It was silent for about a milli-second before everyone sprang into action. There were hands on Maka's back, stroking her, pushing her. The voices sounded far away, like she was hearing them from underwater. She stubbed her toe on the top of one of the stairs, but she didn't care. Everyone continued to scurry her up the steps when the blood in her ears quietened down enough for her to hear what they were saying.
"We need to call Kid, now. And an ambulance." She heard someone snap, their voices hard with panic. It took her a second to realise it was Blackstar.
"I was just on the phone to him," she liked that voice. "The line went dead, the weathers too severe. Even if we could get through to anyone, there's no way someone can drive safely through a storm like that." Maka's throat tightened at the sheer terror in Soul's voice. The gravity of the situation crashed down on her.
"Soul," she murmured desperately while she felt cushions press against her back. Her bed. She felt a warm hand push her hair back and stoke her face.
"I'm here, sweetheart," his voice sounded so strained. "We're just gonna let Tsubaki take a look at you. Blackstar, get out of here."
Maka was surprised when she heard no argument. She only understood why he was ordered to leave when she felt gentle hands tugging at her clothes. Tsubaki and Liz undressed her silently, but they breathed heavily with fright. Maka was naked when she felt a night dress being pushed over her head, she was about to push her arms through when she was consumed by pain once more.
"Maka," Tsubaki rested her hands on her stomach. Maka fought the urge to push her off. She groaned.
"Tsu, what – " she was cut off by her own moan.
"It's contractions, Maka," Tsubaki said seriously. "Here – " She poked at the most painful part of her belly.
"You feel the tightening? You're in labour. And there's no way to stop it, your water even broke."
"But it's too soon." Soul snapped before Maka could even form a coherent thought. "She's not due for another month! How is the baby coming now?"
"Maybe… Maybe the doctor was wrong when he said he thought your delivery would go smoothly." Liz offered in a quiet voice. Soul growled.
"Soul," Maka moaned again. He immediately took her hand and crouched beside her.
"I'm here Maka, I'm here," he murmured into her hair as he kissed her. Maka whimpered as his eyes met her own.
"I'm scared," she squeezed his hand in fear.
He groaned as if he was in pain. "I know baby, I am too. But you're gonna be just fine. You hear me? Everything is going to be okay – "
"Gah!" Maka shoved his hand away and leant forwards in pain. Tsubaki was at her side in an instant.
"Tsubaki, please," Maka could feel beads of sweat forming in her hairline. She looked desperately at her friend.
"You need to help me." She managed. Tsubaki met the pained emerald orbs with her own shell-shocked ones.
"Maka," she began slowly. "I'm still only studying. I'm inexperienced, I could just make it worse if I help you as a midwife would."
Maka fought back a scream of agony. How could it possibly be getting worse?
"Maka!"
"Maks!"
"You have to," Maka gasped when the pain subsided. "You know more about this than anyone else in this room. I heard Soul on the phone, we could be stuck in this cottage for two days. Two days, Tsu. You really think I can go two days without pushing this baby out? Really?"
Tsubaki didn't respond.
"So, I can either do it with your help, and feel comforted by the fact that my baby's life rests in the hands of one of the people I trust the most, or I can –" Maka slammed her head back into the pillows, her entire face scrunched up in pain. She felt Tsubaki's gentle grip on her shoulder.
"Or I can do this without you." she finally gasped. Tsubaki didn't respond. Her face was torn until it hardened with an expression Maka didn't even know she possessed. She stood up to face the people in the room.
"Liz, I need you to put some blankets on top of the draws over there. I need it ready for when the baby comes so I can examine them. Blackstar, I need you to be ready to get some warm water when I say so. It won't be soon; Maka will be in labour for a while yet. But the moment I say the word, you go get it, okay?" Blackstar nodded firmly. Tsubaki's eyes landed on Soul.
"Soul, I don't want you to leave Maka's side. You hold her hand, comfort her, take every insult she throws at you, but just be there, okay?" Soul eye's never left Maka's face. He gave one short nod and just squeezed Maka's hand.
