travisjackson

[travisjackson]

He nodded at him and smiled. "I appreciate it. She's definitely doing amazing, that's for sure." Travis was so proud of his wife and was glad that they were both getting this; even if it was slightly nerve-wracking for him after what he had been through. "I'm happy she is too. She'll be an excellent mother." @anthonyxblake

Anthony nodded his head, "That's good, I'm glad to hear it." At Travis' words, he shook his head, "I appreciate it, it's fine," he told the other, "just wanted to check that everythin' was going well." Just because they weren't together, didn't mean that he didn't care about Liliana and the baby. And in this moment, Travis, too. "She's always wanted this so I'm just glad she's finally getting it." @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

He rocked his daughter in his arms and he nodded. "Thanks." He said. A lot of people brought food lately and while he wasn't eating that much, he was thankful for it nonetheless; even if he didn't show it often. "Let's go in her room." He said and walked back inside the hospital room, laying Bella May down in the bassinet by the bed. "You can set the food down anywhere. Do you want something to drink?" He asked as he went to his bag. "I brought some water." @auroraxjackson

Aa soon as Rory had heard about Liliana, she knew she had to step up and help her uncle. Whether that meant being there for him for emotional support or helping out around the house. Whatever it was, she'd be there for him. After all, he along with his brothers had been there for her brother when he first moved to town and same with her. Today she set out to visit him and to bring some flowers for Lillie's room and her uncle some food, as hospital food wasn't exactly the greatest. She figured a good meal couldn't hurt, so she set out to bring him some delicious grub from Nourish Bistro, and probably ordering way too much food but she didn't care. She was on her way to Lilli's room when she saw him in the hallway, "Hi. I was just coming to visit. And I brought some food," she said and held up the bag, "I figured you needed a break from hospital food. And also figured you could use some company." @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

Travis took a deep breath as he listened to his friend and he understood it. He knew what it was like to feel like everything was crushing down on you. He felt it for years and still did some days. "Have you told her this?" He asked him curiously. "Have you tried explaining?" He could imagine it would be hard, though, if Lexi wasn't willing to listen to him. @hudsonxelliot

"No and I don't blame her." Hudson didn't, truthfully. He wouldn't want to talk to him either if he were in his shoes. At Travis' question, a sigh passed over the man's lips. The high schoolers and elementary students were lost in the world of games being played in the gymnasium, leaving Travis and him to talk. "Honestly, with my mom being sick, the pressure of getting married, the constant back and forth with the venue and caterer as the day got closer, it felt like my whole world was crushing down around me and I down right panicked." There was no better explanation than that. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

"Well, I have years of practice." Travis told him; trying to joke about it, but it was the truth. He had gotten good about hiding his pain and what was going on in his mind and now would be any different. "Alright. Let me hear it." He sat back and listened to his older brother talk about what he had decided. "I get it. I mean, look at my old place." He still owned it and let Andrew stay there when he was in town. He wasn't sure what else to do with it right now as he couldn't bring himself to sell it. "But a fresh start is never a bad thing. You can still remember the good times wherever you are. You gotta do what's best for you." @benjaminxjackson

Ben sighed and nodded his head. Travis had always been good at keeping things in well. A common trait they share and made Ben wonder if it was a Jackson trait. "I can't imagine the amount of stress and panic you are going through Trav. You are good at hiding it," he spoke looking at his brother. He knew Trav will always be worried and he wish something he could say would help. "Well, I just need a sounding board to be honest..." he spoke.

"I finally decided to actually use the plan and build something. I did make some changes and I have been thinking my old place was never a home. It was always a backup if that makes sense," he spoke rubbing the back of his neck. "I think I need a fresh start. Something clean, with no sad memories but then again I did have some good memories in my place too...." @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

closed starter for @auroraxjackson location: Kismet Harbor hospital, Lili's room

Travis had gotten used to the beeping of the machines. He had gotten used to the long hours of holding his wife's hand while she was in a coma and taking care of their baby in the hospital room during the visits. The staff was always there to help too and kept him updated in everything they were doing to try to help, but a month came and went and there were still no changes. Letting out a sigh as he walked out into the hall with Bella May in his arms, he noticed his niece coming towards him and he waved. "Hey, Rory. What are you doing here?"

