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bd_verity ([info]bd_verity) wrote in [info]beyond_dark,
@ 2008-09-05 23:56:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:* september 2006, - npc: john mallard, verity montague (o'shea)

Placeholder
Date: 05 September 1999
Characters: Verity, John Mallard (npc), Marlowe?
Location: O'Shea Manor
Private/Public: Private
Rating: PG 13- R?
Warnings: Screaming, blood, panic, swearing?
Summary: Verity goes into labour unexpectedly.



She'd felt the panic first. The whole house was in uproar and no one would allow her to see Theo, not even (or more so, especially) Theo. Padma was dead, Nathaniel, her godson, was in bad condition. She didn't know what was going on specifically, just that it was Death Eaters and that her friend was dead and her Theo was nearly unresponsive.

Verity tried her hardest to do what she could to help and to keep Marlowe calm but even the boy could tell that there was something terribly wrong. That was when she started feeling new pain. Pain in her belly that was nearly crippling. The first time it took her breath away the second it pulled a strangled cry from her lips. She had to sit down. And then it was wet. She whimpered as she realised what was going on.

She wasn't entirely sure who it was, but someone had sent for Healer Mallard. They had tried to get her set up in Nott Manor but she refused. She'd just have to put off the labour. The contractions were far apart, she could do it. But as the evening wore on and Nathaniel was stabilized she took more time to examine herself. She wasn't going to be able to hold off much longer and the carriage ride was going to be too far. She had to leave, the children had to be born in O'Shea Manor to be under the blood protection.

Things moved quickly from there, or so it seemed to her. Before she knew it Ficus had come and collected Marlowe, apparated him to the Manor (she refused to leave him) and she was in the carriage with Healer Mallard. She just prayed that she could hold off as another whimper escaped her throat as new pain swept through her.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 08:26 am UTC (link)
John wasn't surprised when Verity suddenly went into labor. With the multiple births and the events of the day, he would have been more surprised if she hadn't. However, he truly didn't like women when they were like this, and of course, very few rich pureblood didn't react like that. This is why he liked down to earth families.

"I should tell you that Draco came up with a potion for Tracy to make labour painless. I don't like potions as a rule. Women have been doing this since the world started without magic," he said calmly, "however, it is an option."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 09:47 am UTC (link)
She took a deep breath and tried to center her mind but the world whizzing by out the windows was doing little to calm her. "I would rather have a calming potion," she admitted.

"I am worried about the potion, I do not want to but the babies in any more danger." She was already feeling guilty for panicking herself into labour as was and was terrified that they were going to suffer because of it (she refused to let herself think anything more gruesome than that.)

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 01:47 pm UTC (link)
John stared at her, trying to figure out her logic and deciding that pregnant women were never too logical. Instead, he took his wand out and checked her as he spoke. "My dear, I can't give you a calming potion in the middle of labor, it might stall labour and cause more problems now that your waters have broken."

He helped her lie down as much as possible on the seat of the carriage. "I'm going to check how dilated you are," he said, before pushing her robe up, and checking. "We still have time, my dear. You're only about 7 centimeters, another three to go." He put the robe down again. "Now, Draco's potion was made for pregnant women, so they won't harm the babies, or so he says, but then he gave it to his own wife. Still."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 07:54 pm UTC (link)
Verity blinked and looked at him confused. "No- of course you can't," she sighed and let her head fall back. "I was attempting humor," she said flatly. "In all seriousness though, is there anything I can do about the anxiety?" she asked him almost pitifully, rubbing at her chest with one hand, the other on her belly.

She wasn't entirely comfortable having him examine her in a carriage, not to mention that there wasn't much room, but it wasn't very private either. "Do you know how long?" she asked, trying to stay distracted from the contractions.

Verity was feeling over-whelmed. She was trying not to think of Padma, Nathan, and Theo but it was hard to ignore, and the worry from the birth, being in carriage- too much uncertainty. Having to make a decision about potions was just too much for her at this point. "Healer, I don't care. I don't know enough about the situation and I will trust your opinion on the potions, that is your job after all.

