This Love…
S2E24: I'm Sorry
"I want Aiden. I need Aiden!" Hope said as Kayla looked at the monitor of the sonogram screen. "Shawn told me he called him. Why isn't Aiden here now? He must be still angry with me."
Shawn was waiting in the waiting room since Kayla had had to check the bleeding situation. Thankfully, the bleeding wasn't too severe—no more blood than the beginning of a menstrual cycle—so it wasn't a dire concern of Kayla's at the moment.
"I'm not exactly Aiden's biggest fan, and I'm not sure what you two fought about, but I do know that he loves you and the twins. He would never not show up. He's probably just stuck in traffic," Kayla gently soothed her.
Hope cried out as another contraction hit. "Please you've got to stop the labor! It's too early for them to come!" she cried to Kayla.
"You're not in labor. You've had a partial placental abruption. It's very common in women who are have babies late in life—especially with multiples. The placenta has partially detached from the uterus. It caused contractions that feel very much like labor contractions," Kayla explained. She turned off the sonogram machine, and wiped the gel off Hope's stomach, before pulling her paper robe back down for her. "It's going to be okay. Don't worry."
"Are my babies going to be all right?" Hope asked; tears in her eyes.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that they are. The placenta provides their nourishment, so this isn't good, but it helps that it's only partially separated. I am going to have Maxine come in and give you a blood test just to make sure, but I can tell already that that is what it is." Kayla checked Hope's bleeding situation again, then smiled. "Thankfully the bleeding stopped. We're going to get those contractions under control too, then I'm going to admit you for a couple of nights just to be safe. After that, you have to be on partial bedrest for the remainder of your pregnancy," Kayla explained.
Just then, Aiden came rushing into the room. "Are you all right? Are the babies all right?" he asked Hope.
Hope held her arms out to him, tears of fear in her eyes.
Aiden rushed over to her. "Did we lose them?" Tears filled his own eyes.
"No, the babies should be fine as long as Hope takes care of herself," Kayla answered for Hope.
"I had a partial placenta abruption. It causes contractions that feel like labor, and it caused me to bleed. I thought I was having a miscarriage!" Hope sobbed out of relief as she buried her face in Aiden's chest while he held her.
"What causes it, and what can be done about it?" Aiden asked.
"No one is really for sure. It happens suddenly. Abdominal trauma and high blood pressure are two reasons said to be a cause. Stress can cause high blood pressure. I know Hope has been stressed lately, so that could be the reason. I'm going to have her blood tested just to be sure this is an abruption. I know it is, but it's always good to get a second confirmation. The bleeding stopped, so I'm going to give her something to stop the contractions, and I'm also going to prescribe her medication to help the twins' lungs grow. They will need the extra help with the placenta being partially separated," Kayla explained. "I'm also admitting her for two nights just to be safe."
Hope cried out again in pain as another contraction hit. She looked up at Kayla pitifully. "Please hurry!"
"All right. I'm going to go get what I need to stop the contractions while Maxine comes in, hooks you up with an IV, and gives you a blood test. I'll be back as soon as I can." Kayla gently rubbed her arm. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be okay," she said soothingly with a small smile.
"Can Aiden stay with me?" Hope asked. "I need him to stay with me." She squeezed his hand.
Kayla hesitated. She looked from Aiden to Hope, then gave her a weak smile. "That would be fine. I'll be right back!" She then left.
Maxine entered then. "How are you doing, Hope?" she asked sympathetically.
"I've been better," Hope replied, too worried to even attempt a smile.
"Aw, don't worry! We've had lots of mothers with placenta abruptions and they were able to deliver healthy and happy babies just fine—even with full placenta abruptions," Maxine assured her.
Hope looked Aiden in the eyes, and he gently rubbed his thumb over the back of her free hand as Maxine hooked up the IV to her other hand.
"I know, this sucks, all this poking and prodding. I'm sorry," Maxine said as she then preceded to take Hope's blood a moment later.
