You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Printable Version
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You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 4, 2021
Somewhere on the far side of the house Elsie heard the clock strike midnight. She had gone to bed early, but had tossed and turned for most of the time. Frankly she’d felt off all day and she worried that maybe she was coming down with something. Sleep was fitful and uncomfortable and she envied Tyb who had come to bed, passed out and was sound asleep next to her in bed. It wasn’t fair how well he slept.
What she was coming down with made itself perfectly known a short while after she heard the clock strike two.
The first contraction felt like little more than those of her cycle and she wrote it off as maybe something she’d had with dinner. She was still half asleep at the time and it wasn’t until a little while later, when the discomfort got a little more intense that Elsie woke up more fully. Something was off alright and she was starting to understand just what it was.
Gently she slid from bed and made her way to the washroom, closing the door softly behind her and lighting the lamp with her wand. She grabbed a washcloth and soaked it, running the cool cloth over her face and arms to rid herself of the light sweat that had started not too long ago. The next contraction stopped her in her tracks and she gripped the sink with both hands, unable to hold in the whimper that followed.
This was… this was it!
Did she wake Tyb now? Who knew how long this was going to take. Els thought back to the books she’d read on delivering and everything was so different for each person that she kind of had to figure out some averages based on what she’d read. Looking at herself in the looking glass, Elsie thought she would wait a while, the question was how long could she pull it off without Tyb noticing?
Once the contraction had passed, she breathed deeply and reached for her hairbrush. She took her time brushing through her hair and plaiting it tightly to keep it out of her face for what was surely going to be a long night. She snuck out of their room and to the living room where she lit a fire in the hearth. The contractions came and went with little regularity and varying in intensity over the course of the next hour or so as Elsie paced the length of the room. It was only when they stopped her in her tracks every few minutes that she penned a quick note to the midwife and sent it off into the night.
Time to wake Tyb and change their rest of their lives. Of course she couldn't make it there easily, a contraction halting her in the doorway of their bedroom, leaving her breathless and grimacing. ”Hey Tyb?” She managed in a hoarse whisper after it passed. ”Hey Love, I just owled the midwife.” Merlin she just hoped Nurse Moony could get here quickly.
What she was coming down with made itself perfectly known a short while after she heard the clock strike two.
The first contraction felt like little more than those of her cycle and she wrote it off as maybe something she’d had with dinner. She was still half asleep at the time and it wasn’t until a little while later, when the discomfort got a little more intense that Elsie woke up more fully. Something was off alright and she was starting to understand just what it was.
Gently she slid from bed and made her way to the washroom, closing the door softly behind her and lighting the lamp with her wand. She grabbed a washcloth and soaked it, running the cool cloth over her face and arms to rid herself of the light sweat that had started not too long ago. The next contraction stopped her in her tracks and she gripped the sink with both hands, unable to hold in the whimper that followed.
This was… this was it!
Did she wake Tyb now? Who knew how long this was going to take. Els thought back to the books she’d read on delivering and everything was so different for each person that she kind of had to figure out some averages based on what she’d read. Looking at herself in the looking glass, Elsie thought she would wait a while, the question was how long could she pull it off without Tyb noticing?
Once the contraction had passed, she breathed deeply and reached for her hairbrush. She took her time brushing through her hair and plaiting it tightly to keep it out of her face for what was surely going to be a long night. She snuck out of their room and to the living room where she lit a fire in the hearth. The contractions came and went with little regularity and varying in intensity over the course of the next hour or so as Elsie paced the length of the room. It was only when they stopped her in her tracks every few minutes that she penned a quick note to the midwife and sent it off into the night.
Time to wake Tyb and change their rest of their lives. Of course she couldn't make it there easily, a contraction halting her in the doorway of their bedroom, leaving her breathless and grimacing. ”Hey Tyb?” She managed in a hoarse whisper after it passed. ”Hey Love, I just owled the midwife.” Merlin she just hoped Nurse Moony could get here quickly.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 4, 2021
Great work, Tyb: he’d arrived at his quidditch match and forgotten his broom. Or maybe it wasn’t a quidditch match – but a one-on-one race, because there was a coach there giving them instructions, and Tyb wasn’t listening because he was frantically looking for a stray tree branch to levitate – and then he’d forgotten the broom racing competition entirely because he’d found himself bitten by angry bowtruckles and there were more and more of them, like a tide of giant ants, until they were hanging off him in hordes, and he couldn’t shake them off his limbs fast enough and if you could believe it, someone was standing a few paces away, just watching –
Tybalt rolled over in his sleep, feeling like the bed had doubled in size. There was some kind of light or movement in the room, but it must just be Hallie the kitten on a night-wandering, because it was the middle of the night, his body would know it if he didn’t. The moment of half-awakeness had magically dispersed the bowtruckles, though, so Tybalt’s head sank back into the pillow, happily braced for a more relaxing dream, and the only evidence of consciousness he gave was a mumbled “Sshh, Hallie, we’re sleeping,” in case the cat thought to come in and wake up Elsie.
