Labor was absolute Hell. If he said anything was before, that was a walk in the park compared to this. It's called labor for something.

They'd been at this for hours now, with little progress and raw, unfiltered rage at bay for whoever's unfortunate soul ticked him off.

The process his body went through was gruesome. And Richie was beyond uncomfortable. It felt like torture. When a 7 pound baby makes its way through someone's pelvis, that usually causes some pain.

And they were smart enough to take a class, and gather some advice on how to better survive this entire ordeal. Though as of now, Richie deemed it all a waste of his time.

Richie was currently swaying his hips from side to side on the yoga ball, hiding into Eddie's neck. The pressure that came with this was agonizing and dull at the same time. He'd rather see the sights of Neighbolt again than do this again.

"Motherfuck..." Richie grits out, his hands squeezing Eddie's shoulders in a vice grip. This was absolutely brutal.

Eddie was doing all that he could. But he felt awful. His poor husband was in so much pain, but he was there as support. Which meant when Richie said no epidural, he supported him completely. Even if it's hard to watch.

"You need to breathe, honey," Eddie murmurs, rubbing his husband's back as he contracted. He couldn't even imagine just how badly this hurts.

"I am," Richie growls out. He did all of what he could to try and help, whether it be breathing or swaying or bouncing. He tried it all. This wouldn't be easy... .

Hours. It took countless hours. By the time he was halfway there before pushing, it had been at least 10 hours. Richie didn't know what did it for him to start crying. But Eddie did. Maybe it was the level of exhaustion he felt. Or the primal fear he felt, for him and their babies. Or maybe the sheer agony he'd been enduring. Maybe it was everything combined. All he knew was that after so many hours, and so much effort, Richie found himself sobbing into Eddie's shoulder.

"I-I can't do this..." Richie murmurs, his voice broken and scared. This was absolutely terrifying, and he didn't know what was going to happen. It made Eddie's heart squeeze.

"But you can, sweetheart," Eddie murmurs back. He rakes his fingers through Richie's unkempt curls. "We're so close, so so close. Don't you wanna meet our babies?" He kisses the top of Richie's head, rubbing his lower back as he felt the muscles tighten and spasm. His poor baby... .

Richie sniffles, feeling his eyes flood all over again. He really did want to meet their babies. So so badly. But he was also so scared. It was overwhelming. Richie clung to Eddie, that being his only method to keep himself grounded. It hurt. It hurt so much, words couldn't even describe half of it.

Eddie hates, absolutely hates seeing Richie in so much pain. But then those magic words came. "You're ready to push," it made him smile so so much. He was filled to the brim with nervous and excited energy. They were so close! But once Richie actually started pushing, it was surreal.

He didn't even realize how fast time passed. Richie had been pushing for an hour, and as the time passed, he got more and more angry. To the point, Richie screamed as he pushed, and glared at Eddie when he wasn't.

"Eds... I swear to God.." He pants, "I will fucking CUT IT OFF!" Richie yells, pushing right after. Although it seemed no one else batted an eye. It had left Eddie in a stunned silence. Never in a million years did he think Richie would say that.

Richie cried out loudly in pain, before it went still for a few moments. It was so sudden... . And then, the most beautiful sound filled the air.

Loud, wailing cries filled the room as a baby was lifted into view.

"It's a girl!" His doctor cheers, smiling. She laid the little one on Richie's bare chest. And as if on cue, Richie started sobbing. A baby. Their baby.

After so trying for so long, so many years, so much heartbreak and loss, they finally had a baby. It made Eddie's eyes water as he smiled.

"Oh, honey..." Eddie kisses Richie's head of damp curls, "'m so proud of you.." One down. Two more to go.

Richie was so tired. He's been pushing for two hours total, and was only halfway done with their second.

Eddie sat behind his husband, supporting his back whenever Richie leaned forward to push. His voice had gone hoarse.

"You can do better than that," His doctor egged him on, "C'mon,"

Richie growled, pushing so hard his face turned beat red. "Fuck! Shit! Shit shit! Shitshitshit!" He screamed, until not even second later, loud and strong cries filled his ears all over again.

"Good job, Richie," She smiles, placing the baby next to their sibling. "You've got another baby girl,"

Richie was too stunned. His tears hadn't stopped, but were silent now. The male sniffles, counting all ten fingers and ten toes. They had two daughters... Holy shit.

He winced, simply leaning back against his husband. Having babies hurts so badly. It's unlike anything he's ever felt.

"One more?" Richie breathes out.

"One more, sweetheart," Eddie murmurs. Just one more.

Their third baby showed problems. Richie was losing energy faster than what his body could handle. He was dehydrated from the amount of sweat and tears escaping him, and his voice was dead.

"Hold on, Rich," His doctor says. "Take deep breathes for me, have some ice chips," They needed him to be strong.

An emergency c-section was the last thing Richie wanted. And she knew he'd be devastated.

Richie shook his head. "Need... need out..." His brain was so fogged with pain, full sentences were impossible.

Their third took a lot longer. Richie pushed, feeling that relief all over again. But then... it didn't happen.

"Why.. why don't I hear crying..?" Richie breathes out, his tired eyes opening to search for their baby. That's when he saw it.

To his horror, the baby boy wasn't breathing. He was purple at the lips as his doctor furiously rubbed his little back and chest.

No.. no. No, no no nonono! Not again. Panic settled into Richie's veins, and he started to sob in sheer terror.

"Call the NICU," She says, standing before another doctor took the baby. "Let's move people!"

"Go... go with the baby.." Richie rushes out, looking at Eddie, "stay with the baby.."

And Eddie had never bolted after a doctor so fast in his entire life.