Chapter 10: Learning to Breathe
Epilogue
Kimberly stood with her maids of honor and mother in the hairdresser salon, staring off as her hair was curled. She was leaving it half down, but curly and the rest with her rose bouquet in the back of her hair. Aisha came over with her head filled with rollers.
"I'm okay."
"You don't look okay, sweetie. What is wrong?"
"I'm fine, just…can't wait."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. Today is my wedding day! Nothing else matters." They finished up and went on to their tent to finish getting ready. Aisha and Kim's mother put her small bouquet into her hair before the long veil. Kim's wedding dress was a Vera Wang specialty made for Kimberly. It was a white strapless A-line gown, lace detail on bust, and hem. All the bride's maid dresses were violet, where innocence meets temptation. A v-front spaghetti strap, satin gown, open back is complimented by flowing sheer mesh ties that hang delicately behind. Sweep train to boot, Aisha's holding the longest train beside Kim's train. Aisha applied the last round of make-up to Kim's face.
"You okay?" Aisha asked.
"Huh, oh, yeah."
"You never told Tommy, did you?" Kimberly looked up.
"I tried, I mean, he asked…but I never did."
"And now you think you should have?"
"Yes," Kimberly whispered.
"Then do it, before the wedding starts."Aisha smiled at Kimberly. "I'll get him."
"Thank you!"
Tommy came into the wedding tent, when Aisha told him to. He knocked and walked inside. Kimberly turned in her dress. Tommy quickly covered his eyes.
"Honey, Aisha said you wanted to see me?" Kimberly pulled his hands down from his eyes. "Honey, I'm not suppose to see you in your wedding dress yet!" Kimberly let a tear rolled down her face. "Beautiful, what's wrong?" Kim's head went down. Tommy lifted her to look at him.
"I have to tell you something, but first I have to learn to breath."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, I wish I didn't have to tell you this today, of all days, but I must tell you."
"Then do it, because you're scaring me." Kimberly told him everything what happed in the fortress between Zedd and her. Tommy slightly stepped back, as his hands dropped from her face to his sides.
"I was scared to tell you. I didn't want you to think less of me because of it. I know to you, I am some perfect person, put up on this pedestal, that's why I never told you. I thought you would run away, if you found out what I did. I'm so sorry." Tommy stared at her, as tears rolled down her face. "Please, don't just look at me. Say something, Tommy. Please say something, anything."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know! I don't….know what you should say."
"Kim, I have always held you up high on this pedestal since, since the first day I met you. No other girl compared to you. What you did, you did for our family. I would have done the same thing. I would never fault for you that."
"I killed him."
"He would have killed you, and me and even Carl if given the chance, baby. I could or would never think less of you for saving our family. I'm with you, because I love you. I love you, Kim."
"You still do? Even after…?"
"Of course I still do! I always will!" Tommy hugged her. "We have all done some things we aren't proud of, but they had to be done. I'm not perfect, we both aren't, but our love is perfect. And that's all that matters. Now, can we do this?"
"Yes! Oh!" Kimberly hugged and kissed his cheek. "I love you so much!"
Kim's father appeared at the couple was kissing.
"They are ready for you." Tommy and Kimberly pulled away with smiles.
"I'll be seeing you soon." Tommy kissed her forehead and walked out. Aisha was standing outside the tent.
"Wait!" Tommy stopped. Aisha wiped his face and lips of Kim's make-up. "You don't want to look like you two couldn't wait until after the ceremony for a quickie." Tommy smiled.
"Thanks."
"Go." Tommy nodded. Aisha went into the tent. "I can't believe you messed up my perfect lips, come here!" Kimberly laughed as Aisha pulled out her small bag again.
Tommy stood there with Jason and his line of best men. Carl came walking down the aisle with the rings. Tommy smiled. His son came and stood in front of Tommy. Tommy put his hands on his son's shoulder. The wedding march started. Kimberly smiled as she came walking down the aisle with her father. She walked up to Tommy with a smile. They took hands.
"Hi."
"Hi," Kimberly said.
"Nice dress."
"You noticed." They laughed before turning to the priest. Carl was the only one beaming as the priest asked for the rings. Kimberly and Tommy exchanged their vows of love to each other once again, but this time in front of all their love ones.