Tybalt rolled over in his sleep, feeling like the bed had doubled in size. There was some kind of light or movement in the room, but it must just be Hallie the kitten on a night-wandering, because it was the middle of the night, his body would know it if he didn’t. The moment of half-awakeness had magically dispersed the bowtruckles, though, so Tybalt’s head sank back into the pillow, happily braced for a more relaxing dream, and the only evidence of consciousness he gave was a mumbled “Sshh, Hallie, we’re sleeping,” in case the cat thought to come in and wake up Elsie.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 4, 2021
Thankfully now that the contraction had passed and she was no longer paralyzed in the doorway, Elsie could chuckle at Tyb's admonishment of the cat. Slowly, she made her way over to the edge of the bed and lowered herself gently to the mattress. Her whole body was starting to feel the impact of the labor from the pain in her back to the worry that was starting to flutter in her chest, Elsie still felt bad waking him up.
Reaching out to run a hand over his arm, Elsie took a deep breath. "Tyb," She shook him gently. "Tyb I think the baby is coming tonight. I just sent an owl to the midwife." She hoped that Nurse Moony got back to her quickly. The midwife had explained how it generally went and that it could take a while, but to send for her when the contractions had some sort of regular pattern to them. Fortunately they were still fairly spread apart, but noticeably increasing in intensity.
"Come on you," She nudged him gently again, hoping she wasn't sending him into a panic.
Reaching out to run a hand over his arm, Elsie took a deep breath. "Tyb," She shook him gently. "Tyb I think the baby is coming tonight. I just sent an owl to the midwife." She hoped that Nurse Moony got back to her quickly. The midwife had explained how it generally went and that it could take a while, but to send for her when the contractions had some sort of regular pattern to them. Fortunately they were still fairly spread apart, but noticeably increasing in intensity.
"Come on you," She nudged him gently again, hoping she wasn't sending him into a panic.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 4, 2021
The shifting of weight on the bed finally made him stir – and she wasn’t getting out, but back in? By the time he felt the hand on his arm Tybalt was awake enough to hear what she was saying, and awake enough that all memory of the attacking bowtruckles had faded out.
Tonight. “S’okay, I’m awake.” His eyes were open, and he fumbled for his wand to flick on the lamps, because it was still dark outside, though there was some light in the hall and Elsie’s eyes looked wide. Tyb pulled himself out of bed in one fluid motion, though once he was on his feet he ran a hand through his dishevelled hair and decided he definitely didn’t feel prepared for it to happen now.
Fortunately, for the moment, his own panic was drowned out by concern for her – he raked his gaze over Elsie three times in a row, searching for the source of her discomfort in more than just the slight tension on her face. He shook out his arms, trying to pull himself together, trying to feel calm and not the prickle of excitement-fear-or-apprehension in his bones. “What can I get you? What do we do until then? I mean, you stay right there, obviously—” he said, gesturing at her sternly to say that she shouldn’t go wandering around the house again, not now.
Tonight. “S’okay, I’m awake.” His eyes were open, and he fumbled for his wand to flick on the lamps, because it was still dark outside, though there was some light in the hall and Elsie’s eyes looked wide. Tyb pulled himself out of bed in one fluid motion, though once he was on his feet he ran a hand through his dishevelled hair and decided he definitely didn’t feel prepared for it to happen now.
Fortunately, for the moment, his own panic was drowned out by concern for her – he raked his gaze over Elsie three times in a row, searching for the source of her discomfort in more than just the slight tension on her face. He shook out his arms, trying to pull himself together, trying to feel calm and not the prickle of excitement-fear-or-apprehension in his bones. “What can I get you? What do we do until then? I mean, you stay right there, obviously—” he said, gesturing at her sternly to say that she shouldn’t go wandering around the house again, not now.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 4, 2021
The chuckle escalated into a full-blown laugh as Tyb realized what was going on and practically launched himself out of bed. She wasn't sure if it was the surprise or the panic was already setting in, but she knew that even though she was the one who was likely about to push a baby out tonight, she would be the one who managed to stay calm this evening.
