I begin my life anew
Chapter 12
The light from the midday sun shined upon my face, at first I ignored it but then I overheard Serah and Lebreau beyond the other side of the bedroom door.
"Why are you making breakfast?" Lebreau asked. "It's almost three."
"Lightning missed breakfast this morning because she was up late last night," Serah reiterated. "Plus, it's her birthday; I always make her favorite breakfast items on her birthday even if she doesn't celebrate it."
"That's why she likes you best."
"That and I'm her sister." Serah chuckled.
My birthday, I had almost forgotten, sleeping the whole day away. I began to try and sit up but a sharp pained wrapped around my abdomen and forced me back down. The pain constricted itself for a minute then relieved. I waited a few more minutes before trying again, when my body finally had the moment to sit upward on the bed's edge, the pain returned but stronger. I moaned at the pain, clutching my stomach whenever it returned.
"Serah!" I practically screamed; my sister rushed in with Lebreau behind her.
"Lightning, what's wrong?"
"I think..." I breathed heavily. "...I'm having contractions."
Serah's face lit up in a shock, "We have to get you to the hospital then!"
"We can't. Gadot and Snow took the only available vehicle." Lebreau's voice seemed to be stricken with panic as well.
"Well that's just great-" I yelled as another contraction took place.
"What are we going to do?" Serah became hysterical at this point.
"Well..." Lebreau paused to think. "Snow and Gadot should be back soon, so why don't we just wait till they return?"
I nodded, "Alright, I just hope they aren't gone for more than an hour..."
"Light," Serah rushed over to me still in a panic. "You should lie down until they come back."
"If I lay down," Another contraction hit. "I might not be able to get back up by the time they come back."
Lebreau walked over and helped me from the bed, "Let's walk around for a little bit Light, to help get your mind off of the contractions." Serah held onto my right arm and we started our walk around the house.
The contractions were further apart as we walked but after some time they became closer together again. Maqui and Yuj walked in from playing outside in the snow, they paused at the door and stared at the three of us walking around the room.
"What are you doing?" Maqui asked.
"Lightning went into labor and we're waiting for Snow and Gadot to come back so we can take her to the hospital." Serah said, I noticed her hands shaking a bit.
"They still aren't back yet?" Yuj asked taking his hat off.
Lebreau stopped walking with Serah and me, "No they haven't, it shouldn't even take that long to go and get cake stuff, I mean it's all in one store and there's two of them!"
"Do you need us to do anything?" Maqui asked.
"There's not much you could do right now, but if they aren't back here in the next twenty minutes then there's not going to be enough time to get Lightning to the hospital, then will we really need your help."
"You want us to wait outside and signal Snow if we see him?" Yuj asked.
"If you want to make yourselves useful, go on ahead." Lebreau turned back to Serah and I and continued to walk with us.
The boys smiled and announced simultaneously, "This is a job for N.O.R.A!" With those words they rushed back outside.
"Those boys..." Lebreau chuckled.
The pain in my stomach quadrupled and had me hunched over, "Ah- These contractions are getting worse!" I gritted my teeth. "What is taking those two bozos so long?"
"Don't worry Light," Serah tried to comfort my tense body, "I'm sure they'll be here soon."
"They better- Ah!"
Lebreau led me over to the couch and let me sit. "There, just try to relax, just breath in and out." She rushed over to the sink and rinsed a dish cloth under the spout, then returned. "Here Serah, dab this on Light's head."
"Why, where are you going?" Serah asked quite nervously.
"I'm gonna' go outside and try to find Snow and Gadot, they should've been back by now." The girl tore her jacket from the coat rack and threw it over her shoulders. "Call if anything goes wrong." Then she left.
Serah looked at me with fear in her eyes, "D-don't worry Light," She dabbed the wet cloth on my head. "Everything's going to be fine."
"What are you so scared about?" I asked in between breaths.
"I-I don't know," She held her head with her remaining hand. "I have a headache..."
"I should be the one scared and suffering from a headache right now, I mean, there isn't a person coming out of you." I rushed the sentence.
"I know, I guess I'm just nervous is all." She placed the cold cloth in her head. "It's not every day that you see a child about to be born."
"It's not every day that you get to experience it firsthand." I said.
Outside we heard Maqui, Yuj and Lebreau shouting. I could hear Snow and Gadot as they were probably asking why the three were calling for them. Lebreau reentered the house, "Serah help Light get her jacket on, you both gotta' get going." The girl took our jackets from the rack and tossed them on the arm of the couch.
Serah snatched my coat and helped me stand. "Are you coming with us Lebreau?" She asked.
"I can't, I have to stay here and hold down the fort and take care of the kids." She smiled at us. "I wish you luck Light."
I nodded slipping my arms into my winter coat, "I hope the kids don't drive you crazy."
"Oh, they probably will."
The contractions seemed to stop as we began our journey to the hospital, for a while it seemed I could finally relax. Serah turned to me from the front seat,
"Light are you feeling alright?" She asked. "Do you feel nauseous?"
"I'm fine." I sat up straight. "Are you alright, you look sick."
