Infinity Chapter 89 - The Pain

[itztigress3]

Chapter 89 – The pain
POV: Emily
Word count:  6060

July 15, 2014

  Zac had taken Alexander with him to the studio when he left this morning, which was about 7. They weren’t doing anything much today beyond planning and Taylor said Ezra and Penny would be there with him, so Alexander had someone to play with.

Eliza was due over for lunch today so I got up at 7:45. But, I’d been having some back pain and some of those had crept around as well. I took a hot shower to see if that would ease it for the day or at least make it tolerable. I also opted for a sun dress, the blue one Zac liked so much, because it was hot outside. Tulsa summers were no joke.

It was good that Eliza was coming over, Daly and I had talked and she was cleared to be my guard while we were in Australia. I just needed to see if she could or if she was willing to go and be my security.

“Emily?” Detective Walker called.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Everything alright? You’re not usually this slow to come downstairs.”

“I took a longer shower, sorry.”

Detective Walker was going with us for lunch, not to mediate, but in case anyone tried something she was there. I came down about 8:30 and she had breakfast ready, which we ate. She kept it light though knowing we had the lunch reservations. We had just finished when the gate bell went off and she checked, and then let Eliza in. She met her at the door to let her inside.

“I should have called but I wasn’t doing anything so I figured I’d just come over a bit earlier.” She said.

“Not a problem. I was just going to be a vegetable and watch random TV shows that I never get to watch. Zac took Alexander with
him today so I have downtime.”

She seemed a bit disappointed by that really, he was hardly here when she was and I knew that if we ever hoped Alexander would adjust, he’d have to be around her.  I was hoping Australia would be that time and be something we can reflect back on in several years.

“We do have drinks and snack stuff if you want, I had to eat obviously but that’s up to you.” I said.

“I had breakfast about 7, if I snack now I won’t be hungry. But, I can handle some tea if you have it.”

“Zac made tea last night; I can guarantee its sugar free.”

“Sugar free? He actually drinks something without sugar?!”

“He will not drink sweet tea; I love it so I keep sugar packets for me. It’s better for Alexander too.”

She fixed a glass and added sugar and we sat down in the living room, it was quiet for a moment before Detective Walker tapped my shoulder.

“I’m going to walk the grounds, make sure things are legit. Agent Thompson is at the gate.” she said.

“OK.”

She left out the back door, yet Eliza still seemed down. It was something I had noticed that over the last few days I’d become acutely aware of how she was feeling and right now it was kind of down, not quite sad or depressed just like something was there. I was also aware that she hadn’t been wearing her wedding band, I knew there were problems but she hadn’t said much.

“So, you’ve been kind of quiet. Is everything ok?”

She looked at me and started to say everything was fine but I tilted my head some and raised an eyebrow, she was not going to lie to me. Her shoulders slumped.

“Now I know why Zac can’t lie to you, Jesus Christ that look.”

“Took a long time to perfect it, so what’s going on?”

“Grant and I had a huge argument last night, I always assumed that he wanted a family and to settle down eventually. We were both career driven in our teens and early 20’s. But, I just…assumed.”

“Is that not what he wants?”

Her eyes took on a dull state. “No. He said he doesn’t want little brats running around, doesn’t want to deal with a family. Honestly, I haven’t been around a lot of babies but I always wanted at least one. I see how Alexander runs to you and how he is and how you look and I want that. Even if I don’t have the baby myself, there is adoption. But, he doesn’t want children period. He doesn’t want to have a house or yard or anything.”

“Aaron and Zander really don’t want children either but I mean a lot of men are different. Craig didn’t want children until after he spent time with Alexander. Now they’re having a baby in August, so I mean it’s not just Grant. But, did he ever tell you that before?”

“No. I always assumed he would because he came from a larger family. We didn’t discuss it really; I just figured we would later on.
Did you and Zac discuss it?”

“We did. Not when we first got together but after we were sure it would last we discussed children. He and I both always wanted children, so that wasn’t an issue with us. It was more, when would we have them. I took birth control for years and when I stopped we both knew there was a greater chance. Truthfully, neither Alexander nor this one were planned pregnancies, both were surprises and both were unexpected. But, there not mistakes because we were trying with Alexander.”

“I assumed Grant and I were more compatible when it came to outside the job. He doesn’t want children, he doesn’t want to have an actual house, and he doesn’t want to even travel. Given our jobs allow us to travel to other states but we don’t get to enjoy them because were there for a crime or something major. It was a loud, explosive argument and I told him I wanted a divorce.”

