Chapter 7 – Part of Me

I was now almost 5 months pregnant and if I might add, huge. I had gone from 88 pounds to 120 pounds and the boys had made sure I was on a strict healthy diet for the baby's sake. Max wanted to load me up with sugar but the other guys had outvoted him.

I was perched in front of the television watching Titanic when Tyson ran into the room.

"Hil! Mariah's in labour!"

Mariah had moved here to be closer with Ray since he had decided to stay and us girls had bonded so to speak over the last few weeks.

"Really? The baby's coming?"

"Yes! We are going to the hospital now. Apparently she's progressing quickly. Want to come?"

I nodded and I got myself up. I grabbed my handbag and followed Tyson to the car.

"The other's will be meeting us there. They got the call while shopping."

I strapped myself in with my seat belt as Tyson drove. "Will Kai be there?"

"I should think so, Hil. He and Ray are pretty close these days. What's going on with you guys anyways?"

I gulped. "What does that mean?"

Tyson grinned at me. "You serious? You look at him like he's a god or something."

"We're friends, Tyson. He got me out of New York."

"Right. If you say so."

I punched him in the arm which earned a yelp and I sat back in the sit as we drove. I could feel the old me slowing coming back more and more each day. I watched as we pulled into the hospital and parked. I climbed out and waddled with Tyson to the entrance of the maternity unit. I spotted Max, Kenny and Kai sitting down talking and assumed Ray was in the delivery suite with Mariah.

Tyson snuck up behind Max and nudged him. "Yo!"

They looked at us and Max, Kenny and Tyson started talking and as I finally arrived after a great deal of waddling from my small frame, I could feel Kai's eyes burning into me. I looked up at him and our eyes locked and I automatically sat down next to him. I placed a hand on my stomach and casually looked around the waiting area. The walls were pale pink and there were stalks and photos of babies everywhere. I felt a shot of nervousness hit me as well as a shot of excitement. In 4 months I would be a mother too.

I heard a loud scream from Mariah and I clung to my chair. Okay that did not sound fun. I looked at the other guys as they paled. "I'm going to take a walk."

Kai stood up with me. "I'll join you."

Another scream had Max practically in Tyson's arms. "Is she okay?!"

Kai sighed. "Max, she's pushing a watermelon through a key hole, what do you think?"

I twitched and started walking down the corridor. Few short strides and Kai was by my side. "Are you alright?"

I nodded once. "Super. Just gives me a lot to look forward to."

"You will do fine, I know you will."

I stopped outside in the garden and sat down on a bench. Kai sat next to me and I felt my heart jolt. I think someone else felt it jolt too because a mere moment later I felt a kick against my stomach. I gasped and placed my hand on my stomach. Kai frowned and moved closer. "Hil, what's wrong?"

I looked at him and grabbed his hand and placed it under mine. His brow furrowed until he felt the kick against his hand. The former ice prince melted to say the least. A sparkle appeared in his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned ever so slightly upwards. "Wow." The only word he could muster.

Before I knew what had come over me, our eyes locked and I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. I had never taken such a bold gesture before and my heart pounded. Our hands still laid on my stomach and I felt his lips move against mine for a brief second before he pulled back. "Hilary, what are you doing?"

"I… " No words. Though the pounding in my chest suddenly felt like a knife had replaced it.

Kai gently removed his hand from mine. "I'm sorry Hilary. I can't do that."

I held back tears as I nodded. "I'm sorry too. I've got to go."

I stood up and Kai grabbed my hand but I pulled it back. "It's fine. I just need to go for a walk."

I powerwalked off and held back the tears that were fighting against my eye lids to fall down my cheeks. How could I be so stupid? I would never be good enough for him. The only person who wanted me was Matt and he certainly didn't deserve me either. I walked and walked until I ended up in the markets across the street. Stalls and stalls of goods and food lined up in rows and I walked along in a daze, not really quite sure where I was going. It wasn't until I felt a hand grab mine from behind that I came too. My heart pounded and as I turned around, I was greeted with someone; but not the person I was expecting or hoping to see.

"Matt…"

"Hello Hilary. Let's take a walk."

xxxx

My heart pounded heavily against my rib cage as I was forcefully dragged to a quieter part of the street. He turned into a deserted alley way and I resisted the urge to scream or attempt to run. He stopped and I leaned back against the brick wall.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"That's none of your business. How dare you up and leave me? Where the hell have you been the last 2 months?"

My hands were placed protectively over my stomach and it only took a second for Matt to realize that. He looked down and grabbed my arms and pulled them away from my stomach. He gazed at my protruding mound and looked back at me. "What are you still doing with that brat in you? I told you to get rid of it!?"

"It's my baby, Matt. It's none of your concern!"

Slap. My head turned sharply and my hair fell over my face.

