Chapter 78: The Birth Of Ruby, Where Eret and Becky Are Forced To Give Birth Alone
I've had this plot bunny stuck in my head for a while, so here you go! Read and review, please and thank you! Obviously, this is an AU.
(Eret's POV)
It's been two weeks since the dragons left, and, since then, I've gotten a letter from my Aunt Grace and Uncle Edward that they'd like to see us.
It may take a total of two months to get to Wolfsbane from New Berk, and our baby may be born by then. I'm about to refuse when No-Name drops off another letter from my Aunt Grace, telling me that if we don't come to them, they'll come to us.
"Eret, why don't we just go and visit your aunt and uncle while we still have the time?"
"Love, you're going to be due by the time we get to Wolfsbane. And you don't know my aunt…she's very picky about anyone I bring home…granted, I don't really care about that…but I don't want her to hurt you or our baby."
"Eret, the sooner we get there, the sooner we can come back home."
"Alright. As long as our crew can come along."
"Fine by me."
The crew, Becky and I get to Wolfsbane a week before Becky's due date.
"I'll go see if I can find some transport for you, m'lady, so you don't have to be on your feet."
"Thank you, No-Name. That's very kind of you."
"My pleasure, m'lady."
I get off the boat and I gently and carefully pull my wife up onto the dock.
No-Name soon returns with a horse that's low to the ground, and I help Becky mount it.
"We'd stay with the two of you, but we'd better tend to the boat."
"Thank you, lads. We shouldn't be gone too long." I tell my crew.
I lead Becky on the horse to my aunt and uncle's house, and they greet us at the door.
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when my nephew brought home a pregnant wife."
"It's nice to meet you, Aunt Grace, Uncle Edward. Eret's told me so much about the two of you."
"Well, he didn't even mention you in his letters."
Becky looks at me.
"That's because they were written before Becky and I met, Aunt Grace."
"Well, we'd invite you in, but we've got a full house. No room for any more guests."
"But you were expecting us."
"Sorry, no time to chat! We've got guests to attend to." Aunt Grace closes the door in our faces. Literally.
"Eret? Where are we going to go?" My wife asks, suddenly out of breath.
"I don't know, love. It's nearly a mile back to the boat. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'm sure these are just practice contractions."
We continue on, looking for a place to stay the night. But no one is willing to house a man and his heavily pregnant wife.
"Eret?"
"Yes, darling?"
"I think my water just broke."
"Oh, gods. Just stay there. I'll try to find us some help. Just keep breathing."
My wife nods as I rush around the little plaza on the island, going to the blacksmith stall, the marketplace, homes, farms…but no one is willing to help us. Absolutely no one.
"ERET!"
At the panicked sound of my wife's voice, I rush back over to her.
"Love, what is it?"
"The contractions…they're getting closer together. Like extremely close together. The – the last time they were this close together…I was almost fully dilated."
"Oh, no. Keep breathing. I'll find some help."
I go from door to door, asking for a room, or even just a midwife, or even any sort of help.
"E-Eret!"
I hesitate going back to my wife without any kind of help.
"Sir?"
I look back and see a man walking towards me.
"Oh, please tell me you can help us. My wife is in labor, and she's going to have our baby soon."
"I don't have any room, but there's a stable out back you can use. It's empty, but it's got fresh hay."
"Oh, thank you, sir. So so much." The man nods at me, and I rush over to my wife, where she's nearly doubled over from the pain.
"Hang in there, love. A man is here to help you – to help us." I gather Becky up in my arms and rush towards the stable, knowing that this baby is coming now. The man hangs a lantern above us so we can see better.
"I'm sorry I can't be of any more help."
"What you've done for us is very helpful. Thank you." My wife says breathlessly.
"You're welcome. Good luck, you two."
The man leaves and Becky grips my hand, not ready.
"You can do this, love. I know you can. I'm right here and I am not leaving you, okay?"
She nods.
"Can I check?"
Another nod, and I lift up Becky's dress and I see the head is nearly starting to crown.
"Give a really strong push for me, alright?"
Becky nods and she pushes, groaning.
"Good. Good girl. Atta girl. Keep going."
"I – I can't.."
"Yes, you can! Keep pushing, my love! I can see the head."
She pushes again, groaning.
"That's it. Just like that, love. Just like that. Here it comes. Push!"
"Oh, gods. Oh, gods."
"Come on. Come on!"
She pushes once again, and I know she's feeling the burning of a thousand suns.
"Push…push…keep pushing! The head is almost out."
Becky throws her head back and cries out in agony.
"I know, baby. I know. You're so close, my love! You're so very close!"
Taking another deep breath in, she pushes once more and the head is born.
