As Valen suctioned his saliva around the cavity of a decaying tooth , draining the marrow of its essence , the sound was distinct. A lingering testament to the sound of unease , the embodiment of reckless abandon. Had he no moral ambiguity, was he grounded in a neutral evil , on a criminal scale he had fabricated with a woven tapestry that only his sanity could have designed. The irreverence spiralled through his knuckles as he flexed them, each crack falling in line with the thud of his uneven gait. "Ah , Liam, you found the darkest place to shine the glint of terror in your eyes. The place where it could shine the brightest, and not one finger did I lift-" His boots, scraping to an unbalanced halt, aligned themselves either side of Liam's ears. As he lay sprawling on the ground, the instinct urging his arms to cradle his bruised ribs, he groaned in response . "You could, if you would enjoy the pleasure , take the entire torch of burning passion , and shove it, blazing and unforgiving, right where no light has ever-" . In a precise moment, sixty seconds and no less, Liam felt his first boot coming unlaced , each tug a whiplash to his ankles, and he smirked . "Ah Valen, silent assault again , huh. but what's to be said to a dead man-who wants to die?" . The tension , only palpable on the surface hairs of Liam's skin, summoned sweat and unease. Elevating his jaw to obtain a level at which he could angle his smirk in a slice of pure , untainted moonlight , he offered "Jist rip the boots off , why kill me soft? When you could make me scream your name?" Valen , with a painstaking timeliness, removed Liam's boot and placed it by his temple. "Oh , we've danced before . I've wined you , dined you. Had you where I wanted you. Not a screamer. But . There's other way's to make a moment last far beyond the fleeting passion of the night. Ways to make a memory burn brighter than a thousand echoes of my name in your fused mouth. " Liam twisted his bound torso in a wretch of unfamiliar discern. His bravado trickled through his protesting veins , fight and fight glands awakening as he let his jaw return to the concrete. "Fear is human, Li' , fear is accessible when you break through the emotions we lie with. But even then, fear is an emotion we all know. What if I can elicit something, deeper? What if , in time , your brain , thrown out into an ocean of fear, choked on the saline of something more sinister?" Liam's grin, as lopsided as ever, his right dimple betraying his amusement in the face of a threat, stayed etch in his cheek. "Oh , show me , captain, how you will steer our ship tonight, as the iceberg melts and we die in a hell frozen over . But tell me , who will die first in this version, Jack, or Rose? How wide is the door going to-" . In an instant , his second boot was by his opposite temple. "Well , maybe it's Rose after all . My feet are overheating in these socks, and besides I know how the story ends . And you know when you cast your locket into that ocean , the one my psyche will drown in, you'll never get it back. Oh , Rose, my heart breaks for you-" Valen's finger traced the hem of Liam's jeans as he undid the buckle , flicking it back against Liam's stretched abdomen and watching his skin react . He whisked the belt away as Liam grunted with the soft force, and Valen explored the curves of Liam's hipbones , lingering a moment too long, but his touch dying away fast enough to sting. In a grinding motion, Liam's teeth captured the heat of his own breath, feeling hands on his calves , as the friction of his denim left a trail of despair. Liam's hands, bound at his sides , clench into fist as Valen's' touch infiltrated his flesh in a crawling , gut wrenching motion, enclosing Liam's lower leg in a chokehold of perverted warmth. Then, his finger travelled up Liam's thigh, drawing forth a shuddered breath that held the deep seated flames of primal , undeniable fear. A threshold of whitewashed oblivion submerged with profound hyper sanity , the sense of realism brushing over the surface of Liam's awareness. "There's a place, I haven't explored . A place I haven't had the pleasure of touring. The many sights , the many terrains, the stunning architecture-". Valen wallowed with deliberate pause, awaiting the quickening of Liam's heartbeat. His hands rested behind Liam's knees, pressed into the pulse points as he gasped , his voice low. "Ah, it grows faster , for me-" Valen's whisper enter the air , cold yet impregnated with an appreciation beyond measure. Liam's flinch as transgression travelled with prominence, through his thighs and he thrust his pelvis into the concrete Valen remained silent. "Well, it wouldn't exactly do you any good to repeat history -I'm still alive and so is Ryan-and Victor-Logan-shall I go on. I'm your greatest failure