Daddy Duo
Chapter 9
Solo and Duo
Duo's cell phone rang. He grabbed it and asked, "Hilde?" in an anxious tone.
"This is Heero," said the familiar monotone.
"Heero, can you make it short?" Duo asked, "I need to keep the line open in case Hilde calls. Wait, what am I saying? You're not exactly chatty."
"You're babbling," said Heero.
"I know I'm babbling, but that doesn't mean I can help it!" Duo said. "You'd be insane too if your wife was going to have a baby any second!"
"I doubt it," said Heero. "I'd simply be prepared."
"Liar," said Duo. "You're already the most paranoid person alive."
"Being prepared for every contingency is not paranoid."
"That's the definition of paranoia," argued Duo. "Why am I arguing with you, anyway? Why did you call me?"
Heero paused. "I need your help."
Duo held the phone away from his ear with a look of astonishment on his face, then replaced it, "We must have a bad connection. I thought you just said you needed my help."
"I did," said Heero.
"Has the Apocalypse started?" Duo asked sarcastically. "It must have, because you're asking me to help you. What's next, plagues of boils? Locusts?"
"I need your help with an, um, personal matter." Heero said gruffly.
"You have personal matters?" asked Duo.
"Quit joking, baka, or I'll come up to your office, rip your arm off and shove it up your...."
"Ah, now there's the Heero I know and love," said Duo, grinning. "So, go ahead, shoot. Wait, let me rephrase that."
"I need you to ask Hilde to ask Relena what she would like for her birthday."
"Is that it?" asked Duo. "A birthday present?"
"Relena is..a difficult person for whom to buy a gift," said Heero hesitantly.
"That's because she has everything!" said Duo. "So you're not gonna find it in a shopping mall, that's for sure."
"I know," Heero sounded depressed. Depressed for Heero that is. It was hard to tell.
"So, you want me to do a little spying for you?" asked Duo silkenly.
"Yes, if you want to put it that way," Heero replied reluctantly.
"Mission accepted," said Duo, smirking and firing off a mock salute.
"Not funny," said Heero.
"Will achieve secret information from source and report back to 01 in approximately 24 standard hours," said Duo, milking the joke.
"You're pissing me off," said Heero.
"I know," said Duo, pressing "end".
He dialed home.
"Hello?" said a strained female voice that Duo barely recognized. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
"Hilde?" he gasped, "Is that you?"
"Yes, Duo, I've been trying to call you," she said, panting. "I think the baby is coming!"
"I'll be there as fast as I can," he said, "Hang on! I'll leave the connection open."
He sped out of the building and jumped into his car, leaving rubber in the parking lot as he left.
"Hilde! Still there, babe?"
"Yes!" she said. "I think I'll be okay until you get here."
"I'm on my way," he said, weaving in and out of traffic expertly. "Trying to beat all the lights."
He suddenly heard the wail of a siren behind him. "SHIT!"
He sped up. "Not NOW!" he cried, hitting the wheel with his fist.
The cop pulled up beside him and motioned him over. Duo shook his head.
The cop pointed at Duo and then to the side again.
Duo flashed his Preventor's I.D.
The policeman nodded and waved him on.
Duo heaved a sigh of relief. "Une's gonna love that," he muttered under his breath.
"Duo, did I hear a siren?" asked Hilde's voice on the phone.
"No," lied Duo. "Must have been the TV."
"I don't have the TV on," said Hilde.
"Maybe it was the neighbors," Duo suggested.
"You're lying, Duo!" said Hilde. He heard a groan.
"I'm coming as fast as I can!" he yelled into the phone.
"I called Dr. Lamarr," said Hilde. "She's expecting us at the hospital. She said not to worry, first babies take a long time, usually."
"Be our luck to not be usual," said Duo under his breath.
"What?" said Hilde.
"I'll be there in 5 minutes."
"Good," said Hilde. "I'm scared."
"Don't be scared, Hilde."
"I'm trying," she said tearily. He could hear her trying to control her breathing over the phone.
"Almost there," he said turning onto their street.
He screeched into the driveway. Jumping out of the car, he ran inside. He was glad they lived on the ground floor.
Hilde opened the door before he could take out his key.
She had a small bag in her hand.
"I'm ready," she said.
He grabbed her and held her tightly. "Well, I'm not," he said, "Now I'm scared. Are you sure it's not another false alarm?"
"I don't think so," she said, "this feels different."
He nodded. "Let's go."
"I don't wanna have the baby yet!" wailed Hilde.
"Get in the car or I'll pick you up and put you in myself!" Duo yelled, his frayed nerves finally snapping.
"Okay," said Hilde meekly, for once.
"I'm sorry," said Duo. "I'm a little nervous."
He took the bag and led her to the car.
She sat in the leather seat and then suddenly put her head down, panting a little.
"What was that?" asked Duo, his eyes widening.
"A pain," Hilde said, " I tried to time it and I think they're coming every 5 minutes or so."
"Judas Priest!" swore Duo. "We gotta get going!"
He ripped out of the driveway, sending gravel flying everywhere.
"Don't kill us on the way there!" exclaimed Hilde.
"Don't tell me how to drive, woman, and I won't tell you how to have a baby!" he yelled.
"You sound like Wufei," she pouted.
Duo, focused on his driving, said nothing, gritting his teeth.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the emergency entrance of the Preventor's Hospital.
Sally Po was waiting there. Duo was immensely relieved to see a familiar face.
"I'm on emergency duty this week," said Sally to Duo, "I had a feeling we might be seeing you two." She smiled at Duo reassuringly. A nurse brought up a wheelchair and they helped Hilde gingerly into it.
"Dr. Lamarr is on her way," said Sally, "But until then, I'll keep an eye on you, Hilde. There's no reason to be anxious."
Hilde nodded. "I just wish this was all over!" she said to Sally.
