The ceramic is warm against my fingers, steam lifting from the mug as I breathe in that gingery goodness. My eyes roam the light grey walls, invisibly connecting each little star Heather, Farrah, and I had painted. The spot where an old vintage desk used to be now has a comfy rocking chair in it. The dresser, which also acts as a changing table, is my old one that we had sanded down, repainted, and put new hardware on it, going right where the old Daybed used to be. My gaze moves to the big round crib that's in the center of the room, right under the fan and the main focal point.

The place I had once played for hours has now been transformed into my baby's nursery room.

Once Laura had learned about my pregnancy, she took the house off the market. She's making an effort and trying to right her wrongs, slowly opening up to me more. Even though we may never be super close, we're getting to a point that we're comfortable around one another and can carry on long conversations and laugh. She even brought her family to my wedding.

The house isn't the same, but Tariq and I have made it into a home. It hurt, stepping in it again since the renovations, but as Tariq and I started making it our own space, I realized the renovations were exactly what I needed.

A fresh start.

I was able to keep my home, yet let go of the past. I'm not haunted anymore by the night my dad had passed. Instead, new life is going to be brought in here, a new family.

There are still bits and pieces that are the same, with dad's furniture placed here and there, parts of him still with my childhood home. The gorgeous crib though is brand stinking new and a gift from Tariq's parents, along with the chair. I gave some stuff to Laura and she happily took them.

Lifting the mug to my lips, I breathe in the ginger tea, taking a sip, then sigh out some of the heat.

I know the baby won't be sleeping in there for a while but I can't help wanting to look at it every morning since we got it.

I'm three days overdue.

Summer vacation is almost over and my junior year is about to start, and still no baby.

It's maddening.

I poke my belly. "Why won't you come out?"

Strong arms circle around me and I'm pulled back into a hard chest. Tariq nuzzles my neck, my hair sticking to his sexy trimmed beard. "Why are you out of my bed?"

I roll my eyes but smile into my mug. "You know the routine. Pee, concoct my tea, and look at the crib while I drink it."

He chuckles, his warm lips kissing me right behind my ear. "Our baby isn't even here yet and you're already depriving me of my wife's attention."

I set my mug down on the dresser, turning into Tariq's hold, my hands resting against his broad chest, swollen belly keeping me from melting into his delicious body.

"And what kind of attention are we talking about?"

His eyes dilate and his lips turn up into a wicked grin. He is so beautiful in the morning that a bit of jealousy nibbles at me. All rumpled, hair messily combed back from his fingers. Dark, still intimidating gaze, heavy from just waking up. Muscles laxed, yet defined, abs that are still so sculpted with all those dips and ridges I love to glide my fingers down. His pajama shorts, riding low on his hips, those v-shaped muscles enticing me.

Where is that sympathy weight?

His brow cocks. "Why exactly am I getting that annoyed, pinched face from you?"

"It's not fair."

"What isn't?"

"You didn't gain any sympathy weight. I thought that was supposed to be a thing."

"Are you saying you wish I was fat, Blue?"

"No," I object. "Yes, maybe, I don't know. It's just that--"

"Elodie." His voice drops an octave, the one that vibrates through my body and sends chills down my spine. "Get back into my bed right now."

I squeak when Tariq whips me off the floor and into his arms, bringing me back to our disheveled bed sheets and comforter. "But my tea is going to get cold."

"Let it." He places me down and leans into me until my back is pressed against the bed. "You know what the doctor said is the best way to induce labor, now let me do my part."

He starts putting his lips on my neck, right where he knows it gets me all melty and whimpery. "You did more than your part last night."

"And it clearly wasn't enough," he mumbles huskily, hot breath tickling the most sensitive spot on my neck. "It's happening today, I know it, but it will only happen if you let me have my way with you."

I give a breathless laugh as he moves further down, my pajamas becoming a bother for him. "You've been saying that every day since the doctor told us all the ways to induce labor. You oddly forget all different ways and we haven't bothered to try any of the others besides this."

"This is the most enjoyable."

I give up. "You're right."

"That's it, babe. Give in to me, let me have my fun, and please you while I do."

I'm a knotted-up, tangled mess underneath him. "Then just do it."

He kisses my round belly, smiling wickedly at me with that gorgeous lopsided grin and heated eyes. "Gladly."

*

It had to be today of all days?

Shiny black head all fuzzy and tiny. Dark eyes, wincing from the bright, unexpected light. Body stretching in odd ways as the tiny mouth widens.

Then...

The hiss.

It's back.

That dumb goose.

"Aren't you supposed to be flying South by now?" I yell at it.

It hits its beak against my car door.

I'm holding my cramping belly, breathing deep even breaths as I lean forward as if that would stop the oncoming contractions. At first, I thought I had just been crampy, but then it started to get worse and worse throughout the day at the homeless shelter. I had gone in to check and make sure everything was running smoothly during my time off. And now, I'm stuck outside Tariq's old place where we were supposed to be having a much-needed game night with all the guys. What had once been Tariq's room, Rasheed has now dubbed his man cave.

And this STUPID goose won't give me safe passage!

I yank my phone out of my purse. All day I've been questioning whether I'm in labor or not but I've been able to walk around with no problem until I sat down in the car. That's when it really started hurting. It's like the worst period cramps I've ever had.

I should've called Tariq right away but we've had so many false alarms, I didn't want to do that to him, or me, again. My phone rings and I'm groaning into it.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up," I whisper into the phone.

