Just then, another pain ripped through me. My nails bit into his cheeks before I quickly moved my hand away.
It felt like I was being ripped apart from down there. My breathing was labored, my chest heaving with exertion.
“Oh…oh…” I breathed through the pain as another contraction hit right after the other. Again and again, my stomach rippled in pain. It traveled all the way to my back. It felt like the whole lower half of my body was being contracted in pain.
Alessio’s hand went to my stomach, and I saw a flash of pain on his face. “I’m…fine!”
It was meant to be soothing, but it ended with a shout as another contraction ripped through my lower belly.
My princess wasn’t happy in there any longer. It looked like she was ready to come out even if it meant ripping through my belly and vagina.
“Help…me…up.” I huffed through my harsh breathing. “It hurts…”
Alessio sprang into action, and in mere seconds I found myself reclined in the soft bed. My fingers found their way around his wrist, refusing to let him go.
I had a killer grip on Alessio as the contractions kept coming, right after the other. I had no break or chance to breathe through the agony.
A sudden urge to push ripped through me. My legs fell open, and with Alessio helping me sitting up halfway, I bore down on the pain.
Finally, Ivy made her entrance.
I sighed and then shouted. Her eyes widened, and she hurried to me, peeking under my gown.
“Oh. I see the head. A full head of black hair,” she sang happily.
“At least she isn’t bald,” Maddie mused with a wink.
“My daughter isn’t bald,” Alessio replied, looking quite affronted that Maddie would even think such a thing.
I was pretty affronted too.
But there was no time to think through it when I was hit with another agonized contraction. “Ahh…”
My scream was probably heard all over the floor. I panted, but still my princess didn’t make her way out into the world.
Stubborn. She was going to be stubborn like her father.
Just what I needed…another Alessio.
I felt Alessio’s warm breath next to my ear as he whispered soothing and supportive words. He was gentle, kind, and so loving.
I fell more in love with him in that moment.
But then hated him the next.
When another pain came, he tried to encouraged me with “Breathe, Angel. Push. Just breathe. It’s okay.”
Breathe? Just breathe?
I crushed his hand in mine just when Maddie yelled, “Shut up!”
“Okay. Sorry. Don’t breathe. It’s not okay. Don’t breathe.”
WHAT? WHAT?
That earned him another hand crushing.
Maybe I also bellowed that I hated him and never wanted him to touch me again.
“Alessio, just shut up,” Maddie growled when I started crying through the pain.
Ivy, from her position between my legs, threw supportive words at me, telling me to push on every contraction.
She had been repeating this for too long now. I had been pushing! But no baby yet.
I sobbed with each push. I even pushed Alessio away.
I saw the look of panic on his face. He looked hurt. And the fear…it was all over his expression. He was slightly shaking with it too.
My emotions were a mess. One minute I hated Alessio and couldn’t bear for him to touch me, while the next minute I cried because he was a few steps away.
“I’m sorry,” I screamed with another contraction. “I am such…a bad…wife. I’m…sorry…come back here.”
Alessio was at my side in a second flat. He gripped my hand again, but this time his lips were on my forehead.
He placed kisses over my sweaty face, gentle sweet kisses as I pushed and screamed through each contraction.
Alessio whispered against my skin. How much he loved me. How strong I was. He was in awe with me and loved me more every minute.
It made my heart soar, and I even smiled once.
“I love you, Angel,” he whispered against my lips. Such a sweet kiss. Sweet words. Everything I needed.
“You amaze me every day. Every time. You are my strong Angel. I know you can do this. I know you can bring our daughter into this world like a true warrior Angel. Push. Just one more push,” he said against my forehead.
His arm held me up as I screamed with a push. I felt something wiggle out but not enough for my baby to slip out.
“Arggg,” I gasped and then bellowed.
I was dying. Was it possible to die?
Nope. I couldn’t die. I still had to meet Princess. I still had to walk down the aisle in a wedding dress to my husband.
“What are you doing? Can’t you see she’s in pain? Do something!” Alessio finally screamed, losing his patience.
He poured his fear and anger on Ivy, who just shook her head.
“Alessio, stop screaming! They’re going to kick you out!” Maddie snapped, her hands holding mine firmly.
“They can’t kick me out! I own the fucking hospital!”