"I'm alright, just nervous is all..."
"Tch, I'm still unsure why you're nervous." I grasped the seat belt strap feeling a slight cramp.
"Well how would you react if the tables were turned?"
"I guess you have a point there."
The sharp pains began to return as we entered the city; my breathing became labored once more as the contractions were closer together than before. I had to quickly get my mind off of the pain. "Snow," I said.
"Yes Light?" He stressed the 'yes.'
"Can you put the radio on please?"
"Sure," He turned it on but no sound escaped it.
"Aren't you going to put a station on?" I asked feeling a bit desperate at this point.
"Oh, I didn't know you wanted a station on." He said with sarcasm. "You only told me to turn the radio on."
"Snow now is not the time for your wise ass jokes!" I growled feeling the pain in my stomach accelerate.
Serah hit his arm, "Snow seriously?"
"What?" He whined. "I was only trying to brighten the mood."
"Does it look like it's the time to be starting with that crap?" I shouted clutching my stomach with was now racked with pain.
"Light, calm down!" Serah stressed leaning over and grabbing my hand which I grasped tightly.
"Yeah Light, I was only joking around-" I gave a swift kick to the back of Snow's seat. "Geez- Any harder with that and she'd have her foot in my back, literally."
Serah glared at him, "Maybe if you didn't try and start something you wouldn't get a foot to your back," She scolded. "Remember who you're making jokes with why don't ya'?"
"Well excuse me for trying to lighten the mood." Snow said as if trying to answer back but failed to do so.
"Well next time don't be a wisenheimer?" Serah asked.
"Alright..." He sighed.
The pain increased in my stomach, it seemed worse than a handful of bullets shooting at me all at once. "Oh Etro, are we there yet?" I wailed.
"Don't worry Light we're almost there." Serah turned to me and smile. "Just hang in a little while longer."
"If I wait any longer this kid is going to be born right here!"
Snow sped up the car; it was scary yet kind of normal for him to do so, especially in this weather. Serah kept telling him to slow down but it was as if he couldn't hear her. I kept my mouth shut, the only thing I really wanted was the pain to stop, but with each passing minute it was a step closer to the baby entering the world.
At first it seemed unrealistic how we reached the hospital and had not crashed in the process, we went so fast when Snow stopped the car in front of the hospital we all jerked forward. Serah helped me from the car to hospital's front desk. Before the nurse could even greet me, I bent over in agonizing pain and shouted, "Get this thing out of me!"
"Alright miss, I have to ask you if your water broke yet."
"No it didn't." Serah answered.
The nurse jumped up and retrieved a wheelchair from the other side of the room and returned for me to sit upon it. "Follow me and we'll get her all settled in."
"Don't worry sis," Serah said wheeling me down the hall with the nurse. "This will be over before you know it..."
I didn't respond to her, my mind was more focused on the nerve numbing pain of the child that seemed so desperate to enter this world. It was like fire this pain, spreading all over like a forest being consumed with dancing flame. I gripped the arm rests of the wheelchair, the creaks they made were proof of my agony; Serah's face was as easy to read as a book, I could tell just by glancing over my shoulder that she too was also in distress, it still bothered me that she was more anxious to this child being born than I was.
It seemed to be an eternity before the nurse finally stopped in front of a door, "Just wait in here and I'll be back with her gown." The nurse said as Serah and I entered the white room. The nurse then closed the door behind us.
"Well Light, here we are." Serah came to my side. "Are you feeling alright?"
My arms wrapped around my stomach just waiting for a spike of pain to occur, "No..." I whimpered. "Everything hurts."
Serah held her hand out to me, "Let me help you up, perhaps you'd be more comfortable on the bed?"
I grabbed her hand and clenched it tightly feeling another contraction, she winced lightly. "I'm sorry..." I said feeling the pain pass.
"It's alright." She pulled me upward to my feet, I nearly collapsed to the floor but luckily the bed supported me enough to keep me standing.
The door opened and walking in was the nurse from before and a woman who looked to be a doctor. "Claire?" She asked. "It's been a while since I last saw you." She gave a warm smile. The nurse placed a hospital gown on the bed then left the room.
I gave a puzzled look back to her. "What, you don't remember me?" Her tone seemed surprised. I shook my head. "Doctor Cassey, remember I did your first ultrasound?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm not that good with remembering faces."
"It's alright," She continued to hold her smile. "You should change into that gown now and then we'll wait for the nurse to return with the epidural and fetal monitors." For a moment I stood there a bit nervous to be undressing in front of others. "I'll give you some privacy; call me when you're done." Doctor Cassey left the room.
Serah looked to me, "Do you need help taking off your jacket?"
I sat at the edge of the bed, "No, I can do it."
"Are you sure?"
My arms slipped from the sleeves of my coat, "I'm sure." I proceeded in removing my shirt, along with my pants which didn't fall past my ankles, which I couldn't reach.
"Don't worry sis," Serah leaned down and tugged at my pajama pants, removing them from my ankles. "There you go."
"Thanks," I said.
