Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
A/N: Pretty much last or second to last chapter here. Told you I wouldn't have this very long! Sorry for the wait…don't hurt me!
NOTE: Not going to be a push and birth thing. I'm going to try and make it semi real…
Close Your Eyes
Chapter 6
"Howl, I'm serious the baby is coming!" Sophie exclaimed and panted slightly before letting out a sharp cry of pain. "HOWL!"
"I'll get you to
the bed," he said worriedly. As they
walked towards the stairs Howl drew in a loud breath. "MARKL!" Markl came bounding towards the banister and
leaned over it with a curious expression. "Go get the midwife, now!"
"What's wrong?" Markl asked. "It's
too early, isn't it?"
"GET HER NOW!" Howl yelled and Markl yelped in fear and ran towards the door pulling on his shoes. "I don't care how busy she is right now this is much more pressing!" Markl turned the knob and ran outside.
"Anything I can do?" Calcifer asked. "I wish so much I could see it…"
"Make sure the house doesn't get to warm," Howl said as he began to help Sophie up the stairs. "I'll be back down in a minute to get the things for my spell…"
"Are you sure…sure it's going to work?" Sophie asked and looked at him.
"It will, I know
it will," Howl said. "How are you feeling love?"
"The contractions are far enough
apart we still have a few hours Howl," she said. "At least, that's what the
midwife said. I'm scared Howl…"
Howl kissed his wife's hair. "Don't be scared love, you'll be fine. You're already doing fine. Damn, this is my entire fault! If I hadn't let the smoke get to you…"
"It would have happened at a later date," Sophie said with a faint smile. "Better now than later. I don't want the anxiety to build up any more…so this is fine." Howl placed another kiss on her forehead.
"I love you so much Sophie…" he said and when they made it to the hallway, in a great surge of strength he picked her up and carted her to the bedroom. Lying her down on the bed he caressed her cheek and kissed her a dozen times. "Can I get anything for you?"
"I don't think I should be eating something right now…but water? Or tea would be nice Howl…just something…" she said and smiled at his worried face. "I'll be all right. I don't know when the next contraction will be but it'll be fine. I know it will, I believe in you…"
"Sure," he replied and headed out the bedroom door, making sure it was left open in case she needed to yell for him. She was sure…she was unsure. She just couldn't make up her mind now could she?
…
"I'm back and I brought the midwife!" Markl exclaimed and walked into the door, followed by two old ladies, one being guided by one young gentleman dressed in white.
"Okay, one's the midwife which is good and the other is the witch of the waste Markl, why is she here?" Howl asked as he dashed from place to place, checking on the hot water Calcifer was boiling and making sure the ingredients were being mixed properly. A cry of pain filled the house and the midwife, as old as she was she still had all the strength in her, bounded up the stairs, calling for Markl as an assistant while Howl was tending to things downstairs.
"I wouldn't miss the birth of your child Howl," the witch of the waste said and the man with her guided her to a couch. "This is William; he's my caretaker at my new home."
"Um…pleased to meet you William I only wish it was under less hectic terms…" Howl said. Markl appeared in front of him. "What is it?"
"The midwife is asking for some of the hot water and towels," he said.
"Take it…make a little peppermint tea while you're at it because Sophie asked for it and the towels…where are they?" Howl asked and looked around.
"Sophie already told me where they are," Markl said. "I'm fine and I'll make the tea as well. How's the spell coming along?"
"I think he's
doing it right this time," Calcifer said and William looked at Calcifer and
collapsed on the couch in a faint. "Bloke can't handle a fire demon…oh well."
"I've got everything, I'm just
preparing it down here in case I cause more smoke. I shouldn't this time though…" Howl trailed
off and then began speaking instructions to himself. Markl shrugged and ran to get the water, made
a small pot of tea and let it brew while he brought the water back upstairs
carefully and his footsteps could be heard as he ran back and forth with what
most likely were towels in his hands.
"HOWL!" Sophie's cry reached Howl's ears and he bounded up the stairs into the room. "There you are…I thought you had left…you aren't going to leave though…are you?"
"I'm only downstairs love," Howl said. "I'm making the parts to the spell and I'm almost done. After that I won't leave your side I promise."
"Promise? Whipped Cream and a thousand cherries on top?" Sophie asked tears in her eyes.
"I promise to return for good with whipped cream and a thousand cherries on top," Howl said and kissed her forehead gently. "It'll be all right."
"Howl, can I talk
to you outside?" the midwife asked. "It'll be all right dear; I'm just going to
tell him the good news."
"Do that," Sophie said. "Can I rest
for a moment?"
