Siberian ginseng

Oh my God oh my God it's here, it's here and I am so not ready OH MY GOD! Selina thought as she stared at the puddle of water on the floor. She could feel herself panicking her breath coming in shorter and shorter and shorter bursts. Ok, she thought have to stay calm stay calm go to Bruce and wake him up. Just as she began to move she felt this sharp pain like nothing she had ever felt before. It came around from the back and into her abdomen like a knife. It stopped her dead in her tracks. Uh oh she thought was that a contraction? It must have been what else could it be? Ok she thought have to get to Bruce's room and wake him up. She managed to get about halfway there before another pain of the same kind came over her and stopped her in her tracks once again. She waited for it to pass and then began moving again. When she finally reached Bruce's room she found him still asleep.

"Bruce?" she called from the doorway. No response. She went over to him and shook him and began to call his name but still he didn't stir.

"Bruce? Bruce? BRUCE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. That finally woke him up.

"Huh?" Bruce said groggily. He had been having the best dream and was angry that someone had woken him up. When he saw Selina standing over him he knew instantly something was wrong.

"Selina what is it? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing except I'M IN LABOR!"

"What?" "Wait what?"

"I'm in labor. My water just broke."

"Oh my God really?"

"No I just said that to be funny, of course really!"

"Oh my God we have to get to the hospital."

"Gee ya think?" Selina said sarcastically.

"Alright ok let's get your stuff and let's go."

"Alright."

Selina looked at him with frightened eyes.

"Bruce I'm scared."

"Don't worry it's going to be ok. I am going to be right there with you."

"Ok"

He took her hand and held and gave her a reassuring look.

Bruce always made her feel so much better she could feel herself visibly calm down.

He led her into the nursery where she had had a hospital bag ready for about the last two weeks or so.

"I'm going to go wake Alfred up and tell him what is going on and then we will go to the hospital ok?"

"Ok"

"You stay here I will be right back."

"Ok."

He left and Selina felt herself beginning to panic again. Ok ok nope we can't do this now we have to stay calm if we are going to get through this. Selina tried the breathing exercises that she had learned in Lamaze class but they didn't seem to be working. Well that was a waste of money she thought.

Before she knew Bruce was back with Alfred in tow.

"Alfred has insisted on driving us."

"Alfred you don't have to do that really. It's late go back to bed."

"No miss I insist."

"Alright well thank you Alfred"

"My pleasure miss."

"Alright then let's get going"

Bruce led Selina down the stairs and into the car. As they drove away Selina realized she was in her nightgown and her hair was a mess. Oh well she figured I suppose they will understand after all I am in labor. She laughed a little to herself. It was the first time she had gone to the hospital and was not dressed to the nines trying to pick up a doctor. I guess that is just the first of many things that is going to change in my life now she thought.

As they got closer and closer to the hospital the contractions got closer and closer together. Soon they were coming every two minutes. It seemed like the last one had barely ended and the next one came. Selina squeezed Bruce's hand and tried not scream even though she wanted to. Bruce tried to help her by rubbing her back but it didn't really help. The pain was getting more intense with every minute. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.

"Breathe, breathe honey just keep breathing we are almost there."

"Bruce shut up! Stop telling me to breathe! The breathing is not working so just shut up!

Bruce stopped trying to talk after that and was silent the rest of the ride to the hospital just holding her hand and rubbing her back.

"Ok honey we are here."

"Stop calling me honey! I am not your 'honey'!" "You did this to me!"

"Yes dear." Bruce said and dutifully shut up.

They had a wheelchair waiting for Selina when she finally made it to the door. Alfred had gone in ahead of them and told them to expect a pregnant woman in labor.

The contractions seemed to increasing in intensity but they were still only about 2 minutes apart Selina began to scream in pain she had tried not to this entire time she had tried to hold it in but she just couldn't anymore and so she screamed.

"Selina Kyle?" An orderly asked. "Yes, yes this is her." "Alright then come right this way." He said and led Selina and Bruce into a room. However Alfred stayed standing at the doorway.

"Alfred aren't you going to come in?" No sir it is not my place. I will be outside in the lobby if you need me."

"Alright." Bruce said and closed the door.

"Are you the father?" the orderly asked

"Yes"

The orderly nodded and handed him some paperwork to fill out.

Once they had Selina all hooked up to all the monitors and settled in the bed the orderly took the paperwork and said "The doctor will be in with you in a moment." With that he left and closed the door behind him. That's what they always say Bruce thought. Bruce felt so bad here Selina was screaming in pain and there was nothing he could do for her. There was silence for a few minutes and then Selena looked at Bruce exhaustion and pain in her voice.

"Bruce I'm scared."

"It will be alright. I'm here."

"Would you rub my back?"

"Of course."

He helped her sit up and he began to rub her back.

"Does that feel good?"

"Yes that feels very good."

"Good."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you before."

"Don't worry about it"

Just then another contraction hit hard. "OWWWWW!" Selina screamed in pain and gripped Bruce's hand so hard he thought she would break it.

