What gender would you prefer? Me, a girl❤

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Stephano’s POV

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          There was a click on my door and I looked up to see the head of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen poking into my study room. Wordlessly, I went back to crosschecking my file.

“Hey.”

“Hey baby.” I looked up again from my work and gave Kara a wary stare. She was an emotional pregnant woman, so I knew I had to choose my words carefully. She was now in the middle of her trimester, which was around the third week of her eighth month and anytime from next few days, she would enter her last days as a pregnant woman.

“Can I come in?” She pouted.

I was busy with work, and needed to finalize this paperwork and send a copy to Andre as soon as possible. But I still motioned for her to come in anyway. Kara slowly walked in, her face flushed as she avoided my gaze. She wasn’t wearing any slippers.

She was in a loose gown that fitted her perfectly. Her cheeks had gotten chubbier, and her breasts were far fuller than how they were several months ago. To my satisfaction, she’d still kept her weaves on. I’d styled my wife’s hair into two long weaves yesterday evening while we were watching a movie and it made her look all too adorable than Kara would ever love to admit.

“Kara, where are your slippers?” I asked sternly. “You know I’ve often told you to keep them on so as to keep your feet warm at all times.”

“I didn’t want to. The baby wanted to feel the coolness of the tiles.” She argued cutely and I huffed, knowing she was trying to push it on the baby like she’d done with a thousand and one things before now. I motioned for her to come closer but she took the seat opposite me, still avoiding my gaze. Heaving a sigh, I propped my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands. I needed a break from work anyway.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I could tell she was upset. These past few months, I’d learnt to deal with her constant mood swings.

“Talk to me baby.” I murmured. She slowly looked up at me with those brown eyes I never wanted to stop staring at and immediately looked away.

“Just continue your work Stephano. I don’t want to disturb you. I just wanted to keep staring at your face so I came here.” She said innocently and my hands slackened. I straightened up in my seat, my mouth going dry. When she said sweet things like this, and kept avoiding my eyes, how was I to be sure that she didn’t have something she was hiding from me?

I got up and approached her. Crouching, I rested a palm on her cheek and she slowly looked my way, leaning into my touch gently. I would never not be in awe of how Kara always leaned into my touch.

“Kara?”

“Yes hubby?”

“You know how much I care and worry about your welfare.” I inquired. She nodded with trembling lips, blinking rapidly. “Tell me what’s wrong baby. Talk to me. Hmm?” It felt as if invisible needles were going through me and prickling me a thousand times when I caught tears brimming in her eyes. I quickly leaned in to kiss her sweet lips. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry.” She threw her hands around me and I quickly accepted the embrace as much as I could without pushing her stomach. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you the other time. You…you were also wrong when you denied me.” She bit her lower lip and stared at me with accusatory eyes.

I frowned. “I’m not angry because you yelled at me, Kara. I’ve long forgotten that. But what did I deny you?”

“Love.” She sniffed.

I searched her eyes intently with furrowed brows. “It’s you I love. I’d never deny you what’s rightfully yours.”

“Last night before sleeping, I wanted to make love but I was too tired and slept off before you got out of the shower. And then I tried to kiss you in my sleep but you refused me. I was only horny.” Her lower lip trembled again.

I heaved an exasperated breath. “When?”

“In my sleep.”

“Was I also sleeping then? Was it during the midnight?”

“No. It was in m-my dream, you were busy going through your office works and ignored me.” She flushed and looked down at her hands, playing with them.

“Baby...” I sighed helplessly. She was angry at me for something I did in her dream and even yelled at me this morning when I tried to kiss her, telling me to focus on my work since I was so in love with it. Because of that, I had intentionally not been to the kitchen or had breakfast and this was ten AM already. I’d only eaten the remaining of my grapes from my study.

“I know. I overreacted and sent you out of the kitchen, my poor baby.” She pecked me. I heaved a sigh. Her strawberry scent coated my nostrils and I inhaled in contentment.

“It’s okay. We’re good now.”

“Uhm, I still want it.”

“What?”

“You know, to make love.” She said slowly as if I was a slow learner and she needed to enunciate each word for my benefit.

I got back to my feet in the blink of an eye. “No Kara.”

Her eyes widened. “Why?”

“Look at your stomach, it’s so big.”

