Connor & Andie - Bonus Content

Photo by Joshua Reddekopp on Unsplash

ANDIE
My eyes fly open as the stabbing pain in my stomach washes over me. Uh, what? I yelp, my hands clutching my swollen, rounded stomach, but the pain is gone before I’m able to fully comprehend what is happening.
            Beside me, Connor is awake in an instant, rolling over, his eyes wild.
            “What is it, a chuisle mo chroí? Are ye okay?”
            “I think I just had a contraction,” I pant, my hands still clutching my stomach. Connor’s eyes widen, his hands moving to cradle my stomach near mine.
            “D’we go to the hospital now?” His eyes flicker over to the small suitcase I have packed near our bedroom door.
            “I don’t think so,” I groan, my head slumping back to the pillow. “I think we’re supposed to wait until they happen more frequently. Or if my waters break.”
            Connor nods, his hand moving to stroke my hair out of my face. His lips twitch up into a tiny smirk.
            “I’m assuming ye don’t want me to alert my mammy.”
            I shoot him a glare. “You better not,” I hiss. Connor chuckles, sliding out of bed, flipping on a light in the bathroom as he walks in, leaving the door open a sliver.
            I watch him go. Siobhan Fitzpatrick means well, but I’m about ready to strangle the woman. I’m sick of being coddled. I don’t mind it as much when Connor does it, but Siobhan is a little…cloying.
            The shower runs, and I bite back a whimper as another contraction washes over me. After a moment, Connor reappears, clad only in a towel slung low around his waist.
            “D’ye want a warm shower, a chuisle mo chroí?”
            “Yes,” I groan, holding out my hand as Connor comes over and lifts me out of bed, leading me into the bathroom and helping me out of my nightgown.
            He drops the towel, stepping into the shower with me. I wash my hair, rinsing it until another contraction hits. My hands land on the shower wall and I whimper. After a moment, I feel strong hands massaging my lower back. Actually, that does help.
            The pain subsides and I blow out a breath as Connor’s arms wrap around me, his lips tickling my ear as he presses a kiss there.
            “What did ye want to do, a chuisle mo chroí?”
            I don’t know? Stay like this? Lie down? The options are endless. I’m about to speak when suddenly, the weirdest thing happens. It’s like… I don’t know… a baseball falls out of me. Oh god, is it the baby?
            With a squeak, I look down wildly, but there isn’t any baby. Instead, there is a huge blob on the floor of the shower.
            “A chuisle mo chroí?” Connor steps away from me, bending to see what I’m looking at.
            “I think my waters just broke,” I whimper. Connor immediately snaps upright, shutting off the lovely warm water.
            “Let’s get ye dry and dressed. Then we’ll go to the hospital.”
            I nod, my heart thumping in my chest. Oh my god. This is actually happening. I don’t know if I’m ready. I let Connor lead me out of the shower, towel us both down, and help me into my dress.
            Leaning heavily on him as he carries my suitcase, we make it down the stairs and he loads me into the SUV, fastening the seatbelt around me, and slamming the door.
            As he slides in, he is already dialing on the Bluetooth. He better not be calling his mother.
            “Lucky?” Seamus’s voice fills the car, and I sigh with relief.
            “Andie’s waters just broke. We’re heading to the hospital now.”
            “I’ll call Paddy. You look after Andie, we’ll be there.”
            “I want Lauren,” I wail, clutching my stomach as I cut off in a hiss, another contraction hitting.
            “Aye, lass,” Seamus assures me over the phone. “I’ll make sure Paddy gets her there as soon as he can.”
            Connor hits the button on the steering wheel to end the call, his foot pressing harder on the gas when I let out another whimper, clutching my stomach.
 
CONNOR
Clutching my precious blue bundle, I press a kiss to Andie’s temple. She mumbles sleepily, blinking up at me.
            “Ye get some sleep, a chuisle mo chroí. I’m going to take Eoin to meet everyone.”
            “Okay,” she mumbles, rolling over as she curls up. Straightening, I hold my son closer to my chest, stepping out of the room, carefully and slowly walking through the corridors to the small, private waiting room.
            All heads turn in my direction. Tiggy isn’t here – but that’s expected. It’s early in the morning and she has a wean of her own at home. Lauren is snoozing in Paddy’s arms – she was in the delivery room with us, so she’s already met the wean.
            Paddy gently shifts his wife so she is curled up in the chair and rises, crossing with Seamus to me.
            “A son,” I announce proudly, unable to keep the huge, beaming grin off my face as I present the bundle. “Eoin Lachlan Fitzpatrick.”
            Seamus and Paddy grin, leaning closer to get a look at my son while my heart swells with pride. Mammy will be happy with the name. I wanted my pa’s name in there, but I didn’t want to name a son after him. That’s a lot for a little wean to live up to.
            I spent half my life feeling like I needed to live up to my pa’s reputation. I don’t want my son to have such a cloud hanging over his head.
            “Hand him over then,” Seamus demands, holding out his hands. Paddy shoots him a glare.
            “You already have a son to cradle, I should get to hold him first,” he grumbles. Seamus carefully lifts Eoin out of my arms, cradling him and crooning.
            “Knock your wife up, then you can hold your own.”
            Paddy snorts, quickly checking over his shoulder, but Lauren is still fast asleep.
            “I’m trying, but unfortunately I don’t have Fitzpatrick super sperm to work with.”
            Seamus shakes his head. “Surely we’re not making Fitzpatrick super sperm a thing.”
            Paddy shrugs, holding out his hands to demand the wean. “Two failed birth control methods don’t lie. Fitzpatrick super sperm is a thing. Be careful, Niall will be wanting to harvest some. He’s always grumbling that Mellie isn’t pregnant yet.”
            Seamus reluctantly hands Eoin over as Paddy cradles him, grinning down at his small, red face.
            “I’m going to be your fun godfather. You don’t worry about this stick-in-the-mud over here. I’ve got you covered, Eoin.”
            Seamus scoffs, glaring at Paddy. “I’m more fun than you. You have no idea how to lighten up.”
            That’s not entirely true. Paddy has loosened up a lot since Lauren came into his life. Reaching out, I take my son back, holding him close.
            “I should get back to Andie.”
            “Yeah, I should get the lass home,” Paddy looks over his shoulder again, his eyes softening as they land on his wife. Seamus grins at me.
            “I’ll bring Tig and Cillian later in the day. I want the weans to meet each other.”
          My face lights up. I’m glad Andie got pregnant so quickly in our relationship. I want the weans to be as close as Seamus and I are. I can’t wait to introduce them.
            The lads wave me off as I take my precious cargo, leaving the waiting room and making my way back to the private room. Andie is still asleep when we step inside, so I set Eoin down in his bassinet, kicking my shoes off and crawling into the bed behind her, my arms encircling her. Andie murmurs, squirming closer to me as my eyes flutter shut. This is the life.
Now I just have to call Mammy to let her know the wean is here. I might have a nap first. She’ll be livid that everyone knew before she did. A smirk tugs at the corners of my lips as I drift off. That’s going to be a hell of a converstion.
           
THE END.

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