Chapter 54 – Braxton hicks

A Month Later…

Rogue let a pained groan rumbled through her as she leant back against the edge of the bath tub and stretched her aching back as far as the belly would allow. The rounded beach ball that had taken over her every waking moment had been lovingly christened 'The Belly" by John shortly after she had switched to wearing maternity clothes. If that wasn't enough to earn her scorn, the label had stuck amongst many of her friends and family until even she couldn't help but refer to it as such.

A frustrated sigh escaped her as she turned onto her side and braced the edge of the tub with one hand. Between the belly, her swollen ankles that she could no longer see and the chronic back pain, she needed to be as kind to herself as her touch-and-go emotional state could manage. After all, she was supposed to be relaxing into her first week of maternity leave. Hours of packing up the apartment for the big move and taking calls from Abby from the office (that she was not supposed to be taking) defeated the idea of relaxation and rest. From the headache throbbing in her head to the aching in her ankles, she needed nothing more than to relax but it didn't come as naturally as she had anticipated. Boredom was the frenemy of time off and relaxation.

"Chére, y' home?"

The sound of the apartment door shutting broke followed by Remy's call snapped her out of her own miserable musings. She called him to her and not a minute later Remy's familiar stride of steps sounded in the hallway before the bathroom door opened and Remy appeared. An appreciative, loving smile spread across his lips as he crossed his arms and leant against the doorframe. Perched in such a delectable position, Rogue noticed his white shirt was streaked with motor oil which was a fine match for the smear on his left cheek and the mussed state of his freshly cut hair that fell ever so slightly into his eyes. Her brow creased ever so slightly at the sight of the dark shadows still visible under his eyes. Weeks of troubled sleep and the lingering grief of losing Aveline still left a mark. Nonetheless, he was happier today, and he looked so thoroughly rugged in the way she loved most after a long day that her expression eased and for a moment she forgot the discomfort she was in. She more than managed a genuinely happy soft smile.

"Y' been in here long, belle?"

Rogue shook her head as another wave of pain ran down her back and across her belly, causing her brow to pinch and a hiss to cut through her teeth. She shifted in the water, causing a slosh of bath suds to tip over the edge of the tub as she moved. Another groan escaped her as she turned and clutched the tub edge with both hands to steady her buoyant form. Before she knew it, Remy was kneeling beside the bath and steadying her, holding her shoulders to keep her upright in the water. The loving eyes and easy smile disappeared, replaced with brewing concern.

"Bebe, are y' alright?"

Rogue took a steadying breath as she reached and grasped his hand firmly. After a few moments of steady breathing, the pain eased a little and she released the deep breath she had held clenched between her teeth. When she met his gaze again, his eyes seemed a little wider with worry, causing her stomach to hollow with guilt. She tried a smile but felt it tremble on her lips.

"Just feeling a little worse for wear today. An hour or two in the tub should set me right again… like yesterday, its just Braxton hicks…"

His worried gaze didn't ease nor did the grip of her hand on his. Gently, Remy reached with his free hand to rub the small of her back to sooth the pain he could feel practically radiating off of her like heat. A moment after he began to draw soothing circles into her back, a pained gasp escaped her lips followed by a low hiss as she tucked her head until her forehead kissed the edge of the bath. Before she could say anything let alone contradict her pained state, Remy was carefully pulling her out of the tub, cautioning her to be careful as she lifted each leg over the edge. She vaguely remembered murmuring that she was too heavy to pick up before Remy wrapped her in a fuzzy towel and scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Between gasps of pain, Rogue managed to speak.

"Rems, Ah'm okay- hngh! Really ah'm-hh!"

A pained whimper slipped out as he gently placed her back onto her feet near their bed when she suddenly cried out and bowed forward. Instinctively, her hands clutched his forearms and his latched to her shoulders to steady her as she clenched her teeth and bowed her head between them instinctively. A few moments of short breaths and pained groans later, Remy managed to get her to look at him before speaking. He was calm and gentle about it, much to their surprise.

"Rogue, I really t'ink we need t' call Doctor McCoy."

Rogue felt her stomach hollow with what she could only describe to herself as utter terror as she shook her head.

"No, we don't need to-ah!"

A gasp of surprise escaped her shortly before a slow trickle of fluid began its descent down her legs and onto the floor. Rogue couldn't stop staring as the small pool of fluid puddled around her toes. When she finally managed to look up at Remy, who hadn't stopped holding her, her eyes were wider than headlights on a truck.

"Ah think we need Doctor McCoy…"

Review! x Thanks for being so patient with me folks, life's gotten a bit chaotic and crazy busy but I hope to finish this up sooner than you all probably thought!