[travisjackson]

He nodded. "Yeah. You can't blame her for that " Travis took a breath. "Can I ask why you did it? From what I've seen and heard, you guys were like the perfect couple." He looked over at him. He didn't want to get into it if Hudson didn't, but he was curious about the reasoning behind the whole thing. Plus, maybe it would give his friend a chance to go through it all in a safe environment. @hudsonxelliot

Hudson kept his arms loosely crossed over his chest as the two of them watched over the kids in the gymnasium. "Uh," his gaze was locked straight ahead, knowing that the news had long spread about the end of the engagement between him and Lexi, "I'm okay," he told Travis, "not proud of myself for handling things the way I did but Lexi isn't ready to talk about it, which I can get," he vaguely explained, adjusting his gaze to the floor of the gym with his own shame. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

closed starter for @riverxjackson location: travis's place

Travis was a mess and if it wasn't for Andrew, he was sure the house would be too. If it wasn't for Bella May, he would be a lot worse right now than he was and that was saying something. He hadn't properly smiled for weeks and if he did, he only did it to Bella May. He knew about smiling to babies and what it could do and he didn't want to be sad and upset all the time around her. She deserved the best and he was trying to be it all for her while his wife was in a coma. He had spent the day visiting Liliana with their daughter, but now he was home and Bella May was in bed and he was drinking some of his gluten free beers out on the deck in the cool air when he heard someone walking up. "River. Hey."

[travisjackson]

Travis nodded as he settled in the kayak and looked over at him. "Yeah. I mean, she keeps getting this migraines, but everything else is fine. Baby is healthy and everything." He told the man. "We don't have to talk about this if it's too much or anything. I don't... I don't want to seem like I'm rubbing it in your face." It was the last thing he wanted. He knew it was hard enough already, be didn't want it to be worse. @anthonyxblake

He nodded his head along to Travis' words, "Yeah," he had to agree with both their sentiments in regard to weather. "Everything goin' well with the pregnancy?" Anthony questioned, genuinely curious. He only wanted the best for Liliana and honestly, he knew that was with Travis. Anthony had never deserved the woman in the first place. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

"I hear that." Travis chuckled before sitting up a little straighter. "I definitely am panicking. It's just easier to hide I guess. I lost a kid, Ben. You think none of that is going through my brain right now?" He asked his brother curiously. "Alright. What do you want to do? That's what it comes down to." He shrugged. "Not sure I can provide an opinion." @benjaminxjackson

"I know what you mean. I get tons of emails those notifications just makes it hard to focus but some days when I feel like not being productive I leave my notifications on and use that as an excuse," he replied chuckling softly running his hands through his hair. Ben knew he was in need of an hair cut and a shave. "Aww, I hope so too," he added nodding his head.

"I get it, I would do the same if I was getting ready to be a dad. Seriously I feel like you handle all of this. I think I would be in panic mode twenty-four seven if I was getting ready to be a dad and before the kid comes," he chuckled. Ben admired his brother's composure and he could not wait to meet his niece. "Ya me too. So one of the reason I stopped by was to get your advice and finally decide what to do with the blue print since I am finally in the right mind space and plus I am thinking of making moving out of my place downtown." he spoke looking at his brother. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

It felt like everything was moving so fast and in slow motion all at once. A nurse came in, then more, and then doctor's joined in. Bella started crying in his arms and he was moved back from her. He didn't realize he was asking what was going on or even the tears rolling down his cheeks as he called Lili's name. As she stared seizing, he was removed from the room entirely and the door shut after him. Bella still cried in his arms and he felt all hope leave his body. But he was still a parent and he needed to act like it. "Shh, Bella. It's okay. Mommy is gonna be okay." @lilianaxjackson

