Chapter 202: Baby Aiden

Chapter 202: Baby Aiden
Vida's POV

"The baby is coming!” I didn’t even realize I had screamed it until everyone froze, pain tore through me again, sharp, deep, stealing the air from my lungs as my fingers dug into the nearest wall for support.

"Vida!" Meredith's voice broke. Immediately, he walked into the room. I looked up at him, my vision blurring for a second as another wave hit me, "Get the doctor!" He shouted, panic clear in his voice, and despite everything, I almost laughed.

"Idiot!" I breathed through clenched teeth, forcing the words out between contractions, "We are in the human territory." He blinked.

For a second, he actually looked confused, and then a low chuckle came from behind him. My eyes darted towards the sound; my father, Prince Vladimir, the one standing behind him, "hospital!" He said simply.

Meredith's eyes widened as if something had finally clicked, "Oh, right!"

Before he could even finish Logan was already moving, "I've got the keys!" Everything happened so fast after that, Logan and Akira rushed to my side, each of them taking an arm as another contraction ripped through me. I gasped, my body trembling as I leaned into them.

"Easy... Easy," Akira whispered, her voice calm but firm. "I have got you." She kept whispering soothing words

Meredith hovered close, his hands unsure where to go, his eyes filled with panic. "I'm here Vida. I am here now."

I nodded weakly, thought my focus was slipping, the pain was building, growing, and becoming unbearable, "You will be fine, baby," father said, smiling as they helped me into the car. "I will follow behind," I nodded not able to say a word, but my heart warmed at his kind gesture. I wasn't expecting him to say those words, considering it's already late in the night. Logan drove fast, but no one complained. The ride was quiet, strangely quiet, except for my breathing, the soft sound of pain I couldn't hold back anymore. Meredith sat beside me, his hand gripping mine, so tightly I could feel it shaking, "baby please..." His voice broke, "drop your walls let me feel it, let me take some of the pain."

I shook my head weakly, "No!"

"Vida please!"

"I said no," I snapped my voice trembling but firm, another contraction hit, I cried out, my grip tightened around his hand, "I won't put this on you."

His eyes filled with tears, "But you are in pain."

"I can handle it," I breathed, even though it felt like my body was breaking apart, "this is our child, I will bring him into the world myself."

He broke inwardly, I saw it in his eyes, the guilt, the helplessness, the blame, he was beating himself over the situation I was in, "I'm sorry," he whispered over and over again, "I'm so sorry, it's always because of me, you are always hurting because of me"

I turned my head slightly towards him despite the pain, "You talk too much..." I muttered weakly. Another wave hit me, this time stronger and unbearable. I cried out again, my body arching slightly as tears spilled down my face.

"After this..." He said quickly, his voice desperate, "No more pups. I meant it. I won't let you go through this again."

And somehow, even through the pain, I laugh softly, almost breathless, "How am I supposed to fulfill all my promises if I don't have another pup?" His brows furrow immediately.

"What promise?" But before he could finish, or should I say answer, Logan turned off the engine.

"We are here!" He announced, and everything blurred after that. I could only feel hands, hear voices, but I could see nothing. I was rushed inside, placed on a bed, while doctors and nurses surrounded me.

"Breathe, Mrs. Meredith, just breathe..."

"I am breathing!" I snapped weakly, then cried out again as another contraction hit harder than the last, Meredith never left my side, even when the doctor ask him to go out of the room, he had refuse, his hand stayed in mine, and his voice in my ear, was soothing, "You are doing so good," he whispered, "you are so strong, and I am right here."

Time lost meaning, the pain became everything, and each second stretched endlessly; each breath felt like a fight, but Meredith was my anchor; his presence alone was enough to give me joy. "It's time!" The doctor's voice cut through everything, "push!"

I shook my head instinctively, "I can't..."

"Yes, you can," Meredith whispered, his forehead pressed against mine, "you can, Vida. You have survived everything. This is nothing compared to everything you have gone through." I looked at him, at the fear in his eyes, at the love and I nodded.

