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Long, soothing strokes of his fingertips along my stomach calmed her and me.

“Now I’m going to find the doctors, find out what's going on, and make sure they know who you are.”

A twinge of pain shot up my spine. I looked at the monitors showing I had a strong contraction that I couldn’t feel – thank you drugs.

“And who am I?” I asked taking a deep breath.

“You’re everything Beks. You and this little girl right here. You two are my world, and they need to know that.”

“Brenton,” I said and gripped his hand tight. “Something is happening.”

Brows furrowed he watched me for a second before realization clicked in.

“I’ll go get the doc-”

My OBGYN barged through the door cutting him off. “Okay, Mrs. Graves we have OR-” At the sight of Brenton he paused. “Mr. Graves glad you could make it.”

“Something is happening,” I said. “Can you check me one more time?”

He nodded.

After the quick check, he slid the latex glove off and tossed it in the trash. “Guess you both were waiting on him to get here. Let me grab a nurse; then it’s time to push.”

Ten minutes, and a lot of sweat and curse words later, the doctor placed a bright red baby girl on my chest. “Congratulations you two.”

All around us the doctor continued to work and the nurses scurried around, but Brenton and my attention were on the precious creature we made.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Just like her mom,” Brenton sniffled as he ran a hand over her gloopy head. “Damn you’re amazing Beks. She’s perfect.”

Against my bare chest Grace wiggled with her eyes sealed shut.

“Rebeka.”

Hesitantly I took my eyes off my baby girl and looked to B.

“It’s not your choice anymore. You and Grace are coming back to Kentucky with me until I finish up my contract with the army. No more of this long distance shit. You, me, and her together from now on.”

“Okay,” I said with a broad smile.

He eyed me suspiciously. “Okay? No pushback?”

“I don’t want to be away from you either. And...” With a hand wrapped around the back of his neck, I pulled him down to press my lips against his ear. “When I’m all healed down there that’s when I’ll give you push back. Where’s the fun in it if my sass isn’t returned with your hand across my ass?”

His loud laugh made everyone turn their attention to us.

But we didn’t care.

Eyes locked with each other. Hands resting on our new beautiful baby girl. We didn’t care about anything other than us — our little family.

“I love you, Mrs. Graves. Forever.”

“And I love you too, Mr. Graves. Forever.”

The End