Maat S'chn T'gai Vol 2
Chapter Twenty-nine - Daughter Mine
New Vulcan
Sept 2272
T'Boh
She stood in the center of the small bedroom that they used as a nursery and looked all around. Varun had repainted the walls a soft pale yellow, and the curtains that hung at the window were a soft green with many small flowers covering them. There was a matching comforter in the crib, and pale yellow sheets in both the crib and the cradle that they would use in the beginning. The soft blanket folded at the foot of the cradle had all the colors from the curtains worked into it, in a pattern of scattered flowers on a soft green background. Durra had brought it over only this morning, and she had held it, marveling in the softness, and the intricate design that had been worked into it. The cradle, the crib, the dresser, and the changing table all had a fresh coat of shining white paint, the the knobs all painted yellow. And in the corner of the room was the rocking chair, also painted white, with cushions in the seat and back that matched the curtains. It was a room for a girl, instead of a boy, and she was so happy that this child was a girl. She loved her sons, and watching them grow from infants to young boys had made her very happy, but she was delighted now to bear a daughter. Varun had a son who followed him around and copied everything he did, and another who was learning to draw, and from what he was doing now, it seemed he had inherited his father's ability to portray things in three-dimensions on a flat surface. Now it was time that she had a daughter to teach, to show the skills that she had.
Carefully she folded the small clothing that she had washed earlier, and laid it in the drawers of the dresser, ready to be used. T'Sura had helped her to put clean sheets on the bed earlier, and they had checked to be sure that the packet of supplies was ready, and contained everything that would be needed. It would not be long at all now, until it was put into use. Not long at all.
She wandered back into their sitting room and stood in the doorway, trying to decide whether to go and help T'Sura in the kitchen or possibly relieve T'Pena for a while, watching the children while the other woman took a short break. Not that she could do much in her present condition if there was an emergency, but someone did need to be there to raise the alarm if one of the children fell or got themselves stuck somehow. It was while she was standing there, musing, that she felt the first pang. She braced one hand in the small of her back and held onto the doorframe, breathing slowly until it died away. Well, then, perhaps she would relieve T'Pena while she still could. Slowly she paced through the main room of the clan house, through the kitchen, waving at T'Sura as she passed, through the solar and out the back door.
When T'Pena saw her, she rose from the bench and smiled. "I will go inside and do what is necessary, and return shortly. Will you sit here with me a while then, and talk?"
"Oh, T'Pena, I would enjoy that tremendously. It seems we never get enough time to talk anymore." Carefully she lowered herself onto the bench and looked out over the children playing in the yard. There was Smark, and Stohk, and Srick on the slide and swings. T'Rena and Salak were in the sandpile. T'Ama and Sudak were in the special enclosure that had been created to hold infants so that they could be outside and enjoy the fresh air as well as the older children. Both of them were currently sleeping. She leaned back against the bench, enjoying the warm sunshine. Soon the breeze would begin to be chill, and the sun would shine less each day, until mid-winter arrived. But for now it was quite pleasant to sit in the sunshine and watch the children at play.
It was not long before T'Pena returned, and she had barely sat down again when the next pang struck. She held herself still, and breathed slowly, as T'Pena registered what was happening. "Shall I go and alert T'Sura?"
She shook her head, and when the pang had ended, she told T'Pena that it was only the second one. "It is too soon to alert the other women. Everything is prepared. When the pangs become closer together and more intense, we can alert the others. For now, let us just sit here and talk."
And so the two women sat and spoke of many things, until T'Boh had a much stronger pain that took her breath away. T'Pena immediately jumped up and hurried inside, returning with T'Sura and T'Pau. They helped T'Boh up from the bench, and walking one on each side of her, supported her on her walk back into the house, and into her bedroom. She sat heavily on the side of the bed, and T'Pena went back outside, shooing Stohk along in front of her, assuring him that his mother was going to be fine, and that his new sister would be here very soon. The boy's eyes grew wider, and he asked if her could tell the other children that his sister was being born. When T'Pena assured him that he could, he dashed ahead, all excited, to share the news.
T'Sura left T'Pau with T'Boh and hurried off down the path to tell the healers that they would be needed soon. Durra and T'Dena were still at the Academy and would not be home for several hours yet. They would just have to manage as well as they could until then. Once the healers had been notified, she hurried back to the clan house, where T'Pau had assisted T'Boh in undressing and putting on a simple gown. With T'Sura there to help, they got T'Boh into the bed with a pile of pillows supporting her. The contractions were coming closer together now, and were more insistent.
