Post by Zuyuri on May 13, 2020 22:11:50 GMT
It was funny how right after an apocalypse, the world got thrown back into another one. Louisiana was thrown into intense stay at home orders until May 15. The only people working were a select few. For a pregnant woman, this was probably one of the worst times of the year to be expecting a child. Sunshine needed extra love and support, but with the Others Unit being in the 'essential workers' cloud, she was pretty much stuck as home, toddling from one room to the next. She had been in contact with people via Skype calls, but it wasn't the same. Her baby shower had been the last time she really saw anyone, let alone hugged anyone that wasn't her family. Wendy, in particular, had been her go-to person for her needs.
Which was why they were driving on the practically abandoned freeway to pick up some fried chicken for Sunshine's cravings. Bellerouge's take was good, but it wasn't as good as the greasy fast-food style that was only in the bigger cities. As the Gothic architecture turned into streamlined skyscrapers, Sunshine started realizing how sweeter her small world truly was. Her whole life, people said they were leaving Bellerouge to experience a bigger city-lifestyle. She hadn't taken anyone on that chance. Her knit group of high school friends broke off in a nasty way that just thinking about them made her feel sick. That or maybe it was some extra sickness from the pregnancy.
Maria was due some time this month, and thus her anxiety about the situation was a bit higher. Wendy played support. They listened to corny 90's radio. Wendy's British accent and upbringing had her arch her brows as some of the implications and words, especially when she sang them and her voice was absolutely breathtaking to hear. They drove through after waiting behind five soccer mom cars and Wendy let her daughter stick her fingers in the semi warm mashed potatoes once before closing the lid and encouraging her to wait and eat until they got home.
Sunshine sat back, her hand on her bump. Maria must have liked that potato steal because she kicked once. This brought some smile to Sunshine's face. She looked over at her mother, who was veering into the lane that would take them back home to Bellerouge. The sky was a hazy powder blue. The spring time flowers had started to fade, making room for the fuller green of summertime leaves. Maybe this wouldn't be...
A pool of liquid in the lower parts stopped all pleasantries. She hadn't peed herself. The sweet tea she was drinking was safe in the cupholder so it wasn't an accidental spill. There was only one thing.
“Mom…”
“What is it, Sunshine?”
“My water broke.”
_
The pain was excruciating, and it was the only thing literally throbbing in Sunshine’s mind. Doors were slamming through the hospital, and to Sunshine, they were louder than any gunfire or any slamming of alleys she had heard. Wendy was running next to her. The wheelchair was being hurriedly pushed by an admitting nurse. Sunshine almost puked from the smell of the hospital. It was almost too clean.
During a global pandemic, having a baby had been one of the last few things Sunshine expected to happen. During her maternity leave, the world had completely shut down. She couldn’t call Aqua or Weiss to be there to help her bring this child into the world. The only person there to be with her was her mother. She was having mixed thoughts about the whole thing. Her birthday had been a few days ago. Mother’s Day had also been a few days. Apart from the cute matching apron and mask set she had sewn for Wendy, Sunshine had not prepared to add this to the pile of presents.
Her street clothes were replaced with a hospital gown. Everything in the room was blue, matching the powdery color. The curtains were drawn tight to keep everyone from looking in. Sunshine breathed a sigh of relief as after a while, the epidural liquids kicked on after being pricked with the pin. So far during the birth, the vampires had left her alone. Jasmine hadn’t returned. Then again Riku did install a few extra wards when she told him about the attacks, making their house look less fairytale cottage and more...hippie crystal healers’ hut.
A contraction shot through her, and she winced with a sit. The nurses and Wendy, also in a hospital gown, gently massaged her shoulders. Each contraction was worse than the last. She was pretty sure she had gone completely noverbal, only communicating through screams and grunts. The nurses were nodding, reassuring her things were fine. Good god, she’d take being chained in a mansion over having a baby any day.
“Okay, she’s crowning!” a nurse reported.
“Okay, Sunshine, you can push, darling,” Wendy said kindly.
One push. Two pushes. Three pushes. It was like being back in elementary school and counting everything she did. That was her only distraction as she continued to scream and push. Sunshine felt some pressure burst free from below. At first, she thought she crapped her pants. Then she heard the chorus of triumphant nurses and midwives. A bizarre grey pink mass was being cradled by the nurses before being presented to Sunshine.
Maria Terra Lafayette.
She greeted her mother with a trebled cry. As she heard it, Sunshine felt the tears spring in the corners of her eyes. The grey pallor was turning much more pink as Maria continued to breathe. Immediately, Sunshine’s hands were on her, feeling her daughter become warm and comfortable. A midwife gave her a white cloth, and she gently covered the baby.
Wendy stepped back and took a picture of the cuddling mother and daughter. Her own eyes were misty.
After a few seconds of having the baby know who her mother was, Maria was gently taken away. She was returned to Sunshine with a tiny little pink woolen cap and swaddled in the same linens that they had used to cover her. When the cap was pulled aside, her cornsilk blonde hair poked out. Whether or not it’d get lighter or be the same golden hue as the Seddons before her was hard to say. As for her eyes, they, too, were a mix between Sunshine and Riku’s. The emerald green was rimmed and flecked with blue.
“Just so you know, we’re going to have to keep you here for a few days. And the baby, too,” a midwife said solemnly. “A few tests to ensure everyone is healthy.”
