Thanks for reading! I don't own any of Black Butler! Please let me know if you enjoy!
—
Ciel was lying in a very unnatural position on the bed when Sebastian came back in the room.
Her back was arched and her legs bent, her hands were laid over face.
"Did…..did you call?" Ciel asked, her voice tense with anxiety.
"Yes, my lady, I called." Sebastian nodded.
Sebastian had promised never to lie to Ciel.
He was telling the truth.
He had called, but the phone was out, and so he had been unable to reach the midwife…..
There was no point in telling Ciel that, at least, not right now.
The news would only cause the bluenette to panic…...
That would make everything more difficult.
And besides, Sebastian was still hopeful that maybe if Ciel relaxed, the pain would ease and the child would at least wait until the storm passed.
Sebastian felt that hope diminish as he frowned at his little bluenette who was curled in pain in front of him.
It certainly didn't look like the baby was in the mood to wait.
Ciel closed her eyes and drew in a shuddering breath as Sebastian walked up and knelt down beside of her.
Gently, Sebastian reached out and stroked her hair. "Kitten, I know you're hurting. We need to start timing the pains."
"I'm afraid." Ciel hissed as her delicate, pale hand reached out and grabbed Sebastian's wrist as another contraction started.
Sebastian's dark eyes narrowed as he watched her squeeze her eyes shut and writhe uncomfortably.
He moved his fingers to fold down over Ciel's hand on his wrist, placing his other palm gently on her rounded belly.
"You don't have to be afraid, my lady. I'm right here." Sebastian said in his velvet voice, removing his hand to discreetly look at his pocket watch, noting the time this particular spasm had started.
Ciel let out a breath and opened her eyes once the pain ended.
Sebastian was there, just as he had said, smiling at her reassuringly.
"Sebastian…" Ciel breathed in relief, letting go of his wrist and scooping her arms around his neck.
Sebastian stood from his kneeling position and crawled onto the bed to cradle his pained bluenette.
He had read several medical textbooks and scientific journals over the last few months that detailed common midwife practices.
Sebastian could deliver a baby.
Especially his baby…
His hands massaged Ciel's back as he held her close and he felt the bluenette relax against him for several minutes.
Yes, they could do this.
"For the time being, what can we do to make you more comfortable right now?" Sebastian asked.
"What do you mean?" Ciel sighed.
"Walking could help. I can massage you more, I can draw you a warm bath….." Sebastian offered, looking at Ciel.
Ciel opened her mouth to answer when a strange look came across her face.
Sebastian blinked. "Kitten?"
"Se…..Sebastian…..h-hold me…..please….." Ciel practically whimpered, her face twisting in pain.
"Another one already?" Sebastian blinked in surprise.
Sebastian let the little bluenette clutch onto his chest.
He could feel a ripple move across her belly.
That wasn't a kick, no…..
He took out his pocket watch and looked at the time.
This new pain was far too close to the last one for his liking…..
Softly, gently, he began to knead Ciel's back until the spasm ended.
He felt her tense body relax like gelatin against him once the pain's intense grip melted away.
"I….I…..I think I'd like to walk, just for a while." Ciel said quietly once it was over.
Sebastian could her the slight, ragged gasp in her voice.
That was another issue….
Ciel's asthma.
The midwife was supposed to have a bag with medications prepared for such complications but at the manor, Sebastian had nothing…
His hands rubbed Ciel comfortingly and he clutched her close to comfort not only her, but himself as well.
If things went fine, there would be no issues.
But what was Sebastian going to do if the delivery took a turn for the worst?
Ciel shifted against him, needing to move.
Sebastian couldn't worry about hypothetical circumstances now, Ciel needed him to keep her calm and focused.
"Alright, my lady." Sebastian said as he stood up and offered his hands to Ciel. "Let's take a walk."
—-
"How much longer?!" Grell shouted to Madame Red over the howling winds that rocked the carriage to and fro on the bumpy road.
"We should be there soon!" Madame Red cried.
"You said that an hour ago!" Grell retorted angrily.
The storm was severe and the red-headed reaper was tired of being batted around like a toy.
The death scythe was a useful weapon, yes, but unfortunately it didn't work against nature itself.
A particularly bright streak of lightning lit up the sky just as Madame Red glanced out of the window.
In the distance, she could see a large house, elegant gardens, that same foreboding aura that she had come to know so well over the last several years…..
