Welcome to chapter 9. Let's get started, shall we?

CHAPTER 9 – Our Firstborn

(P staying with Diana) I gently stirred from my slumber. As I did so, I was receiving a kiss. I knew immediately it was from Sebastien, so I returned the favor. Suddenly I felt a kick from the baby. Both Sebastien and I saw it, which caused us to kiss again.

"I wonder if the baby will be coming later today," I said happily. * "Well it's been two months, so it's time I guess," Sebastien said. "I wonder if it's a boy or a girl," I said, absentmindedly rubbing my belly. "Whatever it is, I'll love our child as much as I love you," he gloriously said to me. I gave him another kiss.

"Everyone was right, it's a lot of work to be pregnant. But it'll be worth it," I said happily. Suddenly, I heart a faint cry come from another cave. "And that's what we have to look forward to," Sebastien said, making us laugh. Suddenly, I got a really hard kick from the baby.

"Ooh, that hurt," I said. "Are you ok?" Sebastien asked me. "Yes, I'm fine. It was just a hard kick," I replied. "Well make sure to tell me if anything happens," he said. I chuckled. "We've got four other families that have gone through this. I think we'll know," I said, making us laugh again.

"Could you get me some food? The baby's hungry," I said to Sebastien. "Of course I will. What would you like?" he asked me. "Just some fish please," I said. "Right away," he replied, giving me a kiss before a kiss before heading off for some food. I watched him go and felt such a strong love for him. He was perfect.

I faintly heard more crying as other families awoke. Soon that would be the same for Sebastien and I. We would have to wake up every few hours, feed our child, and go back to sleep. For several weeks we would do that, but we would love our child unconditionally.

Sebastien came back with some fish. I heard him about to enter so I feigned that I was sleeping. He gave me a kiss and I happily returned it. "Thanks honey," I said happily to him as I ate the fish. "You're welcome," he said to me. As I ate the food, I felt the baby kick vigorously. It must have been excited for the food.

After I finished, I lay my head back on the floor. "Can you rub my belly?" I asked Sebastien. "Of course," he said, rubbing my belly with his paw. I closed my eyes and just lay on the floor as I felt the baby kick at Sebastien's paw. After a little bit, I grew drowsy. And then I peacefully fell back to sleep.

(P to that evening) I gently stirred from my slumber again. And like earlier, I felt Sebastien kissing me, so I kissed him back. "How long did I sleep for?" I asked him as he was rubbing my belly. "All day honey. It's 5:30," he said to me. "Is the aquarium closed yet?" I asked him. "Everyone's leaving just now," he said. "Good. But where's the baby?" I asked him.

Suddenly, it kicked. "Yeah, I know you're in there, but why aren't you in my arms?" I asked it. I got no response and just sighed. "Oh well. Could I have more fish?" I asked Sebastien. "Absolutely," he said, going to get more. I watched him leave, feeling the same love for him that I always had.

Suddenly though, I felt something weird. It felt like I wet myself. I took the towel we had stolen from the restroom and cleaned it up before throwing it to the back of the cave, so we could dispose of it later. Suddenly Sebastien came back. "Honey?" I asked him after he finished feeding me.

"What is it?" he asked. "While you were out, I felt something weird, like I wet myself. Can you go ask one of the girls what that means quickly?" I asked him. "Absolutely," he said, quickly heading off to ask them what I had felt. Only a minute later, he was back.

"What is it honey? That was really quick," I said to him. "Diana," he said happily to me, kissing me. "What? What is it?" I asked him. "According to the mothers, your water broke," he said to me. "I'm about to give birth?" I asked him. He nodded, barely containing his excitement. "I'm ready," I said happily.

Suddenly, as if on cue, I felt a huge pain. It was starting. It was time for us to meet our child. The pain was short-lived, but it was excruciating. I cried out in pain, not expecting it to be this bad. I already wanted it to be over, but since I knew everyone else's experiences, it would be a long time until then.

Everyone seemed to hear my cry of pain, as they all came over. "It really hurts, right?" Olivia asked me. "It's excruciating. I don't even know how I can…" I said, before crying out in pain. That shut me up. It was too much pain to even speak. These cramps were awful.