"Rest now yes, you'll need your
strength for later," the midwife agreed and took Howl just outside the
room. Markl dashed by them and headed
downstairs to check on the tea. "Howl, she's a month
early."
"Yes, I know that," Howl said
irritably. "It was because of the smoke from earlier…"
"That may have contributed but most children born prematurely are born like this for one reason alone, there's more than one," she said. "I've lived long enough to know when someone is pregnant with two or more children you know."
"So we have a
guarantee of twins then?" Howl asked and the midwife nodded. "Could it possibly
be more?"
"I won't know until the actual
birthing begins. This is a very cautious
thing however, because one of the children may be tangled up in the umbilical
cord," she said.
"Wait…you mean…"
"NO! Don't you go thinking I will let either child die!" she exclaimed and boxed his ears, causing Howl to cry out in pain. "I'm just saying it might take longer than expected if I have to reach in there to turn the child or untangle it. I can do it but it just may take a little longer." Howl rubbed his ears and glared at her. "I've never lost a babe and I won't start now." Her smile was reassuring and he opened his mouth to speak but Markl walked past them carefully holding a small mug of tea for Sophie, who let out another cry. "I had best get back to this and you had best get back to the spell. Just make sure she doesn't loose all her pain or she won't have the will to push!" A gentle warning but one Howl took into consideration. He nodded and dashed down the stairs again. He gave Calcifer another log and set a few within his reach and looked over at the witch of the waste and William. William now stared at Calcifer with quiet fascination and the witch was sleeping soundly for the moment.
It wouldn't last, because when Sophie's contractions would become closer together, it would be impossible for anyone to sleep through it, although he could be mistaken. He went back to his ingredients and began mixing them again.
"What did the
midwife talk to you about?" Calcifer asked curiously. "She obviously said or
did something because you cried out in pain.
All I really heard were mumbled words and her shouting about a child
dying."
"No, she said everything would be
fine, she only confirmed for us that it probably was twins, perhaps more…" Howl
said and ran to the kitchen, suddenly feeling the need for a cup of tea to calm
his nerves as well. The pot had some
left and he poured a cup and downed it, his hands shaking slightly. "I picked a good midwife I think…"
"I believe so old friend," Calcifer said. "I'm looking forward to having children run around the house. All the things we'll be able to teach them, all the experiences we can share…"
"Stories told at
a midnight hour when the children
won't go to sleep?" Howl asked and smiled. "Being a father isn't going to be
easy…but then again, if Sophie could deal with this then I'll just do my best
as well."
"That's the way to think Howl,"
Calcifer said and sighed. "Is the spell done yet?"
"Almost old friend," he replied. "I've almost got it all prepped and ready to go. I'm going to be a father!"
…
The contractions were getting closer together and the midwife, although already looking exhausted, didn't seem to let any of it get to her. Howl had finished preparing the spell and was now setting it up around the room, murmuring more instructions as he did so. If anything was needed from here on out Markl would have to fetch it. The witch of the waste was now awake and Hein was cowering on the couch with her, frightened by Sophie's screams of pain. William had helped prepare a light meal at the witch's request with a little gentle coaxing from Howl to get Calcifer to cooperate (the only other time Howl had to leave the room) and people ate lightly. Sophie ate a little but was unable to keep it down so she resolved to stick to tea alone, then as time went on just went to hot water with a little honey and finally just water, lukewarm or otherwise.
After the meal had been eaten the witch had fallen back asleep and Markl was once again running errands. Howl's usual schedule had been interrupted so Markl was making up for it as best he could, tending to whatever customers he could before shutting up the shop when Sophie's contractions became extremely close and her screams woke the witch, who was one of the soundest sleepers in the house.
"It hurts Howl," Sophie cried as she gripped his hand. Howl sat on the bed next to her touching her face with a slightly cold and damp cloth. "It really hurts."
"Think of what the result will be," Howl whispered to her. "These are our children love."
"It still hurts," Sophie sobbed through tear stained eyes. Howl realized by the end of the birthing, he would have lost use of the hand Sophie was now gripping for at least a week.
"It's almost time," the midwife said and began to ready herself, shooing Markl out and setting up everything she needed for later. Howl nodded and kissed Sophie's forehead before forcing her to release his hand so he could perform the spell. He went to the circle he had drawn and focused his powers. The room grew dark and Howl's hair flew everywhere as he began to chant ancient words. Wind rushed around him and then the room calmed. He stood up and brushed off dust before approaching his wife and sitting down beside her again. She grabbed his hand, holding on as if her life depended on it.
"Is it working?" Howl asked and she shook her head. "Give it a moment then." She nodded and then a smile creeped up onto her face, even though the smile was faint in itself.
