8. Finding More Than Expected

*Holy fuck! Like, seriously eleven comments!? Thanku guys so, SO MUCH! That's a lot for me and it means a lot to me!! ^-^ Glad You're liking it! :P Well, except Nic's whole situation which is super sad :''( Anyway, on with the chapter! Hope y'all like it! I tried to make it a long one without rushing things ^_^*

Hiking his hood up some more he tried her number again. Nothing. He was getting more and more worried as they neared the fouth hour of their search. He knew he was going to have to stop soon, his Mom's arthritis was bad and he didn't want to keep her out in the cold and the rain any longer.

"Any sign of her?" She yelled over the drumming rain as he tried calling her again.

"No, nothing." Pausing as he put his phone away he brought his eyes back to her. "Look, I'mma take you home and keep on lookin', she can't have got far."

"Aubrey, it's almost midnight."

"I know! But I can't just give up! She's out here somewhere, alone and seven months pregnant!" He caught himself and breathed out before talking more calmly. "I need to find her, just lemme do that. Please?" She said no more as he guided her to his car. It was silent all the way back, partly because he was having all sorts of disturbing images running through his mind and partly because Sandi wasn't speaking either. Feeling her eyes on him he kept quiet before she finally broke the silence.

"You really do care about her don't you?"

"I already told you that." By the tone of his voice she knew he was upset with her but what did he expect? She didn't want to drive the wedge any deeper and kept her thoughts to herself as they drove back to his house.

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Sitting on the stairway for a while she tried to collect herself before attempting to walk any further. Her tears now merging with the raindrops as they hit her face. She had no idea where she was going, she just knew she had to stay away from him and his life. It was for the best. Knowing his work hours she could get her stuff tomorrow and leave her key on the counter before she left. It was taking everything in her being to walk away from him but saving him from disaster was what she wanted to do. Tightening her jacket around herself she used the step behind her to stand up steadily before carrying on down the sidewalk. Nobody was around to hear her crying so she didn't hold back, the only thing that was there to remind her to keep things together was the cramping sensation she was feeling across her abdomen. It hurt more than any tightness she experienced before and as it got progressively worse it became more difficult to walk.

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He felt like his heart was beating as fast as the windscreen wipers as he kept his speed up on the road. He didn't know where else to search and his mind was running rampant with different places she could have gone. Suddenly catching sight of a small figure on the sidewalk he did a double-take and eased up on the speed.

"There! There she is!" The level of urgency in his voice made Sandi look around quickly, soon laying eyes on her too as they pulled up to the edge of the pavement. She hadn't seen them yet because she had her head down and the rain was coming down hard, drowning out any other noise. It was his headlights that gave them away as they reflected off of the path of water she walking on. Getting out of the car almost before it had even stopped he didn't bother shutting the door as he made his way over to her. "Nicki! The hell are you doing?!" Blocking her way he crouched down a little so as too look her in the eye.

"I'm going home." Looking away again she tried to get past him but he kept standing in her way. "Please don't?! Don't make this any harder than it already is!" She brought her hands up to her face and cried into them as he gently grabbed her upper arms.

"Your home is back there, with me. You can try and get past all you want Nicki, but you know I'm not gon' let'chu go." He was right, she could feel herself already giving in. The way he spoke to her just made everything ok again. "Come on, you're freezin'." He tried to pull her to the car but she kept her feet firmly planted on the ground. "Nicki? Come on."

"No, I can't ruin your life too. I won't."

"What are you talkin' about? You haven't ruined anyone's life, and you ain't gonna either. You give me life!"

"I've already destroyed my baby's life and she isn't even fucking here yet!" Coughing out a few tears she pulled her sleeves over her freezing hands before he got closer to her and brought her head up to look at him.

"Don't ever think that, you hear me? Now I'm not gon' stand here and listen to any more of this, get in the car Onika." She stood still before jumping at the level of anger in his voice. "Onika?!" Hesitantly doing as he said she snatched her hand out of his and got in the car carefully. The pain she was feeling had eased up a while ago but it still felt achy.

The whole ride home was silent apart from the odd shuddery breath from Nicki as Drake kept an eye on her through the rear-view mirror. He hated yelling at her like that but he had to get her to listen and at that point, raising his voice seemed like the only way. He made sure to get her some dry clothes as soon as they got inside as she took a hot shower to get warmed up.

"You didn't have to be so forceful with her y'know Aubrey?"

"You've changed your tune." He avoided looking at her as he made Nicki a hot drink.