"You may kiss your bride." Tommy smiled and kissed Kimberly quickly and passionately, the crowd cheered.
They headed to the wedding reception at Tommy and Kim's house, Kimberly and Tommy stood at the top of the stage as the crowd cheered on speeches. Each handed a glass of sparkling cider.
"You want to go first?"
"Uh, you go first." Tommy laughed and took the microphone.
"Today was a day of love and a day of beauty. As I stand here, I cannot help but feel honored to be surrounded by my family, my new family, and friends. The day I first met Kimberly, I told myself, I wasn't ever going to be truly happy in life unless she was with me. The first time I married you, I swore that would become the greatest day in my life. I feel like the luckiest man in the world. Getting our son back for good after all these years and now becoming the true family we always wanted. I love you and I will spend life making sure we have nothing less than a beautiful life together." Kimberly kissed him. She took the microphone.
"I love this man." The crowd laughed. "I have been working on this speech for about a good 5 months. It was going to be funny, and touching…" Kimberly smiled as the microphone went down. She closed her eyes to stop her tears from forming. Tommy had his arm around her. Kimberly looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "And I realized that as I stand here with the man I love, I am amazed and speechless. They always say, that 'Men always want to be a woman's first love, whereas women like to be a man's last romance.' I love that quote. Someone once said to me about Tommy and I, is that 'it's not that I love him, it's that he lets me love him'. It can the scariest thing in the world to let someone love you and to know that you love them back. But it is the greatest thing as well." Tears rolling down from Kim's eyes. "Oh, no, here it comes. It's hormones I swear." Tommy wiped away some fallen tears with a hankey. "I love you and I will make sure we always take care each other and our family. If you're the luckiest man in the world, then I am the luckiest woman. I love you." Tommy smiled and they kissed again. The crowd clapped.
Tommy and Kimberly were dancing and laughing with everyone. Kimberly laughing at the silliness Tommy was dancing. He had taken a few dance lessons for nearly 2 weeks to learn new things, and today he wasn't going to let those 500 dollars go to a waste. Kim's veil was pulled away while she was dancing with Carl. During a slow song, Kim's arms went around his neck, as Tommy smiled, caressing her back and arms. They kissed often as they danced closely.
"You are so beautiful."
"I know." Tommy laughed with Kimberly's giggle. It was not even mid-afternoon and the party was still going strong, with everyone having been feed and dancing away the food. At the end of the song, Kimberly pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
"My feet hurt."
"It's still early."
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm a bit tired."
"Come on." Tommy took her hand and they walked off the dance floor.
"Where are you two going?" Jason asked as he and Aisha stopped dancing.
"Kim's tired, she missed her early afternoon nap," Tommy said with a smile.
"Hey! I am carrying around an extra 30 pounds, mister!"
"I'm gonna go lay her down to nap for a while."
"Okay." Tommy stopped Kimberly before she could walk through the sliding doors.
"What?"
"We have to do this right. It's tradition." Kimberly let out a laugh, as he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside their house. It had been redecorated for the wedding.
Tommy slowly carried Kimberly upstairs to their bedroom. Kimberly kissing him often during the short journey upstairs. Tommy laid Kimberly to their bed after the door closed behind them.
"Thank you, baby."
"No problem." He pulled off her shoes first. Tommy pulled the cover over her from the other side and put it over her. "You rest. We'll have cake in an hour, okay." Tommy sat there stroking her face. "You just sleep."
"I love you," Kimberly said.
"I love you too." Tommy bent down and kissed her. Kimberly grabbed his red striped tie and pulled him down for another kiss. "No, rest." They kissed again. "Kimberly…"
"Yes…" They kissed again, each time getting longer than the last kiss.
"You are suppose to be rest…ing…" She kissed him again.
"I am." Tommy smiled and kissed her again. Kimberly pulled at his tux jacket off his shoulders. Tommy pulled away slightly. They stared at each other, knowing what each other wanted. Tommy barely pressed his lips to Kimberly.
"Beautiful…" Kimberly smiled. Tommy slid on top of Kimberly while kissing her. Clothes pulled aside, as they made love. Tommy returned to the party a little while later, fixing his tie and jacket.
