A lot happens in this chapter. This story isn't far from being complete.
Enjoy this ten thousand plus word chapter.
Chapter 37
Two days after Christmas
Leaving Conner was harder than both women ever thought it would be. Tears were shed by not only Conner, but Piper too. The small boy clung to Piper's leg as they were attempting to walk out of Barbara and Jim's front door. It broke Piper's heart to have to have Jim practically pry the boy off of her. Alex allowed for Piper to escape out the front door while she told him goodbye.
"I see the look in your face, dear. If you and Piper don't go on this trip, we're still gonna keep him so you and Piper can have some much needed alone time before this baby gets here. And she's not that far away once New Year's is here." Barbara had appeared from the kitchen with a juice cup and a cookie for her grandson when she found Alex blankly staring into the living room. It astounded the brunette how calm Barbara could be when there was a screaming toddler around, but then again, she had three of her own at one point.
Alex followed Jim and her son into the living room, and knelt down next to the sobbing boy who was leaning up against the couch.
"Conner…Calm down, bud."
The small boy automatically wrapped his arms around Alex's neck as his sobs began to diminish into hiccups. Wrapping her arms around his little body, Alex soothingly rubbed up and down to further console him.
"I wanna go."
Alex's heart broke at her toddler's confession. Usually he did well when Piper and Alex went away but this time had been different. It's like he knew Cambodia was twenty hours away instead of the four or five his parents usually traveled.
"I know, bud. Next time, I promise." The brunette kissed the boys cheek and pulled away. "Be a big boy, okay? I love you."
The minute Alex stood up, Jim could see the tears welling back up in his grandson's eyes.
"Hey, bud." Jim swooped Conner up and spun him around like an airplane. "There's a toy that Santa dropped off the other day. He told me to tell you, that it accidentally fell out of his bag of gifts when he left your house so he just dropped it off here. Why don't we go get it?"
Conner immediately perked up and nodded his head eagerly.
"Tell momma, bye and we'll go see what he left."
Alex grew excited about the toy and kissed him once more before Jim placed him on his shoulders and walked down the hallway.
"He's always been good at distractions." Barbara chuckled. "It's a remote control car for toddlers. It was on sale at Macy's yesterday and he couldn't resist."
"He'll love that!" Alex chuckled.
"Now you go on your vacation, dear. We'll be right here when you get back." The older woman hugged Alex's neck. "Go relax. You two deserve it."
Unfortunately, Piper's morning sickness had decided to rear its ugly head halfway through the twenty hour flight to Phnom Penh. Sure enough, Alex was right there by her side, even telling off the flight attendant who had gotten onto them for being in the restroom at the same time. After some ginger ale, deep breaths, and a tummy rub, Piper had gotten her morning sickness to calm down just enough to where she could get a restful snooze.
When the women had finally landed in Phnom Penh, they could already see the luscious and beautiful surroundings as they took a cab to the hotel they would be staying at. Piper had no preferences on what they did this week, all she wanted to do was relax with Alex.
And that's what they did for the first three days, they did nothing but order room service from their massive suite and attempt to satiate Piper's insatiable hunger for her wife. Their suite had a tub big enough for them both that they spent countless hours in just talking, uninterrupted by a little boy and his expanding vocabulary. At one point when Piper had stepped out and Alex was gazing at her wife, she commented that she was glowing, making Piper blush as she ran her hands sensually over her growing bump.
They had only been able to get to the clear waters of Cambodia one day out of the five they were there, and Alex had been thankful that day granted her hours of staring at her pregnant wife in a black bikini. Pregnancy did Piper's body wonders and Alex had started to wonder why they hadn't done this sooner.
Mid- February
"I'm so excited!" Barbara cheered in a sing song voice as she passed Piper and Polly, carrying a gift bag into the living room.
"I've never seen someone so excited at a baby shower." Polly mused. "I was as big as a blimp and you were getting over the stomach bug."
Piper laughed at the memory as she rubbed a maternal hand over her bump. Conner had come down with it, then Alex, and Piper thought she had avoided it but had caught it twenty-four hours before Polly's shower. Internally she was thanking herself for wearing a black maxi-dress so her bump wouldn't look as huge as it really was.
The kitchen was adorned with pink banners and pink cookies, cupcakes, and punch. There was gifts strung out over every surface of the living room, but the only thing Piper saw was Alex who was dressed in a tailored women's suit. The older woman had unfortunately had to have a meeting to sign the final forms for the upcoming opening of the new bookstore but made it a priority to make it to her wife's baby shower, and she showed up with ten minutes to spare.
Piper hadn't said hi to her wife yet but she was afraid of what might happen. It seemed as if the brush of a hand just sent her arousal through the roof the past couple of weeks. It was non-stop sex and Piper couldn't do anything to stop herself. Alex of course, hadn't hand any objections. They had even had sex in the laundry room while Conner was sat on the floor of the living room watching a movie. That wasn't one she had been particularly proud of, but she had to do what she had to do.
Alex had seemed to read her mind as she waved from afar. Piper sent her a loving smile and waved right back, giggling.
"Still can't stop fucking?" Polly asked as she watched the two women converse with their eyes.
"Nope." Piper shook her head.
The baby shower went off without a hitch, many of the workers from Popi and Alex's bookstore arrived. The new item, Kelly and Hayden, both workers from Alex's store had even made their first public appearance. Alex and Piper knew they had been seeing each other despite all the teasing they endured, but both were genuinely happy for the young couple.
