I didn’t want to do it, but I figured it was better than laying there uselessly. Griffin led me through my breathing exercises and after a minute, I felt slightly better, at least.
“Good,” Griffin said, smiling.
I sighed. “Why did this seem so much easier for the cat? And fuck, she didn’t even have one baby, she had five!” I whined. “I wish I was a fucking cat right now so I could just pop this baby out…”
“Jake, he’s almost out!” the nurse announced.
“Thank god - wait, he?”
Griffin heard it too. His eyes lit up. “Jake, it’s a boy!”
That was the final burst of encouragement I needed. With a furious cry, I pushed until finally I felt the pressure release. I gasped as the nurse took the baby, who was crying and sounded about as frustrated as I felt.
“Is it over?” I asked breathlessly.
“Yes,” Griffin said. He kissed my sweaty cheek. “You did it! Our boy is here.”
Silent tears fell from my eyes. “Our boy…”
Griffin held me as I cried. I didn’t have the energy to sob, so the tears trickled out of me like I was a leaky faucet. Finally the nurse returned with a blue bundle. His cries had died down, but he still fussed with closed fists and a deep frown.
“He’s healthy as a horse,” the nurse announced with a grin. “Here you go.”
Griffin helped me hold him, as my hands were still shaking from hours of labor. But as soon as I held him in my arms, I completely forgot about all the pain and nine months of suffering. They melted away to pure joy as I looked down at my son for the first time.
“Little Finn,” Griffin murmured.
Hearing his name said out loud made me gasp softly, like everything was finally made real.
“Congratulations, you two,” the nurse said. To me, she added, “It’s not easy giving birth for the first time, but you did an amazing job. Your son is beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I replied, overcome with emotion.
“I think there are some people eager to see you in the waiting room,” she told us. “When you’re ready, of course.”
“Rafael and Skylar, no doubt,” Griffin said. “Shall I get them?”
I nodded. My eyes never left Finn. He’d fallen asleep after tiring himself out from crying, which was exactly how I felt, too.
Our friends peered into the room with awe in their expressions. Griffin guided them inside. Skylar’s hands flew to his mouth and tears shone in his eyes.
“Oh, Jake,” he murmured. “I can’t believe how beautiful he is…”
For once, Rafael seemed at a loss for words. He sniffled and nodded in agreement.
“How was the labor?” Skylar asked me. He wiped my damp hair off my forehead. “I wanted to be there for you, but they wouldn’t let me in.”
“It’s okay,” I told him sheepishly. “I was, uh, kind of a bitch the whole time, so maybe it’s best you weren’t there.”
Griffin grinned and gave them a shrug. “A little. But you were in pain, Jake. It was to be expected.”
“I’m just glad it’s over and that Finn is here,” I mumbled. With a pointed glare at Griffin, I added, “Just so you know, this is never happening again. Finn is gonna be an only child for life.”
Skylar laughed. “I don’t know about that. Didn’t you say something about, oh, ten months ago about never wanting children, ever?” He crossed his arms. “And look how that turned out.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut the hell up, Sky.”
“I’m just saying…”
