Mary emerged from the bathroom, feeling very shaky and tired- despite having only just gone to the toilet to relieve her bladder. She suspected she had contracted another urinary tract infection, as she recognized the symptoms almost immediately. An intense pain unfurled in in her lower abdomen and she winced, doubling over in agony. Pulling out her phone and heading to her bookmarked pages, she decided to double check her urinary infection symptoms.
Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• A burning feeling when you urinate
• A frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do
• Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling u***
• Feeling tired or shaky
• Fever or chills (a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)
• Pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen

They had been and by, but her abdomen was extremely painful, and she'd been feeling even more exhausted than usual in the past few days. Her u*** had been a major concern for her and her doctor, who was aware she suffered from UTI's whilst in pregnancy. She had suffered from a couple of infections whilst pregnant with her older children Max and Alice Fogg, but they hadn't been too painful, seeing as they were born seven and six years ago, respectively.
"That's the fourth time I went to the toilet this morning. I do wish this infection would leave." She muttered to herself. Her hands cupped round her bump protectively, in the time old maternal manner. "I'm worried that something will happen, little one." She whispered to the baby bulging inside her. "Don't worry, we'll see through it."
But she wasn't convincing herself, and she felt that even the unborn child was doubtful. She was feeling very, very nervous about the birth, as Paul was due to go to a business trip in France today, and he promised that as soon as he could, he would call her. Max and Alice were both at school today, so she was home alone with the servants- Rachel the housekeeper, Emma and Sophie, the two maids, Duncan the butler and Leicester the chef.
Suddenly, Mary felt something warm seep into her underwear and realized that her waters were breaking. "Oh my goodness," She exclaimed quietly. "Rachel! Rachel!" She yelled, panicked. Her baby wasn't due yet- it was too early! She needed to get to a hospital!
A middle aged woman opened the door, banging against the wall in a great flurry of worry and alarm at her employer's uncharacteristic panicking. "Yes, Mrs Fogg?" She asked in concern. "Whatever is the matter, ma'am?"
"I'm going into labor! The baby's coming!" Mary gasped. "Please, please help!"
"Goodness! It's too early!" Rachel exclaimed, but she knew just what to do, for she was a stern and practical minded woman She sent the other servants orders. Duncan, was to ring the hospital and inquire about sending an ambulance to the Fogg residence; Leicester, was to telephone Mr Paul Fogg, Mary's husband, from the airport and tell him that the baby was on its way, and to inquire if he could come back, if at all possible.
And Emma and Sophie were both instructed to pick up Max and Alice, but tell them about their mother's unexpected labor whilst Rachel herself kept her employer absolutely calm as possible before the ambulance arrived.
"Alright Mrs Fogg, breathe." The housekeeper instructed, wrapping a blanket round her shoulders to keep Mary warm and comforted as best as possible until the ambulance arrived. "There's nothing more that can be done until help arrives. But I'll stay with you until then, and the others will endeavor to ensure that everyone is informed and ready." She assured her.
"Thank you, Rachel." Mary smiled bravely, despite the concern for her child. It wasn't due for another
"Think nothing of it, ma'am. My sister had a similar crisis when my nephew came into the world too early." Rachel replied.
Mary said "But Rachel, Alice and Max came out on their due days. However, it seems like my 3rd one is a bit impatient."
"These things happen, Mrs Fogg. But at least we're dealing with this quickly – this will give the baby the best chance. I do hope Mr Fogg hasn't left yet."

Meanwhile, Paul was about to board his plane to start his business trip in France, when his mobile began ringing.
He saw from the caller ID that it was Leicester, which was odd- normally, Duncan saw to calling him if there was anything wrong. That alone gave him an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.
"Well, that's odd – why is he calling me just before I embark?" He wondered, and he accepted the call before pressing it to his ear.
"Mr Fogg, sir! You must cancel quickly, if you can! Your wife, she has gone into labor!" The chef exclaimed frantically on the other end of the line. "Please sir, you must return immediately!"
"Shoot!" Paul exclaimed. "I'll be over as quick as I can, Leicester. Please, tell Rachel and Mary that I'm on my way."
Paul turned to his colleague, Mitch, who was meant to be travelling to France with him, and said "Mitch, you go on ahead to France without me- I have to leave now. I'm sorry, but my wife's gone into premature labor. I...I can't leave her in this mess."
"Man, Paul, you better get there fast. I'll call the boss for you and explain everything, mate." Mitch replied. "I'm sure he'll understand. But you better hurry now."
"Thanks Mitch. You're a pal." Paul replied, watching as Mitch got on board the plane destined for France.

