My Name is Not Cupcake

Elias and Alexa tried to comfort me in the backseat of the spacious SUV. We arrived at the hospital in minutes. A wheelchair was brought to the SUV and I was wheeled inside. I couldn't help it anymore; I needed to push. They quickly changed me into a hospital gown and led me towards the bed; although, I didn't quite make it. I ended up squatting on the side of the bed and pushing. I yelled out as I felt myself being stretched wide open. I screamed and clutched Elias' awaiting hand. He was standing beside me. Alexa and Mathias had to wait in the waiting room.

"The baby is coming right now," the nurse closet to me said. The doctors and nurses shifted to where I was at the side if the bed.

"She's crowning. The head is right here," the doctor said, kneeling behind me. Elias rubbed my back gently as the doctor reached under my hospital gown. "Luna, I need you to push," the doctor said. I took a deep breath and pushed. The push turned into a scream as I felt like I was being ripped in two. I was sweating and tears were running down my face. I took staggered breaths as I tried to catch my breath.

"Come on, cupcake, you can do it," Elias said rubbed his thumb on my hand gently. I huffed as I looked at him in pain.

"I hate you," I breathed. I didn't actually hate him, I was just in a lot of pain, and I'm glad he understood that. Elias' lip pulled up slightly.

"I know, honey," he said.

After three more pushes, I finally heard crying. I felt like crying myself as my lower regions felt like someone just took a chainsaw to them, but as the nurses moved around me as I sighed in relief and collapsed by the bed. I rested my head against the side of the bed and let my eyes close. Elias picked me up off the floor and laid me in the bed. The movement hurt, but it felt better finally being able to lay down and be off of my legs. Elias kissed my damp head gently and smiled.

"You did it, cupcake," he said happily. The nurse handed my now clean baby to me.

"Congratulations, Luna, Alpha; it's a girl. She weighs seven pounds and five ounces," the nurse explained. To my knowledge, that was a little small for a newborn, but she looked healthy otherwise, and she was alive with no major issues, so I was happy. I smiled down at our little strawberry blonde haired girl. She had a head full of damp hair and looked about as red as a tomato from all that yelling she was doing. She was so tiny. When she calmed down, her little red face turned pink and her wide, doe-like almond eyes looked at me. She had Elias' crystal gray eyes with flecks of gold. I fell in love with her immediately. After a moment of cooing at her, I handed her to Elias. He held her gently as he rocked.

"Hi princess," he cooed as he kissed her head. He went mushy as he baby-talked to her. It made my heart melt. A moment later, Mathias, Alexa, Taylor, and Minnie walked in. They each took turns with our little girl. She was a happy baby.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Alexa asked as she handed my little girl back to me. I smiled down at her fiery red hair and knew immediately. I discussed names with Elias a few times but we never actually picked one because we didn't know if she would be a boy or a girl. I was glad she was a girl.

"Kennedy-Estella Noel," I smiled. "Noel was my mother's name," I explained. The nurses checked all my vitals before they took Kennedy's as well. The door creaked open as the nurse was handing Kennedy back to me. I smiled in surprise when Nolan, my dad, Mason, and his mate, Jessica, walked in.

"She'll need to be fed soon," the nurse explained before she left the room. I was left in a room full of family.

"Wh-What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"Alpha...sorry, Mathias called when you went into labor. We got here as soon as we could," Alpha Peter explained before he turned to Mathias. "You'll always be Alpha in my mind," Peter explained.

"As well you when the time comes, my friend," Mathias said in understanding. My dad walked to my bedside first.

"Dad, meet your granddaughter, Kennedy Estella Noel Madsen," I smiled at him. My dad held her carefully and smiled at her. I think he even had tears in his eyes.

"She looks just like you, Novalyn," he smiled. My brother held her next. Kennedy was passed around as everyone got a look at her. She was pretty calm the whole time until she was ready to eat. She coughed out a little cry before she was handed to me. Everyone except Elias left the room to give me privacy. I fed a very hungry Kennedy, burped her, and then rocked her to sleep. I was exhausted, sore, tired, and slightly medicated, but happy. Elias took Kennedy's sleeping figure gently.

"Get some rest, love. She'll still be here when you wake up, okay?" he said quietly. I nodded and let my eyes droop close. He continued to rock her as I let myself sleep.

~

Taking Kennedy Estella home was a relief. I felt like the doctors and nurses at the hospital worried a little too much over Kennedy and I because of our titles. It was nice to get back to a quiet and peaceful home. Kennedy was a beautiful baby. Apparently, while I was still in the hospital, Mathias, Peter, Mason, Nolan, and my dad got together and finished the baby room. Elias was always either with me or Kennedy so he didn't help them. I was excited to see it, but first I had to get inside the house. I closed the door to the car and started shuffling quickly to the front door. My lower regions had to be sewn back together after giving birth to Kennedy so I was definitely sore in that department and it made me walk slow.

