Chapter 13

Noodle sighed. She was surrounded by shopping bags full to bursting point with things for the baby. 2-D was at the checkout paying, so she decided to sit down. Shopping is tiring work. Shopping whilst 8 months pregnant- well that's another story. She lowered herself onto a bench and wiped her head. She really wanted to go home. They'd been shopping for several hours now; Murdoc and Russel had given up ages ago and were pigging out at the fast food court. Noodle shuddered. The thought of greasy foods sickened her.

"Alright love?"

2-D dropped a vast bag to the floor and sat down next to Noodle.

"Hai, I guess. I'm really tired though and feel a bit strange."

"We'll just go find the guys then we'll go home."

He wrapped his arms round Noodle and gave her a little squeeze.

"Come on love, let's go."

He gently helped Noodle to her feet and grabbed as many bags as he could. Noodle took the smallest, lighter bags. The couple walked out the store side by side. They headed across the landing and to the staircase, the fast food court just below. When they reached the top of the stairs Noodle stopped. She dropped the bags and bent over- breathing heavily. 2-D stopped what her was doing and tried to talk to her.

"What wrong love?"

"Ahh."

Noodle let out a feeble gasp, closed her eyes and fell unconscious. Her body twisted as she fell and she went, head first… down the stairs.

"NOODLE!"

2-D screamed loudly and stared in disbelief. Noodle lay in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the staircase, a crowd had begun to form. 2-D ran down the stairs three at a time. He couldn't believe this was happening. Why now? He got to the bottom and knelt next to Noodle's limp body. She was lying, face first, in a pool of blood. 2-D slowly plucked up the courage to roll her over, he screamed at what he saw. Across her forehead was a big, ugly gash. Blood spurting from it like a crimson fountain. 2-D panicked- what could he do? He looked around him helplessly. Everyone looked as lost as he felt. He felt a weak tug on his shirt and shot round quick.

"Noodle?"

Noodle was staring up at him, her face pale- expression blank. She was holding his shirt with one hand.

"Hey D what's going on?"

Russel burst through the crowd, Murdoc in tow.

"I heard a scream."

2-D turned round and pointed at Noodle in silence.

"No. Oh God."

Russel got down on his knees next to Noodle.

"Don't just stand there! Someone call an ambulance!"

He looked back to Noodle.

"Baby girl, can you here me?"

There was no response. He waved a hand in front of her open eyes. She didn't follow them.

"D. I don't know what's wrong."

He pulled out a wad of serviettes from his pocket and dabbed at Noodle's head tenderly. She didn't move. Russel sat behind her and propped up her upper body on his stomach. 2-D put a hand on Noodle's stomach and felt a kick.

"The baby's kicking."

"That's a good sign."

The conversation was broken by a gushing sound. 2-D and Russel looked at each other blankly.

"Was that your stomach Russ?"

"No."

The pair looked down. Noodle's trousers were damp.

"Oh shit."

"What is it Russ?"

"That was her waters braking. She's having the baby NOW."

Just as Russel finished there was a high pitched scream.

"Where am I?"

Russel looked down at Noodle. She was starting to shake slightly and was screaming something in Japanese.

"What's happening to me!?"

Russel grabbed Noodle's head and held it still.

"Your waters have broken, the baby's coming."

"AARGHH!"

Noodle screamed violently and began talking Japanese again.

"Excuse me?"

Russel felt a bony hand on his shoulder and turned round.

"Pardon my intrusion. I'm a retired midwife; I may be able to help you."

"Do anything."

Russel shuffled over and let the elderly woman in. 2-D grabbed Noodle's hand.

"Noodle, there's a woman here and she's going to try and help you."

Noodle shook her head violently.

"Too soon. Too soon."

Russel grabbed her head again. He didn't want her shaking her head.

The midwife positioned herself at Noodle's legs and rolled up her sleeves.

"Pardon me love, but we need to remove your trousers."

