Hi there, a new chapter, hope you'll like it.

From here on and in the chapters to come, there will be some description of the process of childbirth. I'm a midwife, I like to describe this with reality. If you find that offensive or disturbing in any way, just don't read it.

Chapter 3

The contraction seemed to go on forever and Tonks felt lightheaded. The only things that kept her from drowning in the pain were Arthurs hand that she clutched and his blue eyes locked on to hers.

At last the pain subsided but Tonks found herself shaking and still breathing very shallow.

"Easy there, in through your nose and out through your mouth Nympadora."

Guiding her, Arthur managed to calm her down a bit so she could take a few deep breaths, although she continued to shake.

"Whoah! This bloody well hurts! If this is only the beginning I'm not sure I can do this…"

Tonks felt the beginning of panic creeping towards her. She was having the baby. But Remus was still away. Okay, it would probably take hours before the actual birth so Remus would most likely be back in time, but he wasn't here to help her now. They were supposed to do this together, she couldn't do it alone. Merlin, if this was only the beginning she doubted she could do it at all! And what if something went wrong? The whole plan with Molly and Hestia helping her, even their back-up-plan for going to the hospital, all of a sudden it felt unbelievably stupid and reckless.

"I can't do this. I'm not ready. It's madness, were in the middle of a war and there's a price on my head and Remus is in transformation and what if-"

She was cut off by the next contraction. Panic now really flooded her, causing her to start hyperventilating again and simultaneously cry out in pain while clutching at Arthurs hand.

He guided her again, telling her to breath and when the contraction was over and she was sobbing hysterically he quite firmly took her face in his hands.

"Nymphadora, look at me".

She did, and somehow calmed a bit.

"You can do this. I know you can. And yes, were in the middle of a war but you will still have this baby and everything will be alright. I'm going to send messages to Molly and Hestia to come over here and to Kingsley so he can find Remus and bring him back as soon as possible. In the mean time I need you to try and focus on your breathing, it will help with the pain, trust me."

"But shouldn't I go home? I'm going to give birth at our home. We have all this stuff ready that Hestia told us to. And Remus will come straight home after the transformation, I really should go home!"

"I'm not going to let you go home like this, dear. First lets Hestia get you checked out and we'll make a plan from there."

Tonks wanted to protest but was distracted by another contraction. Arthur breathed with her, which helped quite a lot but also reminded her of the book about breathing exercises for labor that Remus had spelled front to back as he had promised her he'd help her through everything.

"He was supposed to be with me, we practiced breathing together." She said as soon as she was able to speak. "And now he's somewhere remote, exhausted no doubt after his transformation and I really can't do this by myself. I can't remember a single breathing-exercise!" Tears threatened to spill again.

"Don't worry love, you will do just fine. In fact, you are already doing it. And every woman forgets how to breathe once labor really starts, at least Molly did, every single time. If I may say so, after six times I'm well versed in helping a laboring woman breathe through the contractions. I'll help you out until Remus is here."

Tonks realized that this was undoubtedly true, if anyone could help her through labor it was Arthur Weasley. The thought made her want to chuckle but she only managed a small but grateful smile.

She'd be ok. Remus and Molly and Hestia would come soon and it would all be ok, and until then she trusted Arthur to help her.

She watched Arthur send several messages in patronus-form towards Molly, Hestia and Kingsley while she tried her best to breathe away the next contraction and not to cry out in pain.

Arthur quickly came back to breathe with her again.

"So what do we do now?" Tonks asked once she was able to catch her breath.

"We just wait." Arthur said calmly. "You're doing great. Try to remember that every contraction brings you closer to having your baby, Molly always felt it helped her when focusing on that rather than focusing on the pain."

At first Tonks felt a bit weird and awkward, taking her former classmate's fathers advice while in labor. But upon trying she felt he was right, it did help. So when Arthur suggested she move around a bit and try to deal with the contractions in varying positions she followed his advice without question.

Soon they came into a sort of rhythm. Tonks moving, rocking and breathing through each contraction while Arthur alternated between holding her hand and giving pressure on her lower back which felt surprisingly good. In between contractions she would lean on the table or countertop, resting her head in her hands and he would softly stroke her back, occasionally offering a sip of water.

After what felt like hours of one contraction after another, Tonks glanced at the clock to see that a mere half hour had passed.

"Why aren't they here yet?" Concern was invading the calm feeling of the past twenty minutes.

"Kingsley got my message alright, he's looking for Remus at this moment. Hestia did't immediately respond which is not surprising as she had a shift on her regular job and we've set up a security system where our patronuses can't appear in public, thus giving away any connections to the order. She'll get it as soon as she's alone, King said he'd keep sending her messages. And as for Molly, I forgot that Muriel, being a paranoid old hag, has made her house impervious to all sorts of spells including patronuses. I've sent her the message via her communication coin she carries as a backup, she's bound to notice it soon."

Sensing her distress, Arthur made a soothing gesture. "They will be here in time, dear. Having a baby takes hours. At least, having a first baby does."

He had barely spoken when Tonks felt a strange 'pop' immediately followed by a warm wetness soaking her pants. For a second she thought she had wet herself and felt her face grow hot with embarrassment. Then she looked down at her soaked pants and the puddle she was making on the kitchen floor and realized it was her water breaking. Arthur looked down as well, a bit surprised but with a smile.

"That was bound to happen any time. Means your labor is progressing, a good sign real-"

The rest of his words were lost to her as she was overcome with a pain so intense it made all the previous contractions pale in comparison.

Like it? Hate it? Comments? Please let me know!

love, Zimra