While opening gifts, Piper had finally greeted her wife and gave her a quick peck on her cheek. As the both sat opening gifts, they counted an infinite number of clothing items, baby bottles, bibs, and other odds and ends. The couple's favorite gift had been the gray papasan cradle swing from Polly and Pete. Barbara and Jim's present was the next best as they got the couple a hot pink boppy pillow monogramed with Elliott's full name in turquoise lettering along with a few other odds and ends. Kelly and Hayden had even pitched in and gotten a plastic newborn tub filled with the basics needed to take care of a baby. Throughout the time Piper had been pregnant, Kelly had brought Alex many onesies for the new arrival. In return the brunette helped the young woman move into her apartment that was in the same building that she and Piper were.
Later that night, after two passionate rounds of toe-curling, nail-scratching sex, Piper turned towards a still panting Alex.
"You know, I think we have everything we need for Ellie…Now we're just waiting on her."
Alex grinned as she kissed her wife.
"Three months, and this little one will be here."
Late-March
"Conner come here and look at mommy." Alex whispered from where she was on hooking up their new fifty inch plasma TV to the wall. Conner had been sitting at the table eating a snack while his parents attempted to hook up the new television.
When Conner entered the room he found Piper lying flat on the couch asleep with a coffee cup gently rising and falling from where it was sitting on her bump and the instructions to the new TV in the other. The small boy giggled as he observed the coffee cup dangerously tilt but resume back to its original position.
"Ellie's holding mommy's coffee for her." Alex nodded at Conner's observation as she inserted the last wire to the television. It had been one of Alex's bookstore opening gifts but Piper had another one up her sleeve for a later time. The further the blonde got in the pregnancy, the less she found she could do. She couldn't hold her son anymore, she couldn't bend over, and the infinite sex they had been having due to hormones was starting to dwindle due to how uncomfortable she was getting. Piper had felt bad that she had to reject Alex, but the brunette understood and didn't put up a fuss.
"Are you excited that Ellie will be here pretty soon?"
Alex picked up her son and carried him to the kitchen, setting him on the counter while she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
Conner eagerly nodded as he began to ramble on about how he painted pictures of her with mommy to hang in her now complete nursery. It warmed Alex's heart to see him so excited about his baby sister. She had no doubts in her mind that he would be a fantastic big brother.
"What do you say we make some cookies for when Mommy wakes up?"
"Ellie likes cookies!"
Alex laughed, that statement was true. Ellie did love cookies. Especially Oreos.
April 2nd
"Are you feeling okay? Why do you look like that?"
The now very pregnant blonde had just opened the front door to let her friend in. All morning since she had dropped Conner off at Barbara and Jim's she had been experiencing the Braxton hick's contractions. It was nothing she hadn't experienced before, but they were still uncomfortable.
"Braxton Hicks. Plus she's head-butting my bladder so."
Polly chuckled as she hugged her friend.
"That's why I stopped at one."
"Shut up." Piper shot her a smug grin.
"At least she's already pointed downwards and you won't have to do those ridiculous exercises to get her to move."
Polly had excused herself to use the restroom before starting on what she had come over to help Piper with. When she came back, she couldn't help but laugh as she caught on to what Piper was doing.
"What ya looking at, Pipes?"
Piper was startled as Polly came to stand next to her at the island.
The blonde had been eyeing the plumber's backside all morning as he worked to fix the garbage disposal. With Alex being away and her libido being extremely high, it was getting almost uncontrollable to contain.
"I was just…Are you ready to start?"
Piper quickly averted her eyes away from the plumber and grabbed her bottle of water. All Polly could do was laugh at how her friend was acting.
"Pipe, I have to give it to you, he does have a nice ass." Polly's voice was almost inaudible as she led her friend out the kitchen and into the nursery to start sorting through clothing and putting it in the appropriate places. It seemed like they had tons of winter clothes for their upcoming arrival, but not enough summer clothes.
"I can't help it, Pol. Alex has been away, and she barely has had time to answer her phone. I'm about to combust." Piper looked at the shorter woman with a slight pout. "I don't know why they're making her stay in a hotel room when it's literally an hour and half away."
"I can't help you in that department, Piper. Sorry…Just stop looking at me like that." Polly chuckled as she grabbed a pile of clothes from the dresser and sat on the floor. Piper followed suit as quick as she could considering she was eight months pregnant. "Conferences are weird like that, especially if they have those strict itineraries that are planned down to the minute… She'll be home tonight, I'm pretty sure you'll be okay."
Piper shook her head as she began to sort clothes by size and season.
"Conner better go to sleep really freaking early."
Throughout the rest of the morning, Piper noticed her contractions getting stronger, to the point where she had to grasp onto something as she breathed through them and an excruciating pain right below her ribs wasn't adding to the discomfort.
Polly had made Piper take several breaks to relax and drink some water but neither were helping in the slightest. When the expecting woman had started to pant and writhe around as she attempted to work through the pain, Polly started to worry that Elliott was attempting to make her grand entrance. Piper reassured her time after time that it was just Braxton Hicks but Polly refused to believe it.
"Pipe. Just breathe babe." Polly scrambled around the living room searching for her purse so she could retrieve her cellphone. Running down the hall back to the nursery she helped Piper up and towards the couch. "I'm gonna call Alex and then we'll get in the car and take you to emergency room."
"No no no no no no." Piper adjusted herself to where she was now lying flat on the chaise. Some of the pressure under her ribs was relieved but there were still jolts of pain shooting through her chest. "It's too early, Pol."
"Piper, this isn't normal to be in that much pain for those just to be fake contractions."
Piper knew she wasn't going to get anywhere with Polly, so she decided to focus on calming herself down. She could vaguely hear Polly talking to Alex in the kitchen.
"How far apart are her contractions?" Alex's voice was already frantic as she could be heard swiftly moving about her hotel room. Thankfully, her conference had ended much earlier than expected and she had already been packing when Polly called. The moment Polly's name had popped up on her phone, her brain went into overdrive. Upon hearing what Polly had to say, she had started to absentmindedly shove her clothes into her suitcase not caring about wrinkles. All she cared about was her wife and baby's health.