"Couldn't wait, huh?"
"Damn straight," Tommy said running his hand through his hair. Kimberly appeared, her hair a bit tousled as pulled up her strapless dress a bit as she walked up beside Tommy. Jason and Aisha shook their heads.
"What?"
"Nothing, woman. You do your thing. You look rested."
"I feel rested," Kimberly said with a huge smile. "Now, I'm hungry for some that cake."
"Me too." Tommy put his arm around her and they walked over to the 3-tier cake.
July now, Kimberly was sitting at home, as Tommy went out to get her some ice cream, since she didn't want the ice cream in the house. Carl was playing his video game, as Kimberly rested on the couch.
"Carl, sweetie, can you turn that down for Mommy?"
"Sorry." Carl did. Kimberly sighed and groaned. "What's wrong?"
"Stupid cramps again."
"Like before?"
"I don't know. I need something to eat." Kimberly sat up.
"I'll get it," Carl said pausing his game and jumping up.
"Honey, I don't know what I want, so I'll get it." Kimberly got up and walked to the kitchen. She pulled out a bunch of grapes and walked out. She barely made it to the couch, when her legs buckled.
"Mom!" Kimberly gasped, holding her stomach. "Mommy!" Carl quickly was at her side.
"Call your father."
"What's wrong?"
"My water just broke." Kimberly struggled, but with help from Carl, was able to sit down. Carl rushed to the phone, dialing his father's cell.
"Kim, what do you want?"
"Daddy! Mommy said her water broke!"
"What?"
"I think the baby is coming!"
"I'm coming son!" Tommy dropped the cartons of ice cream and magazines.
"Hey! What do you think are you doing?"
"My wife just went into labor!"
"Oh, good luck!'
"Thanks!" Tommy rushed out the store back home.
Carl hung up the phone.
"Dad is coming."
"I need you….I need my bag in the closet, some pillows, the baby blanket…camera…the.."
"I'll do it, Mommy. Don't worry. I'm here." Carl rushed to get the things she asked. Kimberly was breathing hard on the couch, as a contraction hit again.
Tommy beeped the horn as he arrived. Carl was holding Kim's hand as he came running into the house.
"KIM!"
"Put the things in the car first," Kimberly yelled. Tommy looked down and nodded. He rushed back and forth to get the things laid out by the door into the car.
"Carl, car now."
"Yes, Daddy."
"I got you, Beautiful," Tommy said helping her stand before lifting her into his arm. She gripped his shoulder and neck. "Ow!"
"Sorry, contractions are a bitch." Tommy smiled and kissed her head before placing her in the car. Carl was already buckled up as Tommy rushed around to the driver's side. Tommy didn't even think to call family and friends on the way. His mind only on Kimberly.
At the hospital, Carl protested about not being in the delivery room. He even went as far was dressing himself in the cap, gown and shoe covers, but still wasn't allowed in.
"I want to see!"
"He wants to see."
"Maybe next time, baby. I'm sorry!" Carl pouted. Tommy patted his back.
"Just wait here, I'll come get you when it's over with." Carl huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he plopped down to a car. Tommy went into the room with Kimberly. Carl sat there a moment, before smiling. He looked up and down the hall and found no on. He pushed the chair in the hall to the door and stood looking through the window. Kimberly already had her epidural shot, but was feeling sick from it. She couldn't wait to hurry up and get this baby out of her.
"This is the last baby, I am having in a long time!"
"Okay, Beautiful, I think that's fine," Tommy said as she gripped his hand even harder. "Especially if I lose this hand."
"Oh, I hate this!" Kimberly cried out during the contraction while pushing down.
"I know, Beautiful. I'm sorry."
"No! No! NO! Ahhhh…I'm gonna kill you!" Tommy pressed his head to Kim's head.
"I love you."
"Get this baby out of me now!"
"Very soon, Mrs. Oliver, just keep pushing!"
"I am pushing!" A few moments later, baby girl Oliver came into the world. Carl jumped down and did a little dance as he saw the bloody baby lifted into the air. He didn't know what it was, but was still happy. The baby was taken to be cleaned, as Kimberly was cleaned up as well. Tommy kissed Kimberly and went over to the door. Tommy laughed as Carl dropped down and tried to push the chair back. He sat down quickly. Tommy opened the door.
