Remembrance
Chapter Twelve
Mom and Dad beat James to the hospital because he was stuck in a performance review at work. Mom smiled at me as I did my breathing while I waited to go to the birthing room. Everything was on my timetable now; no rushing, no doctors telling me when to push it was all up to Mother Nature and God. I was fighting depression though because I wanted my husband present. Mom reminded me that relaxing was the main thing I should be doing.
"James will be here if he can you know that."
"I know," I conceded," but it was you know one of those moments where you always hope things will go perfectly. Yeah right.
"Just relax and don't worry okay?" Dad said as he disappeared out of my room to call James, he didn't tell me I just know my father. He was worried for me. I also knew once I paged James he would be anxious trying to get out of that place to come to the hospital. My mind drifted back to my wedding as I closed my eyes to keep breathing with my body instead of against it. I could hear mom and dad when they left but I kept my eyes closed, she shushed him as he suggested they should stay. Poor Dad all this was hard on him but he would never admit it.
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Flashback-Wedding
Though at the wedding I could have strangled him with my bare hands when he and my uncles pretended to be the band by standing on the stage with the instruments just as if they would burst out in song at any minute. Mom's face showed he was in for a good tongue thrashing. Once the real band took the stage and we all breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn't help but follow them to see Mom rack him over the coals. They stood outside the window in the back of the building where no one was supposed to be.
"What were you thinking?"
"Cas, it was a joke."
"Really? You want to embarrass your daughter at her wedding? Some joke," Mom said as she looked in my Dad's eyes.
I almost fell over trying to see them.
"No Mam," he teased.
"I'm serious this is something Jessica will remember the rest of her life."
Dad pulled her into his arms. He was good at changing her train of thought, I give that to him. I was shaking my head trying not to laugh when James grabbed me around the waist.
"Who are you watching?" he asked then kissed me before I could answer.
He went to push me against the wall but it didn't look safe for my lavender traveling dress.
"We should go back," I said as he looked around me to see my parents kissing outside.
"Oh taking notes, huh?" he laughed.
End Flashback
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I could hear James talking in my ear a few minutes later.
"Jess, I'm here."
I opened my eyes to see my handsome sweetheart smiling down at me with his deep brown eyes and dark hair that curled when he least wanted it too and my heart melted.
"Hi, Baby."
He kissed my forehead.
"Sorry it took so long."
I had a contraction right then as I went back to breathing.
"How far apart?"
"Last count I was at five minutes. I started thinking of our wedding and I lost count."
He kissed my lips before he took his jacket and tie off to put in the chair across the room.
Mom and Dad came back in as James sat in the chair by the bed kissing me senseless.
Dad cleared his throat while Mom laughed.
"Who does she remind you of Dean?"
Dad looked at Mom as though he had no clue; she rolled her eyes at him.
"Never mind," she said before asking about the contractions same as James had.
"I think I need to walk," I suggested.
They all took chairs and watched; now I felt like a caged animal though I knew they meant well and at least they talked among themselves.
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After a few minutes I headed to the hallway with James close behind me, parents stayed in the room probably sensing we needed to be alone either that or they wanted some time alone, I just hoped Mom was okay. The walking helped me to relax though I still needed to get my mind off the process and on to something else.
"So did you think my father was mad when you saw him with the tattoo gun?"
James looked at me curiously with one eyebrow arched before a grin crept across his face.
"You mean at the wedding?"
I nodded.
"Mad no, but crazy, a bit yes," he said with a smile.
Flashback-Wedding Day
Uncle Joshua and Sam met James when we arrived back at the door to where the dancing was being held, to escort him away with a wink at me; well this part of the fun I knew about and was actually in on. All I had to do now was go inside and meet and greet for about ten minutes before excusing myself for a ladies room break.
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Mean while upstairs, Sam and Uncle Joshua had James sat in the owner's office, with his permission of course, while they asked him all kinds of questions. They never told me exactly what was said but since they were stalling for Dad and me for a few minutes, I supposed it wasn't relevant. When my turn came to knock on the door and enter, I had to pretend to be upset with them for detaining my husband.
"What is going on here?"
"Uh," Uncle Joshua said with a wink a me.
"We just needed to initiate James, no need for concern," Dad said trying to be serious.
James looked nervous at each one of us but he had no idea what was going to happen; I could see beads of sweat form on his brows. I begin to have second thoughts because I love my husband. Maybe we were over doing the drama a bit. That is when Dad pulled out the tattoo gun that was hidden on the shelf behind the desk.
"Now James you are a Winchester now…
"Uh, actually," James began
"We know technically Jessica is a Cigliano, but once a Winchester always a Winchester. It's our motto."
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"You have a motto?" James asked as he looked at me and I shrugged as though I was quite sure what my relatives meant. I couldn't look him in the face I was to afraid I would burst out into laughter.
"That's the first I heard of it," I lied as I bit my lip.
James glared at me.
"Any way, it won't hurt too much," Joshua, said as he started to roll up James' sleeves while Sam held his other hand still.
Dad winked at me as I watched knowing the gun was fake.
"Wait," James said.
"What?" Uncle Sam replied.
"Who else has a tattoo and what does it say? I mean maybe I want it somewhere else?"
I smiled maybe he was getting the idea.
"Honey I have one, I said as I began to unbutton my top before Dad stopped me.
"Uh Jess just come over her and bend over."
I knelt in front of James so he could see the fake tattooed W that was on my shoulder at the top it was about two inches in diameter."
He looked stunned, I thought he might faint.
"I've never seen that."
Dad raised an eyebrow, "I hope not considering the location."
"Daddy please," I said as I rolled my eyes.
James looked from me to my Dad then shook his head; Joshua and Sam began to laugh as it hit him that we were pulling his leg. He stood up to grab me into his arms as everyone else cleared the room.
"Oh look forward to being torture tickled tonight," he said in my ear.
End Flashback
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"Your family is very interesting I don't think I will ever get used to the way they are together, not that its wrong its just different. Our family is so sedate almost dead at times, very boring."
I was on the verge of making a statement when I grabbed my abdomen then looked up at James.
"We need to get to the birthing room before I have this baby here in the hallway," I said as I began to focus my breathing as I grabbed his hand.
TBC
