A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
I hope I've done this chapter justice.
Chapter 21: BirthThe understanding of exactly what Wolfie meant surfaced around the room.
Vlad immediately crouched down in front of his wife, Erin's hand rested on her stomach. He gently lifted his hands up to cup her face. His terrified eyes searching hers.
"I thought it was indigestion." She explained, apologising. Vlad shook his head; he just wanted to make sure she was okay. "It feels like cramps at the moment." She told him with a slight smile.
Robin clenched his fists, putting them side-by-side and turning them slowly in opposite directions to emphasise his point. "Before long it'll feel like you guts are being ripped out, the pain will make you…"
"ROBIN!" Tess scolded, throwing the nearest cushion at him. He lifted his arms in defence and it dropped to the floor.
"Just trying to give her the full picture."
Tess folded her arms giving him a pointed look. "Well don't." Tess looked up, "Anyway maybe its different for vampires?" The Count shook his head, where Erin couldn't see it.
Erin reached up with her right hand to her cheek; she slipped her fingers into his and squeezed them. She was shaking in fear.
"I'm not going anywhere." He told her softly, he had to be the strong one now.
Erin doubled over, her face contorting in pain. She squeezed his fingers. Her eyes gazed up at his; "It's a month early." The fear was in her voice.
"It'll be fine." He assured her softly, he hoped that was true. The child would only be a month early; vampire children were stronger than human children.
Erin squeezed his hand again preparing for a wave of pain but none came.
Robin was trying to be helpful but his next comment wasn't exactly well received, "Can't you, I don't know, just tell it to come back in a month?"
Erin gave him a dirty look, "Someone hit him."
Robin's head shot forward, he lifted his hand rubbing the now painful spot. "OW!"
"Done." Ingrid smirked, rubbing her hands together. Bertrand gave her a small smile at her actions.
Bertrand rested his hands on the back of the sofa, "Can she walk?"
Erin nodded affirmative. Vlad stood slowly and grasped her other hand. Pulling backwards he helped Erin slowly raise herself from the couch. She managed to lift herself six inches before crying out in pain. Vlad grimaced as she rode through her contraction his hand feeling as if it were being crushed. Vlad lowered her back down.
"Sorry." She gasped, realising she must have hurt him.
"Its not me who's giving birth." He told her with a soft kiss to her forehead.
"I wouldn't remind her of that Vlad." The Count advised him lowly and out of the corner of his mouth.
Bertrand looked around the room, the only sources of lit came from the low wattage light bulbs attached to the walls. There was no way she could safely give birth in here. "It's too dark in here."
Ingrid shook her head confused, "There's no where else. Every bright room has got a coffin in the middle of it."
Bertrand cut Ingrid off, "Apart from…"
Ingrid shook her head in disbelief, "She won't want it in there…"
"Can you think of another room…"
"I suppose it's cleaner in there than in here…"
"Does someone want to ask the woman in labour or just wait until after?" Erin snapped, her chest heaving as she instinctively tried to breath to relax herself, she didn't need the air but the process helped.
Ingrid folded her arms over her chest, "The training room. It's the brightest in the school and the one with the most space."
"You want my son or daughter to be born in the training room?" Vlad didn't like the sound of that at all and he wasn't going to let it remain unsaid.
"Vlad!" Erin cried, a sob in her voice as another contraction ripped through her. This one worse than the others. Vlad sat next to her pulling her head towards his chest, he stroked her hair gently.
Dianne jumped forward, "Can't you give her anything?"
Vlad hissed at her, telling her to keep away. Dianne stepped backwards away from the young couple. Erin looked up at her, "I don't want you here."
"We're your parents!" Dianne immediately protested.
"I thought I was disowned." Erin told her firmly, Steve moved towards her, his hands extended for her, "Leave me alone!" She roared, one of the glass vases flew off the sideboard and across the room, before smashing as it impacted against the wall.
"AHHH!" She cried as another wave of pain flew through her.
Vlad made a decision in that moment, he was going to take Erin to the training room if for nothing else than to get her away from her parents. The stress they were placing her under wasn't good for her or the baby, especially during labour.
He swung her up into his arms before speeding out of the room.
Steve and Dianne made to follow him but Jonno and Ivan hovered over them, letting them know in no uncertain terms that they were staying exactly where they were.
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Vlad slowly lowered Erin to the floor just as (a clean) Renfield ran into the room. He took great care not to jostle her as he did so.
Ingrid, Bertrand and the Count hovered by the door, Robin and Tess just behind them. The Count had a firm grip on Magda as Ivan and Jonno didn't need to deal with her as well as the Nobles.
Erin grabbed the front of Vlad's red plaid shirt yanking him down to her height, tearing off a few of the buttons and exposing the black t-shirt underneath. "You even…think…of leaving me alone and I'll…stake you!"
"I'm not leaving you." Vlad smiled and moved until he sat behind her, he spread his legs along the side of her resting her inbetween. Gently he took her hands from behind and encouraged her to lean against him. Her head fell back against his chest as Erin relaxed against him, her eyes puffy, black and watering from the pain.
"No vampire father has even been present at their child's birth," Magda scoffed loudly.
"I don't care." Vlad answered, he was going to stay with her throughout this.
"Good," Erin told him firmly, her head tilting up to look at him, "Because this is half your fault."
Vlad gave a small snort, a grin forming on his face, "Only half?" He was sure she'd blame it on him completely.
Erin looked up at him. "Give me an hour."
Renfield gently pushed Erin's legs up and covered her lower half with a blanket to preserve her modesty.
Erin glanced towards the door, Ingrid gave her a reassuring smile and Erin shook her head. She didn't think she could do this. Ingrid strode across towards her, her shoes clicking on the floor.
"Erin you are going to have a beautiful baby girl, who hopefully won't look anything like my brother," Vlad tutted at her comment, Ingrid had to find a way to get a dig at him. She lowered her voice for Erin ears only, "You can do this Erin. It'll be worth it."
Erin nodded to Ingrid, she really could be supportive when she wanted to be.
Ingrid squeezed her hers and Vlad's right hands. "Take care of her." She threatened her brother. Erin couldn't do this on her own she needed Vlad's support.
"I will." Vlad promised. He wasn't going to leave her; he loved her too much to abandon her when she needed him the most.
As Ingrid left the room, Vlad clicked the doors shut with his fingers. Just before it closed he smiled as he saw Ingrid immediately take Bertrand's hand.
"Mistress Erin?" Erin looked at Renfield, her face expressionless. "You're not ready to start pushing yet, don't start until I say." Erin nodded.
Renfield knew what he was doing, he'd saved their child's life before and she trusted him now. All she could do it hope she could resist the urge to push.
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"Breathe." Vlad whispered into her ear again for hat felt like the thousandth time in two hours.
Erin had tried breathing but it wasn't very relaxing because she had to focus to make sure she breathed. With each wave of pain she forgot. Being a vampire could be annoying at times.
"If you tell me to breathe once more I am going to stick garlic in your cornflakes." Erin snapped, the pain was growing more and more frequent as the contractions grew closer and closer. She must have to start pushing soon but Renfield had said she wasn't fully dilated yet.
"You haven't changed your mind about the names have you?" He tried to change the subject – unsuccessfully.
"No," She gasped as another contraction stuck. She let out a scream, as she couldn't clench her jaw shut any longer. Her whole torso jolted forward, as soon as the contraction ended she slumped down against Vlad's chest again.
Vlad hated seeing her in so much pain. "Sorry." He whispered.
Erin gave him a confused look, before realising he was apologising for the pain. "Its worth it." He knew it was worth it but it was still painful to watch.
Vlad leaned down and softly kissed her lips. Erin began to respond before tearing her lips away from his as agony rushed through her again.
"I need…to start…pushing." She whispered into his chest, sobbing slightly.
"Renfield!" Vlad prompted, immediately Renfield checked her dilation.
"You're ready to start pushing now."
Erin was relieved, "Thank you."
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Ryan appeared in front of them, making Ingrid jump back and elbow Bertrand in the ribs. She glanced up at him, she wasn't going to apologise – Bertrand didn't accept apologies. He gave her a smirk before wrapping and arm around her. Ingrid had given up trying to resist him now; there was no point in denying how she felt.
"How is she?" A scream answered his comment. "Is she okay?" His concern for his sister shone in his eyes. "She's a month early." Ryan grabbed the handle of the door, preparing to barge into the training room when a hand clamped over his. The Count removed Ryan's hand from the handle.
"Renfield know what he's doing." "That was one sentence he didn't think he'd ever use, but it was the truth.
"If you're bored you can always say 'Hi' to your parents." Ingrid suggested, only half sarcastically.
Ryan's eyes widened, "They're here?" There was something in Ingrid's gaze, "And they know about me don't they?" All the vampires shifted their gazes slightly; there was no point in asking who'd let it slip. "How mad did Vlad get?"
"On a scale of one to ten…" Robin began looking across at Tess, "About a six. Erin was more of an eight."
Ryan knew there'd be fireworks, anger filled him as a dreadful thought crossed his mind. "This wouldn't be because of…"
Tess shook her head, "Erin's had what she thought was indigestion for hours."
Another scream floated through the door. Ingrid winced at the sound.
Robin was the one who had senses enough to reassure the rest of them, "I'm sure it won't be much longer."
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"One more push Mistress Erin." Renfield told her softly,
Erin shook her head, she just wanted to collapse. She was exhausted. "I can't Vlad."
Vlad gently smoothed the sweat soaked hair from her brow. "You can Erin. Then you can hold her."
"Him." She corrected with a small smile.
Vlad turned her face towards him, he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, I know you can do this."
Erin responded automatically, his faith in her was the only thing getting her though this. "Love you too."
"Just one more push." Vlad reminded her, kissing her forehead again.
Erin nodded, scrunching up her face as the pain rushed through her. She pushed with all her might.
Suddenly the sound of crying filled the room.
Erin immediately relaxed, the worst now over. Vlad squeezed her hands.
Renfield spoke the words they'd hoped for, "It's a healthy girl, Master Vlad."
Vlad had been right when he said it was a girl. He beamed down at Erin, Erin's grin matched his. Her tears of exertion gone only to be replaced by joy filled ones.
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As Renfield cleaned their daughter up, Vlad helped Erin through the final stages of her labour before gently washing her face to remove the sweat that had gathered over her face.
"I'm so proud of you." He whispered in her ear. "I knew you could do it."
"Master Vlad, Mistress Erin," They turned to see a smiling Renfield. "Meet you daughter."
Erin extended her arms as Renfield carefully placed their child into them. The baby was wrapped into a black blanket; Vlad rolled his eyes at the choice of colour from Renfield.
"Hello," She whispered softly to the wrinkled bundle.
The child's eyes were blue as all baby's eyes were at first but Erin could tell that she had inherited Vlad's eyes. The hair wasn't as dark as Vlad's but she knew it would darken up over time. Her face was the same shape as Erin's and it was definitely her mouth and nose their daughter had inherited.
She was beautiful.
Erin passed the bundle to Vlad, gently brushing and smoothing the dark locks of hair. Vlad seemed nervous at first before moving his arm so he could support his daughter's head.
Erin smiled at the look of pure affection on Vlad's face as he held their daughter for the first time.
"Hello, I'm your Dad." He whispered to the bundle before moving it towards Erin, "And this is your mum." He introduced them to her. She didn't cry just watched them in amazement. Wolfie cried when he saw them, that he'd always remember.
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The door flew open and immediately the rest of the Dracula's rushed in, desperate to see their new family member.
Vlad passed their daughter back to Erin, before wrapping an arm around her shoulders as Erin leaned into him.
"She's beautiful." Ingrid whispered as she watched Erin cradle her niece. She felt a rush of pride at seeing the young girl they'd nearly lost so early into the pregnancy.
"Well done." Ryan congratulated kissing his sister's cheek softly.
"Looks like she's got her mum's looks, fortunately." Robin teased his best friend. Vlad grinned up at him, taking Robin's comment for the tease it was.
The Count moved forward his arms extended before he withdrew them, "Can I?" Erin nodded allowing him to take her daughter from her. "So?" the Count asked eagerly, waiting for the name his son and Erin had decided on.
Erin nodded to Vlad, he could have the honour of introducing them to the newest member of the family.
"Meet Nicola Amaia Adria Dracula."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading.
Nicola – Winner of the People
Amaia – End (JustMee swayed me on this on as this is the final story of the saga)
Adria – A powerful sounding name, and a favourite of mine.