"I'm okay," She assured him. "The contractions are pretty far apart." For now anyway. That was unlikely to last much longer, of that she was sure. Elsie did know that sitting was uncomfortable in her current position and so despite his urgings, she stood and pressed her hands into her back to help offset the weight. "Walking helps, really." It had been helping ever since she'd gotten up. It was supposed to make everything ease up a little bit and it really was more comfortable than sitting— until the contractions hit.
Stretching a bit, she eyed him carefully, reaching out to him to clutch his arm as a contraction gripped her. Elsie breathed through it, but it left her panting. Just then there was a knocking at the window, the familiar sound of an owl bringing the post. "That must be from Miss Moony." Elsie hoped it was just an assurance that the midwife was on the way.
"I'm okay," She assured him. "The contractions are pretty far apart." For now anyway. That was unlikely to last much longer, of that she was sure. Elsie did know that sitting was uncomfortable in her current position and so despite his urgings, she stood and pressed her hands into her back to help offset the weight. "Walking helps, really." It had been helping ever since she'd gotten up. It was supposed to make everything ease up a little bit and it really was more comfortable than sitting— until the contractions hit.
Stretching a bit, she eyed him carefully, reaching out to him to clutch his arm as a contraction gripped her. Elsie breathed through it, but it left her panting. Just then there was a knocking at the window, the familiar sound of an owl bringing the post. "That must be from Miss Moony." Elsie hoped it was just an assurance that the midwife was on the way.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 5, 2021
He was awake and trying to be useful here, and she was laughing. Well, look how much help he was going to be – not, Tybalt chided himself, feeling stupid for not having guessed that. Look, he had been worried about making mistakes in parenthood, and he’d already missed a mark. (This was every school exam over again. He should have crammed in some revision for this.) Still, he trusted that Elsie was being truthful about the standing and the walking, and not just her unwilling-to-complain, overly-helpful-for-everyone-else’s-sake, sort of self.
And, judging by the firm grasp suddenly digging into his arm and the look on her face, Elsie was going through something – no doubt she was right. This was different. And her waddling around the room was making him nervous, whatever she said – so Tybalt dived for the window first, sliding up the sash window to retrieve the owl. He tugged the letter off its leg, unfolded it in abject relief. Miss Moony would be here and then at least they’d have an expert in the room –
Some of the colour drained out of Tyb’s face. “Elsie,” he said, swallowing slightly before he looked at her, and still feeling like his voice had gone a little unnecessarily high-pitched, “– how far apart did you say the contractions were?” This would be fine. She’d said the baby was coming tonight. There were still many hours in tonight. Miss Moony had been held up, sure, but that was fine, she would still be here in plenty of time.
And, judging by the firm grasp suddenly digging into his arm and the look on her face, Elsie was going through something – no doubt she was right. This was different. And her waddling around the room was making him nervous, whatever she said – so Tybalt dived for the window first, sliding up the sash window to retrieve the owl. He tugged the letter off its leg, unfolded it in abject relief. Miss Moony would be here and then at least they’d have an expert in the room –
Some of the colour drained out of Tyb’s face. “Elsie,” he said, swallowing slightly before he looked at her, and still feeling like his voice had gone a little unnecessarily high-pitched, “– how far apart did you say the contractions were?” This would be fine. She’d said the baby was coming tonight. There were still many hours in tonight. Miss Moony had been held up, sure, but that was fine, she would still be here in plenty of time.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 5, 2021
Elsie wasn't sure she liked the expression on his face after reading the note. "Maybe five minutes? A little less? Why, what does that letter say? She's coming, right?" Elsie was not going to panic yet, but if Nurse Moony wasn't going to make it, what we're they supposed to do? It was hard not to feel the unease swell in her chest at the thought of doing this without the midwife.
Should she call upon her mother? That would make sense, she supposed? Elsie was about to suggest as much, but remembered as she opened her mouth that her parents weren't visiting family in Liverpool and it would probably be difficult to get a portkey at this time of night.