yet -" . Valen's touch remained unwavering in the darkness , as he called out, his voice devoid of emotion. "Hey Ry', have you severed your binds yet, or is that gag making breathing a little difficult?" . There was a muffled scream , serving as an insidious reply, and Liam felt his eyes slam shut under the influence of horror. "Damnit", he cursed as Valen maintained his silent presence , challenging Liam to ask , as he resisted, his teeth driven shut in anguish, "you don't want to know , huh? " Liam begged his bloodline to slow, if only to thrive his captor of satisfaction in his fear . "Tape recording. You don't have Ryan. " Valen sneered at the estimation . "Ponder that. A tape recording . Is he alive , Liam? Maybe I don't have Ryan.. anymore. Or I do. Who can tell. Reality is a tool. " Liam , growling in disbelief , felt the rage build as he said , his voice plated with an insulation . "I'd tell you to go to hell but-we're already in some sick version of it-not that I'll break. I'll never , ever , break. " . The silence deafened him with its persistence, the truth biting at the edges of his mind . "I don't intend to break you Liam, I don't want to see you suffer-I want to feel you descending into that place-that pocket of darkness only you know about-". Liam only laughed in defiance , "oh I reserve that landmark for the blind-" . In a sudden thrash , Liam threw his head back , and Valen groaned at the impact to his skull. "You know that after you , and Ryan , and the other useless fools , none of you have served a purpose to the Vanderine, to the drug's survival , and yet, while it won't serve my purpose to implant you -again-I don't have the strength to resist. Business. And I'm the boss. Another day in my office. Another fine opportunity to play with the clientele." Liam managed a twisted smile , the notion flooring him . "Have you ever ingested it yourself. The Vanderine , what does it feel like, you can't imagine the dreams I've had, the ideas I've been invested with-" Valen's cool trail of voice interlaced with the stagnant air . "Have, in any of these dreamscapes Liam , have you encountered this-" . In a swift movement, Liam's abdomen was against the concrete on a deeper level. "Nah, but you and me , me and you-there's really no end to the scenarios -" Valen, his voice fading an inch into the background, expensed a proposition. "There may be a way to embed the drug, that you're disposable bowels failed at tolerating. "

What if this is an except from a novel

Liam dies at the end , but Ryan lives and the ending doesn't explain what Ryan does, it just end with Liam dying after Valen implants his sinus cavities

But Liam is the main character, along with Ryan , and I find it sad that the book started with Liam in this position

But also .. he met Emma and then NOTHING happened .. here read this : Ah Ryan, you're a good-lookin' bastard , from the collarbone up, that is. But for a rude shock , all a woman needs to do is--" . Ryan snatched up a fistful of fries, tossing one into his mouth and assailing another at Liam's unkempt hair. "You just drink the alcohol I shouted you, alright." Liam's smirk enlivened his features with electricity as the grease-laden fry embedded itself in his gritty strands. Midnight had come and went and the bruises under Liam's eyes collected the darkness of the bar, Ryan's fatigue glowering in his eyes as he yawned. "Oh, I'll enjoy every drop, but seriously, the blonde at three o'clock ...has her eyes all over you. You're already naked at this point, in her head anyway." As Ryan's head turned with wry inquisition , Liam emptied his glass, swilling the final mouthful as amusement danced across his unshaven face. Ryan cursed under his breath, winking into the sea of bodies and forgetting Liam's existence as he rose from his stool. "Finish my Hennessy Li'..." he trailed off as he disappeared under the dim filter of light, abandoning the counter with distraction. "Yeah, you won't be back," Liam muttered, tracing the rim of his glass in a dwindling circle as Ryan's voice faded under the din of chatter and a vague Red Hot Chili Pepper song. As traces of cigarette smoke filtered through the air, perspiration and the fatigue of two am weighed on his posture as he countered, "And I'll just be finishing this..." Then, as his hand gravitated towards the abandoned Hennessy, the tepid feel of the glass caused him to reconsider. As he found himself staring at the basket of remaining bar fries, his stomach churned with revulsion. His eye sockets ached with the impact of his earlier scuffle, and the fleeting solitude left him recounting his brush with the concrete. "Well here's to drinkin' alone" , he muttered to no one in particular, the dank atmosphere receiving his one-sided toast . "What do we have over here, a sight