A Team - (Justin Bieber Love Story)

Chapter 24 - Progression

"He's even tinier in my hands"

Jade stared at him in awe, her hand trembling against the incubator. Jade watched him take laboured breaths, breaths as if one began another might not follow. He was hooked up to more tubes and monitors than Jade and Justin had ever seen before, terrifying them more than his physical state.

His skin was pulled tight against his tiny bones, almost red in colour but the doctors assured them that it was much better than the yellow he had been in the previous days. He was no bigger than Justin’s hand, something else that made Justin and Jade afraid to even breathe near him.

            “Do you want to hold him?” a nurse asked Jade as she continued to look wide eyed at her son.

Jade’s eyes moved onto the nurse, not knowing if she should say yes. “He’s so tiny,” she whispered. “I might-,”

            “You won’t hurt him at all. You’ll really be helping him if you hold him, it’ll help him grow,”

            “You’re sure?” Jade said, still unconvinced that her touch wouldn't break him.

            “One hundred percent positive.”

They sat Jade in a chair and Justin pulled his wheel chair up next to her. The nurse then opened the incubator and as soon as she touched Nash he began stirring. Justin watched him move his tiny, tiny fingers, and stretch out his toes as if he was preparing himself for something. The nurse delicately placed her hands behind Nash’s head and back while another nurse began to gather all of his tubes and cords attached to him.

Jade held his head in one hand and his body in her other. The moment he was given to her, her entire world started to change. She knew she’d never live and breathe for herself again but for the baby in her hands and the other still inside of her.

            “Hi Nash,” Jade cooed at the infant in her hands. “Its mommy, I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Jade then laid the infant on her chest where she could feel each breath he took. A nurse handed her a blanket and as Jade draped it over him her bottom lip began to tremble.

            “Jade,” Justin said and placed a hand on her arm. “Baby what’s wrong?”

Jade took a deep breath as she tried not to succumb to the tears. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy he’s still alive.”

            “As you should be,” Nurse Keller said. “Your little guy is a fighter, his fight isn’t going to be easy. We’re going to have some bumps but I don’t doubt that he’ll make it to his due date.”

            “He’s amazing,” Jade said. “I’ve known him for all of five minutes and I already love him.”

            “He’s ours,” Justin said. “Baby we actually made him, something beautiful and pure and good. We did it.” Justin then leaned over and pecked Jade’s lips before he kissed the top of Nash’s head.

            “Do you want to hold him?” Jade asked.

Justin shook his head. “No, I’ll wait until he gets a little bigger. He’d only fit in one of my hands right now,”

            “How big is he again?” Jade asked Nurse Keller.

            “He’s now one pound, fifteen ounces, and thirteen inches long. He’s gained an ounce since he was born four days ago.” Nurse Keller smiled.