Chapter 125 Bundle of joy
ARYA’S POV
The hospital was a blur of fluorescent lights and urgent voices.
"We need a wheelchair here!"
"How far apart are the contractions?"
"Ma'am, can you tell me your due date?"
I couldn't answer or barely think through the waves of pain crashing over me.
About three nurses helped me into a wheelchair while Marco was beside me, his hand gripping mine so tightly it almost hurt.
"Sir, you need to fill out these forms-"
"I'll do it later," Marco said, not letting go of me.
The nurse cleared her throat and pressed. "Sir, we need insurance information, medical history-"
"Marco." I grabbed his shirt as another contraction built. "Go. Fill out the forms. I'll be… Arrgh!!”
I couldn't finish. The pain was too intense.
They started rolling me away, down a hallway that seemed to stretch forever. Marco's hand slipped from mine, and suddenly I was alone with strangers in scrubs, and panic seized me harder than any contraction.
"Wait!" I twisted in the wheelchair, reaching back. "Marco! Please!"
He was already there, catching up to us, a clipboard of forms clutched in one hand. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
"Sir, you really need to complete the paperwork." The nurse yelled.
"I'll do it in the delivery room." His tone left no room for argument. "I'm staying with her."
The nurse looked like she wanted to protest, but something in my expression must have convinced her because she just nodded and kept rolling.
They got me into a delivery room and onto the bed. Someone was putting an IV in my arm. Someone else was checking my dilation.
Everyone was talking at once, and Marco stood beside me, his hand never leaving mine, even as he scribbled information on forms with his free hand.
"You're already at seven centimeters," the nurse announced. "This baby is coming fast."
"Too fast," I gasped. "I'm not ready. I need more time."
Another contraction cut off my words, and I screamed as my eyes rolled back.
There was only endless, consuming pain that made everything else disappear.
I couldn't do this. My body was tearing apart, and there was no end in sight.
"I can't," I sobbed at some point. "I can't do this anymore. It's too much."
"Yes, you can." Marco's voice cut through my haze. His face appeared in my vision. "Arya, look at me. You're the strongest person I know. You've survived things that would have broken anyone else. You can do this."
I shook my head. "I can't!"
"You can. For your baby who's about to meet their amazing mother." His hand squeezed mine. "One more push. That's all. Just one more."
"Okay, Arya," the doctor said from between my legs. "Next contraction, I need you to push with everything you have. Can you do that?"
Could I? I didn't know. I was so tired. But then I thought about the baby waiting to be born.
The next contraction built, and I bore down with every ounce of strength I had left.
"That's it! I can see the head!"
"Keep going, Arya!" Marco encouraged me. "You're doing it! You're amazing!"
I pushed again. And again. And again. Until a high pitched sound tore through the air.
"It's a boy!" the doctor announced, holding up a tiny, squirming form covered in blood. "You did it, Arya. You have a son."
They placed him on my chest, and the world stopped. He was impossibly small yet perfect and real.
There was so much dark hair on his head that it seemed unbelievable. And when he opened his eyes for just a moment, I saw it.
Giovanni's eyes. It was dark and intense even in a newborn's face.
My heart clenched painfully. He looked so much like his father that it hurt to look, yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
"What's his name?" a nurse asked gently, hovering with a clipboard.
I forced the thought of Giovanni away, locked it in a box deep inside where it couldn't hurt me.
"Dante," I whispered, touching his tiny fingers. "His name is Dante."
"Welcome to the world, Dante," Marco said softly, leaning close. His hand rested on my shoulder, warm and steady. "You have the most incredible mother. You're so lucky."
He kissed my forehead, and I felt tears sliding down my face.
"Thank you," I whispered. "For…”
My words turned into garbled nonsense as the room tilted suddenly and Dante's cries grew distant.
"Arya?" Marco cried out, gripping my arm. "Arya, what's wrong?"
I tried to answer, but darkness was pulling me under.
The last thing I heard were the doctors shouting and the sound of Dante crying.
Then nothing.
I gasped awake, my heart pounding as the echo of the monitors filled the room
"Arya! Thank God." Marco was there instantly, his face haggard with worry. "You scared me so much. You've been out for almost three hours."
"Dante," I croaked. "Where's he?"
"He's perfect and in the nursery right now, but they'll bring him soon." Marco grabbed a cup of water and helped me drink. "You lost some blood during delivery. Not dangerous, but enough that you passed out. The doctors said you just need rest."
Relief flooded through me so intensely I started crying again. "I want to see him."
"Soon. I promise." Marco sat on the edge of the bed, taking my hand. "Arya, I need to tell you something."
I nodded in encouragement.
He took a shaky breath. "I love you. I've loved you for longer than I should probably admit. And when Giovanni took you, when I couldn't protect you, it devastated me. I spent every day trying to find a way to get you back."
I smiled tightly, already knowing where this was heading.
"I know you might not feel the same way and it might not be what you want to hear right after giving birth." He squeezed my hand gently. "But I need you to know. I love you. I love Dante. And I want to be with you. Both of you. As a family."
He was looking at me with such hope and love, that it made my chest ache.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Arya? Let me take care of you and Dante the way you both deserve?"
I wanted to say yes. But when I closed my eyes, I still saw Giovanni's face in Dante's features.
"I can't," I whispered. "Marco, you've been wonderful. More than I could ever ask for. But I can't love anyone else right now. I just... I can't."
His face fell, but he nodded. "I understand. I do. But Arya…” He lifted my hand to his lips. "I'll wait. However long it takes. I'm not going anywhere."
I shook my head. "You shouldn't wait for me."
"That's my choice." He kissed my forehead. "Now, there's something else. Come live with me."
I blinked. "What?"
"You can't raise Dante in that hostel. Cherry's not there anymore to help. My apartment has space and it’s in a good neighborhood. Please, Arya. Let me do this. Your son shouldn't grow up in a place like that."
Everything in me wanted to refuse and maintain my independence.
But he was right. The hostel was no place for a baby. And without Cherry there to help…
"Okay," I said quietly. "But as roommates. Not as…"
"As whatever you're comfortable with." He grinned. "Thank you. You won't regret this, I promise."
He pulled me into a careful hug, mindful of my soreness. Before I could blink, his lips were on mine.
I froze, unable to respond.
Marco pulled back, seeing my expression. "I'm sorry. Too soon. I'll wait, Arya. I meant that."
"Thank you," I whispered. "For understanding."
"Always." He stood, moving toward the door. "I'll go get the nurse. Tell them you're awake and want to see Dante."
After he left, I lay there staring at the ceiling.
I just agreed to move in with a man who loved me. While my heart still belonged to someone who probably hated me.
What the hell was I doing?