I blinked. “Is that what you really want?”

She was quiet for a few moments. “Yeah. I do love him but we’re never together and I want more from my life than to just work. I love my job, but I want more and he doesn’t.”

“You know he and Zac are a lot alike in that sense, Zac works all the time too. We actually spend more time at the studio than we do at home.”

“I know but you are with him and Emily if you need him, he would stop and be there for you. You constantly communicate with one another, he’s texted this morning and you replied. Grant and I can go weeks without even a hello, no phone calls, no texts, no nothing. You and Zac use texts, calls, Skype, and all of that.”

“He sent me a picture of Alexander with Ezra at the drums. Communication is a large deal in our relationship. Even when he does
Fool’s and I stay home he makes sure to call me every day or Skype, or something. It’s a huge part of any relationship.”

“It never has been that way with Grant and I. In fact I don’t think communication has been a big deal for any of my relationships.”

I picked up my glass and drank some of the water, I didn’t want to talk about personal pasts, and mine was crappy as David seemed intertwined with everything. She sat there quietly for just a bit.

“You know Emily you have ignored that topic or questions, even when you asked me about my teenage years you haven’t said anything about yours. You haven’t mentioned boyfriends, parties, proms, nothing and I found no pictures from those times either.”

“It’s not something I talk about.”

“Come on, I told you about my first time, first boyfriends. I feel like there is so much about you that I just don’t know. I don’t know anything about the time you were home and I don’t know much about anything. What I do know came from the internet.”

I shifted on the couch, the creeping pain was back but it was so far apart it was almost pointless to even say I think I might be in labor…the change in position though stopped the pain so it could have been that too.

I didn’t understand why I couldn’t admit that I was much older for all of that stuff. My brothers, Eliza, and even our mother was much younger when they had sex or had boyfriends or girlfriends. Eliza had admitted to being fourteen when she had sex the first time, at 14 I didn’t even know what sex was. I was way more focused on not being hit.

She got up and moved, sat down beside me and she cautiously laid her hand on my back. I hadn’t much tolerated being touched by her, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to be but touching and contact implied we were closer and I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted. The same went with pictures, it was proof that she was there and if she left, I didn’t want a physical reminder.

“I know that a lot of the under 16 years are entwined with David and that’s hard for you to talk about. But, I would like to know. I’m not going to judge you Emily, it’s not my place. It doesn’t matter to me if you are like Mom or worse.”

She had been honest with me, she had admitted to having five partners before she met Grant, but her description of their sex life was pretty vanilla compared to mine and Zac’s. She cautiously began to rub my back some and I couldn’t deny it made me feel better.

“I just don’t…”

“Hey, I’m your sister. I won’t care. You didn’t tell me 14 was a horrible age, you didn’t judge my number of partners before I met Grant. I’m not going to do that to you; ok if it’s below 12 I might have an issue with that. It’s not bad even if you’ve had more than a few boyfriends; I’ve had ten before I got married.”

I saw her subtle glance to the watch; she was making sure my heart rate was fine. It was something she had been doing since that 1^st time, realizing I was pregnant and that there was that medical reason why I didn’t need to be pissed off and upset, so she always watched now. The heart rate was fine.

“Zac.” I said.

“He’s your husband, I know.”

I looked at her and smiled. “He’s not just my husband Eliza. He’s the only man I’ve ever actually dated and he was the first person I had sex with also. Before him, I hadn’t done that before. Not even oral sex.”

Yep, that stunned expression on her face said that wasn’t the answer she expected; guess I could still shock people!

“But you were what, 24 when you met him?”

“I was 23 when I met him actually; I was still 23 when we had sex the first time. I turned 24 about three or months later.”

“Did you not date before that? When you were younger?”

The influx of memories of David screaming that I wasn’t allowed to see anyone, I wasn’t allowed to date caused a jump in the heart rate and she shook her head.

“Forget I asked.”

Everyone said Zac had issues talking about feelings; yeah he wasn’t the only one really. I did have issues with that too but not to his
degree.

“No. Eventually I have to talk about it.”

“But not right now, I am not calling him and saying I pushed you too hard and sent you into labor.”

“I’m already there Eliza, I’ve been having mild pains already and he knows that.”

“What? Shouldn’t you be at the hospital then?!”

I laughed. “No. There far apart, exceeding an hour and it’s like mild cramps. It may not even be labor it could just be pain, little bean is not so little. Which is why your back rub feels so nice.”

“Oh...well we can cancel lunch if you need too.”