"Don't mention it." Serah smiled lightly handing me the hospital gown. I slipped my arms through the short sleeves and fitted it to my body. I attempted to tie the strings in the back, but failed.
"I'm going to go get doctor Cassey." Serah said placing the small pile of clothes I dropped on the floor onto the wheelchair seat. She walked to the door and opened it slightly, "She's done." Doctor Cassey reentered the room.
"Well don't you look as cute as a button?" She said.
I tilted my head downward, feeling a bit uncomfortable about her comment. Another contraction began to occur; my hands grasped the sheets to the bed as I winced from the pain. Doctor Cassey let out an agitated sigh and turned back to the door, "Where is that nurse?" She muttered.
A few minutes later the nurse returned with a tray of needles and a small vial, "Alright Miss Farron, just lay on your side so I can administer the epidural." The nurse instructed.
I held my breath trying to lie down; staying on my side while someone stuck needles in my spine was more of a challenge. Within a minute, she was done and I was able to relax my muscles, feeling the thick tube sticking out of my back. I glanced over at Doctor Cassey who was having a conversation with Serah by the door. Reading their lips was difficult, especially when the nurse was in my view as she strapped the fetal monitors to my stomach. Then the doctor turned to me, she didn't say a word but instead gave me a serious glance before exiting the room.
The nurse hooked the thin tube that was place in my back, up to an IV and the numbing drug quickly relieved me from the pain... I didn't realize it at first but the nurse placed a hospital band around my wrist, it only came to my attention after she had left the room.
Serah walked over to me with a faint smile, "So all we have to do now is to wait."
I nodded lightly in response, "I feel... Strange." I said.
"How so?"
"I'm not sure; it could just be the epidural drug." I sighed. "What time is it?"
Serah reached into her pocket and pulled out her small pink cell phone, "It's a little after six thirty."
"Well this is one way to spend a birthday." I said sarcasticly trying to reach for the blanket that the nurse nearly balled up in the corner of the bed. Serah did me the kind favor of covering my lower body with said blanket. "I'm sorry I probably let all those party things you had in store, go to waste."
"Oh, don't let it get to you," She said with a smile. "There are things more important than little party things."
We heard the door open, the person who walked in was Snow covered with melting... Snow. "Hey you'll never guess who I just met in the hallway." He said.
"Who'd you meet?" Serah asked.
"He'll be here in a few minutes; he's having a 'moment' in the hallway."
"Snow just tell us who it is."
Before Snow could even answer, a boy about eighteen barged in, the young boy was Hope. In his hands were half a dozen balloons with an assortment of sayings and a large chocobo plushy. We all stared at him awkwardly as he stood there with the arrangement of gifts in his hands. "...What?" He asked staring back at everyone.
"Hope, what's with all the...Presents?" Snow poked at one of the balloons.
Hope looked to me, "I got them for Lightning." His face looked shy. "I-it is her birthday after all right?"
I gave him a smile in acceptance to his gesture. "That was kind of you." The boy gave a timid smile, walked over to bed and placed the chocobo doll by my side.
"I hope you like it Light, I made it myself."
I rested the chocobo doll on my swollen stomach and stared at its goofy googly eyes with plush feathers that shot out all over various parts of it."I love it Hope."
Hope's face lightened up by my words. "I'm so glad!" His fingers clutched the strings of his balloons. "I didn't think you would actually like it."
"Aw- If I would've known we were giving Light her gifts, I would not have left mine at home!" Serah cried a little frustrated.
I chuckled at her, "Don't worry Serah, you can wait till Christmas to give me my gifts." I cradled the chocobo doll under my arm. "It's only a few days away."
"Say Light," Snow said. "If you have your baby tonight, would you be giving yourself a birthday gift?"
"I would guess so." I tried to keep the topic of giving the child up out of the conversation.
"That's a bit ironic, isn't it?" Hope asked.
"That's going to be funny if you and the baby share a birthday every year." Serah giggled.
"Maybe that's why it waited so long," Snow said. "It wants to present itself to you on your birthday!"
"That does make sense, to some extent." I said; a loud yawn escaped my lips as my eyelids became heavy.
"Sis, you should rest." Serah placed her hand on my arm that still cradled the chocobo doll. "You wouldn't want to be tired later would you?"
"I guess not." A slight sigh passed my lips. "I feel as if I've wasted my whole birthday sleeping."
"Don't you do that anyway?"
"No, usually I'd be working today."
"If you think about it, you are kind of working-" I stared at Hope as his sentence was cut short. "What? You're pushing out another human being, that's not work?"
"Not the work I'm talking about Hope."
Hope crossed his arms and turned to his side. "It's still work..."
My head shook lightly at his near inaudible words. I yawned again, "I'm going to sleep for a while."
"You should," Serah said with a smile. "Maybe when you wake up you'll be ready to have the baby."
"Heh, that'd be a pretty rude awakening."
"That would," Serah's comforting smile remained on her face, it made me forget why I was in a hospital bed in the first place. "Get some sleep now Light, I'll wake you in a few hours."
"Sleeping might be a challenge." The tube in my back prevented me from sitting the way I felt most comfortable. "Damn epidural."