“Rest and relaxation, before someone else attacks us, seems about the only thing we should do,” Leander answered and I agreed. It may sound boring to some people, but I was willing to enjoy the peace while it lasted. We all left the nursery and settled on the couch. We ate , watched seasons of “Scrubs,” a favorite show of mine. When it was time to settle back into bed, I was starting to feel little aches all over: my back, my stomach, my hips, and my legs all twinged with pain. Tristan drew me a bath so I could soak my muscles, but it really didn’t feel like it was helping much. Figuring sleep would heal me, I laid down with Tristan and tried to drift off.
But that ache just kept on hurting, and when I sat up, I felt the start of those Braxton Hicks contractions again. It wasn’t as bad as the last one that I had, but I couldn’t sleep through it. When it started happening more frequently, I started to panic a little.
“Tristan, wake up! I think I need the doctor.” The pain was starting to be a little more than just the ache with a rhythm.
“Now?” he shot up, staring at me. I nodded, and he vanished, returning with the doctor a few minutes later. After a brief and uncomfortable exam, he announced that the babies were starting their journey towards being born.
Holy fuck.
“Are they ready for that? I mean, you said I had a few more days!” Yep, I was starting to freak out a little. He brought his little measuring ribbon up to my belly.
“They are measuring right; seems like they had a growth spurt and want to move things along,” he said, then looked at Tristan.
“I have everything I need at the clinic. We can go get it and be back quickly. Births with demigods can be tricky, sometimes they can come quickly, and then sometimes it can be quite long. I’m hoping for a happy medium.” He was being nice and smiling, which was comforting,.
“I’m going to take the doctor to get his stuff and I’ll be right back. Rest, my love.” Tristan cupped my cheek and willed me to relax. I would try. All the books and websites said relaxing was the best thing you could do to help the progression of labor.
About thirty minutes later they were back, and proceeded to set up all sorts of machines in our room by the bed. It seemed the bed was going to be my place of birthing for these kids.
I got hooked up to a contraction machine, and damn if I didn’t kind hate that sucker for showing me just how much pain I was beginning to feel.
“Now, in the booklet I sent home with you, it talked about epidurals. I can give you one, but we don’t know how long it will last in your system. Most demigods have to delivery naturally.” My panic flared, and another contraction hit. I was beginning to break a sweat from them.
“Can we try it please?” I pleaded, while Tristan held my hand and sat beside me. There was nothing he could do right now other than support me.
Then something shook the palace. Tristan’s head snapped up, and he looked at me with wide eyes.
“What was that?” Please, let it be something like a big crocodile that was lost and smacked up against the walls, then ran away. Please. Tristan was gone, to go look whatever it was, and then he came back in a hurry.
“It’s starting. Shit. The first wave of the battle is here. FUCK!” He growled and started to pace with his hands in his hair. I looked down at my belly just in time to see it squeeze from another contraction. This was happening. The babies were going to come, and there was probably an army at our door. As much as I needed Tristan by my side to hold my hand, he needed to protect us, and make sure we all survived.
“Go! Get our army, and fight those bastards. I will make sure the babies get here safely.” I told him, very much feeling the warrior spirit that coursed through my veins. We had to fight. I was needed here; he was needed on the battle field. And he knew it, too.
“Bring our babies to this world safe,” He murmured, crawling on the bed and cupping my face with both hands before crushing his lips against mine. There was so much said in that one kiss. We were both going to be fighting for our future. We would not fail.
“I love you,” I said as I pulled away from his mouth.
“And I love you. Forever.” He sat back, looking me over one last time before disappearing to mobilize our forces. Lacey came running in a few moments later.
“It’s all really happening right now?” She was panicking, and it made me laugh.
“Yeah, babe.” I breathed through a contraction. They were starting to get worse. I prayed to all gods who could hear me that my babies would be delivered safely, and that this war would finally end.
