Melanie shifted in bed, Harlan was gone working in the infirmary. It had been close to two weeks since Christmas. Melanie had been having contractions on and off for a week, she sighed walking around the bedroom, they had been doing everything to induce labor.
It was about 2AM, the kids were asleep, Melanie walked around the house quietly, and up and down the stairs. She kept up with that for a while, before giving up and going to bed.
The next day, Harlan was at the meeting hall talking with Rick and Michonne. Melanie was downstairs sewing Sarah's dress were she ripped it. The kids had finished school lessons, and playing in the playroom keeping busy. She had been having contractions all morning, but kept them to herself. She finished fixing the dress and started hand sewing some fat quarters together, she was making another blanket.
She groaned as she walked back from the bathroom, and felt her water break. She stopped grabbing a towel putting it on the floor wiping it up, her contractions were more intense. "Sarah?" She groaned.
Sarah came into the kitchen. "Hi Mama." She smiled brightly up at her.
"Get your boots, coat, hat and mittens on." She breathed slightly, forcing a smile. "Go get Papa Harlan from the meeting hall were grandma and grandpa are."
Sarah bit her lip. "Mama okay?"
"Mama's hurting. Baby be here soon - really soon." She let out a soft groan. "Just tell papa Harlan that I need help."
Sarah watched her for a second, nodded then ran and got her boots, coat and mittens then her hat on. She walked to the door. "Watch me?"
"I will." She smiled slightly. "Thank you honey. Big girl." She opened the door.
Sarah smiled and then took off running. Melanie watched until she couldn't see her anymore as the snow was falling..
Melanie groaned shutting the door and breathed. She walked to the playroom and put the baby gate up. "Keep playing." she smiled, and walked to the living room, holding onto the back of the sofa. She undid her sweat-pants, letting her oversized t-shirt hangover covering her completely and let out a groan. "Shit." She muttered.
Sarah ran to the meeting hall huffing it took her a while walking through the snow, and on the ice from the house to the hall, She wiped the snow from her face. "Daddy." She called out going inside. "Daddy!" She screamed over the laughter at the table.
Harlan looked over, surprised she called him that. "What's wrong Sarah?" He asked moving back and going over to her. "You okay?"
Sarah huffed shaking her head and stomped her foot. "Mommy.." She panted more looking up at him. "Needs help. Tummy hurts. Baby soon.." She wasn't sure if she remembered correctly or not.
Rick looked at Michonne. "In labor?" He asked slightly worried, he stood up.
Sarah shrugged. "Tummy hurts." She said more firmly with a sassy stomp. "Now daddy."
Rick was grabbed by Michonne "She'll be okay." She smiled slightly, pulling him back down on the couch.
Harlan stood up, grabbed his coat, and slid it on. "Lets go." he smiled picking up Sarah. Sarah held on tightly. It was snowing out again, she buried her face into his coat.
Melanie groaned softly and picked one leg up holding it against her breathing hard she felt a shift and relaxed. She moved upstairs keeping the kid gate locked so the kid would stay in the room downstairs. She kept her hand on the baby's head was out and breathed, she moved and squatted beside the bed, and pushed. She was cursing under her breath
Harlan tried his best to hurry, and becareful carrying Sarah. "Almost home.." He smiled rubbing her back.
"Cold daddy." Sarah clinged tightly.
"I know honey." He smiled. "Home soon, go settle in front of the fire.." He glanced with his brown eyes an saw the rooftop of the house. "Thank goodness."
Melanie grabbed a towel, throwing it on the floor beneath her. "C'mon baby.." She groaned more, and kept a hand on the baby. She had a gut feeling something wasn't right. "Shit." she groaned.
Harlan smiled climbing on the porch while he carried Sarah inside putting her down. Sarah pulled her coat and mittens off, sitting on the sofa cuddling under a blanket.
Melanie let out a loud groan, Sarah glanced up at Harlan, then at the ceiling, looking worried.
He smiled. "it's okay, baby's take work. Get warmed up." He patted her back and took off his coat, and rubbing his hands together to warm them up and quickly washed them in the sink.
Harlan walked upstairs, looking into the bathroom, then into the bedroom he saw her squatting, and holding onto the table with one hand, the other holding onto the baby as it came. He kneeled down and watched letting her do it, he smiled watching.
Melanie let out a groan and breathed, she felt excited as the baby came more. "Oh gosh." she smiled at Harlan, and looked down at the baby, and leaned against the bed putting her other hand down to assist her as the baby slid out. "Feels off.." She looked at him worried. Harlan quickly felt, "Cord wrapped around baby's neck. It's okay." He slid his fingers under it and slowly got it off the baby.
She groaned and moved her hand feeling the baby slid right out after getting the cord moved, she caught it as Harlan moved his hand back letting her do it.
"It's a boy.." She smiled and cried holding him close, he was a long slender baby with black hair.
Harlan smiled kissing face, and looked the little boy over. "You did wonderful, congratulations honey." He grabbed another towel and put it over him.
Melanie smiled kissing him, and then glanced down at the screaming baby. "He's perfect."
Harlan helped Melanie cleaning her up and getting her into bed. He examined the baby. "7 pounds and 21 inches long." He smiled measuring and weighing him, he rubbed the towel over the baby and got him wrapped up in a few towels as the fire was blazing in the room, he knew Melanie wanted to give him a bath in the next few days, they left the vernix on him, even back in the old world, Harlan recommended leaving it on and letting it be rubbed in instead of washing it off. He handed the baby to Melanie.
Melanie smiled taking her shirt off and undid the towels cuddling with him skin to skin. "Negan Trenton" She smiled softly, cuddling him close. The baby was awake and staring at her with his blue eyes. Melanie kissed him over and over again.
"Good name... Hello Jr." Harlan smiled, he kissed her cheek and held her close, all of Melanie and Negan's kids looked the same as newborns. "Looks like his dad."
"All that work, and they all look like their father.." She laid her head on his shoulder.
Harlan smiled slightly holding her close, he kept a close eye on them both as he took care of the kids, and brought them up to meet their new brother.