Who else could help them get through this if not the midwife? Lucinda? Her cousin had successfully delivered two healthy girls, she would know what to do right? Somehow she thought though, that Luce would stress Tyb out and that wasn't what she wanted either. Adella hadn't gone through this yet either, so that was out. "Do, do you think we can do this alone?" Els looked at him with wide eyes. The thought was slightly terrifying, especially as she had to lean on the bed as another contraction washed over her. Elsie whimpered at the sensation, breathing through it as best she could, but she had never felt a pain like this before.
Should she call upon her mother? That would make sense, she supposed? Elsie was about to suggest as much, but remembered as she opened her mouth that her parents weren't visiting family in Liverpool and it would probably be difficult to get a portkey at this time of night.
Who else could help them get through this if not the midwife? Lucinda? Her cousin had successfully delivered two healthy girls, she would know what to do right? Somehow she thought though, that Luce would stress Tyb out and that wasn't what she wanted either. Adella hadn't gone through this yet either, so that was out. "Do, do you think we can do this alone?" Els looked at him with wide eyes. The thought was slightly terrifying, especially as she had to lean on the bed as another contraction washed over her. Elsie whimpered at the sensation, breathing through it as best she could, but she had never felt a pain like this before.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 7, 2021
“She...” Tyb bit his lip and then decided to keep his mouth closed, because if he opened it again the full contents of the letter would fall out in a garbled mess, he was sure, and detailing the true extent of the midwife’s delay probably wasn’t going to help matters. But it was fine. Surely they could hold on for a few hours more?
If he panicked, Elsie would panic. And, at this point in time, Elsie unequivocally should not be panicking. (At least one of them ought to be calm, and it looked like Elsie was already going through enough.) Tybalt scrunched up the letter in his hands, toying with the corners of it and trying to decide what to do, when Elsie almost doubled over again –
“Yeah,” Tybalt said, breathing out extra loudly, as if he could encourage her to breathe by it – “Yes, of course we can. You’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. I’ll just –” Feigning lightness and ease and confidence, he lurched over to the writing desk in the corner and grabbed a fresh sheaf of parchment and some ink – “I’ll just write a quick note –” Or two. Or three. To the midwife. Also to her parents. And to Lucinda. And to Sebastian, who didn’t seem like he knew a thing about childbirth, but was at least a mediwizard, so maybe?
And – well – at least that way everyone was informed. And, well, someone would get here in time, right? But – befoer Tyb glanced up again, he plastered a calm, neutral, not-wide-eyed look on his face for Elsie’s benefit. Or maybe for his, like he could trick himself into feeling it. “– but we’re fine.”
If he panicked, Elsie would panic. And, at this point in time, Elsie unequivocally should not be panicking. (At least one of them ought to be calm, and it looked like Elsie was already going through enough.) Tybalt scrunched up the letter in his hands, toying with the corners of it and trying to decide what to do, when Elsie almost doubled over again –
“Yeah,” Tybalt said, breathing out extra loudly, as if he could encourage her to breathe by it – “Yes, of course we can. You’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. I’ll just –” Feigning lightness and ease and confidence, he lurched over to the writing desk in the corner and grabbed a fresh sheaf of parchment and some ink – “I’ll just write a quick note –” Or two. Or three. To the midwife. Also to her parents. And to Lucinda. And to Sebastian, who didn’t seem like he knew a thing about childbirth, but was at least a mediwizard, so maybe?
And – well – at least that way everyone was informed. And, well, someone would get here in time, right? But – befoer Tyb glanced up again, he plastered a calm, neutral, not-wide-eyed look on his face for Elsie’s benefit. Or maybe for his, like he could trick himself into feeling it. “– but we’re fine.”
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 8, 2021
Oh, that was not promising. The look on Tyb's face said enough; the midwife was unlikely to make it. They were probably on their own. She had read about this; it would be fine.
The last contraction left her breathless and trying not to show just how much it hurt. She could feel her muscles protesting the process even though her body was meant to do this. They could do this. They had no choice.
Elsie took a few calming breaths, trying to dig down deep and find the resolve and the calm to get through this without either one if them panicking.
Then her waters broke.
She could feel the splash at her bare feet and feel the trickle of liquid down her legs. Looking up at a Tyb in shock, Elsie said with more confidence than she currently felt, "Please owl Sebastian first. I would like him here just in case." Not that she thought anything was going to go wrong, having someone with some kind, any kind, of medical training would help her hold it together. Just in case the baby needed something. Just in case. It would be fine.
Elsie moved to get her wand and cleaned up the mess with a quick spell. Walking was keeping her going, so she moved to the washroom next to get some clean towels. This was fine, they could do this. "Maybe you could get some of the extra linens out?" Keeping him busy would help too.