“No, I’m ok. Concerning my dating history. David didn’t allow that. He didn’t care what the boys did or didn’t do as long as they used protection, he didn’t want them to knock some girl up and I am sure they were all under 16.”

“Even Christopher?”

“He tried to be normal because David hated gay men, but he wouldn’t let me date or be friends with boys, Craig was the only one and because he was gay, makes no sense that he hates gay men but tolerated Craig just fine.”

She giggled. “He knew you were a girl, Craig would never love you like that.”

“Oh he was wrong there, Craig does love me and he always has. He even told Zac that, but what held him back was in a purely sexual sense we’d never work and he said that was unfair to me. But anyway I wasn’t allowed to date period and Craig was the only male friend I was allowed to have. Sex was a forbidden topic when it came to me.”

“Can you define that a bit more? Forbidden topic?”

“No one was allowed to talk to me about sex. I wasn’t allowed to attend sex-ed in school which led to poor Christopher’s most embarrassing moment. I didn’t know what periods were, I didn’t know it was normal and I scared him coming downstairs with blood on my legs and hands. He ran to a neighbor who helped me, explained it better than David. He went over that when he got home. I guess he figured if I didn’t know about it, it wouldn’t happen.”

“Mary Ann told me when I was 11, sat me down and explained everything.”

“You can call her Mom Eliza, I don’t mind. Yeah, I didn’t get that. Scared me and then scared Christopher, sometimes I wonder if that was the moment he realized he was gay.”

We both got a laugh from that one.

“What about our brothers? Craig? Your friend Amanda? Did they talk about it?”

“Our brothers were forbidden to talk to me about sex. Even if I asked them a question, they couldn’t answer it or he would hit them. I was aware of that, so I ever asked. I only knew at fourteen that babies came from sex, but I didn’t know anything else. Amanda had sex around fifteen and she told me when I asked her, but even then it made no sense to me.”

“Why didn’t he want you to know about sex? It’s a human process, its normal and eventually you would have been exposed to it somehow.”

I had wondered most of my life that very same thing and up until the last time we’d seen him in jail I had no concrete reason. I could hear the elevation in my heart rate so I took a few minutes and let it return to normal.

“I really didn’t know either until we were both at the jail last time; he said I was kept to be punished for what Mom did. Mom was very open about sex and had a lot of partners both men and women before and after she met David. My guess is that David didn’t want me to know what sex was in a normal sense; he apparently always planned to marry me off to Adam. Adam’s view on sex is it had to hurt, no matter what. It would never have been pleasant or enjoyable to me. It was either that or he felt if I didn’t know I couldn’t be like our mom, which to him she was a whore.”

“But you left at 16, did you not want to explore then?”

“I did leave and eventually Craig’s mom got custody of me. I wasn’t focused on sex, I was curious about things but it wasn’t a huge deal to me. Despite everyone I knew bragging I was more focused on school.”

“By 16 I was more than curious, I was dating Grant by then though.”

“Craig’s mom was open and her kids were too. So, I got more like period advice from his sister and when it came to men I asked
Craig. He was more than willing to show me whatever I wanted to see. Granted there was one kiss with his sister at a party she took me too. It was one kiss though.”

“So, you’ve seen Craig without clothes then?”

“More than once actually.”

“Ok, so you met Zac when you were 23 and up until then you hadn’t even wanted too?”

“Basically. I started working at the studio in November of 2006; I was new to the town too then. We had sex on March 20, 2007 for my first time; we were even at the studio.”

“Didn’t you see him before that?”

“Yes, I got a Meet and greet in 2003, but I mostly talked with Isaac about business. Zac’s girlfriend at the time didn’t let him near me.”

“That wasn’t quite what I meant, but ok.”

I felt the blush. “Yes, I saw him mostly naked before then. I have a bad habit of walking in on people.”

I could almost see the gears turning in her head though, she knew when we got married and obviously she knew why our wedding date was that day as well.

“Zac didn’t get divorced until 2008.”

I gave her a shy smile. “He caught her in March and I was there, honestly it shouldn’t have happened that way but I wouldn’t change anything. I think we mostly hooked up for seven months and then I felt like he’d never leave and I needed to stop. He was willing to give up everything for me. His divorce was finalized in 2008. We got to really date then and have time without that over us. So, technically I didn’t date anyone until I was 24.”

It was quiet for a few moments and I could still feel the creepy, lingering pain in my back and sides. I hoped this labor wasn’t as bad as with Alexander.

