So. Much. Pain.
“Get it out! Get it out!” I scream at the room.
“You will,” Sylred assures me.
“No. You get it out! Be useful! Don’t just stand there!”
“She’s ready to push,” I hear the midwife say.
I straighten up again and whirl around on my heels like I’m going to fight her off. “No! I’m not ready! I don’t wanna push!”
“You have to,” the genfin female tells me gently.
“Gimme some more popplefuckinberries!”
She shakes her head at me. “You cannot have more than you’ve already had.”
I’m pretty sure I make a keening sound, before making up some new swear words that aren’t completely coherent. I also may or may not accidentally threaten her life.
“Come on, honey, let’s get you onto the bed,” the midwife croons. “So you can start pushing.”
“Don’t make me,” I sob.
Ronak comes in front of me and takes my face in his hands. “You can do this,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “I’ve been having contractions for hours and hours, all because your stupidly well-endowed cocks make me go into labor! I’m so tired. And it hurts. And I can’t. I just can’t, Ronak. I don’t have it in me,” I whimper, feeling the tears drip down my cheeks. I’m so incredibly tired and terrified that my entire body starts to shake, and my eyes shut as panic closes in on me.
“Look at me,” Ronak says in his strong, sure voice. My eyes lift to his, and I stare into his black irises, focusing on the steady tone of his voice. “You are persistent. You have done impossible things. You saved an entire realm. You saved us. You’re strong. And you can do this. You hear me, mate?” he asks, his touch firm against my jaw. “You. Can. Do. This.”
I nod and take a shaky breath.
“Then let’s get you onto the bed, and soon, we can meet our baby.”
My face crumples, and he wipes away my tears with the pads of his thumbs.
With his help, I make my way onto the bed, which is covered with extra padding for the birth, and to make sure our mattress is protected from all the incoming fluids.
When Ronak starts to help me sit down, I squeeze his hand. “I need you all,” I say desperately. “Don’t leave.”
He looks me steadily in the eye. “Never.”
Ronak nods to the guys, and they take their places. I sit on the bed between Okot’s legs, my back resting against his chest. Ronak takes my right side, while Evert is on my left, and Sylred stays beside Evert, rubbing my feet and aching legs.
The midwife settles at the foot of the bed and checks me. Her furry brown wings are tucked neatly at her back and her hair is pulled into a tight bun. “Okay, dear. Next contraction, I want you to push.”
So I do.
Again, and again, and a-fucking-gain.
Until finally…
I collapse back against Okot, my chest heaving.
“What is it?” I ask, watching as the midwife gathers the baby. The telltale sound of an infant cry erupts in the room, and I smile tiredly at the sound. All four of my mates simultaneously tense up with nervousness and excitement as they strain to see the baby.
The midwife lifts the baby up to me, and I see the second most adorable face I’ve ever seen in my life, after Amorette.
“A little girl,” the midwife declares proudly.