Hey friends! It's me! Okay, this is something I've been working on, on the side - don't worry, I haven't left Love Heals! I've always had a weird facination with mpreg stories, and so this is a one shot. If you guys like it and want it to continue, please let me know, because I probably could...
Anyway, I hope that you like it! And you know how much I love reviews!
Roger woke up when Mark shifted in his arms. His arms couldn't quite fit around the film maker's body anymore. Roger gave a half smile at the irony of his eternally skinny friend becoming overweight. Not that he didn't have a perfectly legitimate excuse...Mark was pregnant with their child.
Mark was very pregnant. He was a week past his due date and incredibly uncomfortable. "Rog..." he moaned. Roger tightened his grip on his lover.
"What is it Mark?" he asked quietly, concerned for him. Mark moaned again.
"My stomach hurts." This sentence brought Roger fully awake. He knew what this probably meant. As he sat up, Mark rolled over so he was on his back. His face reflected pain and Roger ran his hands through his hair.
"How long?" Roger asked. Mark took a deep breath.
"On and off for the last four hours. They're getting closer and stronger, though. They're harder now." Mark said, sighing and trying to sit up himself. He closed his eyes as another pain started taking over him. "Roger." Roger grabbed Mark's hand and breathed with him.
Roger was trying desperately not to panic. He knew that he needed to remain calm for Mark's sake. "Should we go to the hospital?" Roger asked, once the pain had passed. Mark nodded and Roger leaped into action. Telling Mark to stay in bed, Roger rushed around, gathering the bags they had packed. He helped Mark out of bed and helped get him dressed.
Mark had two more contractions before they got out of the house. The last one causing Mark to actually stop what he was doing and focus on breathing through it. "Roger, let's go." Mark said, a little more urgency in his voice. After calling their friends, the two headed out the door to hail a cab and get them to the hospital.
The cab driver almost had an attack when Mark had a contraction in the backseat of his cab. Roger had his arm around him and felt his boyfriend stiffen at the start of the pain. He let out a soft moan and grabbed tightly on to Roger's hand. "Okay Mark, you're okay. You're just fine. Just breathe. Focus on my voice, just listen to me and breathe Mark. In...and out...in...and out." Roger coaxed the younger man. When it passed, Mark sagged into the comforting arms of his boyfriend. Roger kissed his temple.
When they arrived at the hospital, they were met by their onslaught of friends. Maureen, Joanne, Collins, and Benny all began hovering around him. Mark shot Roger a look, who in turn asked their friends to back off. Mark was checked in and settled into a room. A doctor checked him and pronounced him at three centimeters. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his feet dangling on the side, when the next one started. Mark leaned forward, pressing his head into Roger's chest. "Another one?" Roger asked. He felt Mark nod against his chest. Roger gently rubbed his back, whispering encouragements and reminding the boy to keep breathing. Early on in the contraction, Mark wrapped his arms around Roger, holding him as close as he could get him.
"Roger...can't...gotta move..." he groaned and shifted uncomfortably.
"What do you need Mark?" Roger asked, pulling back when the contraction was over. Mark ran his hands over his eyes. Roger hated seeing him in so much pain and wanted to do whatever he could to take it away.
"I need to get up. Sitting hurts too much, I think it'll be better standing." he said. It was the most he had spoken since it had started. Since he wasn't hooked up to any IV's and the doctor had said that walking would actually be good for Mark, Roger helped the younger man out of the bed.
They had taken all of three steps out of the room when Mark had another contraction. Roger glanced at his watch. Three minutes between contractions. They were holding hands and Mark tugged on Roger to stop walking. The two men faced each other, Mark leaning into Roger, his face in Roger's chest, arms draped over Roger's neck, bent over. But Mark couldn't get control of his breathing. "Not...better...fuck! Roger...have to sit!" Mark managed, his knees giving out and sinking to the floor. Roger tried to keep him upright.
"It's okay, sweetie. We're gonna get back to the room as soon as its over. But you can't sit down here Mark." Roger tried to convince him. Mark was whimpering as he struggled to survive the incredibly painful contraction standing up. When it passed, Roger helped him back to the room and back in to bed.
