Chapter 38

~Farren POV~

Aaden ever so elegantly waddled into the den, going to the shelves of books to look. Her fingers stroked the spines of the books, her thoughts lost. Seeing her from the back, you wouldn't think she'd be hugely pregnant. Any mom-to-be would be jealous of her figure. She was very round in her belly, but as far as her legs, arms and hips went, she looked just like herself. She'd been doing excellently, far better than I'd ever thought she would be at this point. In all honesty, I had expected her to be close to death. Yet here she was, leisurely searching for a book while Derek was downstairs training wolves and vampires. I quietly sat down on the couch, waiting for her to turn around. It didn't take long for her to start to feel off, like she was being watched, and I gazed in amazement and amusement as she began to respond to it. She turned her head, guarded, and looked for the source, her fiery violet eyes landing on my most likely smirking face. "Farren," she said, sounding surprised. "Hello Aaden, I hope you've found what you're looking for." "Not really, I've read pretty much everything in here. It's what I've done to pass the time."

She inhaled sharply, her hand flying to the crest of her protruding stomach. "Baby kicking?" "Yes, but that wasn't him. Been having contractions." She mumbled. I felt a thrill of fear go through my own stomach. Contractions? Where the hell had I been?! I kept my voice calm as I replied, "I was unaware that you were so far along in your pregnancy." She smiled sheepishly, "Well, you haven't been around a whole lot anymore."

I couldn't tell her why though. I'd been working secretly on a way to take down Lorcan Kern, and if the others knew of that knowledge, they might inadvertently interfere and screw it up. I also had been working deeply on avoiding Spencer. He'd admitted to me three nights ago that his feelings were more than that of a friend's, and it scared the shit out of me. I'd never once considered love to play a part in my life, and here was the very thing laying right at my feet. I couldn't outright tell him I felt similarly, and I wouldn't, but what scared me more was that if he got in the way, he'd be dead, just like that. I couldn't bring myself to turn him either, sentencing him to a life forever lived in one body. At first, it felt like a convenience, considering he wasn't supposed to be a part of this war. If I had turned him then, it would have been as a recruiting. Now that I knew what I was feeling, that wasn't the type of life I wanted him to have.

I shook my head, clearing my face of emotion before responding, "I know, I'm sorry. I've been busy with looking for allies and planning strategies. When is the baby due?" "Any day now. I hope soon, he's rather large." "So it is a boy? Not just a feeling?" She laughed, "Yes, Silas confirmed the baby's gender. We're naming him Galen." I verbally tested the name. "Galen Hale. That's very unique, where did you get a name like that?"

She shifted then, slightly uncomfortable, her face scrunching ever so slightly. "Aaden, sit." I said, standing to usher her to the plump loveseat in front of her. "I'm sorry. The contractions are random, so I can't ever be ready for them." "Don't apologize. It's natural." "Anyway, to answer you. It's really weird though, Derek actually suggested it. I was hoping for a girl, I was going to name her Jessica Spencer." "Jessica Spencer?" I could feel the incredulity in my voice. She laughed aloud then. "Yes, it would have been cute," she feigned offense, "but it doesn't matter because Jessica doesn't fit our boy." "I'll say." "Well, he doesn't know it yet, but we're still going to use Spencer. Derek wouldn't let me use his middle name." "Galen Spencer. What's Derek's middle name again?" "S-"

She sat forward, hunched over her stomach, grunting in pain. "Ouch," she moaned, "that was the biggest one yet." "It's got to be getting close to time." I said, feeling my stomach drop. "Yeah. I think I should go see Silas." "Want help?" "No, I can make it. Was good seeing you."

She hurried from the room, pain edging her body. I let worry consume me. Would my best friend die soon?

~Aaden POV~

The pain from the contractions was getting steadier, not like what I was expecting. I'd been thinking that my water would break before that. And unlike the Braxton Hicks, these hurt.

I stumbled down the stairs to Silas's study, knocking twice. "Come in!" I heard. Silas was sitting in a plastic chair, a rather intimidatingly large medical book in his lap. "Aaden?" He asked, dog-earring the page and placing it aside. "I'm having really painful contractions. Is that normal?" "Has your water broken? Mucous plug been lost?" He put his hand on my forehead, searching for fever.

"My water still hasn't broken, but I did lose the plug yesterday. Derek and I took your advice." "When was your last contraction? Do you remember the time of intercourse?" I'd gotten used to these embarrassing questions from Silas, so much so that sometimes I was more comfortable talking with him than anyone else. "Not the exact time, just that it was two days ago, evening time. Last contraction was a few minutes ago." "Well, if the contractions are getting stronger, I'd expect your water to break probably within the next three days, maybe sooner. Then you'll REALLY start having contractions." "Great," I murmured, tired already. I felt another one coming on. I squeezed my eyes, awaiting the onslaught of momentary pain. "Another one?" He asked, quickly helping me lay flat on the cold examining table. I nodded.