"Ten to fifteen minutes." Polly glanced back into the living room and saw that Piper had no pushed her t-shirt up over her bump to fully expose it. The blonde woman's hands were softly rubbing large circles attempting to calm her unborn child.
"Let me talk to her."
"Al?" Piper's breathing was short as she quickly breathed in and out.
"Hi, Pipes. What's going on? I'm about to get in the car. I should be home in about an hour as long the traffic isn't too bad."
It took Piper a second to reply as she continued her breathing. The small whimpers she was letting out as the pressure increased and decreased were causing Alex to panic.
"Don't rush, babe. My water hasn't broken or anything like that." There was a sudden roll from her abdomen and a tiny footprint could be seen poking out from right under her ribs. Polly saw it too from where she was leaning over the back of the couch.
"Pipes, just go with Polly to the hospital and I'll meet you there."
"Hold on, Al." Piper watched Polly's hand gently poke at the footprint and then softly rubbed the opposite side where Elliott's head was.
As if Polly's hand was enough incentive to move, the expecting mother felt the pain and pressure under her ribs completely disappear as she could feel her baby moving around trying to find another position.
"It went away." Piper quipped as she continued to gaze at her oversized belly.
"Hello?" Alex's voice could be heard trying to get someone's attention and find out what was going on.
"Sorry, Al." Piper put the phone back up to her ear. "I think her foot was just jammed up in my ribs. Polly got her to move and now the pain is gone."
The blonde woman could practically hear Alex roll her eyes and rest her head against the steering wheel.
"Piper…Don't scare me like that."
"Alex how was I supposed to know that she was trying to do a handstand in there? If Polly hadn't of seen her foot poking out under my ribs we'd still be in the same situation."
"Finn broke one of my ribs now that I think about it. There's just such little room towards the end of the pregnancy that it's hard for them to get comfortable."
Alex had just barely been able to hear Polly's confession.
"Well thanks Holly for thinking about that after you make me rush around like a mad woman!"
Both women chuckled as they continued to listen to Alex rant.
Once Piper had assured Alex that she felt fine and that she was ready for her to be home, Alex had relaxed some and eased up on the accelerator. Nothing was scarier than getting a call saying your wife was having contractions a month before her due date. Her mind had already started to race over the health of not only her wife but their child.
"Don't push yourself, Pipes. Leave it and I'll do them in the morning."
Ever since Alex had rushed home, just to find Piper still feeling better after she had gotten their little girl to shift, she didn't want her wife to do anything but relax. Conner had even been less talkative as usual as he allowed his parents to unwind from the day. Both women had been thankful he was with Barbara. Piper couldn't have handled being in so much pain in front of her son. He was a worrier already. The little boy constantly asked how his mom and sister were feeling, even if Piper was in a great mood.
"Al, I'm okay, she was just trying to get comfortable. It was just a new experience, something that never occurred with Conner."
"I know. But just leave them okay, go take a warm bath and relax."
Piper finally complied after Alex had started to rub her warm hands sensually all over her back, and eventually her baby bump.
After making sure Piper got in the tub, Alex needed a moment to relax. A moment to calm herself from what could've been a traumatic day if Piper hadn't got her daughter to shift. Alex couldn't stand to hear Piper in so much pain over the phone.
The brunette hadn't been laying on the couch for ten minutes, before she felt a tiny hand softly rubbing up and down her forearm, occasionally stopping to trace the tribal band tattoo. Alex didn't even have to open her eyes to know who it was.
Opening one eye, she found Conner looking at her with the puppy dog eyes he had surely learned from Piper. She could never resist that look.
"What is it bud?"
Conner didn't answer, but simply climbed up on the couch to where he was lying directly on top of his momma. Smiling, Alex welcomed him and wrapped her arms around him tightly before resuming her restful snooze.
When Piper came strolling out from her bath, feeling slightly more relaxed, her heart fluttered when she saw her son and her wife curled up together on the couch in a peaceful sleep. Conner's hand was splayed against Alex's cheek as she nuzzled his beach blonde hair.
Piper had been tossing and turning ever since Alex came to bed. The brunette wasn't necessarily sleepy due to napping with Conner and the events of the day, but she wanted to be close to her wife.
When Piper had called her in a panic, it had taken the life out of her. Her thoughts had automatically went into overdrive about what could be wrong. The first thing that popped into mind was her unborn child. Her little girl, who's arrival date was quickly approaching, hadn't even made her appearance yet, and she already had Alex wrapped around her finger.
Brea king Alex from her thoughts was Piper sitting up to where she could lay on her side, and get situated with her head on Alex's stomach, facing towards her wife. Automatically, the brunettes hand went to gently stroke Piper's side, and slowly made its way towards her wife's protruding bump. Alex could feel Elliott kicking and pushing against her hand.
Leaning over, Alex gently lifted Piper's oversized t-shirt, and placed a line of kisses along where Elliott was residing. Piper was finally somewhat relaxed as she felt Alex's soothing touches all over her belly.
The brunette laid back down and resumed looking over her monthly reports for the bookstore while gently rubbing Piper's bump. The longer Alex rubbed, the more dangerously close she grew to Piper's luscious ass. Alex had to admit, pregnancy did Piper's body wonders. It looked so natural on her. Before Alex could realize what she had done, her hands were being swatted away.
"Alex!"
It was a struggle to the brunette to keep her chuckle to herself. Piper hadn't even opened her eyes to scold her wife.
"Still not feeling well?"
Alex ran a loving hand through her wife's silky, blonde locks.
"No." Piper shook her head. "My feet are so swollen, she's at war with all my internal organs, and no position is comfortable enough for me to get any decent sleep… I can't take another month of this."
