Page 38 of Hera

Hang in there! I’m on my way.

One last look around her lab to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything and then, she teleported to the front step of Chloe and Lucifer’s home in Purgatory. Hera rang the doorbell. The deep chime that echoed through the house was answered by the deep barks of Lucifer’s dog, Fenriz.

The heavy footfalls of the hellhound thundered toward the front door, making Hera glad that there was a solid barrier between it and her.

“Down, Fenriz!” a commanding voice called, and the dog’s barks stopped immediately.

The door opened, revealing Lucifer, looking harried. “You’re here!” He pulled her inside, closing the door behind her. “Don’t mind him. He’s keyed up because of all the excitement. Chloe’s in the living room.”

Hera followed him into the room to see Chloe curled up on the couch with a book.

“How are you feeling?” Hera asked cautiously.

“Oh, I’m fine right now. The last contraction stopped—” She checked her phone screen. “—two minutes ago. I have another three or so minutes before the next one. At least, based on previous timings.”

“That’s great,” Hera said. She put her bag down on the coffee table. “How intense are the contractions?”

“If I’m too engrossed in my book, I miss them,” Chloe said with a smirk. She raised her gaze to her husband, who scowled. “It’s kinda funny.”

“No, it isn’t,” Lucifer growled, more like the wolf shifter his wife was.

“Let’s go over your birth plan,” Hera said, getting down to business. “I want to remind you that whatever we agree to here will go out the window if your or the baby’s health is in danger.”

“Yes, I understand that,” Chloe said, putting a piece of paper in her book. “I’m rather fond of the idea of a water birth.”

“Not a problem. Most hospitals in the L.A. area are equipped with water birth tubs in their delivery rooms,” Hera said.

“What about at home?” Chloe asked.

Hera raised her eyebrows and glanced quickly up at Lucifer’s thunderous expression. “That is an option of course...” she said hesitantly.

“Great!” Chloe sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed her phone, tapping a button. “Contraction. That one was more intense,” she explained. To Lucifer, she asked, “Can you please whip up a birthing tub for me?”

Lucifer sighed and threaded his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know what one looks like. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

“How about I look her over, check on the baby, and then you can make your decision knowing all the facts?” Hera interjected.

Chloe breathed out a long sigh and tapped her phone again. “That sounds good to me.”

“First thing, you need to keep breathing during your contractions. I’m going to give you a pain neutralizer. You’ll still feel the contraction, but it’ll only be the pressure instead of thatandpain.” Hera grabbed one of her lotions.

“Thank you,” Chloe said. “I would put that last one at about a six? I guess?”

“Good. Second, I need you to change into a gown. I’m going to need to check your cervix often, and wearing pants and underwear will hinder that. If you want a water birth, you’ll need something that is easy to remove once we get to that phase. Even if we do have to go to the hospital, a gown will be much easier to deal with.” Hera glanced at Lucifer again. “Would you like to help Chloe get changed?”

Lucifer leapt into action, eager to have something he could do, Hera figured.

The couple vanished up the stairs, and Hera quickly spread out the things she would need, including her book for taking notes on the progression of labor. She considered calling a birth tub into existence, but left that for Lucifer. Instead, she drew a detailed diagram of one with all the things that Chloe would find useful during birth.

By the time she was finished, Chloe had returned. She dropped onto the lounge right when another contraction hit.

“Very good,” Hera said. “If you don’t mind lying back and spreading your knees... Perfect.” She took a quick look, estimating the dilation. “You’ve still got a ways to go. You’ve lost your mucous plug. Did your water break yet?”

“Did I?” Chloe asked choppily between breaths. “I must have lost it on the toilet. I didn’t notice. No water, yet, I don’t think.”

“Trust me, you’ll know,” Hera said with a chuckle. “Let’s get that lotion on you.” She slathered it on thickly, working it into the taut skin of Chloe’s distended belly, around to the sides, and part way down her upper thighs. “Does that feel better?”

“Instant relief,” Chloe said with a sigh.

---