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Chapter 24
Happy Birthday!
Tris' POV
I swing my hips from side to side with the rhythm of the music. Letting me feel the beat as I close my eyes and relax into it. My hands support my swollen stomach, or should I say my overgrown avocado. I open my eyes, focusing on the dancing clowns, vampires and the salt and pepper shakers. The light beams around the room making whatever white there is glow in the dark. Maggie stands dancing next to me, her body bouncing up and down as she lets her sharp, vampire teeth shine. I glance all around me, taking notice of Zeke who is dressed like Batman, Shauna who is Catwoman and Uriah is Robin, Marlene is dressed like a witch. Tobias is the toast to my Avocado.
Suddenly I feel a pop down below and a gush of water falling down my legs. In shock I look down at the puddle I'm standing in. My mouth gaped open as I realized what this might mean. Then like a stack of dominos I watch as the people around me all begin to slip on the liquidy substance. Some yell, as others laugh as they recover. It's then that I feel mortified as those around me begin to yell out that the floor is wet and begin to question why it's wet. I shut my eyes tightly wishing for the floor to open and swallow me up.
Before I could even say one word my body fell over with a sharp pain in my back. I grit my teeth, trying to remember to breathe. Thank god for Maggie who is still confused by the scene before her, realizes what is happening before her.
"Oh shit!" She says standing up from the floor. The wet mess is forgotten as she reaches out for my shoulders, helping me stay standing up as I work through the pain. "Baby is coming. The baby is coming." She chants as she helps me out of the crowd. "FOUR!" She yells out. But not surprised when she is met with no response as the music continues to drown her out.
"Stay here, I'm going to get Four." She yells out, as she sits me down at the bar and disappears back into the crowd. Suddenly my mind goes down the rabbit hole I know I shouldn't go down….
I can't be in labor. It's too soon. I'm not due for another 5 weeks. This can't be happening. Then as if to add on to my fears, another contraction hits me. This time beginning in my back and wrapping itself around my stomach. I remind myself to breathe in my nose and breathe out by my mouth, trying to stay as calm as possible. After what feels like hours the pain subsides allowing me to catch my breath and try to rest the best I can.
"Tris?" Zeke's voice breaks my thoughts. I look over my shoulder just in time for another contraction to come bearing down on me. I clench my teeth together, moaning through the pain. I take a deep breath in and out through my mouth. My right hand supports my swollen stomach and my left clings onto the bar for dear life. "Tris, what is it?" Zeke asks, his voice full of worry. "Is it the baby?" He continues to shoot my way. But I can't answer, I can't do anything other than cling to the bar as my body feels like it's being ripped in half.
Zeke moves in front of me, supporting my upper body by my shoulders. He stares into me, answering his own questions. I hear him yell out demands to others, but I can't seem to focus on what they are. The pain finally subsides, as I realize the growing crowd around me. Maggie stands off to the side, as Four comes up beside her, pushing his way through. He yells at someone to take off his costume. I hear the faint sound of a zipper and his toast costume falls to the ground. He easily steps out of it, closing the gap between us. He cups my face with his large hand as his other hand lays flat against my stomach.
"Tris, it's okay. I'm here. Just breathe." He says, his voice deep and passionate. More like Tobias and less like Four. I wonder if anyone else notices the change within him. "We gotta get you to the infirmary." He says, finally letting his hand that is cupping my face drop to my arm. He holds on tight as he helps half carry me off the stool. I thank God he is here because the minute my feet hit the floor another contraction rolls right through me. I moan and cry… Wishing for this to be over.
Tobias' POV
"Four! Four!" I hear faintly to my right. I awkwardly turn my feet, to turn in that direction. I silently once again thanked Tris sarcastically for the costume choice. I make a mental note to make sure to repay her in some way, somehow.
"Four!" Maggie yells out. I'm about to scream out, wanting her to feel just how damn frustrated I am. When I see her, I really see her, her eyes full of anxiety, her vampire teeth taken out and she pushes her way between couples. Not caring who the hell is in her way.
"What is it?" I demand. Leaning into her anxious body to hear what is going on.
"It's Tris!" She screams over the music.
That's all she has to say, before I signal for her to lead the way and I follow very close behind. I'm surprised when she guides me to the bar, where I see Zeke, the Batman holding Tris up by her shoulders. I can't see what is exactly going on seeing I can't fit as easily as Maggie does. I finally realize, there is definitely something wrong when Tris relaxes into Zeke, taking a deep breath with tears running down her face. No. It's too early. I instantly know, grabbing the first person I can and demanding they get me out of this damn thing. I waste no time, feeling the zipper give way as I peel the damn toast off of me and push through to Tris. My first thought is take care of her, to make sure she is okay and she knows I'm here. I reach for her face, making sure that she can see and feel me.
"Tris, it's okay. I'm here. Just breathe," I say, laying my hand flat on her stomach, my second thought is our baby. I move to support Tris' weight, holding onto her arm so she can stand and we can get going. We gotta get her to the clinic. But we don't get far. In fact the moment her feet touch the floor, she doubles over, clenching her stomach as she yells out in pain.
"Four." Zeke says, throwing his cape over his shoulder he bends down slightly reaching under Tris' body. At first I wonder if he plans to carry her, but then realize that he means to carry half of her weight. I wrap one of Tris' arms around my shoulders as I maneuver around and link my hands with Zeke's. Together we move forward, thankful that everyone that sees us immediately breaks apart and moves out of our way. Tris circles her arms around both our necks, letting her sit in both our arms the best way that makes her most comfortable. With Maggie, Uriah, Shauna and even Marlene along with us. They help by running ahead and holding the doors open for us to pass through. Tris screams and even squeezes me the whole way through.
