Wolverine and Company ch 20
……………………..
Ok, so let's review the occurrences of today shall we?
First, the Brotherhood comes parading through our doors, asking for help for Magneto's injured daughter. Next, I learn a valuable lesson in family from an evil villain and then, we're closed in by the M.H.A at the mansion; we escape just in the nick of time only to be aerial attacked by the same bastards. Then, missiles are launched at us and the jet spirals out of control and now here we are in the middle of fucking nowhere, with no power, no air, no fuel and no idea what to do next.
Oh yeah and I'm in labor too.
What a beautiful fucking day huh? Perfect to bring a baby into.
Oh brother, shoot me now; please shoot me now.
Storm and Cyclops worked quickly to aid the children, though they really needed an aid themselves. I know they were trained in stealth and opts and all that good stuff but how do you recuperate so quickly after a near death experience?
"I can't believe it! It blew up! The plane blew up!"
"It didn't blow up, we're still alive dummy!"
"Did you see that new girl, her power was so cool!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah and the way Ms. Grey blew up that jet? Sweet!"
"And Ms. Munroe! And those tornadoes? It was like a hurricane!"
"I want my mommy!"
"Where are we?"
"Where in the middle of nowhere! We're dead! We're all dead!"
"Mr. Summers I have to use the bathroom"
"I'm hungry!"
"I'm scared, why is Magneto here?"
"Mmmooommmmmyyy!"
"Dead, dead, dead! We're all dead!"
"Hey!" Scott cried, followed by a loud attention-grabbing whistle.
The children quieted their chatter and I couldn't be happier; I needed peace and quiet; trying to focus here.
"We survived and we are not gonna die, understand!" They zipped their peep holes and nodded simultaneously. "Now, boys and girls this is an emergency situation and what do we do in emergency situations? We use our…."
"Eyes and ears" they recited.
I wanted to roll my eyes but I was in far too much pain to do it. Inhaling and exhaling, I squeezed tightly to Logan's hand.
"Hey Scooter." Logan called. "Zip your lip and let's get on with this damn thing, we don't have all day."
"Logan, so help me God, if you don't shut-up and let me do my job…"
Obviously offended by the comment, Logan dropped my hand and stood up, claws flying out of his knuckles. "You'll do what?" he challenged.
I gritted my teeth. Was he serious? Was he seriously getting into fight-mode when I was having a fucking baby! On a jet in the middle of the woods!
"Logan" I started.
"Not now Ness'"
My teeth gritted more; he was playing with fire and didn't even know it.
"Don't not now me!" I snapped finally. I've had enough. "Shut the fuck up, leave Scott alone and for Fuck's sake, be a damn boyfriend and help console the shit outta me while I have this damn baby!"
Oh here comes another one. I groaned hard through that one and dumbfounded by my remarks (right along with Scott and everyone else who wasn't currently distracted), Logan retracted his claws and joined my side.
"Ok kids" Storm said after an awkward pause in silence. "We're gonna need eyes and ears again ok? And our hush buttons on." She was trying to hold it together I knew it; but after a day like today I knew even mother-Earth was on the verge of loosing it.
"Rogue, Kitty, Jubes, I need you three to come with me, we'll join Peter and Warren outside and help set up camp with the kids."
"Camp?" I uttered. "How long do you plan to be here?"
"You hush" Hank said, appearing in front of me and carefully unstrapping me from my seat. "You have bigger things to worry about."
I laughed wittingly. "Ahahahahaha, you're so funny" my glare hardened at him and I could feel the pain intensifying. Suddenly I didn't feel those butterflies in my tummy anymore; that must have been the airsickness. Now it was full on kicking, clenching, cramping and….I'm not sure there were words in the English Language to describe this pain. It was fucking brutal.
While Scott, Storm and the Juniors got to work with the kids, the Brotherhood continued to loom awkwardly, and Jean checked up on the professor and Scarlet before things really got underway.
"All right, hold it you two; Bobby, John, I'm gonna need you to stick around" she ordered right before they stepped onto the railing. The boys exchanged looks with one another before turning around to their teacher's aide.
"What do you need Ms. Gray?" Bobby asked.
"I need blankets. You know where they are right Bobby?"