"Okay. Blackstar, stand near Maka's head. I need to examine her, and I think she'll feel more comfortable if you couldn't see. Unless you could just leave the roo-"
"No," Maka protested weakly, and reached out a hand to grab Blackstar's. "No, I want him to stay. Can... Can you stay? Please?"
Blackstar's face crumbled as Maka's eyes met his desperately. He fell at his knees beside the bed, in a similar position to Soul.
"C'mon Maka," he muttered emotionally. "If anyone can do this, it's you. You're the strongest person I know. Please be okay."
Maka nodded firmly at her oldest friend before groaning once more. She had a feeling this was going to be a long night.
"Tsubaki, please," Maka vaguely heard Soul mutter in the doorway. "It's been over fourteen hours. She can't take much more."
"It seems the pregnancy is stalled," she whispered back, Maka stirred a little more. Tsubaki had told her to try and sleep in between the pains. But they got so intense, Maka could barely think straight.
"Stalled? Why?" Tsubaki hesitated.
"Tsubaki." She didn't respond. Instead, she came to sit on the side of Maka's bed.
"You mind if I examine you once more?" Maka groaned her approval. Tsubaki examined her internally and externally. She stood up after about ten minutes with a grave expression.
"The baby," she began and Maka felt her heart falter.
"What?" Maka sat up, energy suddenly coursing through her veins. "What's wrong with the baby?"
"They're in an awkward position," Tsubaki grimaced. "They're meant to be headfirst, but your baby is bottom first. That's why the birth is stalled."
"How many centimetres am I?" Maka demanded.
"You're about four."
"Four?" Soul exclaimed. Maka shushed him with a look.
"What can we do?"
Tsubaki hesitated once more.
"I only learnt about this recently," she admitted. "Usually, in situations like this, you would have a C-Section. Because pushing while the baby is in this position could be painful and dangerous for you and the baby. And obviously, it delays birth, but at this point you're going to be too tried to even push…"
"Tsubaki," Maka snapped. "What can you do?"
"I – I can try and persuade the baby to turn over externally." Tsubaki explained slowly, her face twisted with unease. "It would speed your dilation up but – It's going to really, really hurt, Maka. You usually get an injection to relax the uterus to do this – And you're usually not in labour. I have to wait for another contraction to move them, but it's not going to be pleasant for you."
"Do it," Maka didn't even hesitate. Soul rested his hand on her shoulder, and she pushed it off.
"Maka," he began. Maka turned to look at his expression. She smiled softly and pressed her clammy hand against his cheek.
"Just one try, Soul," she told him. "We'll try and turn the baby once, and if it doesn't work, we'll wait it out."
Soul held her gaze for a few more moments before standing to nod at Tsubaki. Tsubaki wasted no time. She crouched beside Maka and felt around her bump until her hands were in position. Her eyes then met Maka's face.
"We good, baby?" Blackstar asked from Liz's side at the other end of the room.
"Yeah," Tsubaki said, and then Maka's face scrunched up in pain. Tsubaki wasted no time. And Tsubaki did not lie. It hurt. God, it hurt.
Maka felt like Tsubaki was twisting her insides. Not only was she being squeezed, now she was being pushed. Hard. So hard. Maka screamed. She couldn't swallow it back. She felt her back arch into the mattress, and it took everything in her not to shove Tsubaki away. The pain went on and on. Then everything went black.
Soul couldn't even watch. The way Tsubaki was pushing. It was the only thing he could concentrate on. But then – Then he heard Maka's screams. They were not normal screams. No. They were absolute, blood curling shrieks of pure agony. He had never heard Maka scream like that.
"No - No, n – " Maka screeched before no coherent words left her mouth other than the cries of pain.
"Stop it," Soul muttered, but he was frozen on the spot. "Tsubaki."
"Tsubaki, you need to stop!" Liz gasped, her eyes on Maka's face. Soul followed her gaze in time to watch Maka's eyes fall shut, and her body go limb.
