Chapter 10: A Star is Born
'With the Star Kingdom under the rightful control of Queen Mabellita and King Mordecai, the two are now expecting their first child. Will it be a girl like Mabellita wants or a boy like Mordecai wants?'
With Narsus and Cyrus defeated and the Star dimension under the rightful control of the new king and queen, everything has been running smoothly, as smoothly as things can run in a place such as that. Despite the kingdom being back to its original status, there are several areas of the kingdom that have yet to be brought up to code and are under heavy guard until those areas are able to be repaired. Currently, it is being discussed by the rulers and the palace staff as to what the future of the badly damaged areas will be in the current meeting. However, the damaged areas of the palace aren't the only concerns as something very important is going to take place real soon…
"While Narsus did a number on this place in my absence and Mordecai and I were been able to repair most of the damage done to the kingdom, the east and west wings are badly damaged." Mabellita continues. "Those areas have been walled off until the repairs can be made."
"But your highness." One of the contractors begins. "Is it in the budget so the repairs can be made?"
"According to my husband's figures, yes it is." Mabellita answers. "And while the budget contains funds to fix both wings to the palace, I am more concerned about the areas that will be closed off while the repairs are being made. The palace will have too many detours that the staff will have to endure until those wings are brought up to code, thus disrupting the flow of the kingdom."
While Mabellita is continuing to conduct the meeting, Mordecai has taken his attention away from what is being spoken on currently and to his wife's physique, particularly her abdominal area. Since Mabellita entered into her third trimester, it seems to Mordecai that Mabellita's belly has not only gotten bigger, but with her just weeks away from her due date, that her demanding position as queen may have a negative effect on their future heir as well as on her health. Considering her position is very demanding and has been as of late, Mordecai has become very concerned for their unborn child as well as Mabellita. Continuing to stare at his wife's abdominal area, he notices her frame twitch, but doesn't hear her calling out to him for the budget figures for the repairs. Feeling a hand touch his shoulder, Mordecai now snaps back to reality.
"Mordecai, can I see your figures for the repairs please?" Mabellita sweetly asks once more.
Nodding, Mordecai now hands her the folder with Mabellita taking the folder from him. From there, she continues conducting the meeting with Mordecai now re-focusing his attention back on her abdomen. His worry is rising with each minute she is on her feet and not one to ever interrupt Mabellita's job, he can't help but feel that something is wrong with her frame twitching once more.
"Alright, so does anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do to make running this palace easy for the staff while the repairs are under way and those wings are walled off?" Mabellita asks to the board room.
"We have found a way to make the detours as less as possible so to not disrupt the flow of the palace your highness." One of the contractors replies to her. "The middle and back areas of the palace will have detours, but they will not cause considerable disruption while the repairs are being made."
"That sounds very convincing." Mabellita approves with a nod. "Has a plan been constructed in regards to this?"
"Yes one has." The contractor answers, now handing the queen the folder containing the plans. Opening the folder, Mabellita gives it a glance over and nods.
"I approve." Mabellita says. "Work can begin immediately on the detours. Does anyone else have anything to add?"
"I do." Mordecai speaks up, getting Mabellita's attention.
"Yes Mordecai?" Mabellita acknowledges him with a smile.
"We should end this meeting early." Mordecai speaks up, concern evident in his voice. "Honey, I'm very concerned about you and I believe this meeting can wait until you are in much better condition."
Unsure of how to respond to her husband's reply, Mabellita turns back to the staff in the room and smiles.
"Please excuse us for a moment." Mabellita excuses, now taking Mordecai's hand and gently pulling him aside.
"Mordecai, we can't discuss this a bit later on." Mabellita whispers to him. "This meeting is long overdue and it can't wait. Have you seen those wings? Narsus really did a number on those areas."
"But Mabellita, you are almost due." Mordecai expresses. "You should be resting now, not working. I know that it is your job to look after the palace no matter what the case, but I'm worried about you and the baby. I saw you twitch twice during the meeting."
"I twitched because the baby is kicking." Mabellita smiles, now resting her right hand on her fully developed womb. "It's perfectly natural and normal. The baby has been doing that as of late."
"Mabellita, please end this meeting early." Mordecai pleads. "You need to be resting right now, not working. You know that I am one to never disrupt your job, but Mabellita, I feel strongly about the state of you and our baby's health. Not only that, I feel that you are going to deliver early."
