Fighting For Life

by Kylie Alyssa Forte

  “Yeah, let’s tell them now since everyone is here. Plus, we’re out of the twelve-week worrisome window. I guess the first trimester for me wasn’t too bad. I didn’t even know,” I said with a shrug and a snort.

  I walked towards the door, but I turned around before I made it all the way to it. I suddenly launched myself at my husband. “Aiden, thank you. Thank you for loving me and teaching me to love myself. Thank you for being such a good husband and father, thank you for this amazing life. I can’t wait to raise our two little ones with you. It’s an amazing life. I love you!” I kissed his lips with a smile and clang onto him with a bear hug. “I love you so much,” I whispered again.

  I finally let him go after several more kisses. Before we could get too carried away, we went out the door. We walked into the living room together as everyone was talking amongst themselves and laughing. I stopped for a moment and took it in. It was a beautiful picture; our amazing family being happy with each other.

  We both walked further into the room and stopped in the middle of everyone. After a few seconds everyone began paying attention to us.

  “Um, hi . . .” I said awkwardly.

  Aiden laughed and put his arm around my shoulders, he kissed my temple lovingly. “Hey Bray, come here for a sec,” he said to our son.

  Brayden walked forward and stood in front of us. He looked up at me in confusion. I just gave him a comforting smile and put my hand on his little shoulder.

  “What a good-looking family . . .” Grandma Clark commented, making me smile with pride. I was so proud of the family I had. After everything I had been through to get it, I was so proud of myself. I had people who loved me and people that I loved more than anything.

  “So, we have an announcement to make,” Aiden said, sounding strained. “Aubry . . . Aubry is fourteen weeks pregnant. We’re going to have a little baby,” he said after a slight pause.

  “What? Seriously? I thought you couldn’t have any?” Dana exclaimed with a giant smile on her face.

  “Yes, we’re having a baby!” I said in confirmation.

  “Oh my God! That’s so amazing! I’m so happy for you!” Dana said and jumped up to hug me.

  “This is amazing! I know you wanted this so badly! Congrats!” Bri said with a giant smile and a big awkward hug because of her big belly. “Our little ones are going to be besties because they’re going to be so close in age! I hope it’s a girl like ours!” she added with a pat to her swollen belly.

  “This is awesome! You haven’t even been super bitchy like Bri!” Tom said with a laugh. Briana swiftly hit him in the back of his head. He deserved that one.

  I heard a sniffling come from our son, and I immediately bent down to his level.

  “Bray what’s wrong?” I asked extremely worried. I brushed his curly dark hair out of his face and studied him. Was he that upset about our new addition?

  “I-I, I’m really gonna miss y’all. I was finally getting used to you being my mommy and daddy. I-I thought we were gonna be a family,” he said in his little kid voice. He sobbed loudly and tried to pull away from me.

  “Brayden what are you talking about? We are your parents, we are going be a family,” I said and made him look at me.

  He blinked rapidly as more tears fell out. He was so upset and shaking. He was sobbing loudly while trying to stop his tears.

  “No, when the baby is born, you’re going to give me back. My old foster brother told me that people only adopt when they can’t have kids themselves. You’re having a baby now, so I’m gonna have to go back!” he wailed. “I don’t wanna go back! I-I, I’m gonna miss my mommy and daddy,” he said, sloppily between his loud cries.

  I immediately wrapped my arms around my son while trying not to cry with him. “Brayden, we aren’t giving you back! You can’t leave us! You’re ours! You’re our son! We love you, even after we have the baby. You’re still going to be our son. You’re still going to be with us, and we’re still going to be a family! We love you Bray. We’re not giving you up for anything. You’re our son forever!” I said while trying to console our son. He wasn’t going anywhere. He was our little boy, our little son.

  “B-But Randall said . . .” he started.

