InsaneJournal

Who: Audrey, Merlin, Nina and Gabe
When: Backdated to September 16
Where: Audrey and Merlin’s House
What: THE BABY’S COMING!
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete



Audrey was in the kitchen, tidying a little bit after lunch. She wiped down the counters and made a pile of dishes in the sink, then waved her wand and the dishes began to clean themselves. It wasn’t until she turned to head back into the living room that she felt a very strange twang--like a rubber band being cut and tension releasing--and suddenly her pants were wet. From her crotch down to her knee was pretty well soaked. She grabbed the door frame in surprise, trying to stay calm. It was time! ...or, time had started?

“Merlin!” She called out to him, trying to keep her voice calm.

Merlin and Audrey were both eagerly awaiting the birth of their second child and with time growing closer and closer Merlin had started working from home more and being around so that he could do things with Ben while Audrey rested. He was in the living room keeping their son happy when she called out. Telling Ben to carry on playing while he went to see Mummy he got up and left the living room to find Audrey in the kitchen doorway with wet trousers, “Oh god” he said, “Right okay, it’s time. Don’t panic, we’ve done this before. Let’s get your bag and call Nina then we’ll get you to the hospital” he said moving to stand next to her and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Audrey nodded. Well, at least her pants had sopped up most of the… gross. Bodily fluid? She closed her eyes and leaned against her husband for a moment, then turned to head to the laundry room. She’d have to put on something clean to go to the hospital, and her pre-chosen hospital garb was already in the overnight bag, ready to go.

“Can you grab my bag from the closet?” She called out to Merlin from the laundry room. The soiled clothes went straight into the washing machine, and she pulled on some clean ones. But then she felt a contraction coming on. Wow. That was as painful as she remembered. Audrey stopped in the doorway and grabbed the frame for a moment, steadying herself.

“You got it” Merlin called back moving to do just that while calling Nina on the phone willing her to be home so she could watch Ben while they were at the hospital. They had everything planned and panicking would not help them now.

Nina was in the shower when her phone rang but since Gabe was there she was sure that he would answer it for her. Luckily they were both at her place so they were well placed to help Merlin and Audrey out.

Gabe was in the kitchen, cleaning up the last of the dishes from dessert when he heard Nina’s phone ring over the sound of the water. Quickly drying his hands he hunted for an agonizing moment to find her phone, before finding it in the living room. He peered down at the caller ID, to see who could be calling, wondering if it was indeed…

“Merlin?” he said, after he swiped at the green icon. “Everything okay, man? Is it time?” He knew Audrey was due any day, so they’d been expecting this call for a while now. He hurried over to the closed bathroom door, just in case he needed to alert Nina.

“Oh Gabe, hi. Yeah, I need to get Audrey to the hospital and wondered if you’d be okay to watch Ben for us” Merlin said, hoping he hadn’t called at a bad time. It was unusual for Gabe to answer Nina’s phone unless she was busy.

Audrey came out of the laundry room, one hand on her belly. She gave Merlin a grin that was more of a wince than anything else. “Are they available?” She’d have to remember how they were supposed to count contractions. Count minutes between contractions? Count how long the contractions lasted?

Then Ben started to cry. Audrey instinctively went over to the living room to try and console him, but the contractions were getting closer and stronger.

“Sure, yeah. Absolutely.” Except Nina was in the shower. “Hold on.” He put the phone to his chest, pushed the bathroom door open a crack and yelled over the shower water “Babe, it's time! They're heading to the hospital!” Steam wafted from the crack and Gabe let the door stay open so Nina could hear. “Nina’s in the shower. Need me to run over now?” He wasn't sure what stage of defcon they were at but the sound of Ben crying in the background gave him an idea. Thank god they’d decided to stay at Nina’s tonight.

Hearing Gabe call Nina turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around herself, “Give me one minute” she shouted running the towel over her body briefly before pulling on underwear and clothes. Luckily she was used to showering and dressing quickly from being on call.

“As soon as you can would be great I think we’re running on limited time here” Merlin said, “I gotta go but see you in a few?” he checked before moving to scoop Ben up and check on his wife.

“Yep. Do what you gotta do, we'll be over in a minute.” Gabe hung up and turned around to see a fully dressed Nina with damp hair. He was startled at how quickly she’d dressed; it was something he still wasn't used to. “How did you…? I swear I think sometimes you have magical powers.” He smiled wryly, moving out of the way so she could get out of the bathroom. “They're getting ready to leave. Sounded like Ben was crying.”

“Quick change is definitely my magical power” Nina said before nodding, “Okay let’s get over there and offer help. See if we can’t distract Ben long enough for them to escape to the hospital”

Gabe rushed out of the house with Nina, all but sprinting across the lawn between homes, and didn't even bother knocking on Merlin and Audrey’s door before opening it, figuring the less time wasted the better. “Hey guys, we're here!” He called out, his deep voice resonating in the entryway. Navigating the house to where the sounds of commotion was he found the family hurriedly trying to get things ready to go. “Hey little man!” He said to Ben, trying to distract him. “I heard your fussing on the phone. What's up?” He offered to take him from a clearly anxious Merlin.

Audrey was really okay. A woman’s body, on their second or third child, knows what it’s doing. So the contractions and the like were doing their thing. Audrey was just along for the ride, really. This labor was going to go faster, and hopefully smoother than her first. Even though her first (thanks to a Christmas wish being answered) went amazingly easy.

“I’m okay,” she said to Merlin, and gave him a pained smile. “Thanks. Hey, Bennie. Are you excited? Little sister’s coming!” She said, and lifted a hand to tickle at Ben’s stomach.

Then Gabe and Nina burst in and Audrey gave her friends a smile, too. She had one hand on her pregnant belly, and the other on her back, doing a quick breathing exercise through her teeth. “...my water broke, so we’re headed to the hospital.” After a woman’s water broke, either on its own or was broken by the medical professionals, they wanted the baby out within twenty-four hours. As a preventative measure to fend off infection. If the baby wasn’t out by this time tomorrow, they’d suggest a c-section. Audrey figured, by the way the contractions felt, that wasn’t going to be necessary.

“You need a ride?” Nina asked though of course Merlin magicking them to the hospital would get them there quicker. Moving to Audrey she rubbed her back a little to help ease the pain she knew she’d be in.

“We’re good” Merlin said with a smile at Nina as he handed Ben to Gabe who went to his uncle easily. “I’ll get her there safely, are you guys sure you’re going to be okay? You have my number if you need anything” he added, slinging the bag over his shoulder before moving to wrap his arm around Audrey.

Thankfully, Ben was used to “Uncle Gabe” and “Auntie Nina.” He went to them easily and happily, probably looking forward to all the playing they were going to do. Sometimes they even watched Sesame Street or Disney Junior. Or whatever. Audrey completely trusted them to make the right decisions re: exercise, eating healthy, screen time, etc. She gave them a smile and another “Thank you. We’ll keep you posted.”

Though, the word posted came out strained as another contraction made her pregnant belly go tense. She started to huff and puff a little as she made her way to the door.

Gabe hung back with Ben, keeping the baby distracted while his parents moved towards the door. He looked up briefly and smiled. “Not a problem. Don't worry, you guys just focus on baby number two.” He bounced Ben up and down in his big arms, talking to him in soft tones one wouldn't think possible coming from a guy that looked like he did. “You ready for some fun, little man?”

“You’re going to be fine” Nina assured Audrey giving her a kiss on the cheek before moving to Gabe and Ben and making sure he was happy and distracted.

Once outside Merlin wrapped his arms around Audrey and transported them all to the hospital so they could meet their baby girl.