They were getting stronger. I was having to grit my teeth during the peak of the contractions, now coming every couple

of minutes and seem like lasting for hours.I had been in labor now for over fourteen hours. Fang was right there, holding

my hand. Actually, letting me squeeze the daylights out of his. My nails had dug down into what little flesh was on his

poor hand.He never left the room. He never complained. He just wiped my forehead or kissed my cheek or something

really sweet and unFanglike. The pains were really intenes, spreading all the way around my back and even down my

thighs, causing them to shake with every new contraction.

"C'mon Max, take it. If it helps ease the pain just take it. I stand stand seeing you hurt like this." Fang was pleading with me.

"No...meds. The baby...would be taking it too."

Listen to him Max. YOur mom wouldn't give you anything that would hurt either of you.

"Women use this stuff all the time. It is safe."he continued to argue.

"No. Makes baby srowsy. And he's early. He doesn't need...owwwww...anything impeding his breathing."

Take the medication Max. No need in suffering.

Butt out I thought to the voice.

Fang is right Max. Take it.You need it.

"NO! Now shut up and leave me alone. OOOOOOOWWWWWWWW--"

Fang just looked at me hurt and confused.Great, I thought. Now I have to deal with a hurt FAng too.

"Max, please tell me that its the voice you are screaming at." Fang said.

"Voice...in head...ooowwwww...mom..."

Mom did a quick ultrasound to check on the baby's position."Tsk"

"What..is..it mom?" I asked, reading her expression of concern.

"The baby is breech, presenting feet first. Normal delivery would be tricky, dangerous even, for you both."

"What about a C-section?" Fang asked, squeezing my hand as he talked, knowing the fear that rose in me at her words.

"I could do it, with your help." mom replied.

'"No, no surgery. I ...will have this ..baby. i ..trust mom." I said.

"Okay Max, I will try. But if you or the baby go into distress, I am cutting you open. Now, I am sorry iney, but I need to

check to see how dilated you are." mom said, pulling up the sheet. Fang diverted his eyes to the ceiling, blushing. It

made me smile, even though in pain.

"Okay, fully dilated. You are ready to push on the next one." Mom instructed.

"AAAARRRGGHHHHHHH" The pain hit hard. I pushed down, pulling on Fang. I couldn't not push. It was an over powering

urge. Like my body was completely out of my control."Easy Max. That's it. Good.Breathe. you are doing great." Fang

encouraged.

AARRGGHGHHH...OOOWWW..."I felt like I was being torn into. Let me tell you. I've been in fights, had

bruises,pulled muscles, torn ligaments, deep cuts, broken bones even bullet wounds. But nothing, nothing hurt like this.

"Good. Keep breathing. I see his feet."om said from the foot of the bed.

"I..can..do..this. I am.. Invincible..Max--ARRGGHHHH" I screamed, feeling like I was going to lose it.Fang got in my face then.

"Max, look at me. Look.Now..breath deep...easy..good. You can do this. You are doing this. you can do anything.Like you

said, invincible. Now just breath. Good. And e on..again, push. That's it. you are doing great. You got this." I

kept focus on Fang's eyes. Those gorgeous, deep, dark eyes. Oh God, listen to me. Those deep dark eyes are what got

me here to begin with.

"Okay, don't push. I need to check the umbilical cord. And the head has to be delivered. It will be tricky and hard. So do

not push now. Just let the baby come. "Fighting the urge to push was the hardest thing I have ever done. Everything in

me was screaming to push, but I knew I couldn't. I had to endure this for him..my son. FAng tightened his hold on my

hand. My nails digging into his palm, drawing blood. But Fang never said a word. i'm not sure he evern realized it. He

was so concerned with making me feel a litlle better.

The baby slipped into mom's hands.She immediately wiped hom off. He wasn't breathing.

"No, come on little guy, breathe." mom siad. My eyes popped out, my mouth open. I looked at FAng, pleading with my

eyes to help our son. FAng took the baby, turning him upside down , holding his feet and swatted his behind.

"Fang No!" I yelled. But as soon as he patted his bottom the second time, a gurgling came from our son, then he began

to cry. FAng wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in my arms.He was small,so very small. This precious little life. Tears

filled my eyes."Oh FAng.Her's gorgeous. Look at those little eye lashes.And that nose. He has your hair and eyes" I said,

checking out my baby boy.

"And your nose and wings" Fang said.Then he bent down and kissed my forehead."I love you, mom" And then the tears

spilled from my eyes, rolling sown my cheeks.

"Okay , you two. We have got to get some clothes on that little guy before he takes a chill. And I need to take a few

measurements." mom said as she reached for the bby."any names yet? you haven't mentioned any to me."

I looked at Fang. We still hadn't agreed on a name.

"Ridge" FAng said suddenly, gently rubbing our son's head.. I looked at him. He grinned. "after the place we first-"

"Ummmhmmm, mom" I said, blushing."He is so small. Is he really alright?"

"Yes, he seems perfectly healthy. 4 pounds, 9 ounces. 19 inches long." she replied, handing him back to Fang, then Fang

to me. He began to cry.

"Fang, why don't you go let everyone know that Ridge is here while I help Max learn to feed this little fella." Fang quickly

agreed when he realized mom meant show me how to breast feed him and left the room.

An hour later, I was back in my room upstairs, with the flock cooing an dawwwwing at Ridge. Of course they all had to

have a chance to hold him. Everyone smiling. Fang beaming with pride. Wait, why do the fathers get to beam with pride?

All they do is have sex. The moms are the ones who suffer through nine months, aches, pain,swelling, just to have to

endure 20 hours of labor and then have to expose yourself every two hours to feed the child. Oh, but he does look so

cute with that goofy grin he can't seem to wipe off his face,

"Ummm Max" It was Iggy. I knew he blamed himself for my being attacked by Rags and Ridge's early arrival.

"Come on Igs" I said as I grabbed his hand, leading him to dit on the bed next to me. Fang glanced over, then herded

the flock out.

"I'm so sorry Max. What I said, I didn't mean it. I was just, shocked is all. I mean, I didn't mean to upset-"

"It;s okay Igs. Ridge is fine. I am fine. Everything is okay. "

"Yeah but I had no right to say whatr I did. you didn't need that. If I hadn't you wouldn't have flown off, wouldn't have

ran into Rags and--"

"Iggy, stop. You didn't say anything I hadn't already thought of. And to be honest, we both know I would flown outta

here sooner or later. That's just me. it's waht I do when I need to think. And besides"" I said as i lay Ridge in his arms"

Ridge is fine. See." Iggy cradled the baby, smiling. He ran his fingers lightly over his face and features, then little hands

and feet.

"He has Fangs hair, and your nose." Ig commented.

"Yeah, he does. You cool now?" I asked

"Yeah, cool. But I don't do diaper changes." We both laughed then.