* Sequel to the episode chapter of Festive Miracles about Pocahontas and John Smith. AU.
-December 24th, 1611- Christmas Eve to Jamestown while it's the Winter Solstice to Wereoccmoco.
John watched Pocahontas calmly stitch a cord to the baby backpack cradle, "I still can't believe that you are due any day now...She or he will love it, Pocahontas. How are you feeling?", admiring his wife who is endowed in a fur-lined winter outfit, fitted to her baby bump.
"Excited, a little tired, content, and perhaps a little anxious as well...I can feel that it will happen soon...", Pocahontas smiled lovingly at her husband as she stroked her baby bump, as the little firepit is warming up the cozy hut easily.
John smiled softly, "I believe you, my beautiful wife.", distantly hearing the musical drums, hearing the laughter, conversations, and singing of his new people, the people who has welcomed him home so warmly, and now he's married to the daughter of the chief, and a soon-to-be father.
Pocahontas replied, "John, my love, would you get some food? After all, I might not be able to dance exuberantly and have fun out there thanks to this little one, but we can still make our little feast of sorts.".
"Are you certain? I don't want to leave you when you say it'd be soon.", John concernedly asked, and Pocahontas replied with a reassuring smile, "John, I have seen many pregnant mothers through my life, and had even assisted with a few, so I have a very good idea. And the real labor wouldn't happen for hours yet.".
John sighed, "You're wise as always, Pocahontas.", grabbing a fur coat as he leaned down to kiss her on the lips, "I shall be back shortly.", stroking her baby bump tenderly.
Pocahontas smiled, "Good.", kissing him passionately for a moment before raising an eyebrow, "And don't forget-", as John chuckled, "The flour cakes. I got it.", before leaving the hut, closing the fur door as quickly as he had opened it.
He headed to the nearest spot of the feast log bench table, and grabbed two silver plates, grabbing portions of food he could get, and a warm voice chuckled, "My daughter and grandchild must be hungry, John Smith.".
John looked up to see his father-in-law in all the chiefly finery he is in, for the ritual party of midwinter as it's the winter solstice, and he replied, "Yes, great chief. We're both excited, and Pocahontas is looking radiant.".
Chief Powhatan smiled, "Good, that's very good. You must not keep her waiting then.", moving to the side, and John smiled, "Many thanks, Powhatan.", bowing his head slightly as he headed back to the hut.
John came in to see his wife sitting on the fur layered bed, stroking her baby bump, and he replied, "Pocahontas, are you okay? Is it...", and Pocahontas smiled gently at him, "Twinges of pain for now, my love, do not panic. It still won't be a while yet. Is that our feast?".
"Yeah, and I got your flour cakes too, didn't forget.", John smiled, trying to stay calm as she looked steadily calm, and he doesn't want to scare the baby if he panicked too much, but he is still anxious as this is his first child.
Pocahontas smiled, "Thank you, John.", as they went to sit together, eating their meals, and John can see the glint of pain in his wife's eyes occasionally while they kept stroking the fire and stitching respectively.
"Don't worry, the baby is simply finding a comfortable position, even if it puts pain on my back and hips. They haven't announced yet, my love. After all, this is only preparation from what Kekata tells me. I'm to sleep a bit, care to join me, husband?", Pocahontas raised an eyebrow.
John replied, "I ain't going anywhere, my wife.", with a wry smile, and they went to sleep in a doze on and off, and then a couple of hours later, Pocahontas cried out in pain, with John replying, "Pocahontas!".
"It's time...Help me up and take me to the birthing hut.", Pocahontas took a deep breath, and John nodded, "Right, right.", helping his wife up, bundling themselves up as they exited their hut, hearing that the party is still droning on, with all the children now in bed, and John called out, "Powhatan!".
The chief looked over, and his eyes widened, and ordered in Algonquian, calling for Kekata, and the medicine man nodded to his chief, and spoke to him, and the chief firmly replied back before looking at John, "It's rare a man is allowed in the birthing room, but you saved my life, and you returned home to declare that our common enemy in Ratcliffe is dead, and now it is fair you can be with my daughter through her trial of labor. If you stress her out more than necessary, you shall be kicked out, is that clear?".
"Yes, my great chief! I understand crystal clear.", John nodded respectfully and firmly, and Kekata then guided the way as the chief responded to Kekata with a nod, and Pocahontas moaned and quietly cried out in pain during the way to the birthing hut.
