Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Fifty Two. Scarlett

Minutes later, Karianne, Brett, my parents, Mandy, Brady, Hope, Carter, and Austin all arrive.
My nurse, Michelle, looks at everyone as they pile in.
"Paisley is in labor, too." I say. "Kare will you check on her?"
"Of course. I'll be right back." She says. She kisses my cheek before leaving.
"These are all your people?" Michelle asks.
"These are my people." I smile as my parents come over and hug me.
"I'm so happy." My mom says. "I'm going to be a grandma!"
"I'm nervous." I whisper to my mom. "What if I'm not a good mom." I say and tears well up in my eyes.
"Not possible." She shakes her head.
"She's right. You are amazing with kids." Cooper says.
"Scarlett Olivia Shay, you are going to be the best God damn mother." My dad says and his voice cracks as tears well in his eyes.
I nod as he hugs me tight.

The staff asks everyone to step out as they check my progress and the anesthesiologist has arrived to put my epidural in.
Cooper and Luke hesitantly leave. The nurse holds me tight as the needle goes into my spine. The contractions help take my mind off some of the pain, but tears spill over as I quietly sob into Michelle's shoulder. She rubs my shoulder and whispers how everything will be okay until he is done.
Cooper is the first back at my side. He wipes away my tears as some of his spill over.
"I'm not leaving the room again." He says to Michelle and she nods.
"How's Paisley?" I ask Luke.
"She's good. The anesthesiologist is heading to her now. She's dilated to a seven."
"What am I at?" I ask Michelle.
She smiles. "Same."
"Come on Conor." I smile.

I'm finally relaxed as everyone chats easily. My guys each rub a hand absentmindedly as I watch rain begin tapping on the glass window.
I smile right before chaos hits.

It happens too fast: Conor's monitor starts beeping as an alarm sounds. I look at everyone's faces and then at the monitor as my room fills with medical personnel.
"Turn on your side!" Michelle says as she helps. Luke moves to Cooper's side and I notice his hands are shaking.
"His cord." The doctor says. "Prep her for an emergency C-section. Scarlett, keep breathing. I'm Dr Baker. I'll take very good care of you."
All I can do is nod as people swarm me from all sides. I watch as Cooper is moved further away and his hand drops from mine. My parents are crying. Kare and Brett are crying. Luke is fighting back tears, but they win and spill over his beautiful face.
"One person can come." Michelle says looking at Cooper.
"Are you sure?" He whispers to Luke.
"Go." Luke says. He comes to me quickly and kisses my lips. "Don't leave me." He says as his green eyes search mine.
"For keeps." I barely say.
"Swear it." His voice cracks.
"I swear it." I say.
They begin moving my bed and my parents, Kare, Brett, Mandy, and Brady, who is also crying, all see me off.

The room is too bright. There are so many people I've stopped counting.
"You shaved her quick." A nurse in pink scrubs says to Michelle.
"She's already shaved. That cut down some crucial time."
"Scarlett, I'm Dr Phillips. I'm going to be your sons doctor."
"One thing." I say. "If it comes down to me or him, don't hesitate to choose him."
"We won't let that happen-"
"If all else fails. Last resort." My eyes plead with hers.
"Okay." She nods.
I breathe a deep breath as they push more meds. Cooper comes in wearing scrubs, a mask, a hat, and even shoe covers.
"How do you look so handsome when you should look silly?" I smile.
"The same way you look beautiful when you are scaring me to death. I love you." He kisses me through his mask.
"I love you." I say. "Always."
"Always." He repeats.
"Scarlett, you may feel some tugging." Someone says right before I hear the sound of my skin being cut into. I close my eyes tight and focus on Cooper whispering in my ear.
I love you.
It's all I need to know right now. I open my eyes and focus on his. He can't look over the curtain and his face is pale.
"Stay with me." I tease.
"I'm not going anywhere." He smiles weakly.
Minutes pass before someone speaks.
"Look at all his hair!" She says.
I look up but can't see anything.
"It's definitely a boy." Someone else says. My eyes flick to Cooper's. Shouldn't he be crying? Cooper must be thinking the same thing as tears well up in his eyes. His hand gently massages my shoulders as seconds seem like years.
His cries cut through the room and I feel warm tears slide down the sides of my face. Cooper is crying, too.
Dr Phillips brings Conor over and I swear my heart melts.
"Ten fingers and ten toes. Congratulations." She says. Right when she sets him next to me he stops crying.
"Conor Lucas. You gave me quite the scare my boy."
I smile as more tears pour.
He blinks his little blue eyes.
"He's perfect." Cooper smiles.
"He looks like you." I smile.
"Like us." He says,
I suddenly feel exhausted and I blink rapidly as I try to focus on Cooper and Conor.
"Scarlett?" Cooper's voice startles me.
"Yes?" I almost whisper.
"Stay with me." He says and I try to focus on his panicked eyes as more tears stream down his beautiful face. Dr Phillips places Conor in his arms and seeing them together makes me smile.
"Always." I whisper.

Then darkness consumes me.