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[anya]

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shawn cleaned up pretty quickly, and came back into the bedroom, lying down beside me, making sure i was comfortable whilst we watched an episode of suits on his macbook. he was getting really into it, and i was trying to breathe through the pain i was feeling, trying to not get shawn worried about me.

"i really don't get why i haven't watched this show till now," he says randomly, tracing my bump with his fingers, as i chuckle, rolling my eyes gently. he was sitting up with his back against the headboard, whilst i was lying down, my pregnancy pillow around me, and the heat pad pressed to my back.

"honestly neither do i, i guess we're gonna be binging this for a while," i say, making him chuckle.

"you feeling okay?" he asks me, looking down.

"i- yeah," i say quickly, feeling the pain subside. "yeah, it's dying down."

"that was pretty long hun, almost half an hour?" he asks me confused. "are you sure you feel okay?"

"when you went to clean up and get the heat pad it died down, only came back a couple minutes ago," i shrug, making shawns eyes go wide, as he quickly leans over to the laptop, turning it on pause. "shawn i'm sure it's fine-"

"no, we need to keep track. if you get five more like that, we're going to hospital," he says quickly. "i'm gonna call my mum."

"shawn-"

"anya, listen to me. you might be going into labour," he says, slowly, as if to calm me and himself down.

"but i'm only 36 weeks!" i say, sitting up on my elbows. "shawn."

"it's fine, its only 4 weeks early if you do, but we have to monitor it," he tells me. "stay calm, please hunny."

"but-"

"anya, stay calm," he tells me, a little bit more firmly this time. i nod, huffing as he gets up, walking around the room, whilst pressing his phone to his ear. "hi mum, i'm okay, you? listen, anyas having pains. she thought they were braxton hicks but they've turned out to start to be regular, and only lasting a couple minutes. i think she's going into labour. well, i don't know but we're gonna monitor it," he pauses for a couple seconds, walking into the closet, and coming out with a overnight bag. "what? so we should go anyway? yeah that's what i thought, okay mum, thanks. love you." he hangs up, sighing, before running his hand through his hair.

"what?"

"mum said to go to the hospital anyway. she thinks it sounds like contractions, and honestly, so do i," he says. "we'll wait half an hour, see if one comes up. if it doesn't, we'll stay here. if it does, we're taking you to the hospital."

"brian and aaliyah are still here!" i say, as he shakes his head.

"only aaliyah, brian left," shawn says. "baby, how much did the first two hurt?"

"it was bearable, just like a really bad period cramp," i shrug, leaning against my pillow. "shawn, stop pacing, you're making me feel tired," i giggle, holding out my hand. he rolls his eyes playfully, before sitting back down again, and taking my hand in his.

"are you ready if she does come today?" shawn asks me softly, rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.

"is a mother ever ready to give birth?" i ask, looking up at him. "i'll be okay. i think."

"okay? anya you're gonna be pushing a baby out of your vagina-"

"shawn!" i chuckle, cutting him off completely. "if you stay calm, i'll be calm. please hunny, don't worry."

"you know i only do because of what's happened recently gorgeous," he mumbles, squeezing my hand gently. "i know it's gonna be my fault if she comes early."

"no shawn, it won't," i say quickly, easing myself up to a sitting position. "hey hunny, if she's ready to come out, she's gonna come out. it's not because of what happened, and it's not your fault at all."

"but i caused the stress," he says sadly. "i'm so sorry baby."

"shawn," i sigh, moving closer to him, easing my arms around his neck. "it's not your fault at all. please don't get worried. it's my fault if anything."

"let's just drop this conversation before it gets messy," shawn mumbles, placing his hands on my bump. "tell me if the pain comes back."

"should we call anyone else?" i ask. "what if we get seen going to the hospital?"

"you're right," he mumbles. "gertys still in toronto, let me call him quickly," he says, getting up from the bed, and walking to the door of the room. "i'll be back in a sec. call your mum."

"yeah," i nod. "shawn?"

"don't worry hunny, everything's gonna be okay," he says to me, completely settling my mind and answering my question without me uttering a word to him. i smile thankfully at him, before he escapes out of the room.

it was going to be a long night.

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"shawn!" i yell from the kitchen. "shawn!"

"what is it baby?" shawns quick to rush to where i am, looking around me concerned, as i feel the sharp cramping in my lower abdomen.

"h-how long has it been?" i stutter, clutching onto the counter.

"35 minutes," he answers, furrowing his eyebrow, before walking closer to me, placing his hand on my back, as i clutch onto his side.

"shawn," i mumble, wincing slightly. "she's coming."

"are you sure?" shawn asks me, as i nod quickly. "how many have you had?"

"5, all thirty to thirty five minutes apart, shawn she's coming," i say, panicking on the inside. "should we wait till my water breaks?"

"we already waited for three more contractions than we said we should wait for, we're going to the hospital. i've packed a bag for you," he says to me, as i nod in response. "come on, i'll help you put your shoes on. let's go."

"shawn," i whimper, grabbing onto his arm. "i'm scared."

"hunny, everything's gonna be okay," he tells me gently, laying a small kiss over my forehead. "now come on, let's go have a baby."

shawn eases me over to the couch, before leaving me for a few moments and coming back with a pair of shoes for me. he helps me put them on, whilst the cramping pain begins to ease off. "w-what about liyah, shawn? we can't leave her sleeping here," i say, wincing slightly as shawn tries to stuff my swollen ankles into my trainers.

"i'll wake her up, hold on," he says, kissing my forehead gently, before walking in the direction of the guest room. he comes back out around two minutes later, a tired and yawning aaliyah following him.

"you're going into labour?" aaliyah asks me, rushing over to the couch. "oh my god, i can't believe its happening."

"we don't know yet," shawn tells her calmly. "are you gonna come to the hospital with us or do you wanna stay here?"

"i'm coming with you," aaliyah says, grasping onto my hand. "she's gonna be my niece, and the mothers gonna be my future sister in law, i'm definitely coming with you."

my cheeks flush wildly, and i immediately look away from shawn, only to see him grinning widely, whilst looking at the floor, his cheeks a subtle pink.

"oh shush aaliyah," shawn mumbles, nudging his sister. "can you go put this in my car for me? i need to help anya out," he says to her, handing her his car keys. aaliyah nods and quickly rushes out of the condo, leaving shawn and i alone.

"hunny do you think you can stand up and walk on your own?" he asks me softly, placing his hand on my back.

"y-yeah i'll be fine," i say, standing up from the couch, shawns hands supporting my movements slightly. "shawn, can you just put your arm around me to guide me?"

"of course love," he coos, wrapping his arm around my lower back, as i ease my way past the kitchen, shawn pressed right next to me.

as soon as i reach the front door to the condo, i stop in my tracks, feeling a warm liquid trickle down my leg. my entire body tenses up, and i turn my head slowly to shawn, pure panic washing over me.

"what? what happened baby?" he asks concerned, holding onto me slightly tighter.

"m-my water just broke."

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