"Little shadow... I’m allowed to be worried by that, right?" Who: Éponine and Azelma Thénardier, Scoot, Enjolras, Courfeyrac, Bahorel and Ace What: The baby is coming! When: 15th July Where: First at their place, then at the hospital. Rating: PG13 to be safe! TW for medical situations and premature birth. Status: Complete.
Normal day by her standards, just making sure Gav is still okay, brushing off everything in the nursery of dust. Sure her back had been hurting quite a bit but that was normal recently because agh child. She was excited! In a little over three weeks she was due! Azelma didn’t know if it was excitement that made things not feel as crummy, or she was just taking it well. She sat down on her bed and stretched her back, trying not to focus on the fact her back hurt even worse.
It started off as a dull tensing over her entire stomach, stronger than the braxton hicks. When it went away she shrugged and stood to go get just something to drink. As she was carrying the glass past the island in the kitchen she had to quickly take hold of her stomach and the counter of the island, dropping the glass and causing it to shatter. Fuck that hurt. She figures her sister already heard the glass but it never hurt to try calling for her.
“‘Poooniiiiine!” Whimpered and made her way away from the glass and pushed to hold the wall to try and get to the couch to sit. As she was getting closer to the living room she heard the door open and hurried footsteps down the stairs.
Éponine certainly had heard the glass, and she was already on her way down before Azelma called out to her. It always paid to be very, very aware of things like that, especially considering Azelma’s... condition.
“What happened?” She was willing herself to stay calm, to not jump to conclusions, but... it was more than a little hard.
“I really think... Ah shit.” Groaned and pushed closer to the wall, trying to keep from falling. She took hold of Éponine the moment she was close and put her other hand to her stomach. “These are stronger than before. And they happened about 7 or so minutes apart.” Let out a breath when the pain subsided and she could actually think straight.
Azelma took in several deep breaths as she moved to sit on the couch.
That... wasn’t a good thing, as far as Éponine knew. “Little shadow... I’m allowed to be worried by that, right?”
“I think so. I am a little but we’re not there yet, still got a ways to go.” Finally got things down to where it was just the dull ache at the base of her spine. “Is Gavroche doing okay?”
Éponine nodded, moving to sit next to her sister. The closer she was, the better, right? Meant it’d take less time to help her... if the need arose, that was. “He’s fine. Probably still a little achey, but... I think he can cope.”
Out of the blue she tensed and held her stomach. “Ah fuck ow!” Bit her lip and leaned forward, unable to stop sucking in her breathe like that lamaze teacher told her not to. What the hell was going on. Well, she was wondering until it suddenly felt like she was starting to piss herself. “Éponine... I think we need to get to the hospital about now.” At least she wasn’t wearing pants and was instead just wearing her sun dress!
Well, dammit. Éponine was quickly to her feet. “I... I’ll get Scoot, okay? He can drive us there.”
Because like hell was she leaving Azelma’s side for anything. She wasn’t risking it, even though most of her knew things would be fine. “Gonna text les Amis too. That okay?”
Azelma nodded and just held her stomach. “Yeah... You do that. I’m not starting until Enj is there... I’ll text Ace.” Grabbed her phone and focused on breathing. “What is it with Thénardiers and never being on time? Seriously.” Shut her eyes tight before sending the text ‘Hey, so uhm. Someone’s coming a little early.’ She set her phone aside and tried to stand. “I’ll get my suitcase..”
“I’ll get it for you. You... stay there.” Éponine really didn’t want to take any risks right now. The baby was coming early, and that was enough of a risk in her eyes - she’d send the text when she was upstairs, just in the hope it’d mean less typos in it.
God, this hurt, Azelma just set her hands on her stomach, trying to just breathe. It didn’t help that she was now anxious and waiting for response text from Ace. She kept looking at her phone then whimpering.
Enjolras jumped for his phone as his text alert came in, scanned the display and blinked once. “Oh shit.” he managed as he went to throw on his shoes and bum a ride from one of his friends, who probably also wanted to be there, at least Courf and Bahorel, he figured on. They seemed closest to the Thénardiers somehow. Just as soon as he was lacing his hi-tops, another alert came in.