Silas's strong hands surrounded my stomach as the contraction hit, lasting maybe seven or eight seconds before tapering off to a dull ache. "Have they all been like that?" He asked, slight worry coloring his eyes. "That one was the third one. I had one like that yesterday, one right before I came here and then that one. Until then, they were just those twinges or a little stronger." "If they continue at this rate, you'll be a mother within thirty-six to forty-two hours. You need to stay close. I should get everything ready. Drink a lot of fluids, but don't eat a lot of solid foods. Wouldn't want you getting sick on top of this." I felt my heart jump into my throat. Within two days, if my contractions continued this way, I'd hold my baby in my arms. Loving warmth spread through me as I pictured cradling our soft, wrinkled bundle close to me. "Thank you Silas." "Sure. Just be extremely careful. Tell Derek I said he needs to take time off now, the training can wait. The war isn't happening tomorrow and you're about to have a huge job to do. I need him to watch out for you until I can get you set up." "Okay, I'll tell him."

I walked carefully back out the door, leaving Silas to his work. Already, he was bustling about, preparing an IV and making the extra bed comfy. I was excited and terrified. I'd hold my baby soon, but in order to do that, I had to give birth. I felt light shudders run over me.

I knew I wasn't supposed to, but I headed to the training rooms anyway, eager to tell my husband he'd been a daddy within hours. I made my way down the steps, hearing the sparring going on, and Derek's strong voice overpowering the noise.

"Aaden!" I heard Jared's excited call to my right and turned. Of course, his beckon alerted everyone in the close vicinity to my presence and they turned, taking me in. Jared rushed up, hugging me before placing gentle hands on my stomach. "Hey there little guy!" Galen nudged him before settling again. "Getting close, eh?" Jared's eyes met mine. "More so than you'd think. I'm having contractions." "Already? Wow. So the little Alpha will be here before we can turn around." His voice sounded awed. Amy appeared beside him, smiling in her soft way. "Hello Amy." I said. "Aaden," she nodded respectfully, "I hope you're doing well." "As well as can be I suppose." Jared straightened and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek, "Aaden's gonna have the baby before long."

There was a quiet longing in his tone. It took me a moment to realize why that was. Jared wanted a baby too. I already knew Amy did. I really hoped they could have one, or several, however many their hearts desired.

Vlad, Jessica and Ethan slid over, taking in the conversation. "Hello there baby," Jessica said, kneeling and pressing her face into my stomach, "Aunt Jessie missed you, yes she did!" If someone had told me this time last year that Jessica would be one of my best friends and loving to the baby within me, I would have laughed in their faces. Yet here she was, on her knees, lavishing my huge belly with caresses and cuddles. "You're going to be such a sweet little boy," she cooed. "Derek told you?" I asked. "Yes, but he didn't say what his name was. What are we going to call you, huh?" she asked my stomach. "Galen." I spoke. Everyone looked at each other, their looks shocked and questioning. "What?" I asked.

Ethan cleared his throat, "Galen was the name Talia wanted to use if Cora had been a boy. Cora was a huge surprise baby, and Talia had found the name on a random gravestone in the cemetery in Beacon Hills." I felt the air leave my lungs. So my passed mother-in-law would be able to play a part in her grandson's name after all. I suddenly wished that my mysterious sister-in-law would make an appearance. Did she even know?

"All the better to use the name then." I let myself smile, even though I hurt for Derek. In all these years, he'd never forgotten the throwaway name for his baby sister. And he thought the name so special, that even when he wasn't looking forward to the baby, he wanted to give the name to his son.

I didn't think I could ever love him more than I did then.

When I broke away from the group, I walked over to him, placing my arms around his waist. "Aaden," he said, turning and wrapping his around me too, "you're not supposed to be down here, you know that." His chastising was light though. I smiled gently, ignoring the oncoming contraction. "I had something to tell you." I said, trying not to react too strongly to the ache in my abdomen. "Yeah? Here, sit." He said, pulling a plastic chair up side him.

"Silas says he'll be here within the next two days if my contractions keep up like they're doing. We did it, Derek!" Derek smiled lightly, leaned down and kissed me gently. "Guess that means I need to take a break from work then, huh?" I wrapped my arms around him again and laughed.

**So I hope you're all enjoying! I am SO sorry for a long break! I've been crazy busy with anything and everything you can imagine! Thank you all for your patience and reads! R&R and have a good day!**