"Good. Just breathe while I check for the cord. Pant for me, my love."
She pants and I can't feel the cord, so that's a good sign.
"Okay. Cord's not there, so that's a good sign. Give me another really strong push!"
She pushes.
"Good. Good. Keep going."
Becky pushes again.
"Push. Push. Okay, baby, just one more really big push! Give it everything you've got, my love!"
Gripping her thighs with her nails digging in, Becky pushes as hard as she can, and I catch our baby.
I cut the baby's cord with my dagger, and I see we have a daughter.
"It's a girl! We have a daughter, love!" I look at my wife, and she looks absolutely and rightfully exhausted.
"Can I hold her?"
"Of course you can, darling." I place our crying daughter into her mother's arms after wrapping the newborn in rags, which are clean, thankfully.
"She's so beautiful, Eret. Thank you so much for helping me get through this."
I cup my wife's cheek and kiss her forehead.
"You're welcome, my love. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. And thank you, too."
"For what?"
"For giving us a daughter."
"What should we name her?"
I pace as my wife stares at our newborn daughter, trying to think of the perfect name for her.
That's when it hits me. Both of our mums have gone to Valhalla, so it would make sense to name her after them.
"How about Ruby Amora? After our mums? I mean, love, you did all the hard work, so, if you don't like it…"
"I love it, Eret. It's the perfect name for her. Ruby Amora Nordisk."
I sit next to my wife and she leans against me, and we both stare at our new child.
"I am so proud of you, darling. So so proud of you."
"Thank you, Eret."
"You're welcome. Shall I go get our crew? I promise I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Eret? M'lady?"
We turn at the sound of our names.
"We couldn't help but hear your daughter. She's got quite the pair of lungs."
"She really does, lads. Come in. Come meet the newest member of our crew: Ruby Amora Nordisk."
I glance over at my wife and she is absolutely beaming; motherhood looks amazing on her.
The crew carefully comes in and they look at our precious child.
"She's so beautiful. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
After the crew leaves, we place Ruby in an old feeding trough filled with fresh hay and blankets so she'll be comfortable.
My rightfully exhausted wife falls asleep in my arms, and I know that what we've been through has changed our lives for the better.
A few days later, after Becky has recovered, we head home, eager to show our family and friends the newest addition to New Berk.
Even when Ruby cries during the middle of the night, no one complains…you know, since she's a newborn and can't exactly help it.
We arrive on New Berk, and we're greeted by Becky's adoptive family and all of our friends; all of New Berk, really.
I help my wife, who is carrying our daughter, out of the boat and onto dry land.
"Home. We're home, Eret."
"Yes, we are. And I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
We approach our family and friends, and they gingerly walk over to us, eager to meet newborn Ruby.
"Oh, sis. She's beautiful." Tuffnut tells his adoptive sister as he holds his niece for the first time.
"Thank you, Tuffnut. That means a lot to us."
"Hey, Becks? Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?" Ruffnut asks.
"Of course, Ruffnut." Knowing our daughter is in good hands, Becky follows her adoptive sister away from the crowd.
(Ruffnut's POV)
"What's up, Ruff?" My sister asks. I'm a bit nervous to ask her this, but I need to ask her.
"Becky, can you tell me something? And please be honest."
"Of course, sis. What's going on?"
"What was giving birth like? I know you did it before with you-know-who and all, but I just have to know."
"Ruffnut, is everything okay?"
I sink to the ground, tears welling in my eyes. My sister kneels in front of me, concern and love in her eyes.
"I don't think my last cycle was my last cycle."
"Oh? What do you think it was, Ruffnut?"
"I think – I think it was a miscarriage. In fact, I know it was."
My sister gasps.
"Did you go to Gothi? Does Fishlegs know? Does anyone besides me know?"
"I did go to Gothi, and it was a miscarriage. And you're the first person I've told."
"Oh, Ruffnut…I'm so so sorry."
"Thank you…I just feel so alone, you know? I know you've gone through this before, but I still feel alone."
"It's the loneliest feeling in the world, Ruff. Anyone who hasn't suffered like this can't possibly know what it's like."
"Exactly." I wrap my arms around my sister and I begin to sob.
"It's going to be okay, Ruffnut. Tell people only when you're ready, okay?"
"Thank you, Becks. That means a lot to me."
"You're welcome. Do you want to come hold your niece?"
"I'd like that. Sworn to sister secrecy?"
"Sworn to sister secrecy. Always."
Becky and I walk back over to our friends and family, and I can see Eret give a concerned glance to both me and his wife, but neither of us says a thing.
I just know I'm extremely grateful for my sister, and the other members of my family, and my friends. Forever.
