Amanda:
I was a week late and I had never been more uncomfortable in my life. My ankles and hands were swollen, my back was killing me from my gargantuan belly, and I could not remember the last time I had slept six straight hours without waking up needing to pee.
Sarek had been uncharacteristically glued to me the last couple of weeks, apparently Vulcan men can become quite protective during the final stage of their wife's pregnancy. He warned me about this, but I honestly did not expect anything to change. I mean, this was my husband after all.
Much to my surprise he insisted on staying home ever since I passed my due date last week. While that would not normally be an issue, he refused to leave the same room I was in. Whenever I would go to the bathroom, he would follow. Whenever I would go to the kitchen, he would follow. Whenever I would go to the bedroom, he would follow.
While I would normally be excited and happy to have him home, on this occasion I quickly grew irritated by his clinginess. So, on this day in March, Stardate 2230, I forced him to go to work so I could have some well-needed alone time.
"Are you certain you will be well while I am away?" He asked as he stepped over the threshold of the main door into the blazing Vulcan sun.
"I am." I smiled, caressing my swollen belly. "I promise. I don't think anything will happen today."
"If you experience contractions, I insist that you-"
"Call for you right away, I know." I finished. Kissing his cheek gently, I hugged him quickly before beginning to close to door. "Have a good day, my love." And with that closed the main door.
Freedom at last.
Two hours after he walked out of the door, contractions started, and I immediately regretted forcing him out of the house. The contractions were manageable, but as each one came, I had this overwhelming need for him to be near me.
After an hour of consistent contractions, I stood up from the sofa with a sigh and walked down the corridor, making my way to the kitchen.
"Lady Amanda."
It was one of our servants.
"Yes, T'Kara." I smiled.
But when I got to her, I felt my stomach tighten. I leaned against the wall in the middle of the corridor and began to breathe. The overwhelming need to have him beside me suddenly filled me, and the fact that he was not with me threatened to spring tears in my eyes. Now I understood why he was behaving so uncharacteristically.
Why did I force him to go?
"Madam," she asked flatly, "should I send for the Ambassador?"
Taking my communicator from my pocket, I continued to breathe deeply through the pain and glanced at the clock on the main screen. The contractions were four minutes apart.
Without saying another word, I simply nodded and handed her my communicator, but as she began to dial the number the main door swung open. I turned and saw Sarek walking quickly down the corridor. He immediately wrapped his arm around my shoulder and told T'Kara,
"Send for the midwives, and then take your leave."
"Yes, Ambassador."
The pain began to fade, I breathed a sigh of relief and stood from my hunched position.
"Holy shit, how did you get here so fast?"
"Shall I help you to the sofa?" He asked.
"No, it makes the pains worse if I sit down." I resumed walking down the corridor, "How did you get here so fast? How did you know I was in pain?"
"I could feel your distress through our bond, and Tavek has been on standby for the last week." He explained flatly. "Why are you going into the kitchen?"
"Because I'm hungry and require food."
"How far apart are the pains? The midwife said she should be alerted when your contractions are four minutes, they last for one minute and that they have been consistent for an hour."
"Ah so that's what 4-1-1 means." I said, reaching into the cupboard to grab a mug. "Don't worry, T'Kara will call her and they will be here soon." I brewed some tea, and reached into the refrigeration unit, taking a homemade brownie from the plate on the top shelf.
As I reached the counter, I felt my stomach begin to contract. Leaning forward, I rested my arm on my table and used it as a pillow as I began to sway and breathe through the pain. His presence in my mind had never felt stronger and as my back began to hurt, he placed his hand gently on my lower back and applied pressure. I could feel my mind and body relax at his touch.
"During this time, I will be more tuned into your body and mind." He explained, but as the contraction reached its peak any further words he spoke fell on deaf ears.
As a sharp pain ran through my uterus, I drew in a breath as a sudden gush of fluid ran down my leg and onto the floor. My feet and Sarek's shoes were covered in amniotic fluid.
"I'm so sorry." I breathed, feeling the contraction end.
"Your four hundred and fiftieth apology since our relationship began."