“I know you’ve been…” she paused, maybe trying to find another word.

“Raped, I was raped. It’s ok to say it and it’s ok to mention it.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t count those individuals because you didn’t want too. But, you’ve only ever had sex with Zac? Does that not get boring?”

“I didn’t say I was a saint Eliza. Zac’s not the only man I’ve had sex with, I’ve had sex with one other person besides him unless you count oral sex, then we can say two.”

I wasn’t even sure if oral sex counted but if so, I had to include Max because he had done that before and I hadn’t objected.

She looked puzzled and shocked at the same time. “But, you just said you’ve been with Zac since 2007, I know you didn’t cheat on him. As good as he is to you if you did, you should be slapped.”

I laughed. “No. I didn’t cheat on him, in fact Zac was there watching. Our sex life is not vanilla by any means. It’s actually ver…”

I had to stop because the pain that came was strong and I couldn’t really talk and deal with that at the same time. I heard her call my name and held my hand up until it went away.

“Sorry, I’m ok. Just give me a moment.”

She kept rubbing my back which helped and I waited until the heart rate came down too.

“Ok..as I was saying, it’s actually very open and we don’t really limit ourselves much. When we moved into Casey’s house we talked at length about what we wanted to try. He understood that he was my first, I mean I told him before it happened. I understood that his sex life with his ex-wife wasn’t that great either. So, we talked and discussed it. We have a list of things we wanted to try; most of my list has been marked off already. He has a few left. But, we didn’t want to limit ourselves.”

“So, he watched you with this other person?”

“Yeah. He watched the first time and he participated the second time. I’ve had a few threesomes over the years.”

“What about women? Anything besides that one kiss?”

Velma brought painful memories but I pushed them back. “I have been a woman and Zac was there. Personally, I just didn’t like it much. The sex itself was fine, but it’s not something I want.”

“So, when I was looking at your history and browsing through Hanson’s history as well I came across a lot of talk in the fans. They say he’s very close to Taylor, is that true?”

“Yes and no, they are closer in age and there is a general sense of connection. Zac’s said that when they first came out he turned to
Taylor when he wasn’t all that certain. So, there close but Zac’s really close to all of his siblings.”

“But not too close?”

It suddenly hit me that what she meant was the Zaylor rumors, ones that they knew about but never acknowledged.

“Ahh, those rumors. No. Taylor and Zac are not romantically involved, they are brothers and that’s how their bond is.”

“Ok. So what about Casey? I’ve seen him and Zac in person and they are pretty flirty with each other and the fans seem to believe that there is more there. I even saw some fan fiction on that, pretty hot stuff.”

“I can’t answer that question without talking to him first; he’s really closed on what we’ve done. So, basically I can say what I have done but not him. I’d ignore the fan fiction Eliza, it’s called fiction for a reason.”

She giggled. “I’ll take that as a yes but I won’t say anything, I understand his reputation is at stake there. I figured it wasn’t all true, but sometimes. I’m not going to ask about the whole more personal stuff, although your fans seem to think he’s…”

Her sentence ended and I just looked at her. “I’m not going to say anything about that region, I don’t need to know anything about your previous or current or future sexual partners either.”

“Well, fans dream huh?”

“They can dream all they want; I know whose bed he’s coming too.”

“Hello…I don’t think I want to be part of this conversation, but its lunch time and I am starving!” Detective Walker said.

We laughed, I was glad for the break because out conversation was dangerously close to discussing sizes and I knew Zac wouldn’t want that and I didn’t much read fanfiction because I get jealous way too easy!

“Join the club!” I said.

I hadn’t even realized that the time had flown by, neither had she. We got up and I got my wallet but Eliza drove. Detective Walker followed us to the lovely Chinese place. I was still feeling the mild pains and I knew this could be normal, I had the same thing with Alexander, I’d already informed the doctor about them and given that they weren’t bad it was fine to move on like normal. We went inside, got seated and the waiter for our orders. I waited until the drinks were at the table before I looked at Eliza.

“So, while Detective Walker is present I have a question for you Eliza.”

“Anything, I’m an open book.”

“Have you ever wanted to visit Australia?”

She seemed suspicious about that, she knew where we were going and why, so obvious the question threw her for a loop.

“Um...I have wanted too. Yes. But, just never thought it would happen. Why?”

“Well, the FBI offered to send Agent Roberts over to shadow Zac, but they weren’t going to send anyone with me and all they have is men anyway. I’m not keen on having some random man in the room when little bean demands to be fed. So, I called your boss again and I asked him if you could come with me in the capacity of an FBI agent. You’d be able to protect if needed, you don’t have too and I don’t know what your financial situation is.”