Everyone was holding their own children, but was trying to help me with encouragement. I felt that everybody was family because of all the encouragement and attempts to help. I wanted the baby out because of the pain, but also to be part of our wonderful lives.

For two hours, I went through the pain. I kept trying to get the baby out, but the pain was too much. I was just struggling, not doing anything. I was crying because of all the pain and confusion. "Diana," Sebastien said to me, trying to help me calm down.

"It hurts! It hurts so much! Why do we have to have live babies? I wish we were birds," I said, somehow getting energy to speak. "I know Diana, I know. I wish I could help you more than just words. I wish I could feel part of your pain so it would be less. I'm sorry. But you're strong honey. I know that you can do this," he said to me, kissing me.

I stopped trying for a minute and looked into his eyes. He was so sad he couldn't help. He was able to help with encouragement, but that was it. I knew that if he could feel any of the pain, he would have taken that offer. But it was up to me to get our baby out.

I suddenly felt something emerge deep inside me. It was a true instinct. Not one just saying to get the baby out, but how to do so. I took a few deep breaths before finally starting to feel the baby move. I cried out in pain as I pushed, feeling more pain than I had ever felt in my life.

It was even more excruciating than before. But I felt the baby finally moving. I pushed for another hour and almost gave up again. But I didn't. I pushed for a whole minute before finally falling onto my back. And then, I heard a glorious sound. Crying. I heard crying. My baby was finally here.

Everyone congratulated me on giving birth. "Where… Where is my baby?" I asked, tired. I was lying on the floor, absolutely exhausted. "Right in my arms honey," Sebastien said to me. "What… what do… what do we have?" I asked, still tired.

"We have a daughter honey. An absolutely gorgeous baby girl," Sebastien said to me. I was helped by some of the girls to sit against the wall so I could recuperate better. "Can… can I have her?" I asked Sebastien. "Always," he said to me, putting her into my arms.

I finally opened my eyes and gasped with love. "Oh my gosh, she's beautiful," I said to Sebastien, looking at the little girl in my arms. She was so small. Her eyes were closed, and she had no teeth, but she sure was loud. ** "Ssh honey, ssh. I know the world is scary, but mommy's got you," I said to her, putting my fingers through her fur. She was so soft and beautiful.

Sebastien was just looking at us, his wife and daughter. "Come here honey," I said to him. He sat down next to me and placed a paw on our daughter's forehead. "She's so beautiful. Just like her mother," he said to me, making me kiss him in love.

Everyone left us new parents, to let us spend some time alone with our daughter. She was wailing, but after 10 minutes had calmed down. "Our little girl," I said happily, before kissing Sebastien. We were parents now. We would try to always be good parents for our daughter. We would love her for all time, no matter what she did.

"She's so beautiful," Sebastien said. "I know. Look at her right foot. Where did that come from? You and I don't have that and neither did our parents," I said to him. "I wish I knew. But it's a very distinctive feature. Her right foot isn't brown, it's white," he said.

"Her white lower face and chest are unique too. I can't wait to see her eyes soon," I said to Sebastien. "I know. She's so beautiful. And she deserves a name," he said. "Absolutely," I said to him, giving him a kiss.

We both thought for several minutes, wondering what to name our daughter. We needed one that was perfect and that she would hopefully like later in life. "I have an idea," Sebastien said. "Me too. Same time?" I asked him. "Sure," he said.

We both took a deep breath and then spoke. "How about Marlene?" we asked each other. "Oh, I love you. What a perfect name we've come up with," I said to Sebastien. "Our little Marlene," he said happily, kissing me. I loved my daughter.

Sebastien and I fed her before getting tired. He dozed off first while I fed Marlene for a second time. After she was done, I wrapped her in my arms, making sure to keep her warm. "Goodnight Marlene," I said to her, before dozing off.

And that's a wrap on this chapter. Now you know what I've been building to. This was the birth of Marlene! Yes, actually Marlene. From the show. Everyone welcome her to the world! I just have two notes before you go. Thanks for reading.

* I count Marlene's official birthday to be August 12th, 1995.

** Thanks Wikipedia!