trueloveskid | (no subject)

It's almost time for this to be over, she can tell. Any time now, really, and she's been ready for that for days. She waddles like a penguin anytime she goes anywhere, she can barely reach her own feet to put shoes on, and even sleeping has been uncomfortable lately. She's still unsure about what comes next, but at least Neal seems to think that they'll know what they're doing.

At least she'd found a different job, as the receptionist at a salon down the street. Answering phones is something she can do, they don't care if she sits all day, and since she'd started out as a client, they already knew her when they hired her. They also said they could manage without her for awhile after the baby's born.

Which she's really hoping is what's happening now. She's had twinges all day, irregular but unrelenting, and although she hasn't mentioned them to Neal, she knows that he probably knows something's up. She's been wandering around the apartment since she got home, even when he tried to insist that she should sit, because the book and the doctor both said not to go to the hospital yet, and that being active could help the process along. Besides, she's just restless and doesn't want to sit down.

She's in the kitchen getting a drink of water when it happens. There's a release of pressure, like popping the top off a bottle of champagne (or so she imagines, having never actually had champagne), and wetness down her legs. It's a good thing she's wearing a dress.

It's time, there's no doubt about it now, and she grips the edge of the sink as another contraction, a real one now, moves over her. "Neal!"

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From:

trueloveskid

She'd laugh at his panicked state if she weren't in so much pain right now. She'll tease him about it later, when she's done having a baby. She knows no more about this than he does, but she's read the books and talked to the doctors and she knows what her body's telling her and he doesn't.

"Okay I know we're going to the hospital, but that doesn't mean we should get in an accident on the way." She's not meaning to be short with him, but she's been dealing with this for most of a year and she's ready to be done with it. She's just not in a very good mood right now.

From:

alandwithoutmagic

"I know." He tried to keep the tension from his tone and his focus on the road. He turned down a side street, going around the more heavily traffic areas.

Magically without accidents and within a half hour they arrive at the hospital. He pulls up front, ignoring the glares he got from some of the hospital staff and ran over to the opposite side of the car to help Emma out of the car. Once those around them saw a pregnant woman the mood instantly changed. They brought out a stretcher for her to lay down on while Neal asked what room she was going to be in.

He'll have to find a space in the parking garage and meet her with their things.

From:

trueloveskid

By the time Neal is done parking the car and comes to find her, she's checked in and settled in a room, wearing a gown and with blankets tucked around her. She presses her hand against her belly and inhales with a hissing sound when Neal walks in.

"We just have to wait awhile now."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal stepped into the room and despite the horrible gown and the grimace on her face he still considered her the most beautiful woman in the world. He placed the two bags he was carrying on the small, uncomfortable looking, couch in the room and then pulled a chair over to her side.

"Here take my hand. How are you feeling so far?"

Thank god his work had insurance for them. It was a bit pricey each month but pregnancy needed insurance.

From:

trueloveskid

She takes hold of his hand and squeezes it as she inhales sharply again. "I've been better." Which is probably something she'll be blaming on him later, for doing this to her. Even if she had just as much to do with it happening as he did.

"I want to be able to sleep."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

"Do you want me to read to you?" He brought her book though given her discomfort he didn't think she'd end up sleeping.

From:

trueloveskid

"That would be good." There's no guarantee that she'll be able to concentrate on that either, but some way of passing the time would be good right now. Especially with not knowing how long they'll be waiting here.

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal nodded his head and rose to grab the book from the bag. He looked around and found a pitcher of water on the far side of her bed. He poured her a glass and set it within reach before taking his seat once more.

He turned over to where she had it bookmarked. "Looks like you're on chapter 5."

From:

trueloveskid

"That sounds right." She hadn't been paying much attention when reading last night, either, but she thinks she knows what's going on. At least well enough for this. It's not like she'll have a lot of time for reading soon. Probably.

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal reached out to hold one of her hands as his voice began to read the words typed across the page. He balanced the book on his knee when it was time to change pages, wanting to always stay with her hand in his.

Anything to make her move comfortable.

From:

trueloveskid

She listens as best she can, wanting something to focus on other than what's happening right now. Every so often someone comes in to check on her and see how things are progressing.