"Yeah"
"Alright get me all the blankets you can find and John, I need you to grab every medical supply we have in this thing. First aide kits, bed pans, tissues, gloves, cloths, anything."
"Sure"
"Victor"
Creed looked at her awkwardly from his spot in the corner. He looked like he wasn't sure she was talking to him.
I knew he was stupid.
"Yes you" she reassured and I heard Logan growl. "I need you too take these extra seats and fold them down. They get kind of jammed but if you pull them open they should lie down flat."
"Wait and second Jeannie I could—"
"You help Vanessa Logan. This isn't a muscle contest, I need Victor's help because he's strong and the seats buckle."
Gruffing at Jean and having a mini-stare down with Sabertooth, Logan finally backed off when Creed got to work. Multiple-Man tripled himself and helped, cutting the work time in half.
When they were finished with the seats and made the best make-shift bed they could, Bobby laid some of the towels down and hunkered a pillow or two around, while John passed the medical supplies to Jean.
"Ok Vanessa, do you think you can get up?"
Do you think you can shut the hell up?
Ohhhh, that was a nice one; I think my hormones were balancing back out.
"Do I have a choice?" I responded instead and Hank offered me a hand while Logan offered me the other. Together they slowly helped me up out of my chair, and I wrapped myself around Logan and used his body as a support while he guided me to the bed…or lack there of.
It wasn't comfy but I suppose it was going to have to do.
"Shouldn't we be trying to get to a hospital" I panted out. "Angel can fly. Maybe he can carry me on his back and we can—"
"You need to breathe my dear" Hank said digging around in John's findings to see what was useful. "Today was far to eventful for you to continue fretting."
"Oh, and I guess I should just be calm as cucumber right?"
"You could try"
"I'm having a fucking baby! Excuse me for wanting to leave the God dammed forest!"
Ugnuhhh, the more I yelled, the worse it got. Maybe Hank was right; maybe I should calm down.
"Whoa Ness'" Logan said, amidst stroking my hair and allowing me to squeeze his hand. "Never thought me of all people would be saying this but for fuck's sake…language."
I glared at him. The typical thing would be for me to tell him this was all his fault. After all it was his idea for the one-night stand; he seduced me. But this wasn't the time or the place for all of that. We've just been in a dammed plan crash and I'm having a baby on a plane. I'll save his pleading cries for Mercy until later.
"Logan, could you cut her out of her Jeans? I need to check how far along she's—"
"No need to explain fur ball" the Wolverine smirked and popped a claw out his left knuckle. "This is the best damn job I've had in nine months."
I rolled my eyes. Asshole.
Instead of using scissors like a normal person, Logan clawed his way through my maternity jeans (I never liked them anyway) and peeled them off of me, discarding them to the corner. I was getting annoyed his claws were coming in such close contact with my skin but I was trying to keep all minor grievances out of the way and focus on the big picture.
As Hank and Jean both finished washing up and pulling on gloves, I glanced over at the rest of the crew watching on in awe, and I wasn't particularly giddy about the entire world (that consisting of the Brotherhood and the professor) getting a look-see at my lady parts. Especially if a baby was coming out of it.
Meanwhile, John and Bobby were getting antsy in the corner.
"Hey, a little privacy would be great right about now" I breathed. I was still in my shirt and preggo-panties and about three centimeters away from flashing things I'm sure no one wanted to see. "I may be vulgar but I do have modesty you know"
"Oh sorry" Hank apologized and threw a blanket over my lower half. It was engraved with an X, which was no surprise there; at least the draft was gone. "I just needed to check how far along you were before we progressed further."
"Oh it's progressing alright" I breathed again and squeezed Logan's hand tight when I felt another wave of pain. God, that one was like a tidal wave, can it get any worse—hello!
You know you'd think as a woman, you'd get used to people poking and prodding around down there. You know, sex, gynecologists, being pregnant…but the sensation never does loose its awkwardness; especially when you have to stare that person in the face for the rest of your days.
Jesus Christ.
"Ok, I think we're gonna leave now" Bobby said quickly, with John hot on his heels. The boys looked like they were gonna' throw up and after being on an out of control jet, witnessing childbirth wasn't exactly a solid remedy.
"Wait, where are you going, we need you." Jean halted before they could escape.
"What for?" They looked appalled.
"Well, Bobby you can go and help Scott; it's John I need actually."
