Samantha
Everyone remained silent for seconds, not sure what to do before I decided to take action.
" I'll go…”
I indicated the stairs without needing to explain much.
" Sure, I'll wait for you here," Theon assured me.
" Yeah, maybe it's better if someone neutral handles this," Iris endorsed.
I nodded and went upstairs, in time to see Delphine approach Theon.
She was certainly going to question him about his line from earlier.
I walked uncertainly to the door of the room where we had been getting ready and exchanging confidences a few hours before. Poor Lara, I couldn't imagine what awaited her.
I heard the doorbell ring, reminding me that the rest of the family would have some work to do to dispose of the ruined party guests. At least I could help here.
Once again I felt that discomfort when Henry moved, followed by a slight pain in my groin. I tried to adjust the pants I was wearing comfortably before I knocked on the door, hearing the muffled cry coming from inside the room.
" Lara?”
" Go away," she shouted in reply.
I took a deep breath before I opened the door and entered the room, closing it behind me.
Lara was lying face down on the bed, smothering her cries with a pillow. That sight cut my heart, causing the anger I felt toward Marcus to return with force.
" I told you to go away," she turned her face slightly in my direction as she realized I was approaching.
" I wouldn't be a very good friend if I did," I shrugged, "I'm here to try to make you feel better.”
I sat down on the edge of the bed not knowing how to act.
" And how would you be a good friend? Going off to hang out with my brother and leaving me to deal with that bitch alone? I hate you!”
I blinked, stunned at the gratuitous attack. This was not something I expected, and I didn't know how to react.
" Lara, I'm sorry," I whispered, "it's not like you think, I went with Theon to keep him from overreacting to Marcus.”
" Then it's worse. I should have let Theon kill him. He deserved it," she hid her face again.
" That may be, but then Theon would be arrested and Henry wouldn't have a present father " I argued for some reason.
Lara didn't answer me. She remained lying on her stomach with her face hidden in the pillows while I remained there beside her.
" Where is Daphne? " I asked when her sobs finally stopped.
" Harper came home early and Callie asked her to take them away from this mess," she sniffled, turning her face in my direction, "I still can't believe what Evangeline did.”
" I'm sorry, you didn't deserve to go through this," I stroked her head.
Again that discomfort in my groin came on, bordering on pain. I stretched out on the bed until it passed while I waited for an answer from her.
" I don't hate you. Sorry," she looked away, "I'm glad you and my brother worked everything out, but I hate that it was in a situation where I can't be interested in all the details.”
" Why are you so sure that we both worked it out? " I questioned.
" The way he protected you when that... finally wasn't hard to figure out.”
I stroked her hair again, wondering how to respond to that statement.
" We can talk about the details later," I forced a smile, "for now let's make you feel…”
I brought my hand to my lower abdomen as I felt a painful pressure in the spot that stole my breath for a moment.
Lara frowned and then sat up in bed.
" Are you all right?”
" Yes, it's just weird when he moves," I gasped again.
" Weird how? " she frowned as I stood up to find a comfortable position.
" I don't know, I can't explain it," I groaned walking from side to side.
" OK, usually when you don't know what you're feeling, it's not a good sign.”
Lara stood up and walked toward me, and again that feeling came over me, causing me to lean on her dressing table, feeling breathless.
What's going on?
" Sam, you need to go to a hospital," Lara widened her eyes.
" No, it's nothing, I'll get better soon! " I assured her as I felt the sensation begin to fade.
She rolled her eyes and walked to the door, swinging it open before shouting.
" Theon, you have to come here!”
" Why did you call him? You know how much he worries for nothing! " I grunted, finally managing to right myself.
As I imagined, the pain was gone, although it was still difficult to find a comfortable position.
" At this point in your pregnancy, no concern is for nothing," she returned.
" There are still weeks to go before he is born and the pain is gone " I returned " not to worry him. Too much has happened already today.”
We heard hurried footsteps coming up the stairs and I tried to give Lara a warning look. It was good that she didn't say a word.
" What's the matter? " Theon appeared in the doorway.
" Nothing, Apollo. I was just wondering if... WHAT A HELL!!”
That's when I was overwhelmed by all the pain. I bent down, leaning back on the dressing table as I tried to catch my breath.
In one movement, Theon was supporting me, guiding me to the bed.
" I'm fine, it's just a little pain," the last word came out in the middle of a slurred groan, as the intensity of the pain increased.
What is happening? There's still time for him to be born!
" She started feeling these pains and didn't want to tell you," Lara explained when I stopped in mid-stride, unable to take a single step.
" Samantha," Theon scolded before leaning over and picking me up and walking me to the bed.
" Lara, call γιαγιά, she'll know what to do to relieve this until she gets to the hospital.”
" Relieve it? She's in labor. The only way to relieve it is to get the baby out of her!”
Delphine's voice sounded from the bedroom door before I had a chance to speak up.
