Chapter Five

(Raya's POV)

Four more months pass before Becky, Tong and I are walking out in another part of the garden, away from where Becky was attacked. Out of breath, Becky sits down on a bench, and she puts a hand on her belly, wincing.

Tong and I are in front of her immediately.

"Honey?" I ask.

Becky nods, her lower lip quivering.

"I think it's time." She tells us, tears pouring down her cheeks.

The three of us take our time getting back to the palace, but once Ba sees us, he springs into action, knowing neither Tong nor I will leave Becky's side even once.

Many hours drag by, Tong and I taking turns helping Becky through the contractions. Her water has since broken.

Word spreads throughout Kumandra that the heir (or heiress) of both Spine and Heart is about to be born.

When the time comes to start pushing, I can see the fear in my betrothed's eyes.

"You've got this, my princess." Tong says, planting a kiss on the side of his daughter's forehead.

"We're right here." Tong continues.

The healer looks up from her place, and nods at the three of us.

It's time.

Taking turns with leaning on me and leaning on her adoptive father, Becky begins to push.

Tong counts while I give out encouragements to my love.

She cries out as the head starts making its way out of her body.

"Shhh. It's alright. It's alright, honey. We're right here with you. You can do this." I tell her.

"Stop. Stop pushing. Let the contractions push for you, dear." The healer instructs.

Becky nods, leaning on her adoptive father for support and comfort. I don't let go of her hand for even a second. Another healer places a cool cloth with herbs on Becky's forehead.

As the next contraction drags on, she starts to hyperventilate.

"Breathe, my daughter. Take some deep breaths...in...and out...in...and out."

Soon, Becky's breathing is back under control, and the head is almost born.

"Give me one more strong push, dearie, and we'll have a head!"

Becky does as the healer instructs, and the head is born. She all but throws herself back against the pillows, exhausted...but the work has yet to be done.

"You rest for a moment, dear, and let me check for the cord."

With the head out of my love's body, I hesitate stealing a glance of my child. Becky nods at me, but when I look at the baby's head, what I see takes me aback...the baby's a pale shade of blue. I look at the healer, and she stares at me with a look that says "don't you dare tell her".

Keeping this from the love of my life, though...I can't do that to her.

"Excuse me, my love. I'll be right back." With Becky distracted by the pain and her father comforting her through it, I leave the room and go to find Ba.

"Ba."

"Raya? Is there something wrong?"

"The baby...I don't think they'll make it..."

"How do you know?"

"They're a pale shade of blue, and I saw the cord wrapped around their neck."
"RAYA!"

"Go, my dewdrop. Your love needs you. Now."

I run as fast as I can back to my love.

"Where did you go?"

"I'll tell you later, honey."

Becky nods, knowing that where I went isn't the biggest thing going on right now. She steels herself for the next push, but the healer doesn't instruct her...the healer just nods at me. I know what I have to do – to spare my love from the pain of knowing her child is dead later, by telling her now.

"Honey..."
"Raya, whatever it is, can't it wait? I have a baby's head sticking out of me."

"No, it can't. I love you so much, a-and I'll never leave you no matter what happens, but – "

"Tell me. Whatever it is, just tell me, Raya."

"Unless some miracle occurs, the baby's dead."

"What? No...I felt them stirring inside of me earlier today. This can't be true. Healer, tell her it isn't true."

"I'm afraid it is, child. But, if there is any chance of your baby living, we need to act now. You need to push now, with all of your strength."

Becky nods before looking to her father, then to me. We both nod back at her, and she pushes with all of her strength.

"Good girl. Just one more really big push!" With one final push, the baby slips out...but they don't cry.

The healers do what they can to revive the baby...but they're too late.

Ashamed, thinking I had done the wrong thing in telling Becky the truth, thinking that she hates me for doing so, I start to walk away.

"Daddy, stop her. Please."

"Raya, wait. My daughter wishes to speak with you. Please."

Reluctantly, I turn and kneel before Becky, tears rolling down all of our cheeks.

"You told me the truth even though I didn't want to hear it, but I needed to, Raya. I could never hate you for that, and I could never be mad at you for that. You spared me the pain of finding out by some stranger that I've never dealt with before by telling me yourself. With it coming from someone I trust, someone I love, there couldn't have been a better person that I'm in love with to tell me that my baby is gone."

"Regardless of this tragic outcome, my daughter, I am so very proud of you."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome."

"Wait...Becky, you're not mad at me? You don't hate me?"

"Of course not, Raya! Would I have made that speech literally after giving birth if I didn't mean every word?"

"You've got a point there, pretty girl."

The healer solemnly walks over to Becky and places the born sleeping bundle in her arms.

"It – it was a girl, Your Highness. I am very sorry for your and Princess Raya's loss."

"T-thank you."

The healers leave the room, replaced by Ba, and by Becky's adoptive mother.

Seeing her family around her, Becky breaks down, and I know she's feeling like a failure. But she couldn't be more wrong.

We all gather around Becky and the tiny bundle of her and my late daughter, and we mourn as a family.

As one.