for sore eyes , busy talking to himself?" As the smoke infused lilt of a female voice wove through his moment of introspection, her eyes caught him off guard and he paused. "I was not talking to myself," he replied with a weary grin. "It seems I was talking to you too-" Her green irises held his gaze with a hint of unmatched humour as she claimed the space Ryan had abandoned, swinging around on his vacant stool . "And he thinks he's funny, huh?" Liam's broad grin, lopsided and drunken, propped up a dimple on his right cheek as he asked, "Well, he made you laugh, I suppose that's something goin' in my favour?" She was already reaching out and rearranging his grime-infused hair as her laughter interspersed the closing space between them. Her weathered jacket, a khaki, vintage leather, contrasted against the counter's dulled wooden surface. "Yeah, maybe he got a laugh , but can he talk me out of leaving here with my friends...he has twenty seconds starting from now". As her finger grazed his earlobe , he raised an eyebrow, taking on a lesser challenge than his night had endured. "Oh, twenty seconds huh? Gimme ten. My friend up and left his drink, and now, you're gonna let me finish it ? I'll end up rotten ya know..." She smirked as she finished her toying with his light strands , and roughed his hairline as he leaned forward , resting his chin on his elbow. "You look like you haven't slept in a week, and I know the feeling to be honest " she said with a casualty in her voice, ensnaring a fry from the basket and helping herself to a sodium hit. As she engaged with his bloodshot eyes, her own gaze shone with flecks of amber, hidden amongst a distinct green hue. "So you're telling me you haven't slept , I'd say you don't look half bad for it. Here I am looking like shit on toast-and hell, maybe I haven't slept either," he admitted, his fingers tracing circles on the counter between them. She offered a smile laced with jest, the fatigue in her own eyes betraying her tease of his time running away. "Well, you had more than twenty seconds, but the question is, will I stay?" As her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in loose ringlets , she turned away, and Liam asked, only half joking, "Oh, I failed huh? There may just be a dark corner over there, where you could tell me your name..." Her eyes, flickering with a challenge, confronted him as she smoothed her palm over the collar of his Henley. "If I drag you over there, how long could you stay awake, soldier?" She gestured towards his fatigues, the dust imbued in the fibers, as he managed a grin. "We could always fall asleep together..." She broke into a smile, her laughter intoxicating as she twisted around to face him. "So you are in the force? You're deployed?" His eyes held on hers as he shook his head, reaching for a dilapidated fry and rotating it between his knuckles. "No, but I did spend a hell of a time in the middle of nowhere-but what I want to know is, why haven't you slept huh?" Her softened gaze almost answered for her as she leaned in on one elbow. "I was - in fact you know what- let's just start with the basics. I'm Emma." As he absorbed her striking features, his own name, already off his tongue, struck him whilst his facade maintained its forefront. "Liam. Not deployed , but hey I'll take it. Beats the alternative at this stage. " Her smile was gentle as she tucked a strand of hair from her vision . "The alternative huh -a stint in the middle of nowhere , sounds intriguing to me ." He averted his gaze, caught off guard yet again by her raw nonchalance. "So, you're still here huh? And I bet you're thinking, how the hell did get this-' he asked , gesturing to the indentations above his cheekbones, still screaming with pain , the dark circles prominent . "Well, you were probably rough-housing , acting dumb-" she said, amused yet unfazed. He only offered a smirk, before shaking his head and eyeing the basket of fries with reconsideration. "Damn it's been a hell of a night. Rough-housing, that sounds a lot better than what happened-good thing I can handle myself I spose' " . After almost succumbing to a fry despite his churning stomach, he noticed her smoky, metallic scent, its overtones of embers and warmth infiltrating his lungs. He missed a breath, savouring its contrast to the sweat and alcohol clinging to his flesh. "I might have lost my drivers license , lucky I didn't have a wallet to fleece, kept my credit card in my other pocket thank God for that- But I'll live-let's talk about you" he said, as his wits drowned in the encroaching lull of her presence, as her fingers hovered near his hairline in concern. "Yeah, still I'm sorry you've had a rough night. " She traced a finger through his hair, the pain easing under her cool skin as his resolve finally broke and he