Disclaimer: I don't own The Tommorow People or it's characters, nor do i make any profit from it. I'mjust here to play in their world.
She was going to kill him. Of course that is if she ever finds him, but right now if she got her hands on him she was going to strangle him and maybe castrate him for good measure.
Pain radiated from her body as she bared down with the contraction. With a deep sigh she flops back onto the hospital bed temporarily relieving some of the pain. She had tears in her eyes as she thought about all that was wrong with this moment. John was supposed to be here. He was supposed to there holding her hand and coaching her through the pain while she yelled at him blaming him for the position she was in. Instead she had Stephen who's eyes were glued to her face in fear of seeing something unpleasant, holding her hand and wincing everytime she squeezed a little too hard.
She once dreamed about this—her and Stephen in the delivery room, but they were older, married and the baby she was working so hard to get out was his. But as it was he was still her friend and in love with someone else. That wouldn't have stung so much if the one she was in love with was here.
She feels another contraction start and yells out. The doctor between he legs tells her to push and push she does with all her might—she really wanted it out. When she feels a pain worse than any other she flops back onto the bed. The doctor tells her she is crowning and needs to push some more.
For a moment she thinks she can't do it—it's all too fast, in fact everything with John was too fast, but with some reassuring words from Stephen and determination she pushes as had as she can until the head is out. The doctor asks her to stop pushing and feels down there—at this point it's all just pain and her sense of modesty is long gone. When she pushes again it's with the determination that it's going to be her last push.
When she feels the baby slip out with a cry and the pressure decrease she can't help the tears of joy. She stares down at her child who is all covered in goo and can't help but feel like it's the most beautiful thing she's ever seen. She just stares at him with a wide eyed expression feeling joy and fear all in the same moment. She made this human being and is now responsible for its very life—a concept she knew and felt when he moved inside her, but now he's actually here.
Once the umbilical cord is cut the doctors put the unclean baby on her chest right above her heart. "It's a boy," the doctor says with a smile.
"Hey you," she says in a shakey voice. He just cries out more in response. "You want back in?" He cries more indignantly. Both she and Stephen, who she almost forgot was there, laugh. "Well too bad." He starts calming down at the sound of her heartbeat until he's completely calmed down.
Astrid takes this time to take in his features. He's got ten fingers and toes, and that button nose all babies have. He's yet to open his eyes, but she imagines that they're that dark blue every baby starts out with. Though he's covered in blood she can tell he has her skin tone, maybe a little lighter. But what she mostly notices is that he completely looks like John. From the shape of his eyes to his mouth — he was like a tiny version of the man who left and it leaves her feelingmore emotional than before. She looks up at Stephen for support. He has a knowing look on his face.
Stephen bends down and kisses her sweaty temple. "You did great." She smiles at him grateful and is about totell him when her son makes a noise.
Her baby finally opens his eyes and stares up at her in wonder. Astrid smiles as more tears leak out of her eyes. "Welcome to the world Elijah John Finch Young." She gently caresses his face, "it's a bit of a mouthful, but I think you'll manage."
Next chapter: John.