"Deliver early?" Mabellita asks in confusion. "Mordecai, I not too long entered into my last trimester. I can't deliver early unless something was wrong with the baby."
Taking her husband's hands into her own, Mabellita gives him a confident and sweet smile.
"I honestly appreciate you looking after me the way that you have." Mabellita says. "But I'm going to be fine, our baby will be fine and the job of a queen is never done so trust me when I say that everything will be fine."
Staring into his wife's eyes, Mordecai wants to believe every word she just said, but can't seem to shake the overwhelming feeling of worry that has come over him. Turning from Mabellita, the king now turns towards the staff in the board room.
"I'm sorry everyone, but this meeting is adjourned early." Mordecai informs them. "The detours and the repairs to the damaged wings of the kingdom are to commence immediately. Thank you all for coming."
Without question, the staff now rise from their chairs and begin emptying out of the room. Mordecai now turns back to Mabellita.
"Mordecai, what was that about?" Mabellita asks, slightly in an outrage. "We had much more ground to cover concerning the repairs and-"
Mabellita's argument is interrupted by a sudden sharp pain shooting through her womb, which causes the queen to grip onto her husband's hands rather tight. With the sharp pain gone, Mabellita now feels a sudden wave of pain wash over her, her grip on Mordecai's hands becoming tighter.
"Mabellita, what's wrong?" Mordecai asks in wife in a panic.
"My water just broke." Mabellita informs him as she takes a seat in one of the chairs and winces in pain. "The baby is coming!"
Mordecai's brain suddenly shuts off, which sends the king into a frantic panic with no idea as to how he can help his wife who is now in labor. Not being able to come up with what he can do to help, Mordecai begins panicking.
"Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!" Mordecai panics. "Honey, can I get you anything to help lessen the pain? Water? Pain killers? Anything at all?"
Mabellita, who is doing her best to handle the overwhelming pain that is wracking her frame, grabs her husband's collar and pulls Mordecai down to her level.
"Here's a start: You can start by notifying the medical staff that I am in labor!" Mabellita snaps.
"Oh so they can take you to the hospital." Mordecai replies with a nod. "Good thinking honey."
"No, not the hospital!" Mabellita says through clenched teeth. "A hospital doesn't exist here! My parents were killed before they had a chance to get one built!"
"Then what are we going to do about delivering the baby without a hospital?" Mordecai calmly speaks to his enraged wife.
"Just call the medical staff now!" Mabellita screams as she grips her belly.
Not wanting to anger Mabellita further, Mordecai runs to the phone in the board room and dials the appropriate extension. After a minute of waiting, the other line answers.
"Yes, my wife is in labor and she is due to deliver any minute now." Mordecai informs one of the members of the medical staff. "We are in the conference room in the north wing of the palace. Please hurry."
Hanging the line up, Mordecai runs back to his wife's side and takes her hands.
"The staff are on their way." Mordecai says soothingly to Mabellita. "You and the baby are going to be ok."
Nodding, Mabellita begins panting heavily, the pain intensifying with each passing minute.
"Where are the staff?!" Mabellita screams as she tightens her grip on Mordecai's hands. "Why haven't they arrived yet?! I'm going to die any minute now and if they don't arrive soon, they are fired!"
With his wife's death grip wrapped around his hands, Mordecai can feel that the blood flow to his hands have stopped. As much as he wants her to let go of him, he will do whatever it takes to get Mabellita through this, even if it brings him imaginable amounts of pain.
"The medical staff are on their way honey." Mordecai calmly replies to her, despite the pain that he is feeling. "Just hang in there, I'm right here with you until they arrive."
"They are taking way too long!" Mabellita yells. "They are supposed to be prompt when they are called on and right now they are being everything but that! The north wing conference room isn't very far away you know!"
The medical staff now arrives to the board room and rushes over to the royal couple as they begin attending to Mabellita immediately.
"Thank goodness you guys are here." Mordecai says with relief. "She went into labor right after the meeting ended."
"Has she shown any signs of distress prior to going into labor?" One of the staff inquires as she takes Mabellita's blood pressure. "Like shortness of breath, fainting, dizziness?"
"No, she hasn't experienced any of that." Mordecai answers. "She's been doing very well."
"Alright Mabellita, we are going to move you to your bedroom." The chief medical staff member, Linda, informs her. "You are going to give birth any minute now and right here isn't quite the ideal place for you to do that."
