Wow, I truly do have the most amazing fans. I love you all so much! Here we go!
That's when my water broke. I froze, my eyes widening. I was glad I was on the very end, just for this reason. When Alek saw my eyes widen, he looked at me in confused, until he felt the wetness. His eyes widened as well, and I could tell he was fighting back panic.
"Chloe." Alek said slowly, looking me in the eyes. "Did you water just…" He stopped talking as I nodded, fear and shock in my eyes. "Do want to leave?" I could tell that he had absolutely no idea what to do. The contractions were coming on stronger and faster. I looked at my watch. They were only 9 minutes apart now.
I leaned over to Alek, whispering in his ear. "Alek, my contractions are 9 minutes," I paused, breathing deeply through another stronger contraction. I looked at my watch. "OK. 8 ½ minutes apart." Paul and Amy kissed, and everyone was clapping and starting to leave.
"Chloe, you've been keeping track?" He asked, confused. "Chloe, just how long have these contractions been going on?"
I looked down sheepishly. "Umm.. Off and on all day…"
Much to my surprise he didn't look angry. What I saw was worse. It was hurt. Pure genuine hurt. And I suddenly felt so bad for not telling him. I mean, it was his baby, too. "Chloe, why didn't you tell me?" His voice expressed hurt more than his face.
"Alek, you know I hate people fussing over me. I was really fine." I said.
"Were fine? Meaning you are not fine?" I answered him by groaning through a particularly painful contraction. "Chloe, we should get you to the hospital." He said, helping me stand in.
"Alek, we can't go the hospital!" I hissed. He of all people should know that. He must have really been stressed about this.
"I, uh, right. Let's get you to Valentina." I could tell it took all of his will power not to pick me up and run me there, but it would like kind of funny while we were leaving a wedding ceremony. The contractions were now about 7 minutes apart. I was fighting back screams. The pain was so horrible. I tried to think of it as a beautiful good pain, but that idea left with the next contraction.
It honestly surprised me that Alek didn't get pulled over on our way to Valentina's. It took me a minute to get out of the car, and he rushed me in to the building. Right before we got to their private elevator, the worst contraction yet hit, and I couldn't help but let out a cry of pain. Alek's face looked as pained as mine. He didn't like seeing me in pain, especially pain he couldn't help me with.
He ended up picking me up, bridal-style. I was finding it increasingly hard to walk, so I didn't object. I looked at my watch. A little less than a minute apart. Shit. This was going too fast. "Owww!"
"Chloe, its ok!" He said, opening Valentina's door. "Aunt Val!" He yelled. We could hear it echoing throughout the house. "Aunt Valentina!" Wow, he must have really been panicked. He never called Valentina by her full name. Then he spotted something on the counter. "Shit!"
"Alek, what's wrong?" I panted.
"She's at a meeting in Florida. She won't be home for a few days." He stayed silent and unmoving.
Then I could feel it. It was time. "Alek! It's time!" He turned to me, paper in hand, eyes widened in panic, and jaw dropped.
"Oh. Right. Um…. I will be right back." He was leaving me. Really? He came back and picked me up, bringing me to one of the bedrooms. The contractions were almost constant now, so I wasn't really paying attention. He had towels laid down for me and the baby. He was very tense, and I could tell he really wished that there was another way.
"Let me just make one quick call." He said, fishing his phone out of his pocket. "Jasmine, Chloe's in labor… No, were here she's at a meeting… There's no time… Ok, thank you."
"She was shopping in the mall down the street she will be here in a few minutes." I just nodded. If I spoke, then I was afraid I would break down and begin screaming. I didn't want to make Alek suffer. The pain etched on my face seemed to be almost reflected on his. I was looking at his face, a nice distraction from the pain, when I felt the most unbearable urge to push.
"Alek." I whispered. He sat by me, holding my hand, allowing me to squeeze it. "I can't wait." Suddenly I got an empathy hit off of Alek. Now that we were mates I could do that, but it was still involuntary. He was feeling scared and excited. But he was worried. I felt an even strong urge to push just as Jasmine rushed through the doors.