"Where the F&^%# is that doctor?" She shouted

It seemed like it took forever for the doctor to come in and check what was going on. He looked at the monitor and then he checked Selina's cervix to see how much she was dilated.

"Alright Selina everything looks good you are about 8cm dilated. How far apart are the contractions?"

How the hell am I supposed to know? Selina thought

"About every two minutes doctor." Bruce said

Selina looked at him she hadn't even noticed that he had been timing them.

"Do you want anything for the pain?"

Selina was conflicted she desperately wanted the pain meds but was afraid it would hurt the baby.

"No"

"Alright well I will get the anesthesiologist and I'll be back when they get to every minute."

"Alright well thank you very much."

The doctor nodded

Selina just lay back in her bed and tried to relax. Bruce kept on trying to make her feel better but he was really just pissing her off. She felt bad yelling at him though she knew he was just trying his best.

"Bruce?" she said as nicely as possible." Could we please not talk?"

"Sure."

Aside from Selina's moaning and groaning when a contraction came the sat in complete silence. Just then there was a knock on the door. Bruce went to answer it. It was Dick.

"Dick what are you doing here?" Bruce asked

"How's it going?" he asked

"What do you mean how is it going? She's in labor!"

"Yah I can see that. I mean is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine the doctor said everything is fine."

Bruce heard Selina yell some kind of muffled swear in their direction and gestured to the lobby.

"We'd better talk outside."

Dick nodded

Bruce went out in the hallway to find that Alfred and Tim were there too.

"You guys are here too?"

"Yah we wanted to be here when the baby was born."

"That might not be for a while."

"It's ok we don't care."

Bruce smiled. It was so nice of them to want to come down and support him he was so happy.

"Thanks you guys that means a lot. I'd better get back in there but I will keep you updated."

They all nodded.

Bruce entered the room to find Selina sitting up in bed moaning. He tried approaching her and rubbing her back again but she swore at him and told him to get the hell away from her. So he just sat next to her silently.

After a few minutes: "Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"Will you get me some ice chips?"

"Yes of course."

When Bruce came back with the ice chips Selina was lying on her side. He helped her sit up and then handed her the ice chips. She sucked on them gratefully and when the contractions came he held her hand until they were over. Two hours later the doctor came in to check on her. Selina was hoping that she was dilated 10 cm and it was time to push. Unfortunately the doctor said that she was only dilated 9 cm and that they would have to wait a little bit longer. Selina stared daggers at him as he left the room and then she began to cry. The contractions were coming every minute now and Selina hardly had a break between one and the next.

"Bruce I can't do this anymore I can't take much more of it." she said as she cried.

Bruce held her and stroked her hair as he whispered soothing words to her while she cried. When the contractions came she screamed but Bruce still held her and would not let go.

Another two hours passed until the doctor came in again and told her that finally she was dilated 10 cm and it was time to push which was good because Selina had just about had it with this whole labor thing miracle of birth my ass! She thought. I am never having sex again she thought and I am certainly never doing THIS again.

"Alright Selina I need you to push." The doctor said. Selina nodded and sat up and pushed as hard as she could. She pushed until her face was as red as a tomato and she had broken all the blood vessels in her face. Finally she sat back and breathed deeply. "Alright I am going to give you a little bit of a break and then I need you to push again." She lay back and breathed deeply. Bruce was right next to her holding her hand and saying things like "come on honey you can do it push push!"

"Alright Selina it is time to push again." Selina was so exhausted she really wanted this to just stop. She was so done with all this. But she supposed that she didn't have a choice so she pushed. Bruce was hovering over her and cheering her on like a sports coach. She sent him a death glare and he backed off. You! You did this to me! You are the reason I am going through this! She thought but didn't' say. She sat back again and breathed deeply. "Alright rest for a minute and then I'm going to need one more big push." Selina nodded. This was it she was about to meet her baby girl! Just the thought of that gave her enough energy to keep pushing.

She pushed and pushed until suddenly she heard a cry and then there was another person in the room. Her baby girl. Her little Helena. The doctor held her up so she could see her. She looked beautiful. "Would you like to cut the cord dad?" Bruce, beaming from ear to ear, nodded and went over to cut the cord. He couldn't believe that he was staring at his little baby girl. Then they took her over to where the nurse was waiting, cleaned her all up, wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to Selina. Selina stared in awe at the tiny little bundle resting in her arms. She couldn't believe that this little baby was hers, her daughter. She looked at Bruce and then looked back down at Helena her eyes filled with love. She had dark black hair like Bruce and blue eyes but then didn't all babies have blue eyes? Her skin was a mixture of hers and Bruce's. It was a shade in between them. She was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Bruce couldn't believe this was it-that this was her-his daughter. Wow he had a daughter that was so weird. He still couldn't wrap his mind around it. It didn't seem real. As he stared at Selena holding her he couldn't help but feel a swell of love and happiness inside of him. This was it they would be a family a real family. Finally he would have a real family something he had always longed for. Selina was so amazing he couldn't believe that she had done all that. She had actually given birth to a person it astounded him. He was sure Selina would say otherwise but he thought that she had Selina's delicate features and she definetly had Seina's beauty. In fact she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He just couldn't get over how small and fragile she was.

