I woke with pain that radiated through my entire body. From the tip of my toes, to the top of my head, was nothing but sharp pains that moved through me like a vengeance.

Slowly as I woke, a pain through my chest shocked me. My baby.

My eyes shot open, and before they even focused, I called out for my baby. "She's perfect, Bella." I heard my father's voice.

I focused in on him, and he was smiling at me with relief written all over his face.

"It's a girl Bella, and she's going to be okay. She's in the NICU because of the C-section, but she's going to be okay. Honey, she's got the greenest, most beautiful eyes, but she looks like Jr. did as a baby." He chuckled.

My vision started to clear, and I looked around the room until my eyes landed on him.

Greg, sitting in a chair with tears streaming down his cheeks. "Did you see her?" I asked him.

I'm not sure why it mattered so much to me, but it did.

He nodded, then walked over and took my hand. "She's an angel, Bella. You gave me an angel." He cried.

"What's wrong?" I could see grief in his eyes, especially when he looked at my father.

"What?" I looked around and noticed something felt off. Not just the pain, but the way my body felt.

"Sweetie, you had a stroke. You'll be okay, but you need a lot of therapy." I lifted my hand and could tell it felt weak.

"I don't understand."

Just then, the doctor came in and told me the ugly truth.

My blood pressure spiked, causing the stroke, and I just happened to go into labor and hemmorage. I have no facial paralysis, but the problem is my left side. With special drugs and physical therapy, I'll make a full recovery.

My baby was well developed at 38 weeks, but needs some time in NICU because she aspirated of fluid during her birth. She is strong, and there's no reason to think she won't pull through quickly. After a few weeks, she will be okay, and Greg is demanding I don't go to a recovery facility and receive therapy at home with my baby. I'm thankful, but that doesn't mean I want Greg with me. I won't be treated like yesterday's trash ever again, and somehow I will do this on my own. I won't shut him out as her father, but I will not take him as my partner.

"Bella, they said you can't be moved, and she's in NICU, so I got permission to take a video for you. Would you like to see it?" He asked.

I nodded.

I watched as a tiny little baby girl kicked her feet and cried. My good hand lifted up, and I placed it over my lips as I watched the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen kick and scream.

"Have you held her?" I asked Greg, when he shook his head.

"No, she's wrapped her little hand around my finger, but they haven't let me hold her yet. Bella, I have never experienced anything like seeing our baby, it's overwheming." His eyes teared up again, and my dad patted his shoulder.

What the hell? All is forgiven?

"Come on, let's give them a minute." Dad ushered everyone out of the room.

"Don't even try to explain anything. If you want to talk about our daughter, that's fine, but do not talk to me with any new excuses." I said, and he sat down next to me.

"Sandy will be here before you go home to help with the baby. I'm already working on physical therapists and having your bed put downstairs." He said like he's in charge or something.

"Is anyone with the baby now, or is she alone with the nurses?"

He gave me a warm smile. "She has two grandma's with her as we speak."

Two? My mom passed, so it wasn't her. I'm guessing Mary, but...

He chuckled, cutting of my thoughts.

"My mother and Kathleen." A smile rose on my face.

"Kathleen has been here since it all happened, she refuses to leave, so I put her on grandma duty." He said.

It hurt too much to laugh.

"Our baby doesn't have a first or middle name. It just says Masterson baby girl on the tag." He runs his thumb over the top of my hand while he holds it.

"I already have her name, and I don't want any arguing." He gave me a look of dread. He's not going to like it, but too bad, he hasn't lifted one finger for this baby the whole time I was pregnant.

"What is it?" He didn't look amused.

"Stark after Nathan, and Olivia after my mother, she will have your last name." It's too bad if he doesn't like it.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll let them know."
"Oh, and Greg." He sat back down.

"Nathan is to be her godfather and Stephanie will be her godmother. She will address Braden's parents as her grandparents, along with my dad and your mom, but I want nothing about your father around my daughter. You will have all rights to her as her father, and you can visit anytime, but she will not spend the night at your place, she's too young. If you need a night with her when she's a little older, maybe a few months, I'll leave for the night, and you can stay at the farm. I want her to have a structured childhood, and I don't want her shifted back and forth between parents."

He looked at me with hurt in his eyes, and he wanted to say something because his mouth opened and shut again, but he decided against it, and, instead, kissed me on my forehead and left the room.

Do you think she is being selfish or protective? Are the walls she has built around her a form of protection because of both Braden and Greg?

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