~*~ A Long Wait Ahead ~*~
Returning to the hotel, AJ and Andi were greeted by a room full of anxious friends. Everyone of them were on edge and seeing the look in AJ’s eyes only increased their anxiety.
As Andi took a seat in a chair, Belinda asked, "What’s going on, Alex?"
AJ sat on the arm of the chair beside Andi, his arm around her. "She’s in labor."
"I’ve dilated three centimeters and effaced twenty percent. The doctor said it’s gonna be a long day. He gave us his numbers, at home and his cell phone, in case you need him," said Andi calmly as she put her hand on AJ’s thigh.
"Why was your back hurting this morning?" asked Howie.
"Labor pains," said AJ.
"Are you okay now?" asked Kevin.
"I’m fine."
"Sweetheart, how close are the contractions?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"What do you want us to do?" asked Nick.
"Today needs to be a normal day. The more I do, the faster the baby will get here," said Andi.
Andi’s calm settled the others too.
"Cool," said Kevin. "We need to get going. We’ve got some interviews to do and they want us out of here by noon. Sound checks are at two and dinner is scheduled at the venue. You four, get your things together and let’s get going."
As everyone stood to go get ready, AJ looked at them horrified. "WHOA! Hold it one DAMN MINUTE!"
Everyone turned to look at AJ as Andi took his hand. "What’s wrong, Alex?"
"You’re in LABOR and everyone is going to go about like NOTHING is wrong?!"
"Nothing IS wrong, baby," soothed Andi as she squeezed his hand. "I’m having a baby, that’s it."
"That’s it? THAT’S IT?! THAT’S EVERYTHING!"
"AJ, Andi’s calm and she said for us to go about our normal routine," pointed out Howie. "What do you expect us to do?"
AJ looked from his bandmates, to his mother who had arrived a few days earlier, Belinda, and finally to Andi. They were all calm but his hands told his story. His wife was having a baby, a life that HE helped create; a life HE was responsible for.
Andi saw the fear in his eyes and said, "Go on, guys. I can handle this."
"Are you sure?" asked Kevin.
"Yeah," answered Andi as she caressed AJ’s leg. "Alex and I are gonna go get our things together and talk."
Howie put his hand on AJ’s shoulder, "We’ll see you in a few."
Everyone went their separate ways leaving the couple alone. Before Andi could speak though, she had a contraction and took a deep, cleansing breath, squeezing AJ’s hand.
Forgetting his nerves, AJ checked his watch, then brushed her hair back. "That’s it, baby, work through it. I’m right here."
With it over, Andi did one more cleansing breath and said, "Thank you."
"Any time," whispered AJ placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Alex, everything is gonna be okay. I’m having a baby, the most natural thing in the world for a woman to do," she soothed as she caressed his thigh.
"And you don’t need me losing it either?" questioned AJ as he continued playing with her hair.
"No, I don’t. Remember the last time I soothed your nerves?"
"Uh huh but we can’t make love now."
"Sure we could. My water hasn’t broken yet but that’s not what I had in mind," purred Andi as she continued to run her fingers along his thigh.
AJ groaned and closed his eyes enjoying the sensations she was creating. "What do you have in mind?" growled AJ.
"Ummm, let’s go to the bedroom and I’ll show you."
AJ helped Andi up and with his hands on her waist, followed her to the
bedroom where he kicked the door shut. She turned in his arms and ran her
fingers over her chest and into his hair playing with the curls.
Placing a kiss below his Adam’s apple, she whispered, "To relax, you need to think about that day on your bus." All the while, her hands were roaming his body.
"Why don’t you show me…as a reminder?’
Andi shook her head. "Not this time, baby. We need to get our things together."
Pouting, "Does this mean I’m not gonna get any action?"
"Uh huh," she smiled softly. "It’s almost noon now, baby."
"AGGGGGG, woman!! You’re gonna drive me insane!" Reaching to take her hands, he kissed them. "You have me so damn hard right now. What am I suppose to do?"
"Go take a cold shower," teased Andi.
"You are such a tease!"
"But I love you."
AJ kissed her deep running his hands along her stomach. "I love you too. You gonna help me?"
"Yeah, I am."
The afternoon was a flurry of activity as arrangements were made turning AJ’s bus into a delivery room. Belinda and Denise were in charge and every available pair of hands were put to work in one way or another. A bassinet was assembled for the newborn and all the things Belinda would need to deliver the baby were gathered.
While the grandmothers were busy preparing for the arrival of their grandchild, the boys were taking care of their business and Andi was right there with them. AJ had made a promise he’d never leave her side for this and he had every intention of keeping that promise. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. On breaks, he was by her side holding her hand or holding her and when he was busy, he had Janice, one of their security detail, sitting with Andi and they were both in his line of sight.
