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Beth had been missing all morning. She had told Phoebe and Dave about the invitation to meet the boss. She also spoke to Annie and Ruby, but stopped giving news after a while.
As soon as she woke up that mornin', Beth was sure something would happen during the day or at the latest until the next day. She has already done this four times and then was able to recognize that she was probably going into labor.
After several attempts to contact Beth to follow through on the plan to plant the wiretapping under her clothing, Phoebe let out a frustrated sigh and gave up on the call. As a last resort, she called Ruby in hopes that she would know what had happened.
Beth woke up from the little rest she'd managed to get amid the little discomfort she'd been feeling since early in the morning. She leaned back against the headboard, took a deep breath, and brought her hand to her stomach, stroking it in circles as she went through a still-bearable contraction.
She brought her other hand to her face and for a second thought about what she was doing. She is 45 years old and in labor again. No, she doesn't feel sorry for keeping the pregnancy, she already loved this child like all four of her, but that doesn't mean she's resigned to her current situation. That doesn't mean she no longer thinks about how she wasn't careful and how she could have avoided pregnancy after 40y.
Beth opened her eyes, looked up at the ceiling, and breathed a sigh of relief as she went through yet another contraction. She looked around the bed and groped through the mattress and blankets for her cell phone, but didn't find it. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and realized that she should have met with the SS an hour and a half ago and would surely miss her lunch break with the boss. Again Beth took a deep breath and tried to remain calm as much as possible. Certainly labor would be a significant reason to disappear for a few hours. Honestly, she wasn't worried about satisfying anyone, she just wanted to go through it with ease and no hassle.
A few minutes later, Beth finally got out of bed and carefully made her way down the stairs and slowly made her way to the kitchen, getting a little startled when her cell phone began to vibrate on the wooden counter.
“Beth! Finally” Ruby breathed a sigh of relief “Phoebe has been trying to reach you for hours, are you ok?”
"Oh yeah..." Beth brought a hand to her forehead, she really doesn't want to worry about anything right now but acknowledges she could have at least warned Ruby and Annie "I just woke up a little unwell and, you know, I'm a little uncomfortable to leave the house and have to deal with whoever that boss is”
“Are you feeling something? Look, I'm at work, but…”
“No, don't worry, it's ok” Beth leaned her body on the counter when she felt another discomfort and did her best not to worry her friend “I've done this so many times” she forced a laugh “I'm fine. Can you just let Phoebe know, please?”
"Yes I can" Ruby replied without being too convinced "You know, if you need I can... Or maybe Annie..."
“Ruby, don't worry” Beth said in her sweetest voice “I promise I'll call if I need to, ok?”
“Fine” Ruby knows there's no point in insisting “But I'll visit you as soon as I'm done with work.”
"Sure! See ya”
Beth ended the call and let out a moan with the next contraction, which now felt more painful. She leaned both elbows on the counter and put her face in her hands, closing her eyes and controlling her breathing. When the pain was gone, she again took out her cell phone to call Rio, but was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.
“Mick?” Beth frowned when she saw him in front of her.
Mick was standing in front of the door with both arms crossed and his usual scowl, even though she knew his posture never intimidated her. On the contrary, Beth could have sworn that after her pregnancy, her posture seemed respectful somehow. He glanced at her wearing her comfortable mom's robe and then glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"The boss sent me to get you for lunch, but if you're not ready yet I can wait."
"Oh yeah. I was going to call him right now” Beth showed the cell phone in her hand “I can't go.”
Mick chuckled, as if she really had the option to choose not to go.
"I'm following orders" Mick said carelessly and entered the house despite not being invited, looking again at his watch. "You still have some time" he said as he sat down next to the counter.
"I woke up feeling uncomfortable" Beth said visibly tired and pointing to her swollen stomach "I don't know if you're smart enough to realize that this baby could be born at any moment".
Mick tried to answer, but he felt his legs shake as he heard her let out a slight groan of pain and squirm slightly on the counter. Instinctively, he got up, lifted her into his arms, and sat her down in the kitchen chair.
“Does he know that…Is happening?” he asked worried and a little nervous, with both hands on his hips.
“I was going” Beth showed her cell phone again and dropped it on the table, holding her stomach with both hands as she felt the intense pain “I just need to get some rest, I couldn't sleep at night. Can you take the message to him?”
Mick nodded and Beth tried to get up on her own, but couldn't.
“You… I… I just need some help to the room, can you…?” Beth held out her hand.
Mick didn't wait for her to finish talking, he excused himself and immediately picked her up. Beth felt her face redden, but she was in no condition to deny help. Involuntarily she leaned her head on his shoulder and directed him to the bedroom.
