Plumette lay curled up on her side as her fingers clenched at her sheets and she tried to breathe through the painful spasms that wrecked through her body. The dark moonless night outside her small bedroom window letting in no comforting light, the only glow illuminating her coming from the single candle that sat on the bedside table. This was ridiculous, she had never been one to really suffer from common illnesses and yet only three days after turning human again something foul had befallen her? The staff had joked between themselves who would first feel the bad effects of being human after years of nothing, most had their money put down on Cogsworth going down with something stress related, but really to not even get through a week was a bit embarrassing.
She grit her teeth, trying to not let out a pitiful whine out as Lumière peaked in through the door. After putting her to bed he had remained at her side fretfully keeping watch over her until she sent him away under the guise of fetching a cup of water to drink, while she had been a little thirsty she had mainly wanted him gone to change out of her clothes and into her heavy woollen night gown, it was a little unseasonally thick for this time of year but would hide the fabric still bunched between her thighs to stop any blood leaking, her stained skirts hidden away under her bed out of sight.
Lumière came over to kneel at her bedside, he brushed her hair away from her face lightly "I can't stand to see you like this, I wish I could take your pain instead"
At any other time she would have smiled, but now she only grimaced and took the cup from him and trying to sip from it without her shaking hands spilling it. She batted his hands away when he tried to hold it for her.
"Is there anything I can do for you? I can fetch a doctor?" he offered, as he had been offering since he had first heard of her pain during supper and had continued to do so through out the night, each time with a little more urgency.
"Don't be a fool, it's the middle of the night I won't have you riding all the way through the forest in the dark and waking the poor man up at some ungodly hour" she retorted stubbornly.
"For you I would ride to the end of the earth, blast the time I will wake every single person up in the village if it would ease you even a little"
"There's wolves in the forest" she tried, if she hadn't been currently trying to breathe through another sharp spasm she'd laugh at his insistence.
"I'll bring back their skins when I fetch the doctor"
She pushed the cup back to him, her throat at least less dry if nothing else "What is the time anyway?" she asked, genuinely wanting to know as much as it cut off his ideas of getting the doctor, it seemed a horrendously long time since she had come to bed, although her unwellness may have been distorting her perception so it was hard to say.
Lumière glanced at his pocket watch that sat where he had left it beside the candle "It is nearly three in the morning"
Plumette gave a distressed groan, knowing he was due to get up in only three hours to start work "Oh amour you should have been asleep hours ago, I'm sorry"
"Nonsense, how could I possibly sleep while you suffer so?" His fingers idly stroked her cheek.
She gave a weak smile, wanting to say something of more value, or to thank him for his dedication but only managing to whimper out "It hurts" her twitchy hands clenching and unclenching below her belly. "Stay with me?" she pleaded quietly, despite wanting for him to sleep and be rested she needed him, she was frightened and it hurt.
He nodded, face tight with worry "Of course cherie, whatever I can do"
"Please hold me" with that she dragged her arms and legs underneath herself, lifting to sit up and giving a startled cry as she did, more blood collecting between her legs as her body moved. She ignored his concern and with one hand locked on his shoulder guided him to sit against the headboard and pillows, leaning back into him, her back to his chest. One of his hands found itself in her hair and stroked at her forehead and scalp while the other very gently placed itself on her belly.
She pulled up her sheets to just under his hand and tried to get as comfortable as she could, the feel of his heart beating against her back soothing. "As soon as its daylight I'm fetching the doctor" he spoke, his thumb rubbing against her skin in the gentlest of motions.
"Go to sleep" she pouted, her words receiving a grumble in reply. She tried to settle down, closing her eyes and focusing on trying to breathe as her body felt like it was attempting to tear itself apart, after a while she noticed Lumière had drifted off with his breathing steady and the hand that had been petting her head had slipped down to loosely lay across her waist the other ceased its motions, she was at least thankful for that, her poor dear needed the rest. Plumette tried to lay as still as possible in the hope of also falling asleep but it cruelly remained out of her reach, the time ticked on relentlessly as she wished for the pain to ease.
She whimpered as another spasm tore through, her legs curling up to her body and her back arched, she became panicked when it lasted longer than the previous ones, her body refusing to relax and just as it ended another one quick on its heels, even stronger this time. "Ah... ahh" she gritted her teeth and forced her body to sit up, her hands locking onto her stomach. A pained whine slipping out "Lumière... Lumière!" she lashed out, jolting him awake.
"... Cherie? What's the matter?" he quickly came around, all sleep being replaced by instant worry.
"Somethings wrong" was all she could manage as she had another spasm, even more brutal than the last.
He picked up the candle from the side and brought it closer as to see her better just as she shifted away from him, pushing the sheets off and crawling up onto her knees, one hand still clutched to her belly as she hunched down on herself. "You're bleeding!" he cried, seeing the dark stain on the bed where she had laid.
"I … I didn't want to worry you..." she panted before a cry erupted from her lips, her eyes snapping shut and her whole face contorting in agony.
Lumière leaped from the bed, buzzing with fear and his eyes wide. "What should I do? What's happening?"
