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Lily
GENTLE FINGERS STROKED my head, and I sat up with a gasp. I still wasn’t entirely awake, but I was lucid enough to see Maverick smiling. His eyes were still closed, but he was smiling. I glanced around and found my parents, along with Ace, Cassidy, Liam, and Tillie.
Cassidy was awake, and I whispered, “When did they remove the tube?”
She scooted her chair closer to me. “About an hour ago.”
“How did I miss that?” I rubbed my aching back. It was killing me, probably from falling asleep in the chair. I regretted not letting them bring in a bed for me, but if they had, no one else would have fit in the room.
Cassidy squeezed my arm. “You were exhausted, sweetheart. You obviously needed to sleep.”
I focused back on Maverick. “Has he woken completely yet?”
“Not yet.”
I lifted his hand and kissed it gently. “Wake up, Möosh,” I ordered. He didn’t obey, but that didn’t surprise me. It could take a long time for a patient to wake up after surgery. The body had to process the trauma and the effects of anesthesia.
“What did they say about his oxygen level?” I asked.
“Ninety-eight percent after they took the tube out.”
I kissed Maverick’s hand again. “That’s really good.”
“How are you feeling, honey?” Cassidy asked.
“I’m okay, Cass.” I pushed up from my chair. “I do need to pee, though.”
“Baby girl, you okay?” Dad asked gruffly. He stood and closed the distance between us.
“I’m good, Daddy. I just have to use the restroom.” He walked to the bathroom with me and was waiting for me when I came out, walking beside me as I headed back to my vigil.
“You need to rest, Lil.”
“I just slept for two hours.”
Dad frowned. “That’s not really what I meant.”
I sighed as I took my seat again. “I know, but I’m not leaving him, so please don’t ask me again.”
Dad shook his head as he stroked my cheek, but he walked back to his chair without comment.
“Don’t argue with your dad, Lil,” Maverick rasped.
I gasped and jumped to my feet, leaning over him. Finding the call button, I pressed it and then sat on the edge of the mattress. The rest of the family circled the bed.
“Hey, Möosh.” I stroked his cheek. “Can you open your eyes?”
He smiled. “No.”
I chuckled. “Try harder.”
He blinked and managed to squint a little. His nurse, Sandra, walked in and shooed everyone away so she could check him. I refused to leave, keeping firm hold of Maverick’s hand, and watched every move she made.
“I’m going to let the doc know you’re awake,” Sandra said. “Everything looks good. Can I get you anything?”
He shook his head.
She nodded to me. “He can have water if he’s thirsty.”
She left, and I leaned over him, kissing him gently. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Maverick smiled. “Sorry, baby doll. Is Tillie okay?”
“I’m here,” she said and rushed to his side, tears flowing down her cheeks. “You saved me.”
“You kinda helped, sis.”
While the family spent a few minutes with him, I poured him some water and forced him to drink a little. “It’ll help your throat, Möosh.”
“Sit down, Lily,” he demanded. “You need to rest.”
“If you think I’m leaving you, you’re high.”
“Then get your ass up here.” He patted the mattress beside him.
“Mav—”
“Now,” he pressed. He grimaced as he shifted his large body to the side.
“You’re going to hurt yourself,” I growled.
He held his arm out to me (the one not hooked up to the IV), and I settled myself against him as gently as I could. As soon as his arm came around my waist, I burst into tears. I buried my face against his chest and let the stress of the last two days go.
“I’m okay, baby doll. I got you.” He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head as my sobs wracked my body.
Mom leaned over me, kissed my cheek, and then pulled a blanket around me.
* * *
Maverick
Lily lost her battle with sleep, and I refused to wake her when the doctor came in to examine me. “You’re gonna need to work around her,” I whispered. “I’m not moving her.”
Hawk and Payton had taken the kids down to get something to eat while my parents stayed behind. When the doctor left, I glanced over at my mom. “Can you hit that pain pump for me, please?”
Mom rushed to help, stroking my cheek. “Do you need me to call the doctor back in?”
“I’m good, Mama,” I assured her.
“If anything happened to you...”
“I’m good, Mom. I wasn’t about to leave any of you.” I focused on my dad. “What happened to Brick?”
Dad crossed his arms and whispered, “DOA.”
I relaxed. “Good.”
“Don’t like that he got a shot off,” Dad said.