“You shouldn't be alone. I'll talk to him, but I'll stay here until he arrives” Mick said taking his cell phone out of his pocket.
“It's not necessary” Beth said as she settled down between the pillows “This is nothing new to me. I did it four times by myself.” she emphasized the last word.
“And your husband?” Mick asked confused.
“Ex husband” she corrected him “Actually, he was only with me the first time” Beth snuggled up on her side propping her stomach on a comfortable pillow “Now if you don't mind…”
Beth closed her eyes and Mick was still for a few seconds watching her, thoughtfully. He never let anyone know, but he admires what a brave and fearless woman she is, and that only made his admiration grow. A woman shouldn't go through this alone.
In a last involuntary act, Mick covered her with the blanket and turned off the bedroom light before leaving. Beth was amused and laughed to herself.
Beth tried to rest some more, but this time she couldn't, the contractions were coming more and more intense and painful, but they were still without rhythm, so she knew it wasn't time to go to the hospital yet.
She turned on the television and leaned back against the headboard again, in an attempt to watch something to make time go by faster, but it didn't help either. The pain didn't let her focus on anything else. Beth brought a hand to her stomach and was caressing it in circular motions while she closed her eyes and finally realized that the moment was coming when things would change completely. She and Rio are not a couple, he doubted the pregnancy and threatened to ask for a paternity test. Despite giving up afterwards, they never talked about it, he was with her for every doctor's appointment and helped her with whatever was needed, but there wasn't a conversation about how they were going to handle it once the baby was born.
Beth swallowed and felt butterflies in her stomach as it dawned on her that in a few hours she and Rio would share a child for the rest of their lives. Gradually, the feeling of calm and tranquility disappeared, giving way to an anxiety and questions that had been accumulated for a long time. How does she feel about him? How does he feel about her? Why did this conversation never take place? How are they going to share custody of this child? How will she handle a newborn baby and four other children? How can she control absolutely every aspect of her life and not have the slightest bit of control when it comes to him?
She felt tears run down her face and despair began to creep in. Beth felt her heart racing and tried to control her breathing as she fumbled for her cell phone on the bed to call Ruby and Annie. She was wrong. She can't do this alone.
Beth unlocked the phone with facial recognition, but put it back on the bed when she thought she heard heavy footsteps coming from the living room.
"Elizabeth!" Rio rushed into the room and walked around the bed to sit on the edge of the side she was lying on.
He got nervous and left his grandma's house without much explanation. He ran to the car and drove as fast as he could while still talking to Mick on the phone. But despite his nervousness about the birth of him child, Rio was relieved when Mick told her she was fine. He knew so. She was his girl. Strong and brave.
However, as soon as he entered the room and saw Elizabeth crying and in a state of despair, the feeling that came over him was fear, very fear. Afraid that something might be wrong.
"Why are you cryin'?" Rio cupped her face with both hands and looked into her eyes, wiping away her tears.
“How are we going to do this?” Elizabeth spoke, still crying “At what point did we think this would be the best choice?”
He knew she was referring to carrying the pregnancy through.
“Don't say that” Rio took two fingers to her lips “Never again, please!”
“How can this work? How can two people who just put up with each other raise a child?”
Beth wanted to keep talking, she had so much choked up, but she just couldn't go on because of the pain. This time she couldn't control it and groaned loudly in pain. This was becoming unbearable and she knew it would get worse. Involuntarily she squeezed his hand and closed her eyes in such pain.
“Look at me” Rio asked and she opened her eyes still full of tears. They looked even bluer now. “Take a deep breath with me. 1, 2, 3…”
Rio wiped her face and continued looking into her eyes. He also held her other hand and could feel the force with which she was squeezing him.
"You're doing great!" Rio said as he leaned his forehead against hers and hugged her when he felt her gradually stop squeezing his hands, he deduced that the pain had eased for now "You're the strongest woman I've ever met in my whole life” he said next to her ear, tangling his finger in her hair and feeling her hug him back “Don't say we put up with each other. I mean, you can put up with me, but there must be some reason I didn't let you go.” Rio kissed the top of her head and again looked into her eyes. She wasn't crying anymore, but she still looked apprehensive. “We'll talk about this later, ok? I just want you to calm down. Do you remember what the doctor said? You need to avoid stress.”
Beth nodded and managed to get her breathing under control again. She let out a long breath and seemed calmer now. Rio also looked more relieved and put his hand on her knee, covered by the blanket.
"When it started?" Rio looked between her eyes and her stomach. They didn't have intimacy, they didn't do anything else after conception.
