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“We must sterilize ourselves,” the first nurse told the doctors and nurses, and they rushed off to do just that.

“How is she?” a familiar voice asked urgently.

“She’s pissed off! Why aren’t you here?” Vivian demanded.

Doc smiled patiently at her. “I can only be in one place at a time, Sirena. But this will work nicely. I can direct from here.”

“They want to make me a freaking entertainment piece, Doc!” Vivian hissed out.

“It is standard procedure for royal births to be observed. I would have thought you’d been briefed on the process,” Doc said.

“No! No, no! We’re not going to go the traditional route, Doc,” Quin said. “We’re having a completely normal human birth! It keeps Vivi calm and I want anything that will appease Vivi in this time!” Quin demanded almost frantically.

“I understand, Sire. Please, take a deep breath and be calm. I have prepared myself and become well versed in human births since your youngling was conceived.”

Quin snapped his head in a sharp nod and petted Vivi’s hair some more. “It’s okay. It’s all okay, Ehlealah. You see? We have Doc right here for you.”

“Sirena, I need to be sure that you understand that we may have to take some unexpected measures.”

“Unexpected how?” she asked breathlessly as she tried to pant through another bout of soul-clenching pain.

“It may become necessary to put you to sleep if we are required to do more than coax the little one out. If we do that, I need you to understand that I will not place you in the sleeping or healing chamber alone if at all possible. But if your welfare requires it, I will do what is necessary to keep you and your youngling alive. Yes?” Doc asked.

“Do what you have to to make sure that we’re both alive and healthy, Doc,” Vivian instructed.

“If it’s necessary, Ehlealah, I will stand at the lid so that you can see me at all times. I will not step away. You will not be alone.”

“Just make sure that we’re both okay.”

“I vow it,” Quin said.

The two physicians and four nurses came in. “We’re ready.”

“What is the circumference of her birthing canal?” Doc asked.

“May I examine you, Sirena?” one of the physicians asked.

Vivian nodded.

The physician removed the green cloak, then folded her gown back out of the way so he and Doc could see. “It appears to be nine centimeters,” the doctor reported.

“She’s almost ready. Ten centimeters is optimal, but depending on the size of the youngling, nine can sometimes be enough.”

“Vivi! Vivi, we’re all here! We’re with you!”

Vivian looked at Quin with a horrified look on her face.

“Rokai, if you step in front of that vidcom, I’ll come back up there and kill you myself!” Quin threatened.

“I’m not! I don’t want to see all that! But we’re here. Me and Rosie and Kol and Ada, and Synclare, but not Lo’San, he’s on duty. And Vennie is running the com feed to be sure there is no delay.”

“You’re the delay!” Quin bellowed.

“Oh, sorry. We’re here! We’re cheering you on! Carry on!”

Vivian started whimpering and the metal plates she pressed her feet against started rattling and shaking with the trembling of her legs as she tried to fight through the pain.

“I need a scan to see the progress of the youngling,” Doc said. “It should be in the birthing canal by now.

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