Love Knows No Yamato: Chapter Eight (Thanks Again To Lord Patamon for Corrections!)
June smiled, her hazel eyes magnified with tears. "Of course I'll marry you!" she sobbed, slipping the ring on her finger. "You're my soul mate. We're bonded together." She said, setting his hand on her round abdomen. "Not just by this, a mass of cells and molecules, but by so much more. More than we can see with our eyes."
"June…I love you so much." Matt said, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace. "I will never leave you. I will never hurt you. I'll always—"
Matt was cut off when June gave a sharp breath. "It's another contraction. Here…" June hissed, grabbing his hand and clutching it. "Help me with my breathing."
Oh, man. How could have I forgotten? We still got to get through this first.
"Um…I don't know how!" Matt said, feeling the blood circulation cutting off from his fingers. "I didn't read any books or go to any classes…"
"Just breathe and help me keep focused." June panted. "Oh, God. Here we go!" She screamed, breathing heavily.
"That's it girl…there you go." Matt gently encouraged. "Just take slow deep breaths. Breathe in and out…in and out…"
"And there you go. You can lay back down now."
"How long will this take to go into effect?" June asked, gently lying back on the bed. "Will it happen all at once, or gradually?"
The anesthesiologist did a few calculations. "You should start noticing right away. In fact, if you look at the monitor there," he said, pointing to a small screen with a line graph on it. "Every time you see that line spike up, you're having a contraction. And right now, it looks like you're having one."
June looked at the monitor and back at her stomach, which had started to flex with a contraction. "That's amazing. I only felt a slight bit of pressure. Not hurting in any way. Just pressure."
"Now is the perfect time for you to get some sleep. Build up your energy." Joe said, making a note in the chart. "You're at eight centimeters and fully effaced. In about two hours, we'll have you push, and then you start your new life as a family of…three." He continued, looking at the young couple with a grin.
"We'll leave you two alone to rest. I'll check back on you in two hours."
Joe turned on his heels and walked out the room, the anesthesiologist right behind. Congratulations and good luck you two." He said as the door closed behind him.
"So, how do you feel?" Matt asked, setting another pillow behind June's head. "I mean, I know how you feel, but…when they stuck that needle in your back, I half wanted to punch that guy in the jaw for hurting you."
"That's what comes with the game." June sighed, "It hurt, but not so much now. I'm fine…I'm just sleepy."
"Maybe you should take a nap. You're gonna need your rest. Two hours, remember?"
"I know, I know…I'll try…" June yawned. "Just…talk to me a while…"
"How does it feel when he's moving?" Matt asked, intrigued. "Does it hurt, does it tickle?"
"It feels like…butterflies…" June sighed, slowly closing her eyes.
"Butterflies?" Matt asked, cocking his head to one side. "What do you mean, "butterflies? How does "butterflies" feel?"
"You know…butterflies…" June cooed, rubbing her hand on his face. "You never had butterflies in your tummy?"
"Only when I'm around you." Matt sighed, kissing her hand gently.
"That's…so…sweet…" June sighed, before slipping into unconsciousness.
Matt gently lowered her hand back to the bed. He then sat back down in the chair by the bed and looked longingly at her.
I have never seen such a beautiful person in my whole life.
Matt rested a hand on June's curved belly. "Butterflies…" he echoed, feeling his palm heave up slightly.
After a thought, Matt gently lifted June's hospital gown, revealing her abdomen, and gently lowered his head on it, his cheek and ear in contact with her smooth, warm skin.
"Hey kid…" He whispered. "I'm your dad. I'm sorry I left you and your mom behind, and I'm even more sorry that I missed your development in there, but you can rest assure that was the last time I'll ever leave you or your mother again."
June slowly opened her eyes. Although she was numb from the waist down, she could still feel the cold draft on her bare abdomen, and the warm touch of her fiancée, her lover, and her best friend.
A tear welled up in her eye as she gently ran a finger through Matt's hair.
Both of my dreams came true today.
"Okay. You're at ten centimeters, and you're ready to push." Joe said, peeling off his rubber gloves. "The baby is right there. I could just feel the top of its head."
"Already?" June asked as she put her feet up in the stirrups. "But I didn't feel much after the epidural."
"That was the idea." Joe said, keying in a command on the IV. "But in the next few minutes, you'll feel enough so you can push. I'm shutting down the medication you've been given through the spine."
"How long will it take?" Matt asked, holding June's hand. "For the baby to be born, that is?"
"It'll take a few minutes depending on how good June pushes, but for the medication to wear off, it happens in just a few minutes."
"Uh-oh." June said, already feeling the dull ache in her back associated with a past contraction. "I felt that."
"I'm just going to get everything ready. I'll be back in a second." Joe said, walking out the door. "Just breathe through the contractions. Try not to push until I get back, and concentrate on your breathing."
"Well, this is it." Matt said, looking in June's eyes. "Just a few more minutes. How are you feeling?"