"Okay..." Another contraction hit me, my legs pulled wider.

"Push!"

I screamed as I did, my body straining, every muscle screaming in protest, again and again and again, a sharp clear sound of cry ripped from my throat, the world stopped, and silence filled the room suddenly and then a sharp cry echoed in the room, I knew it was our baby, my body felt numb, like I wasn't in pain a few seconds ago, and then the doctor's cheerful voice came up, "it's a boy."

A silent sob escaped my lips as my body finally relaxed, exhaustion crashing over me all at once. I turned my head slowly toward Meredith; his eyes were wide, filled with tears, "we..." I whisper weakly, my lips trembling into a smile, "We finally have our boy."

He nodded quickly, unable to speak for a moment, "Yes..." His voice broke, "Yes, we do." He whispered, pressed a kiss on my forehead, "Thank you for making me a father."

My face brightened, "Thank you for making me a mother."

"It's time to get clean," one of the nurses whispers. It didn't take long before the nurses cleaned me up. When everything had settled, they brought my baby back. My heart felt like it would burst as they placed him in my arms slowly.

"Hi!" I whisper softly, my fingers trembling as I touch his tiny face.

Meredith leaned close beside me, his arm around my shoulders as he stared down at our child like nothing else existed, "he is perfect," he whispered.

I smiled faintly, "Just like you." My voice came out low, as if, if I spoke a little higher, I would hurt the baby. It didn't take long before the room filled with those that I wanted to see, from Akira to Catherine, Linda, Logan, and Austin; they all filled the room. Their voices overlapped each other, laughter mixed with excited tears, everyone wanted to see him, to hold him, to celebrate him but in the middle of all that noise, I noticed someone, he was still quiet just staring at the baby in my hand, he stood almost at the entrance, resting lazily on the wall. My gaze stopped at him; he was looking like he didn't belong here, like a stranger, but he didn't leave; he stayed. I smiled at him, "Dad," the word left my lips naturally, easily, like I had used that title all my life. His head snapped towards me immediately, and I saw the look of joy and disbelief. I could understand his reaction; he didn't think I would call him that: "You don't want to touch your grandson?" I asked softly. His lips parted, but no words came out; he just stared like he was afraid this was all a dream. "Go on!" I encouraged gently, "You should hold him." He hesitated, just for a second then he stepped closer slowly, careful like he was approaching something fragile and precious, Meredith glanced at him, then back at me

"Go on, father," Meredith said. The word made Vladimir freeze, then smile, a real smile, the kind that reaches the eyes. His hand was slightly trembling, then he reached out. I guided our son gently into his arms. The moment he held him, everything changed. His entire Expression softened. His shoulders dropped, his eyes filled with tears again.

"So small..." He whispered, "So handsome, just like my daughter." I watched him quietly, my heart full with joy. I didn't think that my pup would come out the same day I found my father. He looked up at me and Meredith after a moment. "Thank you two." I understand the meaning of his words, he didn't hold me when I was born but at least, he held his first grandchild immediately he was born.

"What do you want us to call him?" I asked

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, "You want me to name him?"

I nodded, "You are his grandfather."

He swallowed hard, looking down at the baby, for a long moment, he said nothing, just stared at him, then he parted his lips finally, "Aiden!" He whispered

I blinked, "Aiden?" I asked and he nodded slowly.

"It means little fire." His gaze softened, "because he is strong just like his grandmother." Tears filled my eyes instantly. I looked at Meredith, and he nodded, smiling softly. "Aiden!" He repeated.

I smiled, and Meredith nodded in approval, "Aiden, it is."

Vladimir leaned down slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the baby's forehead, "Welcome home, my grandson, Prince Aiden." He whispered, and for the first time since everything began, I felt everything was right, I leaned back slightly, exhaustion finally catching up to me.

Meredith pressed a soft kiss to my temple, "You are amazing," he whispered.

I smiled faintly, my eyes slowly drifting closed, "It's all because of you."