A full week, she thought, I've been here a full week, and I want to go home. It was very early in the morning, and as she got up to make another trip to the refresher Corso didn't move. The staff had accepted that she was much calmer as long as he was near, and didn't bother them about it anymore. The sisters and their families had gone back to their normal routine, other than checking in with her several times a day via holo. She grimaced as she stood, her body never without the pain and aches of advanced pregnancy. Her son moved lazily, as if he weren't ready to be awake yet, and it made her smile.
As she made her way back to bed, she started to feel an odd burning sensation, and suddenly there was clear fluid everywhere, a searing pain taking the place of the burning. Corso heard her yelp as she gripped the railing on the wall. He was up and to her in one leap, realizing that labor had started and pressing the button on the bed to call for help. He supported her as she walked to the bed and hesitated before sitting.
"This is just a mess, and it's not time," she cried, holding onto him with all she had. She looked at him with panic in her eyes. "He's not ready, oh Corso, he's not done cooking yet." He shushed her, holding her as she was ripped by another strong contraction, her breathing ragged. The techs burst through the door pulling machines and monitors behind them.
The doctor came into the room then, looking at all the squiggly lines and numbers the monitors were spitting out while Miriah was struggling to stay on top of the pain that was hitting every three minutes. Corso was doing his best to stay calm, focused only on Miriah as she grimaced and tried to breathe.
"We already know you can't deliver a baby this size, and labor is too far along to stop now. I suggest we prepare for surgery and save you and your baby distress." He strode out of the room, confident he knew the answer to the problem. Miriah looked at Corso, a helpless, pleading look that ended with her eyes closed against the next contraction.
"I trust him, Mir, he's been right all along." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's have us a baby today, eh kitten?" She nodded, no longer able to talk through the pain that was increasing with each wave.
He'd been told he could stay with her until his son was out, then he'd have to leave for them to finish the procedure. He could go with the baby to the nursery area to be checked out, though. He quickly changed into the acceptable clothes they'd given him and joined Miriah, who had been given numbing agents and was able to relax against the contractions, which she could still feel were going on but weren't painful. It was only when he'd entered the room that he remembered the family. He stood to the side, entering his urgent message on his pocket datapad. That would have to do, he thought, feeling guilty that he'd been so absorbed but knowing they'd all understand.
Corso looked up in surprise as Akaavi joined them, dressed in her garb for the event. "What, you think I would miss a clan addition?" She smiled at them, and Corso realized he was glad she was here.
"It all happened so fast, 'Kaavi, I just now sent a message to the family. The staff told you when you got here?" She nodded, seeing that Miriah was rapidly becoming tired.
The doctor entered, a screen was set up and before Corso really knew what all was going on, the older doctor pulled his son, Devin, from his mom. Corso felt time slow as he heard his son cry, and when he looked at Miriah, the tears streaming down her face made his own eyes fill. Devin was perfect, and if his cry was any indication, his lungs were fine. When the doctor asked Corso if he'd like to sever the umbilical cord, his hands shook. The tech took Devin then, and wiped his face, wrapping him in a warmed blanket, and took him to an area set up in the room to weigh and measure him.
"Nine pounds, fourteen ounces," she announced, smiling at the new parents. "No need to take him for evaluation, he's doing great." She brought him over then, and placed the wrapped bundle in his mother's arms. Corso was grinning, and Akaavi sighed in relief that he was here.
"Look, Dad, he's here," Miriah looked up at Corso, tears still sitting on her eyelashes but her smile radiant. Like every mother since the beginning of time, she had to unwrap him to do an inventory of fingers and toes, but she quickly wrapped him up again when he began to whimper against the cool air on his new skin. Miriah held him close, with Akaavi on one side and Corso on the other. Devin opened his eyes and looked first at Miriah and then turned his baby gaze on Corso, whose heart was tight with all the emotions. He smiled down at Devin, knowing he'd willingly give his life for his son or Miriah, to keep them safe and happy. Miriah handed him the bundle then, knowing how much Corso already loved their son, and he looked at the baby in wonder. Akaavi got her turn in too, amazed that the baby seemed to already know their voices and was so calmly looking around him.
It was only after they'd returned to their room, several hours later, that Corso realized he'd missed a dozen replies to the message sent back by the family. Instead of replying to each one, he composed another group message and tried to cover all their concerns and questions in it.
Dearest family, Devin is here. He is doing very well and is here in the room with us. He weighed nine pounds and fourteen ounces, and was twenty-two inches long. He's perfect. Miriah is the bravest, most focused person I know (yes, even including you, Aric), and she is tired but very happy. Magdalane, she says you need to come and heal this surgical site if you can. Also, she says you two never told her about the pain of labor, and that she respects Maura all the more for having two.
We look forward to seeing you all soon. We'll be traveling home tomorrow, and will be on Dantooine. Mir says if you come to see the baby, you must bring chocolate. Looking forward to seeing everyone, all our love, Devin, Miriah and Corso.
Miriah was napping off and on, and had yet to feed or change Devin, since Corso and Akaavi were so vigilant. They were both, as it happened, out getting things ready for them to travel home in the morning, so she was alone with Devin when he began to fuss, his newborn cries resonating deep inside her. She slowly edged herself up from the bed and crossed to the baby, talking softly to him. Her voice soothed him, and he stopped wailing to look around for her. "You know me, right, Dev? It's Mom. Let's get you changed and stuff." She got the necessary things done, and gingerly sat in the rocking chair with her son and a bottle. She looked long and hard at the cool, plastic bottle, finally putting it away and instead, placed her infant to her breast. They were both soothed by the touch of skin on skin, and when Corso arrived back at the room, the scene took his breath away. Miriah was humming something melodic, looking down at their son, who was feeding and waving one hand in the air. Her hair was identical to his, blacker than obsidian, and the look of serenity on her face was priceless. He had to grin at them, overjoyed at the sight of them together.
"Look, Dev—Dad's back, "she said softly to him, her lips curved in a gentle smile. He moved to her, crouching to look at his son, who was getting sleepy since he was full. She gently broke his suction and lifted him to her shoulder, where he snuggled rather than burped. Miriah was getting uncomfortable sitting, so she handed Devin to Corso, who got a burp right away.
"That's right, little man, us guys know all about the burps. We'll cover other manly and gross things later." He smiled as he settled the baby in the crook of his muscled arm, Devin never waking, and sat on the edge of the bed where Miriah was getting settled.
"I know we never talked about feeding, it just seemed more right than that plastic…" He broke off her words with a kiss, then another.
"I'm glad, sweetheart, that was as beautiful a sight as I've ever seen. He did well with it, obviously." He grinned down at his son, "Lucky guy, your mom is a very beautiful woman. Just remember, she was mine first." Miriah laughed, and he looked at her, thinking he was so fortunate things had turned out as they had.
After the busy morning, Miriah closed her eyes, her energy depleted, and Corso sat, watching both his newborn and his wife sleep, and knew that he was blessed.