"How could you even say that?! I told you I liked her, I think she's a really sweet girl!" She stopped herself and looked over at Nicki, she was sat in front of the fire in just her robe after showering. "I can't believe I'm about to say this but she obviously makes you happy and you care a lot about one another. I know you're going to stay with her anyway so I guess I'll just have to get used to it. I want you to be happy, but just be careful. This is dangerous territory you're roaming." He couldn't reply fast enough before they heard Nicki crying out from the lounge room. Darting through they stood staring at her as she struggled with the pain.

"Nicki what is it? What's hurting?" He immediately got on to his knees so he could see her properly but she had her head tucked down. His mind went into doctor mode as he checked her over with Sandi watching on worriedly.

"I'on..Ah, I don't know!" Panting to regain he breath she tried to stand up but Drake stopped her.

"Just sit still for a minute Nicki."

"No! No it hurts I need to stand up!" Not caring what he'd just said she managed to get herself up and leant on the arm of the couch as she rocked. Instinctively he started rubbing her back hearing her grunt in pain before Sandi pointed out something he was fearing.

"Aubrey, look at her legs." He did what she said and his heart dropped seeing the fluid trickling down her soft skin. Her water just broke.

"Alright, Nicki I need you to keep breathin' just like you are now, okay? I got'chu."

"Mmmmmmm."

"You want me to call an ambulance?" Sandi switched her eyes nervously between her son and Nicki.

"Yeah, tell 'em her water broke and she's only twenty-eight weeks." Nodding at the request she went straight to the house phone remembering that their cell phones had died on their search for her. It was like they'd all been struck with a curse of bad luck, as soon as she went to dial 911 the stormy weather cut the electric. Plunging them into darkness the only thing that illuminated the room was the roaring fire.

"Aubrey-"

"I know." He breathed out in frustration, the baby was coming way too soon along with the worry that she still possibly hadn't turned around yet. Nicki continued to let out soft moans before becoming quiet again, he'd been timing the contraction. Almost sixty seconds long. With his mind kicking into over-drive he began giving out instructions, Nicki was now his patient. "Mom, upstairs in the bathroom you'll find a pile of clean towels can you bring them down?" She nodded and quickly started climbing the stairs before he stopped her again. "And I'mma need some scissors too. Be careful though, it's dark."

"Okay." She proceeded to get the items as Drake tended to a distressed Nicki.

"Is it still hurtin'?" She shook her head no and stood up straight, only just noticing the fluid on the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry-"

"Hey, don't be sorry it's fine. Come here." He guided her back down to the floor after Sandi handed him the towels and he spread them under her. "I need to take these off, is that okay?"

"No!" He felt her hands grabbing his as he tried to pull off her underwear. "I don't want you to take them off."

"Nicki, you're in labour. You're water broke, y'know what that means?" She nodded her head shyly.

"It's the real thing Nic, you're havin' your baby." She looked at him unsurely before moving her gaze to a worried looking Sandi.

"Nicki, sweetie you have to listen to Aubrey. He's tryin' to help you." She sat down too and rested her hand on Nicki's leg. Without warning she cried out again as another contraction coursed through her. Drake took that moment to remove her underwear whilst she was distracted by the pain. At the same time as making sure to keep her covered Sandi  removed the robe Nicki was wearing, leaving her temporarily naked before laying a blanket over her whilst still allowing her arms to be free. That way Drake had the right access he needed and she wouldn't feel exposed.

"Uh, it's really hurting! Please? Make it stop!" Hearing her in so much pain as she continued to yelp was putting Drake off a little but he was soon brought back by his Mom's voice.

"Aubrey, her contractions are getting closer together." Bugging her eyes she encouraged her son to let the doctor in him take over and that's exactly what he did. Slowly getting quieter Nicki's groaning stopped as she tried to steady the rapid rising and falling of her chest. No longer caring that Drake was seeing and touching her whole downstairs area.

"She's almost five centimetres dilated." He removed his hand slowly and set the blanket back down on her raised and parted knees. "Please could you go get some water for her?" Obliging her son's wishes she jumped to the task, leaving them alone for bit.

"What's happenin'? Is she ok?"

"Yeah she's fine Nicki, but I need you to know that she's gonna be really small okay? It'll be a little scary to see, but she'll be fine and so will you." He hid all the uncertainty in his voice as she nodded back at him.

"I'm really scared Drake." The way her voice trembled and her lip quivered made his heart sink instantly.

"Don't be scared, I'm here and I'm not gon' leave you aight? I'mma be here all the way." He grabbed her small hand gently as he rubbed her leg in a loving attempt to comfort her. It seemed to work as her uncontrollably rapid breathing slowed down.

Almost another four hours had passed and the electric was still off, and there was no turning back now as Nicki was finally dilated enough to start pushing. Sandi knew she was of no help anymore and dedicated herself to keeping Nicki calm as Drake took control of everything else. Gently grabbing her under her knees he lifted her legs a little more and spread them apart, making sure she was still comfortable. They'd packed loads of pillows behind her back as well and Sandi's arthritic heating pad to ease her back pain caused by the contractions.