"Roger, it hurts so bad." Mark said, his eyes filling with tears, looking at his boyfriend. Roger wanted to take all the pain away but he couldn't. Instead he stroked his hair and kissed him gently. Mark closed his eyes and drank in the minute that he wasn't in pain. Not that he felt any better, because he knew it was going to start again.
"Is there something I can do, baby?" Roger asked. Mark's blue eyes connected with Roger's.
"Don't leave me, Rog. Don't leave." he said. Roger leaned forward, kissing Mark again. Their lips lingered on each other, the kiss speaking words they couldn't form. They broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other.
"Never Mark. I promise I won't leave you for even one minute during this." Mark gave a faint smile, which disappeared quickly as another contraction started taking over him.
"Roger!" he cried out, grasping for his hand. Roger took Mark's hand and let him squeeze. He watched helplessly, trying to remind him how to breathe, wishing there was something else he could do. Mark kicked his feet angrily as the contraction reached its peak. "Fuck!" he screamed. Roger continued stroking his hair and whispering words of encouragement. When it had passed, Mark lay back, his eyes still closed, panting. "I...I don't think I can do this Roger." he said, starting to cry.
Roger sat on the edge of the bed, still holding Mark's hand, and brushed away the tears that escaped, despite his efforts. "Mark, look at me." Roger said soothingly. Mark opened his eyes and more tears spilled. "You are the strongest, most wonderful, most amazing person I've ever met. I know that you can do this. And I'm going to be right here, every single step of the way." Mark nodded and opened his arms for a hug.
Roger drew him close to his body, feeling him shaking slightly from all the pain. Inwardly, he sighed. He knew Mark had a long way to go and that it was only going to get worse. Inspiration struck him and he thought of a new way to help Mark...
Whenever Mark was sick, he became a baby. He wanted to be held, cuddled, comforted. For hours, Roger would hold the boy, reading him stories, singing him songs, or just hugging him. He assumed that his parents had probably never done this when he was a kid, so Roger made up for it. And Roger WOULD baby Mark...more than he needed to be. If Mark had a cold, he'd either get himself out of the house or kick Roger out. If he was really sick, he was insistent. If he was really, really sick, he was so out of it he wanted to be cuddled. Even though Roger hated seeing Mark sick, he loved being able to take care of the man who always took care of him.
Roger gently nudged Mark forward and climbed behind him. He settled himself so Mark was between his legs and Roger wrapped his arms around Mark's upper body. He knew it was a good idea the second Mark cuddled himself into Roger. "There we go. How's that?"
"Better." Mark said, already sounding calmer. Roger smiled, Mark was so easy to figure out sometimes. Roger felt Mark tense and let go of him, grabbing onto his hands.
Strangely enough, Mark handled the contraction better with Roger behind him. Roger whispered encouragements in his ear and Mark breathed through the contraction.
For the next hour, they stayed like that. Mark's contractions got worse, but he stayed calm with Roger there. There was a knock on the door and Collins walked in while Mark was having a bad contraction. He tossed his head from side to side in an effort to escape the pain. Roger held tightly to both of his hands, kissing his ears and continuing to whisper encouragements. Collins watched the scene, staying quiet until it had passed and Mark sunk into Roger's chest.
"Hey guys! How's it going?" he asked. Mark had his eyes closed and was laying against Roger's chest. Roger looked at Collins, exhausted.
"Mark, would it be okay if Collins stayed with you for a few minutes? I need to go to the bathroom-" Roger started.
"And get something to eat and take your AZT." Mark finished for him. "If Collins doesn't mind..." he said, feeling bad. Collins flashed him a huge smile.
"Of course I don't mind." Mark leaned forward to let Roger get out, dreading not having Roger there, but knowing he had to go get some rest. Collins sat down in the chair Roger had been using before he moved to sit behind him.
"I'll be back soon, Mark. I promise." He said, kissing Mark's forehead and walking out of the room. He didn't want to leave Mark, but he really needed a break.
"Shit!" Mark hissed, another contraction starting. He grabbed onto his stomach, not wanting to grab Collins, but Collins offered his hand anyway. He closed his eyes tight, trying to remember what Roger would say if he were here. Collins had no idea what to do, but he remembered hearing Roger telling him to breathe slowly.