The last contraction left her breathless and trying not to show just how much it hurt. She could feel her muscles protesting the process even though her body was meant to do this. They could do this. They had no choice.
Elsie took a few calming breaths, trying to dig down deep and find the resolve and the calm to get through this without either one if them panicking.
Then her waters broke.
She could feel the splash at her bare feet and feel the trickle of liquid down her legs. Looking up at a Tyb in shock, Elsie said with more confidence than she currently felt, "Please owl Sebastian first. I would like him here just in case." Not that she thought anything was going to go wrong, having someone with some kind, any kind, of medical training would help her hold it together. Just in case the baby needed something. Just in case. It would be fine.
Elsie moved to get her wand and cleaned up the mess with a quick spell. Walking was keeping her going, so she moved to the washroom next to get some clean towels. This was fine, they could do this. "Maybe you could get some of the extra linens out?" Keeping him busy would help too.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 10, 2021
Tybalt wasn’t even halfway through the first note when his gaze caught on the puddle at her feet. Well, that... he didn’t even know what to say about that, but he was sure it meant that they didn’t have as much time as he’d hoped.
“I will,” Tyb said fervently, scribbling Sebastian’s name at the top of the note, hurtling back to the window to attach it to the post owl and practically tossing the owl out the window. He and Elsie’s cousin might have had their differences since the elopement, but they had since settled those; and besides, Tyb was so desperate not to be left alone with Elsie giving birth that even if he and Sebastian Beauregard had been eternal nemeses, he probably would have apparated there to bodily escort him back to their house one way or another.
But the owl would have to do, because although Tybalt wanted nothing more than to escape this room before anything else happened, he couldn’t leave Elsie alone. Of course he couldn’t. So. “Linens,” Tyb agreed, grateful beyond words for the simple instruction, but making sure to squeeze her arm as he passed her, because she couldn’t possibly be as calm as she was trying to sound.
She’d always been so steadily brave, though. Thank Merlin for that, Tyb thought, as he trudged back with a pile of folded linens and draped them over the bed without much being conscious of it, his mind spinning off in a hundred different directions at once but trying his hardest not to let himself think about how dangerously wrong this could go. Once he’d paused in place, his gaze found Elsie again, worried about how she was doing with the spasmodic bursts of pain. “What else do you need?”
“I will,” Tyb said fervently, scribbling Sebastian’s name at the top of the note, hurtling back to the window to attach it to the post owl and practically tossing the owl out the window. He and Elsie’s cousin might have had their differences since the elopement, but they had since settled those; and besides, Tyb was so desperate not to be left alone with Elsie giving birth that even if he and Sebastian Beauregard had been eternal nemeses, he probably would have apparated there to bodily escort him back to their house one way or another.
But the owl would have to do, because although Tybalt wanted nothing more than to escape this room before anything else happened, he couldn’t leave Elsie alone. Of course he couldn’t. So. “Linens,” Tyb agreed, grateful beyond words for the simple instruction, but making sure to squeeze her arm as he passed her, because she couldn’t possibly be as calm as she was trying to sound.
She’d always been so steadily brave, though. Thank Merlin for that, Tyb thought, as he trudged back with a pile of folded linens and draped them over the bed without much being conscious of it, his mind spinning off in a hundred different directions at once but trying his hardest not to let himself think about how dangerously wrong this could go. Once he’d paused in place, his gaze found Elsie again, worried about how she was doing with the spasmodic bursts of pain. “What else do you need?”
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 11, 2021
Alright that was one step down. Elsie was sure Sebastian would be here as soon as he could and that would hopefully help. She really couldn't tell if it would help Tyb or if it might make things tense, but she was hoping they could put their previous disagreements aside to get through tonight.
Fortunately Tyb seemed more than eager to follow her request and she tried to breathe her way through another contraction in his absence. They were getting closer together and more intense. She knew now that her waters had broken that this could progress rapidly and with each contraction she had the sneaking feeling it would go quickly.
"Thank you," She managed, as she felt the last wave of pain ebb, finding it harder and harder to catch her breath. "I just—" Els didn't really know what she needed right now. She was trying to stay calm, trying to not panic, so he wouldn't panic, but she was starting to feel it creeping in, with the pain, with the nervousness that was harder to dispel than she would like to admit.
She reached out to him, leaning into him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "Please don't panic, I really need you to get me through this." She whispered. He had always been her rock, always gotten her through every single little thing they had gone through and she really needed him to make it here too. "Please."