"It's okay," Hope said quietly. "I'm so worried, I barely even feel it." She winced as another contraction hit. "A needle prick is nothing compared to these contractions!"
"I'm going to put a rush on this for the lab. Kayla will be right back to stop those nasty contractions, I promise! You're going to be all right," Maxine said to Hope with a kind smile once she had finished taking her blood.
Hope smiled back. "Thank you, Maxine." She then cried out as another contraction hit.
As soon as Maxine left, Aiden gently rubbed her stomach in an attempt to help. "I'm so sorry for all the things I said, Baby! I didn't mean them. I love you. I just hate when you can't trust me because I know it's my fault that you can't. But I promise you, I am not lying about Tiffany. She is my friend and that is it! Nothing happened between her and I, and nothing ever will. You are my everything, Hope. Why would I want her when I already have the woman of my dreams?"
Hope felt her heart melt. She suddenly felt ashamed for the way she had acted, and about the things she had said. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should have brought Rafe into it. I was just trying to hurt you because I thought you had hurt me."
Aiden gently stroked some hair out of her eyes. "Not every again, Baby. I'm never going to hurt you again."
Hope took his hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry I let myself believe you'd cheat. I don't want Rafe; I want you. I don't want anything to ever jeopardize you and I being together—not ever again." She winced as another contraction hit. "I hope Kayla gets here soon…"
"I promise you, nothing ever will ever jeopardize us," Aiden assured her as he gently rubbed her stomach again. "I can see how it must have looked. I should have thought about it before I took her up to yours and my room and danced with her to yours and my song—especially when I knew how you felt about her."
Hope winced in pain, and placed her hand over Aiden's. "It's okay. I guess I just got jealous seeing you dance with her the way you danced with me. Dancing to our song made it sting more. Also, I know it seems petty, but I hate that she was up in our room. I want that room to just be ours—no one else's but ours. Well, the twins can come up too when they're born… I guess." She grinned and Aiden to show she was only joking with the 'I guess'.
Aiden smiled, and gently stroked her hair. "From now on, deal! No one but us and possibly the twins will be allowed in our room." He kissed her forehead. "But please promise me, the next time you're worried about something, you'll talk to me first before getting angry?"
Hope nodded. "I promise!" She winced as another contraction hit. "I guess I'll start now. I hate that you work so late most nights. You know the old cliché about women being cheated on when their husbands are supposedly working late. Then I saw Tiffany was there with you, in our room, dancing with you, and…my hormonal mind jumped to false conclusions as usual."
"Well, I really was working. I just want to be able to provide the best things for the love of my life and our babies," Aiden admitted.
Hope took his hand and stroked the back of his hand with her thumb. "All we need is you."
"And you're always going to have me," Aiden assured her.
They kissed, then, Hope cried out, and pulled away from him.
"Please tell me that was because of another contraction and not because of my kiss!" Aiden joked. "I'm not that bad of a kisser am I?" he teased.
Hope grinned. "Very funny."
"I mean, I guess I could practice on Tiffany," he joked.
"Aiden Jennings, you stop that this instant!" Hope said, though she was grinning. She cried out in pain again.
"I'm going back to working normal hours. It's not worth upsetting my baby," Aiden said, kissing her hands.
Hope had tears in her eyes, though this time they were from happiness. "I love you, Mr. Jennings—so much!"
"And I love you, my baby." Aiden kissed her softly on the lips.
Kayla came in then, and headed straight to Hope's IV. "Sorry it took me so long. Someone moved the drug to the back, and I had a heck of a time finding it. Ugh!" She injected the medication into Hope's IV. "This should start taking effect right away…"
Hope sighed with relief. "Thank you."
"Now it is absolutely imperative that you stay on partial bedrest once you're home. All right? And any stress you may start to feel, drop it! It's not as important as your unborn twins' lives. Got it?" Kayla asked kindly yet sternly.
Hope nodded. "Got it!"
"I'll make sure she rests and stays stress-free," Aiden assured Kayla.
