Page 53 of Chance

"Wait, I'm coming," I hear Izzy say behind me, followed by a thump as she trips over something.

"No chance, you’re wasted, Izzy. It's sober up time for you before I'm taking you to the hospital later," Blake says, and I agree with him.

"I will start my car. Allie, you open the doors for Seb," Harley shouts, getting his keys out of the bowl by the door.

"Someone grab the bag out of my boot would you? The car is open," I shout, unlocking the car with my keys in my pocket when I get outside. Maisy doesn’t say anything as we all run around sorting things out.

"Ah, fucking hell, that hurt," Maisy screams, holding onto my neck.

I don’t complain when her nails dig into my neck, enough that I'll likely have marks. She can hurt me as much as she wants if it makes her feel better.

"We will be at the hospital soon, and they have drugs," I tell her, having no idea what else to say.

I slide into Harley's car, and Allie shuts the door behind me. Elliot moves into the seat next to me, and Allie slides into the front seat, leaning back to hold onto Maisy’s hand after doing her seatbelt up.

"You’re doing great, Maisybear," she says as Maisy screams again.

Harley starts the car, and we drive to the hospital.

"Ah, it really hurts," Maisy screams again, and I feel my jeans getting soaked.

I panic when I feel the warm blood on my hand, there’s no way that’s water. I pull up my hand behind Maisy and see it covered in blood to make sure. Maisy doesn't see, but Allie does, going pale. She whispers to Harley, and I feel the car speed up.

"You’re doing great. I love you, baby." I kiss her forehead, freaking out about the blood.

"Call the hospital and tell them we are on the way, and that Maisy is bleeding a lot, Elliot," I tell my twin, who looks as worried as all of us.

I don’t like saying it out loud because I know it will scare her. I feel her tense, but she screams with what must be another contraction. That can't be normal. The next ten minutes to the hospital are the worst of my life. All I can think about is how I can’t lose her or the baby. I'll do anything to make sure I don’t.

I lift her out of the car when Allie opens it for us. I place her on the gurney that is ready for us, with midwives and a doctor standing around it. We are quickly taken in, and my brothers wait outside while Allie comes in with me. I'm covered in blood, and I must look terrible by the way the nurses are staring at me.

"Okay, Maisy, I'm going to check you now," the doctor says, and I hold Maisy’s hand as they do the examination.

Maisy screams, and I see more blood appear, the white bed sheets turning red. She looks so pale, and Allie is pacing by the door.

"Maisy, listen to me. No pushing your baby out even if you want to. We need to do an emergency c-section, you’re haemorrhaging badly, Maisy,"the doctor tells her.

She whispers, “Just save my baby boy, please.”

The sound of her breathless plea breaks my heart, and I hear Allie crying by the door.

“I will do everything in my power to save you both,” the doctor tells her.

The next thing I know, Maisy is being taken out of the room, and I'm told I have to wait in here. Allie has to hold me back when they tell me I can’t follow and that they will bring the baby out. I vaguely hear Allie making sure that we are told of anything that happens.

I fall to the floor holding my hands to my face because I can’t believe this has happened.

"They will both be fine, she is strong. I'm going to get the boys. We need the family," Allie says, and I don't move.

“Brother, she is a King already, and she will make it through this. Maisy and your son need you to be strong,” Harley says to me. I can see him crouched on the floor in front of me.

“You’re right,” I say as I realise I can’t break down now.

"I brought some clothes from the car," Harley says as I stand. I glance at the pile and take them to the bathroom to change. It's some jogger bottoms and a white top that I know are Harley’s from the gym.

None of us say anything while we wait in the room for the next half an hour. Allie holds my hand, which helps in a way. Elliot sits close to Allie on the floor, I swear he is holding her hand, but I don’t check. Harley is pacing the room by the window, sending texts to the rest of our family, I think.

The door opens, and I jump to my feet to see a midwife walking in with a tiny bundle wrapped in a white blanket. I walk over, feeling myself shaking, as the midwife explains that Maisy is fine and our baby boy is looking great. She hands over my son, who is sleeping and wearing a little, white hat. He has a load of black, curly hair and looks so much like his mother with his dark eyelashes.

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