Just so you know there will be some uh, light swearing in this chapter. Nothing too bad, just a couple of bloody's and a backside. It'll get worse later on though...


Chapter twenty-three

"He's staring at you."

"Who's staring at me?"

The rest of the team, having sensed the tension at the table had long since left. Leaving Ayla, Oliver and Sarah alone.

"Flint, look he's staring at you."

"I don't think he is."

"Uh guys?"

"Don't look at him, he'll think you like him or something."

"He's not staring at me."

"Guys!"

"He is."

"Uh guys.."

"No he's not."

"Seriously guys!"

"Oh come on, he's staring at you. Ow! What was that for?"

Fed up with being ignored by the arguing couple beside her, Sarah had taken matters into her own hands to get some attention. She hit Oliver.

"Not to interrupt your oh-so-very-interesting conversation or anything but I think I'm going into labour." she ground out clutching the table. "Oh and he is staring at you Ayla. For once I'll agree with Quaffle head here."

Ayla was speechless. This couldn't be happening. Not here, not now. Sarah was supposed to go into labour when she was at home, and Ayla was far, far away. This was terrifying. Oliver, however, managed to find his voice.

"You, you're, you're going into. Doing….what?"

"I'm going into labour. I'm having a baby. Merlin do I have to spell it out? What did you think this was?" she asked pointing to her stomach. "A pillow?"

"Oh hell, not now Sarah. Please not now."

"Yes now. Do you think you could stop sitting there and maybe get me to Saint Mungo's? Or is that too much to ask?"

"Yes, right, ok. Saint Mungo's ok. We can do this. I know we can. Let's just get you up. Can you walk? It isn't far, just a couple of streets away. Will you make it? Oliver could carry you?"

"Dear God woman, get a grip. I'm having a baby, I'm not dying. And you, get your bloody hands off me."

Oliver had jumped up at Ayla's words and attempted to pick Sarah up. He was rewarded for his efforts with another slap in the face. A roar of laughter burst out from the other side of the bar. The Falcon's were watching, and clearly were enjoying the scene before them.

"And you can shut you mou- Oh! Sweet Merlin in a dress that hurts!"

"Er do you need some help?"

The wizard who had bumped into Ayla earlier, Marcus Flint, ran over to them, a look of concern clouding his face.

"No thanks Flint, we can manage. We don't need your help, we're more than capable."

Oliver pushed Flint out of the way, and hoisted Sarah to her feet.

"Look seriously Sarah, can you walk or should we get one of those taxi things?"

"No I'll be fine to walk, just get me away from this bloody idiot" she said, hitting Oliver again in an effort to get him to let go of her.

"Ok then, let's go. Ayla grab her stuff. I'll see you later Flint."

No amount of hitting was causing Oliver to let go. He marched Sarah to the door, determined to get her to a hospital and a doctor as soon as possible. The hitting he could handle, delivering a baby he couldn't.

"Look I know you have this need to play the hero, but I can stand and walk by myself. So get your sweaty hands off me." Sarah shrieked as they got outside, causing several passers-by to stop and stare.

"Oliver just let go of her. If she wants help she'll ask for it."

He let Sarah go. Ayla knew it was only a five minute walk to the hospital but right now it felt like she was facing a marathon. They reached the hospital in record time however, much to everyone's relief. Ayla stepped up to the glass and whispered hurriedly to the manikin:

"I'm Ayla Jenson, this is Oliver Wood and Sarah Melvin. She's in labour."

The dummy beckoned them in, and all three rushed through the glass, not caring if the muggles could see them.

"Excuse me." Oliver hailed the receptionist. "Where do we take a pregnant woman?"

"Sixth floor", said the bored voice of the receptionist.

They hurried towards the elevators and up to the sixth floor. When they had finally gotten Sarah settled Ayla realised that there was someone missing.

"Melvin! Oliver, find a floo and get Sarah's husband. Melvin House, Kent. Go!"