Kayla looked from Aiden to Hope. "There's one more thing that I really must insist upon for the sake of your babies."
"What is it?" Hope asked.
Kayla looked at Aiden. "You must refrain from having sex from now until after the babies are born, and until Hope is well enough to." She looked at Hope. "Right now with a partially detached placenta, it's too much for your body right now. You have to be really careful in everything you do. No lifting anything either. No heavy boxes for the nursery, no moving furniture…. I know that part is probably a given but I have to say it just in case."
"No sex at all? Even if we're gentle?" Aiden asked; disappointed.
Kayla shook her head. "She's due in three months. You'll both survive. Then it will make it even more special when you're finally allowed to again." She smiled weakly.
Aiden sighed. "Whatever it takes to keep the twins safe and healthy."
Hope nodded. "Absolutely!"
"I also want you to come in for weekly checkups now," Kayla said to Hope. "I'm going to go start the paperwork for getting you admitted and into a room." She then left to do just that.
"Three months? This is going to be torture, not being able to be with you intimately, Baby," Aiden murmured. He took Hope's hand in his and kissed it.
Hope nodded. "I know. But, like Kayla said, once we're allowed to again, it will make it all the more special." She winked at Aiden.
"It's always special with you, Baby," Aiden murmured, his eyes lowered with love for her.
Hope's eyes lowered with love for him. "Likewise," she murmured. They kissed.
~*came back to me.*~
Later that night, Hope was in the room they gave her. Even though she'd only be staying there a couple nights anyway, she was still glad she didn't have a roommate.
Shawn had informed her that he had called Ciara and told her about Hope being in the hospital. Ciara had agreed to come home tomorrow.
Hope hoped that this was a good sign. The (what she thought was) early labor scare had made her reevaluate things. For a moment, she had thought she was going to lose the twins. That would have been five of her babies lost to death. Thankfully, they were going to be okay but even so, she didn't want to lose a single child of hers ever again. With Ciara not talking to her, it felt like losing her. She had made the decision right then and there to accept Skylar. She supposed if Ciara had to be gay, at least she picked a nice girl. Hope wasn't fond of the tattoos and piercings, but she knew that Skylar was right. She didn't force Ciara to get them. Ciara didn't let others persuade her into doing something she didn't want to do. Even as a little girl it had been that way.
"Knock, knock!" Carol said as she knocked on the open door.
Hope broke from her thoughts and smiled at Carol. "Hi, Carol! How are you?"
"How am I? I think the more important question here is how are you?" Carol walked into the room. She was holding a magazine and a Get Well Soon balloon.
"For me?" Hope asked with a smile.
"No, actually, it's for that hot male candy striper making his rounds." Carol grinned and winked.
Hope laughed.
"Of course it's for you, silly!" Carol set the balloon, which was attached to a present-shaped piece of plastic that kept the balloon from flying away, down on the nightstand. She handed Hope the magazine. "You strike me as a Cosmo girl."
Hope smiled. "Thank you! It's perfect," Hope said as she took the Cosmo magazine from her. "In answer to your question, I'm fine. I had a partial placenta abruption, and that's why I had the contractions. They were able to stop both the contractions and the bleeding. Now I'm on bedrest. They wanted to keep me here for a few nights on observation."
"Are my nephew and niece all right?" Carol asked, biting her fingernail with worry.
Hope nodded, and gently placed her hand over her stomach. "They'll be just fine as long as I take it easy and stay stress-free."
"Good! I don't want anything to happen to you, or my little nephew and niece!" Carol said. "So, where's my brother? Did he go home already? What a punk!"
Hope smiled. "Don't worry. He just left to pack me a bag for the two nights I'll be staying here."
"At least it's only for two nights, but I don't know why they can't make hospitals more like hotels," Carol said as she ran her handover the rough bedspread. "The doctors and nurses always say they want you to be comfortable, yet they keep the door open at night so that you can hear every single sound of the hospital. Not to mention they wake you up to give you medication, check your blood pressure, or what not. I'd go insane! At least in Andre's private hospital I got to have peace and quiet."