"Like the invincible birthing dragon." June said with a small smile.
"A what?"
"Ah, forget it." June sighed, rubbing her back. "Man I didn't know my back was hurting this bad. That epidural was a miracle."
"No sweetie…" Matt said, rubbing a hand through her hair. "You're a miracle. This baby is a miracle."
"You're righ—OH!" June screamed, arching her back. "Oh, it hurts worse now! I got to push Matt…"
"No! Oh no!" Matt stammered, raising a hand to his forehead. "Y-you're not supposed to push until Joe gets back!" He stuttered.
"Ohhhh…" June groaned, her face scowled into a grunt. "Tell that to the kid, I can't stop this!" She screamed, almost breaking into laughter.
"Hey guys!" Davis said as he walked in the door and crossed in front of the bed. "I went down to the cafeteria and I met this real cute girl and we really—OH MY GOD, WHAT IS THAT?!"
"That," Matt said, whirling Davis around and back to the door. "Is your niece or nephew, and that is what you're going to describe to Joe or Dr. McKnight to get them down here NOW!"
"All right, all right, I'm going!" Davis said, "Don't have the kid until I get back!" he called as he jogged down the hall.
"WHAT DOES HE WANT ME TO DO? HOLD IT IN?!" June screamed, holding her stomach.
Awww, man! Where is Joe? He's always running off somewhere! Man, I hope June can hold it in.
Davis looked up and down the hallway, knocking and opening random doors.
Knock, knock, "Joe you in here? Oh, sorry."
Knock, knock, "Joe, you in here? Whoops! My bad!"
Knock, knock, "Joe, you—GAH! EWW! Sorry!"
Knock, knock, "Joe, you in here? He-ey…what's your name? I'm Davis. So, what you here for? Your sister is having a baby? Cool. Me? My sister is having a baby too. So, uh…you dig floppy sock—WHOA!"
"Mack daddy of the maternity ward." Joe sighed, holding him by the collar. "You were looking for me?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"I heard the screams. Now what is it?"
"June is really hurting man. I saw this…thing…coming out her…thing, and it was just starting to come out her…thing."
"Sounds like she's crowning." Joe deduced, tugging on Davis' collar. "Lets go Romeo."
"Oh, all right." Davis groaned, as Joe dragged him. "Hey, call me!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!"
"And that's it! The head's out." Joe said, picking up a bulb syringe.
June collapsed back in the bed, exhausted. "Oh, God…"
Matt gazed longingly at his child's head while Joe was busy suctioning it out. "It's almost here, June…" he whispered, his throat clenched with a sob. "It's almost here."
"Okay, June. You ready?" Joe asked, taking a gentle hold of the child. "Just one good push and I'll let you and Matt tell us if we got a boy or a girl."
Davis looked on from the couch, tears brimming in his eyes. "Wow." He whispered, looking on as Joe slowly began pulling gently on the head.
To hell with mom and dad. How dare they not be here for the birth of their first grandchild? You know what? Damn it all. If they kick me out, they kick me out.
Davis pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial.
"Hey, ma? Yeah. Listen, is dad there? He is? Cool. Listen, put me on speakerphone, I want you to hear something."
Davis walked over to the delivery bed and stood with the phone faced in the middle of Joe and June.
"All right, here we go! Give me a gentle push, June." Joe said, as he took a small shuffle step back.
June grunted and groaned loudly as the baby's shoulders and lower torso emerged.
"All right, that's it! Stop! Pant and just let your breath do the rest." Joe said, gently guiding out the baby. "And here it comes…"
For one brief second, June shut her eyes as she panted; the events of the last nine months replaying in her head.
"This will all be over in a second. Just relax and take some deep breaths. Close your eyes if you want to."
Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump…
"It's not my concern where you go or what you do. You are no longer my daughter."
"You had better start packing."
"Just have a healthy happy baby. That's all we want, need or desire."
Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump…
"As a man, I expect him to step up and take responsibility for his actions."
"Please…just get it out. Just cut it out! I can't push anymore!"
"Damn it…. It's still not moving. The head is way too big to pass through."
"You're lying! He's not dead! He's not dead! He's not dead!"
Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump…
"Davis, if you tell mom and dad that you were with me these past four weeks, they're going to kick you out the house. I know they will; I guarantee it. I don't want you to get into trouble on my account."
Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump…
"I want to make it up until the earth stops to you and our child rotating. June…will you marry me?"
"June…will you marry me?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Marry me?"
"GRAAAAAAAAA!"
"And that's it! We have a baby!" Joe cried out, quickly setting the child on June's belly. "Lets get some blankets on mom and the baby. And those are some great lungs!"
"Waaaaa! Wa, WA, WA, waaaaahhhH!"
June fluttered her eyes open as she looked down at the little crying infant on her stomach. It's body heat mixing with her own, as the newborn let loose with a loud angry cry.
