer. You just go take a shower." he nodded. I opened the door and it was Eve.

"Hi, Aurora."

"Hi. Come in." We started talking and then I decided to tell her what I heard Mark say last night.

"You know, um, when Mark came back last night, I heard him say that he wants to marry me and make me his wife."

"Really? Does he know you heard him?"

"No. I don't think he did. I was sleeping when he came in. He probably thought I still was when he said it. But do I mention anything to him about it?"

She sighed. "I don't know. Do you want to marry him?"

"Yes." I replied without hesitation. "More than anything."

We heard him turn the shower off. So Eve left and said she'll see us later. A couple of minutes later, he came out without his shirt. After he fixed his hair, he stood behind me and put his arms around me.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked.

"No. Are you mad at me?"

"No. I don't like being mad. Can you forgive me?"

I nodded 'yes'. I faced him and cupped his face in my hands. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Let's not let this happen again. Please?"

I smiled and kissed him.

MARK

WE got dressed and walked hand in hand when we went to get breakfast. I wonder if she really heard anything I said last night. I took her to Denny's. Some of the wrestlers were already there. Glen and some of Aurora's friends insisted that me and her sit together and sort things out. So we took that as an opportunity for me and her to just be together.

"Do you have any strawberries with chocolate?" I asked the guy that took our order.

"We have strawberries, but I have to check if we can chocolate on them."

"Okay. If you do, can we please have that too?"

"Sure."

"Thank you." I looked at Aurora and she was smiling at me. "What?"

"You remembered." I smiled and kissed her.

We spent the next half an hour talking about names that we could use for the baby.

"How about we name him after you?"

I looked at her suprised. "You wanna name him after me?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

I smiled. "That sounds good."

SEPTEMBER

Booker: WWE Universe, Aurora is official on maternity leave. Unfortunatly, she won't be back for a couple of months. but we here at the WWE wish her the best of luck with the rest of her pregnancy.

Matthews: Yes, we all do. Aurora, we will see you soon.

0.0

MARK

OCTOBER

I WAS walking around backstage at an event in Wisoncin when I bumped into Vince and Linda. I've been meaning to talk to them about something.

We all greeted each other.

"Can I talk to you?"

"About what?" he asked.

"I was wondering if I could take some time off. You know, to be with Aurora for the rest of her pregnancy."

"Well, I would give you some time off i na heartbeat. But Paul is the one that's in charge now. So you're going to have to ask him."

"Come on, really?"

"I'm sorry, Mark. I'm not in charge anymore. Paul is. He'a the boss now. But if you want, I can help you convince him to give you some time off."

So we went to Paul's office and I told him if I could some time off.

"You want time off because?"

"To be with Aurora for the rest of her pregnancy. I don't want her to be by herself. Especially if she goes into labor and I'm not there. And I miss her."

He sighed. "I don't know."

"Come on, Paul." said Vince. "Besides, he's earned it. He's been working really hard this year. He could use some time off. Think about Aurora in this situation. You asked me to give you some time off when Stephanie was pregnant. So don't sit there and not give him time off to be with Aurora."

He sighed deeply. "Alright. But please let us know when she goes into labor. I'd like to be there to see my first grandchild"

"Don't worry. We will."

"Me too." said Vince. "I'd like to see my first great-grandchild."

NOVEMBER

AURORA

ME and Mark's family were at our house for a big dinner. I'm nine months now and my baby's due any day now. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. But I know, I got support from my friends and family, and Mark.

After dinner, I was talking to my mom and grandma. I've been feeling some pain but I just pushed it aside. Then all of a sudden I felt a gush of liquid rush down. I gasped.

"Aurora, you okay honey?" asked Mom.

"Mom...I think my water just broke."

"Ohmigod. Okay, sweetie relax."

I started breathing heavily. "Mark!...Mark!"

"Baby, what is it?"

"Hospital. Now. Mom..."

"Baby, relax. It's normal. Look, you go to the hospital with Mark. We'll go behind you. Now go."

I went to the car to start it, while Mark got our bags. We rushed off to the hospital where I got signed in and taken to a room on the third floor. I was starting to feel the pain as it got more instense. They checked me to how dilated I was after I changed into the hospital gown.

"Okay, Aurora, you're contractions are two minutes apart and you are five centimers dialated. The baby's heartbeat is normal, bloodpressure is normal. Everything's fine." said the doctor. She was short. Brown hair with warm brown eyes.

"Mark, it hurts." I cried during another contraction. He leaned down and whispered into my hair and kissed me on my head.

"You can still have an epidural. It helps ease the pain."

"Please. Can I have it?"

As they got ready to give me the epidural, my parents, and grandparens came along with Glen.

"Mom." I said as she came over to see me.

"How you holding up?"

"Mom, it hurts."

"I know baby. I know. But what can we do? Are they giving you an epidural?"

"Yes."