"By tonight, you'll have your Solo," said Sally, smiling again. Her clear blue eyes were alight with excitement. "I'll call Wufei and tell him I'm staying with you, if you want."
"I need to call everyone!" said Duo.
"That can wait," said Dr. Lamarr, coming up behind them. "Your job now is to stay with Hilde."
"I'll have Wufei do it," said Sally. "He's stuck at his desk at Headquarters anyway. He's still on limited duty. He's always griping nothing exciting ever happens. This will make his day. Excuse me, I'll be right back."
She left; her long honey colored hair swinging behind her in two French braids.
"I'm glad I'm making Wufei's day," said Hilde. She tried to laugh and ended up moaning as another pain hit her.
"Lets get you settled in," said Dr. Lamarr, taking charge. "We have a birthing room all ready for you."
They followed Dr. Lamarr down the hallway and stopped, pushing the doors open.
"It looks like a motel room," said Duo.
"We try to make this all as non-medical as possible," said Dr. Lamarr. "After all, having a baby isn't an illness."
"Where is the medical stuff?" asked Hilde.
"In the cabinets," said Dr. Lamarr. "Don't worry about that."
"Make yourself at home, Duo," she said, "You're going to be here awhile."
She indicated a recliner and there was even a television set.
Dr. Lamarr and a nurse helped Hilde into a hospital gown.
"Sorry dear, no undies," said Dr. Lamarr. "You've surrendered your modesty at the door."
Duo snickered.
"NO laughing," Hilde said indignantly.
"I want to get a monitor on you, Hilde," said Dr. Lamarr. "We'll monitor the contractions and the baby's heart. It's all done by radio signal, so you can move around all you want."
She held up two elastic belts with small devices on them, put them around Hilde's belly and fastened them. Right away, they could faintly hear the rhythm of a fast heartbeat.
"I can turn up the sound," said Dr.Lamarr. "Most people find it comforting to listen to."
Hilde nodded and then squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of pain started.
"Getting a little stronger," said Dr. Lamarr looking at the monitor.
"See that peak on the graph? That's the peak of the contraction, and then it goes down again. Like an ocean wave. It looks like they're about 5 minutes apart and about a minute long." "How long will it be?" said Hilde, panting a little. She was starting to sweat.
"I really can't say, everyone is different," said the doctor.
"And I haven't checked you yet, so I don't know how dilated you are," she added.
Hilde groaned. "I hate this part, " she muttered.
Dr. Lamarr laughed. "You'd be odd if you liked it," she chuckled.
"Do you want me to leave?" asked Duo.
"Only if Hilde does," said the doctor. "But, pretty soon, you're gonna see a whole lot more, so I don't see what difference it makes. That is, if you want to be here when the kid is born."
"I do," said Duo. "Is it okay if I puke or faint?"
"No," said Dr. Lamarr shortly. "Puking and fainting not allowed. Weaklings must go outside."
"You sound like a friend of mine named Wufei," complained Duo.
"I like him already," said Dr. Lamarr. "Is he that young man Dr. Po is engaged to?"
"Yeah," said Duo. "I forgot you know Sally."
"She's a good surgeon, although we don't work together that much," said Dr. Lamarr. "A very good person, too, from what I can tell."
"My ears are burning," said Sally, sliding open the door a little. "I'm barging in, is that all right, Hilde?"
"Please," said Hilde, grabbing the rails on the bed as another pain began.
"My shift is over for today, so I can stay with you if you want," said Sally.
Hilde's eyes were far away, distracted by the sensations in her body, but she nodded vaguely.
"Wow, that was a good one!" said Dr. Lamarr, looking at the monitor. "I bet you felt that!"
Hilde gave the doctor a vaguely crusty look and let out a big breath.
"We need to check you now, and see where you're at."
Hilde nodded reluctantly. "Come hold my hand," she said to Duo.
He went and stood at the head of the bed, and held her hand tightly.
"This might hurt a little," said Dr. Lamarr. Hilde yelped. Duo grimaced and turned his head.
"Hey, you're almost halfway there!" said Dr. Lamarr, sounding vaguely like a cheerleader. "Four centimeters!"
The nurse nodded and smiled. "When you get to ten, we get to have a baby!" she cooed at Hilde.
"Why is everyone talking to me like I'm an imbecile all of a sudden?" Hilde moaned.
"Sorry," said Dr. Lamarr, laughing. "Bad habit."
"Well, patients in pain tend to get a little child-like sometimes," said the nurse, whose nametag said Lara on it.
"Not there yet," grunted Hilde, feeling another wave of pain pass through her abdomen, starting in her pelvis and threading upwards, then back down again.
"I've been worse pain than this," she gritted through her teeth.
"No talking during contractions, dear,' said Lara. "You need your oxygen."
Hilde shot the nurse a crusty look too, but was quiet. She exhaled loudly as the pain diminished.
"Yes," said Dr. Lamarr, "but we're not even half done."
She grinned. "I have to check another patient, but Lara will be staying with you and I assume Sally and Duo will be here. You're doing great, Hilde. Lara will page me in a little while to check you again."
Hilde nodded. She was just glad to be done with another contraction.
"Get Mr. Maxwell a cold washcloth," said Dr. Lamarr to Lara. "He can help you keep her cooled down. Having a baby is hard work. They don't call it labor for nothing."
She turned to leave, checking the chart she had in her hand and placing it in a slot near the door as she departed.
Lara disappeared into the adjoining bath and came out with a small basin of cold water and a washcloth.
"Here," she handed them to Duo. "Get busy, Dad." She grinned at him.
"I make a crappy nurse," said Duo.
"You'll get better, I promise," said Lara.
"Are you hot?" Duo asked Hilde, feeling her forehead solicitously.
She nodded. He could feel her sweating under his palm and took the cloth and wringing it out, put it on her forehead and then her cheeks.
