Perfect

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 1st April 2009

Characters: Swift, Kateena
Description: Kateena and Swift's baby is born.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 5

"Good of you to choose a rest day," Swift said to his young wife as he helped her up the stairs toward their suite of rooms trying to keep himself calm by chattering. "And a rest day that I'm not rostered to work."

"Yes ... fortunate." Kateena nodded a small smile slid across her face as the pains eased again. "I wish we hadn't gone for the walk, though, even if the healers did suggest it." her hand caressed her lower abdomen, rubbing in slow circles as they neared the top of the stairs.

"They suggested it to make this happen," he reminded her. "And it seems to have worked." He had asked the first apprentice they had seen when they had come inside to go and call the healers to their rooms, but if he didn't see signs of one of that craft in a moment he was going to take off to find one himself.

"Stop....stop..." she gripped tighter to his arm as another wave of pain descended on her. Her breathing instinctively changed to the puffing and panting the healers had coached her in. "I ....oh I need to push..." her words were barely out when a rush of fluid soaked her legs and feet. "Oh shards...."

"Well now we know the baby's serious about arriving," he said calmly. "Can you walk? Do you want me to carry you?"

"I'll walk, but..the mess?" she looked down as the widening puddle. "Uh
- oh..." The pains were definitely increasing in intensity as well as frequency. "I didn't think it would happen this quickly..." she said between panting breaths.

Neither had he, in all honesty. "I'll get somebody to clean it up when the healer arrives," he promised, understanding perfectly well that though he thought it inconsequential it might spark an irrational worry with his wife. Irrational worries seemed to go hand-in-hand with pregnancy. "Let's keep going ... When it doesn't hurt." It had been simpler last time. Belevi had woken in the night in labour and he had been shooed away almost instantly by the midwife and his mother.

A long, loud moan issued from Kateena, almost animalist in nature before the panting resumed. "Need...to...get...to...quarters." she said between puffs. She shuffled forward, her hand gripping tightly now to the lower side of her bump, where she could feel the contraction strong and hard beneath her hand. The bump hardened and lifted slightly, before releasing again, and she felt there child move against the pressure.

Swift helped her along when she seemed willing to move and just held her when she didn't. Was it really supposed to go this fast? No matter. His job was to get her to their rooms where she could rest and feel safe, and then get that healer. "Nearly there."

She barely nodded as the pain started to ease. A beading of sweat had appeared across her upper lip and forehead, and the fine tendrils of hair which refused to be contained by the ribbons she wore, were plastered down to her face, becoming more irritating by the moment. She brushed impatiently at her forehead then her upper lip, before moving forward again determinedly. "Let's get inside before the next one hits." she said, shuffling along as fast as she could manage.

He pushed open the door when they reached it with a huge sigh of relief. "There. Now, just as far as the bed and I'll go and chase up that healer."

"Don't be too long..." she said with a forced smile as she lay back on the pillows. The pain gripped her again, and her hand gripped the bedcovers. "Please..."

He wasn't long - just steps outside the door he found the healer hurrying down the corridor, skirting the puddle in the middle of it.

"Come in. It seems to be happening much faster than ... than it should."

"Then the walk you went on worked?" Jeseph smiled. "Good, good." the older man made his way towards their quarters, "That ... is her waters, I take it?" he asked, nodding back towards the puddle.

Swift nodded. "I'll get somebody to clean it up in a moment. It seems to be going much faster than last time," he said, trying to hurry the man along.

"Every birth is different. And she _is_ overdue, I believe. So after a delay the babe has decided to pull his boots on, now. As it were."

"Pull his boots on," Swift repeated with a weak laugh. "As long as they're both all right." He pushed open the door. "Kateena ... Here's the healer."

"Swift..." her voice came out on a sigh of relief, "he's coming..." she said, as the healer approached the bed. "I can feel his head."

"Certain the babies a 'he' I see." the healer chuckled, "Well, let's see.." he said lifting the hem of her dress. "Ah, yes, you're right. The babe is indeed ready to emerge." He looked up at Swift, "If you'd like to hold your wife's hand, I think we're ready to greet your new son or daughter. I must say Kateena, you've done awfully well...ah yes..." he stopped talking as another pain gripped the woman on the bed, "Push when you feel the urge," he said cheerily.

Swift retired to the head of the bed and did as he was told - held onto Kateena's hand as if her life depending on it. This birth was very fast ... and since he knew little about such things he could only hope that there was nothing wrong.

* * *

"Congratulations, here's your son." he wrapped the babe in a clean wrap and passed him to his father. "We'll have you cleaned up in a few minutes, Kateena. You did very well for your first child. He did come a little faster than normal, but - you were a few sevendays overdue, that would account for it." Jeseph glanced up and gave her a smile of encouragement, before bending back to the task in hand.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Kateena asked, her hand reaching out and touching the baby's cheek. She looked up at Swift, "Thank you." she whispered.

"Thank _you_" Swift said, unable to decide where to look - to his wonderful wife or the babe who was a much more appealing prospect than his other son Race had been at birth. "He's perfect."

"Do you think so?" her smile lit up her face as she looked down on her son. "What will we call him? I know we've tossed a few names in, but we never did make a decision."

"Whatever you want," he said, quite unconcerned about such things in the relief that it was over and both of them were well.

"Fleet? Ummm....Chase? Is there any name you're particular about?"

"Fleet sounds good," Swift said with a smile. "Though you don't have to name him like Race and I if you don't want to."

"I think it makes a nice family tradition." she smiled warmly up at him. "It'll make him feel like a real part of the family. And we can always save 'Chase' for the next one," she chuckled teasingly.

Swift choked in surprise. "Another one?"

"If we are lucky enough - but maybe I should wait a while to see how I manage with Fleet?" she said, considering.

"Probably best," the kitchen hand said with relief. "But I'm sure you'll manage just fine."

Last updated on the April 3rd 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Perfect