"Yes you can, babe." Alex leaned forward, still rubbing her stomach, and placed a loving kiss upon her blonde's lips before moving lower to speak to her bump. "And you little girl, need to settle down and give your mom a break. She'd like some sleep every once in a while ya know."
Just as Alex was about to place another kiss on her wife's bump, they both spotted what was the shape of a handprint pushing against Piper's stomach. All Alex could do was laugh as they watched the print disappear. At first the brunette was alarmed about being able to see hands and feet attempting to emerge from Piper's bump, but the blonde was quick to assure her that it was completely normal. The more Alex witnessed it, the more she fell in love with this little girl. Alex would also find herself playing games with Piper's bump trying to provoke movement so she could see her daughter's features.
"Such an attitude this one has already." Alex joked as she kissed right where the handprint had been.
Piper smiled, it overjoyed her every time Alex would interact with their unborn child. Whether it be one word or a whole conversation that Alex would have with the baby, Piper couldn't help but fall that much more in love with her wife.
Eventually, Piper found an optimum position to sleep on her back with her legs propped up on a couple of pillows. Alex's hand was still residing on Piper's bump. Their little girl was still moving around quite a bit, but it had lessened enough for Piper to at least get some rest.
April 3rd, 3:35 in the morning
"ALEX!"
The way Piper screamed was loud enough for the whole Upper West side to hear her. Piper's screams instantly woke Alex up from her restless sleep. Immediately the brunette sprung up from the bed, and rushed towards the bathroom. She could hear Piper's whimpers growing louder the closer she grew to the door.
Upon opening the door, Alex found her wife leaning over on the counter propped up by her elbows. Before she could even utter a word, Piper had panted out.
"Alex, my water broke."
Alex's brain went into overdrive. This couldn't be happening. Piper was thirty four weeks pregnant and still had a little over a month to go. The brunette didn't even question her wife's confession due to how heavy her breathing was and the amount of tears streaming down her face.
"What the…I mean." Alex stopped to taking a calming breath before she dealt with her wife. They hadn't gone to birthing class, or remotely came close to finishing their birthing plan even though their doctor was growing impatient. All she knew was what she had read in the books she had been reading at work. "Okay, babe. Just breathe."
"Alex I can't fucking breathe! I'm fucking scared." The tears had now started to rapidly fall down the blonde's reddening face. "This is too early, Alex. This is too fucking early."
The taller woman placed a hand on her wife's shoulder, and rubbed her back with the other one. She had two options; she could either woman up and be strong for her wife and unborn child, or completely freak out like her wife was doing. In all honesty, Alex was surprised she wasn't freaking out as bad as her wife was. She knew Piper needed her and her going haywire would just cause more commotion.
"Pipes, everything is gonna be okay. We're gonna get your bag from the nursery, take Conner down to Kelly's, and then we're gonna have a healthy little girl. You have to stay strong and relax, tensing up is only gonna put you and this baby in that much worse of a situation. Okay? I'm right here, every step of the way."
This small pep talk had seemed to calm Piper down in the slightest. She had stood up and rubbed her hands all over her large belly. Alex was right, stressing would cause the baby to stress and could ultimately end up fatal.
"Okay." Piper sniffled, before breaking down once again. "Alex, I'm so scared."
The older woman automatically turned her wife around and wrapped her arms around her as best she could considering the size of her bump. Alex badly wanted to voice how scared she was right now, but held strong in assuring her wife that everything would turn out okay.
"Everything's gonna be okay, babe. I'll call Kelly and we'll take him to her apartment, and then we're gonna go check on our little one, okay? Have faith."
Secretly, Alex was wondering how she was going to get through this.
It took twenty minutes and three contractions to get Conner up and situated, grab all of their stuff, and head to the hospital. Thankfully, all Alex had to tell Conner was that they were going to pick up his little sister and he had calmed down significantly after seeing Piper double over as she had a contraction.
Kelly had been up watching rom-coms with her boyfriend Hayden when Alex had frantically called hoping to God she was home. Kelly already had the door open and waiting when the family got off the elevator and Piper silently thanked whoever was up above that she was home and Conner liked her. Kelly had quickly picked up Conner and grabbed his bag before telling the expecting couple to get a move on. Alex had leaned in the door to kiss Conner and Piper pulled herself together to also kiss her son and tell her she loved him.
"I trust one of you to let the store know what's going on." Alex slightly stepped in the apartment to look at her other employee.
Kelly quickly nodded as she let Conner down and he automatically ran to the couch to see Hayden.
"Okay, great. You don't have to go in to work, either of you. We'll just do partial open hours today so…Uh, someone will surely be by to get him sometime today, but we'll keep you in the loop."
"No problem. I'll keep him as long as need be. I'm just happy to help."
As Conner climbed up into Hayden's lap, the young brown haired-man man called out that he wished them the best.
Piper couldn't thank this woman and her boyfriend enough for practically being their lifesaver. She had known both these young adults since they started at the bookstore and grown very, very fond of them.
Everything was happening so quickly that neither woman said anything on the short ride to the hospital. Alex gripped Piper's hand as she cried through her contractions in the front seat. They were coming every five minutes and the pain only intensified with each one. With each contraction, Piper muttered that she was scared, not only for the health of their child, but what the next twenty four hours would hold for their suddenly expanding family.
As soon as Alex had soothed Piper through a contraction, she assisted her out of the car and into the labor and delivery ward. Thankfully, there were no other expecting parents waiting and Piper was able to register and get into a room fairly quickly. Alex ended up having to profusely apologize to the woman in registration due to Piper's explicit profanities and snapping a pencil in half as she experienced a contraction. The young woman said that it was completely okay and Piper's outburst wasn't near as bad as what she had endured before.