"Feels good," she said, panting.
She reached up and clenched his hand as another pain hit.
She was squeezing his hand very hard and he looked down and his fingers were turning blue.
A little moan accompanied the cresting of the pain.
"Maybe you should get something for the pain," suggested Duo, flexing his fingers as she gradually released them.
"I'm fine," she rasped. "Can I have some water?"
"You can have a little ice," said the nurse. "Sucking on ice chips will help your thirst without making you nauseous."
Hilde nodded. "Thank you."
"Can I do sumthin?" Duo asked.
"Rub my shoulders," said Hilde. "It'll distract me."
He began to lightly massage her shoulders and arms.
"Too bad we don't have lavender bubble bath," he said, winking at her as she looked back at him.
"That's the furthest thing from my mind right now!" murmured Hilde. "You're never touching me again, you realize that, don't you?"
He pouted. "Man, a little pain and all of a sudden, I'm a eunuch."
"That's right," groaned Hilde, reaching up again to squeeze his hand.
"Another one?" he asked, squeezing her hand back. She simply closed her eyes and didn't respond for a minute.
"Big contraction, Hilde," said Lara. "That baby will be here in no time. You're doing very well for a first baby."
Sally nodded, "Usually, it takes a bit longer than this. You're lucky."
"I don't feel very lucky right now," said Hilde in a breathless voice.
"Once you get to about 7 centimeters," said Lara, "it's like a runaway train."
"Then you hit transition, when the baby comes down between your pelvic bones and that's when things get really wild, and then before long, you'll have to push."
"Wild?" echoed Duo.
"Yes," said Sally. "Transition is the most intense phase of labor. The sensations can be a little overwhelming. Some women kind of loose it," she looked at Hilde.
"Sounds like fun," Hilde grunted in a faintly sarcastic tone.
"Doesn't last long, fortunately," said Lara.
"What do you mean, 'wild'?" asked Duo again.
"One woman threw things at her husband," laughed Lara. "A lot of women swear and yell and some just feel like giving up. I've had a few patients try to get dressed and go home. One lady started laughing hysterically."
"Okay," said Duo. "I get it."
"I've seen soldiers in pain get a little weird," he said.
"Same thing," said Lara. "Something happens to your brain when your nervous system overloads."
A nurse came to the door and put her head in, "Dr. Po, your fiancé is here and some other people. They want to know how Mrs. Maxwell is progressing."
"I'll talk to them," said Sally to the nurse, who nodded and stepped back out into the hallway.
"I'll be right back," she said, "I'm going to go fill everyone in."
Sally went down to the waiting area of maternity and there was Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa.
"How is Hilde?" asked Quatre, standing up.
"She's doing very well, actually," said Sally. "Pretty fast for a first baby, I'm surprised. You're still going to be here awhile," she said.
"It'll be a few hours at least."
She went over to Wufei and sat down next to him. "This could get pretty boring," she warned them.
"I know," said Quatre. "I've waited around a long time for my nieces and nephews to be born." He shrugged. "I'm used to it."
"Hilde is tough, no anesthetic," said Sally.
"She is very brave," said Wufei.
"For a woman, you mean," said Trowa, raising an eyebrow at him.
"No, that's not what I meant," said Wufei. "I don't know where everyone gets this idea that I think women are weak," he complained.
"Because you're always saying it?" suggested Trowa.
"I never said that!" Wufei declared indignantly. Sally grinned.
"He once told me that weak people shouldn't fight," said Sally, "But he never said all women are weak. At least not to me."
"See, I told you," said Wufei, folding his arms.
"I happen to like some women," he said.
"I hope so," said Sally dryly. "You're marrying one."
Trowa held up his hands in surrender. "I humbly apologize," he said smiling faintly.
Sally leaned over and gave Wufei a light kiss on his cheek. "I promised Hilde I'd stay with her through this, so I have to go back. But, we'll get dinner later, okay?" Wufei nodded. "I'm going to take a walk," he got up and headed towards the exit.
"Hospitals aren't exactly his favorite place," said Sally to Trowa and Quatre.
"Mine neither," said Quatre, "Although this is a better reason than most to be here."
Sally nodded. "A happy occasion for a change."
"Maybe there will be more," said Quatre. "I wouldn't mind seeing a little Wufei or Sally running around in a year or so.
Sally blushed. "We'll see. I have to get back to Hilde."
"I'll get you some tea," said Trowa as Quatre sat down again with a book.
"Would you, love?" said Quatre, folding his legs up under him on the couch and opening his book.
Trowa wandered off to the cafeteria to find tea.
Sally went back into Hilde's room.
"I'm back," she said, quickly shutting the door.
"Good!" said Duo. Hilde was holding tightly onto his hand on one side, and Lara's on the other, gritting her teeth.
"Things are getting good, Dr. Po!" said Lara chirpily.
"Shut her UP!" said Hilde through clenched jaws.
Lara just laughed. "They often get this way," she said airily, patting Hilde's back with her other hand. "I warned you," she said to Duo, who was looking a bit pale.
"Maybe we ought to page Dr. Lamarr?" asked Sally, looking at Hilde's monitor readings. "These contractions are only a minute apart!"
"Yes, it's time to check her again," said Lara. "Go ahead and page the doctor, please. I was going to do it as soon as this contraction ended."
Sally went over to the intercom and punched in a few numbers. "I need Dr. Lamarr in Birthing Suite number 2," she said into the intercom. She nodded at the reply. "Dr. Lamarr is on her way," said Sally, coming back over to the bed.
"AHH!" said Hilde, squeezing her eyes shut and pulling up her knees.
"Don't push!" warned Lara, "At least until Dr. Lamarr gets here and checks you. You could tear!"
Duo winced for about the 39th time that day.
Dr. Lamarr came striding into the room and went over to Hilde, "All right, Hilde" she said in a calm tone. "I need to see where you are, and then we'll go from there."