I stood up from the counter and grabbed the kitchen towel beside me, "I can't believe your still keeping track." I uttered before asking, "How long did that one last?"
"60.10 seconds." He answered.
I took a sip of tea before ripping off a couple of absorbent sheets placing them on the floor at my feet.
"I fail to see why you insist on using such an old fashion-"
"Because they are useful." I interrupted. "I can't tell you how happy I am that the servants cleaned the house yesterday. I can't imagine them coming into our house when its dirty."
Sarek took my hand and helped me move over the pile of fluid and kitchen sheets and to a chair at the kitchen table nearby.
"Sarek it's okay. I can do it."
"Aduna, let me take care of that."
I must admit it was very odd having him be so caring and dotting during this time. It almost made me uneasy, but I would rather have a supportive husband during this time than an unsupportive one. I took my brownie and tea to the table nearby and sat down, eating the brownie in one huge bite.
"Do you think I have enough time to take a shower?" I asked him sitting down, and smelling my armpit. "I smell horrible."
"It is my understanding that birth is not a clean event and that would be counterproductive."
"Yea, I suppose you're right."
I watched him clean up the fluid and toss the kitchen towels in the rubbish bin before returning to me, crouching down in front of me as I held my mug of tea. "You're not gonna leave are you?" I asked in a moment of insecurity.
"I will not leave your side." He said, taking my hand into his. "I will be with you until it is over."
And, as if on cue, my stomach tightened, and the pain went from a seven to an eleven. Sarek quickly took the mug from my hand, as I leaned forward suddenly, feeling tremendous pain and pressure on my back. Up, up, I needed to stand up.
His arms wrapped around my shoulder, he helped me onto my feet. I wrapped my arms around his neck and groaned loudly through the pain.
This one was worse, so much worse. Oh my God, it was bad.
I squeezed his vest at his shoulder and muffled a low scream in his chest.
"Keep breathing." He coached softly. "It will be over in 40.23 seconds."
It's worse. I yelled internally. Oh my god, it's worse.
"The midwife did say that the pain will worsen after the membrane rupture."
The pain began to fade, and slowly he helped me down into the chair when a loud knock echoed through the estate.
"The Midwife has arrived." Sarek announced, before leaving the kitchen momentarily.
Sure enough, the human midwife came with two big, oversized bags over each shoulder. Accompanied by two Vulcan midwives who trailed behind her, Sarek walked them to the kitchen.
I could hear Sarek give her an update, and as she walked over the threshold the young woman smiled and wiped her brow from sweat as she placed her oversized black bag down beside the table. Her red curls were pulled up and away from her face.
"Lady Amanda," she was always so formal. "How are you feeling?"
"Amanda." I said softly, "I told you to call me Amanda when we first met, and I meant it."
She smiled sweetly and rubbed my arm gently, "Amanda. I hope you don't mind my two assistants attending the birth?"
"Not at all."
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright, but the pain is worse now that my waters have broken."
"Yes, that is normal. I'd like to move you to a comfortable place so I can examine you."
"Of course. Sarek, can you help me?"
Sarek helped me to my feet but as we began to walk down the corridor, another contraction hit and this one was worse than the previous ones.
Sarek's voice was calm through our bond as he reminded me to breathe while my head rested against his shoulder as I swayed against him.
"Would you like some pain medicine?" The midwife asked.
"No." I uttered amidst the pain.
The response seemed automatic, but to my surprise as the contraction died down, I realized that I meant it. I was unable to get into this situation naturally, and I was determined to do something naturally.
"Are you certain?" Sarek asked.
"I'm sure, no pain medicine."
Sarek:
He was starting to think that this was going on longer than usual. At around midnight, fourteen hours after her labour began, Amanda still had not delivered. Sarek had never felt more helpless, even though he would send her periodic waves of calm through their bond in the middle of each contraction, he wondered if it was even working.
He sensed that her energy was fading, and it hurt him deeply to know that he could do nothing to ease her pain or give her any energy of his. While he maintained his stoic composure, inside he was panicking. His mind raced with different scenarios. What if she died? What if she could not deliver? What if she was too tired to deliver? Each scenario ended the same, with her dying.