"I don't know!" she wailed back, tears beginning to trickle down her face, her mind throwing up the only thought it could under stress "Fetch Mrs Potts! I want her!" she cried, the woman who had been almost a mother to her since she had first moved to the castle as a child would surely offer a solution or at least some welcome comfort.
Lumière nodded worriedly and turned around to run out the door, his footsteps echoing loudly through the dark corridor beyond her room. She tried not to panic more as she was left alone, knowing that it wouldn't be long but still just as terrifying all the same, her shoulders hunched in a little more and shook as she fought to hold onto any shred of rational thought as another pain hit.
She heard voices before she saw them, a hell of a commotion coming along out of the dark before Lumière reappeared with Mrs Potts quick behind him, the older woman dazed and still in her nightgown.
"What's wrong love?" she demanded, holding her own candle and quickly coming to sit before her on the bed.
"I don't know!... Ah!" Plumette cried, feeling a most peculiar popping sensation and then a flood of liquid rushing from her "I'm sorry" she whimpered in humiliation at the thought she had just soiled herself in front of her friend.
Mrs Potts took note of the clear liquid dripping down the younger girls thighs and seeping into her bedding before she took a good look at her, recognising what it was. "You're pregnant!?" she gasped.
"What? No of course not!" Plumette snarled back.
Mrs Potts placed a firm hand just above her groin, knowing exactly where the pain was to be found and felt a definite hardness under her fingertips. "Well dearie it looks like you're havin' a baby" she spoke and without waiting for any reply she called over her shoulder "Lumière, get Angelique!"
He was gone in an instant, back down the hall to the bedroom next door, banging on it and calling the other girl's name. After he had managed to rouse her and the door opened, there was a brief bickering and he returned clutching her by the arm and dragging her back into the room, the poor thing half asleep and scared out of her wits.
"Have you ever been present at a birth before?" Mrs Potts directed at the other maid, who was scrubbing a hand across her eyes in confusion.
"What? No" she glared around at the three of them, her blue eyes settling on Plumette accusingly.
"Never mind, I need you to fetch us towels, cloths, a sharp pair of scissors and hot water!" she requested, when the blonde girl hadn't moved immediately she hissed "Now Angelique!" With that she had scampered away for the needed items.
"But I'm not pregnant!" Plumette wailed.
"I'm sorry but you are"
"She's been a feather duster for ten years how can she be?" Lumière questioned, standing beside them, one hand rubbing at Plumette's back.
"Perhaps before the curse? Did you know?" Mrs Potts offered before questioning the girl, who merely sobbed out a negative reply and shook "When was your last monthly bleed? Do you remember if it had been a while before?"
"Mon dieu! That was a decade ago!" Plumette whimpered "How could I remember? Ahhh!" She cried, another contraction hitting hard, she rocked forward between them unsteady, her head hanging low.
"Easy now sweetheart, just lay back" the housekeeper soothed as she moved off the bed and directed Plumette to lay back against the pillows. "Now if you bend your knees, just like that and try to relax" she instructed, placing her hands on her calves and directing her, parting her legs with her feet flat against the bed. "I'm going to have a little look, alright?" She explained, reaching towards the hem of her damp nightgown.
"What? No" Plumette whimpered, her hands clenching her clothing down against her thighs, not wanting her maternal figure to go snooping around her bare genitals, the embarrassment alone would surely kill her.
"Dearie I really do need to check"
"I don't want you to"
Lumière had knelt himself down beside her, his hand gently curling around her cheek and tilting her face to look at him and blocking the view in from of her. "It is alright ma cherie, just look at me and all will be fine" he soothed, her tear filled eyes found his and she nodded, her own hands clutching desperately at his arms and wrists.
Mrs Potts carefully rolled up her nightgown and frowned when she discovered the blood soaked rags that had been packed in to hide the bleeding, she wanted to make inquires about it but wouldn't risk causing more stress to Plumette when Lumière had only just managed to calm her, his forehead pressed to hers as he whispered gentle encouragements and sweet nothings to hold her focus. She slowly removed the rags and at last had a clear view. "I'm just going to check now" she warned.
Plumette whined low in her throat when the housekeeper's fingers entered her and moved in searching. "I don't like this..." she sobbed to Lumière, tears rolling down her face and her breath hitching.
"I'm sorry darling, please try to bear it a little longer, I know you can do it you're so brave" he soothed, his thumb stroking along her cheekbone.
The door creaked open and Angelique struggled in carrying everything that had been requested, carefully placing a jug of hot water on the floor beside the bed before dumping the rest of the items too, her eyebrow raised as she made a sickened face watching the housekeeper. "If she is having a baby why is she not fat?" she questioned.
Mrs Potts sent a glare at her over her shoulder to silence her, not only for the possible interruption that could spook the labouring girl but also giving voice to the very thought that had been bothering her, Plumette was a petite girl, and she certainly didn't look pregnant which made her worry at the size of the baby.