She pulled back the sheet covering Hilde's knees and quickly pulled on a glove. "Take a deep breath."
"Ah, I can feel a head," she said. "You have made progress. 9 centimeters! And only in 3 hours! You might want to bear down, but pant through it, we need just a bit more dilation." Dr. Lamarr told her. "One or two more contractions should do it."
Just then, a warm gush of fluid pooled underneath Hilde's bottom. "Water broke" announced Lara. "It's clear," she added, looking at Dr. Lamarr.
"Great," said the doctor. "That means your baby isn't having any distress nor is there any bleeding."
"Come on Hilde," said Sally, grabbing her hand. "Let's do this!" Another contraction hit and Hilde started to pant like she'd been told. Duo held her other hand and kept wiping Hilde's face and neck with the cold washcloth.
"I feel like an idiot" he muttered to Sally. "I'm not doing anything!" He grimaced as Hilde put a death grip on his hand and started to make a low keening sound.
Hilde stopped moaning and panting and took a deep shuddering breath.
"I HAVE to push!" she announced. Dr. Lamarr looked down again.
"Go ahead, kid, give it hell!" she said grinning, putting on a fresh pair of gloves and placing a stool at the bottom of the bed between Hilde's knees.
Lara grabbed one of Hilde's bent knees and Sally the other, and Duo put his hands on her shoulders.
"Okay, next contraction, I want you to push down through your bottom as hard as you can," said Dr. Lamarr. "Take a deep breath and hold it during the push, and then let it out when it's over."
A primeval grunt came from Hilde's throat in a few seconds and she took a deep breath. "Okay, push," said Dr. Lamarr. Sally and Lara pushed Hilde's knees gently up to her chest.
Dr. Lamarr counted to ten. "And, that's good," she said, nodding. "The baby came down a good centimeter. Let's do that about ten more times."
The next half hour was the same, a loud grunt, a deep breath, and Dr. Lamarr counting the length of the pushes and everyone cheering Hilde on quietly.
"Come on, Hilde," said Sally, "We're so close now! Duo come over here, you can see the baby's head! Look, hair!"
Duo let go of Hilde's hands and went to stand by Sally. "Oh MY GOD!" he said. "Is that it!" He peered down and rubbed his eyes, then looked again. "That's gotta hurt!" he said loudly. Hilde, sweating and panting, rolled her eyes at him.
"Sally, why don't you angle the mirror so that Hilde can see her baby being born," asked Dr. Lamarr.
"Time for another push," said Lara, hearing Hilde groan and inhale deeply.
"Stay here, Duo," said Sally, taking his place at Hilde's head. "I want you to see this," she added. Duo nodded, taking Hilde's knee as she pushed against his hands.
"Here's the head," said Dr. Lamarr.
Hilde gave a short scream.
"Quit pushing and pant!" ordered Dr. Lamarr. "We want this to be really slow," she explained. "Lara, I need some of that oil there on the tray."
"We'll just help you stretch out a bit, and no tearing, okay?" Dr. Lamarr said soothingly. "I don't like to cut unless I have to."
"There we go," she said, "Next push, and we'll have a head."
Duo's mouth was hanging open. Hilde pushed against his hands, and out slid a baby's head. Dr. Lamarr grabbed a syringe and started to suction the baby's mouth and nose. Duo heard a strange mewling sound like a kitten.
"Fussing already," said Dr. Lamarr. "You're a feisty one!" she gently cradled the baby's head in her hands. "One more, Hilde!" she said.
Another push and the slippery body came halfway out to the hips. "There's more," said Dr. Lamarr, sliding the rest of the baby's body out into her arms.
"And welcome to the planet, Solo Maxwell," she said.
Lara had a drape ready and Dr. Lamarr handed him to her. "Want to cut the cord?" she asked Duo.
"NO!" he said, "That's what you're here for!"
Dr. Lamarr laughed. "I had to ask," she said. "Some people think it's a big deal."
She quickly clamped off the umbilical cord and cut it with a pair of surgical scissors.
"Maybe next time," she joked.
Hilde groaned at the same time Duo did. "You're so evil!" he said to Dr. Lamarr.
"Give the kid to his mother," said Dr. Lamarr.
"Here you go," said Lara, "A little messy, but we'll get him cleaned up properly later." She handed the baby to Hilde, putting him across her chest.
Duo peered over her shoulder. A red wrinkly face was scrunched up inside the blanket. "He's all wrinkly," said Duo softly putting out a finger to touch the unbelievably soft cheek. The baby's head turned towards the finger, searchingly.
"You'd be wrinkly too if you were in water for 9 months," said Dr. Lamarr.
"He knows me," said Duo, as the baby's unfocused eyes tried to open at the sound of his voice.
"He does," said Dr. Lamarr. "Newborns can hear pretty well, but he can't see much except big shapes. But he knows his mother by smell. And he knows your voice, Duo."
"And he's hungry too," said Dr. Lamarr, as the baby fussed and rooted around at the touch of a finger on his cheek again.
"Just like his father," said Hilde in a tired voice. "Always hungry."
"Can I hold him?" asked Duo. "I know how," he said. "I held a lot of babies in the orphanage."
"Sure, why don't you hold him while I finish up with Hilde here."
He took the bundle carefully from Hilde's arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You did good, babe," he said softly to her and she kissed him back. She was crying a little, but it was from happiness and relief.
"You're really little, Solo," he said to the baby.
"About 7 lbs, I'd say," said Lara. "We'll weigh him and give him a bath and few other things in a bit," she said. "You just enjoy him for now."
"I will," said Duo. "Sorry I can't do anything about that little hunger problem right now," he said, "but we can talk, just the way we always have."
Solo yawned and waved a fist in the air.
"Let me tell you all about the first Solo."