There, in the distance, was Phantomhive Manor.
"There! It's right there!" Red pointed.
By the time Grell looked over, the lightning had gone and it was simply darkness overlapping darkness outside.
He frowned at Madame Red.
"Only a few more minutes and we'll be to my niece's, don't worry!" Madame Red smiled cheerfully.
—-
"How much longer?!" Ciel grunted, her eyes squeezed close and her face red with effort.
Sebastian had lost all hope of the birth waiting.
Ciel wasn't having pains, she was having a baby.
The latest contraction had brought her ungracefully to her knees, right in the middle of the hallway.
Sebastian had eased her down and was positioned right in front of her, mopping her brow with his handkerchief.
"Help will come soon, Kitten." Sebastian whispered soothingly.
"You said that an hour ago!" Ciel hissed through her gritted teeth, panting as the pain finally eased off. "Sebastian, I need the midwife! I need her…...and I need a bath."
"May I pick you up?" Sebastian asked.
Normally, he would have scooped the bluenette up without a thought, but in her current state, he wanted to make sure his touch would be welcomed by his laboring wife.
Ciel nodded and let Sebastian sweep her up into his arms.
He quickly drew Ciel a bath, stripped her nightshirt off, and placed her in the warm water just as another pain started.
The contractions hadn't stopped or even slowed down, no, they had only sped up and grown closer and closer together…
Ciel leaned her head back against the tub and clutched his hands.
"OOOOOHHHHH!"
Sebastian's heart broke when he heard Ciel cry out, tears of agony running down her eyes.
Sebastian gently stroked her hair, whispering soothing, sweet words to her as he coached her.
"Breathe….breathe, Kitten, it's alright, I'm right here…..I'm beside of you." Sebastian promised her.
Ciel panted hard like she had been running.
To Sebastian's surprise, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, thank heaven…" Ciel whimpered, letting go of Sebastian's hands. "Go, Sebastian, quickly! Please! I need her!"
Sebastian stood, confused, and ran to answer the door.
Who could it be?
Surely not the midwife.
His call hadn't gone through….
—
Hastily, the Phantomhive butler and rather nervous father-to-be raced downstairs.
Who could it be at this hour?
In this weather?
Whoever it was, Sebastian only had a moment, he had to return to Ciel's side as soon as possible.
Once he reached the door, he quickly swung it open.
Sebastian's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Madame Red and Grell standing there in the doorway, soaked from the storm.
Instead of greeting them hospitatably as he usually did, Sebastian just stood there, staring at them and thinking.
Oh no!
Not him!
Not Grell!
Not now!
Not that annoying red-headed reaper and Ciel's aunt, the doctor….
Sebastian's heart leapt in his chest out of relief.
A doctor!
"Bassy!" Grell cried, launching himself at Sebastian.
In one smooth motion, Sebastian evaded Grell, and grabbed Madame Red, whisking her up the stairs just as Ciel started to cry from the bathroom.
"As skittish as ever, Bassy." Grell mumbled from the carpet after falling flat on his face.
"SSSSSEEEBBBAAASSTTIIAAANN!"
"Sebastian, what's going on?!" Madame Red asked as they sped to the bathroom.
"Terribly sorry, my lady! It's quite fortunate you've come tonight! It seems my master and I need your help!" Sebastian smiled at Madame Red as he threw open the bathroom door.
Ciel laid in the tub, clutching her belly and panting for breath as she looked at Madame Red beside Sebastian.
Madame Red was shocked at first.
She had heard about Sebastian and Ciel's secret marriage, and….other rumors…..that hinted at….
But she had no idea Ciel was ready to…..
"That's not the midwife, Sebastian!" Ciel shouted.
"Oh, Ciel, you poor dear." Madame Red pouted as she snapped into physician mode and bent to exam the laboring bluenette.
"Forgive me, my lady, but it seems a doctor will have to do tonight." Sebastian smiled.
Sebastian had been ready to support Ciel and handle things on his own, of course, but he was greatly relieved that a trained doctor would be present to oversee the delivery and help With the newborn.
Downstairs, Grell frowned at the chaos he had wandered into.
He so hated when Sebastian rejected his advances!
And why was he in such a hurry to steal red away?
What was all the screaming about?
How dare Sebastian leave him lying in a crumpled heap!
Grell narrowed his eyes and stood, making his way upstairs to investigate.
What on earth was going on?!