𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 5

Chapter 5:

The Birth & Becoming Moms

Nine months had never felt so long and yet so damn fast at the same time.

Reese could still remember the moment she saw the positive pregnancy test. She could remember how Taylor cried harder than she did, how they held each other all night, whispering about the future they were about to have. And now, here they were, nine months later, about to meet their daughter.

Except Reese wasn't ready.

She thought she had more time. Two more weeks, at least. But life had other plans.

Taylor had been in the middle of a studio session when Reese's water broke. One second, she was lounging on the couch in the corner of the studio, scrolling through baby name lists for the millionth time. The next, she felt a weird pop in her stomach, followed by warmth spreading down her legs.

Her brain short-circuited.

"Oh, fuck."

Taylor, sitting in the booth with Jack Antonoff, immediately turned. "What?"

Reese froze. "I—I think—" She looked down at the growing wet spot on her sweatpants. Her eyes went wide. "Holy shit. My water just broke."

For exactly three seconds, the room was silent.

Then, chaos.

Jack sprinted out of the room, yelling for someone to call a car. Taylor nearly knocked over her mic stand, racing to Reese's side. "Oh my God, oh my God. Are you okay? Is it happening right now?"

Reese gripped Taylor's wrist, panic settling in. "I don't know! It's supposed to be two more weeks!"

Taylor cupped her face, forcing Reese to look at her. "Okay, baby, breathe. We've got this. I'm gonna get you to the hospital, and we're gonna meet our little girl. Okay?"

Reese's breathing slowed just a little. Taylor's hands were warm on her face, grounding her, and suddenly, everything felt a tiny bit less terrifying.

She nodded. "Okay."

Taylor pressed a quick, firm kiss to Reese's forehead. "Let's go."

The car ride to the hospital was a blur.

Taylor sat in the backseat with Reese, holding her hand so tightly their fingers were turning white. Reese groaned as another contraction hit, gripping Taylor's thigh.

"Holy fuck, this hurts."

Taylor kissed her temple. "I know, baby. I'm so sorry."

Reese glared at her. "You did this to me."

Taylor's eyes widened. "I did?"

Reese exhaled sharply, squeezing her hand harder. "Okay, maybe not physically, but you were there. You encouraged this. You hyped me up."

Taylor fought back a grin. "So, technically, this is my fault?"

Reese groaned again as another contraction hit. "You hyped me up, you put a baby in me—"

Taylor's laugh died in her throat. "I—I what?"

Reese barely registered it. "—so, yeah, it's your fault."

Taylor, despite the sheer panic she was in, couldn't stop laughing.

By the time they got to the hospital, Reese was over it.

She was wheeled into a private room, hooked up to monitors, and surrounded by nurses telling her to breathe through the contractions. Taylor was by her side the entire time, stroking her hair, whispering reassurances, pressing soft kisses against her forehead.

Gracie and Sabrina burst into the room first, out of breath.

"Is she here yet?!" Gracie demanded, eyes wide.

"No," Reese groaned. "She's taking her sweet-ass time."

Sabrina patted her foot. "She's dramatic already. A true icon."

Selena showed up next, carrying two bags of snacks.

"Sel," Taylor sighed, "we're having a baby, not a movie night."

Selena shrugged, tossing a granola bar to Reese. "She's gonna need energy. Also, you're both stuck here for a while, so you're welcome."

Reese took a bite of the granola bar, glaring at another contraction. "Remind me why we're friends?"

Selena smirked. "Because you love me."

Taylor barely left Reese's side the entire time. She held her hand through every contraction, whispered how proud she was, pressed kisses to Reese's damp forehead.

It felt like hours.

No—it was hours.

By the time Reese was fully dilated, she was exhausted.

Taylor wiped the sweat from her forehead, kissing her temple. "Baby, you're doing amazing."

"I feel like I'm being ripped in half," Reese gritted out.

Taylor swallowed hard. "I know, baby. I know. You're almost there."

Reese squeezed her hand so tight Taylor thought she might break it. But she didn't let go.

And then they heard a cry.

The most beautiful, piercing cry.

Reese's breath caught in her throat. Tears blurred her vision. She barely registered the doctor's words—she only saw her.

Their daughter.

Tiny. Pink. Crying. Perfect.

The nurse placed her on Reese's chest, and Reese felt her heart shatter in the best way possible.

"Oh my God," Taylor choked out beside her.

Reese looked at her—really looked at her—and her heart clenched. Taylor was sobbing. Her hands trembled as she reached out, gently touching their daughter's tiny back.

"She's so beautiful," Taylor whispered.

Reese nodded, tears falling down her cheeks. "Yeah. She is."

They stayed like that for what felt like forever—just the three of them.

A family.

Their friends poured into the room as soon as they were allowed.

Selena was the first to hold her. She bawled.

"Oh my God, I love her so much already," she sniffled. "I'm her favorite. I can feel it."

Sabrina and Gracie hovered nearby, taking turns holding the baby and freaking out over every tiny movement she made. Andrea, who had shown up out of nowhere, made up a lullaby on the spot. Austin brought a tiny custom leather jacket because "she's already a rockstar." Jack Antonoff stood in the corner, crying quietly.

"Sel, you're godmother, by the way," Taylor said casually.

Selena's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

Reese nodded. "You're family."

Selena's eyes filled with even more tears. "Oh my God. I would die for her."

Taylor laughed. "Let's not get too dramatic."

Selena sniffled, pressing a kiss to the baby's forehead. "Too late."

That first night was magical.

And exhausting.

By the time everyone left, Reese was dead tired. Taylor was curled up in the hospital bed beside her, their daughter between them, swaddled up and sleeping peacefully.

Reese traced tiny circles into Taylor's palm, voice barely above a whisper. "We're moms now."

Taylor kissed her wrist. "Yeah, baby. We are."

Reese looked at their daughter, their whole world, and felt tears burn in her eyes again.

"I love you," she whispered.

Taylor leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. "I love you more."

And as they stared at the tiny life they had created, wrapped in each other's warmth, they both knew—

Their life had just begun.