A-Z of Melizabeth by Fullmetal Pyromaniac

L is for...

Love

Meliodas paced nervously outside of his bedroom. Piercing wails sounded from behind the door, instincts kicked in and Meliodas spun on his heel and grasped the door knob firmly in his hand. Should he open the door?

He remembered Merlin's warning and reluctantly pulled away, pacing the corridor once more. Another scream echoed in the room, muffled by the wooden door. Meliodas winced again, placing his face in his hands.

Ban came up the stairs with two mugs of liquid and silently have one to Meliodas who took it eagerly, but only took little calming sips.

"She still in there?" Ban asked, Meliodas went to reply but was cut off by a loud scream.

"Yep" he confirmed, taking larger sips. "I've been told to stay out here...for now anyway"

The two were silent once again, staring into space.

"You okay?"

Meliodas sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah- no- I don't know...I think so. I just..." He sighed again. Ban nodded in understanding and took a large gulp of his drink.

"Look" he half slurred, "I'm not too good at this stuff but listen. I'm not a dad, not sure I ever will be. But you, you have this amazing opportunity. You've got your girl in there, who -may I add- give her life for your own, who is currently giving birth to your kid. I think you're doin' alright"

"I just know I'm gonna fuck up at some point, I mean, look at me. I'm a fucking demon and don't even get me started on my dad. I've not really got the best experience in fatherhood, y'know?"

Another scream resonated, making both men cringe. King walked up the stairs and stood next to Ban.

"Elizabeth's?..."

"Yup" Ban said, "It can't be much longer now"

"You'll do fine captain" King reassured, "If anything, you're the best qualified to look after children. Next to Ban anyway"

"Seee" Ban added, "I told you you'll be fine!"

"Thanks" Meliodas said truthfully, finishing his drink and handing the empty mug to Ban. "I'll probably mess up at some point, but I can't do that badly. At least not with Elizabeth by my side"

Ban clapped him on the back just as another yell came from the room, it was louder this time, catching all of them by surprise. Gowther opened the bedroom door, dressed in a white nurses uniform.

"Captain, it's time, Lady Elizabeth requires your assistance"

Meliodas froze, only coming to when King placed a small hand on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath he took a step forward.

"Well, wish us luck"

Ban and King both nodded and Meliodas walked into the bedroom. Gowther closing the door behind them.

*~*~L is for...~*~*

Immediately all breath left his lungs as he saw Elizabeth lying on the bed. Her forehead was sticky with sweat, her cheeks flushed and her eyes lidded. Diane stood at her side, placing a damp cloth over her forehead, Merlin stood where her legs were.

Diane seemed to notice Meliodas' presence and quickly ushered him over.

"Here, Elizabeth, he's here. Meliodas is here now, okay?" She said calmly, Elizabeth opened her eyes and gave a weak smile. Taking her hand, Meliodas sweeper her fringe out of the way and pressed shaky lips to her forehead.

"Hey, how're you doing?" He asked, Elizabeth gave a soft laugh.

"Better now you're here" her face crumpled making Meliodas' heart lurch, "I'm scared. It hurts so much"

"It'll be okay, I promise" Will it though?

She smiled, but it soon turned sour as a contraction hit her hard. Elizabeth scrunched up her face and gripped Meliodas' hand like it was her life-line. He didn't feel pain easily, years of enduring it numbed it for him, but he couldn't deny the shooting pain that shot through his stomach when Elizabeth screamed, or the ache in his hand when she gripped it.

"That's it, well done Elizabeth" Merlin soothed, standing with a basin of warm water, "I think it's about time we delivered this baby, huh?"

Elizabeth nodded sleepily, and Diane and Gowther took their places next to Merlin who leant down to start delivering the baby.

"Okay Elizabeth, remember and breathe. Okay? On the count of three, push as hard as you can. One, two, three, Push!"

And she did, Elizabeth screamed and shouted with all her might, crushing Meliodas' hand in her own. Eventually she stopped, panting and heaving.

"That's great Elizabeth, you're doing wonderfully, just wait a few seconds and I'll get you to push again." Elizabeth nodded again, Meliodas turned even more pale, "One, two, three, Push!"

This time she hunched over, almost pressing her head into her knees. Meliodas whispered comforting things into her ear and rubbed her back gently. She pulled back once more, looking more exhausted.

"No...no more...please" she whispered, tilting her head to the side to look at him more clearly. Meliodas pressed his forehead to hers and kissed her flushed nose.