Hope nodded. "Sometimes they even wake patients up to give them something to help them sleep when they are already sleeping!"
Carol laughed. "I know, right?"
"And could they spare the blankets? I get one cheap sheet, one thin blanket, and a scratchy comforter which is really only as thick as a good quality blanket," Hope said.
"It's not like they can't afford better bedding," Carol noted.
"Exactly!" Hope agreed. "I think that hot candy striper you were talking about should come in here and make it up to me."
Carol gasped, and playfully swatted her. "You're so bad!" she said with a laugh.
"I was only kidding. You know your brother is the only man for me," Hope assured her.
Carol wrinkled her nose. "God only knows what you see in him," she teased.
"Hey! I heard that!" Aiden said as he came in with Hope's bag then.
Carol rolled her eyes. "Of course he'd return just in time to hear me insult him!" She then turned around to face Aiden. "Not that I care." She stuck her tongue out at him.
Aiden stuck it back out at her. "Hope's been through enough without having to look at your ugly face today!" he quipped back.
"Haha…" Carol said sarcastically, making a face at him.
Hope grinned. She guessed it didn't matter how old they got. Siblings would always be siblings.
Aiden set Hope's bag down in the bathroom. "It's there when you need it. Just make sure you take everything with you when you leave. Hospitals have a way of mysteriously losing things." He walked over to Hope and kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
Hope smiled up at him. "Much better now. Thank you for binging my clothes and toiletries for me. I love you."
"Anytime. I love you too, my baby." Aiden said before kissing her lovingly on the lips.
"Gag," Carol said, making a gagging motion with her finger.
Aiden smirked at her. "You're just upset you're stuck kissing Andre. You know, I still can't believe you went back to him after what he did to Casey."
Carol's expression grew serious. "Spare me the lecture, please? I've already gotten one from Casey."
Aiden sighed. "I just want my big sister to be happy and safe."
"And I'm both! Thank you for caring. I'm glad to see my little brother is happy and safe too." She got up off the bed and kissed his cheek. "I may razz you, but I love you."
"Just as I love you," Aiden said, gently rubbing her back. "Thank you for visiting Hope. I appreciate it."
"Hey. I was glad to." Carol smiled, and Hope and gently squeezed her hand. "As far as I'm concerned, she's the sister I never had but always wanted."
Hope had tears in her eyes. "That is the sweetest thing you've ever said to me. It's an honor to be your sister."
"Okay, I'm going to go now before I cry." Carol smiled weakly. "You take care of yourself. I need you to help keep my brother in line." She winked at Hope and gently pat her legs, which were covered by the blankets.
Hope laughed. "Don't worry. I will."
"See you later, Gatoraid," Carol said to Aiden with a smirk.
"See you later, Bitch," Aiden jabbed one last time.
Carol whipped around from the doorway, her mouth dropped in surprise. "You'll pay for that!" She smirked, then left disappearing down into the elevator.
Hope shook her head. "You two are like children!"
Aiden grinned at her. "That's okay. When the twins are born they'll be able to relate to us better this way."
Hope laughed. "Come here you!"
Aiden walked over to her, then she pulled him down onto the bed with her, and they kissed.
~*came back to me.*~
The next morning, Ciara arrived just before lunch. She walked into Hope's hospital room while Aiden was at work. "Mom!" She ran to her.
"Ciara! I wasn't sure you'd come!" Hope said, holding her arms out to her.
Ciara hugged her gently, as if she were afraid Hope would break. "You're in the hospital and you could have lost the twins. Of course I came!" She then looked Hope in the eyes. "I'm so sorry I hung up on you, Mom. Shawn told me this happened because of high blood pressure as a result of your stress. It's all my fault!" She had tears in her eyes.
Hope shook her head. "No, it wasn't your fault. It's my own fault for letting my hormones get the best of me, and for not learning how to relax."