Fortunately Tyb seemed more than eager to follow her request and she tried to breathe her way through another contraction in his absence. They were getting closer together and more intense. She knew now that her waters had broken that this could progress rapidly and with each contraction she had the sneaking feeling it would go quickly.
"Thank you," She managed, as she felt the last wave of pain ebb, finding it harder and harder to catch her breath. "I just—" Els didn't really know what she needed right now. She was trying to stay calm, trying to not panic, so he wouldn't panic, but she was starting to feel it creeping in, with the pain, with the nervousness that was harder to dispel than she would like to admit.
She reached out to him, leaning into him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "Please don't panic, I really need you to get me through this." She whispered. He had always been her rock, always gotten her through every single little thing they had gone through and she really needed him to make it here too. "Please."
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 12, 2021
The room felt full of a frenzied energy that he couldn’t quite dispel – fresh sheets and the prayer that maybe Sebastian was on his way to help weren’t enough to quell the panic. And the more Tyb tried not to think about it, the more the idea seized at his chest: he could lose Elsie tonight. And the baby. Either of them. Both of them. He had been so horrendously worried about looming parenthood that he hadn’t conceived of this possible outcome, not fully, not before. But it was true, wasn’t it? Something could easily go terribly wrong here and Tyb would not be prepared for it. And women died in childbirth all the time and Elsie must already been feeling the pain, because now she was leaning into him and beseeching him to stay calm, but there was not enough preparation in the world for the nightmare of losing her.
How could he stay calm when he was thinking about that?
But maybe he shouldn’t think right now. He forced himself to exhale again, forced himself to feel Elsie’s grasp on him as an anchor to reality, a route back down to earth. A small selfish part of him was still itching to flee the room and shut himself away to avoid all of this until it was over, but that was obviously not what she needed of him right now.
And she was going to be doing the harder thing here, tonight. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tybalt joked weakly, but he shot her a deliberate smile, because grinning seemed to physically lessen the stress in his body somehow – “I’ve never been this calm. Look at me. I’m here, I promise,” he said sincerely, brushing some hair back from her face with his fingers and taking up her hand, making circular motions with his thumb. “But you don’t need me, this’ll be a walk in the park for you,” he assured her, or maybe teased; Elsie was naturally good at so much, whatever she made of herself. “But are you sure you shouldn’t maybe –?” he tilted his head at the bed to say lie down, a little worried that if Elsie kept pacing the room she might collapse before the baby came. (Also he did not much want Sebastian to get here and yell at him for her being out of bed.)
How could he stay calm when he was thinking about that?
But maybe he shouldn’t think right now. He forced himself to exhale again, forced himself to feel Elsie’s grasp on him as an anchor to reality, a route back down to earth. A small selfish part of him was still itching to flee the room and shut himself away to avoid all of this until it was over, but that was obviously not what she needed of him right now.
And she was going to be doing the harder thing here, tonight. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tybalt joked weakly, but he shot her a deliberate smile, because grinning seemed to physically lessen the stress in his body somehow – “I’ve never been this calm. Look at me. I’m here, I promise,” he said sincerely, brushing some hair back from her face with his fingers and taking up her hand, making circular motions with his thumb. “But you don’t need me, this’ll be a walk in the park for you,” he assured her, or maybe teased; Elsie was naturally good at so much, whatever she made of herself. “But are you sure you shouldn’t maybe –?” he tilted his head at the bed to say lie down, a little worried that if Elsie kept pacing the room she might collapse before the baby came. (Also he did not much want Sebastian to get here and yell at him for her being out of bed.)
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Sebastian Beauregard - December 15, 2021
Restless would have been a perfect word to describe how Sebastian had been feeling that day. On top of knowing that Elsie's due date was looming closer, work had not let up and Sebastian fought the urge to pick up multiple night shifts at the hospital to quell the relentless feeling that was gnawing at his back. Night had descended quickly and Sebastian found it hard to sleep, which was rather unusual for him seeing as he could normally fall asleep quite literally anywhere that would fit his frame. Even once asleep, the dreams that came weren't pleasant ones - so much so that he was almost grateful for the sudden and hasty tapping on his bedroom window.
He stumbled groggily out of bed and briefly struggled with the latch before thrusting the window open to let the owl inside. The owl looked thoroughly disgruntled as if he'd just been hurled out the window into the obliging rain. Sebastian took the somewhat waterlogged piece of parchment and unfurled it with a creeping sensation of dread trickling down his spine.