"Pain is nothing new to me," she finished, closing her eyes.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 08:02 pm UTC (link)
"Oh, please, child, call me John." Healer sounded so strange to his ears. "It's your first birth, which slows things down, but they are multiple births which works the opposite. A first labour could go on for twenty-four hours. Multiple births, I'd say hours if you manage to relax."

He patted her arm. "Breath, Verity and stop thinking about anything other than your children. That's all you need to do, and we can get to your home, you can shower and then give birth." He sighed, knowing that Draco would think that he's been stupid, but he didn't like giving new potions to pregnant women. "We'll try going natural, then." If they had problems, then he'd deal with them.

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 08:11 pm UTC (link)
She nodded a bit at his invitation to call him 'John' and she wondered if she coudl get away with 'Mr. Mallard' Probably not. and she didn't care right now. "Twenty-four?!" she said, a bit of her horror showing. When he went on to say that multiples sped things up she relaxed a little.

The pat was nice, patronising perhaps, but nice. "Forgive me but a close friend just died, my godson nearly so, my best friend is desolate and my husband is in a coma. It's not very easy to clear my mind," she said a little curtly. "I'm sorry," she sighed and took a deep breath. "Shower?" she asked with a bit of humour. "That'd be rather nice," she agreed with a small smile. She wasn't sure it sounded safe- what if she was nude when she couldn't hold off the birth any longer?

She nodded when he made a desicion.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 08:22 pm UTC (link)
"I understand and yet, pretty soon you'll know that none of them are as important as those little two you're carrying. I don't mean to diminish the rest, but they are your responsibility, no else is," John answered. "Think of them."

He chuckled. "Yes, a shower. I know it sounds strange, but most women find it relaxing."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 08:28 pm UTC (link)
She clenched her jaw when he told her that they weren't her responsibility. Technically, she knew that they weren't- but her godson? her husband? They were very clearly people she was responsible for- and even if John didn't understand her relationship with Theo, she felt horrible for not being there for him at the darkest hour of his life.

"Trying," she said as another pain seized her.

Verity sighed and nodded. "A shower does sound nice. A bit ridiculous, but nice..." she told him. "Will they be okay, He- John?"

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 08:34 pm UTC (link)
John saw the reaction, but didn't argue with her. Soon enough, she'd be holding her own children and then she'd understand what he meant. No one would come before those little two once she met them.

"Breath, Verity, it will ease the pain, and nothing is ridiculous if it makes you more comfortable." He nodded. "They'll be fine. They are a little early, but multiples are always early. They'll be smaller, they'll eat more, and we'll keep track of their growth, but their organs are fully grown and that's the major concern in premies."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 08:42 pm UTC (link)
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly when he told her it would help ease the pain. "Yes, of course. It's just unexpected. A hot shower will be very nice," she agreed with a nod and a small smile.

Verity appreciated the chatting, it was helping to give her something to focus on as the pain in her throat and chest grew. Her panic was rising too much for her comfort in the situation.

"I don't think I'm ready to be a single mother," she confessed quietly. She didn't know why she was saying this- maybe because she felt she could trust him, not that he could help her with that.

"Has there been any-" she stopped as the carriage slowed and she looked out the window and nearly laughed. She never thought she'd be so glad to see O'Shea Manor. "We're here..."

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 08:49 pm UTC (link)
John thought of the women who had to raise their children with no money, no house elves, no carriages. They had done a wonderful job, without spouting such nonsense. Yet another reason why he'd tried to have patients from the lower classes; they were so much more reasonble.

"You'll do just fine," he said, instead.

He smiled when they finally stopped. He got outside, and helped her out. "Lead the way, my dear," he said, knowing that the walk, while slow would help her get ready.

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 09:14 pm UTC (link)
It felt strange to be moving now after the carraige ride but to see the familiar Manor house did ease her mind and make her feel much more light hearted. At least her children would be born under her families magic and not in a carriage.