Meanwhile, in the ambulance, which had arrived and paramedics escorted the two women into the vehicle, Mary fretted "The nursery isn't done yet Rachel. Where will the baby sleep?"
Rachel replied "Don't worry, Mary. Everything will be okay- I know it will. Besides, I'll have a new baby to help you take care of now." She assured, dropping all formality. Mary needed someone there for her, until Paul returned.
"Oh, Rachel- I haven't got an overnight bag!" Mary realized with dismay.
"Don't you worry about that- I'll deal with this." Rachel assured her, putting a hand on Mary's shoulder before reaching for her phone.

Emma was getting ready to pick up the two older Fogg children with her sister, Sophie, when she heard her phone ring. Mouthing a small 'wait, please,' at her sister, she fished it out of her pocket and looked at the number. It was the housekeeper. She pressed 'Accept' and held it to her ear.
"Yes, Rachel?" She asked. "Is Mrs Fogg alright?"
Rachel replied "She's alright now, but can you pack Mrs Fogg an overnight bag, please Emma?"
"Of course."
Emma hurried upstairs and swiftly packed in things with sharpness and speed only servants could master. She packed a small toiletry bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and then grabbed two pairs of Mary's pajamas, slippers, and a book for her to read, in case she was bored and wanted to read. She even packed Mary's cell phone, which was lying on the dresser.
Emma zipped the bag up and said "An overnight bag- got it, Rachel."
Rachel said "Good- could you bring it to the hospital before you pick up Alice and Max from school?"
"Alright," Emma replied. "It's on route anyway; I'll be able to bring it easily."
"Thank you Emma- I'll meet you in reception to collect it." Rachel said warmly. "Now you better hurry."
"Yes ma'am. I'll see you soon."
"Goodbye, Emma."
Emma hung up and ran down the stairs to explain the situation to Sophie, who nodded her understanding. "We better hurry," Emma reminded her, as they grabbed their coats, as it was just starting to rain outside. "Rachel hates tardiness, and the children must not be kept waiting."
They scuttled out, Emma bearing the green and black overnight bag and a dreadful feeling n her shoulders. She did hope that the to-be youngest Fogg would be alright; she did not like the idea of attending an infant's funeral.
...

Rachel and Mary arrived at the hospital in the meantime, and the latter was carted away for observation and tests. Only Paul was allowed to be present at these, so Rachel wished her employer good luck until she returned, and promised to come back to her side once she was able.
Rachel took that time to wait in reception for Emma, hoping that the young maid would arrive soon- she did not like people who 'dilly-dallied' so, and she knew that Emma could fall into that habit sometimes, though always unintentionally.
However, she felt relief break across her heart as she saw Emma hurry in through the automatic doors of the hospital and made her way over to the older woman's side.
"Rachel, here is the overnight bag for Mrs Fogg- how is everything going?" Emma asked anxiously.
Rachel said "No word yet," in reply. "I can't go with Mrs Fogg- only Mr Fogg can. But I promised her I would come back to see her once the doctors have done their examinations. But I will call you all when the baby comes- it seem like this last one don't like to be kept waiting."
"Oh dear- I hope she's okay- and the baby." Emma said softly. "Well, I better re-join Sophie and pick up Alice and Max."
"Yes- it's almost time for them to go home." Rachel observed, looking at her watch.
"Please, take care of yourself and Mrs Fogg, Rachel." The maid said, looking at her friend in concern.
"Thank you, dear, and may you do the same at the Manor." The housekeeper replied. Then, they shared a quick but reassuring embrace between them, both of them suffering the same trauma, weathering the same storm.
After the pair broke away, Emma said "Rachel I have to get going now, but I hope all goes well for you, Mrs Fogg and the baby."
Rachel watched with a heavy heart as the maid dashed back out again to join Sophie, who was waiting outside the door. Clutching the fabric handles of the bag, the venerable housekeeper made her way over to ask a receptionist about visiting hours.
She just hoped that Paul was on his way. For some reason, she had never heard word from either him or Leicester about the former's whereabouts.
'Where is he?'