picked up a fry, snagging it in his teeth. "Thanks, but I've had worse nights-the company ain't half bad. " he said, ingesting the food and reaching for a napkin . As Emma grazed her hand against his , gathering a few more of the limp fries into her hand , as she moved her other hand toward his eyebrow. "As for me, well, I guess it's been awhile since I've set foot in a place like this , and I haven't been home in even longer. But I don't want to bore you with the details. There's too many , and you look as though you've lived through a fair amount of details already . I'm surprised that blow to your right eye didn't clear you out cold ." The memory , causing him to flinch and chuckle at the same time had him musing in silence. "Well , that was before I sank a few. And I don't wanna press ya for details , green eyes, tonight can be for tonight huh? " as her finger roamed across the scar in his brow, she smiled , "Sure, tonight is just for us-So tell me, how did we get this ? You're gonna play it off but, it looks like it was painful-hasn't even faded" . With a shrug, his tone lost the encompassing energy that had laced it and he answered in one breath. "That scar , I wasn't conscious when they-. " As if expecting the deflection but not retreating, she asked , as her finger remained in the etched line , rough with stitches . "So what's the story ? Just an honest truth...for tonight...I'm still here right? So hit me" . He offered a crooked smirk, and replied "ah cmon now , I would never hit a woman with ...this ugly incident. Ryan was unfortunate enough to have had to play surgeon on that . Hell of a wound but, he don't flinch easy. And yeah that was only a few months ago." As his eyes darkened , she reached forward and buttoned his crooked Henley, and then unbuttoned it again, as he gazed into his lap. "Yeah , it was a long month, and I feel like if you don't leave, I might tell you things you don't wanna hear. Talking to you is too easy -" His eyelids sank with inebriation and fatigue as his ran a hand over his face, groaning at the touch of his own skin. "But on the other hand , I might just pass out if you keep talking with that voice of yours-" Emma laughed as she reached for the last fry, absentminded in doing so, and sighed as she admitted "It's a weapon, right? But I wouldn't dream of having you all messy and ass-down on a greasy counter at four am. I assume Ryan is that dark haired stranger whose stool I claimed? I can hear him from over here." Ryan's laugh rang through the air as he strode toward the exit, leading an unfamiliar woman through the crowd behind him. "Ah that's the guy, sometimes the back of him is a nice view because it means I can think", Liam smirked , tilting his eyes under the fluorescent light. "Oh , think about what? " she asked , catching his gaze with inquisition. "Well, I've long overstepped my twenty seconds and I still don't know a thing about you. And I've got all night. " With her chin propped between both elbows , the dim light flickered across her cheeks, and she eyed the empty basket . "How about I shout us some fries , and I'll tell you about my dog , zeppelin, I left him to be on the road and I bet he's peed on every carpet by now..." . Liam , rearranging his own hair as he followed the lilt of her voice into a micro sleep, and woke to her holding him upright. "Hey , he's slipping away , am I that boring I suppose" she said, but still laughing . "Oh God I'm sorry -" he said, the rusted shadow of his unshaven jaw masking his drawn appearance. "Ah , it's your fault anyway , I told ya that voice is -well anyway, you'd better get home to your dog, maybe not yet but , y'know... before the poor ol' boy has to move in with the neighbours. " All she said was a resolute "Yeah. " And silence fell between them. ----//// As an hour elapsed , the fresh heat of the fries deteriorated into cold remains . Several rounds of drinks slaved their nerves as Liam spun his credit card under his thumb. "Those bastards had me in both eyes, and they were this close to my temporal-y'know -thing up here somewhere" He stabbed , albeit messily, at his forehead, and swung his arm back down on the counter. "Looks like we're shutting this place down ..." she noted, as her own awareness grew hazy. "I guess, you've earned this , soldier " As she nodded toward his pocket, sliding a napkin with traces of matte orange lipstick and a scrawled number into his hand, she pulled her jacket tightly around her frame. Then as he accepted the stained remnant of their night into his fatigues , he dodged the yellow lights and their spasmodic flickering . "I want to tell you... the reason you might not-" . Liam's hand hesitated as he continued , almost drawling with the alcohol catching up to his accent. "You ain't gonna hear from me again because...that