“You’re my wife, goddamn it!” came the shouted announcement that had Aidan sucking in a breath as he watched his sister go still and-
“I am begging you, Aidan. Just put me down so that I can…oh, god,” Melanie mumbled on a pained gasp that was followed by, “Her water just broke,” from his father, who moved ahead of them so that he could open the car door for them.
“No,” Aidan said, glancing over at Reese as Roger’s words sank in and when they did, he headed towards his one-time best friend as every Bradford followed suit.
“Someone tape this!” Melanie said as Aidan carefully shifted her in his arms so that he could place her in the car. “Or take notes! Really good notes!”
Chapter 37
“She’s fully dilated,” the nurse by Melanie’s legs informed Roger as he leaned down so that a nurse could place a band-aid over his eyebrow that was probably going to need stitches as another nurse finished helping him with his gloves.
“How are you holding up, Melanie?” Roger asked as Aidan stood there, torn between killing the bastard who’d fucked his sister over and begging him to do something to make this better for Melanie.
There was a pained gasp, and then, “I’d really like some more drugs.”
“I don’t think he can wait any longer,” Roger said, shooting her a sympathetic smile as he took his place in front of Melanie as the nurses double-checked to make sure that her feet were locked in place in the stirrups as a team of nurses prepared for the arrival of their son.
“That’s what I thought,” Melanie bit out, gasping as another contraction tore through her as her hand tightened around his.
“What did Kenzie say?” she asked Roger, making Aidan’s lips twitch despite the fact that he was scared out of his fucking mind right now.
“You mean before or after I was welcomed into the family?” Roger asked dryly.
“Both,” Melanie said, nodding.
Chuckling, Roger shook his head, “She still won’t talk to me.”
“Can’t really blame her,” Melanie said, laying her head back as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“No, I can’t,” Roger murmured absently.
“Did you explain Missy?” she asked, making Aidan frown.
“She doesn’t care,” Roger said, gesturing for the pediatric team to get ready.
“You couldn’t let Reese marry her,” Melanie mumbled only to wince, tighten her hand around his, and gasp in pain.
“No, I couldn’t,” Roger murmured in agreement as Aidan reached over and wiped away another tear as it rolled down Melanie’s beautiful face.
“I-I’d really like this to be over now,” she mumbled around a choked sob.
“It’s almost done, baby. I promise,” Aidan promised her as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “In a few more minutes, we’ll be holding our baby boy.”
“Can I have more drugs? Because I’d really like some more drugs,” Melanie said, gasping in pain.
“I think it’s too late for that,” Aidan said, brushing his lips against hers one last time before he found himself saying, “You’re so beautiful.”
“Oh, my god…am I dying?” she asked, panicking and making him chuckle.
“No, you’re not dying,” he assured her with another kiss.
“Then why would you tell me that at a time like this?” Melanie demanded, throwing the sheet covering her bent legs a terrified look that had him sighing because he should have fucking known that she would make this difficult.
“Did I ever tell you that you’re a brat,” Aidan asked, chuckling.
“Did I ever tell you that I actually kind of hate you,” Melanie asked, blinking up at him.
“Is that because of the whole crippling pain thing?” he murmured thoughtfully.
“It might have something to do with that,” she admitted, making him smile.
“And if you weren’t currently experiencing the joys of childbirth?” Aidan asked, watching Roger out of the corner of his eye, hoping to distract her from the pain until it was time.
“I’d probably still hate you.”
“Is that because I wouldn’t let you stay and see what happened next?” he asked, watching as Roger sent him a nod, letting him know that it was time.
“Well, I mean, it might have something to do with it,” Melanie murmured only to gasp in pain and tighten her hold around his hand.
“It’s time,” Roger announced right around the time that Melanie began shaking her head.
“No, no, no, no, I changed my mind. He can stay where he is,” Melanie mumbled with a whimper that broke his heart.
“It will be over before you know it,” Aidan lied to her as the nurses moved to help her sit up.
“I-I really don’t think I can do this,” Melanie mumbled.
“You’re going to be fine,” Aidan promised her as Roger said, “I need you to start pushing now.”
“I would really rather not do that right now,” Melanie said, sending him a pleading look that nearly fucking destroyed him.
“Cody needs you to push,” Aidan told her, holding her hand as he watched her.
“O-okay,” she whispered with a firm nod as she licked her lips and screamed as she tightened her hold around his hand while a contraction tore through her body.
“Okay, take a deep breath and get ready for the next one,” Roger said as Aidan stood there, unable to look away from Melanie as she struggled to get through the next contraction.
“You’re doing great,” Aidan told her as he kissed her forehead.
“Almost there,” Roger said as Aidan stood there, praying that she made it through this only to close his eyes and release a shaky breath when he heard his son cry a few seconds later.
*-*-*-*
“He’s so sweet,” Mary said with a watery smile as she leaned down and kissed Cody’s forehead.
“Your five minutes are up,” Lucifer said, gesturing for her to hand him back over.
“No, it’s not,” Mary said, smiling d
own at her newest grandchild.
“It is. I counted,” Lucifer said, once again gesturing for her to hand the baby over.
“Ethan?” was all Mary had to say apparently to get her son to grumble something under his breath and return to his spot by the wall where he stood, glaring at his mother.
“He’s so cute,” Melanie’s mother said, smiling hugely as she reached down so that could run her hand over Cody’s peach-fuzzed head.
“You did great,” Rebecca said as she climbed onto the bed next to Melanie and-
“We’ve decided that we’re going to try to have a baby!” Caitlyn announced with an excited squeal and a huge smile, drawing everyone’s attention and-
“I’m pregnant,” Rebecca said, quickly drawing everyone’s attention back to her, earning a murderous glare from Caitlyn and a hollow, “What?” from Lucifer.
Nodding, Rebecca said, “I’m pregnant,” as she gave Melanie’s shoulder a squeeze as she did her best to bite back a smile.
“Oh, my god! Another grandbaby!” Mary said with a huge smile as everyone began congratulating Lucifer and Rebecca.
Well, everyone except for Caitlyn, who continued to glare for another minute before she stormed out of the room. Adam watched Melanie with that same unreadable expression that he’d had on his face since this all started as he pushed away from the wall and went after Caitlyn, who was probably already in mid-tantrum because she hadn’t gotten the reaction that she wanted.
“Are you really pregnant?” Melanie whispered only loud enough for her best friend to hear.
“Well, I mean, you really didn’t give me much of a choice, did you? I can’t have my godson grow up without his best friend, now can I?” Rebecca said as Lucifer made his way to Rebecca’s side and leaned down so that he could kiss her as he said, “God, I love you,” while Melanie found herself looking at Aidan again.
He hadn’t said anything since Cody was born, and to be honest, it was actually starting to scare her a little. Maybe she was overreact-
“Everyone get out,” Aidan said quietly as he looked at her, but it was enough. Within minutes, everyone that had come to see the baby was gone and-