At one point, she tells him, "You don't have to read to me all night. One of us might as well get some sleep."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal looked over at her, his eyebrows raised. "Are you sure?" There was a couch, he'd sleep there. He wasn't about to leave her alone now.

"Only if you promise to wake me if you need me."

From:

trueloveskid

"Yeah." She gives his hand a bit of a squeeze while her other hand continues to rest on her belly. "You heard the doctor. It could be a couple of hours still. I'll wake you up if I need you."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

He squeezed her hand before standing, kissing her on the forehead and walking towards the couch. He placed their things carefully beneath the sofa before stretching out as best he could. It was a little awkward, a little small but Neal didn't care.

He turned towards her with a smile, his eyes feeling heavy as they spilled closed.

From:

trueloveskid

She attempts to sleep when he does, but it doesn't really work, between the pains coming over her and the doctors and nurses coming in to check on her. Mostly she just watches Neal sleep, on the last night either of them will have peace in awhile.

Finally, after a couple of hours, the doctor confirms that it's time to go to the delivery room. Time for the baby to be born. "Neal! Time to earn your keep."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal jolted up from his place across the couch, almost falling to the floor when he does. He scrambled to take his place at her side, his hand reaching for hers while the nurses rushed around him. He paces at her side as they move her, keeping her hand in his.

"I'm here. I'm here. It'll be perfect. you got this Emma." He smiled at her, keeping himself strong, ready to take whatever she has to dish his way. He'll be her support; both of their support.

From:

trueloveskid

When they get to the room, he's made to take a detour to put on a gown of his own, and when he's let into the room again, she's on the bed with her feet in the stirrups, doctor and nurses bustling around. She reaches out her hand to Neal. "I doubt this is going to be perfect."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal tried to be quick but he fumbled a bit when he was putting on the gown. Once inside he moved to her side and reached for her hand, standing out of the way.

"No but it's you and me and our son." He kissed her forehead, not caring how sweaty it was. "I'll always be here for you."

From:

trueloveskid

He'd better mean that, because there's about to be a lot of squeezing of his hand. And screaming. Some of it at him.

But then, miraculously, after what seems like a long time but really isn't, there's a cry that comes not from her but from their baby, who has just been rather rudely shoved from his warm home into a cold, bright world, and Emma collapses onto the bed with a happy sob.

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal's hand was aching and sore but he didn't consider that an important detail to this moment. He took one of the cloths from the nurses and wiped at Emma's brow and face. He smiled at her, his words soft and encouraging.

"You did it Emma." The nurse stepped over once they were finished, a crying baby boy in their arms.

"It's a healthy little boy." One of them spoke with a smile, passing the child to Emma.

From:

trueloveskid

"Hey," Emma says as she reaches out to take the baby. "Hi baby. I'm your mom. You've been giving me a lot of trouble for awhile now, but that's okay. It's just what babies do."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal smiled brightly at the pair of them, his eyes wide and proud as he looked down at his family. He lightly kissed Emma’s forehead again, unable to stop touching her or showing her small bit of affection. "He’s beautiful, like his mother." His voice was raspy and tight.

He’d always dreamed of a family and now he had one; one that he was going to protect no matter what happened. He loved them both with every last part of himself.

"Did you decide on a name?" They didn’t have family to name him after and there were so many names that were unpleasant. They’d talked about it a few times and narrowed the list down to three names: James, Michael and Henry.

From:

trueloveskid

"Henry. I like Henry." She doesn't know why. It just sounds classic to her. "He looks like a Henry."

From:

alandwithoutmagic

Neal laughed, his heart light and warm. "It's perfect." The nurse steps over to take the baby and document it's birth. Neal holds up a hand to her to make her pause. "One moment? I'd like to do one more thing?" The nurse nods reluctantly and waits for Neal who's digging around in his pockets.

"I have something for you and the baby. I didn't want to give it to you until he was here too." Neal smiled feeling his excitement grow. "I made if for you two."

He pulled a small music box from his pocket and begins to turn the crank. A sweet melody plays and Henry's soft sobs begin to quite. It was the song that his mother once sand to him when he was a baby. "I'm going to engrave his name on it when we get home."

From:

trueloveskid

Emma will hand over the baby, reluctantly, because the nurse needs him for something. Until she gets Henry back, she'll look at what Neal brought.

"I didn't know you could do that."