Дженика Сноу - All or Nothin’

“Come on,” he said, rushing back toward her with a chair to roll her in.

A nurse came toward her, and Daniella smiled at her.

“How are you feeling?”

“My contractions are about ten minutes apart.”

“Let’s go and check you out in triage.”

The next fifteen minutes were surreal as Shakes rushed around, ordering, growling, and generally being a big pain in the ass.

Gritting her teeth, Daniella grabbed her husband’s hand as the doctor looked to see how far she was dilated.

“You shouldn’t worry. I’d say we’ve got a good while to go yet. This one is not ready to come out just yet.”

“What?” Shakes growled the word, making Daniella wince.

“Seriously, honey, quiet down.”

“Check her again,” Shakes said.

“That’s fine, thank you.” She tugged on Shakes’s arm, glaring at him. “Seriously. It’s bad enough that a stranger is looking at my vagina, but you’re demanding he look again. I’m the one that has to have a human being coming out of me. I can’t believe you.” She grinned, because deep down she liked seeing him this frantic. It was cute.

“I want him to be sure.”

“They know what they’re doing, Shakes.” Daniella frowned. “You’re sweating.”

“Yeah, because you’re in labor.”

“So? Women have been doing this for a long time.”

This was not going how she imagined her labor to go. She expected Shakes to keep his shit together while she panicked. This was just a horrible nightmare.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes. Of course.”

He was lying.

“How about you call my father. I’m sure he’d want to know I’m labor.” She ran her hands across her stomach. He kissed her head and disappeared out of the door.

“First baby?” the nurse asked, smiling.

“Yes, is it so easy to see?”

“The dads are always a little frantic. It’ll get easier.” Daniella couldn’t help but find it funny that the nurse spoke her own thoughts. All parents were the same when it came to childbirth.

“I hope so.” If her father was here he might be able to keep Shakes in line, or at least keep him busy and his mind off panicking.

“What are your credentials? Why are you not dealing with my daughter? She’s in labor, and you’re sitting around doing nothing about it.”

Daniella dropped her head into her hand. Getting her father had been a huge mistake. Why did she even try to make this an easy process? Shakes and Zeke stood at the base of her bed, glaring at the doctor and nurses.

“I’m really sorry. Where they come from this is not a normal everyday occurrence. Please, forgive them,” Daniella said.

“Forgive us ? They should be lucky I don’t have their jobs for this.”

“Dad, enough,” she said.

Over and over he went, badgering the poor doctor and nurses. He was giving her a headache just by listening to him.

“I’m the one that is pregnant. I’m the one that is having a baby. Could you please stop hassling everyone? I can’t stand it.” Daniella let out a breath and rubbed her stomach.

Her father came to one side of her, while Shakes came to her other side.

“What is it?” Shakes asked.

“We’re about to have a baby, and it’s no different from any other woman. Please, just stop being so demanding and protective, and just concentrate on me. You’re a real sweetheart when you do that.”

Shakes leaned in and kissed her.

“I know what I’m doing, honey,” Zeke said.

“Dad, please don’t be your usual bossy self. Try to be a regular father who doesn’t kill people, okay? I don’t think I can handle you threatening my doctor. I need him to get this baby delivered.” She nodded, trying to get her father to agree.

“You’re right.”

“I know I’m right.” She held onto Shakes’ hand as another contraction hit, harder than the last and far more painful. This one hurt a hell of a lot worse than the last.

Relaxing back on the bed, she panted, trying to gain her composure. “What were you doing tonight?” Daniella asked, looking toward her father and trying to focus on something other than the pain.

“I was with Alessandria.”

“Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she wanted to come tonight but I told her to stay at home. She’ll come after the baby is here.”

Daniella nodded.

Shakes gripped her hand, and she kissed him.

“He lost it,” Daniella said, laughing. “I’m going to be able to torment him for the rest of his life over this.”

“You torment me enough as it is,” Zeke said.

“It’s what we’re here for, to be tormented by the women in our lives.” Shakes grinned.

“See, baby, you’ve got to get used to it.” She chuckled.

Another contraction started to build up, and she gripped both men’s hands as the pain consumed her. She cried out, whimpering. “Oh. God.”

She didn’t know if she could stand another contraction, not if they were only going to get worse. They were getting closer together and more painful.

Come on, little one. Come to Mommy and Daddy.

Shakes was in fucking pain just watching his woman in labor. He wanted to be the one to make her feel better, to make her not be in so much agony. Hell, he was wincing just watching the expressions on her face when she had a contraction.

“God,” she said, her face covered in sweat as she glared at him. “You have no idea how much this hurts. I should hate you for doing this to me,” she said, but he knew she didn’t mean it, the pain making her say this shit. He held her hand and she squeezed it with a force he’d never felt from her before.

“The baby will be here soon,” he said, trying to ease her. “You’re doing so well, Daniella baby.” He brought their conjoined hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He looked back at where the doctor was getting ready to deliver their baby.

“I can’t wait to meet the little one,” she said, the smile on her face genuine.

Shakes pushed the strands of her hair away and smiled back.

“God, here comes another one.” She groaned the words out and tightened her hand in his.

“You’re doing so well, Daniella.” The doctor was the one to speak as he positioned himself at the end of the bed, getting ready to deliver. “You want to see your baby being born?” the doctor asked Shakes.

Shakes felt sweat cover his forehead, his nerves so fucking strained. He nodded though and leaned to the side to look between Daniella’s legs. Damn, he felt like he’d pass out for how lightheaded he was.

He’d called the club and he knew they were out in the waiting room with their old ladies. Although they knew they were having a little girl, Shakes was still scared something would go wrong. He couldn’t help the worry but tried to play it cool for Daniella’s sake.

“Here comes the head,” the doctor said and started saying medical jargon to the nurses. Shakes stared in wonder and awe when he saw his little girl’s head. She had a thatch of dark hair, just like him, and he felt his grin widen.

“Keep pushing, Daniella,” a nurse said.

“You’re doing great,” another nurse said.

He tightened his hold on Daniella’s hand.

“Want to see your baby, Daniella?” the doctor asked, and Daniella rose up with the help of the nurses. Daniella started crying as the doctor brought a mirror so she could see the baby’s head.

“A couple more pushes and your baby will be here.”

And then Daniella was pushing. After what seemed only like a few moments Shakes watched in fucking awe as his daughter was born into the world.

She was so tiny, her body pink, her mouth open as she gave a shrill cry.