A/N: Amy's POV, this chapter is dedicated to new follower, Debsg. Welcome to the family! :D

-C

Sirius was growing increasingly impatient about the baby not arriving yet, and he hadn't left my side for anything short of Order meetings in weeks. My midwife said that if I didn't go into labor by the twentieth, she was going to induce me.

It was the nineteenth, late afternoon, and James had dragged Sirius to the Order meeting reluctantly. I vaguely thought of what to make for dinner, knowing that Lily and James were coming over. I'd just gotten off the sofa, deciding that I was going to make some steak, as I was craving it, when I felt a contraction.

This in and of itself wasn't so unusual. I ignored it, actually, because I'd had occasional contractions for about two weeks, ever since the due date. It was awful when it happened when Sirius was around, actually, because he always got so excited and then it turned out to be nothing.

But then I went into the kitchen and began to Summon steaks when I felt another contraction, one so powerful that I actually felt intense pressure in my back.

"Fuck," I hissed. "That's not…that's…. GAH!"

There was another one, and I gripped the counter as the pain and pressure in my back increased.

I knew what was happening. I'd read enough books on pregnancy that Lily had gotten me. My cervix was dilating, and from the feel of it, it was being quick about it. I wanted to push, but I knew I shouldn't. I gasped, sitting on a chair and trying to concentrate enough to know what to do. I fought the urge to push, but that took most of my concentration.

There was one thing I did know. From the way the first stage was progressing this was going to be a very quick labor, and if the meeting went as long as it was supposed to, Sirius was going to miss the birth of his child.

First things first, though, I had to get my midwife, so I sent her a Patronus message, gripping the table and waiting for her to arrive. She let herself in, rushing to get me into bed.

"Where is your husband?" she demanded.

"He's at a meeting," I whined. "I…I don't want…. Fuck! It hurts!"

"It's going to hurt more when you're fully dilated," she warned. "Are you sure you don't want to be medicated?"

Sirius and I had decided against it, but in that moment I was questioning my previous judgment.

"No, no," I insisted. "No, I want to have this girl without medication. Should…. Gah, should we get the Healer?"

"I'll get him," she said kindly. "Relax, I'll get him once you're all settled and I'm sure you can be left alone for long enough for me to properly fetch him. He's probably listening to the Quidditch match, knowing him."

She got some towels and put them on me, but in my frenzied, sweaty state I couldn't tell if they were hot or cold or somewhere in between.

"All right, dear, remember the breathing I taught you," the midwife told me as I cried out in pain again at another contraction. "That's right; breathe while I make sure there are no complications."

I nodded, breathing as directed and focusing on my breathing rather than the contractions.

"Good," she said in a calm voice. "Good. I'll go get your Healer now, Amy. Keep breathing, send a Patronus if there's any complication, and hopefully I'll be back soon. Do you want me to fetch your husband as well?"

If I'd been well enough to snort, I would have. She couldn't have found him if she'd tried. Even I didn't know where the Order met, and for good reason.

"No, no, he'll be back soon," I lied, trying to think of a way to get to my wand, which she had put on the table. I wasn't feeling well enough to shift and get it when she left. "Just go. Go!"

She nodded, checking one last time that everything was set before leaving me.

The second she was gone I tried to scoot over and get a bit closer to the wand, but it wasn't easy. Between my lack of maneuverability and my pain, I was growing increasingly frustrated.

I had almost humored him, almost agreed to fight James on this particular day and let him stay with me. But then he started whining and I couldn't stand listening to it, so I agreed with James that he should go. I was thoroughly regretting my decision as I tried to stretch my fingers out to my wand.

"Bloody fucking hell!" I shrieked as another contraction occurred. I'd be fully dilated soon, and I needed Sirius. I fought the urge to push, continued my breathing exercises, and began to cry. I wanted Sirius and I couldn't reach my wand and all I wanted was for this to be over, baby or no baby.

I gritted my teeth, ignoring my breathing exercises long enough to get my wand, and it took a bit of stretching but finally it was in my fingers. I'd lost one of my towels, but my midwife would fix that when she got back. I needed Sirius.

Another contraction hit me and I shrieked again, forcing myself not to push in spite of the strong desire to do so. I waited for the pain to go down again before focusing on my Patronus.

It took a few tries, but I finally sent the message off to Sirius that I was in labor, and I tossed my wand back onto the bedside table, shaking and shrieking and generally wanting to die.

My midwife came back with the Healer, adjusting my towels while he checked my cervix.

"Nearly there," he said kindly. "You're at about nine centimeters. When is your husband coming home?"

"Any time now," I gasped as another contraction hit me.

I was still crying. I wanted Sirius. I wanted him to hold my hand like he promised.

Just as I'd started to actually sob, I heard Sirius rush into the room, James behind him, followed by Lily and Remus.