Kekata then ordered the few women in the birthing hut to rest their newborn babies of the week, and get the water boiling, and such as he gestured to John with simple Alquonian words, "Help wife there to the fur chair.".
John nodded as he gently murmured to Pocahontas, "Breathe, Pocahontas...I got you...Easy...", helping her sit down as she rubbed and stroked her baby bump, moaning softly in pain with a small smile, "Thank you, John...I'm glad you're here...".
"Hey, I'm John Smith, and this is an adventure for me, although it's an exciting one more than usual.", John smiled sheepishly, and Pocahontas giggled softly, "No regrets?", with a smile.
John kissed her on the lips softly, "Not one, my love.", as the few women helped take off the fur coat, the fur-lined moccasins, leggings, and shawl.
Kekata checked, and replied, "Still some time. Will give you herbal tea to make it easier.", and Pocahontas smiled, nodding, as John rubbed her back, eased her shoulders from tension for the next hour as Pocahontas drank the tea between contractions, moaning in pain and occasionally crying out in pain when a contraction is strong.
Pocahontas inhaled deeply, "Feels like it's going to be very soon...", as John kissed her temple, "You're doing so great, my love.", as Kekata checked again, saying, "Yes, Pocahontas, it's time to move into the birthing position, unless you want to sit.".
"I want to move!", Pocahontas groaned in pain, and Kekata nodded, "John Smith, help her to mat.", and John nodded, helping his wife up once more, moving to one of the fur-lined mats, as Pocahontas went to kneel-stand, with her arms clenched around John's shoulders, gasping in pain, moaning.
"John Smith, use hands to massage belly. Water be broken with your help.", Kekata ordered, and John nodded, "Yes, Kekata.", whispering lovingly, "I'm going to help you, my love. Breathe...", his hands massaging in circles over the baby bump, and Pocahontas sighed deeply, dropping her head into his neck.
It went on for 10 minutes before Pocahontas cried out in pain, as the sound of water sloshing was heard, and Kekata nodded, "Good! Push, Pocahontas!", and John kissed her on the forehead, "You got this, my love. Breathe and push...I'm right here...".
Pocahontas took deep breaths, and pushed, her hands arching into John's shoulders as she shouted out in pain, and this continued repeatedly for 30 minutes before Kekata announced, "I see head peeking! Bit more!", and John laughed softly, "Hear that, Pocahontas? We're almost there!".
Panting heavily with tears, Pocahontas smiled happily, "Thank the spirits...", before taking a deep breath, and grunted as she closed her eyes, screaming in pain as she pushed long and hard, feeling the baby move and leave her, hearing a soft dismayed grunt as the baby landed in a basket of furs, and with cleaning blankets, the baby then gave out a wail of life.
John exhaled, "Oh, Pocahontas, he's perfect!", as Pocahontas sobbed in relief, almost turning around to rest back against John, pushing a bit for the afterbirth to be used in a stew for milk supply, and Kekata smiled warmly, "Baby boy is strong and healthy.", passing the baby into Pocahontas's arms.
"He has your sun-touched hair, John...", Pocahontas murmured in awe and love, and John chuckled, "He sure does, through it's darker, almost like sunset yellow, and he got your beautiful eyes, my love...And that skin is almost like a light copper...And he got my nose and dimples...".
Their son cried softly as Pocahontas shushed him, "It's okay, little eagle...my handsome little eagle...", and John smiled, "Eagle, huh? Is there a name for it?".
"Migizi...", Pocahontas smiled, and John spoke it out loud, "Migizi. Migizi...Yes, I like it...Can I do an English name, Pocahontas?".
Pocahontas nodded, looking at John curiously, and he chuckled, "Kem. I do not know where it came from in England, but it means the sun.", and Pocahontas smiled brightly, "Oh, that's very fitting...Migizi Kem Smith. Eagle of the sun, son of John and Pocahontas Smith.", stroking her son's head lovingly.
John kissed Pocahontas on the temple contentedly as he joined her in tracing their son's cheeks as he gurgled and cooed curiously and quietly, and John whispered, "I love you, Pocahontas, and I love you, Migizi, our son...", and Pocahontas smiled, kissing John on the lips lovingly, "I love you, John Smith, and I love you, Migizi, our little handsome eagle.".
The newfound parents heard the exuberant cheering outside, echoing Migizi's name, and they knew that their son would lead his family's legacy into the future, and it will be a beautiful future.
