Page 30 of A Baby for Christmas
"Well, things are different now." He splashed water in his face. "I can admit to what I really want now, and that's a life with you and our kid. Even my therapist said I should let myself have it. I hate the idea that someone else could take all that away fromme."
"Silly alpha. No one can take that away from you. I'll always stick with you. I love you more thananything."
"I love you too," Ben gave back, looking at me while he washed hishands.
I took one of the older towels from the rack and tossed it at him. "Here. Use this to dryoff."
Ben caught the towel in the air. "Thanks."
"You know... I looked into paternity tests. There's some you can do before birth. It might cost us a little more, but it might be worth it if all of this is stressing you out somuch."
Ben didn't respond immediately. He dried his hands, put the towel away, and regarded me thoughtfully. "No," he said eventually. "You're right. I shouldn't let this bother me. If the baby's DNA doesn't matter to you, it doesn't matter tome."
"Of course I'm right." I bid him closer. "Now come here and kissme."
I didn't have to ask himtwice.
18
Ben
The baby was bornthe first week of September, surprising Robin and me while we were out in the park with Cooper. Suddenly, Robin looked at me with shock written all over his face. "I think my water just broke," he toldme.
I glanced down at his pants—they were wet. And all I could do in response was panic. What was I going to do? Get Robin to the hospital. With the dog? I couldn't take the dog to the hospital, couldI?
Could I make him wait in the car? Not for thatlong.
OhGod.
"Ben,breathe."
That was good advice, wasn't it? I should probably follow it. I inhaled, exhaled, and slowly, I regained the ability to think. "We can drop the dog off at the shelter. I know Lorene's working today. She'll take care ofhim."
Robin nodded. "Great. C'mon, Cooper," he addressed the dog, putting the leash back on him. "Time to go." Even though he said that, he didn't look like he was in any sort of rush. In any case, he was a lot calmer than me. I was still counting down from ten in my head to keep myself from freakingout.
"How are you not panicking?" I asked him, trying—but not really succeeding—not to make the question sound like anaccusation.
"It's always the alphas who panic," he said simply. "Really, you're only doing your job by freaking out." He grinned. "It's how I know you care. But I would also appreciate it if you could keep your shit together long enough to get us to the hospital. I don't feel like driving right now. There's... oh." He placed a hand on his stomach. "Contractions."
"Yeah sure. Getting us to the hospital. I can dothat."
Keep yourself together. Your omega needsyou.
That's what I had to focus on. Simply doing what Robin needed me to do. Right now, that meant driving home, getting his bag, dropping the dog off at the shelter and then driving to thehospital.
Somehow, I managed to do all of it. Notgraciously, and I might have accidentally run a red-light on the way, but I managed. I had to give it to Robin; he did his part much better than I did mine. Granted, a few choice words came out of his mouth when the contractions hit, but the nurse who checked up on him at the hospital said he was progressing quite well—and the way she said it kind of made me expect her to slap a gold star on Robin's foreheadnext.
As far as I was concerned, he deserved all the gold stars in the world. And then some. I could tell this experience was hard on him. He was sweating, his face was red and the force with which he squeezed my hand made me think I wouldn't be able to use it for the next week or so. The drugs they gave him helped, and I thanked God for modern medicine, but they weren't a cure-all.
By the time they rolled Robin into labor and delivery, he'd cursed every person on the planet twice over, but he was still hanging in there. All to give birth to our daughter. I'd always known Robin was amazing, but I'd never felt it quite as I did that moment, watching him struggle with labor. Other alphas had told me that it was gross and that I'd need brain bleach after, but I thought it was fascinating, seeing nature in play like that. Seeing what it took to bring a new life into the world. Seeing just how strong my omegawas.
"I'm so proud of you," I told him as he was trying to push. He glanced at me for only a moment, a pained smile on his lips. He was exhausted, but I could tell what he would have said if he'd had the energy to have a conversation. I could read it on his face. He was glad that we were heretogether.
I wastoo.
Even if I felt a little useless. I couldn't even fold any funny animals to distract him right now. All I could do was hold his hand and try not to cry out as he crushed my fingers. Anyone who ever said omegas were weak had never held an omega's hand duringlabor.
Or watched them push a babyout.