  “Randall was wrong,” Aiden said immediately. “You’re our son. No matter how many kids we can or can not have. You were meant for us Bray. We love you so very much, Bub. You’re our son, no matter what,” Aiden said to him and wrapped his arms around us, creating a Brayden sandwich between us. “Brayden, you’re gonna be a big brother! You’re gonna have a baby brother or sister!” Aiden said, trying to make him understand that we were a family.

  “You won’t give me back? You’re gonna keep me?” he asked and sniffled a bunch.

  “Baby, you’re our baby. You’re not going anywhere. We would never give you up! You’re our son. We love you so much, Bray!” I said and stroked his curly hair.

  “You’re gonna keep me, Daddy?” he asked me with wide eyes.

  “Bray, you’re stuck with us forever. No matter how much you don’t want us,” Aiden said with a smile. “Son, you’re my little buddy. You’re our baby. We’re gonna be a family, and you’re gonna be an amazing big brother!” He answered and hugged our son tighter.

  “I’m gonna be a big brother, Mommy?!” he asked with a wide smile.

  “Yes! We’re going to be a four-person family now!” I confirmed with a wide smile.

  “Mom, I want a baby brother!” he said excitedly with a big smile. His tears were long forgotten.

  “Well, I can’t promise anything; it might be a girl,” I responded and kissed his cheek.

  “B-But I want brother!” he said.

  “Sorry, bub, I don’t control that,” I responded to him and stood up. “Either way you’re gonna be an amazing big brother! You’re going to love your baby brother or sister so much, huh?”

  He nodded vigorously.

  “Why don’t you and your cousins go play outside, we’re gonna have to leave in a bit.”

  “Okay!” he exclaimed and ran out of the room hastily. The other kids followed him as I let out a long pent-up breath. Oh boy, he was gonna be a handful.

  “You handled that really well, kids,” Chris commented and downed the rest of his beer. “You two are great parents. Congratulations! Want a beer, Aid?” He paused and looked at me. “Aub, I’d offer you one too but . . .” he said and gestured to my stomach.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Thanks Chris,” I said at his goofiness.

  My heart was just so full, and I was so happy. I had my wonderful husband, my adorable son, my new little baby, and the rest of our amazing family. Life was so good, and I couldn’t be happier.

  You Did so Amazing

  Aubry

  “Son, would you like to hold her?” I asked Brayden who was staring at his new baby sister wide-eyed.

  “Um, I don’t know Mommy,” he said, looking completely terrified.

  “Come on buddy, I’ll help you,” Aiden said and pulled him onto his lap.

  I gave my new daughter to Dana from my hospital bed, and she walked her over to my husband and son. Aiden situated Brayden’s arms in his and they both carefully cradled my daughter. My whole world was right there.

  We named her Robin Danielle. The Robin part was for Pawpaw since his name was Robert and the Danielle part was a deviation of Dana. As soon as I found out it was a girl, I knew I wanted to somehow name her after Dana. I mean, Dana had done so much for me and loved me like she was my own mother. Though, of course, Dana wouldn’t let us actually name our daughter Dana. She said that was too much and completely unnecessary, so with much convincing, we all agreed with the second name Danielle. Robin Danielle Clark, our beautiful daughter.

  I stared at my little family on the small couch across from my bed. They were so beautiful. The life we made was so lovely; my life with Aiden, and our wonderful family. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere else other than with him. He was my Aiden.

  “You did so
amazing!” Brandon said from beside me and ruffled my hair.

  “You’ve told me that four times already,” I commented and laughed at him.

  “I know, I just can’t believe you two had a kid! I mean, I couldn’t believe it when you adopted Brayden, but now you have two. Good luck!” He laughed heartily.

  “B . . . You have three now,” I said with my eyebrow raised.

  “I know, Cayla and Robin are gonna give us hell. I can already feel it!” he said with a shudder.

  I nodded as I looked at my little daughter. I just hoped none of the BS that happened to me would ever happen to her. I would die before I let any of that happen to her.

  “B . . . Thanks for being there for me. Thank you for protecting me,” I whispered to him.

