"Susu, are you tired? Do you want to sit?" Chen Mu held her hand as they walked through the garden behind the hospital. Susu inhaled a deep breath of fresh air as a gentle breeze caressed her ponytail. She nodded and smiled at him as they made their way to an empty bench.
It's been a little over half a year since she had woken up from her coma. Ariana's stomach was now too big for her to give any hugs directly and Chen Nan has been worried about her health as the due date approached.
"Oh, right. What present should we gift our god child? Since they're having a baby girl, we could shop for girl clothes and accessories. Maybe diapers? Pacifiers?" The more Susu thought about presents, the more her head hurt. The moment the gender of their baby had been revealed, Chen Nan almost bought the whole city of baby necessities.
Scratching her head, she leaned against Chen Mu while intertwining their fingers. Her arm circled around his as she complained. "Your cousin bought almost every outfit from every store. He went to touch the material to make sure it was suitable and soft enough for his little princess. Sigh, if he buys everything, then what would we as god parents gift?"
Chen Mu chuckled at her words, "Didn't you already design some baby pajamas and outfits? I'm sure your designs are unique and one of a kind special. No matter what we give, it wouldn't lessen the love we are showering the baby. When we become parents, maybe I'll end up buying all the malls. Even if I don't, my parents would."
A small hint of sadness lingered in her sweet smile. She looked at him as he mentioned about their future. She, too, wished for the same. She wanted to have a family with him if possible. Except, she's on a countdown already. Nobody can guarantee she would live healthily and long enough to have everything they pictured together.
Dreams were great, but sometimes a person must face reality as well. Chen Mu pinched the tip of her nose as if he caught the thoughts in her mind. "What are you thinking about? Ah, you must want to have private time together before we plan a wedding and children."
"Chen Mu.." She couldn't help but feel sorrow at the thought of having incomplete dreams. The man in front of her had given her the world or even more. Whatever she wanted or wished to achieve were all supported by him. This man, loved her wholeheartedly. If anything happens to her and she doesn't wake up, she really hopes he could find someone else and move on.
Hushing her lips with a kiss, he rubbed her rosy cheeks with his thumbs. Staring deep into her eyes, he said, "Don't think about anything else. Focus on the present. I know what you're thinking about, but I won't give in to the drug and cancer in your body. There will be a way to cure you. A fortune teller once told me that I would live a prosperous and blissful life with a wife and kids. My wife will be with me till we become old and wrinkly."
Holding both her hands in his, he smiled, "I believe in his words because my wife will only be you. Nobody else. If it's not you, then I'll be a single dog for life. Understand?" Tears rushed to her eyes as she felt the stingy sensation surface to her nose and eyes. She nodded, "Nnn."
As he loosened one of her hands and reached into his pocket to pull something out, Lily interrupted their moment. "Ariana! Ariana's in labor! Let's go up!!" She waved her hand in an up and down gesture, indicating for them to get up from sitting. Following closely behind her, the couple rushed back into the hospital.
When everyone gathered together, Chen Nan was already accompanying Ariana inside the delivery room with nurses and her doctor. Ariana groaned loudly and slowly breathed the way she was taught during practice sessions. Although she thought she was ready to give birth beforehand, her little princess' surprise came too quick. She didn't have time to prepare anything. When she realized it, her water had been broken.
Soon, she was brought to the delivery room. Chen Nan had been by her side, enthusiastically encouraging her with reassuring words. She swore this was the worst time for him to throw his sweet melon words at her. She bit down on her rosy lips as bitterness swelled up her chest. "Chen Nan! You're giving birth next time! Arghh!!! It hurts!! Ahhhhh!!!"
"Yes, honey. If I have that option, I'll carry our children. I'll give birth instead of you. Come on, baby. Breathe in...that's right. Just like that. You're doing a fantastic job." He ignored the pain he received from her tight grasp as he laid kisses on her forehead throughout the process.
She held onto Chen Nan's hand every time she exhaled to push with all her strength. As she screamed out in pain, she cursed him for knocking her up. While spitting out nonsense, she started asking about the baby room and everything she wanted to pack for her child.
"Is everything properly packed? Diapers? Did we have enough supplies?! What if the baby needs those baby mittens? Did we get enough for her? Ahhhh!!!! You idiot! Go check on her stuff! Why are you standing here?! Arghhhhh!" Her body was drenched in sweat as she cried tears out of her eyes.
"I've already checked everything. Don't worry, we have everything for our little princess. You're almost there. Just a few more pushes!"
"Shut up!! Is it you or me who is giving birth, huh? Ahhhhh!!! It hurts!! When people say childbirth brings a woman's foot closer to death's door, I swear they didn't exaggerate it! It f*cking hurts!! Shit!! Ahhhhhh.. NNnn...!! Hmpphh.."
Chen Nan said, "Babe, you're doing a splendid job. Baby is almost out. After our princess, let's not have anymore children. Breathe in...and out." He patiently imitated her breathing pattern and soothed her as she continued pushing.
"I can't do this...Nmmm..I can't anymore." She cried, pleading for anyone to give her some help.
The doctor excitedly encouraged her, "We see the baby's head! Come on! You can do this! Just another hard push! We'll count by seconds again, okay? Just another push!"
Hearing her baby was coming out, Ariana gathered her strength and squeezed her eyes tight. Trembling as she gripped Chen Nana's hand with all her might, she gave a whimper at the end of the push. She felt something come out of her lower area and heard the doctor's announcement.
"The baby's head is out. Give me another push! You can do it!" The doctor cheered as nurses prepared for the baby's arrival. Ariana bit her lips and gave her hardest to push a few more times. Finally, their little princess was born.
As soon as Ariana and Chen Nan heard the baby's cry, their eyes stared at each other emotionally. There was a mixture of pain, love, warmth and responsibility at the small human being in the nurse's arms. The nurse brought the baby girl to her parents. Ariana held her little girl in her arms as Chen Nan shed tears with her.
Pecking her forehead and then her lips, he whispered, "Thank you. Thank you for giving me such a precious gift. I love you. I love you so much." Perhaps the little princess felt her parent's presence; she stopped crying as loudly when she was in Ariana's arms.
"Hey there, little princess. I'm your mommy and he's your daddy. From now on, we'll protect and love you unconditionally. You're so beautiful. My angel." Ariana smiled as her tears blended in with her sweaty face.
Chen Nan gently whispered to his baby, "Hello, sweetheart. You're so beautiful. So precious. I love you so much. Thank you for coming to us safely."
The doctor congratulated the couple and asked, "Have you thought of your baby's name yet?"
Looking at each other, they exchanged a nod. "Alexia."
Because without Alexander's help, this baby wouldn't have been born. Therefore, they decided to name her after him.