Birth by Sea

by: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters

2. Unplanned Arrival

Sara took a breath. "Oh, that's really, really not good," she said, running into the bathroom to grab some towels, laying them on the bed before helping Catherine lay down again. "But we're going to be okay. I promise."

Catherine grabbed Sara's hand tightly. "You promise?"

Sara nodded, kissing her cheek. "I promise. But I'm guessing if the lights are out then all the power is down. So we're going to have to do this ourselves." She bit her lip, looking away. Sara knew very little about this, but she would do whatever she had to.

"You mean we can't even get to a hospital?"

Sara kissed her cheek. "...Yes, but it's going to be okay."

Catherine gripped Sara's hand tight as a contraction hit her.

Sara held her hand tightly. "It's okay."

"I'm sorry," Catherine managed.

"No. What are you sorry for?"

"This wasn't meant to happen."

Sara kissed her cheek. "I know honey, but we can't just stop it. It's not your fault. I need to go grab my flashlight from the car, okay? I need to be able to see."

"I don't want you to go."

Sara hugged her gently. "Baby, I know. But I need to be able to see and I'm not going to dare hold a candle down there. I need to be able to see the the baby when time comes. I promise I'll be right back. It's better if I go now, while you're still a ways apart. Do you understand?"

Catherine gave a chuckle at Sara's candle comment and she nodded.

Sara ran out to the car, grabbing her kit and running back inside. She closed and locked the doors and all the windows, taking a candle with her into the bathroom and she came back to place a damp cloth on Catherine's forehead. "Hi."

"Hi," Catherine smiled, contraction now passed.

Sara wiped Catherine's face gently, setting the phone on the floor and replacing it with the lit candles. "You ok?"

Catherine nodded. "It's too fast."

Sara nodded. "It might just be a fast labor, honey."

"I love you," Catherine whispered before another contraction took over.

Sara held her hand tightly. "I love you too."

"I'm scared..."

"Of what, sweetie?" Sara asked, kneeling beside the bed, wiping the sweat from her face with the wet cloth.

"What if we need a hospital?"

"Honey, even if we could get to one, what if you don't need one? I know you're scared. I am too, but we have to stay positive."

"I really wish I had gas and air right now. It hurts so bad."

Sara nodded, holding her hand tightly.

After a few more violent contractions, Catherine spoke again. "Need...to...push..."

"Whoa! Now? It's barely been two hours," Sara spoke, grabbing her flashlight to go check.

"I need this baby out!" Catherine shouted.

Sara looked up. "I know. And, though I didn't read extensively, you are right, but you need to do this in stages. You need to stop when your contraction stops, ok?" Sara said, holding her hand.

Catherine nodded. "Don't worry about me. Just be there for the baby."

"I will, but like I said though, you shouldn't do this all at once because until the power is back, I can't call for an ambulance. But I promise I'll be here."

"I know, I remember with Lindsay."

Sara nodded. "Are you ok for half a minute while I wet this rag again?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Catherine replied, resting her head back.

Sara kissed her cheek, grabbing the rag and running into the bathroom. On her way back, she pulled a chair over, closing her kit and setting it on the chair and her flashlight on top, arranging it to she could see before going back up to wife Catherine's face gently, and resting the wet rag back on her head. "Still doing ok for the moment?"

Catherine nodded. "Why?"

Sara nodded. "Just asking. Maybe it was just fast for a few minutes. Either way, I have things set up so I can see."

As Sara finished her sentence, Catherine gripped the sheets, screaming as she pushed when another contraction came, more painful than the last.

Sara got back down where she could see. "Good, good honey, just remember to stop," she said. The head wasn't quite visable, but there was something coming.

Catherine pushed a little more, pausing when her contraction stopped, panting heavily.

Sara stood, going up to wipe her brow. "I can see something, but the baby's not quite visible yet."

Catherine nodded, her next contraction coming quicker, pushing again.

Sara quickly went back down to see.

Catherine continued to push wishing her contraction would ease.

"Whoa!" Sara exclaimed, seeing the child's head come into sight, though it looked more like a bubble.

"W-what's wrong?" Catherine managed through gritted teeth.

Sara looked up, smiling. "Nothing's wrong, honey. I can see it."

Catherine nodded, stopping again as the contraction eased, teeth still gritted in pain as she tried to breathe.

Sara held her hand, gently, kissing it. "You're really doing great."

Catherine gave a small smile. "I love you," she managed.

"I love you too," she said. "Well, based on what I can see, two more and we should have a baby."

Catherine nodded. "Are you ok?"

"Considering I'm doing this with no medical help, I feel ok. Scared that I'll mess up and nervous because I've never had to take care of a baby, but overall, excited."

Catherine smiled. "You'll... be great..." she managed as another contraction came.

Sara smiled, situating herself again. "Cath, do you think you can do it all at once right now? I know you're not really in a mood to talk, but we could try it."

Catherine screamed as she pushed the head out seconds later, panting. "Check... neck ok... no cord..."

