Laying in bed her hands rested gently on her stomach as she hummed a favorite tune into the dark still night as the world slept around her. The moon hung full in the sky filling the room with a soft, warm light as the stars twinkled happily. Glancing across at the clock she saw that it was just after 3 am and yet she lie awake. Smiling she softly stroked her swollen tummy as she felt the small alternating kicks. “Your daddy’s birthday is today” she whispered hands still gently stroking. “Wouldn’t it be a great day if you could join us and make this day even more special, give us a bigger reason to celebrate.” Feeling two kicks in response smiled once again. “You’re excited to see daddy aren’t ye” she giggled. “Well so is mummy.” Rubbing her stomach she continued to hum all the songs Kian had sung to her, imagining his warm, soft hands gently resting on her stomach as his sweet, soft voice sang quietly to their unborn child.

Kian rolled over; sleep not coming easily to him. Maybe it was the fact that he was another year older or maybe it was worry over his very pregnant wife. His pregnant wife, that’s what it was. She was nine months pregnant with their first child, she was due any day now and he was worried that he was going to miss it. He knew she had grown since the last time he had seen her, she seemed to get bigger everyday and he hated that he had missed out on the last month or so of the pregnancy. “Hold on just a bit longer little one” he whispered to the night. He could just see her swollen belly; feel the kicking of those little feet. Looking at the clock he saw that it read 3.30 am. There was a feeling around him that he couldn’t shake, a feeling that had been following him since the show had ended that night. Reaching for his phone he dialed their number, needing to check on her, he listened to it ring, by the third ring he heard her soft, warm voice.

“Hello love” she whispered a smile evident in her voice, there was no one else who would be calling her at this time of night.
“Did I wake you?” he asked.
“No been awake for hours” she smiled. “Baby is kicking up a storm, I think he or she is excited to see their daddy.”
“I’m excited as well.” He replied as a feeling of pride washed over him at the thought of being a daddy.
“Why are you awake?” she asked.
“Couldn’t sleep” he replied. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine” she replied. “Things just feel a bit different”
“Aye, I know the feeling.” He heard a small gasp escape her lips. “Everything ok?”
“Oh we’re fine” she assured. “Just kicking a bit harder and more frequently than usual.”
“Tell him or her to hold on, only a few more days and I’ll be home.”
“I will” she giggled “Don’t worry you won’t miss it. Now get some sleep, I’ll see you soon.”
“Alright love” he smiled as he said his goodbye.
Hanging up the phone couldn’t help but smile, soon they were going to be joined by the miracle growing inside of her. She couldn’t wait to meet their son or daughter and hold them in her arms, welcoming them into their lives, family and to the world. Feeling another kick she smiled. “Soon little one, soon.” She whispered.

Closing his eyes, Kian drifted off to sleep, feeling at ease having heard her voice, knowing that she and their unborn child were doing well. But still that feeling wouldn’t shake and so he slipped into a restless sleep waiting for morning to arrive.

As the sun rose above the land, gracing it with it’s warmth, stirred once again, feeling the slight kicks against her stomach. She slowly swung her legs over the bed, placing her hand on the nightstand she gently pushed herself up, placing her hands on her swollen belly once again. “Let’s go get ready to see daddy” she smiled knowing that Kian was in for a big surprise today.

Hearing the doorbell ring slowly walked towards the door, finding her mother-in-law stood before her grinning from ear to ear. “You look radiant” she smiled embracing in a hug as she glowed with pride at being an expectant mum. “Kian will be so surprised to see you.” nodded in agreement. “Can you grab the cake from the kitchen counter?” she asked. “Oh it’s lovely” called out Patricia as she joined once again. “I’m so glad you agreed to take over this year, it’ll be more special to Kian if you present his cake on stage.” “I’m just honored you asked me to do it” smiled as she gasped at the sharp pain that shoot through her stomach. “You ok love?” asked Patricia. “Oh I’m fine, think it’s just a bit of indigestion” smiled patting her stomach. “Calm down little one” she whispered as she walked to the awaiting car, joining her father-in-law for the car ride to Dublin for the night’s show.

