It Takes Two

Chapter 26

Eric hurried through the hospital corridors, finding Amelia waiting outside of a room that he presumed Sookie was in.

“How is she?” he wondered, nearly out of breath.

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound too good,” Amelia stated, just as Sookie let out another scream. “Where are the girls?”

Eric found some scrubs to put on. “I took them to Pam’s when I got your message.” Without another word, he made his way into the hospital room, seeing his girlfriend in pure agony. Eric immediately went to her side, taking her hand in his.

She looked up at him, the pain seeming to have passed for the moment. “You’re here.”

“There’s nowhere else I would be,” Eric said, kissing her knuckles.

Dr. Sanchez came over to them. “All right, it seems there’s a slight problem.”

Eric’s eyes widened. “Is it because she’s early?”

He shook his head. “Going into labor a few weeks before your due date is actually pretty common, but it seems having a natural birth might not be the most logical idea for you. There is a possibility that Sookie could bleed out once the baby is pushed through; I think your best bet is to have a Caesarean. It is more probable with women in this situation.”

Eric glanced at Sookie, squeezing her hand. “It’s your choice.”

She nodded, focusing on the doctor. “I’ll do it. I just need to know that my baby will be okay.”

“I can’t tell you that for sure, but the baby will have a better chance this way.”

That was all she needed to hear. Sookie took in a deep breath, squeezing Eric’s hand right back. He was the only one keeping her sane at the moment. “Okay, but you shouldn’t be here for this.”

Eric wouldn’t budge. “I told you there was nowhere else I would rather be right now. I’m not leaving you to go through this alone, Sookie. I’ll be here with you the whole way.”

Tears flooded her eyes, again wondering what she did to deserve this amazing man. “Let’s do this, Doc, but make sure you knock me out real good first.”

Dr. Sanchez chuckled, preparing his orderlies for the procedure. He had a newborn to bring into the world, and make damn sure the mother lived as well.

* * * * *

Eric held Sookie’s hand the entire time, keeping her gaze focused on his as much as he could. It helped if neither of them looked to see the doctor’s handiwork. Seeing his girlfriend with her stomach cut open was not something he ever wanted to experience, so his eyes remained on hers, only pulling away when he heard the cry of their baby fill the room. The infant was handed over to a nurse to get cleaned up, tears stinging his eyes at the sound of his child.

The doctor smiled. “Congratulations, you have a girl.”

Eric returned his smile. It looked like the third time was the charm, but that had to be a record. Guessing a girl with each birth, and always being right about it. Not that Eric would have been disappointed with a boy, but he definitely didn’t mind the outcome. He moved out of the way as Dr. Sanchez began stitching Sookie back up, his gaze lingering on the pink bundle the nurse wrapped in a blanket. Before Eric could even blink, she placed the baby in his arms. He gazed at his new little angel, and God, how she looked just like her mother. She was absolute perfection.

* * * * *

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” Sookie had been out for hours, and he was by her side as soon as she started to stir.

“Like I had a bowling ball yanked out of me.” Her eyes started to focus more, staring at Eric in a near panic. “Where’s the baby? Is she okay?”

He stepped aside, so she could see the sleeping infant lying peacefully in a bassinet the nurse brought for her.

Sookie cried in relief. “She’s so beautiful.”

“Of course she is, spitting image of her mother, but she has my eyes.”

Sookie took his hand, pulling him down to be level with her, and caressing his lips with hers. “You’ve given me everything I could have ever wanted. Thank you.”

Eric shook his head. “I should be thanking you. We have three beautiful, little girls now, but there’s just one thing missing.”

She raised her eyebrows. “I know you want that son, but we should at least wait a year or so before you think about knocking me up again.”

He laughed, taking a black box out of his pocket, and opening it to reveal an elegant, diamond ring. “No, what’s missing is getting to call you my wife. Sookie Stackhouse, will you do the honor of marrying me?”

Sookie gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth in surprise. That was definitely the last thing she expected, but it was pretty obvious what her answer would be. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Eric graced her with a warm smile, taking the ring out and slipping it on her finger, where it rightfully belonged. Kissing the jewel, he gazed into her eyes. “You have made me the happiest man in the world.” A noise in the room brought his attention on the newborn, who was just starting to awaken. He moved over to the bassinet, gently picking the baby up, and carrying her over to Sookie.

She held her arms out. “Let me hold her.”

Eric didn’t hesitate to place the infant in his future wife’s embrace, smiling at the look of awe that formed on her features. This was something Felicia never got to do with Emma, but it meant everything that Sookie was given this chance.

“I can’t believe we made her. I know I’ve been like a mother to Olivia and Emma, but it’s so great to be one officially. I’ve always wanted children, but I didn’t think it would happen. Bill would change the subject whenever I talked about having kids with him. He claimed he wanted them when we first started dating, but then would get shifty every time I even brought it up. I guess that should have made me realize sooner he wasn’t the one for me. God, I don’t know where I would be right now if I didn’t decide to take that vacation. How could I have lived without this?” she finished, staring at her beautiful baby.

Eric sat by her side, beyond relieved that she did take that trip. “We have to find the perfect name for her.”

Sookie didn’t even need to think about it anymore. Once she finally laid eyes on her little girl, the name came to her easily. “What about Adele? It was my grandmother’s name.”

He nodded, giving her a smile. “We have a winner.”