Lady Bee: Calia, beautiful name, and cookies for you, you're the only one who sent in a name!

Dimonah Tralon: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it!

Raine: Leverage says you? I feel a change in the winds says I.

Liy@h: Men are stupid, stupid, stupid. They can't help it.

Jeyke: If I didn't stop at the interesting places, no one would read my stories dearie.

Chapter 14:

A sharp stab of pain woke Melia in the middle of the night, causing her to double over, as much as a pregnant woman could double over. It hurt so bad, but within minutes it was gone. She rolled over and tried to fall back to sleep, minutes later the same shooting pain returned. She forced herself to take deep breaths and relax. There was no way that the baby was coming. It was impossible. After the pain took leave she maneuvered herself into a sitting position and hobbled over to her door, trying to make as much headway before another sharp pain took over her body. She gradually made her way to Treva's room, pausing every few minutes to wait out the pain. By the time she was halfway there, she was stumbling blindly and the spasms of pain had become so bad that she was crying out and tears were forming in her eyes. She must have woken up Lies, because one second she was doubled over in pain, the next she was being supported as the older woman until the pain passed.

"Melia?! What's wrong with you?" Lies asked as she half led, half carried Melia into her room.

"I...I...I think...the...the baby...is coming..." Melia gasped. Lies tipped her head so a curtain of long hair fell across her face to hid the fear that washed over it. It was too early. Far, far too early for this little chick to come. She began to pray as she helped Melia to lay down on her bed.

"Okay, dearie. I'm gonna go get Treva. She'll know what to do. Will you be alright by yourself or do you want me to get Meg in here to sit with you?" Melia could only manage a brief nod and a whisper of the of the older woman's name before another contraction seized her.

With that nod of assurance Lies ran from the room, hollering.

"Meg? Meg! Get into my room and help out that girl!" Meg appeared half asleep, half annoyed at her door.

"What?"

"Melia. The baby. My room." Was all that Lies had to gasp before the woman turned and started running like mad to Lies' room. Lies flew down the hall and began banging on Treva's door. A moment later a very disheveled, very displeased looking Treva opened the door.

"What is it, child?"

"It's Melia. The baby. It's coming."

"Now?!" The color drained from the old woman's face.

"Yes now."

"But there still be three an' a half months!"

"I know, I know. I'm so scared for her." Lies blabbered, tears forming in her eyes.

"Okay luv. I want you to go boil lots of water, get a few of me big aprons, some soft cloths, and tie your hair back. Now hurry! Go!" The two women ran off in separate directions.

When Treva entered Lies' room Meg had her arm around Melia and was stroking her hair off her face, while trying to hide the fear mirrored both of their eyes.

"Meggie, in my room there's a cupboard. I want you to go look in that and find the blue glass.

bottle and a basin, then get some hot water from Lies, alright?" She nodded and went to fetch the items. Treva watched Meg until she was a good ways down the hall before turning to Melia.

"Now girlie, how bad does it hurt and where?" She asked as she began to run skilled hands over her stomach.

"There, there...Everywhere."

"Bad?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Not good." Treva mumbled under her breath as she continued to lightly rub Melia's stomach.

"What?" Melia whispered.

"Nothing, lovie."

"It's too early, isn't it?" Treva looked at her.

"Well love, it's a tab bit early."

"My baby's going to be alright, isn't she?" Melia's eyes bored into her, still and intense.

"I don't be rightly knowin' dearest."

"Treva..." Another contraction grabbed her and to Treva's relief the comment was left unfinished. After the contraction had passed, the other two women had returned with Treva's orders, Lies was frantic, but Meg was silent and withdrawn. Treva made a mental note to talk to her sometime, later. Not now, now Melia needed all of them.

"Treva? My water broke..." Melia murmured, fear imminent in her eyes.

"Alright, dear heart. Now just hold off for moment." Treva said keeping her voice low and soothing, as she moved down to the end of the bed.

"Lies, you stay up there and hold 'er hand. Meg, I'm gonna need your 'elp." Meg nodded and joined her near the bed end.

"Treva, my baby's too early..." Melia sounded as if she'd just realized the fact.

"Aye?"

"She's not gonna live?"

"Now luv, only Providence can decide that."

"But it's not likely?"

"Dearie, I don't rightly know."

"Don't lie to me!"

"Honey...We'll figure that out when the time comes. Now you gots to concentrate on gettin' that baby out. Next contraction, I wants you to push, alright?" Melia managed a brief nod, too chocked up to speak.

"Hey sweetheart. You have to help Mama here, okay? I can't do this by myself. I need you. I need you to live honey. Please sweetness. Please angel. You want to live just as much as I want you to. I know you do. You have to work with me, with Treva, alright? Alright?" Her conversation with her unborn child was interrupted by yet another contraction.

"Melia the baby has got to come now! NOW Melia!"

"But..."

"NOW! Meggie, hand me my bag." Meg hastened to comply and Treva withdrew a large brown bottle and dumped it's contents on Melia's legs.

"It's cold!"

"I know sweetie, I know. Squeeze my hand, sweet." Lies said, brushing the hair off of Melia's face with her free hand.

"Push! Melia. PUSH! NOW!" Treva yelled.

"AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!"

"Push!"

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Silence.

"Treva?"

"It's okay, love. It's okay. Meg gots her."

"Her? Where are you taking her?"

"She's gonna clean her up before you see her, alright?"

Melia managed a hazy nod before blacking out.