So we had mixed reactions about Morelli and Alicia. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts!
Language, Sex and Adult themes apply.
I don't own anything; all characters belong to Janet Evanovich.
54
Steph's just shy of nine months pregnant
SPOV
"Babe, it can't possibly hurt that bad" Carlos insisted. I screamed piercingly, hoping I might just burst his eardrums.
"Of course it fucking hurts that bad! Why don't you try pushing an eight pound football out of your DICK and then we'll see who's in pain huh?! My God, and to think I'm going to have your Baby!" I cried through another contraction, my fingernails drawing blood from Carlos' arm.
"Shhhhh Babe, I'm sorry. I'm just nervous" He brushed a kiss across my forehead.
"You're nervous! I'm nervous! I'm the one that's going to have to push the little sucker out!" Carlos simply smiled and kissed my lips.
"It'll be fine Babe. And it's not a little sucker. That's our baby in there" His hand gently ran over my stomach and his lips followed. I hate it when he does something cute when I'm trying to be mad at him. Another contraction hit and I remembered my anger with a vengeance.
"Where is the GOD DAMN DOCTOR, Carlos?! It wants out and it wants out NOW! And where are my pain killers!" I shrieked, huffing through the pain.
"And how's our mother to be going?" The man in the stupid white coat asked. How the fuck did it look like I was going?!
"Where the hell have you been?!" I demanded. Carlos smiled apologetically at the man while the man just laughed. Bastard.
"Calm down Stephanie. Let's take a look" Dr John Martin took a seat between my spread legs and started whatever the hell he was doing. I DID NOT like this. By the look of it Carlos didn't like it either.
"That man is in my territory" He growled in my ear quietly. I laughed. What did he think was gonna happen? Someone had to deliver the baby. Carlos would have known I had to get checked like this if he ever came into the doctors room with me, there was regularly uncomfortable poking and prodding going on down there. The first time he had attended an appointment with me, the doctor drew six vials of blood from my arm; Carlos had passed dead out. From then on, he stood outside the door and only came in only when the doctor wanted to talk, or I had an ultrasound. "Next time we are getting you a female doctor" I blinked.
"NEXT TIME! You think there is going to be a next time after this hell?! And it hasn't even come out yet!!!" I shouted at him. He stared at me for a beat then kissed me silly. When he pulled back I was panting.
"Well Stephanie. It's almost time to start pushing" The good doctor announced.
"What. About. My. DRUGS!" He shook his head with a sad little smile.
"I'm sorry, but you're almost through. A nurse should have administered them to you early" WHAT?! "Alright, when the next contraction hits, I want you to push Stephanie" Eat dirt and die.
I pushed and I pushed and I pushed till I was absolutely beyond exhausted. The doctor told me the baby was in the perfect position...God this felt like it was taking a lifetime!
"Push Babe, push!" Carlos was sitting up behind me, holding and helping me. How many more times was I going to have to push?!
"That's it Stephanie, it's crowning, I can see the head" Doc announced. Carlos kissed my cheek and started murmuring in Spanish. My hands tightened around his as my next contraction came.
"Push!" Everyone screamed. So I did, I pushed as hard as I could and felt the burning pressure release. Hearing the sound of a resounding whack and the cry of my child and I was crying harder than baby.
"Proud of you Babe" Carlos whispered before carefully hoping down off the bed, receiving the freshly wrapped babe in his arms.
"We need you to push again Stephanie, one more time" I was bawling hysterically as I pushed again. Every single muscle and bone in my body was fatigued.
"Congratulations! And guess what, you'll be glad to hear you don't need stitches" My eyes bugged out as the doctor smiled at me before removing his gloves and leaving the room. Stitches?! I was then surrounded by midwives and nurses and the horrified thought fled my brain.
I was quickly and efficiently bathed down with a warm wash cloth to get rid of some excess gunk; then I was showered, cleaned up and dressed, the sheets were changed and I was fed a hospital meal before settling down to breast feed my child. I had a small niggling in my brain that this wasn't usual hospital procedure, to be looked after so well, but let the thought fly. I was so exhausted, I didn't pay any attention to what the midwife was instructing me to do; she and the baby did all the work. The baby was handed off to Carlos and then I had heat packs placed on my lower belly and an ice pack placed between my legs; both were incredibly soothing.
The last thing I remembered seeing was my husband cuddling and kissing our little baby.
Waking up I found myself surrounded by the scent of Bulgari and warm man.
"Carlos?" I asked, my eyes opening and scanning the enormous room…last time I checked this wasn't my room.
"I'm right here Babe" His lips touched mine carefully.
"Where are we?" I wondered as one of his hands cupped my face and the other rubbed my now significantly smaller stomach. Some of the swelling seemed to have gone down...I think...
"I upgraded us" Oh. Could you do that in a hospital? I thought you had to stay in the one ward. Who really cared?
"Ok." I sighed, closing my eyes again.
"Steph, please don't" Huh? I opened my eyes again.
"What?"