Kian joined the lads for breakfast, knowing he’d have to face the day eventually and hear the grief the lads would give him.
“Morning Egan ye old man you” grinned Nicky as he watched a tired Kian enter the dining room of their hotel.
“Morning” he mumbled taking a seat at the table, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Happy birthday mate” said Shane slapping him on the back. “How’s it feel to be 28?” “It’s just another day and another year older” he replied. “I don’t feel any different.” “Well ya look older” chuckled Mark. “Need me to find you a walker?”
“Ha ha, very funny lads” he smiled. “I may be older but I’m not that old.”
“Maybe just a cane then?” asked Shane with a smirk on his face.
“Something on your mind Ki?” asked Nicky seeing a worried expression playing across his face, his eyes glazed over.
“Just got this nagging feeling that won’t go away” he replied taking a sip of his coffee.
“I’m worried about and the baby.”
“She’s due soon isn’t she” asked Mark.
Kian nodded.
“I’m worried I’ll miss it, I can’t miss the birth of my first child.”
“You won’t” assured Shane. “ won’t let you and neither will we.”
“Thanks guys” smiled Kian. “Hope they can wait a few more days.”
stood backstage preparing herself for the big moment, she was nervous and excited at the same time and proud that she had been given the honors of presenting her husband with his birthday cake, one that she had made with love and decorated perfectly.

On stage the concert had come to a stop, it was time for the traditional singing of Happy Birthday to Kian and the presentation of his birthday cake by his mum. Standing in the middle of the stage Kian knew what was happening, he smiled as the crowd began to sing, the lads leading them in song. Looking to the right of the stage his smile grew bigger as he watched his wife step into view, a glow surrounding her. He scanned her tummy noticing that it had grown since the last he’d seen her. As she stopped before him he placed his hand on her stomach, feeling the kicks of their child against his hand. “You look beautiful” he whispered. “Make a wish” she smiled handing him the cake. Kian closed his eyes before taking a deep breath, blowing out the candles that adorned his cake. “Happy birthday” whispered as he leaned in, brushing his lips softly against hers. “Ouch” she gasped feeling another sharp pain run through her stomach and finally that long awaited relief followed by a warm wet feeling running between her legs. “Ah…Ki” she said. “It’s time.”

Kian looked at his wife, seeing relief on her face as a smile spread across his. “Just breathe; I’m right by your side.” He said. Breathing a sigh of relief that he would be there for the big moment, he turned to the lads motioning for them to join him, handing the cake to Nicky he told them the news, taking ’s hand in his he escorted her off stage as quickly as he could, leaving the audience stunned and confused. “Ah Kian has just informed us that he’s about to be a daddy” announced Shane as the arena erupted into loud cheers and screams.

Sitting by her side he held her hand, coaching her through her breathing exercises. He ran a cool cloth across her head, wiping the sweat away, trying to keep her as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances. A doctor arrived to examine her finding her fully dilated. “You say your water just broke?” he asked looking curiously at her. nodded. “Well you’re fully dilated have you had any contractions before now?” frowned. “I wouldn’t call them contractions, at least they didn’t feel like it, but I’ve had pains in my stomach since early this morning.” The doctor nodded and smiled. “Seems you’ve been in labor all this time and didn’t even know it.”

Kian looked at his wife amazed. “I knew you had a strong threshold for pain but this is just ridiculous” he said. “Or maybe you’re just stubborn” he smiled. “I think it’s the latter” she replied looking into his eyes. “Owww” she moaned as another contraction started. “Ok time to get you to delivery” announced the doctor. “This baby is ready to meet it’s parents”

Walking beside her bed, Kian held her hand as she fought her way through another contraction. He watched as the nurses propped up against the pillows preparing her for the delivery, stepping to the side of the bed her took her hand in his again. “Ok it’s time to push” said the doctor. “Ok sweetheart, let’s meet our little one” he smiled. nodded. “Push ” said the doctor. Taking a deep breath she pushed letting out a groan as she did so “arggggh” “Another push” said the doctor. pushed again “Doing fine ” said the doctor. She pushed once more before resting back against the pillows. “One more push should do it” announced the doctor. “Make it a big one.” Rubbing her back Kian helped her to sit up. “You’re doing great” he smiled wiping her sweaty hair from her face. Taking a deep breath pushed with all her might hearing the cries of a baby fill the room. “It’s a girl!” announced the doctor handing the little girl over to one of the nurses.

An exhausted rested back against the pillows, smiling up at her husband as tears of joy fell down her cheeks. “Great job sweetheart” he smiled kissing . “You were great.” The nurse approached the new parent’s placing the bundled baby in her mother’s arms. “She’s beautiful” whispered Kian kissing his daughter’s head.
“She’s got your eyes Ki” smiled stoking her cheek. “That she does” he nodded. “And your cute nose” he smiled kissing the tip of her nose. “Happy Birthday Kian” whispered as he kissed her once more. “And what a birthday it is, one worth celebrating for years to come.” He smiled looking from his wife to their daughter, knowing that the 29th day of April would hold a bigger meaning for years to come.


THE END



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