Noodle didn't respond. She was staring at something on the ceiling. The midwife leaned over and unbuttoned Noodle's trousers, she pulled them down gently and threw them behind her. Security guards began shooing people away and a store clerk appeared next to the midwife. He asked her if she needed anything and she sent him off with a list.

Noodle was back in reality and began screaming.

"It hurts!"

"It will do love. Just try and breathe."

Noodle found 2-D's hand and grasped it tightly.

Murdoc appeared at her other side. She held out her hand and looked at him helplessly. He took her hand and she squeezed- HARD. She tried to breathe normally, but she couldn't do it.

"AARRGGHHH!" She let out a much louder scream and her breathing shot through the roof.

"Calm her down quickly! She's going to have to hyperventilate."

Noodle was hyperventilating. Murdoc grabbed an abandoned shopping bag, emptied it and hand it to 2-D. 2-D opened it and held it to Noodle's mouth. She was trying her best to calm down but was failing miserably. Russel scraped the hair back from her face. It was sweaty and streaked with blood.

"Come on love. Breathe."

Noodle's breathing was slowing down, her face a violent shade of red.

"I I'm really warm."

Noodle was stammering into the bag and let out another ear-splitting cry. She dropped the bag and rested her hands on her stomach.

"Help her take the jacket off. She's getting too warm."

Murdoc and 2-D took a hand each and tried to hold her still as Russel slid the jacket off from behind. He rolled it up and put it beside him before gently lowering Noodle back onto his stomach. Beads of sweat were dripping from her forehead, drips of blood following. She was in a lot of pain. Seconds later she let out another scream. When she stopped screaming she was silent.

"OK love?"

"I I think I need to push."

"Just a second love."

The midwife straddled Noodle's legs and bent them upwards. She dipped a cloth in the cold water and threw it to Russel who began wiping her head gingerly.

"Ok love, when you're ready."

Noodle grasped 2-D's hand tightly and bit her lip. Her eyes were shut and her face screwed up in pain, her breathing heavy and delayed.

"Mmmrrgh"

Her eyes shot open and her breathing increased.

"Nearly there love, one more push. I can see the head."

Russel went white and turned away. He didn't want to see this. Noodle closed her eyes again and concentrated on her breathing. She let out an almighty scream as she gave one final push.

Silence.

2-D and Murdoc stared open mouthed at the midwife. Dear god, please don't be dead. There was a tiny splutter, followed by a high pitched squeal. 2-D and Murdoc cheered loudly as the midwife lifted up a tiny bundle and began to dab it clean with a wet cloth. She wrapped the bundle in a towel and smiled proudly.

"Congratulations! It's a little girl."

She passed the small bundle to 2-D, and he smiled down at her.

"Noodle. She's gorgeous."

2-D stared in awe at the wonderful creature in his arms. She had big emerald eyes and a mop of teal hair. The spitting image of her mum. Her hair was a classy combination of violet and blue. She looked so angelic.

"Let's have a look dents."

2-D carefully passed his daughter over to Murdoc. He cradled her and talked about how sweet she was. Russel turned round. He saw Murdoc with the baby and couldn't help but giggle. It was so unlike him to be so- well, human.

"Shut it lards!"

Russel stopped laughing ad looked down at Noodle. She looked awful, her face now pale and drawn. Breathing slow and deep.

"Well done baby girl."

Noodle sighed and nodded her head gently. She didn't feel as though she could reply.

"Here you go Noods."

Russel held out the small bundle. Noodle didn't move. Russel took the baby from Murdoc and placed it on Noodle's chest.

"Say hello to mummy."

Noodle looked into the small bundle and started to cry.

"What's wrong Noodle?"

2-D started to worry.

"I can't believe what I nearly did. I can't believe I nearly killed something so innocent."

2-D smiled as Noodle picked up the baby and held her close. He was glad that she was alright.

Time seemed to stand still at this point. Noodle was in her own little world, and the guys were over the moon. An ambulance crew arrived to take Noodle to the hospital to get her checked out, and apart from the gash in her forehead both noodle and her daughter were fine. Things turned out for the good and things can only get better.