"Santana? Santana! For gods' sakes, don't make me have to call a physician in here," Blaine said, gently shaking her as Kurt wiped her brow.
Santana's eyes fluttered open, and she peered blearily at her two friends. "Pregnant…" she mumbled, holding the fallen letter back up to her face.
It took a couple of seconds for it to sink in, but as both men helped her to her feet, they realized what she had said.
"Wait...Rachel?" Kurt asked.
"She's...I thought she was sick. She's pregnant," Santana said, a smile creeping across her face.
Blaine let out a bark of laughter, the first since his father died, and pulled Santana into a hug. "Go to, then! Don't stick around here! I promise to eat and write to you - but you need to be with Rachel now."
She hugged him tightly, and smiled when he whispered something in her ear.
The months flew by, and suddenly it was time for the Festival of Flowers again. Santana had been loathe to leave Rachel's side that morning. The young woman was moving at a slow waddle, and due any day. For the past month, Santana had hardly been able to keep her hands off Rachel's stomach. She'd hold her close during meals or small, informal gatherings, gently rub her baby bump in passing, or just fondly caress Rachel's arm or face. She knew the constant displays of affection were making some of the younger court quite ill, but she didn't care.
Now, she was itching to get back to the Manor. Most of the celebrations for the Festival had been overseen by Angelo (Baron Marchioni) and his wife, but Rachel had been adamant that Santana need not miss the sword fighting to attend to her.
"I don't know what to name him though," Santana said, throwing an arm around her godson's shoulders. Hagan had been excited to see her that day, and would be staying at the Manor while his parents were away in the Huds.
"Your grace seems quite certain that the child will be a boy," Angelo said, giving her a whiskery grin. "What names have you thought of?"
"Family ones mostly. Navarro, Cristobal, Ezio - though Rachel's not as keen on that one after reading the family history. I also like Isav."
"You could name him after Lord Hummel, Godmother," Hagan suggested, trying and failing to hide his laughter.
Santana gave a playful groan. "Not you as well!" Kurt had been pestering her for the entirety of Rachel's pregnancy to name the baby for him. She was mostly sure that he was only doing it to annoy her, but Keira Rutherford, Mercedes, Finn, and now her godson, had all taken up the cause.
"Well, it's just as well that you have thought of some names," Angelo said. "If not, then you'd -"
"Archduchess!"
Santana knew the voice, and stood immediately. She spotted Asa in his new uniform, the Order of Navarro sash gleaming in the sun, dismounting from his horse. "Is it time?"
"Her water just broke," he called back.
A cheer went up from the crowd. In the months since Blaine's coronation, Rachel had endeared herself to the people of the Lowlands as their new Duchess. They no longer called her the Common Princess, but the Duchess of Songs. They loved her, and seemed to be as excited for the new heir to their span of kingdom as Santana was. Well...most of them, anyway. Santana pushed the threatening messages and disparaging grafitti from her mind and raced over to Asa. He'd already turned the horse around, and gave it a slap when Santana mounted, sending her racing back to the Manor.
"What happens now?" Rachel asked, panic lacing her voice. The contractions were right on top of each other, and the pain potion that Ridcully had given her was just barely taking the edge off.
"Don't you worry, sweet child," Cordelia said, taking her hand. "You're going to start pushing in a moment."
"But it's too soon - I mean, he's early isn't he?" Rachel asked as Marie wiped her brow. Another contraction hit her, and she gripped Cordelia's hand harder.
"Magical gestation takes quite a bit less time than normal gestation," Ridcully said. "Marie, you may give her the other half of the potion now. It's almost time."
Rachel drank it, and prayed to all the gods that it would help.
"Right, your grace, push!"
Santana ran in just in time to hear Rachel cry out in pain. "By the gods - what's happening Gendry?"
"I asked Marie for an update," the young man said. "She's doing fine."
"That sounds seven entire hells away from fine," Santana said.
Gendry gave her the look of one so out of his depth that he needed quite a long stick to touch bottom. "I can take you up, but Ridcully said I have to keep you outside."
"What?"
"It's tradition, m'lady," Gendry whined, his lowborn accent sneaking back in for just a moment. "And he said you needed this."
It was then that Santana noticed the blanket he was holding. She smiled, running her fingers over the faded red cloth and gold leaves. It had been hers, when she was born. "Let's go up, shall we?"
Rachel caught her breath. In all, it hadn't taken too terribly long once the baby had decided to get moving, so to speak. Then a tiny, high-pitched squeal had rent the air, and she fell painfully in love with the squalling lump covered in goo. Now, she held her little girl close, and tried to just breathe. There would never be another moment like this, and she wanted to carve it into her memory until her dying day.
"What will you call her?" Marie asked softly.
"I don't know yet," Rachel whispered. "Santana was expecting a boy." She tried not to sound disappointed. In truth, she, Rachel, had wanted a girl first. But she hoped her wife wouldn't be too disappointed.
She didn't have long to wonder. There was a knock at the door, and Santana stepped in, carrying the swaddling cloth all Lopez babies used.
"Are you alright?" was the first thing she asked, and Rachel felt her heart melt a bit.
"Fine. And so is your daughter," she added, gazing closely at the Archduchess. To her relief, a bright smile split Santana's face.
"Well...it's a surprise, truth be told. But no matter. Give the little brat here - I want to meet her."
Rachel passed the baby into Santana's arms, and watched fondly as the fierce ruler of the Lowlands was reduced to a sniffling, grinning mess. "She needs a name," Rachel said.
"That she does. But we have a month until her christening." Santana wrapped the baby gently and placed her in her crib. She sat on the side of Rachel's bed and gave her a gentle kiss. "You're amazing. Have they changed your sheets? Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, and very," Rachel said, eyelids drooping a bit. She was exhausted, but she wanted to hold onto this moment. She wanted to stay awake - especially since the next three days were considered the mother's "bonding period" with the baby, and she wouldn't see Santana until afterward.
Santana seemed to understand. She lay next to Rachel, on top of the covers but still holding her. "Rest. I'll stay until you fall asleep. I love you."
"I love you too."
