Thanks for reading!
-CL
I burst into the hospital, scanning the room for Michael. A nurse rushes up to me. Naomi. "Can I help you, Your Majesty?" she says with a curtsy.
"I need to speak to Michael-Dr. Corden," I respond curtly.
"He's currently busy," she says, giving me a once-over. I realize what I'm wearing-some pants and a white shirt unbuttoned partially and the sleeves rolled up. And God knows what type of fluids are on me.
"I need to see him-he has my child," I respond, running my fingers through my hair. I blow out a breath. "Please, Naomi."
Her breath stutters. "I'll…see what I can do, Your Majesty," she says before fleeing. I sink into a waiting room chair, trying not to cry.
A few minutes later, Naomi comes back. She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I can't let you back there. Dr. Corden is trying his best."
I nod. "Thank you, Naomi." She curtsies and disappears behind the doors. I run my hands over my face and take out my phone to text Ames. There are some complications with the birth. Bella is-
And that's when I realize that Bella still isn't down here, and I've been down here for quite a while. I jump up and run back to the Suite. It doesn't seem that Bella even made it out of the room. I knock on the closed door. "Bella?" There's no answer. "Bella?" I open the door, thanking God that it's unlocked, and glance about the room. The bed still has the soiled sheets, but Bella isn't in it. I glance at the ground and notice a blood trail. I follow the trail, and that's when I see-
"Bella!" I shout, seeing her crumpled form on the ground, behind the door. I kneel next to her and turn her so she's face up. I check for a pulse. "Thank God," I whisper. I feel her breath on my face and lift her into my arms. "Bella, wake up, my dear," I murmur. "Please."
Bella doesn't stir. I try to find where she's bleeding. I lift up the sheet tied around her waist and move my hand up her thighs-
I feel something wet near her opening and pull my hand away. My hand is covered in blood, the blood dripping down my fingers. I readjust the sheet, grab another one to fully cover her body, and stand with Bella in my arms. I quickly rush down to the hospital, careful not to jostle Bella too much.
I burst through the doors, once again, and notice Michael standing near the front desk, talking to Naomi quietly. At my entrance, he walks over to me. "Maxon?"
"Bella-she's bleeding," I get out before he rushes me into an operating room. I lay her on the bed and step back, observing Michael checking her over. He turns to me. "Maxon, leave. Please."
I nod. "Ok," I whisper. I exit the room, shocked. Bella and our baby- I storm back into the room. "Michael, where is our baby?" I shout.
I see Micheal shake his head. He looks at me. "I'm sorry Maxon, but it was a stillbirth. Your son is gone."
I barely get out of the room before the tears fall. I get to a chair just before my legs give out. I put my head in my hands, letting the tears fall freely. I bite back wails, not wanting attention. I've lost my baby-my son-and maybe even my wife. My world is fucking crumbling. "Maxon?" I hear a feminine voice shout. I lift up my head, seeing Ames running toward me, tears falling. I stand up and she throws herself in my arms, sobbing. "Michael-texted me. Is it-true?" she whispers between sobs.
I nod. "I-yes," I choke out.
"Oh, Maxon," she says, her hands gripping my shirt. I gently rub her back. "I'm so sorry, Maxon," she says, looking up at me. She sees the tears streaking down my cheeks and wipes them away. She smiles shakily. "I'm here, Maxon."
I choke back a sob. "Ames-"
"Shh…don't think about that," she says, leading me to the chairs. "Sit." I comply, pulling her into the chair next to me. I try to stop crying, but the tears come faster. "Shh, Maxon," Ames says, pulling my head to her shoulder. I grab onto her shirt, sobbing. "Oh, Ames."
Ames gently plays with my hair. "Shh."
We sit like this until Michael comes and meets us. Ames jumps up and kisses him. He pulls her to him, tucking her hair behind her ear. They pull apart and Michael turns to me. "Well, I've gotten the bleeding under control," he reports. "It was a postpartum hemorrhage. She'll make a full recovery, Maxon," he says, patting my shoulder.
"Thank you," I say. "And what about-my son?" I choke out.
Michael shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but your son wasn't breathing when he came out. I'm not sure what happened. It could have been something that happened when she was kidnapped or various other things. I'm so sorry, but I couldn't save him."
I nod, tears forming. "Alright." Ames hugs me and I just sob.
"Maxon?" I hear a feminine voice whisper. My head whips up, and I find Bella looking at me from her hospital bed. I stand up, sliding my phone into my pocket. I kneel by her bed's side. "What happened? Where's our baby?"
I cringe inside, but keep my face impassive. Michael told me I'm the one who should do this. I take a deep breath. She takes my hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "You never came down to the hospital so I went upstairs to look for you-"
"Yes, I remember that. I stood up and realized I was bleeding-a lot. I tried to open the door, but…I must have fainted," she cuts in.
I nod. "I found you behind the door, a pool of blood forming. I rushed down here to have Michael help you. It was postpartum hemorrhaging. Do you know-"
"Yes, I do know what it is."
"Well, thank God he got it under control," I say. "He expects you to make a full recovery."
"And what about the baby?" She looks at my face and she becomes worried. "Maxon, what about the baby? Was it a boy or a girl?" I'm silent for another moment. "Maxon, tell me!" she screeches, tears forming in her eyes, her anxiety tangible.
"It was a stillbirth, my dear. Our son didn't make it," I whisper. I watch her face crumble, the tears flowing freely.
"We had a son?" she asks quietly. I nod, and she buries her face in her hands. She starts wailing, and all I can do to ease her pain is to hold her until she falls into a fitful sleep.