Chapter 9
Solo and Duo
Duo's cell phone rang. He grabbed it and asked, "Hilde?" in an anxious tone.
"This is Heero," said the familiar monotone.
"Heero, can you make it short?" Duo asked, "I need to keep the line open in case Hilde calls. Wait, what am I saying? You're not exactly chatty."
"You're babbling," said Heero.
"I know I'm babbling, but that doesn't mean I can help it!" Duo said. "You'd be insane too if your wife was going to have a baby any second!"
"I doubt it," said Heero. "I'd simply be prepared."
"Liar," said Duo. "You're already the most paranoid person alive."
"Being prepared for every contingency is not paranoid."
"That's the definition of paranoia," argued Duo. "Why am I arguing with you, anyway? Why did you call me?"
Heero paused. "I need your help."
Duo held the phone away from his ear with a look of astonishment on his face, then replaced it, "We must have a bad connection. I thought you just said you needed my help."
"I did," said Heero.
"Has the Apocalypse started?" Duo asked sarcastically. "It must have, because you're asking me to help you. What's next, plagues of boils? Locusts?"
"I need your help with an, um, personal matter." Heero said gruffly.
"You have personal matters?" asked Duo.
"Quit joking, baka, or I'll come up to your office, rip your arm off and shove it up your...."
"Ah, now there's the Heero I know and love," said Duo, grinning. "So, go ahead, shoot. Wait, let me rephrase that."
"I need you to ask Hilde to ask Relena what she would like for her birthday."
"Is that it?" asked Duo. "A birthday present?"
"Relena is..a difficult person for whom to buy a gift," said Heero hesitantly.
"That's because she has everything!" said Duo. "So you're not gonna find it in a shopping mall, that's for sure."
"I know," Heero sounded depressed. Depressed for Heero that is. It was hard to tell.
"So, you want me to do a little spying for you?" asked Duo silkenly.
"Yes, if you want to put it that way," Heero replied reluctantly.
"Mission accepted," said Duo, smirking and firing off a mock salute.
"Not funny," said Heero.
"Will achieve secret information from source and report back to 01 in approximately 24 standard hours," said Duo, milking the joke.
"You're pissing me off," said Heero.
"I know," said Duo, pressing "end".
He dialed home.
"Hello?" said a strained female voice that Duo barely recognized. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
"Hilde?" he gasped, "Is that you?"
"Yes, Duo, I've been trying to call you," she said, panting. "I think the baby is coming!"
"I'll be there as fast as I can," he said, "Hang on! I'll leave the connection open."
He sped out of the building and jumped into his car, leaving rubber in the parking lot as he left.
"Hilde! Still there, babe?"
"Yes!" she said. "I think I'll be okay until you get here."
"I'm on my way," he said, weaving in and out of traffic expertly. "Trying to beat all the lights."
He suddenly heard the wail of a siren behind him. "SHIT!"
He sped up. "Not NOW!" he cried, hitting the wheel with his fist.
The cop pulled up beside him and motioned him over. Duo shook his head.
The cop pointed at Duo and then to the side again.
Duo flashed his Preventor's I.D.
The policeman nodded and waved him on.
Duo heaved a sigh of relief. "Une's gonna love that," he muttered under his breath.
"Duo, did I hear a siren?" asked Hilde's voice on the phone.
"No," lied Duo. "Must have been the TV."
"I don't have the TV on," said Hilde.
"Maybe it was the neighbors," Duo suggested.
"You're lying, Duo!" said Hilde. He heard a groan.
"I'm coming as fast as I can!" he yelled into the phone.
"I called Dr. Lamarr," said Hilde. "She's expecting us at the hospital. She said not to worry, first babies take a long time, usually."
"Be our luck to not be usual," said Duo under his breath.
"What?" said Hilde.
"I'll be there in 5 minutes."
"Good," said Hilde. "I'm scared."
"Don't be scared, Hilde."
"I'm trying," she said tearily. He could hear her trying to control her breathing over the phone.
"Almost there," he said turning onto their street.
He screeched into the driveway. Jumping out of the car, he ran inside. He was glad they lived on the ground floor.
Hilde opened the door before he could take out his key.
She had a small bag in her hand.
"I'm ready," she said.
He grabbed her and held her tightly. "Well, I'm not," he said, "Now I'm scared. Are you sure it's not another false alarm?"
"I don't think so," she said, "this feels different."
He nodded. "Let's go."
"I don't wanna have the baby yet!" wailed Hilde.
"Get in the car or I'll pick you up and put you in myself!" Duo yelled, his frayed nerves finally snapping.
"Okay," said Hilde meekly, for once.
"I'm sorry," said Duo. "I'm a little nervous."
He took the bag and led her to the car.
She sat in the leather seat and then suddenly put her head down, panting a little.
"What was that?" asked Duo, his eyes widening.
"A pain," Hilde said, " I tried to time it and I think they're coming every 5 minutes or so."
"Judas Priest!" swore Duo. "We gotta get going!"
He ripped out of the driveway, sending gravel flying everywhere.
"Don't kill us on the way there!" exclaimed Hilde.
"Don't tell me how to drive, woman, and I won't tell you how to have a baby!" he yelled.
"You sound like Wufei," she pouted.
Duo, focused on his driving, said nothing, gritting his teeth.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the emergency entrance of the Preventor's Hospital.
Sally Po was waiting there. Duo was immensely relieved to see a familiar face.
"I'm on emergency duty this week," said Sally to Duo, "I had a feeling we might be seeing you two." She smiled at Duo reassuringly. A nurse brought up a wheelchair and they helped Hilde gingerly into it.
"Dr. Lamarr is on her way," said Sally, "But until then, I'll keep an eye on you, Hilde. There's no reason to be anxious."
Hilde nodded. "I just wish this was all over!" she said to Sally.