operation that went south, it was illegal , and I wasn't there because I wanted to be-" Her face, draining of its warmth, mirrored her paling eyes. "Tell me, you weren't jumped earlier, when your listener was beaten out of you, it was more than that?". His gaze trailed back to his lap as he cursed out of ear shot. "I was nearly dragged back to that middle of nowhere-nearly pissed myself right there in the street and well, Ryan's shout of drinks was as much for himself as it was for me. I know I have more history than anyone else here, and you should probably be-" . There was a long silence, his eyes disengaged from hers as she finally found words. "That's true, that I shouldn't be sitting here wasting my time with you-but you have a few things that come with the dark past, that I happen to notice. Half of these guys dont have the depth ..." He laughed , more to himself , his voice hollow. "They don't have the guts , but then , what makes me so special , I'm a mess but-" She smiled , and answered with a deft swipe at his hair . "Oh deal with it, I can see through it y'know, you've already lost the argument before you started." He stared at his lap , incredulous, as he drained his glass and said, flatly. "No , I'm outright telling you, I'm a ghost." As Emma's rose from her stool she said a few words he had to strain to hear. "But, soldier , you're not dead."

But what about THIS ... he has a drug induced dream where he has this happen : Releasing a controlled, soft moan , she overrode the urge , finding equilibrium on the consuming edge of euphoria and agony. "This-is-so-in--uhh...mm-in-tense" , she breathed, collapsing against Liam's arm , unable to speak as she panted out small moans. "I know , Lara, but you've got this. You've come so far and you've done such amazing work. I love you , and you can do this" he said, continuing his movements as she focused intently on his touch. She concentrated on each jolt of raw pleasure his touch created inside of her, as her baby moved down , and the familiar urge rolled over her once again. She panted hard, letting herself finally give an engulfing push at the very peak of her contraction. Controlling its length , she restrained the effort , instead breathing out the remaining desire as it dissipated in her gasps. Lara focused the nurses hands at he opening, and her low voice. "The head is crowning Lara, now this will be intense and if you feel any burning , I'm right here to help keep you lubricated . You keep up the amazing pushing, and if you're perennial area becomes too thin we will deal with that very carefully. It's all looking good Lara. The big moment is here" she encouraged , and Liam grasped his hand tightly. "I want to catch her when she-"the nurse , focusing on Lara slow progress , gestures toward the baby's emerging head. "You'd better get down here then Dad, shes on her way." Liam ran his hand across Lara's abdomen as he moved to position himself between her thighs. The nurse guided his hand to cradle the emerging head of his daughter , and he lifted his gaze to lock eyes with his wife, as bore down, channeling the urge that stole her breathe and her voice. She couldn't even manage a grunt as she breathlessly pushed the head out into Liam's waiting hand. The room remained silent she fell back, gasping, and the nurse informed her "you did it Lara , but I'm really going to need you to focus hard, and pant for me , while I clear her umbilical cord. Don't push Lara . " she took over from Liam's cradling of his daughter as he repositioned himself at Lara's side , as she gripped his shirt and drained her knuckles white. "Li-uhhh-" . Liam tightened his grip on hers as he urged ." Just vocus on my voice Lara , no one else is here alright. Pant through it. " Lara's desperate pants punctured the air as she rested her head against Liam's , his deep stare the only place she found the strength to ride each breath u til the urge faded. "great job Lara , the cord is clear , really amazing work, now the first shoulder is coming, nice deep breaths for me ..." Liam held Lara's head in his palms , planting a kiss on her forehead as she leaned against his forehead , still panting. Lara fell away into a deep push , her abdomen shaking as Liam kept his hand on her pelvis, applying counter pressure. The nurse continued supporting the baby as Lara gasped against Liam's arm. "It's -". Liam's eyes flashed with concern as Lara dug her nails into his forearm, tearing his skin as she muffled a scream . "The shoulders are on a bit of an angle , Lara this is a perfectly normal, but challenging thing. We can try and move your baby through smoother, but this could take a few extra pushes-. " Lara shook violently , tears streaming from her eyes . "Lara , listen to me. " the nurse instructed, as the room buzzed with