The next morning, Wanda woke before Kurt. She laid in bed for a bit, before realizing she wouldn't get back to sleep and unsteadily stood. The baby was still, and Wanda stroked her stomach. "Let's go get some breakfast."
She took one step and was stopped by a searing pain in her abdomen. "Ahh," she gasped, her hands going to her stomach. Kurt must have heard, because he turned in bed.
"Are you ok?" he asked sleepily.
"Yeah," Wanda told him. "Another one of those pains. Go back to sleep."
Kurt nodded, closing his eyes. Wanda walked out to the kitchen. It was early, too early really for anyone to be up. She went about preparing a bowl of cereal, but was stopped by another pain. "Ow!" She gripped the table hard, and lowered herself to a chair. "Dammit." She felt nauseous, and the idea of eating was no longer appealing. Wanda stood, shakily, and headed back to the bedroom.
Her stomach felt completely unsettled. She went to sit, but found the position to be uncomfortable, so instead stood and paced the room a bit. "Ahhh!" she cried out again, as another pain hit. This was different, the Braxton Hicks were random. These seemed to be timed, as if-
Her eyes widened. Wanda moved to the bed, leaning over to her boyfriend. "Kurt," she called to him. "Kurt, wake up." He shifted, his eyes slitting open.
"Vas?" he yawned.
She clutched her stomach tightly. "I think I'm in labor."
He shot up, his eyes widening. "Now?!"
Wanda nodded, wincing as the pain returned.
"But-" he jumped out of bed. "She's not due for another week!"
"Well, she's not waiting," Wanda told him.
"Schiese!" he grabbed his clothing from the night before off the floor and dressed. "I have to get Dr. McCoy! I have-" he'd teleported before he'd finished the thought, his pants half on. Wanda leaned against the dresser, breathing steadily as the pain subsided.
A moment later, Kurt had returned with Dr. McCoy in tow. "How far apart are the contractions, Wanda?" he asked her.
"I dunno," she replied. "A couple minutes?"
"Alright," the blue mutant replied. "It's still early. Let's get you to the infirmary."
He helped her down, Kurt following in a complete panic. As she was getting settled in the infirmary cot, she felt a wetness seep onto her inner thighs. Her eyes widened and she looked to Dr. McCoy. "I think my water just broke."
"It's ok," he assured her. "It's normal. Let me take a look." She put her feet in the stirrups and he did a quick examination. "You're dilated, about three centimeters. We have a ways to go, but this baby is coming today."
Kurt moved to her side, grasping her hand, tight. "Isn't it too soon, though? She's due next week."
"Due dates aren't set in stone," he told the teens. "A baby can be born healthy several weeks before or after a due date."
Wanda winced as a contraction hit her. Kurt rubbed her head. "Mien liebe, it's ok," he took a deep breath.
Wanda let her breath out. It was going to be a long day.
~&Q~
A little after lunchtime, Dr. McCoy had left them, briefly. Wanda was on her side, clutching tightly to her stomach, rocking as a contraction hit. "Fuck," she sighed out. "This hurts so much."
Kurt watched her, his brow knit with worry. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm so sorry."
"Stop apologizing," Wanda said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry," he answered.
She shot him a look and he shut his mouth. Wanda shifted again, to her other side. She'd never felt pain like this. In her life, the hardships she'd faced, this was by far the most pain she'd ever had to endure. And she hadn't even started pushing yet.
Another contraction hit, this one much stronger, making her cry out. "I want this over!" she cried. "I don't want to do this anymore!"
Kurt looked to the clock, then to her. "It'll be over soon," he told her.
"How do you know?!" she demanded. "It's been seven hours already! How do you know when it'll be over?!"
Kurt shrugged, looking away. "Sorry."
"Stop!"
"Well," Dr. McCoy returned. "Let's see how we're doing."
"I hate this," Wanda told him.
"Birth isn't easy," he assured her, giving her a quick examination. "But you're just about there. In a little bit, you can start pushing."
"Fuck!" Wanda huffed. "Can't I do it now?"
"Almost," Dr. McCoy replied. "It'll be over soon, Wanda, I promise."
~&Q~
"Fuck your promises!" she cried at Dr. McCoy, now several hours after the last examination. "When is it time?!"
"It's coming," he told her. "Here, let's adjust." He helped her turn onto her back, placing her feet in the stirrups. "Alright, Wanda, on the next contraction, you can push."
Kurt moved in again, holding her hand as she bore down. The pain was unimaginable, and it felt like nothing was happening below her waist.
"Little breaths," Dr. McCoy coached. Wanda followed instruction, and when the next contraction came she pushed again.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh fuck!" she laid back on the cot hard, her hair sticking to her sweaty brow. Kurt lifted his hand to push her hair back.
"You're doing so good, liebe!" he told her.
Wanda shook her head. "I can't do it. I can't do anymore."
"Ja, you can!" he kissed her brow.
"Alright, Wanda, push again!" Dr. McCoy told her.
She bore down hard, pushing with everything she had. Dr. McCoy smiled. "I see the head. We're almost there."
Kurt left her side to glance at the proceedings. "Gott." His eyes widened at what he took in below her waist.
"Push again, Wanda!" She did so, crying out loudly.
"Gott, Wanda," Kurt said. "I see her, her head is out."
"One more," Dr. McCoy told her. "One more and you'll have your baby."
Knowing it was her last made Wanda all the more determined. She gave this one her all, pushing until she literally had nothing left in her. She collapsed backward after she had, her ears ringing and her head aching, along with the rest of her. As her senses returned to her, she heard a new sound, an alien sound to her ears. Before she had time to react, the squalling, wriggling form of her daughter was placed on her chest.
Wanda couldn't help but cry. "Oh my God!" Her hands moved up to touch the baby, slick in afterbirth. She cried loudly, her face squished and angry. "Oh my God," Wanda sobbed again. "My baby."
Dr. McCoy had brought over a small blanket, wrapping her up tight. Wanda held her close, the baby calming a bit as she was swaddled. "Talia," she stared at the tiny being. "You're my beautiful baby girl."
She was so caught up in the joy of this new infant, she almost completely forgot about Kurt. As she held the girl tight, she looked up to him with a teary smile. "It's our baby!"
His face was frozen, as he watched them both. Moving closer, he placed one hand on the swaddled being. "Gott," his face crumpled as he began to cry.
"Ohhh," Wanda reached a hand out to him. "No, Daddy. No crying."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close for a kiss. "I love you so much."
Wanda returned the kiss. "I love you too," she told him, then turned to their daughter. "And I love you."
