That’s when a pain hit her, almost driving her to her knees. Gasping, she stumbled her way back to the kitchen where she grabbed the counter for support, and…
She looked down.Oh, shit.
Her first gasp was barely audible. The second was a little louder. Then the pain abated and she was able to draw in a full breath. “KEEENNN!”
Upstairs, she heard noises, and then Ken was there—naked and a gun in his hand—
And she started howling with laughter until the next pain hit her and she would have hit her knees if Ken hadn’t set the gun down and helped her sit right there on the floor.
“Dr. Collins,” she breathed. “Baby.” She pointed at him. “Clothes.”
He looked down, realized what she meant, and laughed. “Let me help you up and—”
“No. Call.Now.”
Ken grabbed the gun and started running for the stairs. “Badger! Duncan! Dewi’s in labor!” By this time, the others had emerged and Aisling was the first one into the kitchen.
“Aw, feckin hell, hon.” She knelt next to Dewi, supporting her. “Just breathe.” She started doing the exercises with her.
“You…don’t have…kids.”
She grinned. “No, but I got twenty-one nieces and nephews between my brothers and sister because they apparently think we’re a good Catholic family, even though ain’t none of us been inside a church in decades except for weddings and funerals. I learned a few things.”
Dewi was so focused…
She didn’t even care Aisling was there. But then Ken returned—in shorts and a T-shirt and without the gun—and Badger, Duncan, Peyton—
Dr. Collins soon showed up and Peyton carried Dewi upstairs, while Ken and Badger and everyone set up what they’d prepared for a home birth, and then Ken focused on Dewi. The next few hours were a blur of pain and pushing, Peyton helping out with her pain, and filming for them, and in the end it was Ken on one side of her and Peyton on the other holding her hands as she gave that last push and then—
A little cry rang out through the room, making Dewi sob with relief while Ken kissed her.
“Congratulations,” Dr. Collins said. “Ken, want to cut the cord?”
* * *
Ken
He nodded and took the scissors, snipping where instructed. And then the doctor placed her on Dewi’s chest and draped a light blanket over her while Ken kept blinking back tears.
Their baby.
Their daughter.
“She’s gorgeous, Dewi,” Peyton said. “You want me to duck out?”
“No, if Dewi’s okay with it.”
She laugh-sobbed as she held the baby. “Just don’t look down there while Doc finishes whatever he’s doing.”
He laughed. “I’m not even looking down there when Gillian has our baby. Damn sure not looking at yours, sis.”
The doctor got the baby cleaned up and checked over, pronounced her perfect, and then he and Peyton did leave them alone for a little bit.
“Well?” Dewi said to Ken. “Thoughts?”
“About what?” he asked. He couldn’t pull his gaze from the baby’s face. She was asleep in Dewi’s arms, and gorgeous, and he felt like his heart might explode, it felt so full right now.
“Her name.”
