Hi, just another thank you to everyone who is leaving reviews on my story, they're great to read, even the new ones I am getting from readers. I've got a lot of chapters written for this story and will be uploading them regularly, so I hope you all stick around long enough!
Bonnie Sveen Fan - there is some scenes of the labour in here but I wasn't entirely confident writing them, so some parts were left out :)
TRIGGER WARNING - MENTIONS OF SELF HARM
Hours after Casey and Heath had arrived at the hospital and Ricky's labour had grinded to a halt, concerning doctors who were now doing examinations on her and the baby to determine what happened next. Whilst they did, Brax pulled Casey to one side to talk to him about Heath, noticing he was a lot quieter and not his usual self.
"What's up with Heath?" Brax asks, glancing over to where Heath was leaning against the wall, looking down at the floor.
"Uh… Things got a bit… When we asked Kyle if he wanted to come here with us, he said some stuff, mainly aimed at Heath." Casey says.
"Like what?" Brax asks.
"You need to focus on Ricky right now." Casey says.
"The midwife and doctor are still checking her over, now tell me." Brax firmly says.
"Kyle said if he found out Lillie was taken due to us having bad blood with people in the past, he had enough dirt to have Heath put in prison. He's not doing well, Brax. He needs to see someone before it gets any worse." Casey sighs.
"I know, Case-" Brax says, unable to carry on as Ricky has another contraction, the doctor pulling the emergency cord. "What's going on?" He asks as he rushes back over to Ricky, Casey and Heath waiting outside.
"Baby is in distress so we need to take Ricky in for an emergency caesarian to quickly get baby out." The doctors says as more people rush in to help.
"But they're going to be okay?" Brax asks, Ricky grabbing his hand as she starts to cry.
"Don't leave me." Ricky sobs, gripping his hand tighter.
"I won't, Rick. You're going to be fine." Brax says, trying not to show that he was freaking out.
"We need to get into theatre. If you follow Nurse Corden, he'll get you into some scrubs so you can be with Ricky in theatre." The doctor says as they wheel Ricky out.
"What's going on?" Heath asks as Brax follows the nurses out.
"They need to take her in for an emergency caesarian. I have to go." Brax says, getting into the lift just as the doors shut.
"Is that bad?" Casey asks, Heath just looking at him.
"They know what they're doing." He says, Bianca coming through the doors that lead from the stairs.
"Hey, how's Ricky doing?" She asks, the boys glancing at each other before looking at her.
"Does it normally take this long?" Heath moans, glancing at his watch for the hundredth time.
"Heath, there's no rush." Bianca scowls. "Is there somewhere better you could be?"
"No." Heath huffs, angrily folding his arms as she shakes her head at him as Denny, who'd joined them earlier, laughs at him.
"Here they are." Casey smiles, noticing the lift doors open to their brother and sister in law. "Is everything okay?" He asks, the couple nodding with a smile as their baby is being wheeled behind them into the room, the midwife gently picking her up and handing her to Ricky.
"I'll let you get some rest." She smiles, leaving them to it.
"Meet your niece, Emilia Braxton." Ricky grins down at her daughter, Bianca taking photos for them.
"She's so cute!" Denny smiles.
"How did the section go?" Bianca asks.
"The surgeon said it was textbook, which I'm guessing means it went great." Ricky smiles, before pulling a face. "It felt so weird when they pulled her out of my stomach."
"Ew." Casey cringes, getting a whack on the chest by both Denny and Bianca.
"You should have seen it." Brax mutters to his brother, wishing he didn't look behind the screen when then said Emilia was coming out.
"It's part of a baby being born, just not the vaginal way." Bianca says, the three brothers just looking at her. "Think yourself lucky you don't have a baby of that size come out of you. You have it easy." She says, them failing to argue with that as they knew it was true.
"It's all worth it." Ricky says, smiling up at Brax as he goes to stand next to her.
"How long do you have to stay in hospital for?" Casey asks.
"A few days as a precaution because of it being a caesarian. Then we can get Emilia home." Ricky smiles, then notices Kyle hadn't arrived yet. "Is Kyle going to be okay having her around? I don't want it to upset him."
"Rick, I don't think it's going to change anything." Heath sighs. "He can always stay in our spare room when he needs time out, that offer still stands."
"You think he's going to accept that?" Casey asks.
"Why wouldn't he?" The girls ask.
"No reason." Casey mutters, avoiding Brax's glare as he didn't want to stress Ricky out with it.
"He just needs time to take in that this is real for us now. I think having another baby around is going to be weird for him, but it will get easier." Brax says.
"Yeah, and he has all of us to help him. I just hope he doesn't forget that." Bianca says.
Kyle's POV
Once I arrived back from driving around the Bay, Yabbie Creek and all along the towns I could think off. My daughter wasn't anywhere still, darkening my mood once again. The others were still out which I was glad about. Heading into the kitchen, I grab a bottle of pills from the draw, and hide them in the pocket of my hoodie. Glancing around, my eyes caught a pair of scissors on the side, so I also grab those before heading into my room.
I shut the door and took the pills from my pocket and put them in the draw of my bedside table before holding the scissors up. Sighing, I chuck them on the side before taking my hoodie off. Cuts were still raw across my forearms and they were stinging badly. It wouldn't have helped when I did it more this morning but I've gone past the point of caring.
Opening the scissors up, I stare at the blade shining against the sun coming through the window. I felt relief when I usually did it, but this time I didn't do anything, I just stared at the blade before putting the scissors in the draw with the pills. Luckily I did as I then heard voices in the living room, someone knocking on my doors moments later.
"Go away!" I call through the door, just about managing to get my hoodie on in time as the door opened, revealing Bianca.
"I just wanted to see how you're doing." Bianca says, staring at me. "Are you okay? You're looking a bit pale."
"I'm fine." I lightly huff, not needing a lecture if they knew the truth.
"Okay, I trust you're telling me the truth." She says, glancing down before looking at me again. "Ricky gave birth about an hour ago. Brax wanted me to let you know that he might not be home tonight but for you to call him if you need anything."
"Thanks." I mutter, wondering why she was hovering. "Is that all?"
"No, there is something else. Ricky is being discharged in a few days, which is when they'll be bringing their daughter home, they called her Emilia." She lightly smiles. "If you're going to find it too hard staying here with them next door, then I want you to know that our door is always open and you are welcome to stay in our spare room for as long as you need."
"I'll keep that in mind." I reply, sighing as she lightly nods. "Sorry, I don't mean to take it out on you. I know you're just trying to help."
"It's okay, Kyle. Just remember you've always got us if you ever need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on. I've dealt with worse, especially from that brother of yours I decided to marry." She jokes, shutting the door as she leaves him to it.
Glancing at the draw, I decide against getting the scissors out again, there's no point. There's no point of anything. I had the chance to be a great father, and I blew it, somehow I blew it. Looking down at my phone, the screen lights up with Phoebe's name, and I decline the call, not having the energy to do anything as I turn it off and lie down on my bed to look at a photo of Lillie I kept next to the bed, hoping she was okay.