Hey guys, thank you so much for the feedback, I am glad you enjoyed.
To BookButterfly11: I will be doing very short time skips, as in the longest I would skip forward would be a month. But it is something I'm considering for the next story.
*Disclaimer* I only own Alli, Sam, Zavier, and the kids. All other rights to Cassandra Clare.
Chapter 20.
*TESSA'S P.O.V.*
"Oh no."Jem quietly says. We can't portal back to New York, go to the apartment and get the bag, call Emma and tell her to stay with Magnus and Alec tonight (we don't want her home alone for at least two nights) and then get to the hospital. It's not possible, the pains are coming on strong and fast and Esther is sitting really low, I can feel it. I knew something wasn't right this morning, I knew labour would start soon, but I was hoping it wouldn't begin until tomorrow. I don't want Esther born on Henry's birthday, for the same reason I don't want her born on Jamie's.
"James... say something." I say, my breath catching in my throat when I'm hit with another contraction.
"Oh, what are we gonna do? We can't portal back to New York now, a-and Emma's there alone a-and the baby's coming... and that means I'm gonna be a dad... oh Angel, oh no, no! I was wrong, Tessa! I'm not ready to be a dad! I'm not, she's gonna be so small and delicate and I'll break her! Oh what are we gonna do?"Jem says in a panicked tone, fisting his hands into his raven hair and pacing back and forth. I have never seen him like this before; the nerves of being a first-time parent are clearly getting to him, badly.
"Jem... just... sit down- oww- and, and take deep breathes and just... calm down." I say, clutching at my stomach and pausing in-between pains. I really forgot how bad this hurt!
Jem listens to me- thankfully- and sits beside me, taking a couple of deep breathes and muttering things to himself in Chinese.
A few minutes later, he seems to have fully calmed down, and he gets up.
"Okay... we're not far from the London Institute, I can get us a cab to Fleet Street and from there it's a brief walk to the actual institute. Then once you're settled, I'll call Magnus and then I'll call Emma and tell her to stay with Magnus and Alec tonight. And then, in a few hours we'll have our daughter with us." Jem says, much calmer now. It will be hard to go back to the place where I made my life with Will, but there isn't really any other option. Jem and I ruled out a hospital birth, in case Esther is born with some unique, distinct feature, like golden eyes, just like Jamie.
"Okay." I agree.
*10 minutes later*
Jem pulls the rope by the doors of the institute, which causes the bell to ring. With his other hand, Jem is holding my own hand tightly, trying to keep me calm.
A few moments later a tall woman with pale skin and platinum blonde hair tied in a bun answers the door, wearing a black blouse with a matching skirt.
"May I help you?" She asks.
"My name is James Carstairs, and this is my wife, Tessa. We're from New York, but came here for a day trip. However Tessa went into labour just moments ago, we can't portal back to New York and get her bag and get to the hospital before she needs to push. Please, can we come in?" Jem politely explains.
"I need proof that you posses Nephilim blood." The woman says matter-o factly. Jem shows her his right hand, where his voyance rune is.
"And your wife?" The woman questions.
"Oh, my wife isn't a Shadowhunter. She's an Eidolon Warlock." Jem states calmly.
"I'm sorry Mr. Carstairs but we do not permit downworlders in this institute, in any institute." The woman says. Oh no, not this crap again! I need to get inside right now! My contractions are shortening and getting closer together.
"No, please you have to let us in, we have nowhere else to go. We won't be of a burden at all, I swear." Jem says, beginning to panic again.
"No."The woman firmly says.
"Please, my wife can't give birth on the street!" Jem says.
"She may have to." The young woman states. No way.
"No, my daughter is not going to born on the street, no matter what.
Listen, I use to be Brother Zachariah, originally of the London silent brothers, then I transferred to New York. I still have contacts with the silent brothers, who were happy to help my wife with her pregnancy, and if you don't let us in, I will report you to Brother Enoch himself and have you fired effective immediately, understand?" Jem quickly yet firmly tells the young woman standing in front of him. That's the second time today he's broken character, but this time it was good.
Just then I feel the strongest searing, stinging pain, in my womb that I have ever felt. I cry out in agony, doubling over and clutching my stomach with one hand, bracing myself against the wall with the other. Jem places a comforting hand on my back, and I can feel the tension between he and the young woman.
The woman lets out a sigh of defeat and says
"Fine, but don't expect a friendly welcome." We most certainly won't.
"Oh don't worry; we won't be needing your help at all, just the use of your infirmary and some cloths and towels." Jem says, as he helps me straighten up and guides me inside.
