Page 24 of Wed to the Bullman

“You’re not hurt are you?” I pull back and look at her.

She chuckles playfully. "Am I acting like I'm hurt? No, baby, I think that's exactly what the doctor ordered. Oh." Suddenly, her laughter turns to a grimace as she rolls to her side, clutching her belly. "It's cramping, really bad now!"

In response, I quickly reach for my wrist comm and dial Sara's number. Janos answers the call promptly. "Already? She's checking on another patient and will be heading home in a few minutes."

"We, well, followed her advice," I confess. "And now Agnes is on her side, holding her belly. She's experiencing a pretty intense cramp."

"That sounds promising. Sounds like labor has started. Good job, Papa. We'll be on our way there." Janos laughs as he concludes the call.

As Agnes lies back on the pillows, now dressed in her gown, I hurriedly put on my clothes. The anticipation of what's to come adds to the excitement and nervousness in the air.

Soon enough, Sara and Janos arrive. Agnes is now at four in terms of her progress. "Looks like we're in for a long night. First-time labors can often take a while. I was in labor for forty-two hours before Pike was born," Sara informs us.

Agnes labors throughout the night, with intermittent periods of sleep in between contractions. Auryn and Dario join us in the morning, bearing freshly baked bread and boiled eggs for breakfast. While Agnes can't find her appetite amidst the labor, the rest of us eagerly consume the food.

The day wears on, and Agnes eventually reaches six in her progress. Sara encourages her to get up and walk around, hoping to encourage her water to break. Agnes steps out onto the porch, gazing wistfully at the fallow garden that will soon need attention as winter takes hold. The air is cool, but not too chilly for a jacket.

"Oh! There goes my water." Agnes stands in a puddle on the porch. She looks up at me apologetically.

"Why apologize?" I put my arm around her and lead her back inside.

"Because I made a mess. Alright. Oh! Ow!" She pauses, gripping a dining chair and leaning over as a contraction grips her with intensity.

Vrakius enters, and Auryn hands off little Dora and Dario to him. "I've got her, you take care of them."

"I'll handle them until Dora needs to eat," Vrakius reassures her. "You focus on Agnes. Let's do this, dear, it's time for you to become a momma!"

Agnes continues to labor for a few more hours, her weariness evident in her eyes. Her face mirrors her yearning for rest, and the labor is beginning to take its toll. She appears on the verge of giving up. I grasp her hand tightly and lean in close.

"Keep going, my love. You're almost there. Sara said you're at nine centimeters now."

"I think it's time to encourage her to get up and let gravity do its work for that last centimeter," Sara suggests. I slip Agnes' arm around my neck, and Janos positions himself on her other side. She's like a delicate burden that we must support, her body limp from the exhaustion.

"I'm so tired. I just want to lie down. Please," Agnes pleads, her voice laden with fatigue.

"No, sweetheart. We need to support you to let the baby come," I assure her, bearing the weight of her weariness against me. Her body trembles in response.

"Alright, Agnes, it's time to push," Sara directs, positioning herself to catch the baby.

CHAPTER 20

Agnes

Summoning every ounce of energy I have left, I push with all my might. Janos and Vozak stand by my side, their strong arms supporting me. Sara's encouraging words fill the air beneath me.

"Push, push, push. That's it, Agnes! You're doing fantastic!"

I continue to push, feeling the baby gradually move through and into Sara's waiting hands. A hearty, healthy cry resounds, and tears of joy well up in my eyes.

"Oh, what a beautiful baby girl!"

Vozak and I exchange tearful glances, overwhelmed with emotion. The medical team gently helps me lie back on the pillows, and Sara places my daughter in my arms. Despite being past my due date, she's small, but her cries are strong and robust.

"It seems like we may have miscalculated your due date," Sara remarks.

I gaze down at my precious girl, noticing the small bumps on her head where her horns will eventually grow. As I rub her tiny head, I glance up at Sara, eager to learn more.

"Some of the halflings have horns, even the females, while others don't. The same goes for the males." Sara imparts her knowledge.

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