Who: Atlas, Pleione, Maia, NPC midwife When: Friday, midday Where: Their apartment What: BABY TIME Warnings: None atm
Pleione had been getting increasingly uncomfortable over the course of about a week. Pregnancy itself was tiring and uncomfortable, but Pleione had had enough babies to know what early labor felt like. It wasn't until late Thursday night that she texted Maia and told her she had better come that night, and not to forget the list she had requested. Immediately after, she called her midwife to inform her that she was indeed in labor and would need her there for support. It may have been years since her last child, but Pleione always trusted her body to tell her when the time was right. That time was now.
Her midwife and her assistant had arrived before Maia, who showed up with a bag of odds and ends. Maia set out the candles her mother had requested before preparing the soup Pleione liked to eat after giving birth. She knew her mother wasn't about to let her father leave her side, so Maia made certain everything her mother requested was complete and ready. It might be hours before her mother was able to eat, but by the gods she would have everything she needed!
Hours passed. Checks passed. Pleione seemed more poised and under control than a 'first time mother' often should be, according to the midwife. She was impressed with Pleione's dedication to keep herself under control.
Finally, around noon Pleione delivered the tiny baby boy. A part of her waited instinctively for another to follow, but she knew there was only one baby this time. She cried and held her child to her chest as the midwife's assistant dried him off and listened to his lungs. "A little crackly, but good, strong lungs," she said with a smile. Mother and baby were covered with a blanket and checked on every few minutes.
Maia had taken whatever side Atlas hadn't. She kissed her mothers cheek when things were calm and then stood up, "I'll get you some soup." She did this partly to give her parents time alone with their new baby.
The midwife and her assistant had gone into the living room, sticking around for a couple of hours to make sure everyone was alright. "Can I get you anything?" Maia asked them as she passed through and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. "I'd love some coffee," said the midwife, whose assistant piped up and said, "Me too." Maia smiled and motioned for them to follow.
Pleione shushed Alexander quietly as she examined him for herself. "He's perfect," she said quietly. She forgot how much she missed how soft baby skin was. She loved the feeling of her tiny baby against her chest. A few minutes after Maia left, the baby began to root around for the breast and Pleione instinctively helped him to his target.
She sighed and laid her head back, then looked over to Atlas with a tired smile.