Disclaimer: I don't own the Host.
A/N: Sorry if there are a lot of mistakes, this was written and updated on my phone. This is a Jelanie baby for PollyReaderFreak.
Jelanie Baby Birth:
"Do I have to get up?" Jared murmured. "I'd really rather stay here with you and the baby all day." Melanie hit her boyfriend playfully.
"Nope, you have to get up. You have work and if you want to get all those days off after the baby is born, then you have to save up your sick days and holiday leave." Mel broke off in a laugh as he nuzzled his head in the crook of her neck. "Jared," She giggled, trying to be serious. "Work, now."
"Fine, fine, just lemme say me goodbyes." Jared groaned, stretching. He pulled the duvet back to reveal her small baby bump. Eight months now. "Bye bye baby, stay strong, I love you. And don't forget to be brave when your mom here goes all hormonal and cranky." That earned him a smack to the head. "See what I mean?"
"Jared..." She said warningly.
"Okay, okay, I'm going." Jared turned back to Mel, and kissed her on the forehead. Then he pressed a hand against her forehead. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay. You are burning up and really flushed. Worse than last night."
"I'm okay, really." She told him. "Besides Wanda's coming over in a couple of hours. She'll take care of me until you get home." Mel answered.
"If you are sure..." Jared trailed off, hesitatingly. "Plenty of rest and water yeah?"
"Of course," she smiled. "Now scoot." Jared grabbed his jumper and left the room. Mel dozed off after he left.
. . .
When Melanie woke up the first thing she did was look at the clock. It was ten to twelve, Wanda would be here in forty minutes, give or take.
Next, she tried to track down if her fever had gone down. She held up a hand to her head and realised that her hand felt heavy and sore. Nope, fever was worse. Her forehead was burning up, and suddenly Melanie wished that she had left Jared stay at home with her.
Nevermind, she thought. Wanda will be here soon. She felt awful though and she was thirsty. She also should have asked Jared to grab her a bottle of water. Now she had to go all the way downstairs. She sighed.
She slowly got out of bed, but left her dressing gown on its hook. She was already to hot. Maybe she'd stick her head in the fridge of something to cool her down...
Uh oh, she groaned as her stomach did little flips. She tried to hold it in until she reached the bathroom, and luckily she just made it. Next thing she knew she was puking her guts out in the toilet. She let her face rest against the cool tiles on the bathroom floor. Sure it wasn't the most comfortable place but it was cool. She lay sprawled out. Yes, Melanie decided, she should have let Jared stay with her.
When she was sure that she wasn't going to throw up anymore, she peeled herself off the tiled floor and padded slowly towards the stairs, slightly dizzy. She reached the stairs and gripped the railing tightly, nausea nearly overwhelming her. Relived that the wave had passed and she hadn't stumbled, she made her way slowly down the steps. There were twenty steps altogether and Melanie silently cursed every single on of them.
She was down five steps when another wave of nausea hit her, making her feel dizzy, wavering on the steps. She stumbled and left go of the railing, falling down the remaining fifteen steps.
"Urgh," she groaned, blinking clearing her vision. Nothing seemed sore. Nothing seemed broken. She felt tears come to her eyes from shock. She took a few deep breaths and pushed herself off the floor. Jared. She wanted Jared. Maybe she should call him... No, that would be selfish. He'd be home later. Besides she wasn't hurt, she was standing wasn't she?
She pushed herself up and immediately pressed a hand to her stomach to check if her baby was alright. A few kicks. Thank God, she laughed.
She padded another few steps to the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the press. She spotted her mobile phone on the table on the other side of the room. Maybe she should... No!
She filled the glass with cool water and took a sip, debating whether lying on the couch or rug would be more comfortable. She sure as hell wasn't going bad upstairs anyway.
She took a step towards the table, maybe to text Jared, maybe Wanda when she felt a sharp pain rip through her stomach. In surprise she dropped the glass on the floor, scattering little pieces of glass and water everywhere.