With a sigh of relief, Bobby smiled and hissed a "Yess!" doing a little victory dance before patting his friend on the back. "Sorry man, later guys!" and he bolted off the jet.
"Aww man!" John whined and marched his way back up the railing. "What do you need me for?"
"I need you to sterilize some equipment for me." Jean said, and passed him a few things.
"Can I do it outside?"
"John" she said flatly and he sighed hard, grabbing the items from her and avoiding eye contact with me at all costs. Or body contact; he didn't want to peek at anything.
"Fine but you owe me for this Ms. Grey and I'm talking big time; I better ace my next test."
She smiled. "Wash your hands first dear."
"Yeah, yeah"
"Oh my"
It was Hanks turn now to interrupt and I could feel myself panicking...again. Listen Bub, you don't say "Oh my" while your probing around down there, unless that "oh my" is a "oh my, how lovely" and that was Logan's job.
"What?!" I quizzed, and sat up as best I could. Logan eased me back down against the pillows but his face pressured Hank to spill.
"Jean I—oh c'mon!" Scott walked back onto the jet and shielded his eyes before walking around to his wife's side.
"Think how I feel" John grumbled by the sink, scrubbing his hands thoroughly.
"What Hank?" Logan demanded to know. He was sick of the interruptions and I couldn't blame him; I'm the one with the baby here.
"She's further along than I expected." He reported, removing his hand (finally! Jesus Christ, next time, Jean's doing it) and his gloves.
"How far?"
"Seven centimeters dilated."
"Seven?" I asked. I had brushed up on labor and delivery somewhere in that 600-page book about womanhood but I skimmed over the parts about dilation. I knew that you were supposed to stretch and contract and all that icky stuff to let the baby come through but I couldn't remember the increments.
You know, being in a plane crash will do that too you. Fucking Christ.
"Seven out of what?"
"Ten" he said simply and my heart picked up the pace with my next contraction. Very much on time with all the others I've felt while panicking.
It seemed like a simple problem and a simple solution. Stop panicking and I'll stop having contractions; but I knew it wasn't over until the fat lady sings. Whether I chose to panic or not, this baby was coming and apparently it was coming now.
"Vanessa, stop worrying yourself" Logan tried to sooth but I could hear the worry in his voice too. "Calm down and breathe would you?"
I am breathing! Breathing is a synch! It's the birthing part I'm concerned about!
"Well Angel just got back from scouring the area" Scott reported. "The nearest city is forty miles away. And by city I mean vacated town with a population of about four hundred people."
"Do they have a hospital?" Jean asked.
"Just barely. He said he asked one of the locals and they told him it was more of a clinic than a hospital. They normally travel to the "big city" for the hospital and that's another twelve miles away."
"Great, fifty-two miles?" I said. I was laughing to myself and beginning to think I was crazy (Well I thought of that awhile ago but now it was just icing on the cake). "The nearest hospital is fifty-two miles away? We can walk that right? It'll be a piece of cake."
Logan shook his head. "You're delusional; sit back and focus will you?"
"Focus on what? A crossword? There's only one thing going on now Logan and I'm pretty damned focused."
"Vanessa even if Angel took you there, for one it's far too dangerous especially after what we've just been through and secondly you're too far along to make the trip." Jean said. "This baby is coming and he's coming fast."
I was beginning to pant, breathing through my next contraction. Logan started rubbing my back. "So you're telling me I have to have my baby here? In the middle of no where and on a jet?"
"You don't have a choice"
"But I thought you and Hank weren't certified in Obstetrics"
"We're not." Jean said and I leaned against Logan and groaned a groan of discomfort. I wasn't sure if that was a groan because of the pain or a groan because I was literally, fucking screwed. "Vanessa we know how to birth a baby, we learned that in Med-school."
"But…" I asked. Logan continued rubbing my back but it wasn't helping any.
"There are no buts. Hank and I are general physicians and mutant genetic researchers. We're not certified in Obstetrics because we didn't specialize in it in med school. But believe me we know how to deliver a baby. Don't worry, you're in good hands."
"I don't know whose hands I'm in anymore." I muttered to myself.
"Oh yeah, and uh…Storm's throwing up again." Scott said out of nowhere. "She doesn't look so hot."