“He didn’t shoot me,” I said. “Jenny did.”
“That bitch,” Mom hissed. “I’m gonna make sure she hangs.”
“We don’t hang people anymore, baby,” Dad said.
“Then she’d better make sure the police find her before I do.”
“Jaxon’s already got her down at FBI holding,” Dad pointed out.
“Well, then your brother had better let me have ten minutes with her without cameras.”
I chuckled. “I’ve never seen you so bloodthirsty.”
Mom burst into tears. “She took my babies! That bitch is gonna pay.”
Dad pulled her into the shelter of his body and wrapped his arms around her. “Okay, baby. She’ll get what’s comin’ to her.”
“How did you find us?” I asked.
“Ryder.” Dad slid his hand to Mom’s neck and stroked her gently. “He said that now that Brick is dead, Char will probably double down, so he’s getting everyone ready.”
“I really thought Ryder was gonna be a problem,” I admitted.
Dad chuckled. “Ryder’s in, bud.”
“So’s Sadie,” Mom interjected. “That woman’s going to be our best friend... I can feel it.”
“Think she already is,” Dad said, and Mom nodded.
I slid my hand to Lily’s belly. “Is she okay?”
“She had some cramping, but Alec checked her and determined it was just from stress,” Mom said.
“Shit,” I hissed. “This wasn’t supposed to touch her.”
“Can’t keep it all from us, honey,” Mom said. “But she was covered.”
I kissed Lily’s head, biting back a yawn. “Thanks.”
“You should rest, honey.” Mom kissed my cheek. “We’ll be right here.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. My world was right again with my girl in my arms.
* * *
Lily
Two days later, Maverick was itching to “get the hell out of” the hospital. I kind of wanted to as well. Mom had grabbed us both clothes from home, and I’d managed to shower in Maverick’s bathroom, but I really wanted my own bed.
Maverick had to stay for a few more days, but he was healing, and that was all I cared about. His room had seen a steady stream of friends and family checking on him. Tillie wouldn’t be allowed to go back to school for at least a week, and she had the added irritation of Liam. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight.
Poor Rooster lost his shit for a bit. Ace had planned a “beat down like no other,” however, Rooster was such a mess that Ace decided he’d punished himself enough... Ace didn’t need to add to it.
At about noon, we were blissfully alone, and I was sitting in the chair by Maverick’s bed when a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I groaned and shifted, trying to ease the pain, but nothing seemed to help.
“Babe?”
“I’m okay,” I managed.
“I’m getting a nurse.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s passed.”
I was surprised when Macey walked in and smiled. “You rang?”
“Lily’s in pain,” Maverick said, shifting in an effort to sit up.
“Don’t you dare move,” I ordered.
Macey leaned over me and lifted my chin. “Lily?”
“Just some cramping.” It hit again, and I cried out.
“Fuck!” Maverick snapped.
Macey laid her hand on his shoulder, pushing him back to the mattress. “Don’t panic, buddy. Let me check her over first, okay? You tear those stitches, and Alec’ll lose his shit.”
“So will I,” I ground out.
Macey focused on me again, giving me a cursory exam, and smiled. “You, my darling, are in labor.”
“It’s too soon.”
“It’s not really; you’re technically full-term.”
“I can’t have her without Mav.”
“Let me see what I can do, okay? I’m gonna call your mom, and then I’ll figure out what to do with you. Do not move from this chair until I come and get you.”
I nodded, rubbing my belly, trying to ease some of the pain. Macey left the room, and Maverick took advantage of her absence by sliding off the bed.
“Stop, Möosh. If you hurt yourself, I’ll be really pissed.”
He leaned against the mattress, and I couldn’t stop a snort. He wore nothing but the hospital gown and the little socks with the non-slip bottoms.
“My woman would not be laughing at me, would she?” Maverick challenged.
“I would never.”
He inched his way over to his bag.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Baby, you’re not giving birth while I’ve got my ass hangin’ out of a hospital gown.” He pulled his clothes out of the bag and hobbled back to the bed.
All of a sudden, I was soaked, and I squeaked in disgust. “I think my water just broke.”
Maverick hit the call button again, and someone other than Macey walked in. “Hi Maverick, I’m Ada. I’m looking after you today. Everything okay?”
“Pretty sure my water just broke,” I said.
