The Birth of Ethan Carter II

The drive to the hospital was a blur.

I gripped the seat, breathing through the contractions that came in waves, each one stronger than the last. Ethan’s hand was firm on my thigh, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “We’re almost there, baby. Just hang on.”

But I couldn’t hang on any longer. The baby was coming, faster than either of us expected.

“Ethan… it’s too fast!” I gasped, my body tensing with another wave of pain.

His eyes widened. “Shit. We’re so close, I can’t believe it. Hold on.”

We turned the corner to the hospital parking lot, and just as we were pulling up to the entrance, I felt the unmistakable pressure of my water breaking.

“Oh god, Ethan,” I moaned, my voice rising in panic. “He’s coming!”

Before he could even stop the car completely, I pushed against the seat, the instinctive drive of my body overtaking all other thoughts. Ethan slammed the car into park and turned to me in shock.

“Fuck,” he muttered, scrambling to get out of the car and around to my side. I was already moaning, clutching my belly as the contractions intensified.

“Baby, don’t do this here!” Ethan said, panic lacing his voice. But it was too late. The baby was on his way, and there was no stopping him now.

With an urgency that matched my own, Ethan grabbed a clean towel from the back seat and helped guide me through the birth in the car. His hands were gentle yet firm, and he spoke to me through every second. “You’ve got this. You’re amazing. Just breathe for me, babe. We’re doing this together.”

The world seemed to shrink around us as I pushed with all the strength left in my body, feeling the burn and pressure as I gave everything I had to bring our son into the world. When Ethan’s hands finally cupped our baby’s tiny body, his voice broke with emotion. “He’s here, baby… Ethan Carter II.”

I could barely believe it, even as I looked at our son, his eyes already alert as he cried in the backseat, the sounds of the night echoing in the quiet of our car.

Ethan’s colleagues—nurses and doctors—arrived moments later, rushing to our aid. They swiftly transferred us to the hospital, checked on both me and our son, and ensured we were both safe. The relief that washed over me when I held our baby in my arms was overwhelming, and I could only gaze at him, speechless.

Ethan stood beside me, his eyes full of awe as he watched our son settle peacefully in his bassinet next to my bed.

“I can’t believe he’s finally here,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Ethan, look at him. He’s perfect.”

Ethan brushed his fingers over my hair and kissed my forehead. “He really is, baby. He’s ours.”

The hours stretched on, but the exhaustion and relief felt like the beginning of something magical. As I lay there, staring at our son, the man I loved left for a moment, his footsteps soft on the floor as he kissed my cheek.

When Ethan returned, his hand clutching a small velvet box, I raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

He smiled, walking over to me and sitting on the edge of the bed. He opened the box, revealing a delicate, sparkling necklace. “This is for you, baby. A gift for everything you’ve done. A ‘push’ present, as they say.”

I gasped softly, my eyes filled with tears as I took in the delicate beauty of the piece. The necklace featured three stones—my birthstone, his, and our son’s—each one sparkling under the soft hospital lighting.

“It’s beautiful, Ethan,” I whispered, my voice shaky with emotion.

He leaned over, lifting the necklace from the box and draping it gently around my neck, his fingers grazing my skin as he clasped it. He kissed me softly on the lips, then pulled back just enough to whisper, “I can’t wait to do this again with you. I want more children. With you. Always.”

I melted against him, unable to speak for a moment, overcome with gratitude and love. This wasn’t just about our son; it was about our future. A future I couldn’t wait to experience with him by my side.

“I love you,” I said, my heart swelling.

“I love you, too,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Now, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll start this new chapter, and I’ll be right here with you.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I finally felt the weight of the world ease. Because Ethan was with me. And Ethan Carter II was finally here.