"Oh dear." Hank said and quickly got up to his feet. "I'll be right back."
"Hey! Where are you going?!" I called after him as he trotted out the jet.
"Just breathe Vanessa"
Ugnuh! I was getting sick of people telling me to breathe. Yeah ok, I got it; fucking inhale and exhale. That wasn't exactly taking the pain away.
"Maybe I can help"
Insert here a group-wide turn to Callisto, who rose from her seat. You help me? Ha! I'd rather let Magneto be my kid's pediatrician.
"Doing what?" Logan snapped and she rolled her eyes at his attitude.
"I studied nursing in school. I know a thing or two about babies."
"We already got two doctor's on hand kid; scram."
"Wait, wait, wait, you studied nursing?" Jean asked. "What kind of nursing?"
"General RN. Then I started taking courses to work in a NICU. I just never got around to getting registered." NICU huh? How convenient; I'm never getting to a hospital.
"You went to school?" I panted.
Callisto shrugged. "Before I found more interesting things to do."
"Forget it kid; go help the others downstairs." Logan replied for everyone, still rubbing my back in comfort. It was one of those rough rubs because he was growing angry and pissed off and I don't know how much it was really helping.
"No, no, no, wait Logan. She's knows a lot more about newborns than I do, she can help us."
"Are you forgetting who you're talking to here?" he asked, his attitude increasing by the minute. "This isn't one of the juniors, she works for him." He pointed a deathly finger at Magneto who didn't look like he was doing so well. Altering those jets off course and guiding the plane must have taken a lot out of him. Mystique was helping tend to his every need while keeping an eye on her baby chickens.
Meanwhile Callisto rolled her eyes. "For the last time we're not after—"
"I don't give two shits what excuses you have to feed." He yelled before she could yell at him. "I don't trust you and the answer is no."
Now she snorted. "Fine; deliver him your damn self. That's the last time I try to help."
"No, Callisto" Jean halted, before she could make her exist. "Logan they're not after the baby alright, and we need all the help we can get."
"Jean" he growled. "This is getting more ridiculous by the second. I am not allowing them to get their grubby little hands anywhere near my son."
"Who are you calling grubby?" Callisto shot off and Logan ignored her.
"Logan, Vanessa is—"
I sighed through another contraction and leaned back against him. Suddenly I wasn't feeling so good. My head was pounding and I really, really, really, really, wanted this baby out of me.
"It's too hot in here" Our new "nurse" said, after recovering from the grubby comment. "It's muggy as hell outside and with the turbulence and now a lack of AC, the baby probably needs oxygen"
Jean gave Logan and pointed look and he sighed and sighed hard. He still wanted to say no—hell, I still wanted to say no—, but we both knew it wasn't such a smart idea to turn down offering help.
"Logan" the professor began; he was monitoring the entire thing from his seat. "It's alright; The Brotherhood gave me their word. Don't be foolish about rejecting much needed help."
Again Logan sighed. As if the Brotherhood's word really meant anything but again, we were low on options here; we needed all the help we could get.
Finally he caved in. "Where the hell are we supposed to get an oxygen tank? There's nothing in this rat hole"
"Sit her up right so she can breath easier and we'll have to substitute the AC for ice chips. That's the best we can do right now."
"Silver, go and get Bobby please." Jean ordered. "Tell him to fill up three plastic bags with ice chips. The bags should be with the camping supplies."
Not having to be told twice, Silver zipped off the jet to relay the message to Bobby.
That's when Hank returned.
"Is Storm ok?" Jean asked. Everyone was concerned for everyone at the moment and it was hard to keep track of who exactly was loosing it; I think we all were.
"She's alright; at least that's what she says. Her stomach just isn't sitting well with her after the accident. Not that I'd expect it to anyway."
I panted again and squeezed Logan's hand harder. He was helping me sit up, and sat behind me so I could lean against him but the contractions were becoming harder and more frequent; I wasn't sure sitting up right was the most comfortable thing.
Whimpering in discomfort and shifting against Logan, my restlessness was starting to show. I really needed to get to a hospital; I wasn't comfortable with any of this. The makeshift bed, the hot air, the plane, and of course the whole, giving birth to my baby in the middle of nowhere thing (with the Brotherhood watching on). This wasn't how any of this was supposed to happen. I was supposed to be in a hospital bed with Dr. Phillips popping in and out every two seconds and screaming absurdities at Logan while I waited for drugs.
