Chapter 27

"They baby is coming!?!" Holland gasped.

"Yes!" Talho groaned and clutched her enormous belly. Holland breathed out loudly and sprang down beside her. He carefully lifted her up as if she was made of glass.

Renton, Eureka, and along with the three children rushed into the hallway.

"What happened?!?" Renton yelled with a worried tone.

"The baby is coming!" Holland screamed through gritted teeth. "Give me a hand, Renton!"

"Uh, yes sir!" Renton stuttered and helped carry Talho.

Eureka and observed the scene wide-eyed and with great interest while the children chattered among themselves.

"I'll go tell Mischa!" Eureka exclaimed and ran back through the hallway.

"Mama! Wait for us!" Maeter called and the three siblings scurried after their mother.

Renton and Holland watched the four leave. Renton laughed sheepishly.

"Looks like they left us the heavy lifting."

Talho opened her eyes slightly and said weakly, "I'll get you later."

Renton gulped loudly.

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Eureka, out of breath, sprang forth through the infirmary doors. A surprised Mischa stood up from her desk.

"Back so soon, Eureka?"

"Talho's baby is coming!" Eureka said excitedly.

Mischa knew that this was going to happen. In a split second, Mischa made up her mind. With a voice of authority, Mischa commanded the four.

"Eureka, prepare the bed. You three, get hot water and towels. I'm going to prepare the equipment."

"Yes!" The three children and their mother said as Mischa left.

Maeter and Maurice grabbed a small plastic tub. Slowly and carefully, they filled it to the brim with crystal clear warm water. Linck ran over to the cabinets. He jumped up on the counter and grabbed a five snowy white towels. Eureka smoothed out the bed sheets. She folded the blankets and set them down at the feet of the bed. She then fluffed up the pillow and placed it back down in place. Eureka smiled at her handy work of the bed.

"We're done!" The three children said in unison. Eureka turned around, smiled and patted their heads affectionately.

The doors slammed open and in came Renton and Holland carrying a big-bellied Talho.

"Where's Mischa?" Holland half yelled in a questioning voice as he placed Talho on the bed. From the back of the infirmary, a deafening crash sounded. Coughs and curses flooded the air as Mischa emerged with an armful of hospital equipment. Everyone stood back as Mischa hooked up the equipment and monitors. She then taped two wires onto Talho's forehead. The bedside monitor flickered on and a steady beep and green zigzag displayed. All of the sudden, Talho let out an ear-piercing cry. Holland rushed to her side and clutched her hands. The three children clutched to their mother and Renton gripped Eureka's shoulder. Mischa sighed and walked up to Eureka and Renton.

"Take the kids out of here." She whispered to Renton and Eureka. They nodded and pushed the three children out. They protested and complained.
"Aww! I want to see what happens!" Linck cried in agony.

"Come on, leave them alone." Renton assured him.

"Please mama?" Maeter asked with big puppy eyes.

"We have to leave them alone." Eureka said difficultly.

Maurice sighed, "Leave them alone."

"Aww!" Maeter and Linck groaned in unison as the door banged shut.

Only Talho, Holland, and Mischa remained in the room.

"Alright." Mischa announced and handed Talho a white gown. "Change into these please."

Talho nodded and pulled the bed curtains close. A shuffling of clothes could be heard behind the closed cloth curtains.

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It has been five hours since Talho entered the infirmary. Holland and Talho talked to each other quietly. They looked over at the infirmary doors as they creaked opened. Hilda entered and carried a tray with a huge bowl of soup in it.

"You guys should eat something or else you won't have energy."

Talho smiled, "Thank you Hilda."

Hilda grinned and laughed quietly, "No problem."

She handed the tray to Holland and walked to the exit.

"See ya!" Hilda said and left the room.

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Later that night, screams emitted from the infirmary doors. Holland gripped Talho's hands.

"I'm here, Talho."

Pain was obviously showing on Talho's face. She shutted her eyes and gritted her teeth as pain bombarded her. Sweat beaded on her forehead so Holland wiped it off. Talho opened her eyes and smiled. Holland smiled back. He hoped greatly for that Talho will not die giving birth. Mischa sat at the edge of the bed and observed between Talho's legs.

"Alright Talho! PUSH!!"

Talho bit down on her lips and pushed with all her might. She let out more screams of pain and Holland continued gripping her hands.

"The baby is crowning!" Mischa called out. "NOW PUSH AS HARD AS YOU CAN!!"

Talho grunted and pushed even harder. She let out another cry and fell silent.

"Talho!" Holland cried in agony. "Talho! TALHO!"

"Holland! Don't worry, she had just fainted." Said Mischa.

Holland let out a sigh of relief. A small cry of a baby could be heard.

Mischa smiled and laughed, "Here's your daughter!"