"How can I help you?" The too preppy nurse asks as we make our way through the double doors to the infirmary. I'm about to spit out something sarcastic at the little bitch when instead I'm taken back by who answers for me.
"What the hell do you think?" Tris spits out through her gritted teeth.
"I see. Well if you have a seat, I'll see what we can do to help you." The nurse says. She instantly regrets her words when she is met with the chaotic response…
"Are you fucking crazy lady?" Zeke says.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Maggie says.
"Are you out of your Goddamn mind?" Someone else screams.
Tris, on the other hand, has a handful of my hair ready to rip it out of my skull as she mutters through her teeth. "Get me in a damn wheelchair." I just about would give her anything that she wants at this point if it would mean for her to let go of my hair.
"What is going on here?" A man in a white coat asked, trying to get a handle on the situation.
"She's in labor, her water broke…. And this bitch wants her to sit down." Maggie says, raising her voice as she points towards the bitch behind the counter.
"Alright. Alright. Let's get the patient into a wheelchair and into an examination room." He calls out, as another member of his staff pushes through with a wheelchair. We slowly, carefully place Tris into it. Thankful for her to finally be here. I walk right behind Tris and the medical staff as they wheel her down the hall.
I wait patiently outside the room, while a nurse helps Tris out of her costume and clothes and into a medical gown. I only enter the room when the nurse opens the door, letting me know I can enter.
"So are we wanting the epidural?" The nurse asks, fussing with Tris' blankets.
"No. Mmmhmm." She says, not hesitating for one second.
"Honey, are you sure? This is your first baby." She says, her voice kind and low.
"Tris, maybe you should?" I begin to question her. But it's then Tris grips the sheets and blankets into a ball as she moans through yet another contraction.
"Okay, boys and girls…. Let's see what we have here." Doctor Ortiz says, entering the room he rubs hand sanitizer between his hands. "Tris, I hear your water broke?" He asks, waiting for verification.
"Yup. Right on the dance floor." She confesses when her contraction finally breaks.
"Ugh," He says, as if realizing something. "That would explain the amount of minor injuries in my waiting room." He says, his voice filled with light humor. "Well why don't we… Take a look and see what is going on?" He asks, pulling on a set of gloves. He directs Tris to raise her legs, then let her knees drop open to the side. I stand by her head, looking at the wall to give Tris some privacy. We spoke about me being here in the room for the birth but we never spoke about what I was allowed to see and not to. One thing Shauna did tell me was that once you see this… You never can unsee it. The thought of what that looks like has my stomach twisted in knots. I give Tris my hand as the Doctor begins his examination. "You are 5 centimeters dilated and your water has indeed broken.. No turning back now." He announces. "I understand you don't want any drugs?" He asks.
"No. No drugs." Tris says, out of breath. "Is she going to be okay? It's too early." Tris cries out.
"Tris, I can't make any promises. But what I can say is the baby is 36 weeks along. Which isn't too early. Her lungs should be fully developed, she might be a little tiny. But given how small you are… That might make things easier for you as well." He explains. "Okay, now this is your first baby. You understand they can be more stubborn." Then another contraction breaks through… more intense then the one before.
"I changed my mind… I want the drugs. Give me the drugs." She cries out, giving in almost a little too quickly. Her hand tightens around mine, nearly taking me to the floor as I try to breathe through the pain. Fucking shit. How does such a skinny, petite woman have strength like hers?
Thankfully we only have to wait fifteen minutes before "the man with the good drugs," as the Nurse calls him arrives. I'm directed to stand in front of Tris as she sits bending over, hugging a pillow tightly. I gently hold her shoulders, as the male specialist inserts a very large syringe into her lower back.
"Just breathe, relax." I say as my eyes are glued to her back. It's like a tragic accident, you know you should look away, but you can't. The sight of it makes me feel nauseous. I swallow past the lump in my throat. I clear my throat trying with all my might to clear myself out of the fog. He lays Tris back, letting her know how the medicine trigger works. Tris is more than thankful to the man with the happy drugs. He wishes us all good luck and a Happy Halloween as he leaves. With in no time, Tris is pain free and loving her epidural. She actually gets a chance to close her eyes, and get little rest.
Of course the little rest doesn't last long as her nurse comes in to check her announcing that she is actually 10 centimeters along and ready to push. She pushes a button, letting the nurse at the front desk know we are ready to go. Tris is almost shocked as I am as the room becomes flooded with nurses and Doctors.
"Have we figured out a name for this little one yet?" One of the nurses says as she scribbles information on a white board. Tris and I both glance at each other still flabbergasted at the thought of a name. We obviously haven't decided yet. "No problem. Baby girl…. Prior?" She asks, obviously assuming Tris last name and she is more than right. It's one of the things we easily agreed on. The less of Marcus has to do with our daughter the better.
I'm directed by the nurse to hold up Tris' left leg and hold her hand at the same time as the Doctor directs Tris to take a deep breath, push while counting down to ten. It takes Tris a total of seven pushes and the baby is out. I'm amazed at the easy flow as nurses and doctors step in, knowing their places and beginning to work. Tris' doctor continues to work on Tris. as two nurses and a baby doctor works on our daughter. For a moment, a long moment, I began to wonder why the room was eerily silent. Nothing but moving tools and hush conversations could be heard. Then to our delight, we hear the best thing in the world. Our baby daughter's first cry. I feel the relief from everyone in the room when everyone hears it.
"Baby is doing great, Mom and Dad." The Baby doctor says, ensuring us that the baby was just fine. "Looks like we have a Halloween baby!" One of the nurses calls out as she points to the clock on the wall 11:42 pm. Just in time for Halloween.
Happy Halloween everyone! Please be safe out there.
Revised by FDFobsessed
Like always Happy reading everyone, be safe and stay healthy,
Trini