"By tonight, you'll have your Solo," said Sally, smiling again. Her clear blue eyes were alight with excitement. "I'll call Wufei and tell him I'm staying with you, if you want."
"I need to call everyone!" said Duo.
"That can wait," said Dr. Lamarr, coming up behind them. "Your job now is to stay with Hilde."
"I'll have Wufei do it," said Sally. "He's stuck at his desk at Headquarters anyway. He's still on limited duty. He's always griping nothing exciting ever happens. This will make his day. Excuse me, I'll be right back."
She left; her long honey colored hair swinging behind her in two French braids.
"I'm glad I'm making Wufei's day," said Hilde. She tried to laugh and ended up moaning as another pain hit her.
"Lets get you settled in," said Dr. Lamarr, taking charge. "We have a birthing room all ready for you."
They followed Dr. Lamarr down the hallway and stopped, pushing the doors open.
"It looks like a motel room," said Duo.
"We try to make this all as non-medical as possible," said Dr. Lamarr. "After all, having a baby isn't an illness."
"Where is the medical stuff?" asked Hilde.
"In the cabinets," said Dr. Lamarr. "Don't worry about that."
"Make yourself at home, Duo," she said, "You're going to be here awhile."
She indicated a recliner and there was even a television set.
Dr. Lamarr and a nurse helped Hilde into a hospital gown.
"Sorry dear, no undies," said Dr. Lamarr. "You've surrendered your modesty at the door."
Duo snickered.
"NO laughing," Hilde said indignantly.
"I want to get a monitor on you, Hilde," said Dr. Lamarr. "We'll monitor the contractions and the baby's heart. It's all done by radio signal, so you can move around all you want."
She held up two elastic belts with small devices on them, put them around Hilde's belly and fastened them. Right away, they could faintly hear the rhythm of a fast heartbeat.
"I can turn up the sound," said Dr.Lamarr. "Most people find it comforting to listen to."
Hilde nodded and then squeezed her eyes shut as another wave of pain started.
"Getting a little stronger," said Dr. Lamarr looking at the monitor.
"See that peak on the graph? That's the peak of the contraction, and then it goes down again. Like an ocean wave. It looks like they're about 5 minutes apart and about a minute long." "How long will it be?" said Hilde, panting a little. She was starting to sweat.
"I really can't say, everyone is different," said the doctor.
"And I haven't checked you yet, so I don't know how dilated you are," she added.
Hilde groaned. "I hate this part, " she muttered.
Dr. Lamarr laughed. "You'd be odd if you liked it," she chuckled.
"Do you want me to leave?" asked Duo.
"Only if Hilde does," said the doctor. "But, pretty soon, you're gonna see a whole lot more, so I don't see what difference it makes. That is, if you want to be here when the kid is born."
"I do," said Duo. "Is it okay if I puke or faint?"
"No," said Dr. Lamarr shortly. "Puking and fainting not allowed. Weaklings must go outside."
"You sound like a friend of mine named Wufei," complained Duo.
"I like him already," said Dr. Lamarr. "Is he that young man Dr. Po is engaged to?"
"Yeah," said Duo. "I forgot you know Sally."
"She's a good surgeon, although we don't work together that much," said Dr. Lamarr. "A very good person, too, from what I can tell."
"My ears are burning," said Sally, sliding open the door a little. "I'm barging in, is that all right, Hilde?"
"Please," said Hilde, grabbing the rails on the bed as another pain began.
"My shift is over for today, so I can stay with you if you want," said Sally.
Hilde's eyes were far away, distracted by the sensations in her body, but she nodded vaguely.
"Wow, that was a good one!" said Dr. Lamarr, looking at the monitor. "I bet you felt that!"
Hilde gave the doctor a vaguely crusty look and let out a big breath.
"We need to check you now, and see where you're at."
Hilde nodded reluctantly. "Come hold my hand," she said to Duo.
He went and stood at the head of the bed, and held her hand tightly.
"This might hurt a little," said Dr. Lamarr. Hilde yelped. Duo grimaced and turned his head.
"Hey, you're almost halfway there!" said Dr. Lamarr, sounding vaguely like a cheerleader. "Four centimeters!"
The nurse nodded and smiled. "When you get to ten, we get to have a baby!" she cooed at Hilde.
"Why is everyone talking to me like I'm an imbecile all of a sudden?" Hilde moaned.
"Sorry," said Dr. Lamarr, laughing. "Bad habit."
"Well, patients in pain tend to get a little child-like sometimes," said the nurse, whose nametag said Lara on it.
"Not there yet," grunted Hilde, feeling another wave of pain pass through her abdomen, starting in her pelvis and threading upwards, then back down again.
"I've been worse pain than this," she gritted through her teeth.
"No talking during contractions, dear,' said Lara. "You need your oxygen."
Hilde shot the nurse a crusty look too, but was quiet. She exhaled loudly as the pain diminished.
"Yes," said Dr. Lamarr, "but we're not even half done."
She grinned. "I have to check another patient, but Lara will be staying with you and I assume Sally and Duo will be here. You're doing great, Hilde. Lara will page me in a little while to check you again."
Hilde nodded. She was just glad to be done with another contraction.
"Get Mr. Maxwell a cold washcloth," said Dr. Lamarr to Lara. "He can help you keep her cooled down. Having a baby is hard work. They don't call it labor for nothing."
She turned to leave, checking the chart she had in her hand and placing it in a slot near the door as she departed.
Lara disappeared into the adjoining bath and came out with a small basin of cold water and a washcloth.
"Here," she handed them to Duo. "Get busy, Dad." She grinned at him.
"I make a crappy nurse," said Duo.
"You'll get better, I promise," said Lara.
"Are you hot?" Duo asked Hilde, feeling her forehead solicitously.
She nodded. He could feel her sweating under his palm and took the cloth and wringing it out, put it on her forehead and then her cheeks.
