God Gave Me You 7

Shelagh felt as though time was flying. She'd reached her final month of pregnancy after a long, cold winter where she'd been forced off the rota due to the weather being unsavory for her condition. It had been strange at first, but she had eventually begun to feel comfortable cycling around Poplar as a nurse and no longer a Sister.

The other residents of Nonnatus had finally come around to her status change, even Sister Evangelina. Though her acceptance came more in the form of gruff warnings about what was 'best for baby'. Either way, Shelagh was glad to finally feel accepted in her current situation and was finding herself growing more and more anxiously excited for her child's arrival.

Sister Julienne, meanwhile, was becoming increasingly distraught. She and Trixie had been doing everything in their power to locate Doctor Turner, but every road had led to a dead end. She spent time every morning to pray for Shelagh and the baby, especially that they would be able to find before baby was born.

Shelagh had heard people say that no matter how much a person knew about childbirth that it didn't make it any easier to give birth to your own child. When she felt the first pains of labor start, she regretted having ignored that advice. She was in the clinical room, sterilizing instruments since she was no longer permitted to work outside of Nonnatus House so close to her due date.

The first pain was quick, and had gone just as suddenly as it came. Shelagh tried to brush it off and continued with her work. The next thing she knew, the pain took her breath away, making her double over in pain and drop the newly-sterile instruments she'd been holding. The clatter of metal on the floor is what brought a very stern looking Sister Evangelina to the room.

"Nurse! I would have expected you to have a lot more -" she stopped ranting as she saw Shelagh's face. Quickly stepping to her side, she began to rub hard on Shelagh's lower back to try and take away some of the pain and pressure. "Well, now...let's say we get you somewhere more comfortable. I think one of the others can finish up in here."

She could only nod as Sister Evangelina walked her to her room, stopping every rim she had another contraction. As soon as she sat on the bed, Sister Evangelina excused herself to find Sister Julienne. It had been decided months ago that Sister Julienne and Trixie were to be in the room with her when baby decided to make their appearance. Trixie had continued to be on call, but as her due date got closer, Sister Julienne had taken herself off the rota, only attending deliveries if she was absolutely needed by one of the other midwives. She wanted to be there for the birth, and selfishly Shelagh did too.

Getting herself up and into a nightdress, Shelagh had just started to strip the bed when Sister Julienne and Trixie came running into the room.

"Oh no, you don't. Your working day is over...well, mostly." Trixie stilled her hands on the bedsheets and maneuvered her to the chair in the corner while she and Sister Julienne made up the bed.

"How are you feeling, my dear?" Sister Julienne asked as she knelt beside her.

"I think I'm going to have a lot more sympathy with my patients from now on..." Shelagh groaned as the pains got closer and more intense.

Settling her on the bed, Sister Julienne checked her progress. She was still halfway through first stage, so they took turns trying to calm her and keep her occupied during the more intense contractions.

"He should be here..." Shelagh muttered, exhaustion starting to creep in after five hours of painful contractions. Trixie and Sister Julienne stared at one another, trying to decide what to say. Luckily, they didn't have to as another contraction overtook her and she grasped Trixie's hand for dear life.

After another three hours of pain, Shelagh let out a groan that could have woken half of Poplar. It was the cry that followed it, however, that silenced everyone. High pitched and very vocal, the baby was wrapped in a yellow blanket Sister Monica Joan had knit for Shelagh during handicraft time.

"It's a girl, Shelagh. A beautiful little girl...with a lot to tell you, apparently!" Sister Julienne laughed through her tears. She handed the baby to Trixie, while she prepared to deal with the afterbirth. After cleaning up baby quickly and gingerly placing the crying bundle in Shelagh's arms, the baby calmed.

Shelagh was awestruck by the tiny new life she held. She'd held countless babies in her time, but none were as beautiful and precious as her daughter. Tears filled the eyes of all three women as Shelagh stroked her daughters cheek and kissed her head.

"Hello, my angel." She cooed at her daughter before turning to them. "Thank you both. I don't know what I would have done without the two of you these past few months. I- I wanted to ask you both something...would you consider being her godmothers?"

"Oh, Shelagh! Of course!" Trixie squealed as Sister Julienne wiped her eyes.

"It would be an honor." She whispered, watching Shelagh's face light up as she gazed at the baby. "Do you have a name for her, my dear?"

"Angela. Angela Patricia." Shelagh responded, not looking up from her daughters face as she opened her eyes.

"What a beautiful name." Trixie said, sitting next to Shelagh on the bed, staring at the baby with a smattering of her father's dark hair and her mothers brilliant blue eyes. "Happy birthday, Angela. I'm your Aunt Trixie...and no matter what your Mummy says, I fully intend on spoiling you."