I've been looking forward to writing this chapter for a while so this was enjoyable.

After the stressful night and long conversation following the encounter with the changeling, Jim wanted nothing more than to sleep. Arriving home, he was surprised to see Cassidy and Claire were both asleep. Changing into sweats and a t-shirt, he curled up next to his wife, brushing her long black hair out of her peaceful face before lying his head down. The moment his head hit the pillow, sleep consumed him and there was no waking him up.

He felt safe for some reason. Though he shouldn't have, aware there were changelings lurking among them, he felt nothing but safe. Cuddled next to his wife, daughter asleep a foot away, it just seemed perfect. He couldn't recall if he dreamt, but for some reason wanted to. His body was asleep but mind wide awake. He couldn't help but think about the simplest things like if the dishes were clean if Cassidy's oxygen was stable if Toby had gotten home okay even though he'd watched him enter the apartment complex he and Darcy shared an apartment in. It could've been seconds or hours he spent thinking of useless things that wouldn't matter tomorrow.

Rolling over, her right ear was exposed to sound and the noise of light groaning was present. Assuming it was Cassidy he batted an eye open, turning up and able to make out that Claire was sat up."Ess bugging you?" he asked, closing his eyes but making sure he was awake enough to hear her response.

Exhaling loudly, Claire leaned her head back." I..." she paused, hand loosening its grip on her stomach." I think I'm having contractions."

"What?" Jim asked, eyes widening, question if he'd heard her right."What do you mean you think you're having contractions?"

She shrugged."I've never actually felt a contraction, but, these aren't kicks." she assured him, back arching and breath hitching. Jim sat up, telling himself to remain calm. Pressing his hand against her exposed stomach, he felt something similar to a kick but in no way the same thing. It was an almost rippling feeling, the tension spreading across her entire body. As quickly as it started the ripple sensation perished and Claire let herself breathe, rubbing her swollen stomach.

"How close are they?" he asked, trying to remember the brief passage on labor and contractions he'd read from the baby book when she was pregnant with Cassidy.

"Mhmm, not very. Earlier at Darcy's, I noticed one or two but they weren't that bad. Again, I'm not entirely sure if it's contractions but it easily could be." she said, placing one of her hands on her back that was throbbing with pain.

"Do you think it's Braxton hicks?" he asked, rubbing her back gently.

Claire leaned forward as far as she could, shaking her head."My back is killing me and I'm pretty sure they're getting closer."

Jim laughed deliriously."So this is happening."

Claire turned to him with a tired smile."Yup,"

"Why don't you try and sleep some more, I'll call my mom and your parents to tell them what's going on," he suggested, standing up, making sure to be quiet as not to wake Cassidy. Having her well slept would definitely help with the situation.

"No, I'm not tired," she sighed, holding her hands up." Can you?" grabbing both her hands and looping an arm around her waist, he hoisted her off the bed, only letting go when she was stable." I think I'm going to take a bath," she said, placing both hands on her back, trying to apply pressure to relieve the pain.

Standing before the stove, Jim waited patiently for the tea kettle to boil. The ringing sound of his phone barely drowned out the sound of the running bath, Claire was soaking in. Though he was still exhausted and knew that would be the last chance to get any sleep, Jim couldn't force himself to. Claire had never gone through labor or even a contraction so he wanted to be there to offer any support he could. After a minute of ringing, there was ruffling from the other end before his mother's tired voice entered the frame.

"Jim, honey, it's 3 A.M., if this can wa-"

"Sorry to wake you but," he paused the whistling of the tea kettle grabbed his attention. holding his phone to his ear with his shoulder, Jim poured the tea into a mug, camomille teabag inside."Claire's having contractions."

"It's probably Braxton hicks, she's three weeks early-"

"Mom this isn't Braxton hicks," he said sternly, not in the mood to deal with his mother's doctor side." She says they've been a few hours apart and her back is sore," he said, mixing the honey and lemon he'd added to the tea in a clockwise motion.

"Okay, when she has them write down the time and how long it lasted. If they're five minutes apart for an hour, that's when I'd say to go in or if her water breaks," she informed him, voice more awake and alert than before.

"Thanks, mom," he said, stressing mentally. Cassidy's had been stressful, yes, but in a different manner. He'd never seen childbirth and being an emotional guy, hated seeing those he loves in pain.

"Jim sweety, Claire will be okay," Barbara assured him.

Jim smiled, inhaling the sweet and sour smell the lemon and honey made, mixed with the camomille."I know she will."

"Of course she will, but you haven't seen childbirth. It is one of the hardest things, and it will be very hard on Claire," she warned, voice swimming with concern.

"I know mom, don't worry I won't faint or anything," he promised, not squeamish around blood in the slightest. (A good trait the TrollHunter needed, constantly being in bloody situations.)