"Okay Mark, breathe." Collins said, exaggerating the breaths so Mark would listen him. To his surprise, Mark listened and breathed with him. "That's great!" Collins told him. Finally it passed and Mark sunk back into the pillow. He looked lost without Roger behind him. Collins felt so bad for him when he saw Mark's eyes well up with tears.
"I want Roger. I know its selfish because Roger needs a break, but I really want him here." Mark sniffled.
"Do you want me to go find him?" Collins asked. Mark looked panicked.
"No! Please don't leave me..." he trailed. Collins nodded and gave the boy a hug. Mark was always the rock of the group. He held everyone together and he did it brilliantly. Sometimes, Collins thought, they all forgot that Mark was a living, breathing person who had feelings and emotions, too. He knew that Mark had leaned on Angel, when she was alive. Angel had taken Mark under her wing and let him talk when he had no one. She told him this before she died. She had asked him to make sure he talked to Mark every now and then.
"Mark, no way are you being selfish. You're going through labor...who wouldn't want their partner there? But don't worry, I won't leave." Collins assured him. As if on cue, Roger came bounding through the door. Mark looked at him, worriedly.
"Roger...didn't you eat anything? You really need to eat." There he goes again, thought Collins, only thinking of others. Even when he had just cried that he wanted Roger with him. Smiling, Roger held up a cellophane wrapped sandwich and a bottle of juice.
"Food on the go. I promised I wouldn't leave you. And despite the fact that if I didn't go to the bathroom, I might have actually exploded, I intend to keep that promise."
Roger grinned. Collins had to hand it to him. At times, Roger could be completely dense, but he knew what Mark needed - and he knew that this time, Mark needed him more than Roger needed his break.
"I'm really alright here with-" Mark drew in a sharp breath as another pain overtook him. Roger quickly put the sandwich and juice down, and hurried to Mark's side, grabbing his hand.
"Breathe Mark...hoo...hoo...in and out. Good job, baby. In and out." Roger coaxed him. Knowing he wouldn't be missed, Collins slipped out of the room, his last glance showing Mark's face staring intently at Roger and Roger still coaching Mark. He returned to the waiting room where the others pounced on him.
"How is he?" Maureen asked.
"He's not doing too bad. He's in a hell of a lot of pain, but with Roger there he seems to be okay." Collins informed the group, who let out a collective sigh of relief.
"What took you so long?" Joanne asked. Collins grinned.
"Roger had to go to the bathroom...and Mark insisted he get something to eat and take his AZT." They all laughed. That was Mark for you, even when he deserved to be in the spotlight completely, he had to make sure everyone else was taken care of.
While Roger was coaching Mark through the contraction, there was another knock on the door, and this time the doctor entered. He watched Mark breathe through the end of the contraction and then headed to the end of the bed. "Hello, Mark. How are you feeling?" Mark looked at him like he was the craziest person in the world. The doctor chuckled. "Okay, stupid question. How far apart are the contractions?"
"They're about forty-five seconds to a minute apart." Roger answered. The doctor nodded, writing something down in Mark's chart.
"Well, I'd like to check you and see how far along you are, okay Mark?" he asked. Mark nodded yes and reached for Roger's hand. The doctor pushed the gown back and did his exam - Mark kept his eyes on Roger the whole time. "Mark, you're already at seven centimeters!" the doctor exclaimed. "You're moving really fast - very fast for a first labor. I would think that you'd be ready to push within the hour." Mark's eyes reflected fear, but he nodded and continued holding Roger's hand. "If you feel like you can't handle the contractions or you feel the need to push, I want you to page a nurse by pressing this button." he said, holding up the call button attached to Mark's bed. "If you want to get up, maybe take a shower, you can feel free to do that. Whatever makes you comfortable." he said, patting Mark's knee and leaving the room.
"You okay, Mark?" Roger asked. Mark leaned back, closing his eyes. He nodded yes to Roger.
"Please eat, Roger, you're starting to make me nervous. You have to eat and you have to take your AZT." Mark insisted, tiredly. Roger didn't want to eat, but he knew that it would only agitate Mark and so he opened the sandwich and the juice, eating it quickly and downing the AZT with the drink. He made a face at the taste of the vile pill.
