Page 54 of Chance

I don't know how long I spend standing in the doorway, holding my son as his small hand reaches out and squeezes my little finger. I know I’m crying, but I don’t care. I turn eventually, to see my brothers and Allie standing in wait.

Allie is standing holding Elliot's hand as they walk over and take turns looking at my son. Harley wipes away a few tears as he kisses my son’s head, and Allie cries into Elliot’s shoulder in happiness with a massive grin. Elliot smiles so much that I’m surprised he is the brother I’m used to.

It's over half an hour later before Maisy is brought in. They said it would be a while before she wakes up. I sit in the seat next to her, bottle feeding our hungry baby and feeling complete in a way I didn't know I could.

Chapter 18

Maisy

Iwake up slowly to the sound of beeping and Allie’s voice as she talks to someone. The bright room hurts my eyes as I try to open them, and the room spins a little. I try to focus on Allie's voice as she speaks, and not the urge to sleep again.

"He is so perfect, he looks so much like his mum," Allie says,sounding completely in wonder about something.

"That's true," I hear Seb say.

My heart flutters at his gravelly voice, it’s deeper than usual. I wonder who they’re talking about. I can feel wires in my hand and smell the clean smell of a hospital. I remember the party suddenly and then what happened after. I blink my eyes open with some force, and I feel the pain of a cut on my stomach as I try to sit up.

"Maisy, thank God you’re awake." Seb’s face comes into view, and I smile at him.

He looks worn out but happy, and that relaxes me a little. I'm in the hospital now, and I want to see my baby. I go to feel my stomach, somehow expecting it to have gone down after having the baby, and Seb stops my hands, holding them. I did have my baby, I think. Everything is a little confusing.

"Do you want a drink?" he asks, and I nod, feeling a little more than confused and weak. I look over to see Allie standing over a baby cot, smiling at me.

"Here, drink this, and I’ll get our son for you to meet him." Seb smiles widely at me, and I do as I'm told. The drink feels amazing as my throat is very dry, and I pull myself up to a sitting position, using the bed controls.

"Hey, take it easy," Allie says, coming to my side and holding my shaking hand.

"Seb, is he okay?" I ask as Seb walks over, gently whispering something to a bundle of white blankets in his arms.

"See for yourself." He smiles down at me. It’s a look full of love, but I can see the tears in his eyes, which he is holding back.

I carefully take my son from Seb and look down into his bright-green eyes as my baby stares up at me. He is beautiful, with lots of black hair like mine, but it curls like my dad’s, and he has my facial features. The eyes are purely Seb’s, and he is so cute as he yawns. I run a finger down his soft cheek, loving the smell of him. I’ve heard new babies smell amazing, but I didn’t believe it until now.

"He is perfect," I say, not able to stop myself from crying now.

"No tears, baby." Seb kisses me gently, and we both stare down at our little baby.

"I'm going to leave you alone," Allie says, walking out. I send a grateful look her way, and she winks at me.

"What happened?" I ask, still staring at my son, trying to memorize every part of his face.

"Your waters went at the party, and then you ended up needing an emergency c-section. God, May, I thought I lost you both," he says, resting his head on my legs. I can see he is crying even if he doesn’t make a sound. I run my spare hand through his hair, ignoring the slight pain from my stomach at the movement.

"We are both okay. I'm never leaving you, my Sebby." I sob quietly.

He looks up at me before taking my small hand in his large one.

“Marry me, May. I have this whole day planned out to ask you, but I don't want to waste another day. I've loved you from the moment I saw you in school.” He takes a deep breath before he continues, and I just sit in complete shock listening to him.

“I will keep you safe and loved for the rest of your life. Will you marry me, Maisy Reynolds?" he asks, letting go of my hand as he gets down on one knee and pulls out a small, white box.

I burst into tears when I see the massive, diamond ring. Not that I needed a ring because I know my answer anyway, but it feels amazing knowing that he had this with him all the time.

"Yes, yes, of course I will marry you, Sebby," I say with a large smile, and he jumps up off the floor, sliding the ring onto my finger as soon as he can.

Seb looks happy as he kisses the ring on my finger and then slides his hand through my messed up hair. “Thank you,” he says against my lips before kissing me deeply. Our son decides to join in, with a loud cry, and we break away, chuckling.

"Hey, shush, mummy's here," I say to our son who calms at my voice, and I talk to him until he falls asleep with Seb just watching us.

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