"Okay, call me about any changes. I'll call Ophelia to inform her." Barbara said, sully awake at that point.

"Thanks, I should go," he said, able to hear Claire moaning loudly.

"Of course, Walt and I will start driving up today," she said, pushing on her husband's arm.

"See you then," he said, hanging up before she could add anything else on. Setting his phone on the counter, he rushed into the bathroom, seeing Claire with her head limped back, hands holding her stomach." You okay?" he asked, grabbing a piece of paper to jot down the time as his mom said.

"Ya," she groaned, stretching her legs for as far as they'd go in the small tub." What did Barbara say?" she asked, having overheard part of the conversation before the contraction hit her.

"She said if you have consistent contractions every five or so minutes for an hour, we should go in," he said, sitting on the toilet seat, noticing his hands were shaking. He was shocked he wasn't more nervous. With Cassidy, he'd be plenty nervous but that was a sudden event. This had a prolonged beginning and all he could do was wait as the pain Claire felt grew. At least they were more prepared for Estelle even if she was three weeks early, having practically everything set up, well except for her bassinet, and clothes already washed. Claire's bag had been packed for weeks and they had Toby and Darcy just down the road who they'd call up to watch Cassidy when they left.

Claire nodded, letting her shoulders fall under the water." They've just started getting closer, we probably still have a while." she said calmly. Perhaps the bath was calming her nerves because, in contrast to her fear of labor throughout most of the pregnancy, she was relatively calm." When did you get home?" she asked, hands rubbing her stomach.

Brain still half asleep, it took him a moment to think back."Around one,"

"You should sleep," she suggested.

Though tempting, Jim shook his head in refusal." I should get her bassinet ready," he said, kissing the top of her head before leaving."I made you some tea when you get out.

Claire smiled sweetly."My hero."

Sat on the floor, lamp positioned on the ground as not to wake Cassidy, Jim managed to figure out the relatively simple bassinet structure in comparison to Cassidy's crib which took a few days for him to complete. It was white, propped up on short legs. It would stand at the same height as their bed and he planned on placing it at the foot of their own. At the sound of Cassidy's whimpers, he turned towards her crib, relieved that she was only turning. Seeing her tube was wrapped around her torso, Jim quickly rose, gently lifted her up. Unwinding the tube(glad to see she was sleeping well) Jim stared down at his daughter, his first daughter. He hadn't had the time to think about how in a matter of days at most, though probably less, he'd have two little girls. His Cassidy and Estelle. Cassidy Maria Lake and Estelle Juliet Lake. Two wild girls, one of which was a toddler and the other a baby. It would be crazy but he couldn't wait.

Hearing the water shut off, he gently set Cassidy back down, making sure her tube wasn't damaged in any way. Lying her magenta baby blanket, that she had zero attachment to, over her small body, he leaned over kissing her soft cheek.

"God Estelle," Claire sighed, pulling one of her only t-shirt that fit, a dark purple one that made her stomach obvious.

"Another one?" Jim asked, surprised she was already having another contraction, concern striking him.

"No," she said, looking down at her stomach." Just that I'm huge," she sighed, preferring when she was smaller with Cassidy and able to move around easier.

Jim laughed, stepping up to her and placing both hands on her stomach."I'll admit, I was surprised how big you did get."

Claire took no offense to the statement like she typically would."Can you believe we'll have two?"

"No," he laughed breathily."It feels like yesterday Cass was born."

"Please let this one be easier than hers's," she begged genuinely, Jim hoping the same.

"Well, I can assure you that emotionally this should be easier. Physically, I..."

"Don't remind me," she grumbled, not looking forward to when she was active labor.


"Oh fuck," she groaned, hanging her head between her arms that were pressed against the hospital bed. She shifted between legs as the contraction overwhelmed her. Long moans escaped her already exhausted body, back arching and breathe cutting off. Jim watched from his chair beside her bed, unsure of what he should do. With Cassidy, he was able to hug her and tell her that their daughter would live. But this time, no matter would he said would ease her pain. Worry could be eased or relieved but pain couldn't be.

Straightening up after the contraction ended, she sighed holding her stomach with both hands. Rotating towards Jim she frowned."Don't look at me like that." she said painfully, gritting her teeth due to the lingering pain of the contraction.

"Like what?" he asked, standing up and stepping up to her. Claire's face was already a bright red from holding her breath during contractions that were growing closer and closer. Hugging his chest, burrowing her face into the center of it, she gave no answer, comforted by his touch. Jim sighed mentally, placing his arms around her, rubbing her sore back gently." Soon we'll have her," he whispered, excited to meet Estelle but fearful to see her in so much pain."Both our little girls."

"You better start using a fucken condemn." she cursed, shutting her eyes tight as the pain pierced her.