"Mark, what do you want to do? Do you want to stay here? Do you want to try walking again? Would you like me to sit behind you again?" Roger questioned him, after yet another brutal contraction. Mark's breathing was shallow and heavy.
"Maybe a shower...if you'll come with me. I can't stand up by myself." Mark said. Roger helped his boyfriend out of bed and into the bathroom. Roger stripped Mark of his hospital gown and himself down to his boxers. He turned on the water, making sure it was warm before helping Mark in.
As the warm spray hit his back, Mark let out a moan. It felt really good. Mark basically plastered himself to Roger's chest, Roger holding most of Mark's weight. Roger massaged Mark's shoulders, trying to work out some of the tension that had gathered. He knew Mark was going to need a lot of strength. Mark made it through three contractions in the shower, before begging Roger to help him out.
Roger made sure he was completely warm and dry before putting the flimsy hospital gown back on. "Roger...I don't think I can make it back to the bed." Mark panted, the contractions finally becoming too much for him to handle. He doubled over in pain as another contraction started.
Knowing that standing up during another one would not be good, Roger picked him up and carried him to the bed. Mark never weighed that much anyway - and he honestly hadn't gained that much baby weight. Roger laid him on the bed and looked in his exhausted eyes. "Roger, would you lay behind me again?" Mark asked. His voice sounded weak and pitiful. Roger nearly cried.
"Of course." he said, helping Mark sit up so he could climb behind him. When Mark settled into him this time, he could feel how tired Mark was. Mark didn't squirm to get comfortable, he just laid back. Roger picked up a damp cloth and reached around, wiping his forehead. "God, do you have any idea how much I love you?" Roger asked him. He saw Mark smile.
"I love you, too. I'm glad you're here." Mark said. Roger heard Mark gasp and felt him stiffen. Roger could hear Mark begin to cry as well. "Oh god! Rog! Rog I can't do it! I can't!" He screamed and cried. Roger tried to whisper in his ear, tried to coax him to breathe. But Mark was in his own world of pain. Roger found and pressed the call button. From their classes he remembered that when they started losing control like this, it usually signaled that they were ready to push.
Within a minute, a nurse hurried into the room. Mark was thrashing around on the bed, now screaming that he had to push. Roger was doing his best to try and keep him calm. The nurse surveyed the scene and told them she was going to page the doctor.
"Rog..." he whimpered, realizing Roger was still in the room with him. "I have to push. Can I push?" Mark begged.
"No baby. Not yet. You have to wait for the doctor. Then you can push, okay?" Roger assured him. "He'll be here soon. Just keep listening to me, okay? Mark whimpered some more, breaking Roger's heart in half.
"Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes," Roger began to sing. Roger could feel Mark's body stop fighting the painful contractions. "Five hundred, twenty five thousand moments so dear. Five hundred, twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?" Roger stopped singing, pleased at his boyfriend's reaction.
"Keep singing." came the meager voice. Roger smiled and continued to sing.
"In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In five hundred, twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure a year in the life?..." Roger sang until the doctor hurried into the room.
"So you feel like you have to push, Mark?" the doctor asked, rushing into the room. He was already in a gown and a nurse was helping him put gloves on. Mark nodded and Roger continued to stoke his forehead. "Okay Mark," he said, placing Mark's legs in stirrups. "Here's what's going to happen...When a contraction starts, I want you to take a deep breath in, hold it, and push like you're going to the bathroom, okay?"
Mark nodded and grabbed onto Roger's hands. Another one started and the doctor began coaxing him, "Okay, deep breath in and let it out. Another deep one in...and PUSH!" Mark groaned as he pushed against the pain. Roger counted to ten, but Mark could only push through seven.
"Again! Push Mark!" Roger said. Mark pushed for an hour and a half. He was shaking and sobbing...and he refused to push. The doctor was yelling that he needed to push, the nurse was yelling that he needed to push, and all Mark could do was sob.
Mark had quit paying any attention to the medical personnel. "Roger, please, take me home. I don't want to do this! It hurts!" he cried. Roger was exhausted as well and he hated hearing Mark...his Mark...being so broken.