Ada went into rush mode, and I was suddenly in a wheelchair before I could protest.
“Macey Stone said for me not to move,” I said, rather pathetically.
“Honey, we need to get you down to L&D.”
“She’s not going anywhere without me,” Maverick said.
We didn’t have to argue since Macey walked in just then and sorted everything out.
“Ada’s going to help Maverick get changed and then she’ll bring him down, Lily, but right now, you need to get hooked up to a monitor and out of your wet clothes,” Macey instructed.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Maverick promised, kissing me gently.
I nodded, and Macey wheeled me to labor and delivery.
Six hours later, Charleston Payton Cassidy Quinn arrived, weighing in at nine pounds, two ounces, and measuring twenty-one inches long. She had a full head of blond hair, and she was perfect.
Maverick, Mom, and Cassidy had been my coaches, while our dads paced the hallway outside the door. Maverick had been forced to stay in his wheelchair, but once Charley and I had been cleaned up, he climbed into the bed with us, and we snuggled close.
I kissed Maverick then Charley and smiled up at him. “Thank you for always keeping your promises, Möosh.”
“Thanks for giving me our daughter, baby doll.”
We spent the rest of the night holding each other and our daughter, our world back on its axis.
* * *
Two months later...
I woke with a start and sat up. Maverick wasn’t in our bed, and Charley wasn’t in her bassinet. My boobs felt like they were going to burst, and looking at the clock, I realized why. I’d slept for almost ten hours.
Sliding out of bed, I went looking for my family. I found them in the living room. Maverick had Charley cradled against his bare chest, and she was staring up at him with total adoration and besotted-ness while he fed her.
“Mama’s sleeping, baby girl,” Maverick whispered. “So it’s Daddy’s turn to get up with you.” He stroked her cheek, and she grinned up at him. “Do you know how lucky that makes me? Hmm? I get you all to myself for a little while, so that means I get to tell you all the ways I love you and plan to keep you safe.”
I didn’t make a sound as I watched them, totally transfixed.
“Let’s see,” he continued, “I’m going to buy a couple more guns, and I’ll plan on cleaning them when the boys come around. I have a feeling your granddads will do the same thing, so you’re going to be a virgin until you’re forty, and that works fine for me.”
I bit back a giggle as I shook my head.
“I’m going to need to get your mama pregnant again quick-like. You need a brother to protect you when I’m not around.” Charley grabbed his finger, and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. “In the meantime, we’ll get a recruit on you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I know you’re there, baby doll,” Maverick said and met my eyes.
I headed toward them and sat on the sofa. “Forty? Really?”
“Really.”
“Don’t you want grandchildren?” I challenged.
“Not if it means she has sex before she’s forty.”
I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”
Charley turned her head and smiled at me. I leaned over and kissed her. “Good morning, my sweet girl.” I glanced at Maverick. “How much has she had?”
“About three ounces.”
“Want me to finish up, or should I pump?”
Charley let out a scream, and he set the bottle aside. “It looks like she wants you to finish up.”
I took her and settled her to my breast. Charley wouldn’t take a bottle if I was around, so I tried to give Maverick one-on-one feeding time at least once or twice a week. Maverick rose to his feet and leaned down to kiss me deeply. “How’d you sleep?”
“Amazingly. Thank you for the full ten hours.”
“You’re welcome. How about I make breakfast?”
“I love you so hard right now, Maverick Quinn.”
“Back atcha, Lily Quinn.”
While I continued to feed Charley, Maverick went to work preparing breakfast. I leaned down and kissed my girl. “We totally hit the mother lode with him, huh?”
Charley grinned up at me, pausing her eating for less than a second before digging back in.
“I’m glad you agree,” I whispered. “You’re the most loved little girl in all the world.”
“I’m kind of partial to both of you,” Maverick countered, turning away from the stove.
I glanced at Maverick. “I don’t think I’m considered little anymore.”
“Until you grow another foot, you’re still little to me, baby doll.”
I chuckled. “Okay, big man.”
Charley was done with me keeping her from her daddy, so I changed her and then handed her off to Maverick. I served breakfast while he told our daughter all the ways he planned to keep the boys away. I didn’t point out that he was a boy and couldn’t be kept away from me. I’d let him have his little fantasy for the moment.
My man was safe, my daughter was perfect, and my life was complete.
All because a promise is a promise is a promise...