“So B’s on his way to grab you and I’m heading to yours now. Keep your heart in your chest, goddaddy. -Courf”
About ten minutes later, Courfeyrac was arriving at Enjolras’s window, tapping to be let in, and it was a testament to how not in the moment Enjolras WAS that he let this pass without any comment on how stupidly dangerous it was.
“You all set?” Courfeyrac adjusted his bag on his shoulder, and nodded to Enjolras. “According to Bahorel, first babies take a while sometimes. Get your tablet and a book or something.” He’d brought along the script he was auditioning for in a couple days so he could finish making character notes in the margins.
“I..yeah.” Enjolras threw in those, and his cardigan and, naturally, a camera, and was set himself. “We going to meet him downstairs or...”
The sound of a horn beeping broke off his question and Bahorel’s voice could be heard through the still open window
“Get your asses down here, Azelma’s got a baby to push out of her crotch!”
When Éponine came back downstairs, she’d also grabbed Scoot and explained the situation to Gavroche, the latter with some remarkable self-control, all things considered. She was alternating between calm and... well, she didn’t know what to call the other emotion, other than rabid and insane worry.
“Are you ready for this, Az?” She honestly hoped her sister was. She’d taken enough classes, at very least! “I’ll be right by your side through this, okay...?”
It was now that Ace’s rather belated response text came in, which she totally blamed on accidentally dropping her phone on first reading it. It happened, okay! ‘Uh. That’s... not good. Which hospital you heading to?’
Azelma did her best to stand up “You’re freaking out over this more than I am, ‘Ponine. And I’m the one having to push something the size of a small cantaloupe out of me.” She teased and held to the arm of the couch, focusing on breathing yet again. When she got the text she responded quickly as she could. ‘St. Josephs. See you there?’.
Gritting her teeth she nearly fell forward but Scoot was quick to catch her before. He gently lifted her up and took her out to the back of the car where Éponine sat beside. Forgetting seatbelts for now because they would just get in the way. She grabbed her sister’s hand because it felt like the right thing to do and pushed her forehead against her.
Scoot put the suitcase in the back and got into the car, pulling out of the garage. “Do we need to speed or can you hold on for speed limit, ‘Zelma?”
“I... Think we’re going to be okay at speed limit.”
Éponine gently squeezed Azelma’s hand, making sure her sister was as close as humanly possible. “You sure, little shadow?”
“I... Yes... no...” Squeezed rather firmly and whimpered “I’m scared...”
Scoot took off in the fastest route possible, keeping a close eye in the mirror on them, just to be safe. Last thing that needed to happen was her getting bumped or put into a bad position.
Bahorel glanced out of the corner of his mirror at a tense, but not freaking out Courfeyrac, and a fairly white looking Enjolras. “What?” he asked, finally. “It’s not like...”
“I have no idea what is going on.” Enjolras told him, shaking his head a little. “I understand how the baby GOT there, don’t get me wrong, what it was doing in the womb and everything but...it just occured to me...How the hell does THAT get out? I just... So small and to push a PERSON...” he shuddered.
“Uh...” Courfeyrac blinked a couple times. “You really have no idea? I think it’s like...stretchy?” He didn’t want to go into specifics since this was a person after all, but. “You know how skin can move if you gather it up? It’s kinda like that. And there are muscles and stuff. Don’t you watch I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant? It’s awesome.”
“...”It was Bahorel’s turn to gape and it was a really good thing they were at a light. “Uh...Courf...let me just totally re-evaluate my opinion of you, okay? We’re good. Besides.” he added, with the wisdom of the oldest child out of three full siblings and four halfs, who had been in the room a couple times. “That’s what an episiotomy is for if they need to do it. “
“And doesn’t it HURT?” Enjolras asked, frowning again. Medical pain was different and it was BAD, usually. Experience had taught him that.
“Epidurals, if there’s time.” Bahorel explained. “Shot goes right in the back. It’s pretty simple.”
“Ugh, seriously?” Courfeyrac made a face. “That’s gross. Like, really gross. And isn’t the epistothing where they...” He went on to describe that, in detail, and then paused. “Oh my god, no wonder my mother hates me. She thought she was done with all of that and then I showed up and...reopened it. “
“Oh my god.” Enjolras turned paler. “I think I’m going to puke. Seriously, Somebody open the window because that’s awful.