It was not long after that that Varun appeared, coming straight to the bedroom to check on his wife. After speaking softly to her, he went into the bathing room, and washed himself well, redressing in a simple tunic and trousers before coming back into the bedroom. When he had satisfied himself that T'Boh was as comfortable as possible, he went to bring the packet containing the waterproof sheet into the bedroom, and assisted T'Pau and T'Sura in putting it on the bed, working on one side at a time so as not to disturb T'Boh any more than necessary. When she was settled again, he went to fetch the chairs from the table in their sitting room, putting two on each side of the bed. T'Pau and T'Sura sat down on the far side of the bed, and Varun sat near T'Boh's head, reaching out for her hands, sending her his love and admiration, and helping her to relax by drawing the pain out away from her.
It was not long after that that the healers showed up. T'Pau left then, to go and notify the remainder of the clan. T'Sura stayed, to help the healers and do whatever T'Boh needed. By the time Durra bustled in, Varun was climbing into the bed, to support T'Boh in the final stage of her labor. She hurried off to heat the water that would be needed to bathe the newborn and T'Boh, when everything was finished.
The pain came in waves now, each more powerful than the one before, and lasting longer. She breathed slowly and evenly, coached by Varun's gentle voice, and grasped his hands tightly, letting him draw the pain away from her. T'Nara was speaking to her, telling her it was time to push, that she could see black hair now, and she took a deep breath and bore down hard, drawing strength from Varun. When the contraction ended, she leaned back and drew in a deep breath, readying herself for the next, which came very soon. Breath, push, relax. Breath, push, relax. She could feel the pressure of the head as it neared the exit from her body, and then the great relief when it emerged.
T'Nara and her assistant moved quickly, using the small suctioning tool, and she heard the first cry of her daughter. A great thrill went through her body, and she felt her breasts becoming heavier in response to that sound. Behind her, Varun was murmuring softly to her, telling her that her behavior was exemplary, and through their linked hands she could feel his love, and the joy he felt at the birth of their daughter.
A few more pushes, and T'Nara lifted up the body of their new child and laid it across her belly. While Varun seared the pulsing cord, she moved her fingers softly down the side of her daughter's face, marveling. There was a shock of soft black hair, and tightly furled ears. The tiny face scrunched up, and a piteous wail came from her daughter's mouth, a reaction to the light and the cool air on her wet body. Varun reached around and laid his hand on their daughter's shoulder, cuddling her against them, and the wail stopped, turning to a soft snuffling. She ran her fingers through the wet hair on her daughter's head, marveling, and then Durra was there, lifting her away to wash away the traces of blood and other fluids. She turned her head to watch as the tiny girl received her first bath, waving her arms and legs and making short high-pitched noises, inhaling in big gulps.
When the baby was clean, and diapered, and wrapped in a soft blanket, Durra brought her back, and laid her down in T'Boh's arms again. Varun had already climbed out of the bed, and T'Sura had helped her into a clean gown. She lay back against the pillows and looked down at her daughter's face, sighing with happiness. With one finger, she began to tease the tightly furled ears, urging them to open. Varun leaned over, watching, the corners of his mouth quirked up. "What are we going to call this little one, T'Boh?"
She turned and looked at him, her eyes beaming. "I believe this is T'Fah. What do you think?"
Varun lifted one hand, and ran a finger softly down the side of his daughter's face. "I think this is a very good name for her. Welcome, T'Fah."
T'Fah tried to focus her eyes on the source of the sound, but found it too much trouble. She blinked and pursed her mouth, and turned her head slightly away from her mother's fingers, as one ear unfurled completely, the tiny point laying against the side of her head.
When the healers had left, Varun went and brought their sons inside, taking them first to the bathing room to wash, and then into the bedroom to meet their new sister. The boys were fascinated, looking at the tiny girl in awe. Noticing that T'Boh was tiring fast, Varun took the sleeping baby and tucked her into the crib, and then helped his wife to move down in the bed, rearranging the pillows so that she was more comfortable. He sat there beside the bed, watching, as his sons admired the sleeping baby a while longer, and then he tapped gently on their shoulders and pointed to their sleeping mother. Quietly the three left the bedroom, and headed for the dining room, where end-meal was being laid out. There were congratulations all around before everyone sat down to eat.
Later, when T'Boh awoke, Varun carried a small meal to her, and sat beside her while she ate, watching their sleeping daughter. "She is lovely, T'Boh. I find no fault with her at all."
T'Boh beamed at him. "You have never found any fault with any of our children."
"That is because there is no fault to find. You have given me three fine healthy children, and I have only gladness as a result." He laid his fingers softly against her face, and shared his love and joy with her. And when the baby woke and began to fuss, he lifted her up and changed her wet diaper, and walked about the room, with the baby against his shoulder, treasuring what they had created between them.