Once we get to the infirmary, Jem goes straight to one of the cupboards and takes out one of those horrible hospital gowns. I had planned on having a home birth anyway, but whilst wearing one of my own nightgowns. The one I wore the night I found out I'm pregnant.
Jem helps me change into the gown and then helps me settle into a bed, before calling Magnus.
"He's not answering." Jem says in a worried tone of voice, a few minutes later. Oh no, this can't be happening, it can't! It's bad enough she's going to be born the same day as Henry, we don't need Magnus to go missing when he promised to deliver Esther.
"Try him again." I plead, clutching at my stomach as a very strong contraction hits.
He does, and about a minute later, he sadly shakes his head. Just as I'm about to tell him to try calling Catrina, I feel a pressure between my legs and a massive urge to push.
"James I have to push right now!" I tell him, sitting up bultright, feeling nothing but fear.
Calmly as ever, Jem strides over to a cupboard, opens it and takes out a small brown box. He places it on a metal tray nearby and grabs the stool from the corner. Once he sits down, he starts emptying the box, and when he does, I notice it's an emergency delivery kit.
"Tessa, I know this isn't how you wanted it to go but we don't have any other options. I've done this countless times before; you know that, you were with Cecily when I delivered Anna." Jem says, snapping on a pair of latex gloves and scotching the stool closer to the bottom of the bed.
If there's one person I can trust to deliver my daughter, its Jem himself.
"Okay." Is all I manage to say.
"Okay then, push Tess." Jem says. I do, and it's sheer agony. I clutch the bed sheets tightly in my hand and let out a scream of agony.
*2 hours later*
"I hate you."I tell Jem, as I push down again for what has to be the millionth time. I can't get over how mind numbingly painful this is. I don't know how I ever forgot.
"You have every right to; just keep focusing on your pushes." Jem calmly tells me. I scrunch my face up in pain as yet another pain tears through me, and I push down into my bottom as hard as I possibly can. I start to feel a burning sensation between my legs, and if I remember correctly, that means the head is crowing.
"You're doing such an amazing job, you're so close. Keep going." Jem encourages me. Oh I wish he was up here holding my hand.
I let out another scream of pain and push my head back into the pillow.
"Oh, oh that's it! The head's out Tessa! Two more!" Jem says in an excited tone. Easy for him to be excited, he isn't pushing a baby out of his crotch.
I knot my hands into the white sheets and keep pushing as hard as I possibly can, relaxing slightly as I feel the shoulders slip out.
Exactly one minute later, another contraction hits.
"Push!"Jem says. I push down as hard as I can, one last time, and before I know it, a huge weight has lifted off me and Jem is laughing in delight, which is cut off by a low wail erupting through the whole room. I haven't heard something so beautiful since my Lucie was born.
"By the angel Tessa you did it, she's here, she's so perfect." Jem says in a taught tone of voice, as he clamps and cuts Esther's umbilical cord, wipes her down and finally places her on my chest.
I look down into her tiny scrunched up face, and I immediately fall in love all over again.
Esther yawns with tiny little lips identical to Jem's, and she scrunches her nose up, which she also inherited from Jem. She clearly has my bone structure, and peeking out from underneath her little pink hat, are a few whips of curling black hair. Right now I can't tell her pallor, because her face is red from crying. Her eyes are closed, but she has my eye shape. Hopefully she'll have her father's eye colour.
She's absolutely perfect, in every possible way.
"Hi Esther, you perfect little girl."I whisper, tears running down my face.
"Oh Tessa... she's just... I can't even put into words how amazingly perfect she is." Jem says, before turning his head and kissing my cheek.
I already feel a strong bond between Esther and I, and an unconditional, undying love. "I love her so much." Jem whispers, tears now pouring down his face.
"Parentally love, is the greatest type of love." I tell him, holding Esther close.
"Can I hold her?" Jem asks. I nod and place her in her father's loving arms.
I never thought I'd get to see Jem holding our baby. It really is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.
"Hi my little Star, I'm your daddy... I've wanted you all my life, but I thought I would never get you. I can't believe you're mine, and you're here. I love you so much and I always will. Daddy will always, always be here for you Esther. You're simply the best thing ever to happen to me."He quietly tells her.
"What about me, James?" A very familiar voice says. Before I even look up, I know who said it.
Sure enough, my eyes land on the transparent Will Herondale, standing across the room. But he's not alone. No, beside him stands a girl with blonde locks and big brown eyes, wearing a soft pink gown. She too is transparent.
It takes me a minute, but when I figure out who this girl is, I'm greatly surprised to see her.
"Jessamine."
I really hope you enjoyed, I tried my very best, but it's very late. Please review and let me know what you thought. Feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading.