Yesterday, 17th September, 11 pm
He quietly makes his way into the room and slips into bed next to Ruth, relieved that she's asleep. He closes his eyes and almost sighs in contentment as he allows his body to relax; he's had an exhausting day, and coupled with his early start at five this morning, he's immensely grateful to find himself in bed. He's just drifting off to sleep when he feels Ruth's hand slide onto his chest and begin to caress him as it descends slowly towards his groin. He stifles a groan and turns his head towards her. They have started leaving the light on in the bathroom because Ruth has to get up so many times to use it every night, and in it's gentle glow, he can make out Ruth's face.
"Ruth?" he asks uncertainly.
"Hi," she murmurs and moves closer as her hand continued its journey south.
"It's late," he says, catching her hand in his own and stilling its motion.
"I want you, Harry," she states boldly.
She's getting quite good at spelling things out now, he thinks with more than a little admiration; she's certainly much better at it than he is. He sighs and murmurs, "Ruth-"
But she interrupts him, saying in a voice tinged with desperation, "I need you, Harry. I can't stand it any more. The baby's already a day late and I need you to help me."
"What?" he asks in bewilderment. "How?"
"Your semen, Harry," she says impatiently. "I need your semen."
There's a short silence while he tries to make sense of her statement, but eventually, he has to admit, "No, sorry. You've lost me. What are you talking about?"
"When I went to my last appointment, the one you missed because of your meeting with the Home Secretary, Dr. Alexiou said that a man's semen can help soften the cervix and thus induce labour," she states.
He stares at her. Then he says in a voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, "I'm sorry, let me get this straight. You want to use me for sex in order to induce your labour?"
"Yes," she answers and then adds quietly, "though that's not the only reason I want to have sex with you. I do enjoy it very much, you know."
"And that's the reason that you've been wanting sex every day for the past week?" he asks, feeling the relief wash over him even before she's answered. He's been worrying about the age gap between them for most of the week and has been desperately hoping that the difference in their libido is only temporary and a result of pregnancy hormones, or else he knows he's, quite literally, screwed.
"Not the only reason," she replies defensively.
He sighs and rubs his face with his hands. Then he rolls over onto his side to face her and reaches his hand over to stroke her cheek. "Ruth," he says softly. "I'm sorry, but I'm exhausted. If I was a decade or two younger, I'm sure I'd be able to give you what you want, but right now, it's too much. I'm sorry."
Her eyes soften as she watches him and she suddenly realises just how selfish she's being and how difficult it much be for him to admit that he can't satisfy her needs right now. "I'm sorry, Harry. I'm being so selfish." She kisses his cheek lightly and murmurs, "Forgive me, please."
"There's nothing to forgive, Ruth," he replies.
"I love you," she murmurs, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it gently as she places her head back on her pillow.
"I love you too," he replies and squeezes her hand in return before closing his eyes.
The following night, 18th September, 10 pm
"Ruth?" the nurse says gently. "Your husband's here."
Ruth lifts her eyes towards the door and spots Harry standing a little uncertainly just inside the doorway. She smiles at him and it seems that's the only invitation he needs to make his way swiftly to her side.
"Hi," he whispers, grabbing hold of the hand she holds out to him and pressing a kiss to her temple. "I'm sorry I'm so late. What can I do to help?"
"Just be here," she manages to say before the next contraction hits her. She groans from the pain and leans over as she supports herself on the back of a chair. She tries hard to keep her vocal cords relaxed, but it's getting more and more difficult and she can hear herself squeaking.
Harry watches helplessly as Ruth suffers though it. He wishes there was something he could do to relieve her pain, but he knows it's unavoidable. Ruth has decided that she wants a natural birth with no painkillers and it's his job to support her in her decision. At least this time, she's suffering through something that'll bring a wonderful reward when it's over.
"Harry," Rachel murmurs to him when the contraction's over. "Ruth's having a lot of back pain with the contractions. Would you press hard against her lower back during each one? You're much stronger than I am."
"Of course," he nods, happy to have something to do that'll ease Ruth's pain. So taking off his coat, jacket, and tie, he throws them on a nearby chair and moves to stand behind Ruth.
Same night, 18th September, 11 pm
"Okay, Ruth," the midwife smiles. "You're ten centimetres dilated; it's time to push with the next contraction."
Ruth nods and grips Harry's hand tighter.
"You're almost there, Ruth," he murmurs near her ear. "Almost there."
Ruth squeezes his hand so tightly that it's painful as the next contraction comes. "Push. That's it," the midwife encourages.
However, despite Ruth's efforts, a few contractions later, the baby still hasn't appeared and she's getting tired.
"Perhaps a different position might help," Dr. Alexiou suggests. She'd come quietly into the room about a minute earlier, and noticing how tired Ruth's getting, she's a little worried. She comes closer and touches Ruth's shoulder gently. "You could try kneeling on all fours, Ruth. Lying on one's back doesn't work for everyone."
She catches Harry's eye and he nods, turning to Ruth and murmuring, "Come on, Ruth. We'll help you."
"I can't any more, Harry," Ruth moans, pleading with her eyes for him to help her. "I can't."
Harry notices the worried looks the midwife and doctor exchange at that. Ruth's getting tired, and if her baby isn't born soon, they might need to give her a c-section. After years of being a spook, he can read them like a book. The problem is that Ruth probably can too, even in her exhausted state.
"Ruth," he says firmly, "look at me." He takes her face in his hands to make sure she's focused on him. "These people here care for you, Ruth, but they don't know you. They don't know the vast reserves of strength that you possess. I know you. You are one of the strongest and bravest women I know. You saved Adam from a madman with a crossbow, you remained focused on saving Fiona despite your grief, you gave up everything to keep me free, to see me safe. This is nothing compared to that. Nothing. You can do this. I have complete faith in you. I know you, Ruth Evershed Pearce, and I know you can do this." He waits, watching her intently and is relieved to see her nod. "Now, come on," he says and helps her up. Then he sits down on the bed and holds her against him as she kneels before him. "Lean on me, Ruth," he murmurs into her hair as he wraps his arms around her, supporting her and murmuring words of encouragement.
"I think it would be best if we break the amniotic sac, Ruth," Dr. Alexiou says quietly. "It usually breaks on it's own in the earlier stages of labour, but your baby's is still intact. Breaking it should make it easier for you to push. Is that okay?"
Ruth looks at Rachel, who nods her head in ascent. The two of them have talked about Ruth's labour extensively and Ruth trusts her. She trusts Dr. Alexiou too, but she knows Rachel much better and wants her opinion also. "Okay," she whispers.
She doesn't feel anything as the midwife inserts her fingers inside her to feel the amniotic sac. The moment she presses against it, however, it burst, and Ruth feels the amniotic fluid gush out of her and with it comes the next contraction, much faster and harder than the rest.
"Push, Ruth," Rachel encourages, but it isn't necessary. The pressure Ruth feels inside her is so intense now that she wouldn't have been able to stop herself from pushing even if she'd wanted to.
"The baby's crowning," the midwife says a moment later as Ruth pushes as hard as she can. "Come on, Ruth. Two more big pushes and it'll be over."
"You hear that?" Harry whispers in her ear. "You're almost there, Ruth, and then you can hold our baby."
The next contraction comes faster this time, but it's the only one that's needed in the end. Ruth pushed hard, bracing herself against Harry as he murmurs more words of encouragement, and suddenly, it's all over and she feels the pressure release and hears a baby's cry.
"You did it, Ruth," the midwife smiles. "It's a girl."
With a sob born of relief, happiness, and exhaustion, Ruth slumps forward, knocking Harry off balance and making him fall backwards onto the bed with Ruth on top of him, still wrapped tightly in his arms. Luckily the hospital bed they're sitting on is in a reclined position, so they didn't end up completely horizontal. He lifts his hand to her face and pushes aside her hair until he can see her eyes. "I knew you could do it," he smiles. "I love you." He kisses her lips gently and looks towards the table where Dr. Alexiou is giving his daughter an Apgar score and the nurses are cleaning her up.
"Is she okay?" Ruth whispers, turning her eyes in the direction of the doctor.
"She's certainly loud," he smiles. "Sit up and we'll see," he encourages. They manage to get back to a sitting position, and Harry gets off the bed as the nurses help Ruth rearrange herself. Rachel makes sure she drinks some of the herbal tea she's brought for her and gives her a banana to eat, while Harry moves over to the table to look at their daughter.
"Is everything all right?" he asks quietly, and at the sound of his voice, the baby stops crying for a moment.
"She's fine," Dr. Alexiou smiles. Then she picks the baby up and carries her over to Ruth. "Here you go, Mum. Your little one is healthy and strong, and is probably wanting her first meal."
Ruth takes her daughter in her arms and smiles down at her in delight. "She's beautiful," she murmurs.
"She is," Dr. Alexiou replies. "You make beautiful babies, Ruth; there's hardly any moulding at all." Then she proceeds to show Ruth how to nurse her newborn.