Page 125 of Vegas Baby!

“She’s crowning.”

“Okay. Everyone stay calm. Ava, you’re in such good hands with Jesse there and I’m already at the hospital for when you arrive.”

“I don’t want to have a baby in the car!” Ava yelled.

“I know, sweetness. Babies come in their own time, though.”

“Ava,” said Janessa, “If you feel like you have to push, don’t. Deep breaths and let the contractions deliver Baby’s head nice and slow. Don’t force it. Baby should come out on their own in the next few contractions now that they’re crowning. Are her legs supported?”

“Bryce, get in the back,” I ordered.

He very awkwardly climbed over us and settled on Ava’s other side.

“Give me your shirt and put on your seat belt.”

He ripped apart his shirt open, buttons flying, and passed it over before buckling in. Luke and Bryce carefully scooped under Ava’s knees. I set Bryce’s shirt on the seat next to me, laid out one of the metallic thermal blankets across the floor and pulled out a handful of wipes packages from my kit along with the disposal bag before wedging half of another thermal blanket beneath Ava’s hips. I focused on keeping my breathing even so none of my concern filtered down the bond to Ava. Bryce didn’t look like he was doing quite as good of a job, if the wildness in his eyes was any indication.

“Stay in there!” Ava shouted, though the baby wasn’t going to listen. “Please. I don’t want to. I don’t?—”

I pressed my forehead to hers, cupping her cheeks. “Sweetness, you have to. The baby is coming right now, but it’s going to be okay. We’ve got you.”

I pulled on a set of gloves and settled into position.

“Okay, just keep breathing. Let your body do the work for you,” said Janessa. “Jesse, keep me posted.”

Ava’s scream put the fear of god into me, raising all my little hairs on the back of my neck. The baby made a bit of progress, but not much, leaving my omega panting and whining. I cleaned her up quickly and without a word, disposing of the gloves, soiled thermal blanket, and wipes. With a hasty coating ofsanitizer on my hands and a fresh set of gloves, I readied myself for the next step.

“Head’s out,” I announced to Janessa.

“That’s great. Ava, you’re almost done.”

I glanced briefly at Luke and Bryce, both of them looking near-feral as Ava labored between them.

“We’re moving,” Micah yelled back, navigating us through the slow stream of traffic getting around the blocked intersection.

“Pull over,” Janessa ordered.

“No!” Ava groaned. “Hospital!”

Another contraction swept over her and the baby slid out into my hands. Both mother and baby let out a wail, the tension in the van instantly dispersing. Ava sobbed, Luke and Bryce trying to comfort her while still supporting her body. I bundled the baby into Bryce’s shirt and laid them on Ava’s chest, where she instantly wrapped her arms around them.

“Micah, how far away are you?” Janessa asked.

“GPS says fifteen minutes.”

“Okay. Jesse, did you give the baby to Ava already?”

“Yep.”

“Keep them warm. We’ll deal with the cord and placenta when she arrives. The team is ready for her. Come straight up to the emergency doors. I’ll be waiting.”

Ava continued crying and clutching the baby. I cleaned up the area, tying off the disposal bag and setting it aside.

“You did amazing, mama.”

“What is it?” Ava asked between gasping sobs.

“We’ve got a baby girl,” I replied, tucking myself closer to both of them and kissing her forehead.

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