"A perfect beautiful baby girl" the doctor said. Both Bruce and Selina beamed at him. "6 pounds 10 oz." he said. "Official birth time is 10:06 am." "Do we have a name for this beautiful little girl?"

"Helena" Selena said gazing down at her.

"Ah a fine name." The doctor said and went to write it down so he could make up the birth certificate.

"I will give you some time alone with your new little bundle of joy." The doctor said and left.

Selena and Bruce looked at each smiled and then looked down at their new little bundle. Helena stopped crying the minute she had been put in Selena's arms.

"She's so beautiful. " Bruce said.

"Yes she really is." Selina answered

"Just like her mom." Bruce said as he kissed Selina on the cheek. Selina smiled a big wide smile and kissed him back on the lips.

"She has your eyes and hair."

"You think? I think she has your eyes."

"Nope definitely yours"

"Yah I guess you are right. She looks more like you though."

"You think?"

"Yah"

"We'll see when she gets older she might look more like you."

"Yah we will have to see."

They were silent for a few moments just staring at their beautiful girl.

"I'd better go and tell the others. You know update them. "

"Yah go ahead."

"Can they come in?"

"Yah sure"

"Ok"

Tim, Dick and Alfred were all still out in the waiting room. Tim was asleep on Alfred's shoulder and Dick and Alfred were involved talking about something. However when they saw Bruce they all stood up excitedly.

"We have a beautiful little girl. Helena Wayne 6lbs 10oz."

The lobby erupted in shouts and cheers. As they all ran up and gave Bruce a big group hug.

"Can we go in and see her?" Tim asked

"Sure. Just be quiet and calm ok? Selina is very tired. "Oh and be very gentle with Helena she's very fragile." They all nodded

They all entered to see Selina sitting up in bed holding little Helena.

"Hi everybody, I would like you to meet somebody. This is Helena Wayne. Helena say hello." Helena yawned.

They all crowded around the bed to look at her. They couldn't get over how beautiful she was.

"She's so little." Tim said

"Yah she is." Bruce said Dick and Alfred nodded.

"She doesn't look anything like you Bruce." Dick said. "Except she has your hair."

"Yah I know but that might change as she gets older."

They all nodded. Bruce noticed that Alfred hadn't said anything in fact he was standing slightly off to one side in the corner and letting Dick and Tim be the closest.

"Alfred is everything alright?" Alfred nodded

"Would you like to hold her?" Bruce asked

"Well it is about time someone asked me. After all it is the closest thing I am going to have to a grandchild." Alfred said as Selina handed Helena to him

Bruce smirked. "Alfred you didn't have to wait for us to ask. You could have just asked to hold her."

"No sir that would not have been proper."

"Since when do we do anything that is proper?" Bruce asked Dick and Tim nodded.

"My it has been a long time since I have held a baby."

"I remember holding you as a baby master Bruce. It seems as though that was only yesterday. I never thought I would be holding your baby."

Bruce smiled wide. He couldn't have been happier then he was at that very moment.

"Dick would you like to hold her?"

"Me?"

I-I don't know I've never held a baby before I'm afraid I will like break her or something I don't know how to do it."

"it's fine Dick you just have to make sure you support her head that's all you see like Alfred is doing."

"I don't know I'm kinda scared."

"Oh come on."

"Fine"

Alfred handed her to Dick who treated her as if she was a china doll about to break.

"She's so tiny" Dick said "and warm"

"That's what I said!" Tim said

Just then the nurse came in to check on Selina.

"How are we doing mom?"

"We are doing fine thank you very much." Selina answered

"Oh my who do we have here?" she asked looking at all the people that were now filling the room.

"This is my family." Bruce said gesturing to everybody.

"Oh well that's very nice but I am afraid I am going you are all going to have to leave. Mom needs her rest after all she's been through a lot."

"Alright we will come back and see you guys later ok?"

"That sounds good we will be here."

Bruce walked them out and said goodbye to them and Selena was left alone with the baby and the nurse.

"Thank you guys so much for being here."

"Of course we wouldn't have missed it for the world." Dick said and the others nodded. we will be by later to say hi ok?"

"That sounds good."

"Ok bye."

Bye."

Bruce walked back into to the room to see that the nurse was still there.

"Um you might want to leave the room dad we are about to have our first breastfeeding lesson."

"Oh ok I will get something to eat in the cafeteria."

He said and turned to leave.

"Bruce wait come here" Selina said Bruce came over to her bedside and she gave him a deep kiss. "Thank you for being here." Bruce smiled nodded and then left to get something in the cafeteria.

Are you ready? The nurse asked.

Selina gazed down at Helena and said "Yes I think I am."