Everything from that point on was a blur. Things were happening so quickly, Alex didn't have time to sit and dwell on what could happen or how the night could potentially end up. Thankfully, Piper's OB/GYN was on call and would be for the next twelve hours. Dr. Myers wasn't very pleased to see her patient so early, but reassured the nervous parents that she would guide them every step of the way. No other information had been so comforting for the expecting couple up until that point.
The first check that Piper had done as soon as she changed into a hospital gown, their nurse was particularly snippy and Alex was having none of it. Piper had to practically pull her wife closer to the bed and dig her nails into the skin of Alex's palm while she breathed through a contraction. This got Alex's attention while she winced in pain from how constrictive Piper's hold was. All the older woman wanted was for someone to tell them how their baby was and if they could prolong the labor until closer to full term.
When Piper's doctor had finally made her rounds to their room, she had concluded that Piper was in fact in active labor and was dilated to a six since her water had broken. From what she could determine, Piper's amniotic sack had ruptured, thus causing her water bug to combust and start the labor process. The monitor that was keeping track of Ellie's and Piper's levels showed contractions still coming in at every five minutes and lasting about thirty seconds. Piper's doctor and the couple quickly concluded that she would have an emergency C-section due to being so far in the labor process and her water had already completely broken. Dr. Myers stated that Piper had an hour before she would go back and soon she would be a mommy to two precious children.
It was taking everything Alex had to hold it together for Piper and bear with her through the worry and pain. Thoughts of complications or something going wrong during the procedure were wreaking havoc on her brain but she fought through it all for the love of her wife and daughter.
Alex had called Barbara despite it now being six in the morning and the older woman's calm and peaceful voice had been enough to keep the brunette from falling off the deep end. Her mother-in-law had reassured her that everything would turn out fine and she would be there as soon as she possibly could. Kelly had been the second person Alex contacted, but this time was via text message. Alex typed out that Piper would soon be going in to delivery Ellie and that they both loved Conner. The young employee had immediately replied saying she couldn't sleep due to worry and that Conner was sleeping peacefully on the couch. The worker even sent Alex a picture of the sleeping boy in hopes that it would help ease the anxious parents.
"Alex?"
Piper's voice was drained and her face was pale due to the pain from the contractions. Alex automatically shoved her phone in the back pocket of jeans that she had absentmindedly threw on when they were rushing out the door and scooted her chair closer to Piper's bed. When they had first arrived at the hospital she was bra-less in an old ratty band tee, but soon changed into a sports bra and sweatshirt she had packed in Piper's overnight bag.
"What is it, babe?" Alex moved a stray strand of hair that had fell out of Piper's messy bun on top of her head. "Need another backrub?"
Piper shook her head and grabbed Alex's hand, preoccupying herself by rubbing the pad of her thumb over Alex's wedding ring.
"I love you, and I am so so so thankful that it's you standing by my side as we go through this."
"I love you too, Pipes... I'm right here, no matter what."
There were unshed tears in the corners of eyes as the blonde woman proclaimed her confession. All Alex could do was stand and dig one knee into the bed as she kept their hands entwined and cupped the back of Piper's neck with the other as she placed a soft kiss to her lips. She could taste the salt of the tears Piper had shed previously. The couple stayed in that position until the next contraction engulfed Piper's body.
When the nurses had come in to get Piper prepped and moved to the operating room, Barbara had just rushed through the door. From the time Alex had called her, to the time she arrived was a total of thirty four minutes when it should have taken fifty one to go from her house to the hospital.
"I made it." Barbara's breath was ragged from her brisk walking but she was internally shrieking with joy that she made it before Piper went back.
"She fucking sped." Piper breathed out, grasping for the bar of the hospital bed while the other was taking up residence in Alex's hand just as it had been for the past three hours.
Barbara chuckled as she placed a gentle kiss to Piper's forehead.
"Hi, dear. Ready to have this baby?"
The older woman walked around the bed and gave Alex a quick hug before the nurses started to move Piper's bed out of the room. The nurses also gave Alex her scrubs and said it would be ten to fifteen minutes before she could go in the operating room with Piper.
Alex allowed Barbara to wish Piper well and hug her before she did.
"Just like last time, huh babe?" The older woman was desperately trying to keep it together for her wife.
Piper chuckled, "Just like last time. I'll see you in a few minutes, okay? I love you so much."
"I love you too, Pipes." Alex bent down and kissed Piper multiple times before watching the nurses wheel her down the long hallway and disappear behind the large swinging doors.
The moment Piper was out of sight, Alex turned on her heel and walked back into the room. Barbara was already standing there waiting with open arms.
"You, my dear, are the strongest woman I have ever met and not mention a fantastic mother and wife…Piper is so lucky to have you." Alex held on to the shorter woman and nodded for a few long moments before stepping into the restroom to put the scrubs over her clothes and to have a moment to herself. A million thoughts were swimming around the brunette's brain. In a matter of thirty minutes or less, she would have a preemie whose health looked promising while she was on the inside, but the bigger question was how she was going to do on the outside. Piper had even joked after the epidural had kicked in, that Elliott being born now would take away from the stress of the grand opening of the new bookstore at the end of May if she would've been born on her due date in mid-May. In Alex's mind, the bookstore could wait or they could open without her, her little girl who could potentially still be in the NICU during the opening or she could be at home, content and healthy was more important than the store.
As soon as the tall woman exited the bathroom, Barbara could tell Alex was holding back the tears or trying to hold back the bile that was trying escape from her throat, in this case she figured both.
"Hold strong, Alex." The elder woman rubbed her hands up and down Alex's arms as the brunette fidgeted with her wedding ring. "Another hour or two and I will be happy to let you cry it out somewhere, but you have to be strong for your wife and for little Ellie."