"Last night. Actually, I could barely sleep, but I just felt uncomfortable, that's normal. So today I woke up with a little pain and little by little they were getting worse. Mick showed up when I was going to call you.”
“Are your bags ready yet? The baby bag? I'll let the doctor know that we're going to the hospital” Rio said, taking his cell phone out of his pocket, trying to hide his nervousness.
“It's all ready, but you don't need to call yet” Beth held his hand, preventing him from picking up the phone “I already told the doctor and for now it's no use going. They're going to admit me and what's happening here, will happen there. I prefer to stay in the comfort of my home. The contractions are out of rhythm, this will still take some time.”
"Alright" he ran a hand over his face, swinging both legs nervously.
"You also need to calm down" Beth said in a soft voice "I'm good now, it was just an anxiety attack".
“I'm calm” Rio said and Beth couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, I see" she pointed her eyes at his bouncing leg "By the way, you don't have to stay here… You were probably working on something big with the boss."
“Please Elizabeth, my daughter's birth is more important than any shit. You'll only miss out on the best Mexican food, but we'll take care of that later, my grandma won't mind making another big, super-planned lunch.
"Your grandma? What are you talking about? “Beth frowned, confused, but Rio just smirked. “You mean… the boss… Is your grandmother?” Beth didn't make much of an effort to understand now where his grandmother fit in, but she could imagine "Does she know what's going on here now?"
“It's her great-granddaughter. Why wouldn't she know?" Rio rested his elbow on his leg and his chin on his hand, looking straight at her.
“Why would you take me to lunch with your grandma, Christopher? Elizabeth asked still confused. She never called him that.
"They want to meet you."
"They?"
"My family".
Elizabeth felt butterflies in her stomach that mixed with the next contraction. She couldn't answer, she just gave up dealing with it now. She just closed her eyes and squirmed on the bed. Rio again held her hand and let her use all her strength to squeeze it, if that would make it easier for her. The minutes of pain seemed endless and he tried his best to mask his nervousness so she wouldn't be nervous too. He didn't know what to do to help, the only thing he could do was be by her side.
"How do you feel now?" Rio asked when she looked more relaxed. Elizabeth nodded and again he looked at her stomach "Can I?" he extended his hand.
"Yes sure."
He slowly brought his hand up to the knot of the robe, but was stopped by her hands.
"I don't have anything underneath so if you can... You know, over my robe..."
"I've already seen what you have down there" he laughed "Come on, mom..."
"I'm much bigger than when you last saw me" Elizabeth replied a little embarrassed.
“What the fuck are you talking about Elizabeth?” Rio frowned, “It was that asshole who made you feel that way, wasn't it? It's ok, I won't insist” he got up from the bed and walked to the window with his arms crossed.
Beth undid the knot of her robe and her body was exposed. Her boobs remained covered by the top of the robe, but from the stomach down she wore nothing.
“Hey, come feel your daughter”
Rio looked at her delightedly. He swallowed and approached the bed again. He crouched before her and watched every detail of her body. There was no lewd or sexual thinking, he was just delighted. She's the most beautiful woman he's ever met and now she was even more beautiful, if that were possible.
He placed his hand on her stomach and caressed her in circular motions, he was thoughtful for a while and felt her stomach harden, followed by a groan of pain.
“Is that a contraction?” he asked curious and distressed by her discomfort. Elizabeth just nodded.
“I'll fill the bathtub. I've read that warm water can help with labor pains.
"You read? At the time of Marcus?” - Elizabeth asked still uncomfortable, he had already got up and was going to the bathroom.
"No. I'm not proud of it, but I didn't participate when it was with Marcus. Me and Rhea weren't together” Rio replied already in the bathroom and Beth could hear the water running.
“Why do you want to participate now? I mean, we're not together either.” Beth tied the knot on her robe and walked slowly to the bathroom, still in pain.
“You ask a lot of questions”
“You answer few”
"Come here! I'll help you"
Rio took her hand and helped her out of her robe and into the tub. Elizabeth sat up with difficulty, but felt a pleasant sensation with the warm water on her body. Rio pulled her hair into a bun and splashed water over her shoulders, wet his hand and rubbed it over her face. Beth managed to get comfortable and managed to relax.
“Do you have a name for the baby?”
“No, but mentally I call her Holly”
“Why Holly?”
“It was the name of my first doll” Beth laughed and he ended up laughing too “What do you think?"
“Yeah mama, I like Holly”
"Ok, so why don't you join the two of us in here?"
