AN: This is so horrible of me, but I'm stuck in the wonderful world of Writer's Block with the simple, domestic stuff I had planned to post next. So, instead of a few appropriate filler chapters that are almost certainly needed-! You're getting another big, dramatic chapter. If you're still reading this ridiculousness, God bless you! I don't know why you're here, but thanks.

(Oh, Lord! When will this horror show be over, already?)


"Raal? Raal! Raal!" he woke up to his wife's urgent cries. Freneá's tone was dire and her voice breathless, panting in her state of hysteria. She gripped his shoulder, squeezing, and Raal finally turned over. "Raal, I think I'm bleeding!" He was still waking up, still comprehending his surroundings. "Wha-?" Freneá found his hand and dug her fingernails into his skin. Raal gasped and sat up straight. "Raal, I'm bleeding!"

"Angel! Angel, relax. Breathe, love. Where are you bleeding? Like, a nosebleed or-"

"Fierfek, Raal! Something must be wrong with the baby! I'm bleeding!"

Raal began to share some of her panic and he hurried out of bed to flick on the lights. Freneá was sitting up in bed, one hand clutching her belly, the other slowly peeling the sheets off of herself. True to her claim, the sheet beneath her was now stained with a spot of blood. And just like that, something clicked inside him and the panic started. He rushed back to her side. "Are you in pain?"

"I might have had a few contractions already, but I didn't think anything of it! It feels like the ones I was having last week!"

Raal nodded and leaned over her to kiss her head. "It's alright. Calm down. How much do you think you're bleeding?"

"I'm soaked, Raal! My underwear! My nightgown!"

"Okay, okay. Breathe for me, angel. Just hold on. Let me go get my mother."

There was a plan, he tried reminding himself as he sprinted out of their room and up the staircase for his parents' bedroom. They'd designed a whole plan for this day and Raal was already forgetting. Money was tight and starting this family was proving to be very expensive, so Freneá had opted for a home birth and the Organa family's servant Memily would be taking the lead for delivery. The Panteers had no staff trained to assist with the birth and Memily had experience in a few high-risk situations. She'd delivered Raynar during the evacuation of Alderaan as well as Sabé's daughter and Leia's twins. Her resume satisfied Raal and Freneá enough and the mere cook had happily agreed to also aiding Freneá through labor and delivery. That was the plan, but Raal could hardly think past the moment at hand.

He skidded to a stop on carpet and nearly fell over outside his parents' room. Without bothering to knock, he burst in started sputtering, "Mother! It's Freneá! The baby! Something's wrong!"


An hour later, Raal found himself almost feeling lost. He remained at Freneá's side- that wasn't changing anytime- while everything around him moved too quick for him to register. Besides, his attention was fixed on his wife. Stila had talked to Freneá for a little while, briefly assessing the situation before she called Memily who had arrived only minutes ago. Heeth and Casso stood outside the room, but they'd already come in a couple times to offer Freneá some comfort and Raal some rallying words. The father-to-be had hardly paid them a second of his attention, though. He couldn't tear his focus from Freneá if he wanted to.

That's where he found himself again. He anchored on to her just as much as Stila encouraged Freneá to anchor on to him. He was right there with her, claiming the seat next to her for their baby's arrival. He held her, encompassed her in him, surrounded her. He kept her focused on him and it seemed to help in calming her. Except, that was becoming difficult as her contractions were growing closer together.

"That's not normal," Raal caught his mother whispering frantically to Memily. The younger woman frowned. "No, but she hasn't dilated yet. I don't think we need to worry yet."

No worries, Raal thought to himself. No worries. We're all good. Baby is coming. I'm ready for this. Aren't I? Kriff! What about Freneá?

Raal raised her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips along the soft skin there. She managed a smile through another contraction. "You alright, angel?"

She nodded and pulled him closer, burrowing her head into his chest. "Stay," she murmured.

"Forever," he vowed.

Raal was completely unable to think past his wife, but he didn't realize it until Gram showed up. Freneá was gritting her teeth and moaning through another contraction when Heeth hesitantly came to his side and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Raal stayed with her until the pain dulled back to bearable and he turned his gaze to see his brother in-law in the room, holding a gift bag in one hand. "H-hey," he spoke in his own nervous stammering. He watched his sister and grimaced when she didn't acknowledge his presence. "Casso commed me. How is she?"

"She's being strong," Raal assured him and dropped another kiss on Freneá's head. "But we're getting closer."

"Sooner than later," Stila added, directing an encouraging smile Gram's way, "you're going to be an uncle." She assured him moreover, taking a step to his side to pat his arm.

On cue, Freneá suddenly screamed and Raal's attention was wrenched back to her. It was all he could do, but Raal buried his nose in her hair and whispered every word of comfort he could think of. I'm so sorry you're in pain, angel. I'm so sorry that this is so hard. I wish I could hurt for you. I hope you know I'd love to go through this so you wouldn't have to. But this is your job. And I know you can do this.


Gram and Freneá Cortess were close. It was simple and pure, the sibling bond they shared. Gram had spent his sister's whole life being her protector and it hurt him to see her in so much pain. He hated that this wasn't like the time when Leia's baby pet thranta had bitten Freneá's finger and Gram had only had to kiss it better for her to go off skipping, the small incident already forgotten. This wasn't like the time she had been skipping around outside when she had tripped and fallen down the little hill behind their home and twisted her ankle. Gram had carried her to Yisa, took out a coloring book, and made her laugh until she forgot it hurt. It hurt Gram to see his sister enduring a pain far worse than a twisted ankle and that there was nothing he could do.

Raal was at her side, holding her close, and she still screamed and cried aloud during the worst of it. Her screams were frequent and it squeezed at Gram's heart. Besides the sounds, her long and desperate wails, there was the sight and Gram went pale every time Stila threw another blood-stained towel into the laundry basket by the door. Stila had suggested numerous times that he take a walk outside or leave the room for just a while, but he insisted. Heeth stayed, offering comfort to his own brother who seemed nervous. He would stay- for Freneá.

He thought he finally relaxed a bit when Raal invited him up to the bed. "Maybe, you can get her to calm," he suggested when Freneá hit a peak of hysteria. Gram nodded and kneeled at Freneá's other side.

"Something is wrong." Memily's statement came with no prior concern or mention, just a suddenly stated fear. Gram and Raal both looked up and Stila gave a little shudder.

No one knew what to make of that, but the plain and clear fear displayed by Memily was not reassuring. This was the one who had helped deliver Raynar Thul in the middle of an invasion. She'd seen to Sabé's health while expecting a child in her age. And, less than a year ago, she'd seen to the safe delivery of Jaina and Jacen Solo who had come in the middle of the Solo family's flight aboard the Falcon to Corellia. The Panteers had insurmountable faith stored in Memily. But this was beyond her.

"Freneá has been in labor for four hours and she's almost fully dilated. That isn't normal."

Sullen looks were traded around the room on pale faces before Raal stuttered, "Well, w-what does that mean? Is that bad? Is she okay? I mean, things are just moving a little faster. There's nothing wrong with that. Right?"

"Something might be wrong with the baby, something might be wrong with Freneá. I don't know. All I know is that she's losing too much blood and her labor is proceeding too quickly. I know you don't want to hear this, Raal, but we need to take her to the hospital. Now."