“Good luck; you're doing great.” Millie follows after her, looking pale.
“Where are you going?” Quinn asks when she starts leaving, too.
“To tell Ruckus that he’s never coming near me with his thing again,” she calls back, leaving just the three of us in the room.
“Quinn, what's happening? Vike asks her.
“I can see the top of the baby's head, so I guess it’s okay to push some more.” The unsure shrug she makes doesn’t fill me with confidence.
“I’m doing it anyway.” I tense my body and use Vike as my leverage because I can’t hold off the urge to push against the pain.
“Okay, that's good; something’s happening.” Quinn smiles up at me encouragingly.
“What… what's happening?” Vike asks in between whatever breathing and panting noises he’s trying to make.
“Stop asking me that. There’s a fucking baby coming out of her!” Quinn tells him sarcastically. “You take care of your end, and I’ll deal with mine…and for the love of God, stop making those stupid noises.”
“I’m helping her breathe,” Vike argues.
“Well, it’s distracting me.” Quinn shakes her head and rests her hands on my knees.
“I can’t do it, Vike.” I flop my head back against his shoulder when I realize this is it. My baby is really going to be born here, with no medical help.
“Darlin’, you have to; it’s almost over. Just a few more pushes, and she’ll be here. Come on, you got this.” Vike loosens his hands from mine and gripsthe back of my thighs. “Push hard against me, I got you.” I listen to him, and do as he says, pushing with all my strength and hearing the excitement in Quinn’s voice when she tells us the head’s out.
“See? You’re doing it,” Vike tells me.
“Does she look like Griller?” I ask nervously.
“She kinda looks like a squashed tomato.” Quinn tilts her head as she observes, and I don’t have time for that to worry me because the next contraction is already here.
“Push…keep pushing. Alicia....She’s here!” Quinn yells excitedly as I feel all the pressure suddenly release at once.“She’s here, and she’s…” She gets interrupted by a loud cry, and I flop my head back against Vike's shoulder again, relieved to know she’s okay and exhausted.
“She’s beautiful.” Quinn passes her between my legs and places her on my chest. Vike wraps his hands around her tiny body to steady me because I’m shaking.
“She’s okay, right?” I check, still feeling as if all this is too good to be real.
“Darlin’, she’s perfect,” Vike tells me, taking the towel Quinn hands him and using it to cover her over. “Look at her.”
I stare down at the beautiful baby girl in my arms and burst into tears.
“Is she really mine?” I have to hear someone say it because Vike’s right, she really is perfect.
“She’sours.” Vike kisses my cheek, then strokes her gently with his finger.
And when I look up and see Greaser standing in the doorframe watching, the look of hate he gives me as he turns his back and walks away sends a shiver down my spine.
“Well, that was an eventful night.” I wrap my arms around Eden when the last of everyone finally leaves. The storm is over. Vike and Alicia have left to get checked out at the hospital, and Polly’s made a huge breakfast to send everyone on their way. I haven’t been outside and seen for myself, but I’m guessing there's gonna be a lot of cleaning up for us all to do... But that can wait until I’ve got my girl home and made sure she gets some sleep.
“I don’t think I can do it.” Eden shakes her head, still staring into space like she’s haunted.
“Do what?” I ask, wondering what's gotten into her.
“What Alicia did last night. I can’t.”
“I hate to break it to ya, darlin', but it’s a little late for that.” I laugh as I press my palm over her swollen tummy. We’ve still got ten weeks before our little boy gets here, and seeing what went on with Alicia has made me realize I need to be better fuckin’ prepared for it.
“I mean it, Wrath; I saw it, it was?—”
