"I-I can't... I can't do this!" She panted, her breaths short but heavy as yet another wave of pain tore through her middle.
A cry escaped her lips; the pressure too much to bare. Her mind no longer capable of rational thought as the contraction reached its peak, "I-it hurts..."
She whimpered as the intensity settled once again, her heart beating right out of her chest at the anticipation and dread of the next looming shock wave that was sure to send her over the edge. She couldn't take any more; she didn't want this any more. For the pain to stop was her only thought, the fear and panic cut deep within her chocolate irises.
He felt helpless, like a spare part that no longer had any use, just sat there watching his love and best friend go through a hell he would never be able to experience. It was gut wrenching, his heart ached for her, wishing that this part would be over already, to give her the rest she so desperately needed after hours and hours with little respite.
She gripped his hand, feeling another, stronger wave about to take hold and there was nothing she could do but ride it out. Gritting her teeth, she felt it come hard and fast, taking her breath away. Unable to hold back, a blood curdling scream shattered the room, the glass of the open windows threatening to break.
He held her, her grip so tight he was losing circulation but it didn't matter, he was her anchor, the one that'd been with her every step of the way and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to see this through. To give her the strength she needed to carry on was his only goal.
As she began to calm once more, she rolled to her side, her dripping wet face and rosy red cheeks came into full view. He swept her hair back away from her sticky skin and stroked down her clammy cheek, leaning forward to kiss her forehead and whisper his will of encouragement, the only thing he could offer right now.
"You can do this, Lucy. You're already doing it and look how far you've come." Feeling her grab a hold of his neck, she drew him in firmly, giving him the chance to embrace her too, his hands cradling her head and shoulders, "That's it, Luce. You've got this! You're doing amazingly, and soon we'll have our baby here."
Listening to the calming tone of his voice, she bore down, using the rest of her strength to push as hard as she could, even if it felt like her insides were on fire. With each pain staking minute, she fought with all she had, with one hard push after another—she'd finally exhausted herself.
"Baby's head is born. One more good push, Lucy, and you'll have your baby." Porlyusica said, feeling sympathy for the young girl who'd reached her limit many hours ago, but had no choice but to keep going—Such was the way of childbirth.
"You hear that, Lucy? I told ya; I knew you could do this!" He reiterated, trying to keep positive for Lucy's sake. She looked completely wiped out and would need all the love and care he could give to her after this. "Just one more big push, Luce, and it'll all be over."
"Please, just get this baby out of me!" The celestial mage cried, another wave making her shiver and convulse, but she pushed through with all her might, "Natsu!" She screamed, almost pulling him into the bed with her.
With one last almighty push, he felt her body finally collapse under him and let go, panting heavily as the sudden feeling of pure relief entered her system. He barely had enough time to move, before a squirming, bloody baby was brought up and placed upon Lucy's heaving chest. It's lungs filling with air for the first time and letting out the sweetest little cry as it adjusted to its new world.
"You have a baby girl." Both new parents heard in the distance, too enraptured by the little life that'd been given to them to truly acknowledge what'd been said. Porlyusica reached up to towel the baby down, and placed a blanket around her wriggling body, "You still have the placenta to birth and the umbilical cord needs to be cut, but as soon as that's done, Wendy can get to work on healing you."
The young mother had zoned out, to her the only people present at that moment was her and her baby. Her body ached and felt more sore than it ever had done, her eyes burned with exhaustion and the area between her legs felt unimaginably bruised and swollen. Yet, her mind focused solely on the infant that was snuggled up on her chest, looking just as beaten and swollen as she did.
Natsu watched from the side, giving him a front row seat to a mother meeting her baby for the first time and by god, did she look good like it. In fact, Lucy had never looked more stunning in his eyes, after everything she'd been through, the ability to now seem so calm as she stroked her new baby's cheek was deserving of admiration in itself. She'd been so brave and so strong, having pushed through the excruciating pain that came with birthing a baby, along with the exhaustion that'd left her feeling weak and fragile.
He moved closer, coming to sit next to her and lean himself against her still sweaty forehead and smiled down at the little creation him and Lucy had created together. An overwhelming sense of pride and joy came over him and tears entered his eyes as he bent to place a kiss atop her head.
"Look what you've done, Lucy, you were incredible!" She heard him say, bringing her somewhat out of her trance and back into the room again. Tearing her gaze away from the little one enjoying the warmth of her skin and glanced up at the dragon slayer, smiling brightly at him.
"You mean what we did, Natsu. I couldn't have got through that without you." She admitted, her voice airy and teeming with sleep as she reached up to his cheek to caress it softly.
Entwining his fingers with hers, he leaned in to her palm, an enormous grin taking over his features, causing a few tears to spill over down his cheeks. He knew Lucy would be resilient, full of determination even when she felt like giving up and in the end, she'd brought their baby safely into the world, something he'd be forever grateful for.
"Do you want to hold her?" She asked him and he looked startled for a moment, but quickly overcome it and jumped at the chance to hold his baby daughter. Gently taking her from her mothers arms, he sat back in his seat next to the bed, holding the baby girl with his strong arms, totally mesmerised by how beautiful she was.
She had puffy cheeks and was still covered in strange fluids and blood, but that didn't take away from the happiness he felt as he stared at the only other girl in his life that he could ever love as much as he loved Lucy. When she opened her eyes to take a look at her new surroundings, she stared deeply into her fathers enamoured features, seeming entranced by the man that could do nothing but smile down at her familiar tuft of pink hair and large, twinkling brown eyes, bringing her up to kiss her soft cheek.
"Thank you, Lucy." He squeezed their still tangled fingers and looked up to her, noticing the glow of Wendy's magic as she began to heal the weary celestial mage, making her more comfortable and ready for sleep. "I love you, so much."
Managing a small smile back, the girl finally succumbed to the tiredness, "I love you too… Natsu." She drifted off at the end, her body spent.
The last image to go through her mind was the sight of her beloved dragon slayer sat next to her, holding her hand whilst cradling their newborn in his arms, the look of pure elation as he became acquainted with the little girl.