Alex sniffled before she replied. "Thanks."
"Is there anything you need me to do? Did you forget anything? Need me to call anyone?"
"Uh…" Alex let out a long shaky breath. "I know we didn't grab her car seat, but Piper's doctor said we could need it in as little as three days or as much as three months depending on the baby's health, so."
Barbara nodded.
"Does Polly have Conner?"
The brunette shook her head.
"Everything happened so quickly, we took him to Kelly's apartment. She lives in the same building we do but on the third floor in 303."
"Okay." Barbara nodded. "Do you just want him to stay there? Or do you want me to go get him and stay at the penthouse later on this afternoon?"
"That would be great if you could get him. I don't want him to worry. Polly said she would come up here to sit with Piper while I'm with Ellie if need be so."
"You two have got a lot accomplished since four in the morning." Barbara chuckled attempting to get a rise out of her daughter-in-law.
"You kind of have to when everything hits you at once like this."
The two women stood in silence for another couple of minutes before a nurse came to retrieve Alex.
"Everything will be fine, dear. I'll be right outside in the waiting room. Afterwards you go be with your baby girl and I'll deal with Piper. Okay?"
Alex nodded. "Thanks Barbara. We love you so much."
The moment Alex stepped into the operating room all she heard were beeps and small chatter among the nurses and doctors. There was already a bassinette with three nurses stationed around it for when Ellie made her first appearance. The further Alex scanned, she found her wife laying on the table with her hand covering her eyes. Her body automatically pulled her towards her wife without even thinking about it.
"Hi, babe." Alex gently rubbed her wife's cheek with the backs of her fingers.
"Alex." Piper gasped. A nurse brought over Alex a stool to sit down.
"Are you ready to meet our little girl?"
Piper nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Alex leaned down to kiss Piper softly and then again on her forehead.
It was another minute before the doctor announced she was starting and Piper remembered it just like when she had Conner. There was the pressure and the doctors mumbling about. The closer they grew to meeting their little girl, the more the nurses started to scramble around getting everything in place. Alex was calmer this time than she was with Conner, but Piper could still see the fear etched across her face.
Just before the doctor announced she was about to retrieve the baby, Piper reached up and entwined her fingers with the closest hand of Alex's she could reach. The brunette whispered that everything was going to be fine and Piper nodded while a stray tear fell down her cheek. Alex was quick to wipe it as they awaited the moment they had anxiously been waiting for.
Both women took a deep breath and Alex rested her forehead against Piper's when the doctor announced she was about to bring the baby out.
The next sound the couple heard was joy to their ears. Blood curdling screams could be heard very audibly and the doctor pronounced it was indeed a girl. Tears began streaming down Piper and Alex's face as Dr. Myers held their little girl over the curtain. She was screaming with her mouth open wide, she was the tiniest thing they had ever laid eyes on, and she had a head full of fuzz, that was all either of the women could see before Elliott was taken over towards where the nurses were waiting for her.
"She's beautiful." Piper sobbed as Alex too cried tears of happiness as she laid her forehead against her wife's once more. Step one of what was predicted to be a long journey had been achieved; their little girl had a seemingly healthy set of lungs. "Go see her babe."
Alex wiped her tears and with wobbly legs stood up. She leant down and kissed Piper once more and whispered how proud she was before walking towards their daughter.
"Alex, you have an exceptionally healthy baby right here so far. She'll still have to stay in the NICU for a few days to monitor her breathing, run tests, making sure she's eating enough, and can regulate her temp on her own, but right now all is well. Come see your baby." A short, brown headed nurse that was listening to Ellie's organs looked over her shoulder. Elliott was still thrashing around and screaming like no tomorrow. "Come. Speak to her. I assume you talked to her while she was in your wife's tummy. She'll recognize you."
The nurses weren't rushing around like Alex had pictured they would considering how early Ellie was. There was no crazy amount of beeping or doctors calling out for bags of blood or another nurse to help with Ellie or Piper. It was calm, or as calm as it could be in the operating room. Piper's doctor was humming along to a tune in her head as she finished up her job.
When Alex finally stepped up to the side of the bassinette where Ellie was being cleaned and diapered, a new wave of tears escaped from the corners of her eyes.
Elliott was so very little, but she was strong. She came out screaming like no tomorrow, and it was music to both her parents' ears. She had, deep blue eyes and a short patch of blonde hair covering her head. For being six weeks early, her cheeks were chubby and her feet were tiny. Her heart shaped lips could barely close due to the chubbiness of her face. The bottoms of her feet were smooth instead of being ridged like babies born at full term. She weighed four pounds, eleven ounces, and was nineteen inches long. She was pure perfection.
"You can hold her hand, too. Skin to skin contact will be crucial for her the next few days and even the next few weeks." The nurse could see how hesitant Alex was as she gazed at her newborn.
Alex's voice was soft when she first spoke to her daughter, but it was confident.
"You, are so pretty…You're my Ellie." The moment Alex placed her index finger in the palm of Ellie's hand, it took her breath away. It took Ellie a moment, but she calmed significantly as she held on to her mother's finger with a strong grip. "You're so beautiful."
"Would you like to carry her over to your wife? She's been staring over here for a while." Alex quickly glanced up and made eye contact with her wife and smiled with a wide grin, mouthing that she was perfect before she returned her gaze to her little girl. The nurse quickly swaddled Ellie and handed her off to Alex. "You and your wife should be very thankful, a lot of parents that have babies this early usually don't hold their child until tomorrow or the next day, but you have a trooper so far."
The warmth radiating from Ellie was magnificent. She was light in Alex's arms and her tiny hand could be seen wriggling out from the top of her swaddle. Piper had to call Alex over in order to break her from her trance.