Detective Walker waited quietly as Eliza just sat there a bit stunned.

“I’d love to but I don’t think I can afford that Emily, that’s a long time to be gone and even in the FBI capacity they probably won’t reimburse me for the traveling. Not when I’m in deep shit.”

Yep, I had thought of that being a possibility.

“You asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I didn’t have an answer and now I do. I want you to come with me. I want you to be there incase Ian or Glen decides that’s the ideal place. You only need to say yes, the plane tickets, hotels, and traveling costs will be covered. You can consider this trip to Australia as your birthday gift for the last 31 years. I will consider your acceptance as mine, because there is no price on giving Zac and I peace of mind.”

“You’re...serious?”

“Yes. Casey is with me anyway but he can’t do anything legally, you can detain at least. By being there you will provide Zac with the peace of mind to not worry about the three of us and I won’t feel like I need to cover up every single time he screams to be fed.”

She seemed to be considering it when our lunch arrived but as the waiter sat the plate down I got a really sharp pain and that pain I recognized and I chose the seat cushion to grab. Detective Walker looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m ok.” I said.

Eliza eyed me curiously for several minutes; I had told her I was technically in labor so maybe she was wondering if I needed to go. I checked the time, it was 1 pm.  Once I was sure I was fine I began to eat what I ordered. Eliza must have considered it a bit, because she paused about halfway through the meal.

“I’ll go with you; I think it would be a good idea for us to have that time and it’ll give me time to know you, Alexander, Zac, and Casey.”

“I’m glad. I will give you a list of what you need to bring next month, it’s my deal with everyone so you don’t forget anything. You should know what you can and cannot bring on a flight.”

“I am aware of those rules, yes.”

My phone beeped and I got it, Zac.

No baby?! Casey is driving me insane asking me to ask!

Haha, no but the pains are a bit closer. Last one was at 1 and it was pretty bad. I don’t think we’re going to make it til the 17^th…

Do you want me to come home early?

No, we’re at lunch now. I considered having her bring me there but I think I will just go home and rest, if it really IS labor then I’m going to need it.

Rest sounds like a better plan. Enjoy lunch; we just sat down too at the diner. Ezra said we were starving Alexander…I think *he* was
the one starving.

Lol – probably. Enjoy lunch yourself. Tell Casey to relax!

I got a smiley face and found they were both staring at me. “Zac?” Eliza asked.

“Yep. Casey is bugging him.”

I finished eating about 1:40, I was use to eating pretty quickly and I hadn’t ordered a whole lot. I was waiting for them and checking messages which Maddi had asked if he was here, Amanda has asked, and Sean asked me an inventory question.

 “Do you inhale every meal?” Eliza asked.

“I have a 20 month old, I have to eat…”

The pain that crept around my side hurt like a son of a bitch and Detective walker got my hand. That was less than an hour, just forty minutes and that wasn’t like it had been with Alexander. This pain was really bad but Detective Walker was a champ at holding that had.

“Honey, are you ok? That’s a few times now.”

Eliza was also looking concerned now as well, fork down and staring at me. I had to wait until it subsided and then I looked at them.

“I’m ok; it’s 40 minutes just that was bad. I was saying, I have to eat fast to keep up with Alexander but no I don’t always eat that way. Generally we eat fairly slowly except lunch.”

Eliza still looked concerned but they both finished eating rather quickly, that was 40 minutes and there was no guarantee I would decrease next time but I didn’t want to be at home just with a detective who couldn’t stay inside with me.

“Eliza, do you have plans this afternoon?”

“Nope.”

“Do you mind staying until Zac is home?”

“Not at all.”

We chatting a bit more then we went back home. The next one was about 40 minutes also, occurred on the way home. Once we got home I got comfortable on the sofa and Eliza chose the love seat, she chose a movie and I just tried to relax. It was almost three when the next one came.

“Are you ok? Your heart rate is a little fast.” She said.

“It’s because of the contraction. There bad but if I go in now I’ll be bored to death and uncomfortable.”

“Do I need to call Zac and have him come home?”

“No. There nowhere near close enough for that. He’s aware of the pains and all, so he knows I could call any moment now.”

“You seem so calm and I feel like I’m freaking out.”

I giggled. “I was in labor with Alexander for two days, they started early on the 19^th and he didn’t make it until the 22^nd at 4:10 in the morning. I told Zac that my birthday was not required.”