Kara smacked me on the stomach, her eyes wide and with a hurtful expression. “Of course! You don’t want me anymore...you put this baby in here and now you’re denying me my wifely benefits. Do you think you’re playing fair?”

“Kara, listen-”

“No Stephano. I understand. Now I’m as big as a national balloon so you’re bored of the fat woman carrying your baby.” She blinked the tears away, glaring hard.

“That’s not it Kara, be reasonable.”

“So now I’m unreasonable? I have no brain? Of course he’d say so with this protruded belly, I’m suddenly unreasonable. You’re the unreasonable one, Stepha-”

“No. What if we hurt the baby? It’s almost time...” I explained slowly.

Her mouth parted and she nodded in understanding. Getting up slowly, she hugged me tightly. “That’s true...I was thoughtless Stephano, you once again proved how you’re the more awesome one in our marriage. I love you.” Her face beamed with happiness and awe. As if I’d just solved a national crisis and I was now a superhero.

“We’re both awesome Kara but you’re more awesome. You’re carrying a whole baby in your womb, our strong baby. You’re a super woman. I adore you.”

Her face shone as her eyes widened. “Thank you hubby. I still wish...”

“Wish what?” I tilted her face and tapped her nose with a doting and helpless expression. She wrinkled her nose in a cute expression that had me sucking a deep breath of air in. My wife was the most beautiful woman and she was still perfect in my eyes. Would forever be.

“Wish... I could sit on you for just a couple of minutes. I need you Stephano, I’m so hungry for you.” She licked her lips and looked up at me with doe eyes.

My mouth went dry once more but I shook my head. Even for a pregnant woman, Kara was sexy as hell. Yes we’d had sex numerous times since she got pregnant but this would be taking a risk. The child would be here any day from now.

What if we hurt him or her? We’d both decided not to know the gender of the baby and have it come as a surprise to us.

“You know why we can’t. Just endure for a while okay?” I softly explained to Kara, hoping she wouldn’t keep up with this seduction. I was helpless enough under her pouty lips and now with her adorable look, I wouldn’t even bat an eyelash before doing whatever Kara wanted, except this one, of course.

“Okay. But you’ll at least play with me? You don’t have to go all the way in. Just a little rub and some finger play. Please.” She looked at me with hungry eyes that I couldn’t resist, whispering the last few words with a pleading but seductive look. Swallowing hard, I knew my resolve was beginning to crumble.

“Okay. Fine. But first help me get some grapes. You chased me out of the kitchen earlier this morning, remember?”

The lust in her eyes doused out as guilt overtook. “I’m sorry. I’ll get you the grapes and some fresh apples. I love you.” She padded her way out, massaging her stomach all the way. I looked at her retreating form and couldn’t help but chuckle. Our little rice ball would finally be here, after all the daddy to child moments we’d shared when it was in the womb. A helpless look casted over my face as I realized that I’d grown soft.

Or maybe I was never a hard, cold man as I made people believe I was all these years. I’d grown that exterior to keep Kara away all those years. And even now she still ended up being the woman to break the walls I'd put up. She was the same woman I was finally married to, who was also carrying my baby.

“I love you too baby.” I called back when I remembered she had just told me she loved me before leaving.

Groaning, I struggled back to my seat with my member hard rock in my pants while the image of Kara begging me to allow her sit on me flooded my thoughts and clouded my senses. Kara would do anything she could to convince me into allowing her please me if she knew how hard I was for her right now.

I rushed to the restroom and quickly poured water over my face and legs, thinking about grannies wearing bikinis at the beach and three days old soaked boxer shorts in dirty water. It helped a bit and my hardness deflated, thankfully.

“Stephano?”

“Yes baby?” I called back.

“Uh...come for a bit.”

I went towards the kitchen. We’d moved everything downstairs when she got to the seventh month. The study, our room and the room where Kara wanted to keep the baby’s things were all down so whenever the day of delivery came, we would easily get them. Also, I didn’t want my wife going up and down the stairs in case she slipped or even got back pains.

“What’s that Kara?” I called when I was almost there and caught her standing by the counter with her hands on the bunch of grapes, staring wide eyed as if she’d be eaten if she moved a millimeter.

“Uh...I just peed in my panty...” She told me, fiddling with her fingers.