Meanwhile, Paul phoned Alice and Max's school in order to get them out early, as Emma and Sophie couldn't persuade the office staff to get the two elder Fogg children out of class earlier than usual, because they were not direct relatives of the Foggs.
Paul said into his phone "Yes, I know it's a bit early, but I need Alice and Max Fogg out of class now-my wife has just gone into labour."
Rhonda Quentin gasped. "Oh dear- I'm very sorry, sir- I'll get them for you." She turned to her colleague, covering the phone mouthpiece with her other hand. "Ms Jill, please send Alice and Max Fogg here- their mother is in labour." She told her.
Without hesitation, Ms Jill phoned the classrooms for Max and Alice, before relaying the message. "Would Alice Fogg please come into the office? Her father's called in."
Max's teacher also received the same memo, and within ten minutes, two very confused Fogg siblings were soon outside the office, wondering what was happening, and fiddling with their thumbs.

"Your father phoned us, explaining your mother has started giving birth to the baby before its time." Rhonda explained sympathetically to the two children.
"But it's too early!" Alice protested. She explained that their mother had told them that the baby wasn't due for another month.
"Well, babies don't exactly have a sense of time, sis." Max pointed out. "My friend William told me once that his brother Mason was born at two o'clock in the morning, when everyone was supposed to be asleep! Is Mommy okay?" He added, worriedly, this time to the two ladies behind the office desk.
"We better take you home with us," Sophie interrupted suddenly, before either of the two ladies could answer him. "Thank you, Miss Quentin and Ms Jill."
"You're quite welcome," Miss Quentin replied, a twinkle of concern appearing in her grey eyes. "Do send Mrs Fogg our regards for her and the baby's wellbeing."
"We will. Thank you again."

As the quartet headed for home on foot, Alice suddenly asked "Emma, can we go to the hospital, please? Just for a minute?"
Max turned to his younger sister, and said "You know we'll just have to wait until the baby is born, Al- that sounds boring."
Sophie added firmly "We can wait at home- Rachel will call us when the baby arrives."
Emma turned to her sister. "But, Sophie, it won't hurt to just stop by the hospital. We can see if there's any word on when the baby will arrive." She pointed out, hoping that would persuade her to change her mind.
Sophie relented, and said "Okay, come on then- we'll go in and have a quick visit. But if Rachel sees us, I'll leave it to you to explain this to her." She added dryly, glaring at Emma, who just smirked with her sense of triumph.

Meanwhile, Paul muttered "This is the last baby I am making with Mary." to himself as he pulled into a hospital parking spot. He got out and locked the car, before running across the car park to the hospital doors. He hurried inside, nearly hitting a nurse wheeling an old man in a wheelchair. Yelling a quick apology over his shoulder, he dashed into reception; tie askew, hair wind whipped and clothes crumpled. Spotting a familiar face pacing the seating area, he made his way over to join her, puffing and wheezing like a worn out steam locomotive. "Rachel, thank you so much for waiting." He panted, wearily flopping into a chair.
"It was nothing to thank me for, Paul," Rachel answered. "Are you alright, sir?" She added, putting a hand on his arm in concern at his ragged breathing.
"Yes, I'll be fine- I just need a moment..." he wheezed, before suddenly noticing a doctor coming by. His name tag read 'Doctor Ray', and he was heading towards the two, carrying a faded blue clipboard with a sheaf of papers attached to it.
"Excuse me; ma'am- is this Paul Fogg?" He asked.
"Yes," They chorused in confirmation, and the doctor nodded, before he said "Mr Fogg, follow me to the maternity ward, please- it's through at the back here."
Paul asked fearfully "Dr Ray, please, tell me- what is going on with my wife?"
"She has gone into premature labour as a result of a recent UTI she had contracted." The doctor replied, as they hurried along corridors of white, green and yellow, the smell of disinfectant hitting Paul's nose. Nurses hurried along, going here, up, down, there, and anywhere.
"Will the baby live, Doctor?" He asked the question no louder than a breath.
The doctor paused, looking at the clipboard he was carrying. "Mr Fogg, I cannot say for sure whether the baby will live. There is a strong chance she will live, but we cannot get our hopes up just yet."
Paul's shoulders slumped on hearing the news. He had never expected that he or his family would face such a crisis- of course, it was a common thing in maternity wards, to have babies born prematurely, but he just never thought it would affect him directly- but here he was, fearing for his youngest child's life- and then a thought hit him. What would happen to Mary?
Paul loved her, and he did not want to lose her in childbirth.
He decided, there and then, should the baby and Mary both come out of this nightmare safe and sound: never make the mistake of assuming anything again.
Dr. Ray led Paul to the maternity ward of the hospital, where Paul instantly saw Mary, weeping with fright about the whole trauma, and his heart broke there and then. He didn't know what to do- he couldn't just take her in his arms and rock her softly, like if she had had a nightmare and awoke from it.
Because this nightmare was all too real. Quietly, he hurried to his wife's side, placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly. "Mary,"

