Chapter 14

Quinn sat beside Creedy, waiting for him to say something. Anything.
Another cry of pain rang from the room opposite, causing Creedy to flinch.
"So…" began Quinn, "you all ready to be a Dad then?"
Creedy turned and looked blankly at Quinn, then returned his gaze to the door. "Quinn, I think I'm going to throw up. I have never felt this nervous, or scared before in my life."
Quinn patted Creedy's arm, "There, there. Look , she's in good hands. Ma delivers every child. We should go get a drink!"
No sooner had he spoken the words, Tommy came tearing around the corner with 3 glasses.
"So, not got any jokes now it's your own, hey Davey boy" Tommy smiled at Creedy, recognising the fear on his face. "It will be OK mate, really, drink that."
Creedy looked at the glass in his hand and knocked it back in one gulp.
Tommy and Quinn smiled at each other.
"Creedy, I've never seen you this quiet in my life!"
"Eight hours she has been in there." Creedy glared at Tommy. "Tina was only about 4, why is she longer? Is she OK? Is the baby OK? I don't know ! I feel sick!"
"Well, you did both laugh and say your child was lazy."
Silence ran through the air. Tommy took that as a cue to sit beside Creedy and shut up.
"I miss the dragons."
Tommy and Creedy both turned to look at Quinn, bewildered looks on their faces.
"Think about it, there hasn't been any for months now. That's why we can collect food and water so easily. I don't trust it. At least when they were regular we knew what to do. For all we know they could be dead!"
"Quinn, don't wish for dragons while my child is coming into the world!"
"Oh yeah, sorry mate. But I think we should stock up more supplies. I'm concerned about a surprise visit and us all outside sunbathing. Regulations have slipped."
"Yeah it would be an idea, we should start that tomorrow." Creedy said, nodding in agreement. Another scream caused his head to snap back to the door.
"Will you two piss off? I'm busy brooding!" Creedy smiled at them both and jumped to his feet when Ma opened the door.
"She wants you in here Creedy, I've no idea why. This is very unsettling. Men shouldn't be in here - I know that much. But she's like you, very stubborn."

Quinn and Tommy pushed Creedy toward the door. "Go on mate, if you're not back in ten we'll run in with weapons and avenge your death!"
"Yeah, that's woman territory. You are dead. Nice knowing you!"
Laughing Quinn and Tommy walked outside and resumed their watch.
"You have a point about the dragons though." Tommy's eyes were concerned. "I think we have been very lucky, and that won't last."

Creedy was pushed into a dark room. In the middle lay his wife, surrounded by red sheets and rags. Tina was mopping her brow.
Creedy ran to Rosie and kissed her head. "OK darling it's OK, I'm here now. It's OK."
"OK!" Rosie shrieked. Grabbing his hand she applied as much pressure as she could. "It's your fault it is in me…" another wave of pain caused her to scream out. Joining Creedy's already terrified screams as he tried to pry his hand free.
"Ohwwww Owww! You said it was a shared experience!" Creedy was shaking.
"Owwwwww, oh God, this hurts so much. Creedy make it stop, please!"
"I can't" whined Creedy, "I wish I could". He kissed her head again, "I'm here with you. I love you. Come on you can do this."
Rosie smiled up at him. "God, I hate you."
"I hate you too darling" Creedy smiled, reaching out he held her hand tightly. "Come on now. It can't be long now. Just breathe, breathe."
"You breathe" grunted Rosie.
Creedy was holding back a laugh.
"Ah here's the head finally!" Ma's voice floated up. "What is it you guys want again?"
"Out!" screamed Rosie, "I want it out!"
Creedy's heart lifted as he heard a new scream. A scream he had never heard before. It was his child.
"It's a boy." Ma whispered, holding the infant to her, she checked him over. Wrapping him in a sheet he handed him to his exhausted mother.
Rosie looked at her son's face and cried a thousand tears. "He's so beautiful."
Creedy was leaning over her, his mouth wide open. Reaching out he stroked the baby's face. "We made him?" asked Creedy, looking around at Ma and Tina.
"He's so tiny and…" The lump in Creedy's throat silenced him.
Once Ma had dealt with the afterbirth and cleaned Rosie up, the baby was handed to Creedy while they took Rosie to wash her down.
Alone with his son, Creedy's tears fell.
"You are the most perfect little thing I have ever seen."
Cradling him, Creedy felt the sad melancholy he did the day he married Rosie. He wished he could give his son a normal life, a chance to live without fear. But it wasn't possible. For years he had adored other children and happily taken the time to teach them, play with them and love them. The love he felt for this child was immeasurable.
"I will always be here for you, little one. I'm your daddy. Oh God, I'm a daddy. You have made me old." He smiled down and held the baby's hand, chuckling as it gripped his finger.

Rosie returned and was laid on their bed by Tina and Ma, then they quietly left the couple.
"Dave?" Rosie's tired face looked up at him.
"Rosie..." he whispered, "look at him, look what we made!"
Leaning over he kissed Rosie. "I love you so much!" Lying down, both parents leant on their side, placing the baby between them.
"I think, this is the happiest day of my life." declared Rosie, "The most painful, but it was worth it."
"How bad was it?" Creedy smiled, still holding the baby's hand.
"I'll show you shall I?2 Rosie reached for Creedy's groin, causing him to jump.
"Noo! God, no!"
A small intake of breath from their new child made them stare down.
"Aww, his first yawn. I should write that down somewhere, what time is it? What are we wearing? Where are we? How did it make us feel?"
Rosie laughed, "Oh don't start!"
Creedy and Rosie's eyes met. "OK I need to feed him!"
"How do you do that?"
"With my breasts silly!"
"They're mine."
Creedy watched amazed as Rosie lifted her son to herself, after a while he got the hang of it and started to feed greedily.
"I'm glad you let me in Rosie, I think watching him appear from nowhere has to be the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. Like now, look you're feeding him. It's beautiful." Creedy pulled Rosie to him, so she leaned on his side. One arm round her waist, his other hand was on his son's head.
"I have never felt this content."
"I've never felt this sore. Sex is off the list for the next year."
"Don't say the s-word in front of my son!" joked Creedy. "If he ever asks, a stork brought him. I'm not explaining the things we did to make him!"
"I couldn't explain those to a priest!" laughed Rosie, blushing.
"We're a family now. I have a family!"
"You certainly do. Me, you and...Dave - what are we going to call him?"