April 22, 1960
"How's the baby coming along?" asked Susanna.
Moira smiled and put a hand on her stomach. She found herself doing that a lot recently. Then again, her stomach had grown so big that it was hard to do anything but that.
"Fine," Moira said, "Not so much morning sickness after the first few months."
Her stomach had started lurching that morning, but there weren't any real waves of nausea. The baby wasn't due for a week or so though, so she figured she was fine.
"You're lucky," Susanna said, "I was sick almost all the time with Lorna. It was a very easy delivery though."
She smiled fondly over to where their daughters were playing. Rahne was braiding Lorna's hair, her face a picture of concentration.
"It was so fast that I thought Erik would miss it," Susanna said.
Her voice sounded wistful. Moira frowned. Something about Susanna seemed a little off over the past few months. She couldn't quite place it, and every time she tried to ask Susanna she deflected the question with ease. Moira could only assume that for some reason or another she didn't want to talk about it.
Her friend brightened and turned back to her.
"Do you have any names yet?" she asked.
"I thought that Rose would be nice if it's a girl," Moira said, "But I wanted to name the baby Charles if it's a boy."
Sonogram technology hadn't come to Genosha yet. In many ways their medicine was advanced, but certain 'luxury' machines like sonograms hadn't been imported. The funds just didn't exist for it. As such the gender of her next child would be a mystery. She shook her head and sighed.
"But Charles is dead-set against it," Moira said, "So we compromised and figured it'd be the child's middle name if it's a boy. I can't believe how particular he was about that."
"You should've seen Erik's face when I suggested naming the baby after him if it was a boy," Susanna said, "I don't see anything wrong with it."
"I guess it's a guy thing," Moira said.
Susanna grinned.
"We've got the nursery all ready," Moira said, "Kayla had a mobile with crystals in it made by Clarice. Laura really likes it so we asked Clarice if she could do another one. She did, and we had it set up the other week."
"What color did you do the walls?" asked Susanna.
"We decided on cream over green," Moira said, "And we got some yellow gingham sheets and things. Rahne picked them out."
"She won't stop talking about her baby brother," Susanna said, "Lorna's excited too. I think they think they're going to be able to use the baby for tea parties."
"Or to play house," Moira said.
She shook her head.
"She's just so confident it's a boy," Moira said.
"I'm sure she'll love it just as much if it's a girl," Susanna said.
"I'm sure she will too," Moira said, "I'm glad she's embracing the idea of having another sibling so easily."
"It looks like everything's falling into place then," Susanna said, her voice bright.
"Yeah," Moira said, looking over to Rahne, "Yeah, it does."
"The next session of parliament is in a month," Charles said, looking down at the papers scattered around him, "And it seems like the new laws to on tariffs are going to pass. It won't be very popular with the shipping companies, but there's no way to avoid that."
"Unless we want to keep our trade imbalance," Erik said, his voice dry.
Charles nodded and shuffled the paperwork. He sighed when he saw a report that was becoming increasingly familiar.
"There was another anti-sapien protest down by the coast," Charles said.
Ever since the children had been brought from the MRD facility the island had gone into shock. There had been a few weeks where the horror of the citizens overcame their thirst for vengeance. Once six of the seven children died despite receiving the best medical care there had been scattered protests against sapiens throughout the nation. In recent weeks it had picked up enough to give Charles a headache.
"Oh?" asked Erik.
His voice sounded far too amused. Charles gave him a harsh look before continuing to read the report.
"It was quelled before there was any violence though," Charles said, "We really need to do something about these."
"Such as what?" asked Erik, "Ban them?"
"It doesn't fall under freedom of speech when they're simply spouting racist rubbish," Charles said, "It's inflammatory. Like shouting fire in a crowded theater."
"You need to stop referring back to the American Bill of Rights," Erik said, "We have our own one, and I think it's done very well."
"It has, but the example is still a good one," Charles said.
His friend's expression didn't waver. Charles let out a frustrated sigh.
"It's just not good," he said, "You must be able to see this Erik. The consequences of allowing this sort of thing to go unchecked are just too dire to allow."
"So what, we release another statement about unity?" asked Erik, "This recent protest just seems to show that the other statements didn't work."
"Unless you're willing to put something through parliament, then yes, that's what we'll have to do," Charles said, "I would like to put some actions behind the words, and sending the X-men to break up the riots doesn't seem to be making a strong enough impression. Do you have any ideas Erik?"
Erik cocked his head.
"A few. But I doubt you'll like any of them."
Charles shook his head.
"You know that I don't like your militant approach for domestic matters," Charles said, feeling like he was repeating an old conversation, "You know that I'm a pacifist."
"A pacifist who fought a revolution," Erik pointed out.
Charles narrowed his eyes.
"There are times for war and times for peace," he said, "This is a time for peace."
"Of course, of course," Erik said, putting his hands up in the air, "I don't want to see our fair island torn apart by another war."
His words were lofty and Charles knew that, to some degree, he was being mocked. Erik's voice was far too high. Charles rolled his eyes and Erik chuckled.
"It's what you sound like sometimes," Erik said.
"I do not," Charles said.
Erik chuckled again and Charles allowed himself to smile.
