“You’re ready.” Zylar had been giving Bella pain relief this whole time. Amelia didn’t think it was working.
“Your baby is ready to be born and you’re dilated.”
“Take the baby. Stop talking and do your job!” Rakha screamed. Bella was holding his hand and from where Amelia was standing, it looked like she was crushing his fingers. He’d need healing after the baby was born.
“Push, Bella.”
“What do you fucking think I’m doing? I’m not on a lazy Sunday drive. I’ll have you know this is the first and the last child we have,” she spits at Rakha in between cries of pain.
“I see the head,” Zylar said calmly. The light of his hands washed over Bella.
“This isn’t a ball game. I don’t need a play-by-play. Deliver my baby,” Bella growled, her eyes spitting daggers.
Any other time, Amelia would have words with Bella. No one talked to her mate like that. This time, she was in complete agreement with her cousin.
Zylar flashed Rakha an accusing look that said ‘You mated her.’
“Push again, Bella. You’re doing so well. One more big push and…” There was a loud slurping sound, and the baby slipped from Bella’s body out into the world. Zylar caught the child and began cutting the cord and clearing the passageway, and then there was a loud cry in the room.
Amelia’s heart stopped and when it started again, she was in love with a squished-up baby who was the bridge between two worlds.
“It’s a girl,” Zylar said. He took her out of the room and cleaned her up before bringing her back to her parents.
Every negative emotion Amelia felt over the hours was gone as she got a glimpse of that tiny face. Her hand slipped to her womb. Did she and Zylar conceive a child last night?
As she watched Bella and Rakha check over their daughter, counting her fingers and toes. Saying how she looked like the two of them, Amelia knew that was what she had fought so hard for. A chance for them as a family to grow, but not only that. This was the chance humans needed to become more than they were. To meet the future with open arms and to welcome change.
Zylar hugged Amelia as she stood swaying, as if she was holding the baby.
“One day that will be us.” She nodded. She wanted this because it was beautiful, but she also thought men should have to give birth to watermelons. That would be beautiful and funny. Bet if they did it once, they’d never want to do it again.
“We’ve named our child,” Rakha announced.
The room got quiet as they waited. Amelia looked around and found Theo and Cloe waiting, as well as Anna and Sarah. Everyone was here, as it should be.
“We’re going to name her JenStar after my sister and Rakha’s mother,” Bella said, looking down at the little girl who was greedily nursing.
When Bella looked up, she winked at Amelia, and her heart almost stopped.
There was a secret that only the cousins knew.
Amelia’s father gave her the middle name Star because he was convinced that one day she would become a star.
This was the beginning and not the end. She couldn’t wait to see where tomorrow would take her.
Zylar kissed her because he knew what her name was. There was faint laughter in the background that sounded like the goddess. Yes, they were all there.