"Feels good," she said, panting.
She reached up and clenched his hand as another pain hit.
She was squeezing his hand very hard and he looked down and his fingers were turning blue.
A little moan accompanied the cresting of the pain.
"Maybe you should get something for the pain," suggested Duo, flexing his fingers as she gradually released them.
"I'm fine," she rasped. "Can I have some water?"
"You can have a little ice," said the nurse. "Sucking on ice chips will help your thirst without making you nauseous."
Hilde nodded. "Thank you."
"Can I do sumthin?" Duo asked.
"Rub my shoulders," said Hilde. "It'll distract me."
He began to lightly massage her shoulders and arms.
"Too bad we don't have lavender bubble bath," he said, winking at her as she looked back at him.
"That's the furthest thing from my mind right now!" murmured Hilde. "You're never touching me again, you realize that, don't you?"
He pouted. "Man, a little pain and all of a sudden, I'm a eunuch."
"That's right," groaned Hilde, reaching up again to squeeze his hand.
"Another one?" he asked, squeezing her hand back. She simply closed her eyes and didn't respond for a minute.
"Big contraction, Hilde," said Lara. "That baby will be here in no time. You're doing very well for a first baby."
Sally nodded, "Usually, it takes a bit longer than this. You're lucky."
"I don't feel very lucky right now," said Hilde in a breathless voice.
"Once you get to about 7 centimeters," said Lara, "it's like a runaway train."
"Then you hit transition, when the baby comes down between your pelvic bones and that's when things get really wild, and then before long, you'll have to push."
"Wild?" echoed Duo.
"Yes," said Sally. "Transition is the most intense phase of labor. The sensations can be a little overwhelming. Some women kind of loose it," she looked at Hilde.
"Sounds like fun," Hilde grunted in a faintly sarcastic tone.
"Doesn't last long, fortunately," said Lara.
"What do you mean, 'wild'?" asked Duo again.
"One woman threw things at her husband," laughed Lara. "A lot of women swear and yell and some just feel like giving up. I've had a few patients try to get dressed and go home. One lady started laughing hysterically."
"Okay," said Duo. "I get it."
"I've seen soldiers in pain get a little weird," he said.
"Same thing," said Lara. "Something happens to your brain when your nervous system overloads."
A nurse came to the door and put her head in, "Dr. Po, your fiancé is here and some other people. They want to know how Mrs. Maxwell is progressing."
"I'll talk to them," said Sally to the nurse, who nodded and stepped back out into the hallway.
"I'll be right back," she said, "I'm going to go fill everyone in."
Sally went down to the waiting area of maternity and there was Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa.
"How is Hilde?" asked Quatre, standing up.
"She's doing very well, actually," said Sally. "Pretty fast for a first baby, I'm surprised. You're still going to be here awhile," she said.
"It'll be a few hours at least."
She went over to Wufei and sat down next to him. "This could get pretty boring," she warned them.
"I know," said Quatre. "I've waited around a long time for my nieces and nephews to be born." He shrugged. "I'm used to it."
"Hilde is tough, no anesthetic," said Sally.
"She is very brave," said Wufei.
"For a woman, you mean," said Trowa, raising an eyebrow at him.
"No, that's not what I meant," said Wufei. "I don't know where everyone gets this idea that I think women are weak," he complained.
"Because you're always saying it?" suggested Trowa.
"I never said that!" Wufei declared indignantly. Sally grinned.
"He once told me that weak people shouldn't fight," said Sally, "But he never said all women are weak. At least not to me."
"See, I told you," said Wufei, folding his arms.
"I happen to like some women," he said.
"I hope so," said Sally dryly. "You're marrying one."
Trowa held up his hands in surrender. "I humbly apologize," he said smiling faintly.
Sally leaned over and gave Wufei a light kiss on his cheek. "I promised Hilde I'd stay with her through this, so I have to go back. But, we'll get dinner later, okay?" Wufei nodded. "I'm going to take a walk," he got up and headed towards the exit.
"Hospitals aren't exactly his favorite place," said Sally to Trowa and Quatre.
"Mine neither," said Quatre, "Although this is a better reason than most to be here."
Sally nodded. "A happy occasion for a change."
"Maybe there will be more," said Quatre. "I wouldn't mind seeing a little Wufei or Sally running around in a year or so.
Sally blushed. "We'll see. I have to get back to Hilde."
"I'll get you some tea," said Trowa as Quatre sat down again with a book.
"Would you, love?" said Quatre, folding his legs up under him on the couch and opening his book.
Trowa wandered off to the cafeteria to find tea.
Sally went back into Hilde's room.
"I'm back," she said, quickly shutting the door.
"Good!" said Duo. Hilde was holding tightly onto his hand on one side, and Lara's on the other, gritting her teeth.
"Things are getting good, Dr. Po!" said Lara chirpily.
"Shut her UP!" said Hilde through clenched jaws.
Lara just laughed. "They often get this way," she said airily, patting Hilde's back with her other hand. "I warned you," she said to Duo, who was looking a bit pale.
"Maybe we ought to page Dr. Lamarr?" asked Sally, looking at Hilde's monitor readings. "These contractions are only a minute apart!"
"Yes, it's time to check her again," said Lara. "Go ahead and page the doctor, please. I was going to do it as soon as this contraction ended."
Sally went over to the intercom and punched in a few numbers. "I need Dr. Lamarr in Birthing Suite number 2," she said into the intercom. She nodded at the reply. "Dr. Lamarr is on her way," said Sally, coming back over to the bed.
"AHH!" said Hilde, squeezing her eyes shut and pulling up her knees.
"Don't push!" warned Lara, "At least until Dr. Lamarr gets here and checks you. You could tear!"
Duo winced for about the 39th time that day.
Dr. Lamarr came striding into the room and went over to Hilde, "All right, Hilde" she said in a calm tone. "I need to see where you are, and then we'll go from there."