END

The absence of her daughter's warmth against her chest was easily noticed, and Liliana felt a short wave of relief, knowing that whatever this was her daughter was safe. Tears poured down her face, her head splitting. She responded to his words, but at this moment the words were incoherent, noticed by the nurse that had walked in at that moment. It had been enough to call for help while she flattened the bed. Liliana barely registered what was going on, not her daughter's cries, or her husband's distress, or the colour fading from the doctor's face when he looked at the urine bag, then the monitors, then her. To Liliana it hardly mattered, as her eyes rolled back and her body began to seize. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

[travisjackson]

"You and me both." Travis laughed with him as they watched over the kids. "It is." He agreed, even though he was sure that most of the kids liked to pretend they were too cool for such a thing. You can tell they were enjoying it, though, by how they were smiling while playing with the kids. "So, how have you been?" He had heard about the wedding and didn't want to pry, but was curious how the other teacher was doing. "How's the school year been?" @hudsonxelliot

"Well that makes me feel old," he laughed, though he nodded his head. "I bet they do," he had been teaching a while and while not as long as some of the kids had been alive, he knew that it was likely those older students did remember what this was like. "I wish we would have, too," Hudson agreed with Travis, "it's good for the older kids just as much as the elementary ones," even if the high schoolers did not want to admit such a thing most of the time. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

He nodded as he looked to the sky for a moment. "That's true. I thought the same." Plus with the baby coming, he wanted to get one more in, but he wasn't about to rub it all in Anthony's face. "It depends, really. Sometimes it's fine and others is colder. Last year was definitely worse." Travis told him as he got into the kayak. "Always does no matter where you live it seems." @anthonyxblake

Anthony gave him a small smile, “Yeah,” he continued to push the kayak into the ocean. “seems we aren’t going to have weather good enough to do this much longer. Figured I’d get one last go in,” he shrugged his shoulders as he loaded himself into the kayak, “I hear the winters can get pretty brutal around here,” Anthony commented, “New York wasn’t great either,” not by a long shot, “ocean makes everything a bit more extreme, huh?” He tried to joke with the man. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

Seeing her, his face fell and he started to panic. "Lils?" He said and touched her cheek as she slurred out her words. He quickly took Bella May and placed her in the hospital bassinet before pressing the emergency button on the wall. "Lili, they're on the way, okay?" He said and tried to meet her eyes. "Just focus on me, okay? Can you do that?" He asked her; his heart thumping loud against his chest. "They're on the way." He repeated again while holding her cheek and pressed a kiss to her head. @lilianaxjackson

Liliana smiled at her husband, uttering a quick 'love you' to him when she watched him exit the room. She didn't know how long he had been gone for, not having the urge to take her cellphone to check while she had her daughter. But she struggled keeping her eyes open, her head feeling like it was about to burst open. Colour had drained from her cheeks, her arms trembling under her daughter's minor weight and feeling considerably more weak. She'd slid back into her pillow, resting Bella more against her chest. By the time Travis had returned, turning off the lights and moving towards the bed, he seemed to be like a blur. The spots in her eyesight making him even less visible. She couldn't even understand what he was saying, as if he spoke a whole different language. Gaelic? "I don't-- I-- the baby." She eventually managed to say, her speech slurred as if inebriated. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

Travis was on a high. He was completely in love with his daughter and was in awe of his amazing wife for all she did. It was truly a perfect day and he couldn't get over that all this was real. It was something Travis never thought would do again for himself and yet, here he was. It was a dream come true and he couldn't have been happier. Holding her for a bit after things settled and he informed his family about the newest arrival, he knew Lili wasn't feeling the greatest and wished there was more he could do. So when she asked for a new compress, he moved to give her their daughter and get one. "Yeah. I'll see if we can turn these lights off too." He said, placing Bella May in her arms and kissing her head softly before going out to get what she needed. After grabbing one from a nurse, he came back and turned the lights off. "There. Hopefully that'll help." He walked over and gave her the compress. "Should these migraines still be going on? Should we get them to check into it?" @lilianaxjackson