“Sometimes it can take HOURS too, even if it’s normal.” Bahorel went on. “But they know what they’re doing and she’s early so it probably won’t have to go to c-section. Nathalie was a c-section.” He added, shuddering. “Lisette still has the scar.”
Enjolras rolled down the window, sticking his head out like a dog, hoping that’d help. Oh GOD.
Éponine wasn’t even remotely thinking of anything like that right now, largely because she had a much more pressing matter at hand: keeping Azelma even remotely calm. It wasn’t going to be easy, but... she’d done harder things for her sister.
“Squeeze my hand hard as you need to, okay?” It could help, right? Certainly couldn’t hurt.
If Azelma had known the trauma they were putting her dear friend in, they’d quickly be given the mother of all looks than had their head beaten in by a Thénardier sister. Which was quite the punishment. For now, she had something entirely different to focus on. She squeezed tight, trying to do the breathing pattern that worked best for her in the classes.
They didn’t live too far from the hospital, thanks to where Haruka and Michiru decided it was best to live, so they got there in decent time. Scoot pulled up and set for the valet to take the car while he grabbed the suitcase and a nurse came up with a wheelchair and helped her in. “Did you call ahead, Éponine?” It was something she needed to know.
“Dude.” Courfeyrac starred at Bahorel in the mirror. “Aren’t breach kids kind of likely to die or something? Your stepmom and sister were already hot, but now they’re even MORE badass.” He approved.
“What?” Bahorel blinked. “Nah not if they do the c-section. I mean sure, there are the really rare cases, and okay, if you’ve got a midwife at home under those circumstances, it’d really suck but...otherwise Nah, you’ve still got a good shot at it being okay. I mean, seriously. People give birth safely all the time. It’s not as easy as, I don’t know, going to the gas station, but it’s about as common. And that’s why doctors are there. Plus, with the drugs? Usually nobody remembers much about it. And it didn’t stop MY parents or stepparents from having sex so.” He grinned. “Must be something worth it.”
“I am so glad Jehan can’t get pregnant.” Courfeyrac muttered. “So incredibly glad.”
“I am so glad I’m going to be alone forever.” Enjolras agreed, shaking his head. “So okay. The bit with the cord? What’s that about? It like...delivers nutrients and blood stems and they harvest it in case the baby might need it later, or they can get cancer fighting things out of it but...you just cut it? What about the parts of cord that are still ON the baby and mother? I mean, when you cut a ribbon you get little ends. Do those just...hang around? I don’t notice any cords on humans. Am I some kind of freak of nature or what?”
“Yeah,” Courfeyrac answered easily. “Kind of. But nah the cord bits dry up and...”
They were thankfully pulling in now and Bahorel was grabbing a bag he’d brought along. “I found a really cute maternity style gown online.” he explained. “If we can catch them, maybe she’d rather wear it.”
“‘Course I did.” Sure, Éponine had been panicking, but she’d been able to plan ahead rather well. Maybe it was a Thénardier trait to manage such things under pressure... she certainly didn’t know for sure.
Azelma groaned as she was moved into the wheelchair and then into room. It was nice, nothing like how she remembered it looked like with any of the younger boys. Then again, it was much later in development for what mothers needed. The nurses helped get her undressed and at last minute of getting to putting on the gown another nurse came in to hand a different obviously none hospital one to her.
She giggled softly and got it on, things starting to blend together because so many people and pain. Éponine was let in not too long into it so she could help get her calm and keep her there while the doctor did his checks. The contractions might be close together but she was only about three centimeters along. “Fuck...” Tipped her head back and told the doctor she would try and go about things naturally, if that didn’t work out they’d think on an epidural. For now the fun waiting game started.
“Hey nurse, you can let them all in... I’ll be sending a few back out when things get closer along.” Looked up to her sister. “How am I doing.... So far?” Whimpered and took hold of the rail of the bed and pulled. If anything, Éponine can actually see the rise and fall of the contractions thanks to a little monitor so she can coax her through it.
“Hey.” Courfeyrac practically shoved a pale Enjolras through the door. “Somebody’s never seen birth, even on tv.” he explained, patting Enjolras’s shoulder a bit. “So you know, nerves. How are you doing?” he added, coming close enough to kiss Azelma’s forehead.