  “What else are brothers for, my little Aub?” Brandon said and kissed my forehead. “We’ll protect them, Aub . . . We wont let them get hurt.”

  I smiled, knowing that he already knew what I was worrying over.

  “She looks just like you, thank God!” Tommy said with a laugh. “Her looking like Aiden would have been disastrous!” he added and Aiden gave him a death glare.

  “Oh hush, she looks like him as well! I hope she gets his eyes,” I said and smiled at my husband.

  Tommy faked gagged and rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes back at him and stuck my tongue out at him.

  “Have I told you how proud of you I am? All of you. You’ve grown up into amazing people with families and real jobs! I can’t believe it,” Dana sniffled a bit.

  “Thank you, Dana. We couldn’t have done it without you. You are literally a lifesaver,” I said and grasped her hand gently. “We love you so much.”

  After a while B and Tom left to let me rest for a while. B promised that Bri would be at my house to meet the little one the next day, they didn’t want to overwhelm me and Robin at the hospital. I was exhausted for obvious reasons.

  “Okay sweetheart, Bray and I are going to go home so you can get some sleep. Make Aiden do everything. You just lay there. It’s about time he pulled his weight around!” she joked and kissed his head. “She’s absolutely beautiful, you two made an absolute angel.”

  “Bye Robin! I love you! Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy! I’ll see you tomorrow,” Brayden said and kissed me on the cheek. “I love you!” he added.

  “Love you too Bray! Have fun with Gramma!” I said as I waved my son off with Dana. I loved him so much, but I was so exhausted. I was so excited for sleep!

  “Okay Aid, I need to get some sleep. Wake me up when it’s time for her to feed, please?” I said and stifled a yawn.

  ***

  Aiden

  Aubry let out a cute yawn and settled into her pillows. I smiled at my beautiful wife and kissed her head.

  “Thank you, love. You are so amazing,” I added and smoothed her hair out. She smiled lazily at me with her eyes closed and leaned into me. “I love you, Aub.”

  “I love you, Aid,” she whispered back and fell into a deep sleep in a matter of minutes. That’s my girl, the sleepiest one ever.

  I stared at my sleeping wife who had the baby’s bed thingy right next to her. In it was my new sleeping daughter—my daughter. She was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen, aside from Aubry. She looked just like her from her pouty lips, to her pasty skin and cute little nose. She was our beautiful daughter.

  I smiled at my Aubry whose face twitched slightly. I didn’t think I could love her any more than I already did, but she proved me wrong completely. I loved her more and more each and every day. She was the most beautifully imperfect, perfect thing that I had ever come across. My Aubry, my beautiful wife who I created a wonderful life with, my amazing Aubry.

  I thought back over everything we had been through. The beginning when I wanted nothing to do with her, when I fell for her and didn’t even realize it, when we first got together, and I still didn’t grasp the meaning of love. The horrid time when I abandoned her, when I thought she was dead, when she woke up, and forgave me right on the spot without a single thought. When she saw her sister and forgave her instantly, when I found out all of what she fought through to keep living, when we went home for the first time after the attack, and I just held her tightly, when she finally forgave herself, when she accepted my proposal, when she married me, when we decided to adopt our beautiful son and then when she gave birth to our beautiful daughter; we were finally getting our happy ending.

  She beat all odds and created an amazing life with me. I didn’t deserve her . . . No one did. Aubry was too amazing and too pure for this messed-up world, yet she chose me. She loved me. I was going to hold onto her and our family forever. I was never letting her go.

  I would forever keep fighting for her. For our family and for our lives together. She showed me what it is to love, and I loved her so much.

  My amazing fighter, my amazing wife, and my amazing Aubry.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  “Come on. Let’s go to Space Mountain. The line is just going to be super short,” I said as I chewed through the cinnamon goodness of a churro. With the wrapped goodie in one hand and my sequined purple mouse ears in the other, I began speed-walking away from the small cart, dodging through the crowds of onlooking children.

  “For the love of all that is holy, slow down, Nike.” Bella moaned, not even able to catch a sip of her soda before we started moving again. “My feet already hurt, and I don’t think Space Mountain is going to grow legs and run away if we don’t get there right this minute.”

  I just shot her a bright smile over my shoulder before resuming my weaving through the hordes of people. I was sure that Bella was rolling her doe-like eyes and muttering a handful of church-appropriate curses under her breath. Honestly, at this point in our friendship, I was surprised she wasn’t used to all of this yet as we came here so often. But, like always, she would just follow. This time, it was partly because I had promised that I would go dancing with her tonight—which I dreaded—and partly because she was just a true friend doing her best to help me out of a slump.

  The moment I had called her in tears and told her that I wouldn’t make it to my college classes in the morning, she knew exactly what to do and where to take me. When morning arrived, she showed up at my house and picked out an outfit for me that wouldn’t call attention to my red cheeks and puffy eyes. Though I had refused leaving my apartment at all, she coaxed me out with the promise of churros and a new ear headband. She knew that I needed to be surrounded by all the goodness in the world to recover.

  Though I never explained why, she knew that this was my safe place, my one refuge when things got grisly.

  And I was so grateful for her kindness when I told her I would take her to her favorite country bar and let her two-step to her heart’s content.

  For now, it was still my time, time to be away from all of the family drama that far outweighed any reality television show.

  And this was the place to do it, at least for me. I loved the charm and joy that wrapped Disneyland so completely. It was as if an invisible shield was keeping all of the world’s problems at bay from the visitors, and I was no exception. I loved watching children squeal in delight when they saw their favorite characters roaming about. I loved the way the rides made you feel like you were truly in the jungle or mining in the heat of the desert or getting spooked in a haunted temple. And the old, classic rides that were at the heart of it all were truly unimaginable, bringing old stories and memories to life over and over again.

  Even when I stood in line under the heat of the Anaheim sun, I couldn’t be contained. I babbled endlessly about all of the hidden details that I hadn’t noticed until now or gushed about how much better the food was here than anywhere else. For me, the rides were only a portion of the experience. Each street performer and food stand brought its own energy to the park, and I was here to embrace it all.

&nb
sp; After all the visits, I still giggled like a little kid on Space Mountain. Bella was convinced that, at this point, a dark tube with some twinkling lights and effects should have already gotten old for me, but it never did. I didn’t think it ever would. I would still scream and put my arms in the air as I get jostled about like the first-time riders. Each twist and turn would always feel so new, and I would hold on to my ears when a sudden motion catches me off guard and scream in my friend’s ear.

  When we were milling through the Star-Wars themed shop, I noticed that Bella was watching me closely. Her large brown eyes were focused on me intently. Her eyebrows were knotted together, making her glasses sit off-center on her face.

  “What is on your mind?” I asked quietly, nodding my head towards an empty bench. I dreaded this moment all day, but it had to come eventually.

  We walked towards the bench together and sat down side by side. When I saw the hesitation on her face, I pretended to be patient, pulling my thick dark hair into a ponytail and then putting back on my purple sequined ears. I knew this conversation was going to come, and it wouldn’t be a pleasant one so I took a deep breath to calm myself. I already rehearsed my lines.

  “I’m worried about you,” she confessed. Her voice was so soft and empathetic that it made me cringe.

  “You don’t need to be,” I replied too quickly.

  That made her raise an eyebrow again. My face was impassive, revealing nothing aside from a stiff smile that I knew she would see through.

  “You can’t call me crying and then not expect me to be worried about you. You never tell me what’s going on anymore. Part of being friends is sharing things, the good and the bad.”

  “I’m fine, Bella. Really. I got upset over nothing,” I lied.“I was just feeling a little overwhelmed because we have finished school and we’re getting jobs, and it feels like I’m dying to start the next chapter, but I’m also scared to let go of what I have now.”