6 months later...

After being pregnant for nine months I was ready to give birth. We had moved into the new home Erik had spoken about about, gotten in touch with our unborn child, and he even set up a nursery for the baby. Oh Erik, I wouldn't trade him for anything, I wouldn't trade his baby for anything. This was the life I wanted now, this was what I was happy with.

Then, he came home, on this drastic day, with the doctor. I was lying in bed, experiencing the most painful thing a woman could experience, giving birth. But I thought of the aftermath instead...getting to hold my baby in my arms and see its cute little face. I always imagined this child as a boy with dark hair, blue eyes, and a beautiful grin. But that's not how it started, oh no! I have been in labor for almost five hours now and still no baby. It's really beginning to hurt.

Oh, who am I kidding?! It's the most painful thing ever!

And as the doctor came in at my seventh hour of labor he looked over my body, his stern, German eyes glaring all across the bed.

"You say this is the SEVENTH hour?"

"Yes! She... I just don't what to do!"

"Well, we're gentleman, aren't we? Lets help your wifey!"

He sat at the left side of the bed and coached me as much as he could. Erik sat on my right side, holding my hand and looking dearly into my eyes as I tried to follow the doctors orders and push. I couldn't really hear what anyone was telling me, it was instinctive. All I could hear was a bunch of yelling and my own screams if pain. Then I felt something wet graze over my thigh and blood poured out slowly.

I felt as though I was about to faint, then I heard something about the twelfth hour of labor and I just couldn't push any more... I fainted.

I was woken up by the doctor and then there was a priest in the room too. He said something about the twentieth hour of labor and I rolled my eyes, more blood coming out. No! If I killed this baby, I would not live, for I would kill myself later. Then I felt something rock-like come out of my womb, a head! I got excited and pushed more, feeling two little arms come out with it, then legs! A baby!

Erik looked at the child and fell onto the floor in tears, his sobs almost as loud as mine. At first I thought there was something wrong with the child, then I was sat up and I got to see my new baby boy. He was covered in the blood from my womb, but they took him out to clean him, crying and all. He was alive!

"Oh, Christine! If you could... Oh God! He's so beautiful and... Thank you!"

He bowed down and kissed my forehead repeatedly, so happy about his son. Then a little creature wrapped in blankets was in the priest arms, our child! He gave him a baptism and wrote a birth certificate for the doctor. Then our child was handed back to us and I got the chance to see him closer, without blood. They finally left and we were alone with our newborn.

"Oh, Erik. Look at him. He's so beautiful."

"I know. He's just so... So amazing! I don't know how to thank you, Christine."

"Mmm. I could just eat him up!"

Our little boy had the most gorgeous full face you could ever think of. He had dark hair and vibrant skin. His lips were pursed as if he were going to kiss you all over and his eyes, like all newborns, were shut. I couldn't wait until he opened his eyes so I could see how pretty they were. But that wouldn't come for another month or so. He really was a lovely boy, and he looked so gentle too.

"Erik. In honor of your father, I think we should name our boy after him."

"Charles?"

"Yes."

"If you say so."

"Well, he sounds like a nice man and I know you never had the chance to...well... Yes. His name is Charles."