"How dare you speak to me like that? I've looked after you for 4 years and provided for you and this is how you repay me you filthy whore?"

I started to panic. I didn't care about my safety but my little one deserved a chance at life. If anything happened, it would be all my fault; the kicking… the kiss… the walking off. No one knew where I was and I knew I was in more trouble than ever.

"Okay I'm sorry. Please don't hurt us, Matt."

Matt's face twisted in disgust. "Us? You are despicable Hilary. That's my child and I deserve a say in the matter but selfish you left New York to run back to your blue haired lover."

I felt the tears finally spill over my cheeks as I tried to plead with him. "Please don't hurt him, Matt. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but please let him live."

Matt let my arms go and I thought for a second he was going to be humane until he punched me in the face. I stumbled sideways and tried to grab the wall for support.

"You will come back to me, Hilary. That's an order. You will honour me as a girlfriend should. I will not have you running about having an affair with some old flame with our bastard child inside of you."

My hands clung to my sides, folded, in an attempt to protect my child from this monster that had helped create him. Matt's eyes darkened as he stalked towards me and in a subconscious movement, I picked up a crowbar that was near the wall and hit him with it. I hit him as hard as I could and the blow struck his chest. He wheezed and stumbled back and in a split second as I tried to run around him, he grabbed my arm and ripped me back. I fell against the wall again, my head smashing into the bricks hard. I swear I could see stars. I opened my eyes to see Matt with the crowbar in his hand and in a last effort to save us, I turned towards the wall as he swung the crowbar at me. The bar connected with my ribs and as I fell to the ground, everything started to go black and the last thing I could remember is the kicking coming from inside my stomach and my hands clutched protectively as the world went black.

xxxx

The pain was blinding. I could barely open my eyes. I couldn't be dead because the pain was a reminder that I was alive. I tried to move, speak, anything but nothing happened. I tried to concentrate on my stomach but couldn't feel anything. What was happening?

I felt a hand touch mine and I jolted slightly until a familiar voice filled the air.

"Hilary, you're safe. Just stay still. Try and get some rest." Kai…

I wanted to scream at him, ask him about my baby, ask him where I was but my mind was immobilized. I heard whispers and movements against my other hand and I felt a cold substance flow up my arm before the pain started to vanish and the world went black again.

xxxx

My eyes fluttered open and I found myself staring at a white roof. Machines beeped around me and I blinked a few times before looking around. I found myself looking at a sleeping Tyson who was in a chair next to me, his mouth open and omitting snores. I smiled slightly before nudging him with my hand.

"Wha… fuck off." He opened his eyes and looked at me. "Oh Hil, you're awake. We've been so worried."

"Tyson…" My mind flooded with memories of the alley way, Matt and the baby. I tried to sit up but the pain stopped me. Tyson jumped up and grabbed my shoulders gently. "Relax. You're quite injured."

I ignored him. Who gives a fuck about me? "Tyson, the baby…"

Tyson smiled. "She's fine, Hil."

She… I looked at him. "A girl?"

"Yup a baby girl. Shame because I was hoping to get a name in there."

I touched my stomach and felt a sigh of relief to feel the bump still there. "She's okay…"

Tyson sighed. "She is, but you're not. One of your side ribs are broken and you had a minor case of internal bleeding. If you had been hit any closer to the front, you and the baby would have died."

"What happened?"

Tyson frowned. "We were hoping you would tell us. Some lady found you near Kowaire Street in an alley way."

"It doesn't matter. Mariah, how is she?"

Tyson's face lit up. "A healthy boy! A Mr Samual Ray Kon."

I smiled. "When can I see them?"

"Well the doctor said when you woke up, if your healing had progressed and you felt alright you might be able to go but under surveillance. We were discussing it and we think it's best if you stayed with Kai."

"No."

Tyson frowned. "… no?"

"I can manage on my own, Tyson. I'm not a child."

Footsteps appeared and Tyson looked up. "I'll let you battle this out."

I watched as Tyson stood up and suddenly Kai took his place. My heart jolted and I looked away from him.

Kai sighed. "Hilary…"

"I don't want to hear it, Kai. I'd like you to leave me alone."

"Hilary." This time his voice was more stern, so stern that my head turned to look at him. "Stop it. You need to listen to us."

"Kai, I'm fine."

"Damnit Hilary you are not fine! You almost died. Stop being so stubborn."

I felt the tears well up and I went to turn my head but Kai grabbed my hand. "I wanted to kiss you but I couldn't. I couldn't because you're just recovering from an abusive time."

My eyes snapped to his. "What?"

"I do have feelings for you Hilary which is why I will not rush anything."

My throat closed up and I was lost for words. He squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Don't be upset. Just trust me with this."

I nodded and squeezed his hand back. "Take me home, Kai."