The End

EVIE

I felt a sharp pain in my back. I put the laundry down and sat on the side of the bed. Rebel had Hannah, so I thought I might lie down. I must have slept for a few minutes because another pain in my back woke me.

I rubbed my tummy; it was enormous. I knew the baby had been restless, turning so his head was down. But he'd been quiet lately. It flashed in my head that maybe I was in labor. I had read about women having labor pains in their back.

I stood up and then returned to bed because my back was hurting. What should I do? My phone was in the kitchen; I left it there when I had iced tea with Daisy. She was in seventh heaven because she had just told me she was pregnant.

I was as happy for her, Raider, and the boys as I was for Rebel and me. I tried to keep my mind off the pain, but it was impossible. It was a pain that didn't ease up. I knew I had to make my way to the kitchen and get my phone.

I was on the kitchen floor crying when I heard the door open. I turned and saw Reaper looking at me. "Call Rebel. I'm in labor, and I think it's time."

"What the fuck!" He picked me up, took me back to my room, and called Rebel. "You need to get home. Evie is in labor, and the baby is almost here."

"What the hell are you talking about? Put her on the phone," Rebel said. That's when my back twisted, and I screamed.

"Fuck, I'm on my way," Rebel shouted.

"Reaper, I don't want you to feel awkward. But the pain is in my back, and something feels wrong. Not that I know what labor pains feel like," I bit down on my blanket as another pain hit me. "I've been sweating like a faucet."

"I read that labor pains can be in the back. Mine have been going on for a while. I didn't realize what they were, but they've been in my back since this morning. Can you help me prepare for the baby?"

"What! Do you want me to help deliver the baby? But I don't know anything."

"Sure you do. You were a medic in the service. I can't lie on my back; it hurts too much."

"Rebel will be here any minute. Don't panic," Reaper said. I thought he might be panicking.

"I'm here," Daisy said, walking into the room. "Tell me what you are feeling," she said, walking around the bed and fluffing my pillow.

I cried out and grabbed the blankets. "What the hell, are you having hard pains already?"

"Yes, she is. You need to prep her for delivery," Reaper said.

"Delivery?" Daisy said.

"Yes, my baby is coming; my pains are in my back. Does anyone know where Allison is? I need her here. I need to get out of these clothes and strip the bed," I could barely speak; the pain was constant.

"I'll strip the bed," Reaper said, picking me up and sitting me in the chair. "Daisy, can you help her with her clothes? I don't want you to worry, Evie. I will deliver the baby myself. I know what I'm doing. I just went blank for a while."

Reaper looked at me and smiled. "We're going to do this, and soon, the baby will be here."

"Reaper, thank you. I'm so glad you came home. Can you call and see how far away Rebel is now?"

"I'm right here, honey," Rebel said, kissing me.

"I'm here too," Allison said.

"Thank God! Okay, I'm going to leave everything in Allison's good hands."

"Thank you, Reaper, for everything. Allison, my pains are in my back," I cried out, and Rebel wrapped his arms around me, holding me close.

"How long have they been this hard?" Allison asked.

"When I got home, she was on the kitchen floor trying to reach her phone. I carried her in here. That was when I called Rebel. So, an hour or more."

"The hard ones started around noon," I said.

"Reaper, you may want to leave the room; the baby is already here."

Reaper looked at me, then bent and kissed me before leaving the room. Daisy was busy getting towels for Allison, and Rebel held onto my hand, whispering sweet words of encouragement.

"My back hurts so bad. Can you please rub it?" I begged. Rebel rubbed my back as Allison told me to bear down. I had never felt so much pain in my life.

I opened my eyes and looked at Rebel. "I know I said we would have four kids, but I've changed my mind. We are going to have two children, Hannah and this one, no more," I hissed.

Allison told me to bear down again, and I wanted to slap her. I did what she said and bore down, and I screamed as I did. I felt like I had been torn apart. "One more time, Evie."

I did it one more time, and then my baby was crying. I was crying. Rebel wiped his eyes, and then Allison laid the baby boy across my chest. My beautiful baby boy. I cried as I kissed him.

"He's beautiful," Rebel said, kissing his shoulder. Then he kissed me. The baby started crying. Daisy took him and started washing him. We laughed because he had the strongest lungs we had ever heard.

"Thank you, all of you. He is so beautiful. Next time, I want the shot and the hospital."

"I thought we were only having two kids," Rebel said, kissing me.

"I changed my mind." Daisy handed the baby to Rebel. Tears ran down her face, and I knew she was thinking of her girls. "Are you alright, Daisy?"

"It was just so beautiful and so scary. In another month, I'll have our baby. And it looked so damn painful," she said. We all laughed because it was damn painful but worth all of it. It was almost like the pain had disappeared.

"Where is Hannah?"

"Here she is," Benni said, opening the door. Hannah ran into our room to see her baby brother. She crawled in next to me and kissed the baby.

"My baby?"

"Yes, sweetie, your baby brother."