This time was much less private. Which, can I just say? Awkward as hell. Don’t get me wrong, I love being so loved. By every single person who lives here. That’s wonderful. But holy shit, there are things a girl doesn’t need an audience for. And I love my Halo girl, but she was a little bit too interested and excited and all up in my business. Thank god Drow and Zurry stepped in and redirected her energetic enthusiasm and ushered their pack of girls to a more comfortable distance. The sympathetic, apologetic smile on Drow’s face was enough to coax my lips into a little echoing smile, which was quickly erased by a grimace as another contraction hit.
I still felt too naked, too exposed. Until Tycho reached out and touched his nose to my shoulder, drawing my attention, and then nodded toward a nearby willow tree. The draping branches with their new leaves offered a screen of privacy, a quiet little sheltered area where the four of us could retreat to and I could feel...more secure. My clever, clever boy.
I gave birth to my second child beneath the shade of that willow tree, a perfect little girl with my blue coat and Pazuzu’s gorgeous black hair, and her grandma’s golden eyes. It was easier this time, faster and less absolutely terrifying. And I wasn’t alone. Not that I really had been last time, but I’d thought I was. And touch made so much difference. I felt anchored in their love, in the gentle touch of my lover’s lips to my skin and his steady assurance that he was there and everything was going to be alright, the warm glow of my mother’s healing energy washing over me, the quiet presence of my son standing beside me and letting me lean just a little on him now and then.
I was so nervous the last few weeks, knowing this day was coming. But now? Now she’s here, she’s really here. Sweaty and exhausted, I haul myself to my feet to go clean her off and just...just look at her. I could look at her forever. Tycho is already sniffing her and nuzzling her face by the time I get to her, and it melts my already pretty damn gooey heart. But he backs away to give me space to tend to his little sister and breathe in the new baby scent of her. “Hello, my little love.”
I look over at Pazuzu with the softest smile on my face and beckon him over. I feel like I should be glowing somehow, so full of love and happiness it should be radiating out of me for the whole world to see. “Come meet our daughter, love. Would...would you like to name her?”
I still felt too naked, too exposed. Until Tycho reached out and touched his nose to my shoulder, drawing my attention, and then nodded toward a nearby willow tree. The draping branches with their new leaves offered a screen of privacy, a quiet little sheltered area where the four of us could retreat to and I could feel...more secure. My clever, clever boy.
I gave birth to my second child beneath the shade of that willow tree, a perfect little girl with my blue coat and Pazuzu’s gorgeous black hair, and her grandma’s golden eyes. It was easier this time, faster and less absolutely terrifying. And I wasn’t alone. Not that I really had been last time, but I’d thought I was. And touch made so much difference. I felt anchored in their love, in the gentle touch of my lover’s lips to my skin and his steady assurance that he was there and everything was going to be alright, the warm glow of my mother’s healing energy washing over me, the quiet presence of my son standing beside me and letting me lean just a little on him now and then.
I was so nervous the last few weeks, knowing this day was coming. But now? Now she’s here, she’s really here. Sweaty and exhausted, I haul myself to my feet to go clean her off and just...just look at her. I could look at her forever. Tycho is already sniffing her and nuzzling her face by the time I get to her, and it melts my already pretty damn gooey heart. But he backs away to give me space to tend to his little sister and breathe in the new baby scent of her. “Hello, my little love.”
I look over at Pazuzu with the softest smile on my face and beckon him over. I feel like I should be glowing somehow, so full of love and happiness it should be radiating out of me for the whole world to see. “Come meet our daughter, love. Would...would you like to name her?”