A pain, a tightening pain, in Sarek's chest appeared ten hours into Amanda's labour and at first, he thought he was having another heart attack. It didn't take long for him to realise that it wasn't the case, and it wasn't until the midwife caught a glimpse of his momentary lapse in logic when he drew in a deep breath while watching Amanda on her knees crying into the sofa cushion during a contraction that she assured him that anxiety was normal… regardless of species.
Now, after fourteen hours, he paced with Amanda up and down the corridor stopping every two minutes so she could lean against him and breathe through the now unbearable pain.
The pain in his chest lingered and each time Amanda stopped and groaned in pain which caused his pain and anxiety and pain to worsen. He was just thinking how he had never felt more helpless when Amanda stopped and, without saying a word, wrapped her arms under his, squeezing the shoulders of his vest and beginning to groan in pain.
He swayed with her as she continued to groan in a low tone and when the pain was finally over after sixty seconds, and she stood up looking at him with tears in her red, exhausted eyes, Sarek fought an overwhelming wave of sadness that overcame him.
"Why won't he come?" She whispered to him.
Not knowing what to say, he placed his hand gently on the back and her head and caressed her long curls gently. "You are still convinced the child you carry is male."
The change of subject caused a small scoff to fall from his wife. Her lips contorted for a small moment into a smile for the first time in fourteen hours. It might have been small, but it was beautiful. He loved her smile, and he realized after not seeing it for fourteen hours just how much he missed it.
"Because he is." She uttered softly.
Without saying another word, she stood up and continued to walk down the corridor.
"You are doing well." Sarek said, breaking the silence.
"I don't feel as though I am." She admitted, "I'm so tired and this is really painful."
"It is childbirth." Sarek said. "It is not supposed meant to be pleasant."
"No shit, Sherlock!" She smiled.
Reaching the front door, they turned around and began to walk down the corridor and back to the bedroom. Sarek felt a sudden wave of concern from his wife, he turned to her.
"Will you be there for the birth?" She asked timidly "I don't think I can do it without you."
He would not leave her. He could never leave her. As he opened his mouth to speak, she suddenly stopped. She closed her eyes as she drew in a breath. Sarek wrapped his arms around his wife, she leaned on him, and began to groan through the pain. After twenty seconds her moans and groans turned into soft sobs as the contraction lingered.
They're getting worse. She said telepathically, unable to speak during the pain.
"Shall I get the midwife?" He asked. "So, she can give you some medicine for the pain."
She was silence, reverting to groaning. The pain ended, she stood up and shook her head. "No pain medicine. I want to get out of this situation naturally."
"Perhaps it will help you sleep." He suggested, continuing to walk at a slower pace.
She was silent for a couple of seconds. He sensed her deliberation. After five more seconds she said,
"Two hours."
He coaxed his brow upwards in confusion.
"If this goes on for another two hours, I will take some medicine."
"Logical." He replied flatly.
Two hours later, she sat on the edge of the sofa with Sarek supporting her from behind in complete silence between contractions. Through their bond he sensed her fear, her exhaustion, and how much she wanted it to be over. Her white gown was soaked in sweat as her slack hand lay in Sarek's resting on his knees.
She lay in a light sleep between contractions as her head rested against Sarek's shoulder while the midwife sat on the floor between her legs.
"Amanda," she said softly, "perhaps we should move to the bedroom for delivery."
While Amanda was silent, she was noticeably clear through their bond.
If she makes me move from this spot, I will slap her.
The truth was that it was the only position where her back didn't hurt.
"She wishes to remain here for the duration of birth." Sarek told the midwife flatly.
Sarek watched as the assistants began to set up the water basins and blankets in the room while the midwife laid several waterproof pads on the floor under Amanda, laying out the dermal regenerator beside her. When she was finished a mere fifteen seconds later, she laid her hand gently on Amanda's leg which shifted her out of her slumber.
"You are fully dilated now, if you feel like you need to push, you can."