"Tsubaki, that's enough!" Soul barked as he rushed to his girlfriend's side and took her face in his hands. She was so pale. Too pale. Tsubaki gave one last push before she lifted her hands up to hover them over the bump.
"There we go," she muttered and looked to Maka's face. Her eyes narrowed.
"It's normal for her to faint," she murmured. "The pain is…"
"Yeah," was all Soul said. After what felt like hours, Maka's eye's opened again.
"The baby," she managed. Tsubaki smiled.
"They were being stubborn but they're in position now. You'll be holding your baby in no time." Maka didn't have time to respond as another contraction struck her.
"I'm gettin' worried," Maka was staring at Soul's face when she heard Blackstar mutter to Tsubaki. "At this rate, she isn't going to have any energy to push. How long has it been?"
"Twenty-five hours," Soul answered for her, his eyes never left Maka's face. "The snow is letting up. I'm sure the phone will be working soon."
"She's dilated eight centre metres," Tsubaki told them. "She'll be pushing in no time."
Tsubaki didn't get another word out over Maka's sudden scream.
"Tsubaki!" She cried as the raven-haired girl rushed over to examine her.
"Ten? Ten centre metres!" Tsubaki shouted. "Guys, it's time! Blackstar!"
Blackstar didn't even respond as he ran from the room to get the warm water and cloths.
"Okay Maka," Tsubaki spoke from the bottom of the bed at Maka's feet. Soul piled up pillows behind Maka's back, so she was somewhat sitting up. "You're gonna feel like you wanna push when the next contraction hits, okay? Don't."
"Don't push?" Soul asked in disbelief. Tsubaki nodded.
"Not yet - I want to wait one more out, then we'll start, okay?" Maka nodded. Blackstar re-entered the room and piled the supplies at the side of the bed. Liz was stationed near the draws where the baby would be examined.
"Soul, I'm scared," Maka admitted quietly. Soul kissed her hand.
"I know Maks, but you can do this, okay? If anyone can, it's you." He stopped speaking when he watched her face crumble in agony.
"Okay," Tsubaki positioned herself in front of Maka, her face hard and determined. "Are you ready Maka?"
Maka nodded sharply.
"You're gonna want to push again now, and I need you to push as hard as you can."
"Okay," Maka gasped. The pain came again and the crippling urge to push consumed Maka. She gritted her teeth and put what little energy she had into heaving.
"Nothing's happening Maka, I need you to push harder!" Tsubaki demanded.
Maka let her head flop back onto the pillows.
"I can't, I can't," she sobbed.
"Yes, you can, Maka, yes you can," Soul lifted her back up. He kept his hand on her back to keep her steady. "It's our kid Maka, don't you want to meet our baby? You can do this."
Maka cried again as the pain took her.
"Good! Good, Maka I can see the head. You're doing so well, a few more pushes and you'll meet your baby."
"Oh, Soul, I hate you so much!" Maka screeched and she nearly teared his hair from his head while she pushed.
"You are never doing this to me again, do you hear me?! Fucking, evil, son of a –"
"Yes, Maka! Push, push!" Tsubaki crowed in approval.
Maka could feel it. It was nearly over, but she had no more energy. She was flat out. She collapsed back into the pillows and wanted to groan when she felt Soul lift her back up.
"Sweetheart, I know it hurts," he tried but his voice cracked. What could he possibly say to her that would help? Thankfully, Tsubaki took over.
"Maka, I know you're tired, I know you want to sleep but one more. One more, Maka. And you'll meet your baby."
That did it. Maka called every little bit of strength she had a pushed one more time until her lungs ached with her screams. And then – The pressure was gone. The little baby plopped into Tsubaki's waiting hands. But there was a problem.
The baby didn't cry.
"Oh no you don't," Tsubaki muttered and wisped the baby to place it on the draws. Maka couldn't breathe. This couldn't have been for nothing. She felt a small knot tightening in her belly, where her baby just was. The knot grew horribly, getting tighter and tighter.
