CHAPTER 82:
Several minutes later, an ambulance had managed to rush both Roman and AJ to the hospital where she would slowly regain consciousness. "W-what's going on?" asked AJ. "Ma'am ok my name is Dr. Dana Su and I'm an OBG-YN. You have been rushed to Jacksonville Regional Hospital." "What?" AJ asked as she tried to remove her oxygen mask. "Please don't remove your mask" said Dr. Su. "Your blood pressure is extremely high and you're severely dehydrated." "Oh my God what's going on with me!?" AJ panicked. "Ok ma'am you're gonna need to tell me when you're due date is" said Dr. Su.
"She's due December 7th" said Roman. "And I'm her husband, Joe Anoa'i and her name is April". "Ok April, you're gonna have to tell me how long have you been dealing with this pain in your stomach?" asked Dr. Su. "I dunno…10, 11 days maybe" said AJ as she took her oxygen mask off. "April Ima need you to keep that mask on ok?" said Dr. Su as she placed the mask back onto AJ's face. "Here you go doctor" said a nurse. "Ok we've got a 27-year-old 8 month female with high BP, low sugar, severe dehydration-no slight dehydration and tachycardia" said a paramedic. Roman had a look of horror on his face upon hearing those words. "That's probably what's most likely caused her to have Syncope" said Dr. Su. "What's that?" asked Roman. "Fainting spells" said Dr. Su. "What's the reading on her blood pressure?"
"125/80" said a nurse. "Ok let's keep working on that!" said Dr. Su. "Miss-I mean doc are they going to be alright?" asked Roman. "We're working on it" said Dr. Su. "How long have I been here?" asked AJ. "Like 15 minutes or so" said Roman as he took her hand to hold it. Another nurse walked up to Dr. Su and handed her a clipboard.
"Ok April, your urine has a very high level of protein in it" said Dr. Su as she read through her charts. "And based off your other symptoms it appears that you have Preeclampsia". "But I was just at my doctor's 3 weeks ago and I was completely fine" said AJ. "I know April but sometimes these things sneak up on us, especially with first pregnancies" said Dr. Su. "Ok so how can we fix this?" asked Roman. "She's going to need to deliver" said Dr. Su. "But I can't" said AJ. "I'm only like 34, 35 weeks". "It's the only treatment" said Dr. Su. "Otherwise we could lose you both." "Wait…so is the baby going to be fine?" asked Roman. "If we deliver her soon" said Dr. Su. "But I don't want a C-section" said AJ tearfully. "You might not need one" said Dr. Su. "We're gonna start you on Pitocin to help kick start your labor as well as break your water and if we can bring your blood pressure back down to normal as well as get your sugar levels at a normal zone you'll have a chance." AJ started to panic as the tears began to flow down her cheeks.
"April I need you to stay as calm as possible" said Dr. Su. "If you stress your baby out more, then we'll have no choice but to have an emergency C-Section and you won't be awake to see them being born." "I can't believe this" said AJ. "We don't even have anything prepared." "It'll be ok" said Dr. Su as she began to rush over to the sink to wash her hands. "What's going to happen now?" asked Roman. "I'm going to work on stabilizing your wife" said Dr. Su. "But in the meantime I'm going to break her water to help the labor start" said Dr. Su. "I've already have a nurse running to get her dose of Pitocin." "This is crazy" said AJ. "Ok I'm gonna need you to leave the room for a few minutes" said Dr. Su. "Let's get a curtain up!" "I'll be back" said Roman.
"Joe! Please don't leave me!" said AJ. Roman looked at AJ in shock. She has never called him Joe before and because of this Roman knew that she was really scared. "I won't" said Roman. "I'll be back soon I promise". He quickly kissed his wife's hand before leaving. "You're going to be just fine" said Dr. Su as she began to wash her hands. "Nurse tell me the heart rate!" "117/80" said the nurse. "And the fetus's is lowering too." "Good it's beginning to go down" said Dr. Su as she began to open up a new ARM packet. "Now this is going to feel a little uncomfortable April". "Oh God!" AJ sobbed. "It's going to be alright" said Dr. Su. "You're going to need to try to remain calm so that you won't agitate yourself or your baby." "I don't want this to hurt" said AJ.
"It'll go really quick" said Dr. Su. "It's going to feel like a quick pinch." "Ok but can I have someone's hand?" AJ asked. "Of course" said Dr. Su. "Nurse Olivia, please assist Mrs. Anoa'i" "Yes doctor" said the nurse as she walked over to hold AJ's hand. "Ok are you ready April?" asked Dr. Su. "No but you can go ahead" said AJ. She held on tightly to the nurse's hand as the doctor broke her water for her. It caused AJ to whimper a little. "Ok there you go, it's all done now" said Dr. Su as she threw away the device. "So now what?" AJ asked. "Well as long as your system remains stable, you shouldn't need a cesarean unless it flares up again so we're going to be carefully monitoring you and your baby" said Dr. Su. AJ nodded. "I'm so scared" she thought. "I can't…I can't believe I'm going to have a preemie."