"Don't go back to sleep just yet, please. You haven't even properly seen our child yet. She's beautiful Babe, she looks just like you. So beautiful and little. We need to give her a name too. How are you feeling?" Whoa. I never thought I'd have to tell Carlos to quit rambling.
"I'm a little sore. Where is our baby? You could have named her, I wouldn't have minded" I answered struggling to sit up. Carlos eased me upright and hit the call button.
"I wanted both of us to name her…we didn't know the sex" Carlos whispered.
When did he get so cute? He was acting like...what's the opposite of a badass?
"You know, you've really lost your badass image" I pointed out gently...he had been treating me immaculately since he had returned from his last mission all those months ago...I was his woman and he treated me with the utmost love and respect...But he hadn't even threatened the doctor with pain or death...
"I know Babe. I'd rather have you and the little one" Awww. See! He's so cute!
"Is there a problem Mr. Manoso?" A woman in a dark blue uniform asked; I swear that wasn't the same uniform the last nurse had been wearing…we hadn't just upgraded rooms, we'd upgraded hospitals!
"We'd like to spend some time with our child" Carlos instructed in his no nonsense voice.
"Of course. One moment" The woman left the room quietly.
"Where are we Carlos, as in which hospital?" He kissed my curls and smiled.
"We're in a small private hospital Babe" Uh huh.
"And how did we get here? I distinctly remember giving birth not long ago in a different hospital" he chuckled.
"It was easy Babe. I wanted you to be comfortable and our baby to be safe. Security is much tighter here and the doctors have higher qualifications. You slept soundly through everything, just like the little one" The smile would not leave the man's face. I was amazed he had managed to transfer us to another hospital...but if anyone could pull something like that off, it was him.
"Why are you so happy?" I wondered.
"Here we are Mr and Mrs Manoso." The nurse came in carrying a small pink bundle and transferred her straight into my arms. "If you need someone to help you breast feed, just hit the button. Otherwise I'll be back in an hour" Carlos thanked her and moved closer to me so he could kiss our little girl. He was right, she did look a little like me…but I could see the resemblance to him as well.
"Isn't she perfect?" He cooed.
"Yes" I laughed, a few tears trickling down my cheeks. She had my nose; one small tuft of brown hair, her skin was a mix of mine and Carlos' in colour, a shade of tan; ten tiny fingers and toes and a mouth like Carlos. I wondered whose eyes she'd end up with, my blue or Carlos' chocolate brown. They were a light gray at the moment.
"Don't cry Babe" Carlos whispered, kissing my eyes and licking the tears off my face. I lifted my face and joined our lips in a tender kiss.
"Thank you." I smiled at him softly.
"For what mi amor?" His soothing voice requested.
"For this...for giving me a chance...for loving me...for not leaving me when you found out I was pregnant" I mumbled lightly touching my little girl's nose.
"I will never leave you Babe. We're married, I love you, and we have a beautiful child. I should be thanking you, you've given me the greatest gift: the chance to be a real father" I shook my head at his words but didn't verbally argue.
"What do you want to name her Carlos?" I inquired.
"Babe?" His voice was so quiet.
"What was your choice for our baby girl?" We had both picked a name each, a boy's and a girl's but had wanted to wait till we saw our child to share with each other our preferred choices and decide.
"You want me to name her?" I turned my face away from our child to his. He had unshed tears shinning in his eyes.
"Yes. I want you to name her. I love you" I kissed his lips tenderly before pulling back and staring at my little one's face. Both of his hands framed my face and he pushed his lips back on mine roughly. When he finished kissing me silly, he rested his forehead against mine while speaking.
"Annabel Stephia Manoso" He breathed. The tears fell from my eyes and I had to glance away from the intensity of love burning in his eyes.
"Perfect" I announced nodding. Carlos' lips were covering as much of my skin as they could.
"You really like it?" He questioned nervously.
"Carlos, you named her after me. How could I not like it? Thank you...I love you so much" His bright smile was blinding.
"Hola Annabel" Carlos ran his dark finger down her soft cheek. She squirmed slightly. We sat staring at our beautiful child until she started crying. I slid one arm out of my gown carefully and uncovered a breast.
"Babe?! What are doing?" I smiled at him.
"I'm going to try to breastfeed our child" His hands kind of hovered between me and the call button.
"But-"
"Just let me try first Carlos" I moved little Annabel to my right breast and her little mouth searched until she found a nipple and started suckling quickly. Well, she has my appetite.
"Is it wrong that this is turning me on?" My husband asked in a deep rough voice. I blushed but said nothing. I switched breasts halfway through and when I thought she had finished, I covered back up. Moving her to my shoulder I cautiously and ever so gently proceeded to burp her. The nurse re-entered while I was still burping.
"Oh excellent. You're doing well I see. I'll bring her back in a couple hours. Have you decided on a name yet?" The woman asked, taking my little girl out of my arms as Carlos kissed her tiny forehead.