"It doesn't hurt as much," she said. "I don't think I'll die of pain anymore…" She said it so easily Howl wondered if she just said that to make him feel better because he had failed at the spell. (To his ego this was a big blow.) She gripped his hand tightly again but didn't cry out.
"So it did work Howl!" the midwife said joyously. "This is good. Either way, it's good you did it when you did, because it's time…"
…
Screams could be heard throughout the house. (Although the spell did help, it helped Sophie to scream…so she did, a lot.) Markl sat near Calcifer, both with worried expressions plastered on their faces as they listened to the ear piercing sounds.
"Is it almost over?" Calcifer asked.
The witch of the waste petted Hein and smiled. "I doubt it fire demon. She's going through the birth of two or more children, that's never easy. I may not have ever had children but I can imagine."
"Is she going to be okay?" Markl asked and looked over at the witch.
"With a midwife like that and Howl by her side? Why all that'll happen when it's over is she'll be exhausted," the witch said, nodding profoundly.
"She won't die?" Markl asked again.
"No dear lad, she won't die. I don't think Sophie would let herself do that," the witch said and laughed. "She's a strong one that's for sure…"
…
"Come on love, push!" Howl encouraged.
"Give it all you can and then more!" the midwife instructed.
"I CAN'T!" Sophie
wailed. "Get it out of me!"
"PUSH!" the midwife yelled.
"HOWL I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Sophie exclaimed and Howl's eyes widened.
"Don't take that personally," the midwife snapped. "Come on my dear, you can do it. The baby is coming it's not that far!" Sophie let out another cry and pushed.
"Is it out yet?" Howl asked.
"I can almost see the head!"
"AHH!"
"PUSH!"
"It hurts!"
"You can do it love!"
"AHHHH!" Crying filled the room and Howl found himself
crying.
"Congratulations you two, it's a boy," the midwife said, taking the babe and wrapping it in a few towels. She placed it on a small bed she had made for the babies to be on while the others were being born. "Now we have only one more to go I think and I don't believe this one needs any attending my dear. All we need is for you to push."
"Come on love," Howl said encouragingly. "We have a son Sophie, a son! Come on, there's still one more…"
"A son?" Sophie asked and they looked at each other through their tear stained eyes. "We have a son…"
"The other one should be coming soon," the midwife said. "We can't let you rest just yet Sophie."
"I'm ready," Sophie said and this determined tear stained look crossed her face. "This won't defeat me!"
…
Sophie's screams reached the downstairs once more.
"Here comes the second one," the witch said, yawning and stretching slightly. "I wonder which spell Howl actually used. Oh well, the midwife should know…"
…
"It really AHHHHH!" Sophie screamed and she clutched Howl's hand harder, causing Howl to cry out in pain himself. "Oh no, I just hurt you love!"
"No, I'm…I'm all right," he said. "Don't worry about me."
"Come on Sophie, you have to push!" the midwife urged. "You can't give up now!"
"AHH!" Sophie looked at Howl with tear stained eyes, pleading for some kind of release.
"Push Sophie," he encouraged. "Push and it'll be over soon!"
She let out another cry as she pushed with all her might. "PLEASE!"
"Sophie, it'll be okay," he said. "Just push!"
"I AM!" she screamed.
"Just a little more Sophie, I can almost see the head!" the midwife said.
"I FEEL SICK!" Sophie screamed as she pushed, letting out more screams as she did so. "AHHHH!" Another series of screams and loud labored breaths followed until another loud wailing was heard from where the midwife now was.
"It's a girl," the midwife said. "And a beautiful baby girl she is."
"I don't think…I don't think I can take anymore…" Sophie panted, looking at Howl. Howl looked at her and kissed her forehead again.
"I think it's over now," he said.
"All that's left should be the expelling of the placenta…" the midwife trailed off before noticing Sophie screaming in pain again. "Dear me, it looks like we have a third."
…
"I figured it would be three," Calcifer said.
"What made you figure that?" Markl asked with interest, listening to Sophie's loud wailing about how she didn't want to do it anymore.
"The best things in life come in threes," Calcifer replied easily.
…
Sophie was positively exhausted, tired beyond belief when the last child was born and the placenta was expelled.
"There we are dear. Don't nod off just yet, would you like to hold them?" the midwife asked.
"I would," Sophie said. "They're ours…Howl… Three of them…"
"Wait a second, what's the gender of the last one?" Howl asked.
TBC
A/N: It's the last chapter that will have the third child's gender, all the wonderful names and all those things you'd like tied up. It'll be the last chapter, kinda like the epilogue. I'm so happy so many stuck with me through this short tale. I'm glad I finished it up before I went to college! Review please, just don't flame!