"Still, it happened after I hung up on you." Ciara sat down in a chair next to the bed.
"It was just a coincidence. Anyway, if anyone should be apologizing, it's me. When I thought I was going to lose two more babies, it made me think of you, and how I was losing you even though you're still alive. I never want to lose you, Baby. I'm sorry. I know you're not a baby anymore. Ciara," Hope corrected herself with a sad smile.
"I was just being a brat. I don't mind you calling me Baby." Ciara smirked. "Though, it is kind of weird that Aiden calls you what you call me."
"It's two different contexts," Hope said with a smirk of her own and an eyebrow raised.
"Anyway, you're never going to lose me, Mom. It hurts me that you won't accept me as I am, and that you won't accept Skylar, but I don't want to lose you over it." Ciara teared up. "On the plane ride here, I kept thinking how you could have died and the last thing I said to you was I didn't have time, and that there was nothing more I had to say to you. I'd have never forgiven myself if those were my last words to you!"
"Oh, Baby, I'm fine! Come here!" Hope said, holding her arms out again.
Ciara ran to her, hugging her a little tighter this time. She sniffled, then pulled away. "So you and the twins are all fine?"
Hope nodded. "It was a partial placenta abruption. I just need bedrest from now until the birth."
Ciara sat back down and smirked. "I'm sure you're not going to like that!"
Hope smiled. "Are you kidding me? I'm going to hate it! But if it keeps the babies healthy and safe, then that's what I'll do." She then turned serious. "Ciara, I am so sorry for not accepting you for who you now are. I'm also sorry for not accepting Skylar. I want to give her a chance this time—a real chance. How about the next time you come down, you bring her too? We can have a girls' day. And if you want to get piercings and tattoos, then so be it. Just don't expect me to get any. And please don't get any more huge tattoos or worse, a sleeve. I ask you as a mother."
Ciara blushed. "Actually, I have something to confess."
"You broke up with Skylar?" Hope asked hopefully.
Ciara raised an eyebrow at her. "Mom."
Hope held her hands up. "Sorry! Sorry. Old habits die hard. I still stand by what I said. Sheesh, the eyebrow raise used against me!" She smirked. "What is it?"
Ciara showed her arm to Hope—the arm that last time had the huge Bo memorial tattoo on it.
"No more tattoo!" Hope said in shock. She looked at Ciara. "You had it removed?"
Ciara smiled. "It wore off. I was angry with you for assuming the worst of Skylar, so I had a friend of Skylar's and mine that does custom temporary tattoos do it. I just wanted to freak you out."
"Oh thank God! That tattoo was so ugly!" Hope said.
Ciara laughed. "I know, right? I can't believe you fell for that! I did get a real tattoo though. It's just more subtle."
Hope sighed. She still didn't like the idea of a tattoo, but she didn't want to upset Ciara. "Can I see it please?"
Ciara pulled her shirt up, and there over her heart was a little red heart with Bo's name written in black in the middle, a cross coming through the O in Bo. There was a halo above the cross, and angel wings attached to the back of cross. It was the size of a quarter.
Hope got tears in her eyes. "That is beautiful, Baby! I really mean that."
Ciara pulled her shirt back down and smiled. "Really?"
Hope nodded. "Really!"
"Did it hurt much?" Hope asked.
Ciara shrugged. "I'd give it a four on a scale of one to ten. I expected it to hurt more."
"I'm glad it didn't!" Hope said. "I hate the thought of you being hurt."
"The piercings were all fake. Well, except for all the ones on my ears. Skylar only has her ears an, nose, and belly button pierced. She doesn't really have our initials tattooed on her. She has a Skylark across the back of her right shoulder, and she has a red rose tattoo over her ankle. That's it. The "tramp stamp" was fake too. We were both in on the prank. Though, I had to talk Skylar into it. She hadn't wanted to antagonize you," Ciara admitted.