"It's okay, it's nearly over. I love you, Okay? I love you so goddamn much, you're strong, you can do this" Merlin looked up a little.

"I can see the head, two more pushes Elizabeth, can you do that?"

"C'mon Elizabeth, we know you can, two more" Diane encouraged, her eyes shining with tears. Gowther made a peace sign and nodded.

"I believe you can do this, Elizabeth" he said, Elizabeth grinned half-heartedly and clenched her free fist.

"O-Okay...I'm ready" she breathed out, hunching over once more. Merlin nodded and looked back down.

"One, two, three, Push!"

Another scream erupted from Elizabeth, Melidoas cursed under his breath, making sure her hand was securely wrapped in his own. She lay back down once more, breathing more heavily. Meliodas was sure this would kill her, he looked at Merlin, horrified.

"It's fine, the baby's nearly out. One more push, then it's all over. It's gotta be a bug push, okay Elizabeth?" Elizabeth let out a sob but agreed, Merlin gave an encouraging smile. "Last one. One, two, three, Push!"

Elizabeth did, but Merlin looked unhappy, "Push harder Elizabeth, you have to"

"I can't" she sobbed, "I can't, it's too much"

"Elizabeth, c'mon love, one last one, for me" Melidoas whispered, holding back tears himself. Elizabeth took in his broken expression and nodded.

"I'm ready"

Merlin counted down once more and Elizabeth pushed one last time.

She placed all her strength, and all of Meliodas' strength into that final push. She screamed louder than she ever had before. Then after what could have been minutesl seconds or even hours, the pain stopped and a shrill cry sounded.

Elizabeth flopped back, completely exhausted, Meliodas kissed her once on the forehead then looked down at Merlin who held a small red bundle in her arms.

She smiled and nodded at him, "It's a boy, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"

Meliodas nodded wordlessly, leaving Elizabeth and snipping at the cord with a small pair of silver scissors. Merlin carefully handed the bundle to Diane who took it to the basin.

"Where...are...they?" Elizabeth asked weakly, "Where's my child?"

"They're cleaning him up, don't worry" Meliodas said gently, Elizabeth sighed in relief and gazed at him.

"I did it, I did it" she cheered softly, Meliodas chuckled.

"You sure did"

Merlin came back over with the tiny boy who was wrapped in a thick blanket. Elizabeth gingerly took him in her arms and gasped at the small thing. He certainly was tiny, with small tufts of light blond hair growing from his head. Meliodas ran a finger gently down his cheek and their son opened his eyes.

Both were blue, but one was more a turquoise than Elizabeth's crystal blue. Elizabeth gave a choked laugh.

"He's beautiful"

Meliodas nodded in agreement, "He sure is, just like his mother" and he nuzzled and kissed her head once more. Merlin and Gowther finished cleaning up Elizabeth.

"I'll leave you two be, just shout if you need anything" she said, ushering both Diane and Gowther out of the room. Meliodas sat on his side of the bed, Elizabeth gently held out their son to him.

"Here, you can hold him" she stated softly, Meliodas went to but pulled back.

"Put your arm like this" she said, making a cradle with one arm and holding her son in the other. "Then do the same with the other"

Meliodas did so and she gently placed his son in his arms. Their son yawned quietly and opened his eyes, Meliodas' breath stuck on his throat.

"I bet he's gonna have two different eye colours"

"I think so too, but that's good, because then he really is a perfect combination of the both of us"

"What should we name him?" Meliodas inquired, Elizabeth lay on her side, grinning contentedly.

"I'm not sure, it's up to you really"

Meliodas pondered for a second, "How about Tobias?" He asked, Elizabeth trimmed wider.

"Tobias...I love it" she said, watching her husband gently rock the child in his arms. Her heart expanded with love until she was sure it would burst.

Meliodas stared down at Tobias who was resting peacefully, then he looked at his wife who had fallen asleep, she was clearly exhausted. He stared back down at his son and decided there and then.

He'd never loved anything so much in his entire life, and he'd never love anything more than his family.

The End.

A.N. So I wrote this quicker than I thought I would, I'm pretty happy with this, it's teeth rotting fluff and who doesn't like that xD so I don't have much to say, just that I'm going to try and finish this before the end of 2016 to give this really shitty year a good-ish ending.

So, check out Stand By Me if you haven't already, and please vote on my poll about the last prompt, and if I should make a story out of it! all your votes are needed!

Dont forget to review, favourite, and follow! Thank you to those that have done that already, it means to much!

Love you all!

-Ruby xxxxx