An extra long chapter this one!

The 20th of September arrived with no signs at all of jb arriving any time soon. I hadn't had any pains at all except from the constant pain I had in my hips, I was still okay.

I had an appointment yesterday, where she checked my cervix to see if I was dilated at all. I'd been happy when she told me I was 2 cm's, but according to the Doctor, that's to be expected and nothing to get excited about just yet.

Mel, and Xavier had been hovering around me anxiously, annoying me to death. I know they meant well, but I'd love just a little bit of time to myself.

Carlos has been brilliant. I'd gone off food over the last few days, and he's been trying loads of new different thing's, hoping that I'd like the smell, and maybe eat some of it.

Earlier it had finally paid off. He'd been preparing the ingredients for chicken enchiladas, and I'd wondered in after my daily swim to the most delightful smell.

He'd been pleased, when I managed to eat most of what he'd cooked by myself; Mel and Xavier hadn't been so happy, after only managing to get one each, that had been left over after I'd eaten so much I felt like exploding.

Xavier hasn't been to work for over a week now, only doing what he needs through his computer in his study.

Mel's been keeping herself busy, out buying baby clothes for me, that I'd seen online and liked. Little jb, was now the proud owner of a closet full of clothes to wear until after he turned one.

Xavier had finally put his foot down, telling her to buy no more clothes. So she'd started buying baby shoes instead, just to pîss him off.

When she arrived home an hour ago, she'd dragged me upstairs to the nursery, and sat me down to show me the cute things she'd bought today.

I had to admit, they really were adorable.

"Aria, can I be in the room with you and Xavier when jb arrives? I've watched loads of birthing programme's on TV, and I'd like to be there to show you support." She asks me.

I stare at her shocked, that she'd even want to be there, I know for a fact that Mel's no good at the sight of blood. And from what I'd read about, it got very bloody in the delivery room.

"I'll talk to Xavier about it, and let you know tomorrow, okay?"

She nods, and smiles at me and I decide to have a lay down while I'm up here, feeling tired.

Heading across to our room at around 7 p.m that evening I find Xavier getting changed into a suit and tie, and raise an eyebrow at him confused.

He comes over, and I help him with his tie automatically.

"Sorry, mio amore, I need to head into the office. That bîtch has finally fûcked up. She's screwed an important business deal for me, thankfully it's with Edward, one of my close friends so I can salvage it. I'll be back as soon as my meeting with him is over, ring me if anything happens, I have my phone on me and I promise to be here as soon as you need me." He replies, before kissing me and quickly rushing out the bedroom.

Laying down, I fall asleep thinking of our little jb.

************************************

I'm not sure what time I wake up, but it's dark and quite downstairs from what I can hear. Xavier isn't in bed either, and I need him.

I'd only woken up, because of the agonising pain that was currently spreading across my bump. Gasping, and trying not to scream, I wait for the pain to go before getting up to find Mel.

Getting to her room as fast as I could manage, I'm pleased to see her in bed.

Going up to her bed, I reach over and shrug her gently, trying to get her attention.

She startles, and stares at me looking scared, before she realises it's me and jumps up.

"Baby?" She asks quickly.

I nod, just as I get another pain, and can't help the scream that's tears from my mouth.

She looks terrified, as she helps me to sit on her bed once the pains gone.

"Where's Xavier?" I ask her breathlessly.

"I don't know, he wasn't back when I came up to bed," she tells me slightly panicked. "God, what do I do? Come on we need to get you down stairs."

I slowly get up, and she grabs my arm to steady me as we walk down the hall, and onto the stairs.

Making it into the lounge, I go to sit on the sofa.

"Mel, go up to my room and get me my hospital bag, please? I'll try ringing Xavier." I ask her gently, she nods at me, and rushes off upstairs.

Grabbing my phone from beside the sofa where I'd left it last night, I speed dial Xavier's number frantically.

It rings and rings, but I get no answer.

When I get through to voicemail, I leave him an angry message, informing him I'm in labour, and that he'd better get his butt to the hospital or he won't like the consequences.

Mel comes down carrying my bag, and has got herself dressed in some sweats and a tracksuit top. I'm still wearing some leggings and a top that I'd slept in. They're comfy around my bump; so very easy to sleep in.

As if reading my mind, Mel hands me a pair of sneakers from near the door, too.