I wasn't supposed to be having my baby like this. With two general physicians and a member of the brotherhood who was a half registered nurse. C'mon!
I hadn't realized the tears spilling down my cheeks until Logan wiped them away. I looked him the eyes pitifully and he responded with a look of comfort, still rubbing my back and comforting me in all the ways he knew how.
"C'mon Ness', you'll be ok; you're doing fine."
"Logan, it's not supposed to happen like this." I whined to him. "We shouldn't be here; this shouldn't be happening."
"Hey, I told you we weren't normal right?" I snorted amidst the breathing. "It's just another day in the life of Wolverine and Wolverette."
I half-smiled through my panting. "No kidding" I told him and he kissed me on the back of my neck. "It's gonna be fine Ness' ok? I promise."
I wanted to remind him that he promised me the same thing before the M.H.A attacked but I felt it wasn't fair. He was only trying to help and so far he was doing a good job. For some reason I imagined Logan pacing outside, burning through a box of cigars while I grunted in pain, giving birth.
Damn fifties housewife imagery.
I sighed hard and leaned back against him while kissed my fore head this time. "I could really use some drugs right about now."
He smirked in my ear and it was a comforting feeling. Finally a bit of relief.
"I'm sure there's some magical "herbs" somewhere in this forest."
I giggled like a little schoolgirl. "I betcha' they have some" I whispered and motioned towards Spike and Multiple. "They look like the smokin' type."
"No he looks like the smokin' type." Logan whispered back, eyes glancing at Silver who zipped back in with the ice. "They look like they snort a bit of something on the side."
Laughing drunkenly, I leaned against Logan with a smile. Ah, that was a great remedy for temporary relief. There was nothing better than poking fun at people; especially if they belonged to the brotherhood.
"You know we can hear you right?" Multiple asked. He crossed his arms over his torso. "We're not deaf."
"Ahhh, live a little would ya?" I brushed him off with a wave of my hand. "You're not the one having a baby here."
He didn't get the chance to respond however as another contraction hit me hard and I squeezed Logan's hand even harder before exhaling in rigid, tough pants and breathing in and out quickly.
Damn, that one hurt.
"Yeah, and I'm glad." Multiple finally said and I glared.
Releasing his hand for a minute, Logan shook it and crumpled his face in curiosity (you know, that cute confused face with the raised eyebrow), watching as it healed.
"Dammit Vanessa, you're lucky I've got a healing capability. I think you dislocated something."
I continued to pant. "I'm being dislocated." I told him and breathed again. "Why are we just sitting here?" My attention turned to Jean, who paused her conversation with Scott and the professor to address me. "Shouldn't we be, getting this thing out of me?"
"We have to wait until you're ten centimeters before you can push Vanessa."
Ew, push. What an ugly word when talking about my vagina. Now I can see why people chose to have a C-section. I'd rather have staples in my stomach than forcing something out a hole that clearly doesn't fit.
God, what have I gotten myself into?
"So I have to sit here and endure this torture?"
"That's why they call it labor" Scott answered for her and I swore on the professors grave, if I glared any harder today, my eyeballs were going to fall back into my brain.
"Shut the fuck up Summers"
Ooooh, did that come out of my mouth? Nice one. I was proud some of my moxy was returning so quickly. I didn't even give birth yet. Or maybe I was just aggravated again; who knows really.
"I think what's really intriguing here is the significant delay in your mutation" Hank thought to himself. He was thinking out loud and I knew his thoughts interested Jean only because it had to do with Mutant genetics.
Oh brother.
"I know your gifts went on hiatus throughout your entire pregnancy but through labor and delivery as well? They seem to have gone completely dormant. I would think you're contractions wouldn't be so bad considering your rapid healing, but who could have predicted this turn out?"
I sighed and sighed hard. That one wasn't a contraction, that was frustration.
Was he serious? He was intrigued by my nature? He was intrigued that my damn, handy-dandy mutation that's gotten me out of shit loads of scrapes, scares, bruises and stab wounds has now gone M.I.A and I have endure the pain on labor? My vagina and my uterus were being mauled here and he was intrigued?
That's it; after this baby is born, I'm committing murder.