" But it's not time yet " Theon had the same thought as me.
" Today is the full moon," Delphine shrugged, "Lara, call your mother, we have a lot to do…”
" Moon? What moon? And what do you have to do? " I raised my voice, not feeling very sure of myself in front of the old woman's gaze.
Theon sat down beside me, taking the opportunity to comfort me as best he could.
" Don't worry, this won't be the first birth Iris has helped me with," Delphine shrugged as I felt all the blood drain from my body.
She doesn't think I'm going to have a baby away from a trained medical team, does she?
" Theon, get me out of here," I growled, taking advantage of the distraction of the old woman who was giving Lara other instructions.
" Do you think he'll be born? " he whispered in reply.
" I don't intend to stay here and find out!”
" Wait, does that mean she's having the baby in my bed? " Lara's eyes widened.
I took advantage of the momentary absence of pain and stood up.
" You've lost your mind, you crazy old woman," I muttered, taking the first steps toward the door, "Theon's taking me to the hospital.”
" Don't be silly, I'm completely capable....”
" Of making me freak out! I'm not staying here in pain. I want anesthesia!”
" This is ridiculous, girl…”
" Theon…”
" γιαγιά, Sam is right. We know you're capable, but we'd rather have everything happen in a hospital," he declared, supporting me so that we could move toward the door as quickly as possible.
The sooner I got out of there, the sooner I would be free of that crazy old woman.
" Can you get down? " Theon asked when we reached the stairs.
" Yes, don't worry.”
Even so, he stayed by my side the whole time, ready to support me if necessary.
" Sam, what's the matter? " Iris frowned as she watched me descend slowly beside Theon.
" Mama, γιαγιά said that Sam is in labor " Theon explained " I'll take her to the hospital, but I need someone to get her and Henry's bags.”
" I'll call Callie " Iris stated " I can't leave, I'm still finishing telling everyone about the party....”
" No problem, thank you " I was unable to finish as the pain hit me once again.
Theon promptly wrapped his arm around my waist.
" Mama if you could just let Mr. and Mrs. Hurst know," he ordered, setting us in motion again, practically carrying me towards the car.
It wasn't long before I was settled in the passenger seat and he was driving us to the maternity ward. In my mind I tried to remember all the lamaze classes, but the only thing I could concentrate on was the promise of anesthesia when I arrived at the hospital.
" How are you, Sam? " Theon gave me a sideways glance"I told you you shouldn't have hit that bastard.”
" I think this involved a lot more than the knee I kneed him," I gasped after a long contraction, "isn't this developing too fast?”
" How?”
" From my lamaze class, I was supposed to be in labor for hours, and the contractions are getting stronger and closer," I explained, feeling the onset of another one.
I squirmed in the seat, feeling the pain building in my belly.
" Sam, just breathe," Theon urged.
" What do you think I'm doing? " I returned impatiently, "Just get me to the damn hospital!”
" Sam, you need to calm down " he looked worried.
"Calm down? I'm in pain, about to explode because a giant knocked me up!" I groaned, squirming back in my seat.
" All right, you have the right to feel this way," he took a deep breath, "I'm not going to argue with you.”
But I wanted to. At this point, an argument seemed like a great way to distract me from the pain.
"You can't do that.”
" Do what?”
" Agree with everything I do, I want to argue.”
" Sam, you're in labor, I'm not going to fight with you," the damn bastard seemed to be enjoying the situation.
" Damn it Theon, you owe me this," I groaned through another contraction, "you put me in this situation and now.... WHAT THE FUCK!”
" We'll be there soon, Margarita. Hang in there," he smiled at me.
As soon as we arrived at the hospital Theon took care of my admission while I was taken for evaluation.
It wasn't long before I was settled into a room, wearing only the hospital gown with Theon massaging my back in an attempt to ease the pain.
" Apollo? " I caught his attention, wiping away the tears that insisted on coming with each contraction.
" Yes?”
" I'm scared," I admitted, feeling all the anger drain away and give way to another feeling.
" Sam, you don't have to worry," he declared kissing my shoulder, "we prepared ourselves for this for months.”
" But now it's different, it's happening " I pointed.
" Hey, look at me," he moved to make it easier for me to move, I turned around looking into his eyes, "you're going to make it, understand? You will make it, and I will be by your side, holding your hand the whole time.”
When we least expected it, we were in the delivery room. Theon kept his promise and held my hand the whole time and Forty minutes later, Henry's shrill cry made me completely forget all the pain of seconds ago. Soon the nurse approached, holding the little one wrapped in a sheet, still dirty.
" I did it," I laughed through my tears, watching the face of our son, who had stopped crying when he heard my voice, blinking a few times with a frown on his forehead.
Before I could admire him more clearly, he was taken away so that they could clean him and do all the necessary procedures.
My heart was racing, I couldn't wait to finally have him in my arms. I think I can say that my family is complete.