Oh, my God. We're so close! TT_TT It makes me sad just thinking about it! But you should read this chapter and enjoy it while you can.

Chapter Forty-Six

Fang

I felt awful the whole time I was there with Max, holding her hand. All I could think was that I'd been the one who'd put her in so much pain. I wanted to keep apologizing to her over and over, but I was worried that Dr. Nicholson would think I was weak and kick me out. So I just stood by her and wished I could take all the pain away.

But when it was finally over and the baby was out of her, it felt like a huge load was pulled off my shoulders. I turned to look over at Max, but she was unconscious. I didn't blame her. She seemed really drained. Dr. Nicholson and Dr. Martinez left with the baby to do…whatever they do to newborns.

"Poor Max," Nudge said, running a hand across Max's sweaty forehead. "That was tough on her."

"Yeah," I agreed. I still felt awful about all that pain I'd caused her. Nudge pulled her attention from Max to me.

"She's okay," she told me. "She's just really tired. That's all. Don't beat yourself up."

"I'm not beating myself up," I said.

"Yes, you are," Nudge said. "So stop it."

Dr. Martinez and Dr. Nicholson walked back in with the baby wrapped neatly in a little blue blanket.

"How's Max?" Dr. Martinez asked, cuddling the baby.

"She's still asleep," I told her.

"Can I see the baby?" Nudge asked. My mom smiled and gingerly handed it to Nudge.

"It's a boy," Dr. Martinez said.

"Wow," Nudge said. "He's so tiny."

"Yep," Dr. Martinez agreed. I watched them fuss over the little bundle. If only Max was awake…she'd be frustrated for sure. She hates to be vulnerable.

Nudge looked up at me and saw me staring at the bundle in her arms. She smiled sadly. "Do you want to hold him, Fang?"

"Sure," I said. Nudge walked around the bed and handed the bundle to me. She was right. He was really tiny. I was almost afraid to touch him, because I kept thinking he would break or something. Nudge smiled at me.

"Isn't he soooo adorable?" she cooed. He was really cute, aside from the fact that he was bright pink and all wrinkly and whatnot. "I think he looks like you," she added eventually. I wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, keeping in mind my recent observations.

"Valencia and I are going to clean up," Dr. Nicholson announced. She gave Nudge a stern look and added, "Keep an eye on him." She jerked her chin in my direction. What the heck was her problem? What had I done?

Other then show up late for the birth of Max's baby and knock her up in the first place.

Max shifted and I figured she was waking up. Nudge looked from Max to me, gave an awkward grin, and said, "I think I'll go see how the other kids are doing."

Max rolled toward me and, slowly, her eyes flickered open. She looked up at me. I looked back at her, still holding the tiny blue bundle.

"How're you doing?" I asked her.

"I'm okay," she said. She tried to sit up, but gave up when she didn't move more than a couple inches. She looked at the bundle. "Can I see?"

I slowly, carefully, bent down and put the bundle in Max's waiting arms. She cradled it in one arm and slid her other arm behind its head. Thin trails of tears ran down her cheeks.

"Are you okay?" I asked "Does it hurt?"

"No, I'm okay," Max said. "I just can't believe that's my baby, and that's it's actually real." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. then looked up at me. "Is it a boy, or a girl?" she asked.

"Boy," I told her. She looked relieved.

"Thank God," she said. "I don't know if I could take one more girl in the flock."

I knew what she meant. Girls could be so temperamental.

"Thank you," Max said. I looked at her.

"For what?" I asked. She smiled.

"For helping me bring him into the world."

I widened my eyes. I never thought she'd be thanking me for this. "Oh, um, you're welcome, I guess," I said brilliantly. Max didn't seem to mind, or even notice, what I'd said. She was busy paying attention to the bundle I'd given her.