Note: As some of you possibly know, I had another (separate) story titled "A New Arrival", about the birth of Phoebus and Esmeralda's first baby. Well, looking back on it, it was so cringe-worthy that I did some major editing to it, AND decided to just make it apart of this series. (I will delete the original in 24 hours.)

This might be new to some of you, though, so enjoy nonetheless! Xx

Baby (part 1)

Phoebus dragged a wooden chair across the room and set it next to the bed, where Esmeralda was sitting up in distress, having gone into labor about an hour earlier. He had gone to their neighbor's house to order someone to procure the midwife from The Court of Miracles so he could stay with Esmeralda.

Phoebus opened his arms as an offer for comfort, which she appreciatively accepted. He relocated himself to sit next to his wife, lifting a leg to stretch it out on the mattress, letting the other one dangle off the side. She leaned into him as he put an arm around her and caressed her hair calmingly.

"Nervous?" Esmeralda probed. She reached for his hand and clasped it.

Phoebus sighed, confessing, "Well, I have the right. I've never done this before."

She retorted, mildly vexed, "Can't say I've done this, either." She indicated to the current condition of her body.

She knew this was just the beginning of her suffering and was apprehensive of the hell she'd endure in the very near future. She tried to remind herself that it would all be worth it, that she'd have a newborn in her arms soon enough, and she'd be able to embrace Phoebus properly again. But the straining sensation in her stomach was making it very hard to focus on the positives.

Regardless, she lifted her head to smile at her husband reassuringly. While she awaited another contraction, Esmeralda used the opportunity to speak: "Go visit Quasi. Or Clopin. You can entertain each other." she suggested. "I'll get through it. Don't worry."

After receiving a kiss right under his ear from the bronze-skinned gypsy and sequentially seeing her grimace with the endurance of another contraction, he said, "I really hope Giovanna gets here soo—"

Phoebus' sentence was cut short by a knock on the bedroom door. The couple looked up simultaneously.

A middle-aged woman with tan skin poked her head into the room. She was clearly a gypsy; bare-footed and clad in bright colours. She smiled sympathetically when her gaze landed on Esmeralda, obviously masking her discomfort.

"Hi there! I hope you don't mind me inviting myself in. The front door was cracked. I figured you'd be up here. Your neighbor boy told me it was urgent." She reported, plopping her antediluvian carpenter bag on the floor.

"We won't hold a grudge against you too long." Phoebus responded, faking bother.

Giovanna "You'd better get going. She'll be in good hands, my boy. Nothing to worry about." Giovanna replied, grinning warmly.

A frown grew on his face as he slowly slid himself off the bed and Esmeralda sank backwards onto the headboard. Her hand remained linked to Phoebus', and she yanked him back to herself, smiling mischievously.

"You think you can get out of here without a kiss?" She remarked. Phoebus returned her smirk and leaned in until he was millimeters from her lips, replying in a low voice, "You make it pretty damn hard."

And then he captured her mouth with his, until Esmeralda shoved him away. "Get out of here. I've got a baby to deliver." She teased.

Her husband gave her one last peck before being taken by the shoulders and scooted out of the room by Giovanna. "Out, out, OUT!" The midwife raved. Just before stepping out of his bedroom, Phoebus turned to face Giovanna and caught her hand with his. She looked up; their similar brown eyes making contact briefly.

Phoebus hesitated, dipping his head almost sheepishly before whispering, "You'll…you'll see to it that everything…goes well?"

Giovanna was surprised by his desperate plea, but smiled warmly and patted the hand that held hers. "Everything will be fine. Take my word for it." She said gently. Phoebus murmured a 'thank you' before turning away and leaving, and the bedroom door thudded shut.