As if on cue, she gripped Sarek's hand as another pain came. He had expected for her to begin groaning, long groans for sixty seconds as before, but soon her breathing turned sharp and fast as her body tensed and an intense pressure began in her lower belly.
"Don't fight it." The midwife said, "Do what your body's telling you. If you need to push, push."
Soft sobs and pouting followed. "I'm scared. I'm scar- Ah!"
I can't, I can't. Sarek, I can't.
The tightening pain ran through Sarek's chest. He squeezed Amanda's hands and whispered softly in her ear,
"You can do this. You are doing this."
"Don't be scared," The midwife said, "We are here with you, push with this contraction."
She squeezed Sarek's hand so hard that he could feel the blood leave it. She leaned forward slightly and pushed hard, giving in to her body's demand. The midwife counted and by the time she reached ten Amanda collapsed back into Sarek.
"Fuck me, this is painful!"
"That it is!" The midwife laughed softly. "But you are doing amazingly. I can give some old-fashioned gas and air for pain re-?"
"No!" Amanda said in a more determined voice.
A statement that reminded Sarek just how strong his young wife was. A strength he never forgot.
It seemed like hours, and after several more pushes Sarek was fully supporting Amanda's body weight as she laid against him. She whimpered against his shoulder, having no strength to cry, and as Sarek was beginning to think that she was going to give up the midwife took Amanda's hand from Sarek's and guided it down under Amanda's sweat soaked gown.
"Feel that?" She asked. "That's your baby's head. You're so close. He's right there."
A wave of relief and happiness rushed through their bond.
You can do this. Sarek repeated. Our child is close.
"Thank God." Sighed Amanda softly.
The midwife looked up to Sarek and asked,
"Would the Ambassador like to see the-"
"No." Amanda cut her off before she could even finish.
The midwife chuckled, looking back down between Amanda's legs, after Sarek managed a quick shake of his head.
"Very well." She said softly.
Sarek felt Amanda drift into semi-consciousness, so he sent her a wave of calm just as her body tensed with pain. Bearing down hard, her fingers pressed deep into Sarek's hands turning them green. It hurt, but it was pain that Sarek could repress, nothing compared to hers.
As the midwife reached the count of five, Amanda lost her breath and fell back into Sarek.
"I can't- It's hurts!"
"You can." The midwife coached, "He's right here, push."
"I can't! It burns!"
Letting go of one hand he wrapped his arm around his wife's chest and held her close to him. Her emotions were going haywire, she was consumed with pain. He sent her a strong wave of calm through their bond. When he felt her mentally begin to relax, he tightened his embrace around his wife and told her the first thing that came to mind,
"I've got you." He said calmly, and the sheer casualness of the statement shocked even him. "You can do this, Aduna. Now, push!"
She gripped his arm that held her and pushed down again, her loud scream ricocheted off the walls of the estate. Screams of agony greater than anything Sarek could ever imagine. A gush of fluid fell from Amanda and then a loud cry filled the room. Amanda collapsed back onto Sarek, breathing heavily.
"Congratulations, you have a son!" The midwife announced, happily holding up the screaming child, "Wasn't he worth all that pain?" Placing him on Amanda's chest, her arms instantly wrapped around the child not minding the red blood and white substance on his body.
He looked unharmed and perfectly formed. His little hands curled in fists against her chest, ten fingers and toes and yes, two perfectly pointed ears. A huge wave of relief, and happiness ran through their bond. It was so strong that even Sarek could not repress the small smile on his face.
"I'd do it again tomorrow." Amanda cried happily. "But with some pain medicine though."
The emotions that went through their bond were ones that Sarek had never known and they only seemed to intensify as they lingered on the sofa for another half hour.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Amanda said, her voice cracking with tears of happiness. Something Sarek still did not understand.
As Sarek looked down at the child in his wife's arms, he felt his body swell with love, protection, and relief that his wife was alright. They were so strong that even Sarek could not repress the overwhelming urge to wrap his arms around his wife and child hold them close to him.
"Yes, he is."
~*The End*~