Plumette looked away from her partner to also glare, despising the way Angelique was watching like it was something of great interest, another contraction hit making her arch her back and clamp down around Mrs Potts hand and her thighs crushing. "S-Sorry!" she panted when she could focus again.
"I've seen enough babies in my time dearie it's nothing to be ashamed of, Chip was a right little bugger, he decided he was comin' out backwards" she spoke conversationally with a shrug, her fingertips finally finding what they had been searching for and pressing through the dilating cervix, the baby's skull just within touch. She removed her fingers and took one of the towels from Angelique, wiping off her hand. "Alright the little one's head is right there where we want it, when you feel like you want to start pushing go for it"
"I don't want to push, I don't want to do this" Plumette shook her head as she trembled,
"Not much choice now dear" The housekeeper spoke gently "The best thing you can do is go for it, it'll be over soon"
"No I can't, I won't" Plumette moved to get up, to get away when another contraction tore at her making her cry out.
"Push love!"
At her command Plumette pushed into the contraction, bearing down as much as she could yet to her dismay it didn't make it feel any easier, it only felt worse, much worse. "It hurts" she sobbed as she gave up.
Lumière leant up to her, almost curling against her. "Plumette darling, it will be alright, you can do it" he spoke assuredly, but he also trembled, heart broken that she was hurting and scared for her.
"You... you believe I can mon amour?" her terror filled doe eyes turned to him
"I know you can, my darling love, you can do anything just think soon you'll have have a wonderful baby in your arms, ma cherie you're truly amazing" he pressed a kiss to her forehead, taking up her hand in both of his, kissing the back of her palm.
She nodded, her damp curls bouncing as she felt the beginnings of another contraction. She pushed hard, clenching at Lumière's hand while he continued to give her encouragements.
"Good girl! That's it!" Mrs Potts praised, still sitting between her legs and watching for any new development, Angelique coming to stand awkwardly behind her for if she should need assistance.
A scream slipped past her lips as she bore down, pushing and pushing until at last she began to feel something move and give way, stretching out her body until it felt it surely would tear, she screamed again letting out a string of profanities in a blend of English and French.
"... Mama?!" A small voice pitched up, all eyes in the room snapping to where Chip stood just inside the doorway, half asleep looking but quickly waking up as he listened to the girls screams.
"Chip! Bloomin' heck what are you doing here?!" Mrs Potts cried as Plumette let out another scream.
"What's wrong with her?!" the little boy shrilled, moving to come further into the room.
"Go back to bed!"
"But she's crying!" he wailed frightened and not understanding.
"Bed! Now!" Mrs Potts yelled at her son, in a moment of uncharacteristic anger under stress. Angelique jumped forward and grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him around and leading him out the door then shutting the door behind them.
She turned back to see Plumette sagging against Lumière, sweat and tears soaking her face. "I can't... I can't" she croaked.
The housekeeper's eyes went down to the worrying amount of blood that coated her inner thighs and stained the bed, pushing those thoughts aside as she spoke. "Nearly there! Just a little more!"
The next hard pushes finally slid the baby along her birthing canal, her screams getting louder as she at last managed to push it out, in the end coming out quickly. She slumped down against the pillows and into Lumière's arms, her eyes falling closed as she tried to remember how to breathe normally, feeling weak, hurt and rather wanting to throw up.
"You did it! C'est magnifique!" Lumière praised, kissing her face where ever he could reach, she offered what she could of a smile, pressing her face against his neck exhausted. While Mrs Potts cut the cord to separate the baby from her, bundling it up safely.
A few happy moments were spent between the couple, until the silence had become stagnant. Weren't babies supposed to cry? She remembered when she had been a small child, her aunt giving birth to her younger cousin, she had screamed as if it had been a massive insult to be born and wanted all of France to know of it, the little thing coming into the world loud and angry. But her baby was completely silent.
"... Why isn't it crying?" she inquired, shifting to look over and her blood running cold and the sorrowful look she was given.
"...I'm sorry love... it's not alive..." Mrs Potts whispered, tears wetting her lashes.
Lumière went stiff beside her "No..."
Plumette forced herself up a bit more, ignoring the pain it caused. "Show me" she demanded, her hands reaching out and Mrs Potts clutching the bundle wrapped in a towel closer to herself protectively.
"Please sweetheart it's best you don't see"
"Show me my baby!" she shrieked in a tearful voice, Lumière clutching at her arm, either to hold her back or merely just needing to touch her, neither knew.
Mrs Potts took in a deep breath, turning away from them and trying to quickly clean the baby up, dabbing at it with a cloth wetted from the water jug and shifting the tiny thing about to make it as presentable as she could before with the utmost care placing the bundle into the girl's waiting arms.
Plumette gave a low wail as she looked over the smallest baby she had ever seen, even in the low candle light she could see its skin was a distorted colour, purplish red with darker black patches, its tiny features flattened and its sealed eyes swollen. She screamed out, her hands uselessly clutching into the towel and Mrs Potts moving to gently rub at her back. Lumière reached out a shaking hand to gently touch their child, finding a tiny hand not much bigger than one of his fingernails and stroking it.
She screamed again.