Sure enough, he only had time to register a few words on the paper such as help and Elsie and birth before he realized what was likely happening right now and launched into such an explosion of movement that the owl screeched in surprise, flapping his wings indignantly. Sebastian was already across the room, swearing under his breath and pulling on a shirt, trousers, and grabbing his healer's robe. His box was already by the front door in case just an event arose - so were his shoes, which only meant —
"Agh! Get off!" The owl had launched itself into the room at him, demanding payment. "Shit." Sebastian managed to seize the owl around the legs and held him aloft while digging around in his pockets for a coin (plus tip, apparently). With the payment tucked into the pouch, Sebastian threw the owl back out the window and slammed the shutters before hurtling into the living room to pull his shoes on.
Once outside in the rain with his healer's bag in hand, Sebastian twisted on the spot, apparating to the Kirke residence with a crack. Once he reached the door he knocked, slightly out of breath.
He stumbled groggily out of bed and briefly struggled with the latch before thrusting the window open to let the owl inside. The owl looked thoroughly disgruntled as if he'd just been hurled out the window into the obliging rain. Sebastian took the somewhat waterlogged piece of parchment and unfurled it with a creeping sensation of dread trickling down his spine.
Sure enough, he only had time to register a few words on the paper such as help and Elsie and birth before he realized what was likely happening right now and launched into such an explosion of movement that the owl screeched in surprise, flapping his wings indignantly. Sebastian was already across the room, swearing under his breath and pulling on a shirt, trousers, and grabbing his healer's robe. His box was already by the front door in case just an event arose - so were his shoes, which only meant —
"Agh! Get off!" The owl had launched itself into the room at him, demanding payment. "Shit." Sebastian managed to seize the owl around the legs and held him aloft while digging around in his pockets for a coin (plus tip, apparently). With the payment tucked into the pouch, Sebastian threw the owl back out the window and slammed the shutters before hurtling into the living room to pull his shoes on.
Once outside in the rain with his healer's bag in hand, Sebastian twisted on the spot, apparating to the Kirke residence with a crack. Once he reached the door he knocked, slightly out of breath.
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Tybalt Kirke - December 17, 2021
Never been this calm, sure, he could manage pretending that for about a heartbeat... but when the knocking came from the front door, Tybalt extricated himself from Elsie’s side and dashed down the stairs at breakneck pace. He gave himself only a split-second to smooth the expression on his face from ‘utterly alarmed’ to ‘sensibly concerned’, and then pulled open the door for Sebastian. After all, it was the early hours of the morning and the midwife wasn’t on her way yet – so who else would it be?
In any case – if it hadn’t all dissipated already – any of Tyb’s residual begrudging feeling towards Elsie’s cousin would be gone tonight, given the situation: he pulled him in from the rain with both hands, clutching at his arm in relief. “Thank Merlin you’re here,” Tyb exclaimed, while the door was open and the sound of the rain would almost certainly disguise anything he said from upstairs. Beauregard may look a little disoriented and bedraggled and bewildered, but in Tybalt’s eyes tonight, he was something nearer a saviour or a saint.
And, much as he would have liked to linger in the fresh air on the front doorstep for a moment longer, there wasn’t time for that, or the niceties of sorry, did we wake you?; and Sebastian would, naturally, understand. “Come on,” he declared, gesturing up the stairs and leading the way up them with a bounding step, though he lowered his voice to ask, nervously: “Tell me you’ve – done this before?”
In any case – if it hadn’t all dissipated already – any of Tyb’s residual begrudging feeling towards Elsie’s cousin would be gone tonight, given the situation: he pulled him in from the rain with both hands, clutching at his arm in relief. “Thank Merlin you’re here,” Tyb exclaimed, while the door was open and the sound of the rain would almost certainly disguise anything he said from upstairs. Beauregard may look a little disoriented and bedraggled and bewildered, but in Tybalt’s eyes tonight, he was something nearer a saviour or a saint.
And, much as he would have liked to linger in the fresh air on the front doorstep for a moment longer, there wasn’t time for that, or the niceties of sorry, did we wake you?; and Sebastian would, naturally, understand. “Come on,” he declared, gesturing up the stairs and leading the way up them with a bounding step, though he lowered his voice to ask, nervously: “Tell me you’ve – done this before?”