“He exaggerates.” Enjolras told her, crossing over to the bed to give Azelma a shoulder pat. “I’m good. I promise. I’m not the one having the baby, Courf, Jeez.” He was going to just...forget all the stuff he’d been told about on the way. And you know, not consider the other options Bahorel had mentioned.
“Hi guys.” Bahorel poked his head in last, having flanked Enjolras ‘in case he tried to run’. Not like he’d had that intention but it had been a little bit of needed levity in there. And also gotten some adorable nurses to smile at him obviously escorting a nervous ‘dad’ . He enjoyed when women thought he was being particularly cute. Sure, it hadn’t worked with MARIE LOUISE yet, but...
The less Bahorel talked, the better. No offence meant to the man, but... Éponine couldn’t see him saying anything that’d even remotely help matters. Unless traumatising Enjolras counted as helping in some kind of strange, twisted way.
“You’re doing fine, Az... promise.” Or, well, so she assumed. The doctors weren’t exactly forthcoming with the information. “Try not to traumatise my sister, okay? I know how you three work.”
The kiss to her head as nice, and the touch to her shoulder made her smile. She knew touch wasn’t easy for Enj so she was perfectly fine with it all. She waved to Bahorel and let out a little pathetic noise. Azelma focused on just breathing as the highest point of it came and went, taking hold of Éponine’s hand and squeezing tight. “Aaaaah...” A long whine as she bent forward slightly and because his hand was closest she grabbed hold of Courf’s hand and squeezed just as tight as with her sister, if not harder.
Courfeyrac didn’t say a thing, really, even though that kind of hurt. He knew right now how much WORSE things could get so...this level was, while not great, okay for now. He managed a smile for Azelma too. “You’re doing AWESOME.” he said, and meant it. “It’s really cool how you’re creating life and everything.”
“Definitely.” Enjolras agreed. “Can I...would rubbing your shoulders help?”
“I already did the creating you dumbass! It’s getting her out now! Urgh. Just shut up and let me squeeze your hand!” Growled and tried to breathe, glaring at neither of them in particular. She flashed her eyes to Enj. “Maybe after we decide if I’m getting the goddamn epidural or not. Fuck!”
Well, that was... pleasant? Except for that part where it wasn’t. Éponine wasn’t really sure how to best calm her sister down right now... “Little shadow, yelling at him won’t help...”
Courfeyrac flinched, but kept his mouth shut for the most part. She didn’t mean it, he reminded himself. She was in labor and he was being too sensitive. So that was...yeah. He’d work with it, he decided, and nodded, keeping the smile on his face.
“Okay.” Enjolras agreed, in what he hoped was a soothing way. “Anything I CAN do?”
Thankfully the highest point of it didn’t last long and she was able to let go of their hands after a short time. She breathed heavily and brought her hands to cover her face. This was not going to be a walk in the park. “Can you see if the nurse can give me ice chips? I know I’m really not allowed to drink so... Just ice would be nice.”
Azelma pulled her hands away and shifted how she was laying to be a bit more comfortable. “Sorry for yelling... Might be good to remember not to say anything during those.” At least she realised she was a little bit bitchy during it?
That was probably a good way of going about it, all things considered. Éponine could still vaguely remember some of the things their own mother had said during... situations like this, and none of it had ever been pleasant. “I’m just glad you can realise that. Some people... just don’t.”
“I’ll go.” Bahorel offered, hoping that he could get it accomplished faster because of the nurse’s attentions to him and all. You know, might as well use his powers of sexy for good, right? He figured anyway.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Courfeyrac told her, looking kind of like he wanted to go WITH Bahorel, but for the moment holding back. He knew she hadn’t meant it. It was no time to focus on how much that had bugged him. For fuck’s sake, she was pushing a baby out of herself. She was entitled. He pasted on a smile instead, and dealt with it.
“So that leaves me kind of useless.” Enjolras commented, trying to joke, really, even if it wasn’t the time. “But I HAVE been thinking. Is it too early to start her listening to some of the classics? I have a couple on my tablet I could read.”