"Oh Mark, I know it hurts. I know it does, baby. But you have to push. If you push the pain will stop. Okay? Can you push for me?" Roger begged the boy.
"Okay Roger," Mark sobbed. "I'll push for you." Mark took another deep breath and pushed hard. The doctor shouted that he could see the head.
Roger whispered into Mark's ear. "Do you hear that? He can see the head! Keep pushing Mark! You're doing great!" Tears rolled down Mark's face as he gave a final push, breathing life into their baby.
"And it's a girl!" the doctor cried, holding up their new baby. Both Mark and Roger cried tears of absolute joy at seeing their little girl. Roger was able to cut the cord and the doctor handed the baby to Mark. Mark beamed through his tears, examining their daughter.
The baby looked just like Mark. She had Mark's nose, Mark's chin, and Mark's soft blond hair. "She looks just like you!" Roger exclaimed, thrilled. Just then, the baby opened her eyes. Her eyes were piercing, they were the same deep green as Roger's. And she had Roger's long lashes.
"Congratulations, daddies!" The doctor said. "We need to clean up the baby and Mark." he said to Roger.
"I'll...um...I'll go and tell our friends. They're waiting in the waiting room." Roger said, trying to ebb the flow of tears. He wiped at his eyes, kissed Mark, kissed their baby, and left the room.
When he entered the waiting room, everyone jumped up. The look on Roger's face, the tears flowing combined with the happy smile, told them that Mark had the baby. "Well?" Maureen asked.
"It's a girl!" Roger shouted, his voice choked with tears. Everyone whooped and hollered. "She's so beautiful! She looks just like Mark."
"How is Mark?" Collins asked.
"He's okay. They're cleaning him and the baby up. He had a really rough time of it, but he made it through. I'm so proud of him." It was then Roger completely broke down. He was so tired and he had to watch the love of his life suffer for hours, not being able to do anything about it. Roger's knees buckled - and he would have hit the floor if Collins hadn't grabbed him. His friends gathered around him and held him as he cried. It was rare that they saw Roger cry.
The doctor came out of Mark's room. "Mr. Davis? He'd like to see you." Roger wiped at his eyes again and nodded, leaving his friends and heading back into Mark's room. The sheets had been changed and Mark was wearing a new hospital gown. Their baby was bundled in a pink blanket and cuddled to Mark's chest. Mark looked tired, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
"Roger, look at her." Mark said, never taking his eyes off their baby. "We have to name her."
"Mark, she's beautiful." The two men locked eyes. "What do you think we should name her?"
"I don't know..."
"Katherine?" Roger suggested. Mark's face lit up.
"Katherine...I love it! She needs a middle name, too..." Mark looked up at Roger. "Angel."
Roger nodded his head and grinned. "Katherine Angel Cohen-Davis. It's perfect!" he said, sitting next to Mark, carefully, knowing Mark was probably still incredibly sore.
Mark laughed. "It's a mouthful, but it fits her." Mark looked up at Roger, the smile never leaving his face. "Is everyone out in the waiting room?" Roger nodded, his chest too full of emotion at the moment to talk. "Can they come in? I want to see them."
Roger choked out a half laugh, half cry. "Hey guys...come on in." Roger yelled through the open door. It opened immediately and the four friends came pouring in, cooing over the baby.
"Oh Mark! She's just gorgeous!" Maureen gushed. "Oh God, Roger wasn't kidding! She looks JUST like you!"
Mark grinned bashfully. "She has Roger's eyes."
"Have you named her, yet?" Benny asked. Roger and Mark looked at each other and grinned. "You have! What did you name her?" he asked, catching the exchange.
Roger nodded so Mark would answer the question. He deserved to answer it. "We named her Katherine Angel Cohen-Davis." Collins let out a little sob. Roger grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
"It's a perfect name. She looks like a Katherine." Joanne said, breaking the silence. Mark tried to stifle a yawn, but Roger saw it.
"Okay, I think we need to let Mark get some rest." Roger said to the group. He reached down and picked up his daughter, holding her for the first time. His heart stopped and he knew that he'd do anything for her. And for Mark. He looked over and saw that Mark was already asleep. He cuddled the small baby close and whispered into her ear, "I love you. Daddy loves you."