"Soul," she gasped as she tried to sit up, fear and exhaustion stiffening her body. Soul's eyes never left Tsubaki's back. His face was like stone as he clutched her hand almost as tight as she'd been squeezing his. That sat like that for what felt like hours, the room completely silent apart from the sounds of Tsubaki shuffling around, desperately trying to make their baby breathe.
Suddenly, a baby's cry pierced the air.
"Oh, my Death," Maka cried into her hands and released her first sob. Tsubaki laughed lightly with relief as she quickly bathed and wrapped the baby.
"My baby," Maka cried and held her shaking arms out. "Give me my baby."
Tsubaki smiled and turned around to tuck the tiny baby in Maka's waiting arms.
"Say hello to your son," Tsubaki whispered lightly as she curled her arm around Blackstar's waist.
"A son," Soul whispered as he looked at his baby boy's face.
His hair seemed blonde, a few shades darker than Maka's. Soul predicted it would turn brown. His eyes were a very dark crimson, a few shades darker than Soul's and so like Wes's he nearly sobbed, and they looked around in bewilderment. He was handsome already. His cheeks were flushed as his face scrunched up to let out another cry. His eyes went back to Maka, who was still crying silently.
"Oh my Death," she cried again, and stroked her baby's face.
A phone ringing ruined the moment. Soul almost rolled his eyes.
"Of course," he muttered, but made no move to stand. Nothing could tear him away from this moment.
"It's Kid," Liz spoke quietly before talking back into the phone. "Hey. My Death, do I have a story for you."
A few hours later, the snow slowed enough for everyone to take Maka the hospital, along with their unnamed baby. Amara, Patti, and Kid met them there. Maka couldn't remember the journey or even arriving. She fell asleep the moment after meeting her baby.
"Mama," she heard a small voice, then someone shush her.
"Shh, kid. Let her sleep."
"I miss her," the voice said. Maka almost smiled. She heard a soft chuckle.
"I do too, baby."
"Can I hold him?"
"In a minute."
Maka opened her eyes and saw white. White walls, white sheets, white hair. But then a spray of brown.
"Amara?" she whispered with a smile. The little girl leapt onto the bed.
"Mama!" she cried happily and hugged her shoulders gently. Maka winced as she tried to sit up.
"Easy, Maks," Soul pushed her back down. "The doctors said you're gonna be sore."
Maka barely heard him. Her eyes were trained on the baby in his arms. Her face glowed with a smile.
"Our son, Soul," Maka beamed at Amara. "You were right! You have a brother!"
Amara laughed happily and clapped her hands quietly.
"I know!" she whispered, then pointed at the baby. "We've got to be quiet, Mama. He's sleeping."
Maka hummed in response and grinned at the sleeping baby in Soul's arms. Eventually, he stood to tuck the tiny thing into her own ready arms. He sat at her side with his arm around her. He rested his cheek on the top of her head.
"That was too fucking scary, Maka," he whispered so Amara couldn't hear, she was too distracted by the baby. "When Tsubaki had to turn the baby – The screams."
"I felt so hopeless. But you did it, you had the kid and then, when he didn't cry – "
Maka squeezed her eyes shut. She had been trying to forget that.
"But you did it. Twenty-five hours of labour, and hard labour and you did it." His eyes twinkled with so much pride it made her heart swell.
"I am so proud of you."
Maka released a small sob and pressed her lips to his own. Her eyes fell back to her baby and her smile widened.
"We need to think of a name," she murmured and looked up to Amara. "Any ideas."
Amara hummed seriously and studied her brothers face. She touched his soft hair and stroked his flushed cheeks before looking up with a grin that could light up any room.
"Masen." She chimed.
Maka frowned, knowing she heard that from somewhere, then her eyes widened. She turned to Soul to see a grin split his face.
"Masen-Thorns." Maka laughed.
"The cottage," Soul chuckled. "Fits."
"Well," Maka turned her eyes back down to the piece of perfection in her arms. "Masen it is then. Masen Tommaso Spirit Evans"