activity that seared through Lara's concentration. "Its so loud----I want to stop" she whimpered, collapsing against Liams chest as the nurse intervened. "I'm holding her head , Lara, and her shoulders are coming. I'll have to guide them through but we can't stop now. " Lara shook her head, her teeth clenching in distress . "I need -to- stop" The nurse began to manipulate the first shoulder as it edged on Lara's opening and her hips jerked forward as she ground her teeth in resistance. Another nurse was at Lara's side , briefly encouraging "just take a minute , she doesn't have to come right now, but it IS time to meet your baby Lara, what have you worked so hard for?" Liam squeezed his fingers against Lara's abdomen, creating a firm line of comforting sensation between her hips. "she's coming Lara, we're all here , she's so close, baby.soo close." Lara gasped out "she's --ugghh ----I " . As Liam removed his now bleeding arm from her grasp, he redirected her trembling hand to his jeans , encouraging her to take hold . "I wasn't joking when I said she was strong ..." he muttered, as her hands ground into his thigh, and she panted desperately, and small grunts fell from her lips. "She's just taking her time-she one resilient little girl, just like her mom huh? " The nurse said, turning the shoulder as Lara's cervix continued pushing and she surrendered helplessly , as the room remained a blur of noise and activity , and Liam was suddenly gone from her side. The nurse announced as the lip remained caught around her baby's shoulder, and her push ended with a tortured scream. "she's in a better position now , Lara , take a few minutes to catch your breath , it'll be a good few minutes before she gets past the lip however. maybe a little longer. ". The room blurred as Lara gripped the railing of the bed, her arms shaking as she pled "I can't-" . The searing pain tore through her skin as she felt the nurse silently pushing her cervix aside, and the sea of pain consumed her. Her hands clamped the railing with all she had as she resisted the irresistible urge to push, fearful her opening would explode into a thousand pieces . "I need to stop-uhhhh-" He hand searched frantically for Liam as he braced himself on the sterile wall , a pained look in his eyes . "I can't -I just need a moment, I--" he explained to a distracted nurse passing by. His admission fell into the hall and he stared in exhausted disbelief as she screamed into the air . As he rubbed a hand over his drawn features , her pained cries the only sound in the bustling room that hurt his head , Liam turned to another nurse , grabbing the sleeve of her scrubs . "Please , give her anything-she's in too much pain and -I cant do a damned thing .", he broke out in frustration and concern. "Sir, we need to respect her choices, but we have the situation under control, we will manage the shoulders , she's doing amazingly well considering the duration of her labour and the choice not to have an epidural-you should be very proud." He looked at the stark linoleum floor , as her grunts punctured the air. "Sorry I-oh God I just, I haven't slept , or eaten but I can't stand to watch her anymore . I didn't mean to-" . The nurse glanced at her pager with an urgent tone "it's alright, take a moment if you need , also you can go back inside when you're ready. Maybe take a walk and clear your head. This stage may take some time-it isn't easy" and then she was gone in the crowd of medical staff, leaving Liam alone. As he stepped out into hall , steeling himself, there wasn't any solace in the quiet, only guilt and fear. "Well you're useless out here -can't sleep or eat when she's -and you know the damn window for an epidural is gone. " The As another nurse passed he called out, his frustration and concern lacing his voice, the frantic environment drowning him "My wife has been in labour for over twenty hours and they expect her not to push out this shoulder that is ripping her half -apart. What if something goes horribly-" The nurse placed a hand on his shoulder, only passing briefly as she assured ,"that's what we're here for. You should go and be with her when you're ready." And then she too was gone. Liam approached a vending machine , scanning the soda but only seeing his worn reflection staring back as he slammed a fist over a random button. he drained the can and crushed it in his fist , it's metal absorbing his anguish. As another half hour slid by, he trudged back over to the bed where Lara was deep in the throes of a contraction, the nurse gone . "Baby , they left you? What's happening? " a nurse returned and stripped the curtain back as she deftly checked Lara's progress . "You're doing well Lara , the lip will mean that her shoulder will move foward , but slide back, but we're getting there " Liam's complexion paled as he dropped to Lara's side and she wrenched his shirt, without looking up from her trembling thighs. "Uhh-Li--uhhhh" she moaned in a desperate plea , as she fought to push through a punishing barrier , all of her strength gone , enduring each contraction with all she had left . "So , how many pushes could this take?" Liam asked , and the nurse replied , as she swiped Lara's brow with a damp cloth "Maybe a few more, it depends on when the lip of her cervix gives way. This isn't entirely common but- while it takes time it's not a risk to the baby's health. She has a good strong heartbeat, she's proving her resilience-" Liam grasped Lara's hand protectively, as he muttered. "I'm getting damn tired of hearing bout resilience , an hour ago it was "a few pushes and-" . Sliding , defeated, onto a chair at Lara's side his strained voice reached her, "I'm here, I'm sorry I-" Liam said , and dropped his head into his free hand as she tightened her grip in his . Lara panted , her womb clenching down with a ferocity that was visible on her sweat drenched abdomen. As the contraction finally released her, the blissful reprieve afforded her a few deep breaths . Then the familiar stalling hovered in the air . Lara gazed at her expensed husband , and smiled through gritted teeth. "He's always been-like-this" she gasped and fell back against the headboard. "But it's too-late -for-"she gasped out. Liam readjusted his fingers between Lara's, his eyes glassed over. "I know baby, and I know you really are stronger than me. "I just don't like that you're working so hard and -" then the nurses voice cut through the intimate moment of reprieve , her fingers against Lara's opening "seems that lip has cleared Lara, now , work with your body and have your baby. Let's do this Lara. When your contractions start up again, give me a hard push and don't breath away the urge. " . As Lara accepted a rough kiss on her temple from Liam as he displayed both urgency and hesitation to begin the way, not not close enough , Lara gasped out "ok -I'm -re-" as she cradled her abdomen, her muscles clenching and pushing as she held her breath, savouring the intensity she could no longer exert by herself. As she went with the push, her fingers found the curves that needed her touch , and she trembled against them . As the nurses hand guided the shoulder out , she motioned to Liam with her head. "Get ready , Liam, the time is now " Liam ran the back of his hand over his eyes, the lights of the room barring his vision with harsh lights . As he let the nurse position his arm in place , all he could hear was static and the noise of the room. "Ok Lara , the first shoulder is out, once more" Her breath stopped in her throat as her scream tore through the air . The left shoulder , grinding to a halt , left her panting in agony as the nurse manoeuvred it . "Ok Lara, deep breaths she really is a fighter, keep pushing" . Liam felt the bed rail shake with her hands as she collapsed against the side. "No-" . She was soon crying as the nurse kept her hand firmly in place . "This time she's coming Lara, there's no turning back, deep breaths -" it seemed as if she were yelling besides Liam's ear as the exhaustion gave the room an echo "She said no- " his voice broke with confusion and an anger he'd never felt on his own tongue. Another nurse grabbed his shoulder "get ready Liam, it's now ". He watched as his own hands shook with fatigue and the baby's shoulder , along with her body, emerged and was suddenly on his forearm , along with more blood than he'd seen . "Oh God -" he muttered, as his daughter was swept away from him . "Clean her airways ..." a distant voice blared as Lara's pants punctured the room and she fell back, her hands sliding from the bedrails as she lay crying through a smile. Then there was a silence , not as disturbing as a calm before a storm . "Alright Lara. Rest a bit, catch your breath , you're doing amazing ". Lara felt her cervix stretching with a familiar fullness, and she cried out "Li-help-m-" "the second one has a clearer path, here we go" Lara clutched at the open air , as her uterus pushed with a force she was too exhausted to resist , moaning weakly as he arm went limp. Liam watched , his eyes glossing over as he muttered. "But I-she-we-already went through this part. " the nurse barely managed a smile as she she kept her focus on second babys head as in slid into a full crown. "Keep pushing Lara , your first daughter is healthy , now keep going. "No-I Uhhhh- " Releasing a controlled, soft moan , she overrode the urge , finding equilibrium on the consuming edge of euphoria and agony. "This-is-so-in--uhh...mm-in-tense" , she breathed, collapsing against Liam's arm , unable to speak as she panted out small moans. "I know , Lara, but you've got t