Azelma giggled slightly, shaking her head. “Maybe after the epidural which... I really think might be a good idea. I have to wait a little I think to see how fast this is going to progress... Éponine. Can you check my phone to see if Ace is on her way?” She wanted to at least see her girlfriend for a little bit before she got too far into this. “For now, Enj... I just want company. I’d say play cards but Éponine and I are both terrible cheaters. Our family name is banned from Vegas...”
And for very good reason, because... well, Thénardiers in Vegas was a recipe for several disasters. Not that Éponine had anything at all to do with that, no ma’am. “She probably is, ‘Zelma. If I know that girl half as well as I think I do, she probably left the moment you sent the text.”
“I bet she would have.” Enjolras agreed, and raised an eyebrow at both of them. “Well. There goes the kid’s first birthday party.” he joked, shaking his head a little bit. “Someday I’ve gotta hear this story.” he added, grinning. “But yeah I’ve got some assorted kidlit on here for some point in the future.” And you know, the copies of books back in the baby’s room, along with the baby lit collection Courfeyrac had opted for.
“Not My First Rosseau?” Courfeyrac joked, eyedarting. “You’re slipping.”
“I always liked Swift.” Bahorel popped back in. “The nurse is checking with the doctors about your ice chips.” He added. “But you know, A Modest Proposal and all.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to give her nightmares.” Courfeyrac shook his head. “Idiot”
“Can you guys keep the bickering down? Bahorel... Courf. Why don’t you two go keep Scoot company in the waiting room. I’ll be fine with just Enj and my sister.” Smiled, figuring that was the nicest way to tell them to shut the hell up and leave without being a total bitch about it! They were just getting on her already thinly stretched nerves. Pain to this level did not go well. She let out a little noise of discomfort before gasping when she saw Ace come into the room. “Babe! You made it!” Pushed herself up and reached her hands out.
Well, of course Ace had made it! Éponine had been right that she’d left the moment she’d gotten the text, with just a temporary delay to go ‘ohgod why did I drop my phone I’m a moron’. “Didn’t keep you waiting too long, right?”
“Sure thing.” Courfeyrac agreed, getting up, giving the girlfriend a once over, flashing Azelma a thumbs up and heading out to wait. “Let us know if anything happens?” he added, keeping his grin in place as he left and only letting it drop then.
Bahorel shrugged and waved. “Good luck.” he added, “You’re going to do great but pre-game speech and all. So uh. Go go, kick butt?” He suggested, “You’ve got the rest of this all wrapped up so this part won’t be any different.” And he was out too.
“No... though I think I upset a friend of mine.” Sighed and pulled Ace down for a hug and a gently peck of a kiss before she tensed and gripped onto her shoulders and tried to breathe again. “Oh god does it ever end?!” Well she knew the answer herself but she couldn’t help asking it!
“Isn’t that always a risk with this kinda thing? I mean... pregnant women aren’t known for being nice.” Sure, Ace had practically zero experience with that kind of thing outside of Azelma, but she’d certainly read enough horror stories in the past!
“And Courf’s, yeah, Courf.” Enjolras agreed. “He gets this way if you yell at him too much or ignore him. He’ll be fine in about ten minutes though, so...it shouldn’t be a thing.” He nodded toward Ace, giving her a little smile. “So. Here we are. Team Azelma.” he added, smiling. He hoped Bahorel was right about the last thing he’d said, but not the part about...everything else.
“Team... Azelma? Really?” Rolled her eyes and just breathed through the contraction. Not pleasant in the slightest! “I wish I’d eaten this morning... I wonder if I’m allowed to eat something... Or do I have to wait till the baby is actually born?” Leaned back, still holding Ace’s hand because girlfriend!
Team Azelma was definitely the best way of putting it. She was the reason they were all here! Ace lightly squeezed Azelma’s hand, Éponine currently more than thankful for the brief respite. “One of us can go ask the doctors, right? ‘Cause I don’t have a clue.
Well, it wasn’t like it was something that Ace could find out really, really easily!
“Definitely.” Enjolras agreed. “They didn’t used to but that was when they put you under to give birth.” He shook his head at that part. “Which, I don’t know I get the theory but wouldn’t most mothers want to see their baby right away? I mean they’ve been waiting the whole time and...I can go find out if you’d like?” he offered.