Standing up to put them on, Carlos walks through the door looking tired. Seeing me and Mel up, his eyes go wide, quickly catching on to the situation.

I manage to get the shoes on, just as I get another pain, making me stumble in shock, at how much it hurts.

Carlos rushes forward and catches me before I can fall, and I cling to him desperately, until the pains gone.

Panting, I turn to Mel who's looking pale, but determined.

"Ring your brother, and tell him to get here now! If he misses our son's birth I'll kîll him!" I screech out, royally pîssêd off.

She nods rapidly, and pulls out her phone, calling him for me.

"Aria? We need to get you into the car. I'll drive while Mel sits in the back with you, have you got everything?" He asks me calmly.

"Yes, I've got my bag." I reply panicked.

"Come on then, let's get to the garage. Mel, any luck?" He asks as we walk through the kitchen.

I don't hear her answer, but it's obviously a "no", from the look Carlos gives her.

He leads me over to a large BMW, opening the door he helps me inside.

Mel quickly gets in next to me still trying to reach Xavier, when I get another pain even worse than the last one.

Once it had stopped, I start crying pathetically, feeling overwhelmed.

"Why is it happening so fast?" I ask through sobs.

Mel grabs my hand and squeezes gently, as Carlos starts the car.

"I don't know Aria, it looks like jb is in a rush to meet his Mommy." she tells me calmly. "Don't panic Aria, you'll be okay. Xavier will get here soon, don't worry." She says trying to soothe me and failing.

Grabbing my phone, I ring Doctor Green and let her know what's happening. She's already at the hospital when I ring, and agreed to meet me at the entrance.

I relax slightly, knowing I won't be giving birth with a strange Doctor around me.

Mel is still trying to get through to Xavier, and informs me when we are almost to the hospital that it's now going straight to voice mail, instead of ringing, making me angrier.

He fûcking promised!! It's around 2 a.m now, and he left at around 7 p.m to go to meet his friend, so where the Hell is he that's so damn important?

Carlos pulls up at the hospital entrance, and I see Doctor Green, and a nurse already there with a wheelchair for me making me relax slightly.

Mel gets out first, and helps me quickly out of the car. Once I'm stood up, I scream again in agony as I get another pain, then a weird sensation and look down startled as I feel my feet get wet.

Mel looks down alarmed at the puddle at my feet, too. Doctor Green pushes Mel to the side, and helps me into the wheelchair quickly, and soon we're all rushing towards the labour ward, with me panting and screaming loudly.

I get led straight into an empty private room, just like I'd asked for on my last visit.

Doctor Green lays me down on the bed with the nurses help, and starts removing everything from my bottom half.

I scream again as i get another contraction, and look around for Mel. She's stood inside the door holding my bag tightly, and looks like she might faint.

"Mel, I need you?" I shout hoarse from all the screaming.

My phone rings inside my bag, and she dives to answer it, quickly leaving the room before she says anything.

Another pain rips through me, as Doctor Green does an examination.

She gets up, and looks at me smiling.

"Well your 8cm's dilated already, Arianna. It shouldn't be long before you can push your baby out. Now, where's your partner?" She asks confused.

I stare at her shocked because of how fast it's gone.

"I don't know. But I'm going to kîll him when he does eventually gets here. He promised to be here, and he isn't. God, I hate him so much right now!?" I scream loudly, as another pain hits.

Mel comes into the room, looking around nervously.

"He's on his way now Aria, he'll be here soon, I promise. He's ten minutes away." She says trying to reassure me.

"Good, I can strangle him quicker than planned then," I tell her angrily. "God, I'm so pîssed at him. This hurts so bad! Where the Hell was he?" I scream as I get another contraction.

Doctor Green starts hooking me up to a fetal monitor, and looks slightly worried, making me start to panic again.

"What's wrong?" I demand her.

"Your baby's heart rate is a little higher than normal, I'm going to need you to try and remain calm now, Arianna," she tells me firmly. "You're 9cm's, and dilating a lot faster than is normal. Just try to breathe and relax, I'll take good care of you both, I promise."

I nod, and try to relax as best as I can. Getting another contraction, I grab onto Mel's hand tightly, making her wince.

Letting her go once the contraction had passed, I stare at the clock above the door, to see its been nearly 15 minutes since she told me Xavier would be here soon.

I turn to her, to see her nervously eyeing the clock, too.