She pulled back the sheet covering Hilde's knees and quickly pulled on a glove. "Take a deep breath."
"Ah, I can feel a head," she said. "You have made progress. 9 centimeters! And only in 3 hours! You might want to bear down, but pant through it, we need just a bit more dilation." Dr. Lamarr told her. "One or two more contractions should do it."
Just then, a warm gush of fluid pooled underneath Hilde's bottom. "Water broke" announced Lara. "It's clear," she added, looking at Dr. Lamarr.
"Great," said the doctor. "That means your baby isn't having any distress nor is there any bleeding."
"Come on Hilde," said Sally, grabbing her hand. "Let's do this!" Another contraction hit and Hilde started to pant like she'd been told. Duo held her other hand and kept wiping Hilde's face and neck with the cold washcloth.
"I feel like an idiot" he muttered to Sally. "I'm not doing anything!" He grimaced as Hilde put a death grip on his hand and started to make a low keening sound.
Hilde stopped moaning and panting and took a deep shuddering breath.
"I HAVE to push!" she announced. Dr. Lamarr looked down again.
"Go ahead, kid, give it hell!" she said grinning, putting on a fresh pair of gloves and placing a stool at the bottom of the bed between Hilde's knees.
Lara grabbed one of Hilde's bent knees and Sally the other, and Duo put his hands on her shoulders.
"Okay, next contraction, I want you to push down through your bottom as hard as you can," said Dr. Lamarr. "Take a deep breath and hold it during the push, and then let it out when it's over."
A primeval grunt came from Hilde's throat in a few seconds and she took a deep breath. "Okay, push," said Dr. Lamarr. Sally and Lara pushed Hilde's knees gently up to her chest.
Dr. Lamarr counted to ten. "And, that's good," she said, nodding. "The baby came down a good centimeter. Let's do that about ten more times."
The next half hour was the same, a loud grunt, a deep breath, and Dr. Lamarr counting the length of the pushes and everyone cheering Hilde on quietly.
"Come on, Hilde," said Sally, "We're so close now! Duo come over here, you can see the baby's head! Look, hair!"
Duo let go of Hilde's hands and went to stand by Sally. "Oh MY GOD!" he said. "Is that it!" He peered down and rubbed his eyes, then looked again. "That's gotta hurt!" he said loudly. Hilde, sweating and panting, rolled her eyes at him.
"Sally, why don't you angle the mirror so that Hilde can see her baby being born," asked Dr. Lamarr.
"Time for another push," said Lara, hearing Hilde groan and inhale deeply.
"Stay here, Duo," said Sally, taking his place at Hilde's head. "I want you to see this," she added. Duo nodded, taking Hilde's knee as she pushed against his hands.
"Here's the head," said Dr. Lamarr.
Hilde gave a short scream.
"Quit pushing and pant!" ordered Dr. Lamarr. "We want this to be really slow," she explained. "Lara, I need some of that oil there on the tray."
"We'll just help you stretch out a bit, and no tearing, okay?" Dr. Lamarr said soothingly. "I don't like to cut unless I have to."
"There we go," she said, "Next push, and we'll have a head."
Duo's mouth was hanging open. Hilde pushed against his hands, and out slid a baby's head. Dr. Lamarr grabbed a syringe and started to suction the baby's mouth and nose. Duo heard a strange mewling sound like a kitten.
"Fussing already," said Dr. Lamarr. "You're a feisty one!" she gently cradled the baby's head in her hands. "One more, Hilde!" she said.
Another push and the slippery body came halfway out to the hips. "There's more," said Dr. Lamarr, sliding the rest of the baby's body out into her arms.
"And welcome to the planet, Solo Maxwell," she said.
Lara had a drape ready and Dr. Lamarr handed him to her. "Want to cut the cord?" she asked Duo.
"NO!" he said, "That's what you're here for!"
Dr. Lamarr laughed. "I had to ask," she said. "Some people think it's a big deal."
She quickly clamped off the umbilical cord and cut it with a pair of surgical scissors.
"Maybe next time," she joked.
Hilde groaned at the same time Duo did. "You're so evil!" he said to Dr. Lamarr.
"Give the kid to his mother," said Dr. Lamarr.
"Here you go," said Lara, "A little messy, but we'll get him cleaned up properly later." She handed the baby to Hilde, putting him across her chest.
Duo peered over her shoulder. A red wrinkly face was scrunched up inside the blanket. "He's all wrinkly," said Duo softly putting out a finger to touch the unbelievably soft cheek. The baby's head turned towards the finger, searchingly.
"You'd be wrinkly too if you were in water for 9 months," said Dr. Lamarr.
"He knows me," said Duo, as the baby's unfocused eyes tried to open at the sound of his voice.
"He does," said Dr. Lamarr. "Newborns can hear pretty well, but he can't see much except big shapes. But he knows his mother by smell. And he knows your voice, Duo."
"And he's hungry too," said Dr. Lamarr, as the baby fussed and rooted around at the touch of a finger on his cheek again.
"Just like his father," said Hilde in a tired voice. "Always hungry."
"Can I hold him?" asked Duo. "I know how," he said. "I held a lot of babies in the orphanage."
"Sure, why don't you hold him while I finish up with Hilde here."
He took the bundle carefully from Hilde's arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You did good, babe," he said softly to her and she kissed him back. She was crying a little, but it was from happiness and relief.
"You're really little, Solo," he said to the baby.
"About 7 lbs, I'd say," said Lara. "We'll weigh him and give him a bath and few other things in a bit," she said. "You just enjoy him for now."
"I will," said Duo. "Sorry I can't do anything about that little hunger problem right now," he said, "but we can talk, just the way we always have."
Solo yawned and waved a fist in the air.
"Let me tell you all about the first Solo."
