It was her wedding day. She couldn't believe how quickly those two weeks had passed. It blew her mind knowing who some of the people sitting in the ball room of the hotel were. She looked in the mirror, at her reflection, and pouted a little that the little bulge that had appeared over the course of the month. They had only told their families and very close friends about the baby, but that didn't matter to her. She was proud to be carrying Elijah's child - happier than she had ever been. Her father walked into the room, sighed. She turned to see him smiling with tears in his eyes.
"Oh, Daddy" she whispered and walked to him, tears welling in her eyes. "You're going to make me cry" she said, as his arms came around her.
“My little Marah is getting married and starting a family of her own.” he said softly, framed her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe that yesterday you were four years old, wanting me to kiss your scrapes and bruises, and today you are all grown up.”
She kissed his cheek and said tearfully, “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too.” he said, and they heard the music start. “Well that’s our cue!” He tucked her arm in his and they walked to the aisle where they waited for her bridesmaids to walk down the aisle. She looked down the aisle and saw Elijah waiting for her. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo. This day was a dream come true, and it was all because of him. Her heart swelled with love as she and her father began to walk down the aisle as everyone stood to watch them pass. Their eyes locked as they came nearer. They stopped in front of him and Elijah held out his hand and smiled at her. She let go of her father, kissed his cheek, and joined the man she loved in front of all their friends and family.
~*~
Somehow, pictures of their wedding appeared in magazines. Marah sighed as she flipped through the magazine, feeling as if something had been stolen from her. Which she felt was silly, she knew what she was getting into when she married him. She was now twenty-five weeks pregnant and had been feeling the baby move for a few feeks and also began really showing around that same time.
“What are you reading?” Elijah asked from the doorway of their bedroom.
“’Elijah Wood’s Wedding Photos’” Marah read the headline to him with a sigh.
“Really? Let me see.” he said and walked over to her. He took the magazine from her and looked at the photos, read the article, and laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“Babe, these are the photos that my publicist released.” he laughed as he told her. “Remember, we talked about this before the wedding. You said it would be ok. You even helped me pick out the ones that were to be released.”
“I did?” she asked, smiling sheepishly.
“Preggo brain, eh?” he asked and set the magazine on the night stand, laughing softly.
“Seems like it.” she sighed. “I forget everything!”
Elijah laid on the bed beside her and put his hand on her belly.
“Moving much today?” he asked.
“A little.” she smiled contently and leaned against him, then felt a sharp jab.
“I felt it!” Elijah said excitedly and kissed Marah. “I felt our baby!” Marah grinned at him.
"He knows his daddy."
"He?"> Elijah asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Just a feeling." Marah shrugged a shoulder.
Elijah sat up and scooted down the bed a little, then leaned over and started talking to his baby.
"Hello in there!" he said loudly, causing Marah to giggle. "This is your Daddy speaking!" he looked up to see Marah grinning at him, love shining in her eyes. "We are going to love you so much .. just you wait and see." he promised and kissed her belly, then scooted back up and kissed his wife.
The next morning Marah woke, feeling a tightening in her belly. It didn't hurt, so she shrugged it off, remembering how she had read about braxton hicks contractions. She looked at the clock and mentally noted the time. Then she slowly got out of bed and headed for the shower.
She neatly laid her night gown in the hamper and hung her towel on the towel rack. She turned the shower on, making the water almost as hot as it would go. She stepped into the shower and hummed as the water splashed over her, so she didn't hear the bathroom door open and close. The shower curtain open and she screamed in shock, then realized it was Elijah.
"Elijah!" she scolded, her heart pounding in fear.
"I'm sorry." he said, laughing, but looking apologetic. "Really, I am. I didn't mean to scare you. I only wanted to surprise you." he grinned and raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Marah laughed and gave him the once over.
"Well, I suppose you'll do." she said, after thinking for a moment.
"You only suppose I'll do?" he asked, feigning outrage as he stepped into the shower. He pulled her close and marveled at the feeling of her naked, pregnant body pressed against his. His hands gently splayed across her constantly growing stomach.
"Yes. I have seen better. In fact, I think I have Orli's number in my . ." she said, laughing, and was interrupted by his pressing his mouth to hers.
After several moments, he pulled away, gasping. "You were saying?" he asked, raising just one eyebrow out her and grinning.
"Nothing." she whispered, and pulled him back to her for another kiss.
An hour later, Elijah toweled himself off and helped Marah towel off.
"Do you have anything planned today?" Marah asked him.
"I have a reading to go to around three." he told her.