"Oh, Merlin, Amy," Sirius sobbed, rushing to my side, instantly taking my hand. Another contraction hit me and I cried out and he made a sharp hissing sound as he sucked in a breath.

"I'll make tea," Lily murmured, ushering the others out of the room, leaving me alone with Sirius, my midwife, and my Healer.

"Nearly there, Amy," the midwife said comfortingly. "You're doing very well."

"How long has she been like this?" Sirius asked over me.

"From what I could tell, she's been in labor about an hour," the midwife said softly. "She's going to have a very quick labor, I think. Only a few hours."

"A few hours?" Sirius cried. "But look at her! She's in agony!"

"She's going to start pushing now," the Healer said, obviously not listening to their conversation. "Amy, I need you to push."

I did as directed, pushing, squeezing Sirius's hand. He was saying comforting things as I cried out. The pushing actually made the contractions feel less painful. I was glad I didn't have to fight against my natural inclinations anymore.

It was still agony, though. I wished that I could have changed my mind about medicating, but it was too late.

"Baby is coming down headfirst," the midwife told the Healer, holding her wand of my abdomen as I pushed.

"Is that good?" Sirius asked.

"That's exactly what we want," the Healer assured him. "Basically, the contractions and pushing are going to get your daughter through the birth canal. I can't imagine it's especially comfortable, but she's designed for it. Everything's fine so far. Nothing to worry about."

"Is it too late to give her something for pain?" Sirius asked.

"No," I snarled, feeling myself suddenly committed to my previous decision. "We decided on this ages ago, Sirius, I'm not going to take any medication!"

I squeezed his hand as I pushed on the Healer's order and Sirius kissed my forehead, assuring me that he would not mention it again, telling me that I was doing so well, begging me to be okay.

As if I had any control over that last bit.

"All right, it's all right," the midwife said. "Almost there. Almost there."

I wasn't at all sure how much time had passed, and I'd nearly lost my voice for all the screaming.

"Okay, Amy, she's crowning," the Healer said. "The head's coming out."

I was vaguely aware of his wand at the opening as my daughter was coming out. I'd read in the books that he was suctioning the amniotic fluid, blood, and mucus so that she didn't inhale or ingest any of it.

"Keep pushing," he ordered. "Come on, Amy. Shoulders are the worst bit, but they're coming."

I shrieked as I could feel my baby's shoulders trying to get through the opening that had been stretched further than I could have possibly imagined.

"It's okay, love," Sirius whimpered. "It's nearly there. C'mon, love, nearly there."

I pushed again with another agonizing shriek.

"Good!" the midwife said happily. "Very good! The shoulders are out! Come on, now, here we go!"

About six pushes later my daughter was born.

The Healer clamped and cut the umbilical cord as the midwife cleaned off my baby and soothed her as she cried. I fell back on the pillows, exhausted, and Sirius continued to clasp my hand, although the strength to grip back had left me entirely.

"Good, the placenta is out," the Healer said happily. "Let me just check you and the baby for anything else, and then my work here is done!"

We were both fine, thank Merlin, and the Healer left. The midwife handed me my little girl wrapped in a soft, pink blanket.

"Hello, Aludra," I whispered, kissing her tiny forehead.

She had calmed down by this point and was fascinated with me.

"Oh, she's so tiny," Sirius said softly. "Oh, look at her, Amy. That's ours! She's our little girl."

"I think James and Remus are taking bets on who she's going to look like," I laughed, kissing her forehead again.

"They already did."

The midwife looked through our nursery, said she'd be by in the morning to make sure we were set, and instructed me on breastfeeding. She then left us alone with our little girl once we'd signed the certificate of her birth for Ministry records.

"Oh, Sirius, she's so beautiful," I sighed, lying back on the pillows as he took her.

"Shall we show her off?" he asked, hugging her firmly, but not tightly. "Or do you want a little bit more time alone?"

"A little while longer, I think," I sighed, touching his arm. "Sirius I'm sorry about interrupting the meeting, but…"

"What?" he asked, confused for a moment. Then it hit him, what I'd said. "No, Amy, you did the right thing. I'd like to think, in the future, that if something were to happen and you needed me, something happening to you or Aludra, that you would do the very same, no matter where I was or what was happening. All right?"

"Right," I sighed, but I could think of a few times I might not let him know right away. I reached up weakly for my daughter and he sat beside me on the bed, placing her gently in my arms. "She's so beautiful."

"One of the two most beautiful girls in the world," Sirius sighed, kissing my cheek. "I have to admit, I don't know who's more beautiful."

"At the moment, her I should think," I said with a weak laugh. "I'm all sweaty and disgusting. As soon as Lily and James and Remus are gone, can you help me go take a bath?"

"Of course, love," he said with a wink. "It would be my pleasure. Your body probably feels really different, doesn't it?"

"Not feeling anything at the moment," I said dully. "I'll let you know when I do."

"Should I go get them, then, so you can get to your bath sooner?" he asked. I nodded.

