Page 116 of Forever Fallen

She breathed as waves of pain washed over her stomach, feeling it tense up, and grow exceedingly tight like an extremely bad case of food poisoning or a rough menstrual cycle… just before it faded.

“That was it?” Marisol said flatly.

“Yeah…” Sophie admitted. “They are getting stronger now.”

“No screaming or grunting?”

“No? Should I be?”

“I guess not,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “Maybe your baby will be decent sized and not come out looking like a toddler. Remember, an episiotomy is your friend if it’s done early, and you don’t tear. Twelve-pound Toby and a gargantuan husband? I tore - and it took forever for me to heal…”

“Gotcha.”

“Yep,” Marisol quickly hugged her. “Get some rest when you can – you probably need to try right now while you aren’t in a lot of pain… and we’ll have Reaper here before you know it. Love you, girl…”

“Love you too – and thank you.”

“For what?”

“Just being you and being my friend, Marisol. You guys are the best and I really appreciate how you and Valkyrie have been there for me.”

“Oh hon – it’s easy,” Marisol said tearfully. “You are part of our family.”

“It’s about to expand,” Sophie teased, her eyes stinging with tears as she stared at her sweet friend.

“Not before the daddy gets here though…”

“Exactly.”

“Get some rest, Sophie.”

“Will do. Give Toby a kiss from his auntie.”

“Happily!”

* * *

Hours later,Sophie was not as perky as she once was.

Her friends were trying to help her as she took guided walks slowly down the hallway to get things moving and get off her back. She was so unbearably uncomfortable, and her legs were trembling with the contractions now.

“Where’s Ryan…” she whimpered painfully as she stopped, Glory beside her, clenching her hand and holding the handrail to keep from collapsing. “I’m done,” she breathed. “I’m afraid I’m going to fall now, and the pressure is getting worse and worse.”

“Okay sweetie,” Glory said gently, wrapping an arm around her and walking her slowly back to the room. “No one says you have to be a hero and do this without medication. They can drug you until you see pink unicorns and fat swans hold a conversation with you about playing Tiddlywinks.”

Sophie laughed miserably.

Glory pressed her head against Sophie’s, hugging her, in empathy. All of the women understood what this battle felt like and how hard fought it could be – and they were here for her.

They were here for her until Ryan arrived and she knew it.

She was almost back at her room when she looked up to see her friend Valkyrie coming around the corner… and then Ryan’s blessed face.

Sophie felt her lip shaking almost as much as her legs were at the sight of him. Gosh, she only wished she could run to him and jump on his frame like she had at the airport nine months ago.

Instead, she stood there immobile as another contraction washed through her body, worse than ever before. It was like the baby somehow knew it’s Daddy was there, and it was time to kick things in high-gear.

She heard Valkyrie talking to Glory and felt the men putting an arm around her each, pulling her into the room and lifting her onto the bed. She was glad of it, because her body seemed to be fighting the ability to lift her feet and all focus was on delivering their child.

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