*Warning for mention of still born and implied domestic abuse.
It was now late September, Natasha was sleeping peacefully when contractions started. Her eyes shot open but she wasn't due for another four weeks but she knows women in her family tend to deliver early. While in excruciating pain she floo'd to the hospital.
"How far apart are the contractions?"
"I'm not really sure. But I'm not due for another four weeks."
The healer nodded.
"Please contact my fiancé, my friend Rachel and my parents."
The healer nodded again as Natasha was led to a room in a wheelchair. As she got settled in the room, Aaron arrived and sat down next to her.
"You know you're never touching me again," she threatened.
Putting up a front he said. "Alright."
Another couple minutes went by and another contraction. Her brother walked in with their parents following him. The only person that was missing was Rachel.
"How long has she been in labor?" her mum asked.
"About an hour and a half."
Her mum nodded. "If her labors are anything like mine we'll be here for a while."
There was a scream of anguish from Natasha as her mum sat down next to her taking her hand.
"This hurts so much."
"I know, sweetie."
She had been in labor for a few hours but there was barely any progress.
"Mrs. Butler, may we speak with you?"
"Yes."
The healer took her aside. "So, your daughter is having complications with her labor."
"It seems so."
"She's four weeks early isn't she?"
"Yes, but women in my family are known to have long labors and known to deliver before their due date."
The healer frowned. "It seems more serious than that."
"What do you mean?"
"I hope this isn't the case but I think there's a possibility that she might deliver stillborn."
Her face fell as she sank down to cry.
"Love, what's wrong?" Silas asked his wife as he sat down next to her.
MaryAnne turned and sobbed into her husband's chest.
"What's going on?" Milo asked noticing his mum crying.
Silas shrugged.
"Natasha might deliver her daughter stillborn," she informed her husband and son.
"We should tell Aaron, he's the father," Milo said, holding back tears.
"We should."
"Can you go get him?"
Milo nodded and walked back into the delivery room. A few minutes later, he walked back with Aaron.
"What's going on?"
"Natasha might deliver your daughter stillborn."
He nodded stone faced. They expected him to react differently. As they were walking back in Rachel ran up to them.
"What did I miss?" she asked.
They walked back in.
"Everything okay?" Natasha asked.
"Yes," he lied.
The rest of the family looked at each other.
"Is that true?" Natasha asked looking at her parents and brother.
She knew it wasn't by the fact that her mum looked liked she had been crying.
They got a dirty look from Aaron but it didn't deter them.
"There's a possibility that you might deliver your daughter stillborn," her mum explained with a sniffle as her dad wrapped his arm around her.
"There is?"
Her family nodded and she turned to her fiancé. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
"I want to think positive."
"That's nice but I want to know the truth from now on."
He gulped. "In that case, can I have your ring back?"
"What why?"
"I only proposed to get in your pants since you told me that you would only sleep with me if we were more than just a fling. I never wanted to get married especially to you," he sneered at her.
Before she could scream at him another contraction went by and she screamed in anguish instead.
"Can I have the ring back?" he asked.
Natsaha asked her mum to wiggle the ring off her swollen finger and handed it to her. With all her strength, Natasha hurdled the ring towards Aaron's face and it hit him square in the forehead.
Milo dragged him out of the room by the back of his shirt. "You bloody bastard!"
"It's not my fault that your sister is so stupid to think that I actually loved her! I never wanted to be a father either! She lied to me about being on the pill. I never wanted to meet any of her family!"
"Natasha would never lie about something that important, asshole!" Rachel yelled.
"As much I hate to imagine my little sister buying anything like that. She would never lie."
"I've been dosing her with Potions that will definitely cause her to deliver our daughter stillborn!"
And with that Milo punched him before he stumbled away with a bloody nose.
"Try this on for size," Rachel said as she cast a silent Bat Bogey Hex on him.
"That was impressive," Milo complimented.
"Thanks."
They walked back into the delivery room.
A few hours later the healer was right. Natasha did deliver her daughter stillborn.
"This isn't fair," she sobbed into her mum's chest as Milo stroked her hair.
"I know, sweetie."
She asked tearfully. "After I bury my daughter, can I move back home?"
"Of course you can."
"Thank you."
She was released.
—
Two days later the family buried the baby girl that didn't get to live.
Laurel Marie Butler
9/24/99- 9/24/99
"This is so unfair," Ash cried at the grave.
Milo patted her back but he was holding back tears himself.
After the funeral, Natasha began packing to leave back to the UK when there was a knock on the door.
"Can you get that dad?"
"Sure, honey."
She didn't feel like interacting with any of her neighbors right now.
"I tried to stop her from coming in but she insisted."
"At least you tried dad, what is it Ms. Green?"
"How dare you break poor Aaron's heart when he loved you so much."
"With all due respect, he broke my heart and I'm the one who trusted him with my heart and he broke."
"I wish you never moved in here. We would be better off without you!"
"I think you should go now, you have no right to speak to my daughter like that!" Silas yelled.
Ms. Green stormed out of the house as Natasha sank down into the chair. She knew the neighborhood would side with Aaron since he was here first. The only people that were on her side was her family.
Silas patted his daughter's back in comfort.
"I wish I had never met and fell for that arsehole!" Natasha sobbed angrily wiping her tears.
"We all make mistakes, Ashby."
There was another knock on her door but this time it was Rachel.
"You're moving?" she asked sounding hurt.
"I am."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry. I already wrote in my resignation."
Rachel nodded. "I'm going to miss you."
"Same here."
"Do you think we can keep in touch?"
"Of course."