Doctor Green checks me again and tells me I'm still at 9cm's, I keep feeling like i need to push, but she tells me sternly, not to do it just yet.

I get another contraction and scream again, just as the door swings open, and Xavier rushes in looking dishevelled, and panicked.

"Arianna!" He shouts, and comes over to me quickly.

As he nears, I go to take a swing at him in anger, and he stops in his tracks, stunned.

"You arsehôle! I hate you right now, Xavier. Where the Hell have you been, huh?" I demand. "And is that lipstick on your shirt?!" I scream loudly at him.

He backs away, and looks at at me hurt.

I get another contraction, and Doctor Green checks me one final time.

"Arianna I need you to calm down, and listen to me. Forget this for now, sweetie," she demands me. "You're 10cm's, and now on your next contraction, I need you to push as hard as you can, okay?" She asks me firmly.

I nod at her, feeling exhausted. Staring at Xavier, I point to the door.

"Get the fûck out! Right now I don't want to see you here. Just go!" I reply numbly.

He stares at me shocked, and shakes his head at me.

"No. It's my son, I need to be here. It's not what you think!" He replies angrily.

"You don't deserve anything," I say sadly, and turn away from him.

Getting another pain, I ignore him and bare down, pushing as hard as I can.

It hurts so bad, I think I might pass out, but continue pushing anyway.

I feel the pain change to a burning pain, and then relax in relief, as I feel my jb enter the world, crying loudly.

Doctor Green immediately carries him away, over to the baby table to check him over, and I sob in relief that he's finally here, and that he's crying heartily, too.

After checking him and weighing him, she wraps him up in a blue blanket, and brings him to me.

I stare down in awe at him, he's so beautiful. His eyes are open, and he looks so much like Xavier I want to laugh.

Mel and Xavier have moved beside me, and are both smiling happily down at him too.

"Baby Stewart arrived at 3.25a.m, weighing 7pounds 6ounces. 51cm's long, and a very healthy set of lungs on him, too." Doctor Green replies happily.

"You did incredible, Arianna. I never expected your labour to go as quickly as it did, but it's finally over now, your baby's here. Can you hand him over to his Dad, or Auntie? I need to give you some stitches." She asks me gently.

I glare at Xavier, who's still staring at our son with tears in his eyes.

He looks up feeling my stare, and takes the baby gently from me.

I watch him closely, as he and Mel coo happily down at him. Doctor Green quickly starts stitching, and cleans me up. I don't feel any pain from the stitches she's giving me at all.

Once she's done, she gets Xavier to give me back the baby, and shows me how to latch him on to feed.

Leaving us warily, she goes to see her other patients, promising to call back in a while.

Mel leaves to inform Carlos what's happened, leaving me alone with Xavier.

He moves closer to me, and peers down at our son.

"I'm sorry Arianna. So sorry, I wasn't here tonight. I was with Edward, you can call him, or the club where we were at all night." He begs me.

"Then why do you have lipstick on your shirt?" I ask him calmly, not wanting to upset the baby.

"Alexa! She came on to me in front of my full board of directors, I fired her on the spot, but not before Jade had snapped a picture of her kissing me, so expect that showing up in the papers tomorrow," he tells me annoyed. "I really am sorry Arianna, I lost track of time, I haven't had a catch up with Edward in years, and lost track of time. And my phone died after I had listened to your voice mail. Please mio amore, please say you forgive me for not being here when you needed me?" He begs me, crying now.

I hear the honesty in his voice, and seeing him cry makes my heart break.

"Okay, but I'm so pîssed at you right now. You promised me, and you very nearly missed it." I say angry.

He leans over our son, and kisses me gently on the forehead.

"You were brilliant tesoro, I'm so very proud of you. Just look at him, he's so perfect." Xavier says, grinning down at the baby.

"Names, Xavier? We need to name him?" I ask frustrated.

"I like Nicolas, any names you like, mio amore?" He asks me gently.

"Yes, I really like Adriano or Angelo." I reply smiling down at the babe in question.

Xavier frowns, and seems to be thinking them over.

"How about Angelo Nicolas Grayson?" He asks me seriously.

Running it over in my head, I smile at him grateful.

"Yes, it's perfect," I tell Xavier happily "Our little Angelo." I reply kissing him gently on his little forehead.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book, and I really do appreciate the votes ☺ xx