I whined again and leaned back against Logan. Someone please make it stop. I'll do anything; I'll pay any amount of money, just make it stop.
"Hey, I think one of you guys should take a look see again" Callisto cut Hank's thought pattern short. "She's been contracting every two minutes now."
Finally! Someone with a good idea! Yes, yes, check me, check me! Yank this damn thing out!
Since Jean was the closest, (Thank God) she hauled on the gloves and did the deed and a part of me was praying that she'd report good news, while the other part of me was nervous she'd report well….good news.
Not to be misquoted, I was ready now more than ever to end my pregnancy and all the "joys" that came with it but being ready to deliver meant this was it. This was the moment I'd become a mother and this was the moment I'd meet my son. This was the moment I've waited, prepared and wondered about through my entire pregnancy.
Too bad it was in a fucking broken plane in a fucking forest.
Only me, I swear.
"She's nine centimeters Hank" Jean said, removing her hand.
Shit.
"My word" Hank gasped, getting up out his seat and gathering the medical supplies closer to the bed before rushing to the sink to wash his hands. "When you said he was coming fast you really meant it huh?"
Watching Hank and Jean flurry to get all their necessary tools ready for "the moment" I was beginning to get riled up inside. Dammit, if this were something like a sky-dive I'd back the fuck out right about now; I was not prepared to do this.
Logan rubbed my back again and nuzzled into my ear. "You're gonna be ok" he whispered and kissed me on my cheek. "You'll do just fine"
"Callisto, can you pass me those towels please?" Jean called to her.
"I've got blankets here for him as soon as he's delivered. This set is to clean him off, and this set is to wrap him in. Spike, fill this up with warm water would ya?" she passed him a container and he got to work.
I was literally scared shitless.
"Logan, I can't do this."
"Yes you can." He nudged again and continued to rub my back and kiss my neck. I felt another contraction and that one was fucking intense. It gave me the strong urge to push that little sucker out of there. "It's alright Ness', you can do it."
I whimpered again and breathed hard. Dammit another one. This little guy was not happy. "I'm scared." I panted to him and he kissed me again.
"It's ok, I'm right here with ya' Ness'. I'm not going anywhere."
"Ten centimeters" Jean reported and I whined nervously, squeezing onto Logan for dear life.
"She's moving really fast." Callisto said after washing up and putting on her own gloves. "You have to be careful, he could be breeched or distressed if the cord is wrapped around his neck."
"It's probably the oxygen" Hank concluded and pulled on his own gloves. "There's no way the turbulence didn't make an impact on her and the baby."
I whimpered again. This was an awful labor, seriously. Forget the kicks and cramping and contractions, every time I heard a slice of panicking news, another wave of pain came along. It's like a sick game of cause and effect.
How unfortunate was I to not have drugs? Other women were so lucky.
"Vanessa?"
Huh wha? Oh, it was Jean. God, what could you possibly want now? You're looking in all the places you shouldn't be and scaring me shitless with your pending news. Don't tell me there's something else.
"Ya" I panted and I think I was sweating. Yeah, definitely sweating. I could feel my curls sticking to my for head and the back of my neck; these ice chips weren't helping at all. Or maybe it was the panicking thing.
"Alright Ness' you're gonna be fine alright? We just need you to stay calm and focus here" Don't try and reassure me Jean, it's been the bottom of the barrel since the jet spiraled downward; there's nowhere to go but up from here.
I panted and groaned again as I felt another contraction.
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, OW! What the hell was he doing in there? Playing soccer?
"Ness', on the next contraction I need you to push down and push hard ok?"
Push hard? Whoa…you're asking a bit much there. Getting mauled here remember? I felt like I was giving birth to a grizzly bear.
"Sit up a little more." She instructed and Hank helped me lean further up against Logan with my lower half at an uncomfortable angle. Not that anything could get any more uncomfortable at this moment; unless I was decapitated or something. I was about to give birth to a baby and the entire world could see my hoo-hah from here.
Anything else more uncomfortable than that? Ha! I'd like to meet the challenger.
"Good, that's perfect. Now as soon as you feel another contraction—"
"Like right now?"
I moaned loudly and destroyed Logan's hand (I could hear him grunt to himself at the pain). This one lasted a bit longer than the others and I guess it was the little guys' way of telling me he wanted out of his little cubby hole.
