Chapter 14: Screams and Cries

(Forty Weeks Along)

**Disclaimer: I have never been pregnant or given birth, I'm going off of movies/tv shows and my sister's labor, if I get anything wrong, please forgive me!**

Previously...
I wince when I remember Tobias's reason for why he left me. The ripples across his bare back; old fade scars that the monster put on him. When Marcus is quiet and notices, he composes himself, clearly his throat.

"He has to—be his own person, and I wasn't going to stop him," Marcus saves. I silently scoff. Dad nods in understanding. Of only Dad knew the monster I've seen.

Amar has moved me to a table instead of a desk, which I can no longer fit into. I don't mind sitting there, just that it happens to be the place where the students who cause trouble go. Peter is constantly there, bugging me and making smart-ass remarks able my pregnancy. But it is fun to mess with him. Faking going into labor makes his face go white. Amar sometimes scolds me for interrupting his class, but after seeing Peter's face, the whole class bursts out laughing and his face goes back to red.

Today is not my day for Peter's bickering. My back has been aching due to all of the baby's kicking around and I have been throwing up everything I eat. But when Peter sit directly in front of me, I groan inwardly. I had hope the odds would be in my favor, though they never are.

"Hey Stiff, you know what I learned the other day?" he says in a hushed voice. I try to ignore him the best I can, until I feel his hand on my knee. "I was reading some old Erudite article about having sex while pregnant," his malicious eyes lock onto mine, and he continues, "They say sexual intercourse feels better when you are in your second tri-thingy," he winks. I swallow the thick sour taste in my mouth.

"Oh, I didn't know your girlfriend was expecting," I say, infuriated. He's face goes red. "What's her name...Maggie? No! Wait! It's Molly, the girl with a dog's name," I raise out my chair, which would have closed the conversation, but I had to get out of my chair carefully, while holding my swollen stomach.

"Watch it, Stiff," Peter sneers.

I waddle over to Amar and ask to be excused early. He says yes and I leave without another word. When I get home I crash, well, more like slowly sinking down into my bed, before shutting my eyes and falling into the darkness.

I wake with a jolt. My eyes fly open and I groan. I can feel my baby girl turning and thrashing around within me, trying to escape me. I stare at the clock on the nightstand beside my bed, the green numbers blurry. 2:48 a.m. I pull the covers off my inflated body, but when I do, the bed between my legs is damp. My water broke. My heart starts to beat faster, both from fear and excitement.

I carefully get out of bed and shuffle to my parents' bedroom across the hall. When get to the door, my hand freezes in midair. Do they want me to wake them? Will they be angry at me for disturbing them at such a crazy hour? Another contraction strikes me down lower and I know if I don't go to the hospital soon, I'll be delivering my baby in this house. I knock on the door.

I hear the sound of Mom's feet hit the ground as she roles out of bed and Dad groaning. Another kick from my daughter shakes me and I whimper involuntarily. I hear Mom questioning Dad before the doorknob wobbles and the wooden door opens.

"Honey, what's wrong?" she asks me, her eyes still groggy from sleep.

"It's time, my water has already broken and I can feel her coming," I wince she kicks me in the hip. Mom's eyes light up then she realizes that we don't have much time.

"Andrew! Beatrice has gone into labor, we have to her to the hospital now!" she yells at Dad, who is currently sitting on their bed, rubbing his eyes. He literally jumps out of his bed. Once Dad is dressed—he now wears black clothing so he could see the baby, and not call attention—he goes downstairs to park the car out front.

Mom helps me get dressed in a black sweater and black leggings, the she helps me waddle down the stairs, careful not to slip. After we get into the car Dad drives fast. But he is going in the wrong direction. Towards Erudite, not Amity like I wanted. But I'm too much in pain to say anything about it. I don't care where this baby is born, I just want her out of me. I am starting to know when a contraction is going to rock through me, so I brace myself. Digging my nails into the soft leather in the backseat. Mom pushes the hair from my face, which has become slick with sweat.

"Andrew, please, hurry up," Mom told Dad in a hush voice. I whimper again, this time a little louder, Dad's foot is on the floor.

"Mommy, I can't do this, it hurts too badly," I mumble, letting my head rest on her shoulder. Cara told me that I was going to be in a lot of pain because of my small frame. My hips would mostly likely be dislocated, and my birthing canal would be stretched to a new width.

"Shhh, baby, it is all going to be over soon, we just have to get to Erudite," she places a nervous kiss to my hairline. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the next wave of contractions to go through me. Mom grasp my hand, "It feels better to hold on to something warm." She was right, but not only was her hand hot, it had a sheet of sweat covering her palm.

"I'm scared, Mom," right then, a million concerns went through my mind. What if there were problems? What if she died? What if I died? Those are a lot of what ifs, but I can't help but wonder if we are going to make it.

"I know you are, Honey, but you have to get through this, for this baby, for your brother, father, and me. Please, hold on for us," she smiled tightly. Another contraction ripped through my body, this one was stronger and that aftershock lasted, I screamed.

Dad had took one corner on two wheels, throwing Mom and me sideways. He came to a sudden stop. Only then I open my eyes to the shining bright lights of the Erudite hospital. Mom rushed out the car and I heard her yelling, "Please! Help! My daughter has gone into labor and the baby's coming now!" nurses ran out with her trailing behind them.

My hand dips down between my legs, only to feel something round and sticky, my hand comes back red. Blood. She's coming now. That's when I feel the most excruciating thing I have ever felt. One of my hips popped out of its socket. I scream again and my eyes blur with tears.

"Mom! I need help!" I sob. I hear the wheelchair being wheeled around the car, and the backseat door flying open.

I gasp when I feel another—and harder—contraction rip through me. The doctors pull me on a bed with weird feet holders cocked upward. Then I see the green eyes I've seen for nine months.

"Get ready, Tris," Cara says calmly. "Are you ready to be a mom?" I nod, squeezing Mom's hand again. "Okay, think is going to be extremely agonizing, but only for a few moments, then it'll all be over," I nod, barely able to make out her face through my tears. "Okay, I need you to push as hard as you can, for me," she smiles, "Ready...push! Tris push! Almost there...one more big push, and it will be over," I nod looking down at her. I look at Mom once more before becoming one myself. Time seems to have slowed down. Mom has enough time to kiss my forehead and whisper:

"I love you, no matter what," tears spill over her cheeks, and that is when I hear the sound I've been waiting for ever since Cara told me I was pregnant. My baby's first cry. My heart shatters into a million pieces. I've never in my life heard something sound so beautiful. I look at my daughter in Cara's arms, bright pink and shiny. Her hands are smaller than anything I've seen. Jet black hair is slicked in all different directions. Cara turns to Dad.

"Do you want to cut the cord?" she says so quietly I almost don't hear her, he nods. He does it quickly and before I know it. He is placing his granddaughter in my arms. Her eyes are shut tight and her skin is wrinkled like a prune. She so beautiful. I don't even notice I'm crying until Mom wipes the tears away with her thumb.

"What's her name, sweetheart," she says staring at her daughter's daughter.

"Thea," I smile, "Theadora Raven Prior."

A/N: Awwwww! Baby Thea is here! There were so many reviews on names, and I feel so bad for my followers whose name didn't make the cut. Sorry guys! On the other hand, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your guy's sweet comments! I read every one and reread them too! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I am also looking to get a Beta, so if you are interested, PM me, sometime this week. Until next time...

Live Long & Prosper