Roman returned about 3 hours later with their suitcases and several bags. By now, AJ's labor has progressed somewhat. "Leati where the hell have you been!?" she shouted. "I've been so scared!" "I went to get some things" said Roman. "But I'm here now and I'm not leaving your side." "Leati, this shit hurts me so much!" AJ cried. "I know baby, I know" said Roman. "How are you guys doing?" "My blood pressure and heart rate is normal. It's just that they're still working on my sugar" said AJ. "But don't you ever go off like that again!" "But trust me I was gone this long for a reason". "And what's that?" asked AJ. Roman opened up a bag from Best Buy. "See, it's a video camera" he said.
"You went out to get a video camera?" asked AJ. "Yeah" said Roman. "And a car seat, some gender neutral clothes, our clothes, diapers…I mean we weren't prepared at all". "Lea-" AJ said before another contraction began. "Oh my God this hurts so bad!" she cried. "Not even yoga prepared me for this!" Roman walked over to AJ to extend his hand out for her hold. "Thank you" she said painfully. After another minute, the contraction wore off. "So yeah I also got our clothes" he continued.
"You're really sweet" said AJ. "Remember that I love you very much April and I'll do anything for you" said Roman. AJ smiled as the two kissed. "I love you too Leati" she said. "So shall we turn this baby on?" asked Roman. "Sure, I'm much calmer now" said AJ. "And sweaty as hell" teased Roman. "Stop!" AJ said with a smile. "You'd be sweaty too if you were going through this". "So now that I just turned the camera on, is there anything you'd like to say?" asked Roman. "Yeah, where'd you find a Best Buy that's open this late?" asked AJ. Roman smiled. "I have ways, especially if you're Roman Reigns from the WWE". Both he and AJ chuckled. "So yes baby I called in a few favors, no worries."
Roman turned the camera back onto himself. "So I do believe that today is the 4th? Am I right AJ?" "Yes you are" said AJ. "And it's just a little before 1am and um your mother and I can't wait to meet you but um we both really wished that you stayed inside just a little while longer but thank you for loving us that much-so much that you decided that couldn't wait to meet us anymore" said Roman as he turned the camera back onto AJ who gave a quick wave. He pointed the camera back to himself. "But seriously we wished that you would have waited another 5 weeks but that doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're coming to meet us and that you will be healthy and live a long and wonderful life." He handed the camera to back to AJ. "Little boy or little girl I just want to let you know that you're going to have the best parents in the world and that you're really hurting me right now in ways you can never imagine. Oh and you're not seeing this video until you're 35 and married."
Roman chuckled. "Don't worry little bugger or daisy. Your mama is one tough broad who beats up other chicks for a living and she's pretty damn good at it too." AJ playfully gasped. "Oh my God Leati! Don't say it like that!" "What?" Roman teased. "Leati…" AJ trailed off while smiling. "Ok, ok your mama is one tough woman" said Roman. "She's also the most beautiful, strongest and caring woman I've ever met and I'm so glad that she's going to be your mother and that she's making me your father..." He paused. "And she's also the most forgiving."
Tears began to run down AJ's face. It wasn't because of the pain she was in, but rather because of how touching Roman's words were to her. Roman turned the camera off as he chuckled and got a chair next to AJ to sit in. "Let the games begin" he said. "Yeah" said AJ as she readjusted herself in bed.
2hrs later, Roman picked up the camera again and began recording AJ who was now asleep. "Yep that's your beautiful mother" he said softly. "You've been causing her a lot of pain. So much so that she was cursing in another language so I'm really glad I didn't catch that on tape ha." He paused. "I really hope you get her good looks if you're a girl but if you're a boy…you've gotta look like me but if I'm really lucky you'll be the perfect blend of us." He took the focus off of AJ and onto the monitor. "Thankfully things seemed to have calmed down quite a bit in there. I uh hope that you get to tell me one day what it was like to be up in there." Roman then focused the camera on himself. "Well you should be coming later on today as the last time the doctor checked your mom, she was what's called 5 centimeters dilated which means you're halfway here almost. But I'll explain later when you're 40 what that is. So I hope to see you real soon. I love you." With that he ended the segment with a huge smile.
Another 4 hours had passed and AJ's labor had continued to progress. As a result of it, she was in an extreme amount of discomfort. It was now a little after 7am when Dr. Su came back into check on her. "How are you?" she asked. "I'm tired, hurting and starving" said AJ. "Who knew that this would actually hurt so much?" Dr. Su smiled. "I was able to get ahold of Dr. Hernandez. He's actually going to be finishing his vacation next Friday but the good news is that I've looked at your test results and you and your baby are doing just fine."