"Oh?" she asked. "For which script?"
"The Gateway."
"Ohh, that's the good one." she said as she looked through her closet for something to wear. "Nothing fits anymore." she muttered.
"Why don't you go shopping while I'm at my reading?" Elijah asked.
"That sounds like a plan. What do you want to do between now and then?" she asked.
"Hmm.. something that involves you not finding any clothes." he said, laughing, and quickly crossed the room to her.
"My, my, my, you are insatiable today."
"For you? I'm always insatiable." he replied, and lifted her in his arms and carried her to their bed.
That afternoon Marah drove herself to the mall. She headed straight towards Motherhood Maternity and froze as she felt another tightening, but this one hurt a little. "Maybe I'm doing too much." she thought to herself and searched for a bench to sit on for a few moments. She sat and sighed, putting her hands on her growing belly. After sitting for ten minutes without any twinges, she stood back up and walked to the store.
After picking out several shirts, pants, and under garments, Marah checked out and felt another twinge. She sighed and willed it to go away. She thought she would call her midwife after getting home.
After paying for her purchases, she walked to the entrance, where she doubled over in pain.
"Miss? Can I help you miss?" a man asked.
"My cell phone." she whimpered. "In my purse."
He dug her cell phone out and asked her what number.
"265-8742"
The pain lessened and she straightened up a bit. He handed the phone to her, but stayed close by. The voice mail message came on, so she pressed the button to page him. They had agreed that she would only use the page in emergencies.
Her phone rang just as she felt a trickle of fluid trickle down her leg. She paled and answered her phone.
"Lij?" she asked.
"Marah? What's wrong?"
"I think my water just broke."
Marah woke the next morning in the hospital bed, not quite sure where she was at first. She saw Elijah sitting in a chair beside her bed, fast asleep. He looked so exhausted she thought to herself.
"Elijah." Marah whispered, then looked a little guilty as he woke with a start. "I'm sorry.. maybe I should have let you sleep..." she trailed off.
"No. No, I'm fine." he said softly, stood and walked to her beside, sat gently beside her. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Tired.. a little.. weird. Elijah, is our baby ok?" she asked quietly. As soon as she asked, she knew the answer to her question. His eyes looked haunted and they filled with tears as he tried to formulate a response. "No." she whispered. "No!" she wailed.
"Oh baby." he whispered, pulling her into his arms, his tears falling freely now. "I'm so sorry." he cried as they rocked together. How long they cried, neither was sure. They sat, clinging to one another, when a knock came at the door. "Yes?" asked Elijah.
The door opened and Mrs Hayden entered the room. She walked to the other side of the bed and told Marah how sorry she was.
"I wish there had been something we could do .. but there was just no way for us to stop your labor. You were dialted to a 6 when you came in."
"Did I wait too long?" Marah asked, silent tears falling down her cheeks.
"Oh no, Marah. There was nothing you could do, so don't blame yourself. Now, do either of you have any questions?"
"Was it a boy or a girl?"
"It was a boy. I recommend that you hold him as well, Marah. It will help the both of you through the grieving process. The nurse will bring him in as soon as I ask her to." Mrs Hayden watched the both of them carefully for reactions. Both simply nodded.
"Will we be able to try again?" Elijah asked quietly.
"Yes. Though, I will recommend you see an OBGYN this time, because Marah will need to be closely monitored should she become pregnant again. I recommend you wait two cycles. This will give you time to grieve and for your body to heal, Marah. Anything else?"
"No." Elijah said.
"Would you like for me to ask the nurse to bring your son to you?" Mrs. Hayden asked.
"Yes, please." Marah whispered.
"Ok. I'll go tell her." Mrs. Hayden said quietly, and left the room.
Moments later a nurse came in pushing a bassinett that held their baby boy. Fresh tears formed in Marah and Elijah's eyes as the nurse quietly said, "I"ll leave you alone now." and left the room.
Elijah slowly stood up and very slowly walked towards his son, tears streaming down his face. He felt like his heart was breaking and he wasn't sure he could move on from this. He looked down at his baby boy and sobbed, thinking how much like an angel he looked. He carefully picked the baby up and cradled him in his arms. Still sobbing, he turned and walked towards his wife, who was now sobbing as well. He sat down beside her and together they held their baby boy, wishing things had turned out differently.
"He needs a name." Marah hoarsely whispered.
"David Alexander." Elijah replied and Marah nodded in agreement.
“I love you, my Davy.” Marah whispered, kissing her baby’s forehead.
Elijah held them both, unable to speak.
Before - After