"Annabel Stephia Manoso" I smiled watching Carlos as his eyes scrutinized the nurse holding our child.
"Well, your husband can register her while you get some rest I- " Carlos abruptly cut her off.
"No. You will bring me the forms and make sure everything is dealt with exceptionally. I would also like my baby to reside in here with us. I do not wish to be separated any longer from my wife or our child. Thank you" He commanded, retrieving our precious little baby back, holding her carefully in his arms as he sat by my side.
"B-but sir, that's not hospital policy or protocol. I c-can't just-" She stuttered.
"You can and you will. I sponsored the east wing; I am on the board of trustees and commission. I need anything the child shall require, brought in here. Now." Carlos the badass was back! The woman looked like she was trembling in her ugly white shoes!
"Y-yes Sir!" I almost half expected her to salute.
"Carlos -" He briefly pressed his lips to mine.
"I don't want to leave my wife to have to visit my child; I don't want my five hours old baby left alone while I watch over my wife. You two are the most important things in my life and I will not take any chances" I smiled at him as he finished his little rant.
"I was going to say thank you" He paused at my words and kissed my forehead.
"Get some sleep mi amor. I love you Babe" I carefully slid down under the covers and fell asleep to Carlos' quiet whisperings.
RxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxS
RPOV
I watched my beautiful wife sleep as a handful of male nurses set up an area for my little babe. After dismissing them from the room, I laid my daughter down as instructed by the nurse and rejoined my woman on the bed. Wrapping my body around her, I held her tightly in my arms. She had given me more than I ever, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined. I couldn't help thinking that nothing is ever truly set by fate. In one blink, everything changes. That's what had happened to my life the moment I had chanced upon Stephanie Plum.
"Te amo" I whispered kissing her tangled curls.
I didn't sleep. I simply held her close and thanked God for her presence in my life and the gift she had given me.
Glancing over my Babe's shoulder, I gazed at the cot. Our child. Our perfect bundle of joy. Our beautiful little girl...now that we had one, I wanted a houseful of children...sons, daughters...at the least three...at most seven, probably Babe would object to more than five though...in fact she hadn't even agreed to another one. But that was during the pain of childbirth, the love that had shinned in her eyes when she held our baby told me all I needed to know though.
RxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxSxRxS
SPOV
I awoke snuggled into a warm Cuban body, a hand gently running through my hair.
"Babe? I know you're awake. Everyone will be here soon" I lifted my head and sighed as Carlos' lips met mine gently.
"Who will be where soon?" I mumbled sleepily, peeking up from my warm pillow to stare at the cot that was set up a yard away from Carlos. That was our baby...our child...our niña Annabel.
"Tank, Lula, Bobby, Lester, your Dad and Grandma, your mother and my parents. Only two visitors at a time though, so don't worry Babe. Would you like to use the bathroom before they bring breakfast up?" I nodded and winced as I sat up. Yep, still tender.
"What time is it? How long was my labour? How old is Annabel? How long do we have to stay here for? My mother?!" I asked in rapid succession as my brain started to wake up.
"Whoa Babe. Its eight thirty am Babe. You were in labour for approximately twelve hours. Our child is...about seven and a half hours old. I don't know how long Babe, probably till tomorrow morning, the doctors have been in and out of here the past couple of hours, checking on you and Annabel. We have private insurance though; we can stay for as long as we like. And yes, your mother, I spoke to her and your father on the phone; they're both happy for us Babe...I think Morelli might have sat your mother down and had a talk with her." Carlos answered, climbing out of the bed and moving around to my side to help me to my feet. His arm wrapped around my waist as he helped me to the bathroom. Glancing back into the room, feeling reluctant about leaving my child alone, it was then I noticed a nurse sitting next to the cot.
"Carlos?" I moved my eyes in the direction of the woman.
"Babies aren't supposed to be left unsupervised. It's against hospital policy" I smirked at him, shook my head and allowed him to lead me the rest of the way into the bathroom. He shut the door behind us.
"Carlos?" I gulped as he pulled my night gown over my head.
"I'm not leaving my wife unsupervised. It's against my policy." He smiled at me as he moved to my underwear.
"I can take it from here" I yelped...I wonder where they kept the sanitary napkins...and fresh clothes...and soap...
"Let me help you Babe, it's ok, I know where everything is. And I've been given specific instructions from various midwives to dote on you and shower you with adoration and love." I sighed and gave in to him.
Quite quickly, I found myself back in the bed, breastfeeding little Annabel. God she was so adorable.
I was tired though and was quickly informed that I should be breastfeeding at least every three hours for the next month and should get sleep whenever I could. Yikes.
Our family and friends visited and amazingly, all was calm and happy. My mother even apologized for her behaviour. Not that I could ever trust her completely again, but it was nice to hear she was sorry. I breastfed again, took a nap. Breastfed again, talked to the doctors, took another nap...and the cycle continued until Carlos informed me we could go home in the morning. God that sounded good. Home. We were taking my niña Annabel home.
Only the epilogue left.