Wendy squeezed her daughter’s hand. “You’ll be safe here,” she said reassuringly. “I’ll tell John and Thomas everything. And your friends."
Sunshine nodded in understanding. Hospital security. Letting everyone know through her mother that she was fine and well, as was the baby. Even if Jasmine tried to sneak in, the hospital would be on guard. She was safe. Probably safer than she felt in a long time.
Which was why they were driving on the practically abandoned freeway to pick up some fried chicken for Sunshine's cravings. Bellerouge's take was good, but it wasn't as good as the greasy fast-food style that was only in the bigger cities. As the Gothic architecture turned into streamlined skyscrapers, Sunshine started realizing how sweeter her small world truly was. Her whole life, people said they were leaving Bellerouge to experience a bigger city-lifestyle. She hadn't taken anyone on that chance. Her knit group of high school friends broke off in a nasty way that just thinking about them made her feel sick. That or maybe it was some extra sickness from the pregnancy.
Maria was due some time this month, and thus her anxiety about the situation was a bit higher. Wendy played support. They listened to corny 90's radio. Wendy's British accent and upbringing had her arch her brows as some of the implications and words, especially when she sang them and her voice was absolutely breathtaking to hear. They drove through after waiting behind five soccer mom cars and Wendy let her daughter stick her fingers in the semi warm mashed potatoes once before closing the lid and encouraging her to wait and eat until they got home.
Sunshine sat back, her hand on her bump. Maria must have liked that potato steal because she kicked once. This brought some smile to Sunshine's face. She looked over at her mother, who was veering into the lane that would take them back home to Bellerouge. The sky was a hazy powder blue. The spring time flowers had started to fade, making room for the fuller green of summertime leaves. Maybe this wouldn't be...
A pool of liquid in the lower parts stopped all pleasantries. She hadn't peed herself. The sweet tea she was drinking was safe in the cupholder so it wasn't an accidental spill. There was only one thing.
“Mom…”
“What is it, Sunshine?”
“My water broke.”
_
The pain was excruciating, and it was the only thing literally throbbing in Sunshine’s mind. Doors were slamming through the hospital, and to Sunshine, they were louder than any gunfire or any slamming of alleys she had heard. Wendy was running next to her. The wheelchair was being hurriedly pushed by an admitting nurse. Sunshine almost puked from the smell of the hospital. It was almost too clean.
During a global pandemic, having a baby had been one of the last few things Sunshine expected to happen. During her maternity leave, the world had completely shut down. She couldn’t call Aqua or Weiss to be there to help her bring this child into the world. The only person there to be with her was her mother. She was having mixed thoughts about the whole thing. Her birthday had been a few days ago. Mother’s Day had also been a few days. Apart from the cute matching apron and mask set she had sewn for Wendy, Sunshine had not prepared to add this to the pile of presents.
Her street clothes were replaced with a hospital gown. Everything in the room was blue, matching the powdery color. The curtains were drawn tight to keep everyone from looking in. Sunshine breathed a sigh of relief as after a while, the epidural liquids kicked on after being pricked with the pin. So far during the birth, the vampires had left her alone. Jasmine hadn’t returned. Then again Riku did install a few extra wards when she told him about the attacks, making their house look less fairytale cottage and more...hippie crystal healers’ hut.
A contraction shot through her, and she winced with a sit. The nurses and Wendy, also in a hospital gown, gently massaged her shoulders. Each contraction was worse than the last. She was pretty sure she had gone completely noverbal, only communicating through screams and grunts. The nurses were nodding, reassuring her things were fine. Good god, she’d take being chained in a mansion over having a baby any day.
“Okay, she’s crowning!” a nurse reported.
“Okay, Sunshine, you can push, darling,” Wendy said kindly.
One push. Two pushes. Three pushes. It was like being back in elementary school and counting everything she did. That was her only distraction as she continued to scream and push. Sunshine felt some pressure burst free from below. At first, she thought she crapped her pants. Then she heard the chorus of triumphant nurses and midwives. A bizarre grey pink mass was being cradled by the nurses before being presented to Sunshine.
Maria Terra Lafayette.
She greeted her mother with a trebled cry. As she heard it, Sunshine felt the tears spring in the corners of her eyes. The grey pallor was turning much more pink as Maria continued to breathe. Immediately, Sunshine’s hands were on her, feeling her daughter become warm and comfortable. A midwife gave her a white cloth, and she gently covered the baby.
Wendy stepped back and took a picture of the cuddling mother and daughter. Her own eyes were misty.
After a few seconds of having the baby know who her mother was, Maria was gently taken away. She was returned to Sunshine with a tiny little pink woolen cap and swaddled in the same linens that they had used to cover her. When the cap was pulled aside, her cornsilk blonde hair poked out. Whether or not it’d get lighter or be the same golden hue as the Seddons before her was hard to say. As for her eyes, they, too, were a mix between Sunshine and Riku’s. The emerald green was rimmed and flecked with blue.
“Just so you know, we’re going to have to keep you here for a few days. And the baby, too,” a midwife said solemnly. “A few tests to ensure everyone is healthy.”
Wendy squeezed her daughter’s hand. “You’ll be safe here,” she said reassuringly. “I’ll tell John and Thomas everything. And your friends."
Sunshine nodded in understanding. Hospital security. Letting everyone know through her mother that she was fine and well, as was the baby. Even if Jasmine tried to sneak in, the hospital would be on guard. She was safe. Probably safer than she felt in a long time.