"Blue?" Tariq's deep voice makes me sigh out in relief, but then a contraction hits me and I'm groaning again

"Baby? You alright?"

"No!" I shout. "I'm in labor and I'm in so much pain I can barely move, but even if I did Mr. Psycho Devil Goose is back and hitting its beak against my car door, denting it. Get out here now!"

"I'm coming for you, Blue."

While waiting for him, I somehow manage my way into the passenger seat. After what feels like centuries, Tariq is still not out here. I call but get his voicemail.

"I thought you said you were coming for me? Where the heck are you? I swear to God, if I end up giving birth in my car, I'll divorce you!"

I hang up and as I type out an angry text, the front door to the house bursts open. There, right before my eyes, is my idiot husband, dressed head to toe in Winston's hockey gear, goalie pads and all.

"I'm coming, Blue."

The devil goose turns its creepy long neck and hisses at my husband.

An epic battle is about to emerge.

I watch in dazed amazement as Tariq holds up a hockey stick as if he's Aragorn about to storm the Black Gate. He even takes a step back before he charges. He rushes toward the goose who has its wings spread wide, in an act of intimidation.

"Don't you dare hurt my husband, you filthy, disgusting, devil bird!"

The goose starts plucking at Tariq's pads and loud yelling breaks out. Winston, Beau, and Rasheed have sticks and are smacking them against the concrete to get the spawn of satan bird away from Tariq, who is now rushing toward my car, ripping off the hockey gear. Rasheed gets right in the goose's way.

"Ready to be my puck, Goose Cujo?" Rasheed shouts at it.

It hisses at him, its head bending down and arching as another demonic sound comes from it. Yep, I'm convinced this thing is related to raptors. Its beak latches onto the hockey stick and Rasheed practically throws the thing across the yard.

Tariq jerks open the car door, helmet still on his head. "I'm sorry, babe but we had to strategize." The goose starts for another rampage, not even a little bothered about being flown in the air like a football. It charges straight for Rasheed and this time his bravery vanishes as he runs away screaming like a nut job. "Not so funny now, huh, bro?"

Panting, Tariq rips off the helmet, massive dimple smile on his beautiful face. "We having a baby?"

All I could do was nod.

*

So, apparently, I have very low pain tolerance.

How do I know this?

Well, I had only been five centimeters dilated, but they kept me in the hospital because even though I was in the early stages of labor, I was in labor.

Tariq's mom had brought us our stuff then left since Tariq and I had decided it would just be us during the delivery. Everyone understood, especially his parents, because they had wanted the same thing when they had their kids.

Hours had gone by and once I had my epidural, everything became really... anti-climatic. Tariq and I watched movies on his iPad and he even went down to the cafeteria for dinner while I had fallen asleep. It wasn't until nine hours of labor, that I was finally ready to push.

My eyes had popped open and it felt like a watermelon was bursting out of me. I yelled for Tariq who had been asleep on a couch attached to the windowsill. He had freaked out and called for the nurse even though I had pressed the big red button they told me to click whenever I needed them.

After an hour of pushing and all the gores of birthing a baby...

Amara Emilia Araneo is snuggled in her daddy's big strong arms, swaddled to perfection in a white blanket with blue and pink stripes. My daughter has a massive black afro, her daddy's beautiful caramel skin... and my big blue eyes.

She doesn't open them often, but when she does, I swear Tariq falls in love with her more and more. My husband sits in the chair next to me, an exhausted heap of love. His finger draws tiny circles on her chubby cheeks as he stares at her with a soft expression that literally destroys me.

Amara starts crying and Tariq coos to her. "Hey, baby girl, it's alright daddy's got you."

"I think she's hungry." I stretch my arms out.

Tariq looks at them, at me, then shakes his head no. "She just ate. She wants her daddy." He stands up, getting as far away from me as possible. "You can't have her."

"Tariq, she's hungry."

His dark eyes are hysterically panicked but then he starts rocking her back and forth, her crying stopping. "See, she just wanted to be rocked."

My arms fall to my side and I smile at him. "You were wrong."

He quirks a brow. "Wrong about what?"

My sore body wiggles a little, but I'm a little bit comfier after a much-needed shower and peeling that gross hospital gown off me, replacing it with big comfy clothes of Tariq's he had lent me, his masculine, ginger scent embedded into the shirt. "I think I'm the one in trouble of losing my husband's attention."

His eyes snap to me, glinting and serious. He walks over to me, situating our daughter into a protective hold that frees up a hand that pushes back some of my damp hair. "You'll always have my attention, Blue, and you're a goddess for giving me, my daughter."

I smile softly.

It's crazy to think of everything we have been through, all the craziness, the hardships, but all my twisted, football to the face, painful roads led me here, to this moment, to our beautiful little girl and...

To this man.

Without a word, Tariq slowly and tenderly places our daughter in my arms, and the healing, the love that encompasses me is something that will never leave me. He leans down, his lips pressing against mine, my heart fluttering, my insides knotting, and my love growing. My hand cups his face and I breathe him in. Everything we went through, the losses, grief, pain, mistakes, they were hard and tough, but we were strong enough and all we had to do was...

Hang on.

***

It's finally here! The last chapter! I'm so sorry for my delay. I will be writing doing one last update that will be an author's note! I just want to thank you all for reading, commenting, and voting for Hang On! I hope this ending didn't disappoint