Chapter 58

Catherine managed to gasp out, between her giggles, "Don't worry Vincent, I've already bought a breast pump so I can express and store my milk for the baby once I have returned to work."

He masterfully tried to control a blush that even the thought of Catherine's breasts brought to his cheeks.

Mary took pity on him and changed the subject slightly by asking Catherine, "How long of a maternity leave do you have?"

"The standard six weeks, but I managed to get Joe to allow me to take my yearly two week vacation time before my due date because it was becoming so difficult to go Above."

That night after her bath, Catherine entered their sleeping chamber to find that Vincent had prepared her side of the bed so she could sleep in an almost upright sitting position. As she settled into the next he had made for her, she could tell right away that it was going to work wonderfully well. She was able to instantly relax and barely had time to whisper a thank you to her husband before she was sound asleep.

It was nearly 3AM when Vincent quietly entered Mary's chamber to wake her and Father. They had been sleeping their since their wedding because she had a full size bed and Father had always used a cot in an alcove off of his study. This was much better for a married couple.

Vincent told them it was Catherine's time and asked them to come to his chamber. Catherine had decided she wanted to have the baby in their chamber rather than in the hospital chamber.

Both of them threw on robes and followed him. They were confused when the arrived to discover that Catherine was still sleeping. Looking at Vincent for an explanation, all they got in response was a raised finger telling them to wait a minute. It was less than that time when Catherine woke with a gasp to find the three of them at the end of her bed. "Vincent, I think I'm in labor!"

Mary and Father looked stunned when Vincent calmly announced, "It actually started two hours ago, but you were so deeply asleep you didn't realize it until your water broke just now."

"We need to change her wet sheets then," Mary stated starting to move towards the bed.

"I put towels in place when Catherine went to bed tonight so the problem should be minimal."

"How did you know, Vincent?" Father asked his son.

"I don't know, Father. I just had a feeling that tonight would be the night, but I actually felt when she went into labor so that is how I knew to wake you and Mother."

Mary's eyes widened as a labor pain hit Catherine, Vincent winced, which just reinforced the meaning of his comment. "Do you realize what that is going to mean over the next several hours?"

Father looked slightly lost until Mary whispered in his ear that Vincent was feeling every pain that Catherine was having. Concerned at how his son would handle this, he instructed Vincent to sit behind Catherine and prop her up in his lap. Jacob figured that way he could keep an eye on both of them as the labor progressed.

By the third hour of labor most of the tunnel residents were awake and had heard the news that Catherine was having the baby. It seemed like it was only a few minutes between someone showing up at their chambers for a progress report.

Father quickly had enough of that and said they could station one person outside in the passageway and when there was any news it would be passed along to that person who could then tap it out on the pipes for all to know.

Devin and Rebecca came by with food as well as offers to relieve Father and Mary so they could take a break if they wanted. Father firmly refused, huffing that Devin's book knowledge of medical procedures was not enough to leave him in charge. When Devin reminded his parent that he had delivered a baby by caesarian section no less, Father practically shoved him out of the chamber. With a sigh at his behavior, Rebecca reluctantly followed her husband out.

Catherine was entering her eleventh hour of labor when Mary smiled at her and waking Jacob who was napping in a chair, told everyone that she was far enough along to start pushing. With tears sliding down her cheeks, Catherine informed them she couldn't do it. She was just too tired to try anymore!

To be continued…..