29 done

Francis

I know that she doesn't look well at the time that I enter the bar. She was arguing and scowling, flinching but she ignored the pain on her body. She's stressed out and that's what I am worried about. The stress and anxiety make her spotting. But now, her water breaks and together with the water, she's bleeding. I'm afraid of the baby and her.

I don't even know when we got to the hospital and she's getting unconscious. I keep telling her to fight for us. I get inside the operation room. She bleeds a lot and the baby easily slipped off from her womb. I didn't hear the cry. I got worried.

"The baby?" she muttered. "Is it alright?" she tried to sit up, but I held her and kisses her temple. She started sobbing. "Francis, the baby."

"It's a girl." The doctor said and I watch as the small baby had blood all over her. She looked so beautiful and she's breathing.

"Althea," she murmured. I kiss her forehead.

"Althea it is."

"Althea." She murmured again trying to reach the baby. Our baby kicked and started crying.

I reach the baby after she's cleaned up and I gently brush my lips on the forehead. The doctor will still watch over her and I show her to Natalie who smiled and collapsed.

"Natalie?" the monitor started beeping. "Natalie!" I called out and the nurse-led me out. I had over the baby since they still need to put it on in the incubator since there's an abnormality on her birthing.

Warren ran to me as I waited outside to see if my wife will be fine. Then the baby, our little Althea.

"Your dad keeps calling." He gave me the phone. "It's about your brother. The operation is moved in two days."

"What?" I frown at him. "But I can't leave my wife and my daughter." He nodded.

"But your brother needs you as well."

"I'll have to wait until the doctor came out."

I waited for like thirty minutes. I waited in the nursery and watch my little angel sleeping. She is premature but she looked healthy. The doctor explained to me that Althea is a fighter. She came out a bit early but still, she's healthy and there's no conflict about her. Soon, the doctor called me that Natalie has been moved to the private room.

I immediately go to her and found her sleeping. She looked so tired. That's alright. I brush my lips to hers and she woke up reaching my hand.

"Our Althea?"

"Our little angel is good. Soon the nurse will deliver her for breastfeeding. You ready?" she nodded. "Just rest for a while. When she woke up, she'll be here."

Someone knocks on the door and the nurse enters with the baby. She sighs in relief and brings it to us.

"She must be really hungry because she started crying." The nurse told.

Once that Natalie is settled and the baby started nibbling on her nipples, I watch her for a bit and stood. I pull out my phone and started taking pictures of her. They are my beautiful girls. My wife and my daughter. I kiss her temple when someone knocks on the door. It opens and mom went in. She's been here in the city for a few things and I am so glad that she's here. Our house manager came with everything that is needed.

"I'll be out," I told her. She nodded without asking anything at all. I understand that she's mad at me. I shouldn't do it but if that what it takes to protect her and our child, I will do it with all my wealth and fame.

"So?" Warren asked.

"I'll help my brother and will be with my girls." He nodded.

"I'll guard them for you," Colt said and I hug both.

"We will guard them. And while you are in your paternity leave and your emergency leave, I'll be working for everything. Damn, what's with birthing this month?" Warren mutters and I just chuckled.

I was confined and had to have enough sleep. They tested my blood and everything just to check if I don't have any toxins or conflicts for the operation. I haven't eaten and only drink water. I don't get enough food because of the operation tomorrow, early in the morning.

I keep texting Colt and ask him about my wife. He said that she's already eating and regaining strength. The baby needs to be taken care of that I was needed there since I was the father. I suddenly feel irresponsible, but I couldn't risk another life as well.

Someone knocks on the door and Colt enters, telling me that Warren is taking over for my responsibility. Warren losses both of his wife and child because of abnormality in birthing. She was young at the age of twenty when Warren impregnates her and ask her to marry him. He was head over heels and now I know what he feels while I was inside the ER and she's like giving up.

It pains me a lot. It makes me dumb. I don't want to lose them, both. I love them. I love my Natalie and my life both depend on her and my daughter.

"So, how you are doing?" Colt asked.

"I'm good as hell."

"Your brothers aren't here or your sisters?" He noticed.

"I don't want them here. I will just give him a bone marrow, and everything will be fine. Back to normal. I don't want them to be mashed up with me and my family. You know that Bernie and Natalie have a thing back then. I still hate that dick for hurting her."

"Yeah," he pulled out a chair. "Natalie hates you."

"I know."

"But I know that she still loved you more." I smiled on the thought of our endless saying of I love you's.

"I miss them already."

"That's why I brought this." He pulls out the paper bag and started putting the frame on the bed table. It's so beautiful to see my Althea's face, sleeping. And my Natalie who is sitting with me on our wedding day.

"You are the best man I ever had."

"I know." He winked at me. Today is the operation day.

The doctor came and ask me how I was doing and so on and forth. I just told him to get on with the operation so I could go to my wife and child. He congratulated me and I thank him for it.