Midnight Masquerade

Chapter 18: Building a Family

February 13

Age 19

Adriana-

"What do you say?" Travis asks over the phone.

"I'd say I'm probably going to regret this, but let's do it anyway, before I change my mind."

"Glad you said that because I already took the time off and got Professor Grimm to give us the time out of school." He says. "We're leaving in an hour when I get off."

"And you're just telling me this now?" I ask him.

"Why give you time to think about it?"

"Maybe so I have time to pack." I tell him.

"Caleb and Calliope are expecting us, and they've got some of our things from when we stayed the last time."

"You really do have everything planned, except that when I have the baby I won't be a whale."

"You're not even a whale now, I can still wrap my arms around your waist." He says. "You've just been wearing my shirts instead of your own."

He's right, there is a bump. At least I look pregnant, the doctor said I looked about five to months, which isn't terrible, but she still wasn't pleased that the baby was so small considering the due date is right around the corner, and by that I mean sometime within the next few weeks.

~~

"Welcome home." Calliope greets as we walk up the driveway. "Isn't she precious." I haven't see the Nordstroms since I started showing, she places a hand on the bump. "Come in you two." She waves us into the house and we're greeted by our favorite animals. Apollo and Artemis wagging their tails with Snowball prancing around Travis' ankles. Aurora mews from the hearth.

"Thanks for letting us stay until the baby can travel." I tell her. "We wanted to be home for the birth, and this seemed like the best time to try to-" a sharp pain hits and I squeeze Travis's hand and close my eyes burying my face in his shoulder.

"Aud," He frets.

"I'm okay." I assure him. "Really, I'm fine." But another waves soon hits and I just curl into his side wanting it to go away.

"Why don't you go see Caleb, he's working today. You can see the kids." Calliope says.

"I'm fine really." I insist not moving from his side but the pain subsides.

"It won't be so bad Aud." Travis says, "Don't you want to see Luke?" He asks me wrapping his arm around me.

"Okay, fine, but only because you two won't leave me be otherwise." I tell them. Travis kisses my temple and the three of us ride to the hospital.

"Adriana!" Luke's voice greets me excitedly as he bounds up to me causing me to stumble into Travis as the small body collides with me.

"Hi Luke." I greet him. "How have you been?"

"I'm getting out in three days!" He says excitedly. "I'm going home!"

"That's wonderful!" I tell him ruffling his hair as I sit in one of the chairs Travis sitting next to me. He looks so excited and happy. Another sharp pain hits me and I close my eyes willing it to stop.

"Aud." Travis pulls me out of the pain. Just enough to notice my water broke.

"My water just broke." I tell him. He looks up like a deer in the headlights before calling over an orderly. They help me into the wheelchair and I say goodbye to Luke with a promise to see him again soon.

~~

"One more big push." The doctor says. I'm so exhausted. The pain is unbearable, even with the medicines. "Come on Adriana, you're almost there."