"Is she okay, Al?" Piper asked as soon as Alex was close enough to hear her.
Alex nodded before she placed a small kiss on Elliott's doughy cheek. The baby scent was already so prominent and intoxicating. It caused Piper to tear up at seeing her wife so in love and speechless. This is what she missed out with Conner. She never got to see Jake with Conner and now she got to witness her wife and newborn daughter share those sweet first moments.
When Ellie was placed in Piper's arms, it automatically brought her back to the day Conner made his grand entrance. She wasn't able to hold him directly after he was born due to falling asleep from the anesthesia, but she was the first person to ever hold him. This time, Alex had been the first one to hold their daughter and it would serve as the sweetest thing she would ever see.
A nurse broke Piper from her observing and requested that she move her gown out of the way so she could place Elliot against her bare chest. Alex watched in awe as Elliott calmed down that much more after having that close contact with her mother.
"Take notes, Alex, you're due to report to the nursery directly after this operation is done. The more skin to skin we can get, the more likely she's going to continue to do well."
The nurse who had handed Elliott off smiled at the brunette as she was examining her daughter's features over and over again.
"She looks like Conner."
Alex nodded still gazing at their daughter from where she was again seated above Piper's head. One of her hands was protectively held on Elliott's back and the other was placed on the side of Piper's face as she watched her wife and daughter interact. Quietly over their shoulders, a nurse was capturing photos of their first moments.
"Al, are you okay? You haven't said much."
"I just…She's okay, you're okay…She's here…and healthy as she can be for being six weeks early."
Piper wiped a tear that had escaped down towards the side of her face.
"I know…she's precious…and she's ours."
8 A.M.
As Piper was closed up and wheeled off to recovery, Alex kissed her and was granted the honor of carrying Elliott across the hall into the NICU. There was one other baby in the small, dark room. This particular baby was covered in wires and monitors that were steadily beeping. An oxygen mask was also covering the baby and Alex couldn't help but clutch Ellie a little tighter as she constantly thanked the high heavens that that wasn't her baby.
"That one over there was born at twenty four weeks gestation, he's six weeks today." Alex grew wide-eyed as the nurse whispered to her. "His parents have only gotten to hold him twice."
This experience had been mind-blowing and fast. Four hours ago she was sleeping restlessly in bed and now she was the mother of two kids. So far, it was easy, but Alex knew the worst had yet to come. A part of her was ready for Conner to meet his little sister that he been so eagerly waiting for. She knew she and her wife would melt at the sight, but first they needed to make sure all was well with Ellie and would continue to be.
As soon as Alex looked up, there was Barbara standing at the windows that looked out into the waiting room. The older woman had tears trailing down her face and that alone caused another new wave of tears to start falling down Alex's face.
"Can I walk her to the window?"
The nurse smiled and nodded as she retrieved a chair for Alex to sit in so she could have skin to skin time with Elliott.
Alex slowly walked towards Barbara and could tell the older woman was speechless as she leaned Ellie towards the window.
"Perfect!" Barbara mouthed as she pulled out her phone and signaled for Alex to pose. Her hair was ruffled in a messy bun from where it had been shoved in the hat she had to wear in the operating room and she now only had the bottoms of the blue scrubs on as she stood in one of Piper's t-shirts she had switched into before the C-section.
"Is she healthy?"
Alex nodded as she smiled and slightly swayed as Ellie slept in her arms.
Barbara mouthed that she was beautiful and was going to see Piper and the nurse led Alex towards the chair she had pulled up. There were no rocking chairs available due to a nurse now rocking the other baby in the room, but she had found a hospital recliner.
The nurse asked Alex to remove her shirt and that modesty was of no issue in the NICU. Alex internally thanked herself for wearing a sports bra. After getting Ellie adjusted to where her cheek was precisely placed on Alex's chest, she had just started to stir, and blink up at her momma. The brunette gently cupped Ellie's head and soothingly ran her thumb up and down her cheek.
"Hi, Ellie…You've had a big day, huh? But I'm so happy to finally meet you…You gave me and your mommy a bit of a scare, but you just wanted to come out and say hi a little bit early…" Alex whispered as she once again found herself taking in every fiber of her daughters being. "You have a big brother, who is already so so in love with you along with your Grandma and Grandpa. Your mommy is such an amazing mommy, so I think you'll be thoroughly pleased with her…With me, just be patient…I wasn't around much with your brother until he was a little bit older so this is all new…but I can tell you that you are all mine."
Alex sat with her newborn baby girl for over an hour until one of the nurses informed her that Piper was in her old room and had done remarkable in recover. The brunette didn't want to leave her little girl, but before she left, she pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures to send to Kelly, Polly, and a few others.
"We can't allow anyone but you or your wife in here to be with her so any visitors will have to wait until later on. We'll run some tests, draw blood, and monitor her. You've had a miracle happen to you today. Usually preemies have some sort of problem, but Ellie here seems to be a tough little lady. The test results should be ready by lunch and if they're all normal she'll be able to spend a little time in Piper's room tonight, then she can have a couple of visitors. We recommend that you wait for any siblings, cousins, and such to wait until she's no longer having to report to the NICU, but most likely that will end tomorrow if all goes well."
Alex nodded as she took in all the information. She knew it would break Conner's heart that he wouldn't be able to meet his baby sister yet but it was for the better. Alex also made a mental note to send tons of pictures for him to look at and perhaps even a short video. Before she left, she leaned down over the bassinette her daughter had been settled in and placed a few little kisses to Ellie's face and whispered that she loved her.
9:25 A.M.
"Hi, babe." Alex smiled wide as she walked into Piper's room. The color had returned to the blonde's face and she was in a much better mood. "How do you feel?"
The blonde scooted over a tad despite the pain shooting through her abdomen and patted the seat next to her, signaling for Alex to lay next to her.