She moved slowly up the front stairs to be greeted by elves who seemed to be fussing more than usual. "Ficus, someone needs to go retrieve Master Montague from Nott Manor- take him to our bedroom. I want someone with Marlowe at all times," she continued. "Make sure he is fed, get him his books and the dogs." Giving orders to the elves made her feel much more in control and she found herself releasing some of the panic already. She couldn't focus on those things, she was the head of this house and she had a job to do.

"We'll need the light green room in the Master hall prepared for the birth and everyone else needs to focus on getting the nursery prepared," she finished.

The walk was slow, tedious, but being home felt so nice. She didn't really know what to say to the Healer but he didn't seem to need conversation.

When they neared the suites that she'd told the elves to prepare she showed John into the sitting room and called an elf to tend to prepare a small tea and assist him any way he needed.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 09:20 pm UTC (link)
If he thought that pointing out that he was here in a professional capacity would make her stop, he would speak up, but he knew better. "Verity, my dear, go shower. I can take care of the rest.... OH, and please, no silk night gowns you plan to keep after the birth. Pansy was most upset when it got dirty with... I believe she called it bloody goo." He was learning to deal with them.

He waited for her to leave, before turning to the house elf. "Make sure there are cotton sheets, no silk, and I need a small bed here for the children. Also bring me as four, five thick pillows."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 09:38 pm UTC (link)
She nodded, glad that she had been released. "Ah- yes, she warned me," she said with a small nod. She didn't know what she planned to wear for the birth, she expected to have another month to figure it out, but she would have the elves get something for her. Bloody goo sounded disgusting, though. "The elves will listen to whatever you need," she told him before leaving for the shower.

While she was there she tried to relax as much as possible and in truth, she was much more relaxed than she had been in the carriage. The hot water helped too and she was glad to be rid of her "water" that had dried on her legs.

When she came out she took time to do her hair and put it up in a practical bun before putting on the old robes that the elves had brought for her. She had no idea who they had belonged to, not herself, but they fit over her belly and for that she was glad.

The room looked different when she reentered and she smiled at the Healer. "You were right, that felt nice."

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-07 09:50 pm UTC (link)
"I might have been doing this for a year or two," he teased her with a smile.

He took his wand out again. "I'm going to check how far apart your contractions are, and then we'll see how dilated you are." He kept the want over her belly, until the first contraction started. He stayed where he was until the second one came. "Less than two minutes apart. That's quite good. Lie down, now, not completely, it makes it more difficult. Use those pillows to prop yourself up and gravity will help you do the work."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-07 10:32 pm UTC (link)
The teasing eased her anxiety and she smirked. "First timer, you'll have to forgive me," she teased back.

Less than two minutes. Wow. It seemed like a lot longer to her but she did know they were closer, that much was obvious. She started to feel a little excited and a little nervous all at the same time...

She nodded at the instructions before going to the bed, feeling odd having to prepare her bed for giving birth. As she was starting to an elf she didn't recognise looked horrified and took over. Eventually she was settled and took a deep breath. "Is it normal to be nervous?" she asked, knowing it was, but wanting to keep him talking, even if he didn't like her much by the end of the night.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-08 07:41 am UTC (link)
"I'd be shocked if you weren't a bit nervous," John said gently. She probably would have been a lot more nervous and in pain if he hadn't discreetly cast spells to numb the pain. He waited until she was sitting down, and then helped her with the pillows so she was leaning back, but wasn't flat on her back.

"All right, let's see now." He raised her gown and cast a lumos spell so he had enough light. "Well, well," he mumbled to himself. "Ten centimetres, we're there, darling. The pain will be much stronger now, and I can't numb it anymore. The next contraction, I want you to push."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-08 12:52 pm UTC (link)
She nodded, glad of that much, even if it didn't really open more conversation. "Alright, I'm very nervous, then," she said with a small smile. The position he had her in felt strange, but for what was happening, rather natural too.