“Why didn’t you use the bathroom?” I frowned in confusion. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with my pregnant wife but understanding and patience had kept us stronger and we were now best friends. “You’ve been peeing so much these past few days…”

“N-no. Uhm, m-my water broke.” She stuttered.

With wide eyes, I rushed to her. “Shit! Your water just broke! Stay here, I’ll get the baby’s bag and call Natalia to meet us at the market…no, at the hospital. I’ll call the others later too.” I kept issuing several instructions ‘I’ would of course be the one to still follow as I ran around within two minutes to get everything we needed.

“Ahh....” Kara was slowly panting when I got back to her. Her face was flushed.

“Let’s go. Walk slowly, very slowly. Esther! Come down right now, my wife...hospital..baby…” I rambled and slowly helped Kara out. She was walking a little too fast for my liking. What if the baby slid down her legs and broke its neck?

I restrained myself from scolding her to walk gentler. I wasn’t the one who’d be pushing a baby out in a while. The doctor had said she would be in labor the moment her water broke but Kara was only hissing and groaning bit by bit. Esther hurried down. She was among the three house helps other my mom had gotten for us after I forcefully made Natalia retire.

“Get these into the car!” I gave her the bags and she hurriedly carried them into the car.

“Are you okay Kara?”

“Do I look okay? Do I?!” She snapped. She was releasing puffs of air through her lips now, shutting her eyes tight after every other second. I clamped my mouth shut immediately and she got in and sat at the back. I started the car immediately, not trusting myself to call James, my driver from his room.

“Call Natalia. Tell her to meet us at the family hospital. Then call Adrian...then Diego and Andre too.” I ordered Esther who nodded, looking as panicked as I felt. She ran back into the house after calling back a ‘yes sir’.

“Ohhh, the baby...hmm...” She pressed her lips together. Then in another minute, she slapped me hard on the back. I pursed my lips grimly and took it all in, looking at her through the rear mirror. “Ahh, it’s coming. It’s painful.” She looked like she would cry.

“We’re almost there baby.” I assured her.

“I think the contraction is about to begin again Stephano...It has begun. Whooo.” She whimpered, and then looked up at me with blame in her eyes. “Hurry up! I’m delivering our baby.” She started crying as I tried to keep my calm while driving. My legs were shaky and I didn’t know how many minutes passed before I got to a closer hospital which was just five minutes distance, Maria Eleonora.

“Nurse! Help!” I called and helped Kara out of the car and towards the lobby. Two nurses rushed forward and helped Kara in. I followed them quickly.

“Mr. Alfonsi-”

“I already discussed with her OBGyn and we’ve prepared beforehand. It’s fine. I’m going in with her.” The nurse nodded thickly. I was made to wear a loose gown, clean my face off the sweat covering it and wash my hands thoroughly. Kara was made to change into a lose gown as well.

“It’s so painful Stephano.” She groaned at stared at me, pouting pitifully. Regret filled my eyes, I wished I could take some of her pain.

“Calm down baby, you’ll be fine.”

She held my hand tightly and nodded, looking at me and breathing slowly, trying to calm down.

“Have you called mama?”

“Yes. I told Esther to do that. Just concentrate on this.” I told her, looking at her from her sitting position.

“Nurse! I can feel it, it’s coming! Whoo, whooo-” she panted. I watched helplessly, not knowing what else to do. “Come and check!”

The nurse calmly examined her. “Try and relax Mrs. Alfonsi, it’s just Braxton Hicks. You’ll still take at least thirty minutes to one hour. Have you been having any contractions before now?”

“Yes, since almost three weeks. But they weren’t alarming. I had it worse three days ago but was told by my mom that it wasn’t all that alarming too and true enough, after twenty minutes, it stopped.”

“The baby was already preparing by then. Relax a bit, try and relax. I’ll come back to check on you.” With that she left. Kara cursed at her retreating form with clenched jaws and held me tighter.

“Stephano...I want ice-cream.”

“Now?” I frowned. Sweat was morphed over my forehead. And I wiped it off with my handkerchief.

“Yes now! I need it to push your child out so get me ice cream! Go!” She shouted with bloodshot eyes, then calmed down almost immediately.

