Catnip

Chapter Eighteen

a/n- I left you guys on a cliff hanger for nearly a year. I'm extremely sorry about that, so happy things shall happen this chapter. (more updates will happen after this one btw c: )

"Is Austin in this wing?" I asked one of the medical receptionists in the medical wing of the mansion.

"Austin Carlile? How are you two related?"

"Boyfriend." She started to do something on her computer before talking to me again.

"He's in surgery due to his heart's condition. That's all I have for him at the moment." She paused to take a look at me again. "You can have a seat in the waiting area, I'll have someone take you back to see him when he's ready for visitors."

"Alright." I go to sit down but pause when my baby starts to kick me a bit roughly.

"You alright, sir?" The receptionists looked at me cautiously and was already on her feet.

"Yeah, she's just kicking up a storm," I say while rubbing my belly gently to attempt to calm my baby down, but she wouldn't stop moving around. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable and I wasn't used to her frequent movements even though it's happened so many times before.

The person watched me for a few minutes, making sure I was truly alright before she let her gaze go to the next person that walked in. I sat down in one of the waiting chairs. While I waited for her to call me. I sat in the chair for nearly two whole hours before I was called to visit Austin.

I didn't expect the sight of him being hook to these wires and all of these bandages on him. I frown as I noticed his appearance, but pushed it aside quickly. I began walking towards Austin when I noticed that he was looking at me.

"You scared the shit out of me, Aust." I murmured, taking the hand without the IV. My handed ended up resting in his instead of holding it.

"I'm sorry, baby." He squeezed my hand lightly.

"You could've died. I could've lost you and I would be left alone."

"I'm here, Alan. That's what should matter. Not if I nearly died or not." His comment earned a glare from me.

"Austin..." I started, but trailed off, knowing there wasn't a point in fighting him. "How are you?" I asked instead, sitting down in the plastic chair next to the bed.

"I'm doing better than I was. Hopefully I'll be out of here soon, though it may be a few days. How's our little girl?" He motioned to my belly.

"She's doing good, besides kicking up a storm." I smiled softly at him, my free hand resting on my swollen stomach.

"Is she kicking right now?" Austin questioned, eyes falling on my belly before looking back up at me.

"Nah, I think she's tuckered herself out. Next time she starts kicking and you're around I'll let you know, though."

The room fell silent after that. Austin kept a hold of my hand and was watching me with a smile on his features. I rubbed my thumb lightly over my belly, my eyes widened when I feel her start kicking again. I took a hold of Austin's hand and placed it where I was feeling the kicking, having to stand so he didn't have to stretch.

Austin was confused for a moment, but he soon was back to his smiley self when he realized why I had placed his hand there. He kept his hand there, even when I removed my own hand from holding him there and the baby stopped kicking ten minutes later. I couldn't get rid of the smile on my own face.

And that was when I realized something about Austin Carlile. I realized that I was in love with him. I was in love with his smile. I was in love with how he treated me, minus those moments he was controlling and demanding. I was in love with his everything despite how we met and the circumstances we were in right now. I was in love with my kidnapper.

I let my hand still on my belly, moving my thumb gently over it. Austin noticed this and looked from my belly up to me.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, a tad bit worried.

"No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking..." I glanced down at my belly, his hand rested on top of mine now.

"Thinking about what?"

"I was thinking about you." I blushed a tad bit.

"Oh? What about me?" He pressed.

"Just...things." I look up at him. He was watching me, a smile evident.

I wondered if there would be room on his bed for me to lay there and cuddle with him. But I decided against it. He needed his space.

"I think about you a lot when you're not around." I heard him say after a while, causing me to smile a bit more broadly.

"Austin..." I move so I'm sitting down. "I think about you a lot too." I hold his hand, which is a tad bigger than my own.

There was another long moment of silence, but it was comfortable. I was content with it. But we soon both launched into a conversation based on random subjects. We never talked about things such as his health or what was going on in the mafia. Soon enough I was starting to tire, which was becoming evident.

"Alan? How about you go get some sleep?" Austin suggested after he noticed me yawning.

"You sure you'll be alright here?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Now, go get some rest, Kitten."

"Get well soon. I'll be back as soon as I have time." I promised, kissing his lips softly. He bided me goodbye, telling me to stay safe and where I was supposed to be, in the underground level of the house.

I returned to our room, which was strikingly similar to our old one but it had another room connected to it. That room was supposed to be our nursery, but I didn't want to be stuck underground raising the child. I wanted to live back on the second floor, which needed modifications if I could convince Austin of it. I sighed to myself, wondering how I could convince him.

But then the fact that I was in love with Austin hit me again. I furrowed my brows, walking over to our dresser as I began thinking about my feelings. While I thought I changed into a pair of shorts, and a t-shirt that belonged to Austin. I wondered if Austin felt the same way about me. What if the reason why he hadn't sold me off yet wasn't just because of the baby? Surely he wasn't keeping me, being nice to me, and all of these other things just because I pregnant with his child?