Oliver left the ward at a sprint, glad to be away from Sarah and her fists. The Healer smiled at the girls, and patted down Sarah's bed covers.

"First one? Don't worry, magical births are usually quick and easy. The little one should be out within the half hour." she said smiling again, before leaving the two alone.

"Well quick's good eh Sar"

"Yeah shame it's not painless! Contractions are hell love. Ouch!"

The girls couldn't help but laugh, despite the situation.

"Darling I'm here. It's ok, everything's ok. We're going to be parents. Can you believe it? Ayla thanks for getting her here. I can't believe we're having a baby!"

Ayla smiled at the family forming before her eyes. It was almost picture perfect. That was until Sarah spoilt it.

"A baby? Honey I thought this was wind!"

"Ah isn't my wife wonderful?"

"Oh my, sweet mother of Merlin that hurts. Where the hell did that Healer go? Doesn't she know I'm having a baby?" Sarah screamed out in pain. "Quick and easy my backside!"

"Ok now folks, time to leave Mum and Dad to it now. Baby's on the way and only family in the birthing room I'm afraid."

Ayla and Oliver went outside to wait, smiling shyly at one another. Neither was sure of what to say over the screams coming from the birthing rooms.

"Get your hands off me Hubert. I swear you ever touch me again and I swear I will, I'll hex you to pieces."

Ayla couldn't help but giggle at Sarah's shouts.

"That's it. I'm never going through this again. Don't you come near me. Don't you dare!"

Oliver smirked and laughed with Ayla. Poor old Hubert.

"You try anything ever again and I'll show you just how good my severing charms is!"

Oliver's face went as white as the tiled floor, he choked instead of laughing now. Poor Hubert!

"And if Wood ever even thinks about getting Ayla in this mess, he'll see how good it is too!"

Ayla was nearly crying with laughter by now. To make the situation even funnier, Oliver had just fainted cold on the tiled floor.

"Nearly there now, one last push and baby will be with us." the Healers voice rang out.

"Aaagh!"

"Here we go. Here we go. It's a girl!"

"A girl?"

Ayla stifled a shriek of laughter at Melvin's exclamation of disbelief. He had so believed he was having a boy.

"Thank Merlin that's over." The relief was evident in Sarah's voice.

"Oh Sarah, she's gorgeous. Just like her mother! Our little girl."

"That's great dear. So what are we going to call her? I'm not sure Geoffrey or Gerald are really appropriate now, you know?"

"How about Geraldine? She looks like a Geraldine. Perfect."

"Perfect darling."

"Here you hold her while I get Ayla."

"Hello Geraldine. You're going to be Daddy's spoilt little princess. 'Cos' there's no way I'm letting Daddy touch me ever again."

"Look at our little girl Ayla, isn't she wonderful? Can you believe that's my daughter?"

"No, Melvin she's a gorgeous little angel. You're very lucky." Ayla agreed wholeheartedly. "And how's the mother doing?"

"Fantastic. Does Aunty Ayla want to hold little Geraldine?"

"What and make her cry? No, I think she should stay with her Mum for the time being."

Sarah chuckled, "Where's Wood?"

"Ah well, he kinda fainted when you mentioned severing charms. They took him downstairs when he cracked his head on the floor."

Sarah giggled and smiled evilly. "Well if this isn't the best day ever. A baby and Wood with a concussion! I love it!"

"Wait, hang on. That was Oliver Wood! He's like a legend." Hubert said. Finally catching on to who the strange man who had delivered his wife to the hospital was.

"Some legend if you're only now recognising him.", Sarah said rolling her eyes at her husband.

"Look I'll leave you three alone. I'll see you in the week ok?"

Ayla left the little family and made her way downstairs. Oliver was waiting for her at the exit.

"Everything ok?" he asked.

"Yeah great, it's a little girl. You?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

They walked in silence. When they got outside, Oliver turned and looked Ayla in the eye.

"I told you he was staring at you."

"Oh Merlin, not this again."

"He was!"

"It doesn't matter."

"I knew he was staring at you."