He got up and went out into the kitchen. I kissed Aludra's forehead and whispered, "Your daddy is very silly, my love. But I expect he'll prove that soon enough." She cooed and I sighed. "So beautiful, and all mine."

I smiled to myself and was glad I did, because at that moment Sirius led our guests into the room.

"Hi," I rasped. "Sorry, I've been screaming a lot."

"We'd noticed," James teased. "Is this the mini-Marauder?"

"I don't know, James," I said. "Do you see another baby in the room?"

They laughed, but I was too tired to properly appreciate my own sarcasm. They crowded around my bed and Lily began to coo excitedly at Aludra.

"Oh, she's gorgeous," she sighed. "Aludra Lyda Black. Oh, she's so beautiful, Amy."

"She did a great job," Sirius said, lifting my fingers on my free arm to his lips. "As she always does."

I rolled my eyes.

Who would have thought that a year and a handful of months ago we had only just gotten together after months of stupidity?

"Lily, I want one," James pouted, looking at Aludra as she turned her head toward him, staring at him like she expected him to do something spectacular. If pouting was spectacular, he'd succeeded. Otherwise, he'd failed miserably. Aludra didn't seem impressed, either.

"Not anytime soon," Lily chided, although she accepted Aludra when I passed her, and her face lit up. "Oh, Amy, she's just so beautiful!"

Remus laughed.

"I reckon that's all you'll be hearing for the next few days, Amy. I have to confess, she is absolutely gorgeous. But then, I don't know much about babies, so maybe I shouldn't judge."

"If I had strength, I'd slap you," I muttered, and Sirius slapped him on my behalf. "It's nice to have such a loyal husband," I sighed, smiling at him. "So was I really that loud?"

"I thought you were dying," James admitted. "Lily assured you weren't, but I didn't believe her until the Healer came out and said you'd done it."

"He didn't," Lily affirmed. "He was pacing like a madman. He kept saying that he couldn't imagine what Sirius would be like if you died in there."

"Really sensitive, Prongs," Sirius snorted. "I would like to think that if something happened to Amy you'd be thinking of more than just my reaction to it."

Lily made me tell the story of my labor from the very beginning because she'd missed basically all of it, and she was incredibly curious. Sirius backed her up, having missed the beginning, and so as I fed Aludra for the first time (with James and Remus averting their eyes on Sirius's insistence), I told my friends about my contractions and the rest of the story from there.

"Oh, Merlin," Lily said with a laugh. "I'm sorry, I know it's not funny, but I'm just picturing you trying to get to your wand."

"I'm sure it would have been really funny to watch," I conceded. "As it was, I wasn't feeling the humor of it in that moment. I was a bit preoccupied."

"Bit stupid of our midwife, though, wasn't it?" Sirius snorted. "Telling you to send her a Patronus if something went wrong and then putting your wand out of reach. What if something had actually gone wrong?"

I groaned.

"Can we not think about all of the terrible possibilities of such a scenario? I just want to enjoy our baby."

"She's asleep," Remus said, smiling as we all turned to look at Aludra, who was sleeping soundly in Lily's arms.

"I take it this is our cue to leave so you two can do whatever it is you want to do," James whispered, grinning. "And I can set about convincing Lily that we need one, too."

Lily just shook her head, handing Aludra off to her father, who carefully carried her off to the nursery.

"Thanks for coming, all of you," I muttered, smiling at them. "It's been a long day, obviously, but I'm glad you were all here to share it with me."

"You would have had a time trying to keep us away," Lily teased. She leaned over and kissed my sweaty forehead and said, "Let me know if you need anything, like someone to teach Sirius how to be a human being while you take care of your daughter."

"I heard that," Sirius said with a bark of laughter as he came back in. "Really, though, you'll be first on our list if we need anything. In fact, we were rather hoping you and James would be her godparents."

"I thought that was sort of a given," James said with a laugh.

Lily, on the other hand, was obviously thrilled and touched by this request, and tears sprang up in her brilliant green eyes.

"Oh, you two, we'd be so honored!" Lily said happily. "Oh, I can't wait to spoil her!"

Remus just laughed at Lily's being overcome, but he clapped James on the shoulder and said, "Congratulations, godfather. You two will do a great job."

Sirius and I had debated for some time as to who we would name as godparents. We'd considered everyone from Remus and my sister to Mrs. Potter and Dumbledore, but in the end only Lily and James really made much sense. Natalie was too young, Mrs. Potter quite old, Remus a werewolf, and Professor Dumbledore already had enough things to worry about without a young child to think of all the time.

"Right," James finally said. "It's time we left the new parents alone! Have fun, but not too much, and we'll drop by sometime tomorrow night, okay? Just to see how you are."

"And bring presents," Lily said happily.

We said our goodnights, but Sirius sat on the edge of the bed for a moment while I tried to sit up. He grinned at me and I smiled tiredly back.

We were parents. Really, officially parents.