“I would like to be in hospital now please. I need drugs.” Another contraction hits and I consider ordering us a taxi because I know Liam’s focus is going to be on me. They are getting longer and harder: each one awakens a new level of pain that sears through each part of my body.

“Drugs, okay, let’s go. Anders is at the door.” Liam helps me stand and walks me down the stairs. On each step I’m worried a contraction will hit and I will fall down them, but with the grip Liam has on me I know that I wouldn’t hit the floor.

He has me. Strong and solid. Safe.

I can see Anders’s shadow through the frosted glass at the top of the door, but he isn’t alone.

“Edge, what are you doing here?” I ask when the two giant hockey players walk into the house. It’s clear they both recently woke up, hair mussed, and clothes thrown on in a hurry.

“I knew Ruin was going to be a mess; there’s no way he can drive to the hospital. I’m the chauffeur, so let’s get going.” Something about the simple way he says it brings tears to my eyes and I wrap my arms around his thick waist trying to keep the tears at bay.

“Thank you Jay.”

“Any time El, let’s go have a baby,” he tells me, taking the hospital bag out of Liam’s hand and throwing it into the trunk of the car.

“Good luck.” Anders hugs me too before Liam drags me to the car, finally catching up with the fact that time is of the essence.

Next time I walk through these doors I will be a mum to two. I am about to make Liam Ruinsky a father, and apart from the pain there is no worry. Last time every little thing scared me about giving birth. I didn’t know what to expect and the fact I was so very alone only added to the torment.

This time it isn’t just me – hell it isn’t even just me and Liam, we have a whole support system. We have more hands than I could ever imagine.

Anders looking after Jack, Edge driving us around, Lyndsey keeping Bloom and Blossom afloat and Rook volunteering to bring food to the hospital after the birth. I’m not going to complain about some non-hospital food.