The past nine months melted away, as June picked up her newborn and cradled it against her skin. "Hello little one…hello little one…" she cooed, tears flooding down her cheeks. "We've been waiting for you…yes…we've been waiting for you."
Matt looked down at the small bundle in June's arms as the newborn soon settled down, the cries now turning into small fusses and whines. "So beautiful…just so beautiful…" Matt choked out, his azure blue eyes, echoed in his new child. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
June looked under the blanket. "You have a new son." June cooed up to Matt. "I had a feeling it was a boy."
Matt grinned, his eyes magnified with tears. "That's our son. That's our son…" He whispered,
"Would you like to cut the cord…dad?" Joe asked, handing him a pair of scissors.
Matt took the scissors and cut through the thick mass of veins where Joe indicated. "Oh, yeah. Sorry about earlier." Joe added. "There was probably a better way of handling that—"
"You did what you had to do, man." Matt said, shaking his hand. "And I am forever grateful for it."
Davis, eyes bursting with tears, brought the phone back to his ear. "And that's what you missed out on, mom and dad!"
June, Matt and Joe looked up at Davis in disbelief. "Davis, what the—"
"No, shut the hell up, this time you're going to listen to me!" Davis shouted it the phone, his grip tightening on the device.
"That was YOUR daughter in here giving birth to YOUR damn grandson! The grandson YOU put out in the street just because you didn't want her to embarrass you with the damn neighbors! And you know what? I don't really give a flying fart if you put ME out! I was here for my sister! I love my sister and my new nephew with all my heart, and ain't nothing, NOTHING going to keep me away from them!"
"Davis…" June whispered. "Don't. Please. I'm not worth you loosing a roof over your head—"
"And you know what, dad? Matt's here too. Yeah, the "Joe Blow" is here being a father. Yeah, and he's ten times the dad you will EVER be. Sure, he made some mistakes, but he came back and stepped up to his responsibilities. He didn't walk out on June when she needed him most. He's here with his son, just like you should have been there for your damn daughter! And now, guess what? They're getting married! What now?!"
Matt jerked his head back in surprise at these words. "Man, you really don't—"
"You guys should have been here with your daughter!" Davis screamed in the phone, tears tumbling down his cheeks. "You should be here holding your new grandson, not hearing about it second hand from me. But you know what? I'm glad that you're not here. Because Matt and June are starting a new life, and they don't need no old farts around stinking up their lives. So you know what? Put my stuff outside the apartment door. I'll be there in ten minutes. I'm joining the outcasts, cause if you don't love her enough to let her stay, then you don't love me. So go to hell."
Joe, Matt and June looked at each other in total disbelief as Davis slapped the cell phone cover closed and clenched it in his hand, staring at it with anger in his eyes.
"Davis…what did you just do?" June said, gently rocking the newborn in her arms. "Do you have any idea what just happened?"
"Yeah." Davis said, tucking the cell phone in his pocket. "I just started my life as an on-campus college student sooner than expected. And you just got a part-time babysitter until school starts. Now, would you mind if I held my nephew?"
"Sure." June said, gently handing the baby boy to her brother. "Just make sure to support the head."
"Ah, I got it." Davis said, winking as he gently picked up the child and cradled him gently in his arms. "I got you. I got you." He cooed. "Hey there. Hey there. So you were the one causing all that trouble in my sis for the past nine months?"
"You almost think he's done it before." Matt chuckled, kissing June on the forehead. "You were marvelous mommy."
"You weren't too bad yourself, daddy. Sure it took you a while to come about, but you did perfectly for the ending." June said, smiling.
"You want to see daddy? Huh? You want to see daddy?" Davis cooed, gently shuffling over to Matt. "Here he is. Here's daddy."
Matt looked confused. "Ummm…how should I…"
"Just support his head." Davis said, carefully passing the bundle to Matt's waiting arms. "There you go. Just like that."
Matt carefully sat down in the chair, gently rocking his newborn son in his arms. "Hey there, little man. Glad I can see you in full color. I know I wasn't there while you were inside mommy, but I promise that from this day on, that will never happen again. I'm going to be there for you every single day of your life. You and your mommy are the two most important people to me in my life. Without you two, life is…well…there is no life without the two of you."
Matt felt the tears once again start to build up behind his eyes. "I better hurry up and say what I got to say before I start blubbering. I just want to say that I…I love you. And I promise I'll teach you everything that you need to know about how to be a strong man…but not before I learn first."
"Okay." Joe said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I got to get this little man down to the infant ward to get cleaned up." He said, as he gently picked up the infant, but not before Matt gave him a small kiss on the forehead. "Tell mommy and daddy that you'll see them later." He cooed as he set the young child in the incubator.
Just as he wheeled the child towards the door, he snapped his finger and turned back to the two new parents. "Oh yeah, how could I forget this. What's your child's name?"
June and Matt looked at each other, grinning. "I thought you would have figured that out by now, Joe." June said with a wink.
To Be Continued…