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Elsie Kirke - December 18, 2021
Elsie sincerely hoped the knock at the door was some kind of relief, either Nurse Moony or Sebastian, someone who could at least make sure the baby made it through this safely. Not that Elsie was overly worried, her mother had done this five times quite successfully and once with twins— oh Merlin, she hadn't even registered that possibility until now. No, surely the midwife would have said something. Her mother had known based on her size and Elsie had not grown too huge these last few months... she didn't think.
No, now was not the time to think of multiple babes, right now she just had to get through labor.
Tyb bounded off and she was left standing there, another contraction holding her hostage when she felt the very real feeling of something moving down and an undeniable pressure in her pelvis. Pain seared through her hips as she stood there unable to do much of anything but breathe through the long contraction. "Tyb!" She called, panicking now, she moved toward the bed when her body allowed her to, having delayed as long as she could; settling into the bed made everything incredibly real and now there was no avoiding it any longer.
Elsie had wanted to talk to Seb alone for just a brief minute before things got too far, he would have had to be the one to make the difficult decision of who to focus on if something were to go wrong, but it seemed like this little one was ready to enter the world and now and there was no stopping them!
No, now was not the time to think of multiple babes, right now she just had to get through labor.
Tyb bounded off and she was left standing there, another contraction holding her hostage when she felt the very real feeling of something moving down and an undeniable pressure in her pelvis. Pain seared through her hips as she stood there unable to do much of anything but breathe through the long contraction. "Tyb!" She called, panicking now, she moved toward the bed when her body allowed her to, having delayed as long as she could; settling into the bed made everything incredibly real and now there was no avoiding it any longer.
Elsie had wanted to talk to Seb alone for just a brief minute before things got too far, he would have had to be the one to make the difficult decision of who to focus on if something were to go wrong, but it seemed like this little one was ready to enter the world and now and there was no stopping them!
RE: You & Me & Baby Makes Three - Sebastian Beauregard - December 18, 2021
Sebastian hardly had time to register Kirke except for his slightly frazzled expression before he was pulled in from the rain and the door shut behind him. He blinked at Kirke's exclamation; he'd been expecting a non-antagonistic greeting of some sort but hardly on that level. Sebastian frowned. Were things really that bad, or was Kirke just nerves given the situation? There was only one way to find out. Discarding his cloak and tossing it over a chair, Sebastian shook his hair out and followed the father-to-be up the stairs. Where in god's name was the midwife?
His answer coming in the form of Kirke asking if he'd done this before was not a comforting thing, and Sebastian paled slightly. He prayed the dim lighting of the hallway was enough to mask this reaction. He pressed his lips into a thin line. Of all things, especially if anything went south, he did not want to lie to Kirke about his abilities. Nor did he want to let Kirke know just how fucking terrified Kirke had just made him. But clearly the midwife wasn't coming and Sebastian was their only option. But rule number one was never make promises he couldn't keep, even for family. "I've seen it done and I know how to tell if things are about to go very wrong." Was about as much as he could reassure him as he rolled up his sleeves. He opened his mouth to say more, to try and give him more reassurance than that, but was interrupted by Elsie's cry for her husband.
It was the panic he could hear in his cousin's voice that caused him to do this next part: Without thinking, Sebastian seized Kirke by the shoulder, not waiting to see if he would move quickly, and pushed him through the door, following close behind. Some people froze when this moment came, others sprung into action. The healer didn't want to wait to see which pattern Kirke would follow; just chose for him.
His answer coming in the form of Kirke asking if he'd done this before was not a comforting thing, and Sebastian paled slightly. He prayed the dim lighting of the hallway was enough to mask this reaction. He pressed his lips into a thin line. Of all things, especially if anything went south, he did not want to lie to Kirke about his abilities. Nor did he want to let Kirke know just how fucking terrified Kirke had just made him. But clearly the midwife wasn't coming and Sebastian was their only option. But rule number one was never make promises he couldn't keep, even for family. "I've seen it done and I know how to tell if things are about to go very wrong." Was about as much as he could reassure him as he rolled up his sleeves. He opened his mouth to say more, to try and give him more reassurance than that, but was interrupted by Elsie's cry for her husband.
It was the panic he could hear in his cousin's voice that caused him to do this next part: Without thinking, Sebastian seized Kirke by the shoulder, not waiting to see if he would move quickly, and pushed him through the door, following close behind. Some people froze when this moment came, others sprung into action. The healer didn't want to wait to see which pattern Kirke would follow; just chose for him.