I quickly left without taking my gown off to get her ice cream. My hands were shaking as I walked back towards the labor room. Kara was now screaming my name. I hadn’t even been gone for more than ten minutes and thankfully the shop was only opposite the hospital. Kara’s mom called and asked if we’d gotten to the hospital but I told her we were at the one closer to the mansion,

“Kara, I’m here.” I rushed to her side. She grabbed my hands. I dropped the ice cream pack, no longer bothering with it.

“The nurse, get the nurse! I can feel-hmm, the baby’s head. It’s pushing...” Her eyes were a bit red. Another nurse came in and Kara was positioned on the bed properly.

I scrubbed my hands again and was told to help keep her conscious. My throat went dry. The OBGyn had said nothing would go wrong, so why did I have to keep her conscious? Would she faint?

Confused, I held one of Kara’s hands and kept dabbing at her forehead while she groaned every few second.

“The baby is coming. This is one of the fastest deliveries I’ve seen since all the years I’ve been into midwifery.” The older nurse said in astonishment, her head looking down there. Kara looked up at me with a smile but her face contorted and she groaned.

“I can see the crown Mrs. Alfonsi. When I ask you to push, you push like you mean it.” The nurse ordered.

“I mean it, dammit. Of course I mean it!” Kara retorted and burst into tears in the next minute.

I pecked her forehead. “You can do it baby, just push. We’ll do it together at the count of three, okay?”

I patted her large weaves in encouragement. Kara nodded and pouted, tears streaming down her face. I could see her fears and it broke my heart. I looked at the nurse and she signaled with a nod.

“One. Two. Three. Push!” I commanded. Kara, staring at me, grunted for a good couple of seconds. She was left panting, looking left and right after doing so, distressed.

“You’re getting there. Again.” The second nurse ordered. “You’re doing good.”

The.nurse that'd spoken earlier was now checking her temperature and jotting down information.

A doctor came in and they reported the issue at hand to her. The doctor gave them some instructions, calmed Kara down with her professionalism and soothing way of speaking, which worked a bit. Then she left. Kara was a panting mess by now.

“You can do this Kara, you’ve come this far. How awesome is that?” I laughed softly but seeing her tear streaked face made my own eyes tear up.

“I can do it.” She repeated with a grunt and nodded with determination, eyes concentrated.
“One. Two. Three. Push again.”

“Hmmmmm...Stephano....” Kara groaned.

“I can see the crown stretching out, great, don’t stop pushing. The head is on its way.” The nurse urged. Kara panted and groaned again, gripping my hand very tightly as she pushed with all her strength again. Then time seemed to stop as silence befell us for like five seconds but it was suddenly broken as I heard that cry that made my throat go dry and tight.

“The rest just needs a little push so the baby’s whole body can slide out. Push like never before Mrs. Alfonsi. It’s almost over.” The nurse explained. I wanted to peek down there, but there were two restrictions. One, Kara had my hand in a tight grip that by now, my hand was red and blood circulation had been greatly minimized. Two, my own legs were shaky. I was afraid I’d pass out if I moved closer. We’d watched some childbirth video clips and the look down there had been, genuinely speaking, terrifying.

“You can do it baby, just one more push.” I told Kara, deciding to just stand by her and keep my cool. Kara took fast breaths in and then grunted once more. The longest grunt and the cries of the baby got louder.

“You did well baby.” I told Kara who was no longer crying as she took fast, hard breaths in to calm herself down. There was unexplainable joy written all over her flushed face. I took the piece of cloth from the nurse and dabbed the sweat off her forehead and cheeks. As the other nurse raised her head from down there, I saw the bloodied baby get raised up for Kara to see.

It was waving its tiny hands in the air while wailing in its tiny voice, chest puffed out and his face badly scrunched up. That sound was music to my ears.

“It’s a boy.” The older nurse said.

“Does daddy want to carry his son?” Her smile got wider as she gauged my reaction while I stared at our baby with little apprehension. “Don’t worry, you’ll learn the ropes after a while.”

My heart trembled at the tiny creature I was still staring at in the nurse’s hand. Hesitantly, I reached out and carried him. He was so small. It felt as if I was holding something as light as my sponge container.

I was afraid I’d do something wrong and crush the baby in my hands. His little face was scrunched up into an ugly expression and his skin was so flushed and red that I was scared it would begin to peel off. But I calmed myself down regardless, staring at the baby who still had his eyes shut tightly. I slowly but deeply hummed.

The