"Take it slow. You're going to rip your stitches," Elias said as he held on to my waist to help me walk. I chuckled and swatted his hands away even though I probably needed the help.

"I'm fine Eli," I said as I walked to inside and to the living room. Elias had been coddling me since I started walking again.

"You should be babying Kennedy, not your mate, dear. She's as stubborn as a mule. I'm sure she can take care of her own. Child birth is just something us women have to endure. We're built for it, dear. Leave her be," Alexa said as she walked in behind us holding Kennedy in her seat. I sat in the couch and looked for Kennedy immediately.

"I'm just trying to make sure Nova is being careful, Ma. You heard what the doctor said: 24 hours watch afterwards to be safe," Elias said to his mother. I rolled my eyes, They were talking about me like I wasn't sitting right here. I was still wearing a maternal sundress because with the baby fat, I still looked pregnant. I planned on getting rid of that as quick as possible, but Kennedy was worth it. Elias and Alexa sat in the living room with me.

"I'm a little sore but I'm fine, Eli. Stop worrying," I assured him. He didn't look convinced but he let it go. After Kennedy's birth, Elias and I got closer if that was even possible. I understood his constant worrying over me a little better, too. I felt the same way about Kennedy. Alexa picked Kennedy out of the seat and cooed at her as she cradled my baby in her arms.

"Hi Stella. It's glam-ma," Alexa cooed. Alexa had gotten in the habbit of just calling Kennedy Stella, In fact, everyone had their own little nickname for her. Nolan and Dad called her Kenny, Mason and Jessica called her Noodles-- I have no idea where they got that from, and Taylor, Minnie, Mathias, and Peter called her Stella as well. Elias and I called her by her birth name, Kennedy.

"Glam-ma?" I questioned. Alexa only smirked at me.

"I'm too fabulous to be called grand just yet," she explained. I laughed heartily as Elias rolled his eyes.

"Mom, can I have my daughter please?" Elias said amused. Alexa rolled her eyes before she handed Kennedy over.

"Don't be fooled boy, I'll get my Glam-ma time, " Alexa scolded him jokingly before she sat back in her seat on the couch. We chuckled at his amazing and crazy mother. Elias smiled and cradled our daughter in his arms.

"She's going to be a pale little red-head," Alexa noted. I chuckled.

She is very fiar. She may even get my freckles. When do we find out if she inherited the Lycan gene?" I asked curiously.

"There are typically signs early in in childhood, but we won't know for sure until she hits puberty if she will shift or not. There have been rare cases where a girl can have Lycan qualities and senses but never shift," Mathias said as he came into the living room from upstairs. He kissed Alexa gently before he sat next to her. Kennedy's cry kick started and Elias handed her to me almost immediately. I had to hold back a laugh. Elias always freaked out and looked like a kicked puppy when Kennedy started crying. I think he always got nervous that he did something wrong. Kennedy's little face grew red as it scrunched adorably. For a small baby, she had a echoing cry. Her arms and legs squirmed as she screamed.

"Someone os going to be feisty," Mathias said as wrapped an arm around Alexa. Alexa practically swooned as she leaned into her mate. They were so cute. I smiled to myself because I knew Elias and I would be the same way one day as we look at our grandchildren.

"She is, and something tells me she's going to be a diva, too. Just like her mother," Elias joked. I stuck a free elbow out and jabbed him in the ribs.

"Hey!" I protested. Mathias and Alexa only laughed.

"She's probably hungry. Now is a good time to show you the nursery. There's a rocker for you to feed in if you want to use it now," Alexa said. I smiled and nodded.

"I'm excited to see it," I admitted. Alexa cradled Kennedy in her arms as Elias helped me up the stairs. Considering I really needed the help this time, I allowed it. When we got to the nursery, I was stunned. The walls were a light lavender color and there was a mural of a pack of wolves howling at the moon on the back wall with Kennedy's full name writing across it in cursive letters. There was a crib, rocking chair, baby rocker, changing table, and play pen all corresponding with the theme of the walls. I felt my eyes water on their own accord. They didn't have to do all this. At the moment, I just felt so grateful that I was surrounded and supported by so many loved ones.

"This is... beautiful. This is way more than I expected," I said hoarsely as a lump took over my throat. Mathias only chuckled.

"We all wanted to make sure it was perfect for when Kennedy arrived, " Mathias explained. In that moment, I felt like everything would be okay. Sure there were going to be bumps ahead, and Elias and I wouldn't get along one hundred percent of the time, but at that moment, all felt right in the world and I knew whatever happened, I would get through it with my mate, my daughter, and my pack. They were all family, and I fully accepted my fate.

"It is perfect," I smiled.