Beggin' DeVito's Story

he watched as she paced the lounge of their small Nevada home her breath hitching every once in a while her hands on her hips her eyes closed, even at 39 weeks pregnant she was a vision of beauty her olive skin flawless her crimson nails unchipped her long dark hair flowing in lose curls down her back just as shiny as the day they had met,

"I feel like a freakin' beached whale!"

she sighed her face creasing slightly as pain rocked her again

"You look like one"

He smirked back at her from his arm chair,

"You know how to make a girl feel special Tommy DeVito ya know that?"

"I try"

"Did you call the doctor?"

"Yeah he said we gotta stay put until your waters break"

"Oh god! this pain is intense"

She collapsed on the sofa her skin glowing with sweat slightly her eyes closing as another pain jolted through her stomach and hips, he stood and slouched next to her sweeping a loose curl off of her face and holding her hand,

"You're gonna be fine Renee my hand to god, get your slippers on and I'll grab your bag I don't care what no doctor says we're going to that hospital, I'm taking care of my lady from now"

Her heart fluttered everytime he said that, he was her rock and she was his, he was in a dark place when they had met drinking gambling sex and fighting were his vices he was playing a dangerous game but she had pulled him through everytime.

-

It had been a busy day at the casino and Renee had worked a good day shift the tips where coming in thick and fast she had spent the day taking care of her customers playing along with their banter and serving food and drinks, for the first time in a long time she was leaving the back of the casino with a smile on her face, as she walked her foot struck a solid mass causing her to stumble she turned to look at what had tripped her soon realizing it was a person, his appearance made her inhale sharply he was leaning against the wall looking as though he hadnt changed his clothes in a while they where dirty and torn his shirt spattered with blood, his left arm mottled with bruises, there where more bloody bruises on the left side of his face his arm held his ribs as though there where more injury yet to be seen, his eyes where closed but now they where open and he was looking dazedly up at Renee.

She dropped her handbag and fell to her knees next to him,

"What in the name of hell?"

He looked up at her as if he had only just realised she was there "I tried to leave Vegas" he mumbled almost incoherently

He looked as though he had been running with some pretty dangerous people and that scared her, a good reason to walk away she knew she should walk away but she just couldn't instead she leaned over and ran her hand gently across his face to determine how badly he was bleeding, he flinched,

"Don't worry if they wanted to kill me they would have"

He coughed in to a screwed up hanky in his hand she noticed a small amount of blood as he hurried to cram it in to his pocket, she drew a deep breath,

"Can you walk?"

Tommy glanced up at her as if he wasn't entirely convinced she was there and helping him he searched her eyes with his own and winced as he began to move slowly, Renee put one arm around his chest taking his larger stronger frame on to her own avoiding the right side of his body, she slowly led him to the street,

"Where are you staying"

"Where ever I can find now I'm back on my feet I'll be fine"

He was pulling away from her, she refused to let him,

"No" Renee stated "You cant stay on the street"

She noticed a navy blue duffel bag thrown near by she reached down to pick it up attempting to support him again he refused deciding he was strong enough to carry himself, she linked her arm through his instead, she lead him to a cab.

-

They walked towards the main desk Tommy slammed her bag on to the desk making the young receptionist look up,

"Can I help you?"

"My wife is having a baby now don't get me wrong she's a tough old broad but she needs a doctor the pain is too much"

"Did you call in advance?"

"What kinda bullshit question is that? of course I called in advance!"

"I'll call for a doctor sir"

Soon enough Tommy found himself in what the doctors called the fathers lounge, he looked around at the pale walls feeling restless, there was an older guy sat opposite him reading the paper calmly in Tommys opinion he was massively over dressed in full suit shirt and tie, but he still envied him he pulled a cigarette out of his packet and lit it holding it between his teeth he stood from the badly upholstered chair and shrugged his suspenders from his shoulders so they hung loosley around his hips, he began to pace glancing at the clock on the wall, it was just gone two AM, he sighed loudly and held his gold cross in one hand nervously,

"Is this your first?"

the guy from across the room was staring at Tommy waiting for a response he nodded

"Yeah, you?"

"No" he laughed "Oh no this is our seventh"

His eyes widened, it seemed crazy to him to have more than one child this pregnancy had been stressful enough on them both since she had told him about the baby his defenses had been on high although she was capable of looking after herself he felt it his duty as her husband to help her cook and clean he drew her baths and rubbed her shoulders Renee felt it was unnecessary but was grateful of his help all the same.

"Mr DeVito?... Mr DeVito?" He woke suddenly to see a smiling nurse he straightened himself out pushing his hair off of his face and pulling his suspenders back up to his shoulders, "Congratulations it's a boy"

"What? Can I see him? Hows Renee?"

"Everything went to plan if you follow me you can see them"

he rose slowly from the chair and followed the nurse to the room his heart beating hard and fast as he pushed the door open, he walked in to the dimly lit room and looked at them both, she was sat up her hair tied on top of her head in a neat bun with just a few strands across her face her skin still looked fresh in her arms was a delicatley wrapped blue bundle the room fell silent around him, she smiled up at him as his heart soared from his chest,

"Tommy come and see your son"

He walked slowly over to the bed and placed his hand on the back of her neck,

"well done sweetheart"

He kissed her forehead and gently moved the blue knitted blanket slightly and looked at the tiny little bundle in his wifes arms, he felt as though he'd be smiling forever,

"You wanna hold him?"

He nodded still speechless as he scooped the tiny human in to his arms, Tommy stood with his son nestled in the crook of his arm his other hand wrapped in his wifes,

"What do you wanna call him Tommy?"

"Look at his dark hair he gets that from you ya know? He's a Frankie...No a Francesco" she smiled at him "Francesco Robert Nicholas DeVito"

"It's perfect"