The machine beeping is driving me absolutely fucking crazy. Not the best way to wake up hung over.
"Hey ma'am, can I get a Tylenol or something," I asked the nurse who were doing Grace's vitals. She sighed and looked behind her before slipping me a small packet of Tylenol from her tray. I nodded at her in appreciation before taking the apple juice off the food tray, downing the pills with it.
We're just waiting on Grace to wake up. I'm scared shitless when she does. She doesn't know what has been going on within the last seven hours. Rico laid next to me just looking at his mom.
"Papa," His soft and tired voice called out. I looked at him, "Is the baby going to be ok?"
"I hope so," I ruffled his hair.
Seven hours earlier
"She just fainted?" The cops asked me.
"Yeah, she did. She threw up everywhere and then fainted and hit her head," I squinted my eyes at them. They think I did this? I'm drunk not a woman beater.
They nodded and wrote that on the statement and walked away. Walking back into the room where Grace is being held, I couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. Urgency to go to where I'm holding Nina and off her. I had a team pick her up after I shot her with my tranquilizer. I brought it with me to Chicago for other purposes that I have scheduled tomorrow but I don't mind emptying a clip in her at this point.
Grace laid in the hospital bed, her curls spread all over the pillow, her beautiful dark skin a contrast to the white bed sheets. She's an absolute angel and she doesn't even know it. Her belly rose and fell with her breathing.
"Any word yet?" I asked the nurse.
"The doctor should be in shortly," She said with a shaking voice. Everyone has been looking at me funny ever since I shut down half the maternity ward. Colombo money built this hospital years ago, so I'll shut half of it down if it's for my fiancé's safety.
"Thank you," I smiled at her and she smiled back and hurried out. She didn't lie, the doctor came in right away.
"Alessandro fucking Colombo," The young doctor smiled at me.
"Poor bedside manner Vito," I laughed at my crazy cousin. "So, cugino how you been?"
"I've been good. I see you have too," He nodded toward Grace and Rico on the bed.
"Yeah," I smiled but that was quickly covered by a frown.
"She's stable. She should wake up within a few hours, her brain looked perfectly fine, that was a nasty hit on the head but she will be fine. A lot of ice, there's no swelling in her brain," Vito said to me after seeing my face.
"The baby?" I asked him.
He sighed, "She's very stressed out right now, a little too much for my comfort. Grace is about 7 months now, we are very confident that the baby will do just fine in the Nicu," He paused and let me process his words.
"We're not at the point where a csection is required but the minute Grace wakes up she'll already be induced for labor. She's not in any pain right now because she's been given an epidural. Depending on how long it takes for her to wake up, it might wear off,"
"She's not ready to come yet Vito!" I yelled. This isn't real. Grace still has two months to have this baby. We haven't even decided on a name! We were still planning the baby shower! Grace is going to have a complete meltdown!
"I know but we delivered babies as young as 23 weeks. This is the best hospital, Grace will be okay and so will your baby. She will just have to spend a few weeks at most in the NICU," He patted my shoulder and left the room.
Now it's the waiting game for her to wake up.
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Grace
Beep
Beep
Beep
What the hell is that noise? I struggled with opening my eyes but when I finally did I was met with bright lights.
"Ugh," I groaned.
"Baby," Dro softly said next to me. My vision cleared some more and he smiled a sad smile at me. I looked around the room.
"You brought me to a hospital?" I asked in shock. What's wrong? He hates public hospitals. What happened? I only remember fainting... did I hit my head?
"I kind of own this, kind of," He said.
A sharp kick to my rib cage threw me off. "Oooo, this doesn't feel right," I tried sitting up but his arms stopped me. I couldn't even argue with him before another wave of pain hit my pelvic area. I know this feeling, this is labor.
"I'll get the doctor," Dro panicked as I screamed.
"I'm having this baby, she's coming Dro," I start crying. We don't even have a name. We haven't even had our baby shower. She's not ready yet.
"I know, Grace," Was the last thing he said before flying out the room to get a doctor. It didn't take him long to come back with a medical team.
"Nice to meet you Grace, I'm Vito Colombo," He kissed my hand. "The baby is under a lot of stress right now. If she stays under this amount of stress, and her blood pressure will continue to rise and she can.... die in the womb. We've already induced you. I just have to check how dilated you are. Don't you worry I'm very very confident that this baby girl will do absolutely fine. I won't lie, she might need a few weeks in the NICU if even that,"
Everything is just happening way too fast for me. I became numb, the contractions are no longer a problem for me. If my babygirl is okay then I guess I can't complain. I just have to have faith. I nodded at him and he washed his hands and put gloves on.
The nurses helped with propping my legs up and he inserted two fingers to feel around. It feels weird that his family member is looking at my vagina and feeling me up.
He smiled at me. "You must've slept through your labor because you're ready," Yeah I'm sure I was pretty drugged up.
Dro's face turned white. "Wait right now?"
"This is cliche but I was talking to your mom and I really liked the meaning," I blurted out. "Alessa Hope Colombo," Everyone smiled at me except Alessandro.
"No," He said. "She deserves a better name,"
"I like it," I said.
"How about we deliver the baby first?" Vito laughed. He and his team prepared themselves as Dro stared at me with wild eyes.
"Never seen a birth?" I asked him. I hate him so much but I can't help but just want him to hold me and kiss me.
"No," He chuckled. "Many deaths, never a birth," The room got quiet until he laughed awkwardly.
"Alright," The doctor smiled. "How're you feeling?" I just nodded ignoring the labor pains that are making me want to scream. I just want to make sure she's okay.
The nurses checked my vitals, propped my legs up again then nodded at me. "Let your body do the work. Don't ignore the pain, we can see the contractions hitting on this screen," She pointed to a monitor. I looked around the room. Dro is now in full view of my vagina, Rico is asleep on the couch. For someone who has no job, he sure sleeps a lot.
"Each wave, push," He instructed and I listened.
The next wave of contractions, I pushed and I felt my entire body shift. "Ahhhhhh," I screamed out as I tried to push. Rico woke up out of his sleep asking if I was okay so a nurse sat down with him to explain what's going on.
"Breathe," Dro said from behind the doctor. He walked over to me and kissed my head. "I'm right here baby,"
I couldn't say anything. Just stared at him. "Why'd you do me like that?" A tear fell from my eye. He tried to wipe it but another contraction hit and I pushed. "Gooooooooooooood,"
"That's good, keep pushing!" The nurse encouraged. After a couple more pushes, I heard a cry.
"Oh God," Dro froze as the baby was immediately put on my chest. She's perfect.
Her head full of hair, chubby cheeks and definitely a chunky mama. I watched Alessandro cut the umbilical cord and they took her from me to wipe her down and she went straight to the NICU.
"She is beautiful," Dro whispered in my ear.
"What should we name her?" I asked.
"I like Alessa Hope Colombo. She looks like me anyways," He smiled and I matched it. He's not lying, she looks like him.
"Babe, can we t-," He started but I held my hand up.
"Wait until we get back to New York," I simply said and left it at that.