"Hi, Daddy." Tommy smiled.
"Come on." Carl took Tommy's hand and they walked into the room. He went over to the baby first with Tommy. Tommy lifted Carl up better to see the baby.
"It's a girl?" Carl asked.
"Yep, it's a girl."
"She's beautiful."
"Like her mother. I think she has your eyes though."
"Like yours."
"Yep," Tommy said. "She's so beautiful."
"What's her name?" The baby was brought over to Kimberly. She looked up at Tommy.
"Well, if it was he, we both wanted David….but now…"
"I loved Isabelle Rose… and your mother loves Endora Rose."
"Endora is a great name, my grandma was named Endora."
"Flip a coin," Carl said.
"I will not flip a coin for my baby's name."
"I don't mind." Kimberly looked at Tommy. "Fine," Tommy said. "How about Elizabeth?"
"No."
"Sophie?"
"No. Lauren?" Kimberly asked.
"No. Ruth."
"Wow, and here I thought I had a baby, not a grandmother."
"Savannah?"
"Did we have her in Savannah or something?" Kimberly asked. Carl smiled at his parent's banter. Tommy sighed as he stroked his little girl's face. Her eyes were closed.
"Fine no on the Savannah."
"Jasmine?"
"No."
"Ariel?"
"I know she's our princess in all, but are we gonna really name her after some Disney princess?" Tommy asked.
"Fine, then what. She needs a name."
"Jennifer? Angelina?" Kimberly frowned. "Hannah?"
"Hells no!"
"Kayla?" Kimberly looked up at him. "No, again? Okay." They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I love lilies," Kimberly said after the long pause.
"You want to name her lilies?"
"No, silly. Lily. Isabella Lily Rose Oliver."
"You liked Isabella, not Isabelle?"
"Yes. We can call her Izzy for short."
"Okay. I love it, let's keep it before you change your mind." The doctor looked up from the charts.
"So, do we have a name?"
"Yes. Isabella Lily Rose Oliver," Tommy said.
"Wonderful."
"I love it," Carl said.
"Well, there you go, Carl loves it," Kimberly said with a laugh. Tommy patted Carl's back before bending down and kissing Kimberly then the baby.
"Hello, Isabella." Tommy kissed the baby again.
About a week later
Carl looked up at his parents that were kissing. Carl holding his baby sister in his arms, as they had said goodbye to all the family and friends that had arrived for the welcome home party for the baby. Baby Isabella sleeping peacefully in her brother's arms after they waved off Tommy and Kim's parents. Tommy and Kimberly found out within a few days that Isabella loved her brother immediately. He was the only one that could get her to fall asleep so quickly. Isabella usually looked up at Kimberly or Tommy, content with just looking at her parents, not caring about sleep. That made Kimberly feel so special and so loved at her daughter.
"So, when can I expect another baby brother or sister?" Kimberly and Tommy looked at him and laughed. Tommy put his hand on Carl's shoulder with Kimberly.
"Soon."
"Hey! Not too soon," Kimberly said looking at Tommy. "But…maybe…eventually." Tommy bent down with Kimberly. She kissed the baby's forehead before kissing Carl.
"Aww, Mom!" Tommy kissed the baby's forehead as Carl rocked her on. Kimberly looked at Tommy. She winked with a smile. Tommy nodded.
"Double kiss?"
"Double kiss," Tommy said.
"Wha? Wait…No double kissss…. Ewwww!" Kimberly and Tommy gave Carl's cheeks slopping kisses. "Awww, Mom, Dad!" Kimberly and Tommy laughed, hugging him and kissing him again. Isabella woke up, her 3 favorite people in the world looking down at her. And in that moment, the Oliver household was perfect.
The End
Thanks to all my adoring fans and friends for all the love and support through this all. More to come shortly. A new story already in the running to be posted within a few days. Thanks again, and give yourselves a pat on the back, because you all are the only reason I do this. I do it to please you, and a bit of myself too:P
Until next time. Babye!
New installments of T/K romances coming soon, gotta pick which one I like the most first that is developed enough to post, which is tough. Keep a watch out for the new story in a week or sooner. Once again, thanks :P