Mary looked up, and said "Paul, thank goodness you've come!" through her tears. She wiped them away as best as she could and beamed shakily at her partner, her frame still shaking violently from nerves overwrought by drama.
Paul exclaimed "Mary- thank God you're alive! I don't want to lose you or our child, no matter what."
"Paul, the doctors are worried about the baby surviving once he or she is born. And they fear...they fear there is a small chance I might die in the process. I just want to let you know that if the unimagined turns to the worst- if I don't make it out...I want you to raise our kids the same as before, please. Raise them to be kind and hardworking individuals..." Mary sobbed. "If you do decide to marry again, please always remember that..."
"Shh, Mary..."Paul took his beloved wife's hand in his own, gave a gentle smile and said "Mary, sweetie, I love you and the baby- you always come out on top with Alice and Max. But please, don't say you wouldn't make it- I know you will. You and the baby will." He amended, looking at their clasped hands, and braving another smile.
"...alright..." She whispered brokenly, managing a weak, but genuine smile. "Paul, what would you have named our child? We still haven't thought of a name..."
"Well, I've always liked the name 'Madeline'," Paul answered truthfully. "What do you think? If we have a daughter, that is. But I'm not sure about a son. Maybe Mason?"
"I'd thought of Olivia, but I think Madeline Fogg does sound wonderful, Paul. Better than Olivia Fogg." She answered, not paying attention to the suggestion of a boy's name for a possible son.
"Well, Olivia is a nice name...perhaps as a possible middle name?" Paul suggested.
Mary nodded. "But for now, we'll stick with Made- Ohh!" Her sentence was cut off as a sharp pain washed over, drenching her in agony. She cried in alarm and fear as her distressed husband watched, uncertain of what to do.
"What is it?!" Paul asked frantically. "I'll get a doctor, Mary."
"Please, hurry! I think the baby's coming out now!" Mary screamed, her hair falling into her eyes as she feels the all-too familiar sensations of oncoming labor.
"Shoot!" Paul exclaimed. Spotting a nurse checking some notes on a clipboard, he jumped up from his wife's side, bee-lined over to her, and said 'Excuse me, is there another doctor around? My wife's having her baby now!"
"Yes sir- actually, Doctor Ray warned me about this. I think Doctor Wayne should be free to come through and help your wife with her labor. I'll go and fetch him." She replied reassuringly, shooting a sympathetic look towards Mary, and then she hurried away to find the aforementioned doctor, leaving Paul to wring his hands helplessly. He hadn't needed to worry so much when Max and Alice had been born eleven and ten years ago, respectively.
Why was it now that things were going wrong?

Alice, Max, Sophie and Emma had all trooped into the waiting room when they saw Rachel, still pacing around in great distress. She saw them at exactly the same time, and her expression morphed into one of anger at seeing them here and not at home, where they were meant to be.
"Emma, Sophie, what are you doing here? And why did you bring the Fogg children here? They are meant to be at home!" She reminded the maids sternly.
"Please don't blame them- it was my idea, Rachel!" Alice cried, feeling an odd feeling in her chest at having Emma and Sophie get into trouble- it had been similar to that time she accidentally caused an accident involving her favorite doll, Max, and the stairs, and the hospital trip they had had to make afterwards. That had been the last time- before now- that they had required the hospital for a serious incident.
"No, I am to blame, Rachel." Emma said, rubbing the back of her neck ruefully. "I was the one who swayed Sophie to come here, despite her saying that we should return to the manor. If anyone should be in hot water right now, then it should be me."
"Doctor Wayne, Doctor Ray requests for help urgently- Mrs Fogg is giving birth to her baby right now!" A nurse named Stella exclaimed suddenly, before Rachel could say anything else in response.
"Okay- but I thought she was stabilized..." the doctor answered in confusion. But Alice didn't hear what happened next- she suddenly felt her legs sway underneath her before she suddenly fell backwards onto the waiting room floor. The last thing she heard was her brother crying her name as she fell, before blackness consumed her mind and body.