Rose grasped his hand tighter, nodding at his words, her forehead wet with sweat from pain, exertion, and exhaustion, and it was only going to get worse. But she did manage to lean forward and capture Jimmy's lips against hers, whispering back, "I love you too, Jimmy Peakes. So much. We're going to have this baby and then we're going to get married and things are going to be good. I just know it." Nodding her head she looked up at him, before turning away because a huge wave of pain washed over her, causing her to cry out. She pressed her head back against the pillows, trying her hardest not to cry, but she couldn't help it!
"Alright Rose, you have to push with everything you've got!" the Healer was telling her, and Rose tried to follow those exact directions. She cried out, screamed, and cried. Her entire body felt as though it was being torn apart, but she stayed as strong as she could. It was an odd sensation, giving birth. Painful, mixed with an odd pressure and a strange burn. If asked later she wouldn't even be able to describe it in words. She wasn't exactly sure how long it all lasted, but in the back of her mind she heard the healer yell one more, with everything she had. Taking a deep breath she squeezed Jimmy's hand, steeling herself and pushing down, suddenly feeling a bit of relief as she heard a small, tiny cry.
"And here she is!" The healer cooed excitedly, the tiny cry getting louder as the woman who had delivered her wiped her down enough that she could had off the baby to Rose, placing the little squirming bundle on her chest.
"Do you want to cut the cord?" the woman asked Jimmy, unsure for a moment. After all, not all men wanted to do that, but she figured she'd give the young man the option.
Rose didn't hear any of that though. She was absolutely lost in her daughter's eyes. She couldn't believe it. She was finally here. Their baby girl.
"Hello, my beautiful Ava," she said quietly, this time crying tears of joy instead of pain.