Piper managed a smile as Alla kissed her on the temple, and whispered something in her ear. Leaning across the bed, she kissed Erik’s cheek and smiled as she said, “Good luck. Keep her safe.”

“I will, Mom, thanks.”

Piper’s dad, Blake, held Erik’s shoulder before kissing Piper’s forehead. “Next time I see you, you’ll be a mommy. I don’t think you realize how proud of you I am.”

Piper cringed in discomfort but nodded. “Dad, tell me that later; my vagina is dying here.”

Erik chuckled as he rested his forehead against her temple but she pushed him away. “Don’t touch me right now, please.”

He knew not to let that hurt his feelings, but it still stung a little. Letting out a long breath, he nodded and backed off only to have her pulling him back to her as she screamed out in pain. He hated not being able to take away the pain. He didn’t doubt that she had the strength to get through it; he just wished she didn’t have to.

“But she can have two people, right?” Harper asked.

Erik looked up. He thought they had all left, but he found that Harper, Rowan, and Reese were all still standing there with worry and confusion on their faces. The nurse turned to Harper and said, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay, so me and Mom, right?” Harper asked, turning to look at Piper.

Erik’s mouth dropped as he glared at Harper. Surely she wasn’t that stupid.

“Huh?” Piper asked, squeezing his hand as she took in deep breaths.

“Me and Mom for the birth.”

“Um, Erik is the dad, Harper,” Reese said, shaking her head. “And I’m her twin, so if anyone’s going to be in here, it’s me and him.”

“I gave birth to her! I know what I’m doing,” Rowan protested.

“And I’ve given birth, so we should be here,” Harper said with a shake of her head.

It all seemed so unreal and Erik was about to go apeshit on Harper when Piper turned into the Linda Blair character again and screamed, “I only want Erik!”

“But y’all aren’t even together!” Harper complained.

Erik had never wanted to kill his sister-in-law before. He loved Harper, but if looks could kill, Harper would have been dead. Erik watched as Rowan’s brow came together and she turned to look at them.

“What?”

“It doesn’t f**king matter because he is here now. He is the father, get the hell out!” Piper yelled before dragging her hands down her face. “Please, I can’t deal with you people right now!”

“Oh, Piper,” Rowan said in a way Erik knew bothered Piper.

Piper looked up at the ceiling and let out a long breath before turning to her mother. “If you want to ever see me or your grandson after I am done birthing him, you better leave right now.”

“You don’t mean that,” Harper said. “Stop being a bitch.”

“Do you want to die?” Piper asked, cutting a glare at her.

“Okay, I think we need to go,” Reese said, looking over at Erik. “I think he’s got this.”

“I do. I promise,” Erik said sternly before looking down at Piper. “We got this.”

Piper looked at him hopefully before closing her eyes, tears snaking down the side of her face.

“Whatever,” Harper said, turning to leave.

Reese rolled her eyes before leaning close to Piper. “I know you probably don’t care why she is acting like a bitch, but you know it’s because she is jealous. Don’t hold it against her, okay?”

Piper closed her eyes, nodding her head.

Reese smiled as she looked up at Erik. “I trust you.”

Erik nodded. “I won’t leave her side.”

Kissing Piper on her cheek, Reese said, “I love you, sis, good luck.”

“Love you,” Piper strained out as she cringed in pain.

“Can you call Elli for me?” Erik asked.

Reese nodded as Rowan leaned over the bed, kissing Piper’s cheek. “I love you, baby girl, you can do this. I know it hurts but the Allen women are strong. I am so proud of you.”

Piper opened her eyes. “You are?”

Rowan smiled. “My goodness, baby, you act so surprised.”

Piper shook her head as she leaned back into the bed, closing her eyes again. “I love you too, Mom,” she said softly. Rowan gave Erik a strained smile before she turned to leave with Reese. Once the door was closed, Erik moved in close, bringing his nose up to her jaw.

“It’s just you and me now, babe,” he said softly.

“And the pain,” she muttered.

“Yeah, but soon our baby will be here.”

She nodded. “Believe me, that’s the only reason I haven’t tried to kill myself yet.”

Erik chuckled, moving his hand up and down her stomach.

“God, my back hurts so f**king bad.”

“Well sit up, I’ll rub it,” Erik said, sitting up so she could do the same. Helping her up, he moved his thumbs along the middle of her back as her head fell forward.

“It hurts so bad … so bad.”

“Okay, what do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know, Erik; we really should have kept going to those classes,” she cried before looking back at him. “I wish you’d never left.”

Looking up into her eyes, he nodded. “Me, too.”

She turned, letting her head fall as she whispered, “I just want the pain to go away.”