"See isn't that great news baby?" asked Roman. But AJ didn't seem to care due to the excruciating amount of pain she has been in for the past several hours. "Why the hell do they always go on vacation when it's time to for the women to give birth!?" AJ snapped. "Excuse her" said Roman. "No need, she's in pain" said Dr. Su. "Besides I've been doing this a long time. I've heard a whole lot worse coming out of mother's mouths anyway." "The shot didn't work" said AJ. "What good is the fucking shot if I only get 2 hours of sleep?" "I'm going to just check to see how far you are" said Dr. Su. After a few moments, the doctor finished as she removed her gloves. "Well AJ, it looks like you won't be in pain for that much longer" she said. "You're fully dilated." "Already?" asked AJ. "But it's only been like 10 hours". "Babies can come at any time" said Dr. Su as she finished washing her hands. "I'll go get the team in".
"Oh my God Leati!" said AJ. "But I'm not ready. This baby isn't ready to come out". "It'll be ok" said Roman as he held AJ's hand tighter. "I'll be ok." "No it won't!" AJ sobbed. "They're 5 weeks too early!" "We'll worry about that later" Roman said as he kissed her hand. "But for right now, let's just focus on making sure that they arrive here alright." AJ nodded as another strong wave of contractions hit her. "Oh my God!" she shouted as she held her stomach. "Why the fuck did you or John do this to me!? This shit hurts! It's killing me!" She broke down again and began sobbing. "Aw baby…" said Roman. AJ sobbed even louder as more contractions came. "And another thing, fuck that epidural shit! It never works! It's all lies I tell you!"
"I know honey" said Roman. "I know you're right. It's all lies." "Ugh I'm never having sex again!" AJ sobbed. "Oh…no…no…honey…please no, don't…don't say that" said Roman. "It's true!" said AJ. "I'm never having sex again for as long as I live." "Baby…" said Roman. AJ continued to sob and pay no attention to Roman whatsoever. After another contraction had died down she rested her head back up against her pillows. "Why in fucks sakes is it so damn hot in here!?" she shouted. "Because…your body is going through a very um…natural process here" said Roman. "I wish they can just cut them out of me and it'll all be done with!" AJ sobbed. "You're so emotional" said Roman with a smile.
"I don't care!" AJ sobbed. "Ok, ok, there-there honey I'm sorry for being a little insensitive" said Roman. "I'll make it all better for you. I promise." "Then you deliver this baby for me" said AJ. "No…no…honey…I-I can't do that" said Roman. "Then you cannot make it better for me" said AJ. "Oh not again! Not again!" She continued to cry while holding onto her belly. "Yes I can make it better for you" said Roman. "In ways you cannot even begin to imagine." AJ looked up Roman. He could see the pain that was in her eyes. She may have been extremely sleep deprived and she may have been in searing pain, but he could still see that behind those eyes that she really believed in him. Well so he had hoped.
He leaned in to gently kiss her and she held his head in place as suddenly all her thoughts of pain were erased. "You see, it doesn't hurt anymore does it?" he asked. "No it doesn't" AJ said softly. It was the first time her voice had been gentle since going arriving at the hospital. "I told you that I could make it all better for you, didn't I?" Roman said softly. "Yeah" AJ said softly. "You did." Roman smiled as the two looked into the other's eyes. They continued to do so until Dr. Su and a team of 3 nurses entered the room.
"Are you two behaving in here?" she teased. "Yeah doctor, we are" said AJ. "That's good" said Dr. Su. "Because you do remember that you two can't have any fun for the next 6 weeks right?" "Of course doctor we remember" said AJ. "Well actually doctor she was just telling me that she never wants sex again" said Roman. "Leati!" said AJ. Dr. Su and the nurses chuckled. "Oh trust me Mr. Anoa'i I can assure you that it'll happen again. And down there will be good as new again once she's all healed up." "I am so embarrassed" said AJ. "There's no need to be" said Dr. Su as she placed on her gloves and as a nurse tied her gown behind her back. "So shall we get this show on the road then?"
"I don't think I'm ready" said AJ as she shook her head. "Sure you are" said Dr. Su. "No…no I don't think so" said AJ. "April, the baby is coming because they are ready" said Dr. Su. "And even though they are a month early, they are still ready to come here and I know that you guys are really scared but I can assure you that you are all in good hands." AJ nodded although she still sported a deeply worried look on her face. She sighed. "Ok" she said. "I'm…ready." Dr. Su nodded as the hospital staff continued to prep the room. Roman leaned over to kiss AJ on her cheek. "I'm right here" he said. "I'm right by your side." "Joe… I am… so scared" AJ said tearfully. "I know baby, but everything's going to be alright" said Roman. "I completely promise." With that AJ nodded as she watched the rest of the room get ready for the arrival of her baby. She could now not only worry if the baby wasn't Roman's but if they would be ok. And that in itself was a lot to handle.
A/N: Reviews are always welcome :-)