“Enj... You really don’t have to.” Pushed herself up a little and pushed her only pillow behind her lower back. “I can always push the little button to get a nurse to come here. It’s what it’s for after all...” If her sister looked to the little monitor beside her, she should know to take Azelma’s hand and tell her to start breathing now to create a cushion. Yay, modern technology being able to tell when one was starting.
Modern technology was truly the greatest thing ever. Éponine took her sister’s hand. “‘Zelma, I think it’s time for you to start breathing... and, possibly, time to start breaking my fingers.”
“But I don’t want to break your fi.... Ah fuck!” Tipped her head back and whimpered, her knees rising up a little and just so happened to still have Ace’s hand when it started so it meant Ace was getting a taste of her strength as well.
And Ace may well have sworn. Just a little. Azelma was strong, okay!
Azelma groaned and just started to cry, this hurt okay, more than anything in the world. She let out the longest string of pathetic noises.
A nurse walked in and sighed. “She said to ask you if you think an epidural will be right. Should I get the doctor for you to give that answer?” Moved over to try rubbing the side of the girls stomach to ease it a little.
Éponine, naturally, couldn’t bear to see her sister in pain like this. She bit her lip, just lightly squeezing her sister’s hand in return. “Anything that helps her with the pain...”
Enjolras nodded at the nurse. “Also, could we see if she’s able to eat? I’ve read it’s probably a good idea if she doesn’t have anything massively heavy that could make her uncomfortable later? A lot of people on the pregnancy boards had mentioned that.”
Yeah. He had gone THERE.
“Yeah, we can get the doctor. But we need to hear her tell the doctor yes. And we can bring her some graham crackers with peanut butter.” Left to grab the doctor, who was by her side quickly enough.
“I need to hear i-”
“Get me the goddamn epidural or I’m ripping your face off and shoving it up your ass.”
“Okay....” Stepped back and went to instruct the nurse to go get everything he needs. “I need you to sit up, Azelma. We need to get to your back. Anyone with issues with needles might want to leave the room soon.”
That was a novel threat! Somewhere, deep down inside, Éponine couldn’t help but feel more than slightly proud of her... “I have some issues with needles, but... I’m not leaving my sister. Not for anything.”
Enjolras paled considerably, seeing as his last several experiences with needles had been missed IV veins, the series of rabies shots, with the first going into the side of his hand, and the one that had sucked out the piece of his muscle very slowly, while he jerked around a table, screaming in Occitan, but he nodded too. If he closed his eyes, he could stay there and be supportive. It’d work.
Azelma sat up and leaned forward, undoing the back of the gown. The process is awkward and long, but goes by fast enough. Shit that’s a big needle and everything. The doctor helped ease her onto the bed again and she sighed. She looked to her doctor. “Thank... Thank you. I love you. You are my new best friend.”
“Don’t declare your love for him just yet, little shadow.” Éponine had rather forcibly averted her eyes the moment the needle had come out, and still wasn’t daring to look back. She liked the idea of... well, not looking in general.
Enjolras stepped a little closer, so Azelma would know he was there, and squeezed his eyes shut. As long as he didn’t think about it, it wasn’t so bad. He offered her a hand to hold in case one of the others had to stop, placing it along the edge of the bed, and started taking some deep breaths. It wasn’t him, and he could deal. It wasn’t him and he could deal. Actually, that was working.
The first moment the needle entered she tensed the nurse telling her to just breathe and keep trying to focus on everything but the needle. The moment the doctor eased the medicine in though she let out a long sigh, going just a little limp. “Oh... God... Wow.” They pulled the needle out all the way and helped her back with a pillow of support.
“That better?”
“Much... Thank you.”
“Now, I’ll have the nurse bring you a thing of chocolate milk and graham crackers with peanut butter.”
“She doesn’t actually like chocolate all that much, so... that’s something you’ll have to change.” Éponine’s first concern, as ever, was just for her sister’s well-being... and that included helping her avoid things that she just didn’t like.
Enjolras opened his eyes as soon as he was sure the needle was gone, and offered Azelma a little smile. It was good that that was settled for now then, he thought, taking a breath of his own and gradually regaining some color. That had been....pretty bad actually. “Damn.” he managed, laughing a little.