She laughed. “Fair is fair. One on his, one on yours. But, 2 days from now is the 17^th, so it’s possible.”

“True. But, I told him not mine!”

She giggled. “It’ll be fine. We share our birthday anyway.”

“You, me, and Ace and maybe little bean!”

She smiled and it grew quiet, I got to nap a bit but by 5 the actual pain itself was much worse. The times were roughly the same though, about 40 minutes sometimes a bit less. But, while I was grateful for Eliza I wanted Zac there. Knowing that I was probably going in later tonight I called him just before 5.

“Hey baby, I was just about to leave. “

“Your mom has Alexander’s bags already, I think you may want to take him on over.”

“Are you ok?”

“There still about forty minutes apart, but there just…fuck...”

That one wasn’t quite expected and it was way worse than the others as even tears came to my eyes.

“Breath in and out, that’s it just breathe for me.”

I listened to his guidance and once I was fine I could talk.

“Thank you. I’m sure he won’t be here tonight but I’m not sure I can make it til morning and if he’s already there then it’ll be easier for us.”

“Ok. I’ll take him to my parents and then I’ll come home. Give me about thirty.  I love you. Just remain calm. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

I hung-up and just tried to relax, I was feeling rather strange though and I saw Eliza come in and sit down and I watched her for a period of time, but it was so weird. I heard the heartbeat increase a warning that the next one was coming and that was about 30 minutes. I held the pillow and breathed but I must have fallen asleep afterwards or even passed out because it was Zac’s voice asking if I was ok and a cold rag on my forehead.

“Honey talk to me, are you ok?”

“Yeah.”

“Come on sit up for me.”

He helped me sit up and I used his shoulder as a pillow. He rubbed my back and I could feel soft kisses to my head.

“Are you really ok? You seemed to have just kind of passed out on us.”

“The last one wasn’t that bad but sooner, like thirty minutes. You need to call Ace; it’ll take them sometime to get here.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’ve already done that. Casey went home to get packed himself and I called everyone or texted and told them it could be very soon.”

Eliza looked concerned. “Maybe you should go to the doctor, get the epidural.”

“I can’t have that, I had it with Alexander and apparently I am allergic to something in them, just kind of slowed my labor process too much. I really don’t understand but apparently I do better with the pain. Which is crazy as hell but as a result they can only give me enough to take the edge off.”

That bit of information made her seem concerned, because she wanted kids and as twins the odds are she’d have the same issue. I left my head on his shoulder and while I should be more aware of how this could make her feel, right now I was in pain. Zac was rubbing my back when the next one came; Eliza looked concerned as my fingernails dug into him. He reminded me to breath and ignored the nails completely.

“Ok, I’m going to pack our bags and put them in the car so we’re ready. I want you to relax here.”

I nodded. He asked Eliza to fix dinner, just heat up some soup or something quick. I wasn’t even sure I wanted food but she did as he asked. She did that while Detective Walker sat with me. Once they were done he brought me dinner.

“I know you may not want it but you know the doctor will reduce you to ice at the hospital, this will help you not be starving.”

I got the bowl down before the next one, which was good. He got the little kit and I smiled and handed him my hand.

“What are you doing?” Eliza asked.

“Nail trimming, they hurt and I don’t mind so much, others might.”

She laughed and I let him trim and file all of my fingernails.

“You know Zac I swore I said none on my birthday.”

He smiled. “Well, unless you wish to be in labor all day tomorrow, may have to settle.”

“Casey ready?”

“Yeah, sent me a message saying he was packed, his phone was charged, and he has an extra battery and he’s ready to go.”

“You’ve already alerted everyone?”

“Yes, mass text. I told you earlier.”

“I know, just making sure. You did tell Amanda right?”

“Everyone has been informed and I told them I would text them when we went to the hospital, but I didn’t know exactly when that would be. Amanda is at work and said she was going to try to get someone to let her off, she had the 17^th off but you need to try to rest though.”

I made him stay there so I could use him as a pillow and tried to do just that, but at 8:45 I shook my head.

“I think we need to go on. The pain is just worse than I remember.”

He kissed my forehead. “Ok. Eliza are you coming?”

“I will come up for a few hours. I really don’t think I want to be in the room when he gets here though.”

“Not a problem. Just follow us.”

Zac called Casey as we left for the hospital, I could barely sit still. Detectives and agents came with us, following along with Eliza. Casey was meeting us there and as we drove the streets I watched the roads go by.

would be meeting my son soon!