Ryan pulled one of Zack's old jerseys over his head as he headed back down to the lounge. He had found it at the back of a drawer in Kendall's room along with some sweatpants and a change of socks. He was glad to be out of his wet things although it had taken him a long time fumbling around in the dark before he could find anything. He figured he had given the others enough time to change..
As he made his was down the steps he heard two voices singing.
"Sixty-seven bottles of beer on the wall;
Sixty-seven bottles of beer.
Take one down, pass it around.
There'll be sixty-six bottles of beer…"
"Is everything alright?" he asked as he turned the corner, confused by the sing-song.
Bianca looked up surprised as she fastened the last of the buttons on her shirt.
"Whoa, I'm sorry." cried Ryan suddenly turning back the way he had come.
"Come back, we're decent." Bianca called after him.
Ryan spun on his heel once more. Ryan noticed that Bianca had made a bed up on the floor nearer to the fire. Couch pillows were piled up against the wall behind Cara and the throw was now drapped over her lap. Cara was also still singing through gritted teeth.
"What's with the song?"
"I helps with the contractions." explained Bianca, "Or at least it helped me when I was having Miranda."
She had settled beside Cara, to give the other woman the support she needed as she fought against the urge to push.
"Remember to breathe…" Bianca prompted.
Cara nodded, grasping Bianca's proffered hand as she panted her way through the next wave of contractions.
"They are getting much closer." said Bianca, her hand gently rubbing Cara's shoulder. "It won't be long now."
"What should I do?" asked Ryan as Cara's breathing returned to a more normal rhythm as the contraction eased. He had been too nervous to dare make a move before. That baby was coming any moment and he wasn't entirely sure he knew what to do.
"Maybe go and boil some water." suggested Bianca. "The gas hob will still work in the kitchen."
"Sure." said Ryan, moving off to follow her instruction but then he paused.
"Why?" he asked. "Why do I need to boil water if there's a baby coming, I've never understood it."
"So we can sterilise string and scissors and maybe a knife." said Cara looking up at him. Her face was already flushed and her wet hair sticking at strange angles across her sweat covered brow.
"Right, of course." said Ryan. "I'll go and boil some water and try to find those other bits as well."
"Maybe find some clean towels too." Bianca suggested.
Ryan nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
"You are doing fantastically." said Bianca giving Cara's hand a squeeze.
"Do I have to keep on singing that song?" Cara asked.
"Only if it's helping." said Bianca, with a nervous grin. "I'm just going to check how we are doing, okay."
Bianca positioned herself between Cara's knees and peered under the blanket.
"You are almost there." she said. "It won't be long until you are ready to start pushing."
"Oh thank God for that. I just want this baby out of me - now." said Cara with a sigh, only half-joking.
"I remember the feeling." said Bianca with a light laugh. "But honestly you are doing amazingly."
Cara smiled, but then her face grew tense.
"The contractions are getting very close." said Bianca recognising the signs. "Very close indeed."
Cara grasped both of Bianca's extended hands tightly and could only grit her teeth in reply.
Then she began to sing again.
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall…"
…
Don't forget your baby name suggestions!