"Well that's a relief! Oh, and I see the hair cut it real," Hope said, nodding toward Ciara's short hair.
Ciara ran her fingers over it. "Don't worry, I'm growing it out. I just wanted to try something new, but it was a bad experiment. I'm going to grow it out to right above my shoulders."
"That would be really pretty!" Hope said, relieved.
"So you really mean it about the girls' day with Skylar?" Ciara asked, an eyebrow raised.
Hope nodded. "Yes! I will even personally apologize to her. We could do a spa day and lunch, then maybe a movie and dinner if you both would like. My treat!"
"We would both love that!" Ciara was grinning big now. "Thanks, Mom!"
"Anything for you, Baby," Hope said to her.
"So, where's Aiden?" Ciara asked, looking around.
"I made him go to work. He was going to take the day off, but I knew there was nothing he could do here with me. He might as well be making money. Though, I must say I'm happy for the company." She winked at Ciara. "I get bored here."
"I just so happen to have a deck of Phase 10 in my purse if you want to play. But don't expect me to let you win just because you're in the hospital," Ciara said as she took the cards out of her purse.
"And don't expect me to let you win just because you're my daughter!" Hope said, eyebrow raised.
"Game on!" Ciara said.
Hope nodded. "Game on!" she agreed, so happy to be on good terms with Ciara again.
~*came back to me.*~
Ciara had taken a couple days off, so she, Shawn, and Aiden all took Hope home together the next day.
"Straight to bed, Baby. I don't want you having a relapse," Aiden said to her.
Hope rolled her eyes. "Aiden, please! There will be plenty of time for that later. I just spent the last two days in bed. I want to get out and do things!"
"You really do need to take it easy, Mom. For the twins' sake," Shawn warned her.
Ciara nodded. "How about you and I go for a walk while Shawn picks us out a movie and Aiden orders a pizza in for dinner?"
Hope sighed. She had wanted to go out, but then again, a night at home with her family, her kids accepting Aiden as part of the family… How could she resist that? "All right," she agreed. She looked at Shawn. "But don't pick anything horror. I see enough horror on a daily basis."
"I told Carol she shouldn't have gotten her face so close to yours!" Aiden quipped.
Ciara and Shawn both laughed.
Hope beamed. "I'm gonna tell her you said that!"
Aiden grinned.
Hope and Ciara then went for their walk, Shawn picked a nice comedy out, and Aiden ordered a meat lovers pizza with extra meat, which was a very good start to making Hope stress-free and happy.
Maybe Hope thought, things would finally look up for her.
~*came back to me*~
"Is there anything I can get you?" Aiden asked Hope as she lie in bed.
Hope smiled at him. "No, but I have something for you." She reached into her nightstand drawer and took out a framed photo. "Sorry. With the baby scare, I didn't have time to wrap it." She handed him the photo. "Happy Father's Day."
Aiden took the photo from her and looked at it. He got tears in his eyes when he saw that it was a framed photo of him sitting down with a toddler Chase, who was sitting in his lap. Aiden had his arms around Chase's waist. Chase had a big ice cream cone in his hands and chocolate ice cream smeared all over his face. Aiden was laughing in the photo, and even Chase had a big smile on his face.
Aiden looked at Hope. "Where did you get this?"
Hope grinned. "I had a little help from Carol." She winked. "Turns out she's more sentimental than you give her credit for. She has a storage room she is renting that is packed with boxes and boxes of family albums and heirlooms. It took me a while, but I finally found this picture. It was a little beat up, but I had it restored and framed." She placed her hand over Aiden's shoulder. "I knew how much it would mean to you since you miss him so much," she said in practically a whisper.
Aiden had more tears in his eyes. "This is the best thing you could have given me." His voice cracked. "Thank you so much! I love it. I love you!" He took Hope into his arms.
Hope hugged him tightly. "I love you too, My love."
They kissed passionately, and Aiden found himself really hating the no making love rule. So, in lieu of lovemaking, he showered her with kisses. Hope wasn't complaining.