"I don't care where it happens, just as long as it does!" Mabellita screams, her grip on Mordecai tightening with the pain becoming too much for the king to handle.
"Will you be accompanying her in the delivery process?" Linda asks him.
"Anything for my wife." Mordecai answers, him looking on the brink of passing out from his wife's death grip on his hands.
Turning to Mabellita, Mordecai smiles and places a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm right here for you honey." Mordecai smiles, despite the pain he is feeling. "I'm going to help you through this."
"Of course you are!" Mabellita hisses. "You had a hand in this too! Now less talk and more getting this over with!"
Within minutes, everyone rushes to the royal chambers of the king and queen with Mabellita being laid in bed so she can be comfortable during the delivery process. Her grip on Mordecai has not let up one bit and even though her grip has cut off the blood circulation to his hands, Mordecai is enduring the pain to ensure that Mabellita gets through this painful process with him at her side. He can always get help from the staff in getting his blood flowing back to his hands after Mabellita delivers right?
"Ok your highness, I'm going to need you to take deep breathes for me." Linda instructs to her. "And while you're breathing, I'm going to need you to push when I tell you to, ok?"
Taking deep breathes as instructed, Mabellita nods. Feeling another strong wave of pain wash over her, Mabellita increases the breaths that she inhales and releases.
"Ok Mabellita, Push." Linda instructs.
Continuing her deep breaths, Mabellita begins pushing as hard as she can.
"You're doing great your highness." Linda compliments to the queen. "Keep going, this time with as much force as you can put behind it."
Mabellita begins pushing once more, this time breaking out into an ear piercing scream, feeling that deep breathing isn't working well enough to keep her leveled during this process. With her screaming, Mordecai is doing his best to keep his cool, resisting the urge to release a scream himself. Despite the blood flow to his hands disrupted, the nerves are providing ample feeling.
"Keep going Mabellita." Linda encourages her. "Things are going very well."
Several more pushes and encouragements later, the faint sounds of a new born can now be heard. With the most painful segment over, Mabellita breathes a sigh of relief and turns to her husband.
"I did it." Mabellita smiles.
"No honey, we did it." Mordecai replies, returning the smile. "We made it through and now our heir has been brought into the world."
"Congratulations Mabellita and Mordecai, you have a healthy baby girl." Linda announces, now handing the wrapped up bundle to Mabellita. "She is so beautiful."
Releasing her husband's hands, Mabellita now takes the bundle from Linda and hugs the new born girl next to her. Pulling the blanket slightly away from the baby's face, Mabellita smiles.
"Hello little one and welcome to the world." Mabellita greets the tiny bundle. "I'm your mother and this is your father."
"Did you two already pick a name?" Linda inquires to the couple.
"Yes, her name is going to be Mabel." Mabellita answers. "Mabel Charlotte Athura."
"That's a beautiful name for her." Linda says with a smile.
"I named her after a very close friend of mine." Mabellita says, remembering her meet up with Mabel not too long ago.
"Well your friend will be very honored that you named your baby after her." Linda replies.
Continuing to smile at the baby, Mabellita now turns to Mordecai.
"Honey, would you like to hold Mabel?" Mabellita inquires.
"Yes, but right after I rest for a bit." Mordecai replies, him now collapsing to the ground unconscious.
"Mordecai?" Mabellita calls out to him with Linda rushing to his side to see if he's ok.
"It's ok Mabellita, he just passed out from helping you through the delivery process." Linda informs her. "It's perfectly natural and he'll be fine in an hour or so."
Slightly rolling her eyes, Mabellita turns back to the baby.
"Later on, you'll officially meet your father." Mabellita says to the baby. "Just as soon as he picks himself up and that's something I'm going to have to help him through. It will be some experience."
The baby coos in response to Mabellita's statement.
Mabel Charlotte Athura is born officially on February 14th, 2013!
And the heir to the Star Kingdom has been born and on such a beautiful day at that! Mabellita and Mordecai have much to teach Mabel, of course after Mordecai pulls himself together that is! Now the royal family is truly complete! If you haven't read my story Child Of Destiny as of yet, please do so to better understand this entry. :)
I hope you all enjoyed this entry and Happy Valentine's Day from me to you!
A sneak peek for next week's gala entry: A horror movie marathon with her brother Dipper results in a recollection of a particularly unflattering memory from Mabel's past, one that won't easily be shaken this time as both the twins will soon find out!
Review Please!