"Alright, alright," Charles said, "Point given."
"I already knew I had it," Erik said.
Charles was ready with another comeback when the door opened. Moira walked in, smiling, but looking slightly strained. He frowned. These were private consultations between him and Erik. He was surprised that Moira felt the need to interrupt them, but even more so that Arthur and Dominikos would let her in. They respected her, but they knew that they weren't supposed to be disturbed.
"Love?" he said.
"Sorry for barging in like this," Moira said, "But we need to go."
Charles blinked. Across from him he could see Erik's eyebrow furrow.
"Moira, we're nearly done. If you give us another hour or two-" Charles began.
"I'm having the baby Charles," Moira interrupted, "Now."
There was a fraction of a second when everything clicked. He got up immediately, nearly knocking down his chair in his haste.
"I'll see you later Erik," he said, already hurrying away from the table, "Just sign what we said and it'll be fine."
Erik made a hurrying gesture with his hand, grinning. Charles looped an arm around Moira's shoulder and they walked out of the room. His brain was running on bare essentials at the moment. He just managed to notice that Arthur and Dominkos nodded to them, their eyes wide. It certainly explained how she'd managed to get into the room in the first place.
"I'm going to need to get the car-" he started.
"Susanna already sent for it," Moira said, "Rahne should be in it. I told her it would take a long time, but she seems to want to come anyway."
She winced and put a hand on her stomach.
"This is really starting to hurt," she said.
"I'll get you there soon, alright?" Charles said, his voice on the edge of panic, "I know a few shortcuts we can take."
Moira smiled.
"You seem very excited," she said.
"And you seem very calm," Charles shot back.
"I'm saving it for the delivery when I feel my insides ripping themselves open," Moira said tersely, "Now, let's hurry along."
Charles nodded. True to her word the car was around front. He got into the driver's seat, trying to calm down. Rahne was in the back, her eyes bright.
"So, in a few hours I get a brother?" asked Rahne.
"Or a sister," Moira said.
Charles pulled out and got onto the road.
"Dad?" asked Rahne.
"Yes?" Charles replied, feeling on edge.
"Mom said that I shouldn't be in the room when the baby comes," she said, "Am I not allowed to see the stork or something?"
He glanced back at her. No, not now.
"Um…sort of," Charles said.
"We'll explain when you're older," Moira sighed.
Moira was sure that she'd never been in more pain in her life than she was in at the moment. Everything felt like it was on fire, a pulsating fire that was ripping her open. She had known that it was going to be painful. She'd been prepared for that to some extent. What she hadn't been prepared for was the sheer exhaustion of it all.
Sweat soaked her forehead and arms. Her hair felt like wet coils of rope. All of her muscles screamed from exhaustion. Her heart pounded in time with the monitors and the doctors and nurses fluttered around. Charles was by her side, murmuring things and wiping her forehead every now and then.
She knew that it was a blessing that he was there. Most fathers weren't allowed in the delivery rooms. However, being a Prime Minister had its privileges. Personally knowing one of the head doctors ensured that the paparazzi were kept outside of the building. Norton had done a good job at keeping them far away. It was a good thing. In her current state of mind she probably would've killed them one if she'd seen one.
Raven had been in briefly to deliver flowers and give her best wishes, but she'd seen how crowded the room already was. She'd left shortly after to look after Rahne. Moira knew that Rahne wasn't old enough to see her in her current condition. She'd been there for the first few hours, but no longer. Raven had told her that she'd taken her to sit with Doug so she could play games and chat about the new sibling she was getting.
"You're almost there," Norton said, "We need you to keep pushing now."
She nodded and forced herself to push. Everything hurt now and she closed her eyes. It was all confusing enough without the myriad of images around her.
"Again," Norton said, "Just one more time. Just one more hard push, okay?"
Moira nodded again, feeling ready to cry.
"You're doing great love," Charles said.
Refraining from biting her lip Moira strained and gave one last push. It seemed to go on for eternity before she heard the wail of a child. She looked up, feeling exhausted. She barely glimpsed the child before a nurse took it away to be cleaned. Everything seemed to be fine. Moira tilted her head to the side so she could see Charles. He smiled at her.
"One more push for the afterbirth, okay?" Norton said, his voice soothing.
Moira nodded and strained her muscles again. When it was over she allowed herself to relax, breathing deeply. Charles' cool hand touched her face and she opened her eyes.
"You did it," he said, "Have I told you that you're amazing?"
"Not recently enough for a fourteen hour labor," Moira said.
He laughed and kissed her forehead. Just as he drew away a nurse came up, a bundle in her arms. Moira sat up and swallowed.
"Your son," the nurse said, putting it in her arms.
Charles leaned over, putting one arm around her shoulders. The other hand was placed gently on their son's head.
"He's perfect," Moira said, "Just perfect."
Charles smiled and kissed her on the forehead again.
"Looks like Rahne has her brother," he said.
Moira laughed and looked down at their son.
"What do you think about the name David?" she said.
Charles beamed.
"I think it's a wonderful name," he said.
A/N: And it's David! I doubt any of you are surprised though. I actually had people asking at the end of 'The World Turned Upside Down' if David was going to be in the next story. ;)