"Anymore?" she asked, looking down at him. She took a deep breath, her nerves climbing. She understood though. When the next contraction came it was much more painful than she'd expected but she did was he told her to and pushed, gritting her teeth to avoid from vocally expressing the pain.

Soon she was panting and whimpering slightly. She nearly moaned that she couldn't, but it was ridiculous- what she couldn't do was carry her children around inside of her for the rest of her life. So she listened as he guided her and she worked through the pain. She just hoped that this wasn't going to last twenty-four hours, pain she could deal with but even she could only take so much.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-08 03:12 pm UTC (link)
John didn't have to explain what the 'anymore' meant, because the next contraction arrived. She did better than he expected, working through the pain. "It's all right to yell, Verity. No one else but us here." He kept talking to her while they waited for the next contraction, only to start pushing again. It took three contractions and finally the head was out.

"Stop pushing, Verity. Just breath and I'll ease the baby out." He rotated the shoulder and then the other until he could take the baby out." He used the wand to cut the umbilical cord and clean her up. A little stinging spell had the baby screaming at the top of her lungs. "Here, you can hold her while we wait for the other one to come out. It shouldn't be long now."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-08 03:56 pm UTC (link)
Verity nodded, but she didn't yell. She was used to dealing with pain silently and she knew that Marlowe was in the house- even if he was down the hall and likely couldn't hear her anyway. She didn't want to distress him any further.

When he told her to stop she did so willingly, leaning her head back against the pillows. She was sweating and felt generally disgusting but more so she was exhausted. Definately not twenty-four hours though. But hearing the baby scream got her attention. She looked up immediately and as soon as the Healer had placed her in her arms she felt tears prickling her eyes. "Hello precious," she said quietly to the new born. She couldn't believe that the baby was here... it was all that concerned her anymore. "Do you want to be Kilea or Kiana," she asked with a small smile, running a finger over the child's cheek.

It was another wave of pain that drew her out of it and reminded her that she was having twins.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-08 04:18 pm UTC (link)
"All right, Verity. It seems that they are both in a rush to come out." Even all the spells he had cast hadn't been enough to stop labour, but he wasn't surprised considering that they were twins and the situation back at Nott manor.

John picked up the baby. "I'm going to put her next to you, while you push." He laid the baby on the mattress, within arm's reach, and then moved to the foot of the bed again. "Next contraction you push again. It's going to be easier this time."

He waited as the next contraction arrived, and he reminded her to breath through it as she pushed. It only took two contractions this time, and then the head was out. He repeated the process, helping the baby out of the birth canal. Again, he ensured that the baby was fine and clean before going to Verity. "Mmmm, the baby is fine, my dear, but it's a he."

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[info]bd_verity
2008-09-08 05:38 pm UTC (link)
She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing but she nodded deftly. When he took her baby from her she scowled but was glad that she stayed on the bed, trusting that John wouldn't let her if it wasn't safe.

"Easier is nice," she commented and listened to him, obeying his instructions. Her head was feeling cloudy and dizzy as she laid back. He'd told her she could stop pushing and so she let him do his job. The wail from the child made her smile, that meant it was healthy. She wondered if the baby would be smaller or larger than it's already tiny sister.

"He?" she asked, lifting her head. "There must be a mistake. I'm having girls," she explained sleepily.

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[info]bd_cornfoot
2008-09-08 06:53 pm UTC (link)
"No, Verity, you are having a boy and a girl," John answered patiently. "Now, if you could hold your son, we still need to deliver the placenta, and then you can get cleaned up and get some rest. I promise."

He handed her the boy, and took his wand again. Now that the delivery was complete and the babies were all right, he could finish the job with the help of magic. One quick spell detached the placenta, and then another way to stop any possible internal bleeding. A final one to clean her up as much as possible.

"I'll contact Draco so he can send you a special potion we give premies. It helps them grow up more rapidly and catch up with their peers. It's made especially for premies, so there is nothing to worry about," he said. "If you have any problems, make sure to send a house elf to my house. I will come back tomorrow, to make sure they aren't jaundiced. It's standard procedure. Now, do you have any questions?"

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