“Enj, dear. Do you want to trade positions or something?” She teased, thankful her sister corrected the doctor before he’d gone off to get her something. Azelma let out a little noise of contentment and just gently ran her fingers over Ace’s hand. “Because I really doubt you could handle it... and you’d give birth to Rapunzel.”
That... was a mental image that Éponine had never, ever wanted to entertain. Mildly traumatic wasn’t the word. “Don’t traumatise him all the more, ‘Zelma...”
Ace, meanwhile, had really only just recovered feeling in her fingers, and had been largely thinking on how stupid it probably was to accidentally piss off her girlfriend. Not that she was ever going to do anything like that! “Pretty sure it wouldn’t end well. Just sayin’.”
“Hmm?” Enjolras blinked a few times. “Sorry, horrible mental place just then.” he explained, shaking his head a little. “I”m good now, promise. God, I’m glad I’m never having sex.” he added, shaking his head a little. “And can’t produce life as Bahorel puts it.” One more needle he’d be avoiding in his lifetime anyway. He could smile now, really.
“So. Feel better?”
“For now I guess... don’t feel from the waist down which is nice!” Giggled and pushed herself up a bit better and over, tugging Ace down next to her. Mostly because she wants held. And girlfriend holding is best holding.
Well, that was something that Ace could certainly do! At least until the doctors decided it was time to kick her out or... anything like that.
“That’s a benefit.” Enjolras had to agree with that assessment of things. So now they settled in to wait. It reminded him, in a lot of ways, of the night before the barricades, with less of his friends drinking, sure. He made a mental note to run the metaphor of giving birth to a republic past his friends at some point, and see what they thought of it. Not that he was saying that out loud but. “I’m glad then. I’m sure it helps.”
It’s several hours later when the doctor comes in again and checks her and he smiled. “Azelma, I think it’s time we start trying to push now.” He smiled and helped ease her back up so they could take the drip out from her back. Not five minutes had he left for the nurses so they could get everything ready was she in agony again.
“Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck me up the side of a train. Oh my god.” Let out nearly a scream and dug her nails a bit too hard in her own fists. A nurse took Ace out before anything happened and looked to Eponine.
“Need to get her into the stirrups and into position and you said touching her is not that easy a task. Can you help?”
Well, this was going to be a pleasant experience! Éponine nodded, daring to let go of her sister’s hand (and attempting to regain feeling in her fingers) before moving. “Will you be okay with me doing this, ‘Zelma?”
“Yeah...” Breathed heavily and just about managed to get into position without trying to claw her sister’s face off. Not like she’d be doing it on purpose. This hurt! When the doctor came in his lifted up her gown up over her stomach and laid down the paper like cloths for decency. Well fuck decency, no one was filming and Enj could look away. She needed to make sure what he was doing with his hands was proper.
When she pushed them away he sighed and just got his gloves on and tugged her hips down lower. “Alright... Breathe to ten. When you feel the need to, push. Alright?” Reached to push things down. “Just doing this to help stretch down here to try and keep you from tearing...” One nurse was behind him with everything he’d need, another was at her foot. “Éponine, you can help by holding one thigh just to give added support.”
This already wasn’t pleasant, but... that was largely down to them being Thénardiers, wasn’t it? Éponine did as the doctor asked, largely in the hopes that it’d help Azelma somewhat.
Azelma did the breathing, focusing on either that or her sister whilst trying to ignore the hand that was pushing rather uncomfortably on places. Because of being early she did not get the doctor she wanted, the female doctor. Éponine should be proud, okay? When she felt the urge to push she sucked in her breath and did as hard as she could, screaming out.
The nurse reached over to push her hair back. “Screaming wastes energy, try not to scream... Put it all into what you’re doing. You’re doing just fine...” While the other nurse was counting to ten. At ten Azelma was told to stop, take in two breaths and start pushing again.
Éponine certainly was proud of her sister. To trust a man to this level was goddamned rare, and for good reason. “I know you can do this, little shadow...”