As far as births go, Liliana felt like she lucked out, having gone from contractions to giving birth to her little girl in just a few hours in between. She'd wanted this all of her life, to have a child to call her own and share with a doting husband. Now that she held her Bella May, she could barely keep her eyes off of her, feeling the warmth radiating off of the infant she had been carrying for close to nine months. She didn't want to miss a second. Of how tiny lips seemed to move and press together, the small sounds that she made, even to her little cries. Her maternal instinct was on par as well, ignoring her bodily discomforts and letting her back pain and headache in the back of her mind. She'd barely noticed that hours later, the sun had already begun to set. She'd been blissfully content watching her husband hold his daughter, watch how her godmother seemed to instantly take to the new addition of their small family. She was already excited to go home and be a proper family. The more time seemed to pass by, the more her smile faded little by little. With her head pounding, her fingers aching, she reached for the ice compress, which by now had already melted and lost its cooling ability. "As much as I love watching you with her, could you maybe get a new compress?" She asked him, her voice down a volume as she usually did when suffering a migraine. Her expression was pale, but that wasn't unusual during her migraines. And she did blame the hospital lighting. "I'll hold her for you." As if she needed an excuse. @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

Travis nodded and rubbed her back. It was strange for him being back in this situation. Memories of Darcy having their son hit him, but he forced them away so he could be here in the present with Liliana. He knew being calm was the key here since she was going to be the one going through a lot and he needed to be that rock for her. After helping her get changed, they took off to the hospital and before he knew it, the doctor said she was ready to go. Holding her hand, he smiled as he pressed a kiss to it and nodded. "You can blame me all you want, baby. She's just eager to see us."

It felt as if all Travis did was blink and there was a little, crying girl on his wife's chest. Liliana did amazing and he had tears going down his cheeks as he watched his wife hold their daughter, their Bella May. @lilianaxjackson

"Yeah, closet by the door." She nodded, letting out a breath, narrowly escaping between two closed lips. At least she had been prepared with that. But she still felt like she was several steps behind. Thinking about it, she realised that she had been ignoring this feeling in her stomach, thinking it was just Bella moving or she ate something wrong. Could it be she was having contractions all this time? But Travis seemed calm, collected so she focused on him entirely. Matching her nerves to his seemed easier that way, and it felt like it had gone by in a breeze for her to get a new change of clothes and for them to rush to the hospital. The contractions got worse however and she realised what women meant when they said they 'felt the need to push' "Looks like someone is eager, you're fully dilated." The doctor said when she had barely been clad in a paper gown and the doctor came in to check on her. There was a wave of panic, all of this going too fast for her to catch up and she found herself grasping onto Travis' hand, one that instinctively tightened at the next contraction. She didn't even have enough time for Julieta to be there. "If this is any indication of what a whirlwind she'll be, we should be worried. I blame you." @travisjackson

[travisjackson]

As Lili nodded, Travis slipped into their bedroom to get her a change of clothes. He had barely gotten some bottoms for her when she called his name. He quickly rushed to the bathroom and looked at her as she held her stomach and looked like she was in pain. "Okay. Okay it's fine." He told her and moved towards her. "We can get you changed and head out. We have the bag together, right?" @lilianaxjackson

"You're right about that." Liliana smiled, it being the face she fell in love with after all. She was certain that even if it was the face of him at the age of a hundred years old, it would still look as dashing as it would now. That thought was wiped from her thought soon enough, however. The sheer embarrassment of it all. And as he asked if he should get her a change of clothes she slowed in her step before giving him a silent nod. She continued her way towards the bathroom, figuring she'd wait for Travis before undressing -- at this stage, she needed the assistance. It was when she walked in however that the cramp returned, one that didn't go away when she pressed her hand against it. In fact, it felt worse than before, causing her to grip onto the counter. "Trav!" She called out to him, waiting until he appeared in the dooropening. "I think you were right." She winced, breathing out sharply as she rode out the contraction. @travisjackson