Melanie immediately moved away from the shards of glass in horror. What had just happened?
She felt the pain again, and this time it caused her to slide down the fridge and sit there, confused and scared. She took deep, panicky breaths. What was going on?
The pain ripped through her again and Melanie doubled a thought seared through her mind along with another flash of pain. What if she was going in labour? But... It was too early, then again, she had just fallen down the stairs. What if the baby was hurt? Oh God no. Tears filled Melanie's eyes. She made a movement towards the table, where her phone lay, but as she moved, another sharp piece of pain slid through her.
"Oww!" She gasped. She looked at the clock above the door, Wanda wouldn't be here for another twenty minutes at least.
Another flash of pain, this one lasted longer. At least her waters hadn't broken, right?
"Jared..." Melanie sobbed into her hands, all she wanted was her boyfriend right now. To comfort her and wrap his arms around her. She slid down into a lying position and sobbed in pain, whispering Jared's name as she waited for Wanda to arrive.
. . .
"Mel? Mel, where are you?" Wanda called out, entering Melanie's and Jared's grand house. "Mel?" She thought she heard a groan but she couldn't be sure.
"Wanda!" She heard someone moan from the kitchen. Wanda entered the kitchen to find her best friend lying of the floor, inches away from a pile of broken glass and water, clutching her stomach, a desperate look on her face.
"Mel!" She called, running over to the girl. "What happened?"
"I fell down the stairs."Melanie panted. "And I was okay until I got a drink, and now my stomach hurts. I think the baby is coming, or maybe he or she is hurt. I really don't know." She wheezed frantically. "I could get to my phone." A fresh wave of pain and nausea rolled over her. "Ugh," she cried out. "I want Jared."
"Okay," Wanda tried to stay calm. "I'll call him, but first we are going to have to get you to the hospital."
"Wanda," Melanie sobbed. "I'm scared."
"I know, but everything is going to be okay, I promise." Wanda soothed her. "But first, we have to get you into my car, and you are going to have to stand up okay?"
"Uh huh," Melanie sighed.
"Okay, one arm on the wall and the other around me. Good girl." Wanda instructed.
Mel almost collapsed from the next wave of pain and then her waters broke. "Wonderful!" Wanda cursed. "Come on."
. . .
Mel was in hospital, lying on the bed waiting for a doctor as Wanda hung up on Jared. "Jared's going to be here really soon, I promise Mel." Wanda whispered to her crying friend.
"I want Jared." Mel sobbed. "I want my mom!" Wanda froze at that, Jared she could get but not Mel's mother. Mel's mother had been killed in a terrorist attack in the twin towers a few years ago when Melanie was seventeen.
"Melanie, I can't get your mom..." Wanda said sadly.
"I know," Melanie whinced. "But I wish she was here." The end of her sentence was strangled with pain.
"I'm here!"Jared burst into the room. "Are you okay Mel?" He took one glance over the situation and fainted.
"Wanda," Melanie growled. "Slap him, he does not get to be unconscious if I have to be awake!" Wanda did as she was told, nobody disobeys a pregnant woman, especially one in labour.
. . .
After all the mess and pain was over, and Jared had been revived by Wanda many, many times. The couple got to hold their newborn in their arms. Ian and Wanda watched through then windows, debating if they should have kids soon while Jared and Melanie stared at their beautiful baby girl in awe.
"She's so perfect." Melanie gushed.
"I know," Jared agreed. "Just like you." He watched as the newborn held his pinky in her loose, tiny grasp. "What are we going to call her?"
"I like Aimee."
"Hmm... I think it suits her." Jared mused."And by the way, I told you I should have stayed at home."
"We wouldn't have a wonderful baby girl if you did." Melanie told him.
"What? How did you reckon that?" Jared asked confused.
"Didn't Wanda tell you? I fell down the stairs." Melanie answered dismissively, staring lovingly at her baby, Aimee.
"You did what?!"
A/N: Hoped you liked that :) Don't forget to send it your requests. Sorry again that I haven't updated in so long.