"Good, good, now push Vanessa"
I wasn't sure exactly how to push a baby out. No one ever taught me the mechanics of it all and I skipped out on Lamaze so I decided to wing it and do the best I could, gritting hard and giving it all I got.
It was tough work; real tough work, I won't lie. It's like….well I didn't want to go into the mechanics of it all, not even I'm grotesque enough for that but, it hurt a hell of a whole lot; worse that the contractions which I didn't think was humanly possible and only very slowly did I feel the tiniest bit of progression.
Callisto counted to ten and I didn't think it would ever be over.
"Good job, that was great Vanessa" Jean encouraged.
I took a deep breath in almost like I was drowning and I felt Hank move wipe or situate something or the other down there (who the hell knows anymore) before taking a brief look around the room.
The professor was half trying to calm me, half excited to see the birth (old people, I swear), Magneto and Mystique were watching on with poker faces, Scott hastily made an exit mumbling something or the other about the kids, Silver, Multiple, Creed and Spike looked like they wanted to throw up, and Scarlet was on the edge of her seat, waiting to see the baby.
I couldn't see Logan because he was behind me but if I could I was sure his face would read his appreciation for being behind me. Logan was disgusted for weeks after reading that book, I'm sure he didn't want anything to do with stealing a peek down there.
"Ok you ready Ness'?"
No.
"Take a deep breath, and push!"
Ugggnuhhhh, this was agonizing, did we seriously have to count all the way to ten?
"…three..four..five…six…seven…eight…nine—"
I cried out this time with the feeling of another unfamiliar sensation. What the hell was that?!
"He's crowning, almost there Vanessa." Hank pressed on. "You can do it, push!"
Again?!
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—" Another awkward suction thingy and a sudden lurch forward.
Now I wailed.
"You can do it Ness'" Logan whispered in my ear. "Almost there."
"Push Vanessa, push!" Jean continued.
I am pushing you…you…..ugnuhh I couldn't think of a name. Ok, I get it, push! But this thing fucking hurts! God I felt like I was being ripped down the middle.
Finally Callisto reached to ten, and I exhaled and fell back on Logan again.
I was wiped. This was fucking exhausting. I better push out all this extra damn baby weight while I was at it too.
"I can't do this anymore" I could feel myself panicking again as my body revved itself up for another contraction. "I'm tired, I can't do it, I can't do it anymore."
I must have looked pitiful right about now, I mean c'mon two pushes and already I was giving up. Pssh, I'm sure Magneto had more will power than I did. But I felt like no one understood this amount of inertia. This fucking baby was knocking the wind out of me and speeding out into the world to boot. I couldn't take this anymore. Jean needed to use her telekinesis and just pull him out of there.
"Vanessa you're doing fine." Jean encouraged. "You're almost there."
"No" I told her and cried out again at the next contraction. I'm not sure panting was the word anymore, I'm about to loose all the air in my lungs. "I can't do it."
"Yes you can Ness'" it was Logan now, feeding me encouragement. Oh easy for you to say, you're not the one on the other end here. "You're doing great, you can do it."
"I'm…(pant)…so….(pant)….tired." I breathed. "And I'm hot and it hurts really bad and…..(pant)….uggggnnnnuhhhhhh!!!"
"Vanessa, don't hold back, you have to push when you feel a contraction" Hank said.
Tears sprang to my eyes and Logan didn't wipe them away. I don't know why but that made me sad for some reason. It made me want to give up all hope.
Until he kissed me again, this time right at the napes of my hairline right beside my ear.
Logan really did know how to woo a woman.
He kissed me again. "Don't give up Vanessa, he's almost here." He encouraged. "You can do it."
"Ready and…push!"
I cried again.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten"
Now I breathed in and when I looked forward at Jean, I could see her face was in awe. When with her attention directed down there, I wasn't exactly sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"He's almost here Vanessa, you can do it." She breathed. She was adored now with the quote on quote "miracle" that was going on here. Her physician persona seemed to go out the window once she got a look at the baby. Once again, you get on the other end lady.
"Push!" Hank ordered this time.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine—"
"Ahhhh!" Oh my God, what the hell was that now?!
"Oh my God" Jean gasped again; I think she was on the verge of crying. Oh boy. "Look at his little shoulders." She cooed.
