I thought having my first period in the middle of a football game, with only dad by my side, was awkward. But dear God... Being shaved down there by another woman is something else. I don't think I'll ever get past how awkward I felt. No I'm not being over dramatic, you try having someone shave you down there.

" All clean." the nurse smiles.

I flash her an awkward smile and look out of the window, praying that she'll just leave my awkward presence.

I feel another contraction coming. Have mercy.

" Mmmm." I try and hold in my cry for help. I've already made most of the people around me deaf . Don't want to make another one deaf.

" Everly. Honey. We're going to get through this. I know I wasn't the perfect mother growing up but I promise to be the perfect grandmother." mom says walking into the room.

Shit. I forgot about Jasmine and Brent. They are the adopted parents of Chicka so they should probably be here for her birth.

" About that... Can you please call Stella over mom? " I ask and mom nods.

She walks out of the room and enters with Stella by her side in less than a minute.

" Have you called Jasmine?" I ask, grabbing onto the bed sheets as another contraction comes and goes.

" They are already on their way. " she smiles.

Stella puffs the cushion behind my back. It somehow helps with my back pain. Imagine having your period and that lower back pain you get sometimes, well multiple that with 10 then you know how my back feels.

" Wait. Who is Jasmine and why is she coming over here? What's going on?" mom asks confused.

Oh right. She doesn't know about the adoption plan at all. How do I explain to my mom that I have to put my child up for adoption to prevent Liam's gang leader uncle from hurting her in every way possible?

" It's the baby's adoptive parents." I say keeping it simple.

Mom goes pale again. I swear I'm going to be the reason why she faints today.

After a few minutes or so she seems to gain her color back. She clears her throat uncomfortably.

" Stella, would you please excuse us for a minute." she asks politely.

Stella nods and leaves the room. It's just me and my mom in the room at the moment. I don't know where everyone disappeared of to.

" Why?" Mom asks.

I look down at my belly. I try to hold in a tear trying to escape. I don't know if it's from the pain or from reality kicking in that she'll be gone after a few hours and I'll never see her again.

" Mom it's for her own safety." I try and keep it short.

" In what danger could she possibly be?" mom continues to fire the questions I really don't want to answer.

I try to avoid her gaze the whole time. " Some things happened in the past few months. I can't explain to you because that will put you in possible danger. Just know that this is the only way I can protect her."

Mom takes a moment to breath. " How do you expect to protect her when she isn't with you? "

Because I'm the danger. I wanted to say that to her so badly but that will leave her even more confused than before.

" Just trust me on this mom. " I exhale.

Another contraction comes and goes. They are getting more painful by the hour.

" Honey, I know you think what you are doing is the best thing for the baby. Just remeber that in these past few months you have grown a bond between you and this little human growing inside of you. No one can ever take that emotional bond away from a mother. You learn how to keep the baby safe inside you. You learn to care for her even though she's not born yet. All the suffer and pain you are going through will never leave your memories. It's something that sticks with you. Honey when you give this baby away you will be stuck with regret for the rest of your life. You won't get to see her first steps, her first laugh, her first word. You won't be there to warn her about the danger of boys or educate her on girly stuff like periods and puberty. Do you really want someone else to have that honor in raising the child you grew inside of you? The child that is half you? Are you willing to live with that emptiness? " by this time I couldn't stop the escaping tears.

Her words have a lot of truth to it but she doesn't understand. I don't think I even understand anymore.

" Thanks mom." I say and wipe away some shed tears.

Some time passes where mom and I just sit in the silence as I take in her words.

Every time someone passes I secretly hope it would be Liam rushing into the room.

Jasmine and Brent arrived in the next 20 minutes looking all excited. It broke my heart. I want to be the one to go home with a baby after this. Why is life so selfish?

The doctor came back to check up on me a few times. I'm only 3 centimeters dilated. I have to reach 10 centimeters before I can start to push. Which means that I'm going to be stuck with a lot of pain for a while.

The doctor offered me epidural by the time I was 4 centimeters dialted and I took it without a second thought. It made my body numb but in a good way. I still felt the contractions but not so bad as it was before. Epidural, you are a blessing in disguise.

Through all this I was still hoping for Liam to appear and to hold my hand but he never showed. Something inside me still has a little faith that he will show up.

An hour passed when the doctor returned. " Looks like you are 7 centimeters dialted. Almost time to start pushing Everly."

I don't know who's more excited to get this child out of me. Me or the doctor. Either way he is doing a good job in keeping me calm. Mom is also surprisingly calm for someone who wanted to faint just a few hours ago. Stella is supportive as always and of course Blake makes sure to pop in a few times. I really appreciate him making an effort to check up on me.

Jasmine and Brent keep on talking about their plans after the birth. How they already set up the nursing room and are stacked with baby supplies for months. They want to send Chicka to a private school when she starts going to school and plans for her to attend university after school. She has a bright future ahead of her. That's the only thing that matters to me.

Another hour passes as I make turns to play Uno with Stella and Blake. Mom enjoys watching Blake lose each time and he surely is a sore loser. I can't help but laugh when he storms out of the room only to come back and apologize.

Soon enough the doctor comes back to check up on me. After a few minutes of complete silence he looks up at the room filled with curious expressions.

"Everly?" he asks.

I gulp nervously. " Yes?"

" It's time."

_______________________________________

Do you think Liam will show up during the birth?

2. Do you think the Snake's will make an appearance after the birth?

3. Do you like avo?