"Hah," Jim laughed, looking up towards the ceiling, continuing to try and comfort her."I see you're still able to make fun of me."

"Always," she swore, sighing with relief as it ended. Moving her hands to his shoulders, she resting her head on his shoulder." Though I am serious about that. Two in a one-room apartment is my limit."

"Oh so if we move we can have another?" he asked, grin on his pale face from fear he was trying to ignore.

Claire raised an eyebrow, questioning if he was serious."Let me get this one out before you try and get me knocked up again."

"I do want a boy," he said, happy with girls but excited for when he'd have a son.

"Ya ya, I know. Toby was saying earlier that he thinks it's impossible for us to have boys but Darcy's betting the next will be," she informed him, recalling how a short 24 hours earlier she was hanging out with her friend and daughter, relaxing and chatting, and now she was in a hospital room, in labor, hours from meeting her Estelle.

"Next?" he asked, enjoying how she was sounder more and more open the idea to another even if they were nowhere near having another(though they did say that after Cassidy but here they were).

"Will you shut up?" she asked painfully, lips wilting to a frown, head bowing forward."Oh god," she gasped, eyes doubling as a gush of water ran down legs, pooling around the two. Claire's body shook as she turned up towards him with wide frozen eyes, pooled will fear.

Things moved quickly after that, the contractions growing stronger and closer together. And in a matter of minutes, she was fully dilated. He found himself standing beside her, arm around the head of the bed while Claire grasped the other with a firm vengeful grip.

"Good job Claire," her doctor in New Jersey, Dr. Ada said in the patient voice Claire needed at that moment." I want you to push on the next contraction," she said as a nurse shuffled behind her, getting the hospital bassinet ready since things were moving quicker than they'd expected.

Claire nodded, eyes red from crying so much. She sent her head back in preparation, already gripping Jim's torn hand. Waiting three seconds, as the contraction began she held her breath, face turning purple. Unable to hold it for the entire contraction, Claire cried out, gasping for breath as it finally ended."You're doing great," he whispered though was pretty sure she didn't hear him. He had no idea what to say or do, feeling his own heartbreaking as she writhed in pain.

"Good, try and hold it for the entire contraction this time." Dr. Ada said to a short breathe Claire.

"Okay," she spat out, chest rising and falling rapidly as she caught her breath before the contraction began. Jim wondered what she was thinking if anything. His mind was quite scattered and he wasn't the one having a baby. He wondered if she was able to think of anything or if the pain fought for her own comprehension. Claire's shrill scream broke him from his train of thought and he turned to her, face and entire body covered in sweat, tears running down his face.

Shifting his body an inch forward, he was shocked to see the top of Estelle's head. He wasn't grossed out but overwhelmed with a million feelings. Unlike Cassidy's pregnancy, he had been dealing with moving from California to New Jersey, defeating the Arcane Order, and even hours earlier, dealing with the strange and mysterious Changelings, leaving him with little time to get excited for Estelle or even spend much time fawning and talking to her stomach like he had with Cassidy.

"Holy-" Claire's curse was cut off by her own breath coming back to haunt her, gasp quickly shifting to a shriek. A sob followed, throwing her head back to cry. Her grip loosened for the moment, letting herself rest after the unearthly pain.

"I've got her head," Dr. Ada informed her, shocking both teens that her head was already out. Making sure the umbilical cord wasn't wrapped around her neck, Dr. Ada nodded to herself.

"Her...?" Claire repeated, stunned mid sob.

"Hah," Jim interjected deliriously, seeing the small head.

"Push," she called up to the exhausted Claire. Instinctively, Claire pushed face red as the hair tie, holding her long black hair in a messy bun. The veins on her face were visible, and Jim's knuckles flushed white under her enticing grip. The room was filled with her blood-curdling scream, in between which were long sobs. Her torso convulsed and her heart rate spiked. The atmosphere in the room changed in a matter of seconds, switching from stress and fear to an amazing feeling neither teens would forget."Here she is," Dr. Ada announced, stepping up from her spot at the foot of the bed, in her arms holding the baby. So quickly but gently, she lied her on Claire's chest, both teens dumbstruck by what had just happened.

"Oh my..." escaped Jim's mouth as he stared, entranced by the crying newborn baby a light pink.

Claire, tears still running down her face, sobbed this time out of joy, looking through clouded eyes at her newborn daughter." Estelle," was the only thing she could manage to say, overjoyed to finally meet her, forgetting the pain still flooding her. Arm still around her, he sat on the edge of the bed, reaching his hand Claire's hand been previously squeezing, he set it over on her small warm back, blood and fluids getting onto his sleeve, though he didn't notice. Claire leaned her exhausted head onto his shoulder, both unable to turn away from their daughter. Their Estelle.

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