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-CL

"Bella, I can't—"

"Do you think I'm ready?" I shout. I get back in a sitting position but realize that's a bad idea when another contraction hits. "We both have to just deal with it." I groan softly.

Maxon takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Maxon, please. I didn't mean to yell—" I'm cut off by the contraction reaching its peak. I blow out a breath, trying to calm myself. Soon, the contraction fades. "I—"

Maxon grabs my hands and loops them around his neck, forcing me to look into his eyes. I'm back on my knees in order to meet him face-to-face. His hands rest on my lower back, slowly moving them up and down. "I'm right here, my dear. I'll help you the best I can. I promise."

I sigh, a big weight lifting off my shoulders. Even though it is his child, I was scared he wouldn't want it since it was so sudden. "Thank you, Maxon," I say. Maxon stares at me for a moment longer before crushing his lips into mine. I'm surprised at first but soon open my lips. Maxon's hands move to my hair, gently pulling it. My hands mirror his, his golden locks underneath—

I suck in a deep breath when the contraction hits. My hands fly to my stomach, Maxon's following. I try to pull away, but Maxon doesn't let me. I groan into Maxon's mouth. Maxon deepens the kiss, somehow keeping my mind off the pain. My hands fly to his face, forcing him closer. His fingers trail down my stomach before lifting my shirt over my head, flinging it away. He cups my breasts in his hands, groaning. He pulls away to look at me. My hands rest on the floor, allowing me to keep my legs open. "Are we doing this right now?" I ask, panting. "There is a literal baby coming out of me."

"Who says I have to enter you?" Maxon asks cockily.

"I don't even know how this would work, Maxon," I say. "And—" A contraction starts, causing me to groan loudly. "They're getting—"

Suddenly, a gush of water falls from me. We both stare at it for a moment. "Maxon," I say eventually, "that was my water."

Maxon nods slowly. "It's ok, my dear. We'll stop now; we have to focus on the delivery." I notice that I'm hyperventilating when Maxon pulls me close. "I'm right here."

"But, Maxon, I didn't have any prenatal care. I drank alcohol, for fuck's sake! I did not

treat myself like I was pregnant! I was on a calorie deficit!" I start sobbing, realizing that we have an even higher chance of the baby dying. "And you already know that I can't birth a living baby."

"Bella, my dear, look at me." I refuse, so Maxon forces me to look up by gently using his thumb to tip my head back. "Let's just get the baby out first, alright?"

"Maxon, I'm just going to disappoint you again," I wail.

"I'll be happy as long as you survive…" Maxon pauses. "Do you have a guess on how far along you are?"

"I—" Another contraction starts, causing me to grip Maxon's shirt tightly. Maxon places his hand over mine, gently whispering reassurance. He gently loops my arms over his neck again, allowing me support to kneel with my legs open.

Maxon allows the contraction to pass before speaking. "Do you feel the urge to push?" he asks softly. His thumb gently rubs against my face. I nod. "Go with your instincts, my dear." I nod again, gearing up for a contraction. It hits and I start to push. I grunt and Maxon rubs my back. "Yes, my dear, just like that. Keep going."

I stop pushing, breathing heavily. Maxon's lips find mine, a shot of pleasure racing through me. I pull away. "Well, if I get rewarded like that, this may be much easier than—" A sharp pain cuts me off. "Maxon—" I gasp.

"What? What is it, Bella?" Maxon asks, frantically giving me a once-over.

"There—there was—" I scream, the pain increasing. "Maxon! Make it stop!"

Maxon is frantic. He looks down there, then looks up at me. "Bella?"

I shake my head, gritting my teeth. I cry out between my teeth, forcing myself to push against the pain. It increases, enough to make me collapse to the floor. The room is spinning so I close my eyes, hoping that—

"Bella!" Maxon cries out. He comes into my line of vision, two of him finally converging into one. He pushes my hair out of my face. "What's the matter, my dear?"
"Something's not right, Maxon. I'm not sure what it is," I pant, slowly pushing myself to a sitting position. "Whatever it is wasn't there the last two times I gave birth." I start to cry again, scared. The pain washes over me again, making me cry out in agony. "Maxon—" I pause to gasp. "—what if I'm dying?"

Maxon shakes his head, but I see the glint of fear in his eyes. "You're not dying. I won't allow you to."

I laugh wryly. "At this point, I don't think there's much choice in the matter." I try to rack my brain on things that could be causing such pain. "Maybe…it could be a tear," I think aloud. "Yes, that may be it."

Maxon shakes his head, smiling at me. "What?" I ask, running my fingers through my hair. "Is there something on my face?" I'm wearing makeup, so I carefully wipe my face with my fingers. "Better?"

Maxon just keeps smiling. "No, there's nothing amiss…" he trails off, staring at me.

I start to get uncomfortable. I feel another contraction come and loop my hands around Maxon's neck, pushing myself back onto my knees. Maxon understands immediately, quickly putting his hands on my back to give me support. "Push, my dear. Push through the pain. You've got this."

I start to push, gritting my teeth. The pain is still there, but there's a new pain added to the mix. I scream, the burning sensation increasing. My nails dig into Maxon's back. "Maxon," I say quickly, "can you look please?"

Maxon looks into my eyes and nods, knowing that this is the hardest part. I lean back on my hands again, and Maxon opens my legs. I hiss as the contraction fades, the pain still a dull sensation. Maxon glances up at me. "It's the head," he confirms. "It's partially out, my dear." He looks at my hands. "Do you want to push like this?"

I shake my head. "How I've been pushing seems to be the best. Gravity will help the process along." Maxon nods, holding out a hand to help me up; I gratefully take it.

He helps me onto my knees, guiding my arms around his neck. "You're doing wonderfully, my dear," he murmurs. His hands find my neck, gently pulling me close. He kisses me, gently probing my mouth with his tongue. My hands fly to his face, pulling him as close as I can. I feel the start of a contraction and break the kiss, needing all my breath to push. I lean my forehead against Maxon's, starting to push. My hands grip Maxon's shoulders, and his rest on my back. "Push, Bella."

I do, trying to keep the cry in my mouth. The burning is increasing tenfold, the cry ready to spill from my lips. Maxon sees it and gently take my mouth to his, swallowing my cry. I continue to push while he kisses me, softening the pain a bit. The pain reaches its peak, and a wet noise pierces the silent room. I gasp, the pain quickly fading. I pull away from Maxon's lips, gasping for air. "Maxon, I need you to catch the baby." He nods, immediately lowering his hands. "Gently grab the head and guide it down when I push."

We wait until another contraction hits. Maxon must notice the hitch in my breath because he nods. "Push, my dear. Not much longer." I tighten my grip on Maxon's shoulders, but my hands quickly fly to his hair since his head is lowered to catch the baby. I push, feeling the shoulders being born. I cry out at the small stretch, pushing as hard as I can—

Suddenly, the pain dwindles. I hear something slip from me, and I collapse on my hands and knees. "Towel," I gasp. I hear Maxon scramble from his feet to grab something. "Wrap—baby."

"Bella, it's a boy," Maxon says, but there's a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"What's the matter?" I whisper.

"The baby—he's not crying."