"Okay Nicki, this is it now. With the next contraction I want you to push, you think you can do that?"

"Mhmm." As her body stiffened she let out a series of humming and moaning sounds before sitting herself up some more. "It's starting again."

"That's fine, that's what we want so-" He was cut off by her loud cry as her body automatically took over. "Yes! That's it, keep going Nicki." He continued to coach her pushing before she fell back against the couch gasping.

"I can't! I can't do it!" Still breathing heavily she felt the sensation of the baby coming through. Drake could do nothing but sigh heavily out of relief. It was the head, she'd turned around.

"Yes you can, you're almost there." He paused for a moment, looking at her exhausted body and sweaty face. "Here, gimme your hand." She reluctantly reached her hand out as he guided it gently between her legs, letting her feel the top of the baby's head. "See, that's her head. She almost here." Smiling at her face as she felt her baby for the first time he looked around as the room lit up, the electric was back on. Without even having to ask her Sandi ran to the phone and dialled for an ambulance, but Drake knew there was no way they'd be here before the baby.

"Ugh! It's coming again!" She pulled her hand away and steadied both of them on either side of her body as Drake cautiously pushed her legs open some more.

"Push now Nicki." There was no need to tell her twice as she tucked her chin to her chest and gave it her all, this time there was no panting, groaning or humming. She just got straight to it, conserving her energy. It was all so surreal to him as he saw her baby emerging some more, now that the whole head was out he could try help her a bit more. With a loud groan she relaxed and struggled to catch her breath. "That's it, get your breath back. You can do this with one more push okay?" Nodding tiredly she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself as Sandi came back over. Completely amazed at the sight before her she couldn't help but commend how brave Nicki was being and how amazing her son was for doing this alone especially since this was a high risk birth with the baby being over eight weeks premature. She watched them as he kept her calm, rubbing her legs as he was positioned between them using the other hand to support the baby's tiny head. There was a few seconds of silence before Nicki's whimpering could be heard again. Sandi immediately moved to sit next to her, holding her hand as Drake focused his attention on getting the baby out. "She's coming Nicki, keep going." He counted to ten aloud so she could hear and as soon as he reached the double digit she felt a surge of relief as Drake delicately tugged the baby's legs out, not taking a moment to marvel at the tiny being in his hands he pulled the blanket off of Nicki's heaving body and lay the lifeless baby on her bare chest before covering them both again as Nicki instinctively reached up to hold her baby to her chest.

"Is she okay?" His Mother's worried voice reflected how he was feeling as he watched over Nicki's drained face. The only audible sound was her panting.

"I'on know, they need skin to skin contact. Hopefully Nicki's breathing and body heat will stimulate her, just give her a minute." They waited and waited for what felt like an eternity. Still nothing. He pulled the blanket back a little and looked over them both before he tried to clear her airways. Nicki was becoming more and more anxious with each silent minute as she watched him. To the relief of them all after a few seconds of working on her, the sound of her squawky cries filled their ears as she choked them out in small bursts before it turned into an actual cry. He left her where she was and covered them up again as Nicki winced again feeling a mild contraction.

"What about the umbilical cord?"

"We can leave that 'til the ambulance gets here, right now she's gotta deliver the placenta." After another few minutes Drake was still busy helping her get the afterbirth out as Sandi kept a watchful eye on Nicki and the baby, pulling the blanket back every minute or so to check on them. She couldn't believe how small she was, she'd stopped crying and was just grunting a little now an then. Finally seeing the red and blue flashing lights outside Sandi didn't hesitate to go and open the door for the paramedics, they got inside just as Drake was finished delivering the placenta. He couldn't believe she'd just done all of that, he wanted to do nothing more than sit by her and hold her and tell her how brave she was but they had to get them straight to a hospital. The baby needed to be in the NICU and Nicki needed to be checked over properly too. He moved to be by her side after covering her up as Sandi explained to one of the paramedics how they were both doing.

"Thank you." He tore his eyes away from the tiny bundle on her chest and locked eyes with her.

"Don't thank me, you did all of this." He kissed her whilst everyone was busy pulling the stretcher in.

"No, I couldn't have done it without you, either of you." She smiled weakly before looking back down at her tiny baby. He knew as soon as he saw them both together, this was where his heart belonged. Call him corny but it was true, right next to him was his little family. His life.


*Well, I don't know anything about like, giving birth and stuff so there will be mistakes in there lol and y'all will just have to wait and see if everything is ok! I'll try and post soon if that's what you guys want? Thank you again for all the comments you left on the last chapter, I hope this one didn't disappoint! :/*