"Sore, obviously, but nothing I haven't gone through before." Piper intertwined her and Alex's fingers after she got comfortable. "How is she? Barbara sent me you guys picture and I haven't been able to stop looking at it."
"First, let me do this." Alex cupped Piper's cheek with her free hand and lovingly kissed her wife. "You have astounded me today through all this."
Piper blushed. "I think I should be telling you that."
Alex shook her head and kissed her blonde once more.
"As for Ellie, she did great during skin to skin. They're going to run some tests and monitor her, and if all comes back well she should be able to spend a few hours in here tonight and be out of the NICU tomorrow at the earliest."
"Such a little trooper already."
"You're telling me." Alex removed her glasses and leaned her head back into the mattress. "Thirty four weeks of Oreos and hot fudge, mood swings, almost broken ribs…I'd say she's worth it."
"She's definitely worth it." Piper leaned her head on Alex's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Where's Barbara?"
"Oh, she went down to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. She hadn't ate since last night."
Alex nodded.
"We are so very lucky, today has turned out how it has."
"I agree, but we're not out of the woods just yet, Al. You never know what to expect with preemies."
Not out of the woods had been right.
Although Ellie's bloodwork had come back great, and she had still been breathing just fine on her own, the little girl even got to spend two and a half hours in her mother's room during the first evening after she was delivered and had met, Barbara and Jim, Polly and Pete, and a worker from Popi. It had broken Piper's heart that she wouldn't be able to keep her baby in her room just like she did with Conner, but Alex reassured her that it was for the best. Jim and Barbara had gone by Kelly's to pick up Conner and had also called to let him talk to his parents. He had been ecstatic upon seeing pictures of his baby sister.
While Ellie had been in the room during that first day, Alex and Piper had the liberty of changing the first dirty diaper and it was a sight to see as Alex experienced everything with a newborn for the first time. She hadn't changed Conner's diaper until he was closer to four months but now she was getting to learn about everything from the beginning. Piper had even gotten to watch Alex cuddle their little girl in between visitors and had captured many photos of their sweet moment.
It had been a few hours after she had been taken back to the NICU and Piper had been feeding her via finger and syringe due to her sucking capabilities not being fully formed yet. The doctor informed the parents that Piper would be able to try breastfeeding in a few days if all continued to go well. Alex had been kneeling besides her gazing at the sight in front of her. Ellie had been making grunting noises that melted both her parents heart, but the second the monitors started to beep a little quicker Piper had instantaneously went into panic mode. Her little girl who had been content with being skin-to-skin while feeding had started to grow fussy and the nurses had automatically rushed over.
It took everything Alex had to keep Piper held within her arms but she too had started to panic. It had been a rough couple of minutes as they heard Ellie scream but it had all quickly went away. Piper slumped back down in chair as the room went completely silent, all that could be heard was Alex's heavy breathing and the soft beeping of machines.
A nurse had calmly walked over and informed the parents that Ellie was just having a little problem keeping her temperature regulated but it wasn't anything abnormal for a preemie. Ellie experienced one tinier scare throughout the rest of the night but other than that she was staying strong and her numbers were still improving. She had also been placed in an incubator for the rest of the night to help keep her body temperature at a regular level.
Two days later, April 5th, 10:45 A.M.
Throughout the past two days, Ellie had to spend them in the NICU due to her temperature and other minor problems but her parents were right there by her side. Piper had just been released to go home but Ellie had only just been released from the NICU into the regular nursery. She had gained a couple of ounces and hadn't lost any weight. The doctors were hopeful for being able to go home tomorrow but this first day in the nursery had to be perfect in order for that to come true.
At one point in the last couple of days the doctors had informed the couple that their daughter would be in the NICU for three weeks but she had proven them wrong. They had even proclaimed that Ellie had been one of the strongest preemies they had delivered in months. The couple was also told that there would most likely be developmental delays due to her being born so early but they knew that was to be expected.
Conner on the other hand was growing impatient. Piper and Alex had sent countless videos and pictures but he wanted to meet her in person. Now the parents weren't sure what to tell him when they arrived home without a baby. Alex had run home periodically throughout the past few days to see him and he had been disappointed every time the door opened and his little sister wasn't with her.
Nicky had even called for her one of her chats and was surprised at the news Alex had given her. The woman had been ecstatic that her friend was a mother of two and had been even more excited when Alex had told her that Ellie was doing phenomenal for a preemie. Alex felt bad that she had to tell her friend that she wouldn't be able to visit for a while until everything had settled down, but Nicky was quick to tell her that Ellie and her health was more important.
"I don't want to leave her by herself, Al." Piper had tears streaming down her face as she fed their daughter via syringe for the last time before she transitioned to bottles and hopefully to breastfeeding when she came home.
"I know, but twenty-four hours of good numbers and check-ups and she'll be able to go home with us…It hurts me too, but this is all for the better." Alex pressed a loving kiss to Piper and Ellie's temple. Ellie had just been able to wear actual baby clothes and Piper had dressed her in a pink onesie and a white headband that had a bow almost the size of her tiny head. "We can bring Conner back later this afternoon now that she's out of the NICU, and then we can come get her tomorrow."
Piper had witnessed Alex grow emotionally stronger the past three days and it had been such an overwhelming thing to see. Alex hadn't broke down completely until they had arrived back to Piper's room after Ellie's temperature had dropped the first time and Piper held her, both sobbing until a nurse came in to check on them.
A/N: This is the longest chapter I've wrote for anything in my life.
I've wanted Elliott to be here since the beginning so I apologize if this seems rushed.
I'm not sure whether to crawl in a hole and hide or not.
Thank you for all your continuous support and reviews!
I'd love to hear your thoughts.