Sara nodded, feeling around the baby's neck. "We're good, no wrap. Now just a little more," she said, placing her hands on either side of the head, knowing from what she read, she may have to pull very gently and carefully.

Catherine cried out as she pushed hard.

Sara very gently pulled, her arms ready to catch. "That's it. That's it. I'm right here," she said, grabbing the shoulders and continuing to tug. "Almost... Doing great."

Catherine gave a final push as the rest of the body followed, collapsing back against the pile of pillows.

Sara smiled, widely, catching their daughter before checking her over in the light. Hoping she remembered, Sara cleared the child's nose, hearing her cry as she held her. "Um, Cath, you should have one more little push to get the sac to come out. I know you're exhausted."

"Y-you haven't told me what we've got yet. B-boy or girl?" Catherine managed, body shaking.

Sara smiled. "We have a little girl. You feeling ok?"

Catherine smiled, nodding. "I'm fine," she whispered, managing another push.

Sara looked down. "Good. There we go. Now if the power would come back on," she said, sitting beside Catherine, handing their daughter to her, who, strangely, had only screamed once then was quiet.

Catherine held their daughter to her chest, tucking her inside her top. She stroked her cheek gently with a shaky hand, tears welling in her eyes.

Sara held them gently. "I love you."

"I love you too," Catherine smiled, "She's perfect."

Sara smiled, stroking her cheek as she lights flickered back on. "Yes she is," she said, blowing out the candles and trying the phone. "Hey, we've got a dial tone," she said, calling for an ambulance.

Catherine closed her eyes, supporting their daughter. "Can't we stay here?"

Sara smiled, hanging up the phone. "Both of you need to be checked out and I have nothing sterile to cut the cord."

Catherine nodded. "I'm tired."

Sara nodded, unlocking the main door and putting things away before lying back beside her. "I know and we're all going to be ok."

Catherine rested her head against Sara's shoulder. "You were brilliant."

"Well, one of us had to be," she said, snuggling them close.

"Modest much?" Catherine smiled, dozing.

Sara smiled.

"She's quiet."

"True and that's a plus."

"As long as she's ok."

"Well, she looks healthy," Sara said.

"And beautiful, like you."

"And you."

Catherine smiled, falling into another light sleep.

Sara held them close, covering them up.

The baby held tightly to Sara's finger until the paramedics arrived forty minutes later, having trouble getting through the roads.

Sara opened the door wide. "Glad you guys could make it."

"Sorry there was some tree fall on the main road. How are Mom and baby doing?"

Sara looked over. "Great actually, but I have nothing sterile to cut with and I think they should still be checked out."

"No problem. We can do that. Lead the way."

Sara lead them inside, closing the door to block the wind. She walked over, gently shaking Catherine. "The paramedics are here."

"Too tired..." Catherine mumbled.

Sara smiled. "Then just hand her to me so they can check both of you over and cut the cord."

Catherine nodded, loosening her arms to let the baby go to Sara.

Sara carefully took their little girl from Catherine, handing her to a paramedic.

The paramedic smiled. "She's sweet," she said, cutting the cord.

"I know. And she doesn't really cry either."

"Really?" she asked, placing the baby down to check her over.

"Yeah, it's a little strange. She cried for a minute, then just stopped," Sara said as the baby looked at her with wide eyes, grasping her finger.

"Some don't, you're lucky," the paramedic smiled. "She really loves you."

Sara smiled. "Yes she does. I'd love to get back home, but I don't know if the roads will let us."

"They should be clearing it in a few hours."

Sara smiled. "Good. I know she's exhausted, but we have nothing here as far as supplies for this little one. No diapers, no formula." She sighed.

"She can feed off breast milk and dispatch sent us with diapers, just in case. Mind if we check Mom over?"

"Sure," Sara said, grabbing a couple blankets from her supplies.

The two paramedics attended to Catherine as Sara looked after the baby. "Blood pressure is a little low, but she is sleepy."

"And exhausted," Sara said putting a diaper on the baby and wrapping her up warm. "But she'll be ok, right?"

"They are both doing brilliantly."

Sara smiled, sitting by Catherine. "The only questions I have are when can we leave and how much are we going to be charged for this "clean up"?"

As Sara finished speaking there was a knock. "Everything ok? We're the owners, saw the ambulance..."

Sara turned. "Um, yes, but...We had a little...emergency and..."

"Oh, aren't you just adorable!" the woman exclaimed, spotting the baby. Immediately, she moved to coo over her.

Sara smiled. "Yes she is. And uh, we're sorry for the mess. I can help you clean it up..."

"Don't be silly. It's no trouble. I gave birth on a train once!"

"Wow. So how many kids do you have?"

"Five. And three adopted."

"Wow..."

"You ok here if we leave you guys in peace?"

Sara nodded. "We're basically waiting for the roads to clear, but first, can we change the bedding?"

"We've got a spare cabin across the way if you'd be more comfortable?"