"And all his hair" Scarlet admired out of nowhere.
Hey, eyes back in your sockets missy; this was medical confidential over here.
"One more Vanessa and you've got it" Hank said. I bit of pressure here, a bit of tinkering there, but I could feel the weight being lifted off me and I knew he was holding the baby as he spoke.
"Push Vanessa, c'mon you can do it!" Jean said. She was most excited, I could tell; she was full on crying now.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight—"
That was all it took before I heard crying.
Not my crying, not Jean's crying, not the professor's crying (holy hell, he was crying?!), but an itty-bitty little crying. Well wailing actually, but when I looked down I was floored by what I saw.
There he was.
There was our son. Wailing away while Hank caught him (I'm sure he flew out like a rocket) and cleared his nose and airways before the little tyke really let it fly.
Oh my God, I couldn't believe what I was staring at.
Look at him!
He had a nose, he had ears, he had little hands and little feet, and a little body and—hello! Well that certainly wasn't little but at least we knew Dr. Philips was right; he certainly was a boy.
"Oh my God" I cried. And not in pain but literally cried. I didn't know what else to do. It was like all of a sudden the pain vanished and I was looking at…well a miracle.
He was perfect.
Even if he was covered in icky stuff.
Hank rubbed him down while Callisto intruded with a stethoscope (wonder where that came from) and pressed it gently to both sides of his chest. She knew the most about newborns on this jet so I was putting my faith in her.
Meanwhile I looked at Logan who was on the verge of crying himself and was fighting strongly to keep it together. Internally I wanted to laugh a great laugh and tower over him at his expense but I knew he was just as much in awe as I was and couldn't believe his eyes.
Our baby was finally here.
Jean suddenly withdrew the magic wand.
"Do you want to cut the cord Logan?" she asked and passed him a pair of scissors Pyro sterilized.
He snapped out of it to stare at the scissors and accepted them awkwardly from her. "Am I gonna hurt him?"
"No, no, it's perfectly fine" she said. "Just cut right…..here"
I turned away because frankly, I've seen more than enough gore today that could last me a life time but cutting the cord signaled the final end to my pregnancy and a bigger weight could not be lifted off my shoulders.
They stole the baby away for a few minutes and I passed a rather unpleasant after birth before everything was finally in order.
Everyone was in tears (even those who had to "step out for fresh air" as they so claimed), everyone was moved, and Callisto reported that little Wolvie was in great shape.
I wan stunned. I took the brunt of the blow and he was perfectly fine. That was a fucking miracle and mothering at it's best.
It felt like forever until he was passed back into my waiting arms and I was surprised at how easily it came to me to hold him. I've never held a baby before today and he fit so perfectly in my arms, it made me want to cry even more.
I did.
Damn hormones! C'mon, this is getting old already.
I looked up at Logan who was smirking proudly at him and now it was me who leaned in and kissed his little fore head.
"He's perfect." I cried and Logan kissed me followed by our new little man.
"Yeah" he said. I knew he was speechless and he reached out to touch his head for the first time. The first time, reaching out to touch our son.
This entire experience was literally breath taking. (It was too bad I already lost a fucking lung giving birth. Holy hell that was rough)
The baby stopped crying as soon as he was passed to me and everyone else kept going. Storm and Scott snuck back on the plane and Storm was lit with tears as soon as she caught sight of him, while even Boy Scout Summers couldn't resist a warm smile.
Yawning every so adorably, I caught sight of his eyes when he squinted them open briefly.
Hazel; just like his father.
Oh my God, I was gonna smother this baby! I loved him already.
There was a sense of stillness and peace around as we all smiled, adored and cooed at the baby. I was ignoring some of the pain I still felt, the Brotherhood and the X-men were calm, cool and cordial in a way passing their blessings to the little one and the chaos from the plane and the M.H.A seemed to vanish while we all stood in peace and watched what was truly a miracle.
I couldn't believe it; I couldn't believe I was actually a mother.
I was finally a mother.
Fuck me silly, this was going to be a long road ahead.
XXXXXXXXXX
Yay! Baby is born! Sit tight, I'm still squeezing a couple more chapters our of this one, and maybe a sequel? I don't know, still sitting on it but in the mean time, review and tell me what you think!