Chapter 16

Athos and Sylvie had been ushered through to a private room where the nurse handed Sylvie a hospital gown and said she would be back in a few minutes.

"Call my Mum," Sylvie said to Athos.

Athos pulled out his phone bringing up the numbers he had stored in it. "Carol," he said after a minute. "It's Athos." Sylvie tuned out Athos' voice as he spoke to her mum.

Another nurse walked in while Athos was still on the phone. "There's a Constance DuBois asking to see you."

Sylvie took a deep calming breath. She loved Athos and wanted him by her side as they went through this together, but she needed a little backup.

"She can come in," Sylvie said. "Oh and my mother will be here soon," she looked at Athos for conformation and received a nod. "Carol Boden."

A few minutes later a rather tired looking Constance appeared. She walked over to them wrapping one arm around Athos who had ended his call moments ago and leaned in to brush a kissed against Sylvie's forehead.

"So, how's everything going?" Constance asked.

"Slowly," Sylvie said gasping for breath as another contraction came.

"Have they given you anything for the pain?" Constance asked.

Sylvie was too busy trying to get her breath to answer the question.

"She's refusing anything," Athos said looking worried. "Sweetheart, deep breath."

"Sylvie, you really should have them give you something," Constance said.

What Sylvie couldn't convey in words she did in the look on her face. "Alright," Constance said. She knew when to back off.

TM

The doctor had been in to see Sylvie. Unfortunately they were going to have to wait as Sylvie was not dilated enough.

The door opened a few minutes after the doctor had stepped out and Carol entered. "Sylvie," she rushed to her side.

"Maman," Sylvie let her mum hug her. She was held in her mother's arms for several moments. This led to a few shed tears from Sylvie. "Bloody hell," she wiped her face with a tissue.

"Sylvie, it's perfectly normal to be emotional," Carol said.

"She's right," Constance said from the other side of the bed.

"Constance, how is your little one?" Carol asked.

Constance beamed and that seemed to set Sylvie off in more tears.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Athos was sitting on the edge of the bed with an arm around Sylvie's shoulders.

"It's so beautiful," she said hiccupping.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Constance and d'Artagnan and their little baby," she said.

"Yes it is," Athos agreed.

"Merde!" Sylvie grabbed onto Athos' hand and squeezed with all of her might.

"Just breathe," Athos said. "Just like they said in lamaze class. Deep breath in," he continued to coach her.

TM

"Are you certain you want to do this?" Athos asked.

Sylvie set her sock covered feet down on the floor. The doctor had told her she could walk a little; that it might help move things along.

"It's been two hours," Sylvie said.

"Very well," Athos said holding onto her.

Carol smiled from where she sat reading a book. "You two go ahead."

"We still haven't decided on any names," Sylvie said as they stood in the middle of the hall.

"Hubert if it's a boy," Athos said. "Sorry, maybe too difficult?"

Sylvie smiled leaning into Athos' side. She had been debating that for a while. She didn't know if she could handle having her child have her father's name. She still missed him so much. Her grief would still come up and take her by surprise. Most times there didn't seem to be any specific thing to set her off.

"Maybe as a middle name," she said.

"Grace," Sylvie said.

It was Athos' turn to lean into Sylvie's side giving her shoulder a squeeze. Grace was his paternal grandmother's name. She was the grandmother who had given Athos the house in the country.

They were halfway down the hall when Sylvie groaned in pain. "I think I'd like to go back to my room."

Once she was back in bed Sylvie felt better…except for the dull ache in her lower back.

"Roll on your side," Athos said nudging her lightly encouraging her to face away from him.

She complied and Athos began massaging her back.

Sylvie sighed closing her eyes. She loved his massages. He pressed a particularly stubborn spot causing her to moan happily.

"Are we interrupting?"

Sylvie cringed. Her mother and Constance had been off getting coffee only to return now.

Her mum came around to the side Sylvie was facing and patted her hand smiling down at her.

TM

Athos was dozing in a chair next to the bed. Constance eventually had to go home. She was sorry for leaving, but Sylvie understood. Constance promised to be back in the morning.

Sylvie turned her head to the other side of her bed where her mother sat. "Mum," Sylvie spoke softly switching to English. Her mother was fairly fluent in French, but she felt more comfortable in her mother tongue. It was especially difficult when she was tired.

"What is it, dear?" Carol asked. "Do you need anything?"

"Mum, do you think I'll be a good mum?" Sylvie asked.

Sylvie was aware of Athos' doubts about his own ability to be a good father, she didn't want to burden him with her own doubts.

"Oh sweetheart," Carol was not given to such openness, but she had been trying the last several months. "You are your father's daughter. He was kind generous man and I was a fool to let my family break us up." She wrapped her hand around Sylvie's.

"You have such a generous heart and so much love to give," she nodded over to the other side of the bed. "The same is true of Athos. He was born to be a father. He's always taking care of everyone around him."

Sylvie smiled pressing a kiss to her mother's hand. It was so true of Athos, he had a need to make sure everyone he loved was taken care of.

A few minutes later Sylvie's doctor returned. She took another look. "I think this baby is ready to meet his or her parents."

"Athos," Sylvie said.

"What's going on?" Athos mumbled half asleep.

"The baby is ready to come," Sylvie was grinning.

"Athos," Sylvie repeated.

"Hhmm?" Athos blinked up at Sylvie.

"Come on," Carol was at Athos' side nudging him to get up. "Time to meet your baby."

Athos' eyes widened.

"Come here, love," Sylvie beckoned him over taking his hand. It was finally time to meet their son or daughter.

TBC

Note: A big thank you to pallysdeeks for your insight into childbirth.