Enjolras closed his eyes as the drip came out, then situated himself near Azelma’s head, on the side of the bed that Eponine wasn’t on. It was close enough that he could reach a hand over for her to grab if she’d want to do it. “Okay.” He said, deciding to approach this the way he approached calming Courf down in the middle of the night when he was too freaked out to breathe. Same idea here really. Since Eponine was encouraging the pushing, he’d take up the position of urging her to breathe, and Bahorel HAD explained the pattern to him, so he took a moment to get himself into it, making sure he did it fairly loudly.
“Try to match my breaths, okay?” he asked Azelma. “It’ll keep you from passing out.” He WAS a little worried about that, given the amount of blood she’d be losing here, and the stress and pain. “C’mon Valerie, help your mom out a little, yeah?”
“I... Okay...” Focused her pattern as best she could, pushing down hard when she felt she needed to. The doctor told her she was doing very well and that things were going fast! Thank fuck for that, right? So much so that the doctor smiled and reached for her hand.
“Here, reach down...” He led her hand down and she flinched away when she felt. “Heh... Unusual huh?”
Azelma reached back down to feel and may have smiled despite the discomfort. “That’s... That’s her...”
“Yep. You’re doing fantastic!”
This was going a lot better than Enjolras had expected it to really. Not that he thought it’d be a horror show or anything, but Bahorel had sort of put freaky ideas in his head involving...He wasn’t sure what he’d pictured, but it didn’t seem to be the case here anyway.
“You are really awesome.” Enjolras added. “You can definitely pull this off.”
Awesome was most definitely an understatement, in Éponine’s humble opinion. Her sister, quite honestly, was a badass - and this was just confirming that in ways that she’d really never expected. “Think Valerie’s just as eager to meet us as we are to meet her...”
Azelma nodded, smiling despite the pain as she pushed even harder. She tipped her head back to breathe, keeping herself from passing out before starting to push again. She leaned nearly in half and the doctor made a noise of exclamation and grabbed a syringe. As he did that she took it as a moment to breathe, the nurses wiping off Valerie’s face.
“Just a few more pushes, you are doing great.”
And Éponine couldn’t help but look, just because the sense of curiosity was far too much. God, she was... absolutely beautiful. Even if the bright red hair did, temporarily, give her pause.
When the urge to push came back over in a wave she pushed hard, keeping it until she felt a huge shift of pressure off. Suddenly blanket placed on her stomach and her crying infant on her now. Much to Enjolras’ luck the umbilical cord ripped in the process and Azelma was left there grinning from ear to ear at the sound. Never before had the sound of crying been so beautiful.
The nurses began wiping her off quickly while the doctor dealt with everything else going on down there and Valerie was just pushed closer so Azelma could hold her for a few moments before they took her to check on her. She was premature after all.
“Hello... Hello, sweetheart.” Cried and just beamed, brushing fingers over her temple.
Premature, yes, but utterly gorgeous. Éponine found herself rather lost for words... this was something that she’d once honestly thought she’d never see, and now... well, she was vaguely tempted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“She’s beautiful.” Enjolras didn’t think so, really, considering she was a mess and had been covered in fluid and stuff earlier, and babies kind of looked weird to him in general. but he imagined she’d start getting cute soon, especially with that hair, so he was going to just go with that mental picture for now. It wasn’t that he was creeped out by her or anything so, you know. It just struck him as kind of weird. But he DID know enough to keep that to himself.
The nurse took hold of her and sighed. “We’re going to have to keep hold of her for a little while... Just to make sure everything is working right. We will come get you in a little while to come see her.”
“But...”
“It’s too make sure her lungs are developed. And to avoid the risks of infection. Your family can come see her when you have her. Or wait till she’s just in your room with you.”
Azelma bit her lip but sighed. It’s what was best for her. She looked to her sister before yawning.
It made sense, to Éponine at least. It’d been the same way when Masselin had been born, so... “I think this means you need rest, little shadow. Before you pass out entirely.”
“Good idea.” Enjolras agreed, nodding. “We’ll let them make sure everything’s okay, or give her medicine to make anything they need to better, even though she LOOKS fine to me, and then see her after you’ve had a little bit of a nap.” He was pretty sure everything should be okay but...what did he know about babies, really? He’d looked up some stuff online while trying to figure out appropriate things to purchase at what stages for Valerie, but had no real experience the way Bahorel might have.
“Also. I want to get you one of those balloons.” He added, grinning. “Teddy Bears, or rocking horses?”