“I was just waiting for you to ask”
Elizabeth smiled and looked away as he started to undress. When he got out of her boxers, Rio realized she couldn't resist and gave him a quick sideways look. He settled behind her and let her lean against her chest. They both braced their hands on her round stomach and Rio pressed a kiss to her head.
"You must have also read that having sex speeds up labor," Beth suggested and Rio laughed.
"I'm not going to do anything to you, mom."
Elizabeth closed her eyes and managed to relax for a few more hours. She finally managed to regain some of the sleep she didn't get last night. Rio was right, getting in the tub really eased her pain and she managed to get some sleep.
Rio also closed his eyes but couldn't sleep, this time he was uncomfortable. She was relaxed and heavy on top of him. He could feel his legs aching and numb after a while, but he didn't have the heart to interrupt her sleep. The whole time he was caressing her stomach and arms, and every now and then he placed a kiss on her sleeping face.
Several thoughts took over his head. A flash flashed through his mind from the moment he'd learned of the pregnancy, that night at the bar, to the present moment. He made sure to accompany her to all her appointments and didn't miss anything for the baby, but the truth is that it didn't seem real until today. Is happening. Holly will be born in a few hours and will make her relationship with Elizabeth eternal. He knows they need to talk about it, he doesn't feel confused by what he feels, he knows very well what it is, he just doesn't feel safe within a relationship with her. Many things still need to be said and resolved. There needs to be trust and they both know it.
Rio snapped out of his thoughts when Elizabeth woke with a jolt on top of him.
“Hey, what's up? Bad dream?"
"No, I'm cold, the water got cold" Elizabeth said with goosebumps all over "I managed to sleep very well, how long has it been?"
“Come on, let's get up” Rio got up first and helped her then, drying her body and wrapping her again in the same robe “You slept for a few hours, it's late afternoon”
He also dried off, put on his clothes and they both went to the bedroom.
"How are you feelin', mom?"
“Well, more willing. And apparently no contractions for now” Beth shrugged “Come on, let's go to the kitchen, I'll fix you a snack, you must be hungry”
Rio sat at the kitchen counter and cupped her face in his own hand, watching her as she made two cheese sandwiches. Beth handed him one plate and took the other, preferring to stand beside him as she didn't feel so comfortable sitting.
“Have you thought about how you're going to deal with Holly and four other kids? I mean, two weeks a month they are with you.”
“I promised Ruby and Annie I would ask for help if I felt the need”
“You're going to need it” Rio stated “It's five against one and they're small, they…”
“You don't know what a mother is capable of” Beth interrupted him in a neutral and merely explanatory tone “Or do you think Dean was always present? I mean, he has a lot of flaws but he's a good father, the kids love him, but I was the one who gave up having a career to raise our kids.”
"I know, I didn't mean that... I'm trying to say that... You know, I want to be there."
Beth couldn't keep a small smile of satisfaction on her face.
“And how present do you intend to be?”
“As much as you allow” Rio replied looking deep into her eyes “Do your kids know who Holly's father is?”
“No, they don't, but… Well, at some point I'll have to talk about it.” Beth pushed her plate away and took a deep breath when she felt the pain again. She walked slowly across the kitchen and placed the plate in the sink, moving slowly through the pains. “I just don't want you to feel pressured in any way. You live far from here, you have your commits…”
"Actually, we're neighbors now, I just haven't moved in yet"
"The house next door? You bought?" Beth asked in surprise.
“I'm not kidding, mami. I want to do things right this time. This isn't just for Holly, I care about you both."
“Do you know how to change diapers?” Beth laughed.
“Nah… But you can teach me, huh?”
“Alright, let's do… Oh!” Beth let out a groan and leaned against the sink, then looked at her wristwatch. “Last contraction was 3 minutes ago, if they keep going every three minutes, we can go to the hospital. Can you notify the doctor? Bring the bags? I'll change clothes”
“I'll do whatever you tell me to do.” Rio helped her up to the bedroom and did as she asked.
“That sentence is very strong. Are you sure about that?"
“And valid only as far as Holly is concerned” they both laughed.
He finished texting the doctor and carried her bags to the door. However, he ran to the kitchen when he heard her cell phone vibrate. There were some missed calls and unanswered messages from Ruby. The cell phone started ringing again in his hand and he picked it up. Rio updated Ruby about the baby and asked her to let Annie and Dean know. While he wasn't in favor of it, he knew she would like her children to know that Holly is coming.
When he ended the call, Rio didn't have time to think or do anything else, he just ran as fast as he could when he heard Elizabeth screaming his name.
“We need to go, the water broke,” Beth said in a tearful, pained voice.
Rio did his best to stay calm and carried her to the car. It was becoming more and more real. Holly will be born.