Sara nodded. "Sure, though I don't know how well she can move just yet."

"We could take her in a chair before we go?" the paramedics offered.

"Please?" Sara helped Catherine sit up. "Hey, Cath..."

"Is she ok?" Catherine asked, slowly waking.

Sara nodded. "You're both fine. The owners have offered to help us get to clean cabin and the paramedics will take us. Is that ok?"

"If I can have cuddles again."

Sara smiled, handing her their daughter. "Here you are."

Catherine smiled, holding her close once she was in a chair. "Hello beautiful."

Sara smiled, kissing their heads and wrapping them in a warm blanket. "There. That should help."

Catherine smiled up at Sara once they were settled in the new cabin, and alone. "I just had a baby."

Sara smiled. "Yes you did. And it looks like the owners beat us here," she said, pointing to the crib and changing table with supplies underneath it.

Catherine smiled. "With no painkillers or air, stranded in a storm, with my beautiful wife who was absolutely amazing delivering her daughter."

"Our daughter," Sara corrected, pulling over a rocking chair, "and one of us had to try to stay calm. Though, as much of an amazing experience as it was, if we have another, let's make sure we can actually get to a hospital. I loved it, really. But it was so nerve-wracking."

"Can we stay a few more days?"

Sara nodded. "Yes, as long as we're ok."

Catherine nodded. "I just want some time for the three of us. So we can get to know our gorgeous daughter in peace and keep her to ourselves."

Sara smiled. "Any names you like?"

"Depends if you want traditional or something else?"

"Hmm, maybe in between."

"Anything you like?"

"Uh...not sure. I thought we'd have a little while longer to think," Sara said.

Catherine smiled. "Do you like Savannah?"

"Hmm..."

"Or Poppy?"

"Or Ashlynn?" Sara asked.

"I like that much better," Catherine smiled, "Ashlynn Laura Sidle."

"Sidle?"

"What?"

"Why my name? Lindsay has yours."

"Because she's our daughter, not mine and Eddie's."

Sara smiled. "That's perfect."

"Besides, I had some news the other day."

"Oh? What news?" Sara asked, sitting beside them.

"The adoption certificate came through. Lindsay is officially yours."

"Ours," Sara corrected again, kissing her softly.

Catherine returned the kiss softly. "And now we're a proper family."

"Yes we are."

"I love you, Sara Sidle."

"I love you too, Catherine Willows."

"Sidle," Catherine sighed, sleepily.

Sara smiled. "Sidle," she said, holding them close.

Catherine rested against her wife, happily falling asleep.

Sara covered them up, snuggling into her.

Catherine woke a few hours later, when the baby nuzzled her breast. Smiling, she shifted Ashlynn so she could feed, kissing Sara's forehead.

Sara woke slowly, stroking Ashlynn's cheek.

Catherine smiled, watching Sara. "I should call Lindsay."

Sara sat up, relaxing in bed.

Catherine shifted slightly as she dialed Lindsay at her mother's place, asking to speak to her.

"Hi Mom!"

"Hey Linds! How are you?"

"I'm good. How's the vacation?"

"Actually that's what I'm calling about..."

"Are you guys ok?" she asked.

"Yes, but we'll be an extra day or two."

"So you're just extending your vacation?" Lindsay asked.

"I need to rest because your sister was born a few hours ago."

"I have a new sister? Really?!" she asked, enthusiastically.

Catherine immediately smiled. "Yes. Her name is Ashlynn."

"Aww! Really?! That's sweet!"

"We have no cell service, so I can't send you a picture, but I promise we'll be home as soon as I've rested, ok?"

Lindsay smiled. "Okay, I love you guys too."

"We love you loads. See you in a few days, honey."

"Okay, bye!"

Catherine smiled as she ended the call. "She's very excited."

"Sounds like it," Sara said.

"Here, she's done if you want burps and cuddles."

Sara grabbed a towel from the bathroom and walked back out, grabbing Ashlynn and putting her against her shoulder as she sat in the rocking chair, patting her back.

Catherine smiled, relaxing back against the pillows as she fell into a light sleep.

Sara sat burping Ashlynn and patting her back until her breathing evened out. Then she stood and laid her in the crib before crawling in beaside Catherine.

"Mmm, hi," Catherine whispered, pulling Sara close.

"Hi..."

"I couldn't have done this without you."

Sara snuggled into her. "Of course not. You would've freaked out even more," she said with a little laugh.

"I don't know why you're laughing, it's true."

"I know, but your body already knows what to do."

"You're an amazing Mom."

Sara smiled. "So are you, my baby."

Catherine kissed Sara gently. "I am so happy right now."

The brunette smiled, kissing her back.

Catherine moaned softly. "I love you."

"I love you too, so much!"

Catherine pulled the brunette closer, entwining their bodies as she fell asleep, smile on her face.

Sara covered them up, tucking her in.

Reviews: helly1bradleywyatt, AA - MamaBirdCat & RosePetal7