CANNONBALL ⇒ jegulus

FORTY FIVE

"Your...fuck...fuck!" James utters repeatedly. Regulus simply nods, resting his head in his hands. James curses slightly. "Have you had any contractions?"

Regulus seems to be too focused on rubbing small circles against his temples to reply so James frantically taps him. "Hey, c'mon love, you need to talk to me, let me know what's going on," He says. "Regulus, have you had any contractions? I...I know this is scary, but I need to know what's happening," 

Regulus shakes his head. "I...I...I don't know," He replies.

"You said you didn't feel good," James recounts. "When...when did you start too feel sick? Just take a breath, alright? It's...it's okay,"

Regulus peers over to James. "I...I started to feel queasy maybe twenty minutes ago?" He offers. He breathes heavily, slouching over slightly. "Now it's just a painful type of not good, s'why I couldn't eat any more," He elaborates. He appears much paler than James ever remembers him being.

"We've got to go, we have to get you to a hospital," James is running on overdrive. "I'll...I'll go pay, just...just stay sitting, breath, yeah? I'll be right back,"

Collecting up his wallet, James calls for a server and pays quicker than he ever has before. He did promise Regulus he would pay, after all. He gingerly explains to the waitress that had served them what had happened before offering his most sincerest apologies.

When James returns to the table, Regulus is now almost entirely hunched over. James pats his lower back before linking his arm a little.

Regulus doesn't shove him away and that to James is a good sign.

"C'mon, you're okay, hon, you're alright. My car's parked near the door, we don't have much to walk,"

Slowly, they make it to James' car, but not before Regulus has to endure a sharp contraction that leaves him biting his lip. James helps Regulus inside the car, uttering gentle words as he does so.

Regulus reaches for his phone. "Timer," He mumbles. "I need to time my c-contractions," He whispers to himself. James watches as Regulus scrolls. James can't help but admire how Regulus pulls himself together so quickly, despite the worry and dread he must be feeling. He turns to James. "He's...he's a little early. It's only November second, but the nurses will know what to do, he's going to be okay,"

James can't tell which one of them Regulus is reminding. He simply nods. "Course he is as he is probably going to steal his uncle's birthday limelight," James offers a soft smile.

Regulus groans slightly. "God, he really is my son," He winches.

Another contraction comes as they get out onto the road.

Regulus is curled in the passenger seat, he feels small, his forehead resting against the window while his shaky hands rest on his aching belly. When it's passed, he checks the timer on his phone. His heart drops sickeningly in his chest and he feels another wave of sweat come over him.

Through his agony, Regulus can hear James on the phone as he drives, rather quickly, perhaps too quickly. But somehow not quick enough.

"Hi. Yeah, it's me. L-look, I don't want to freak you out right now but I can't make tonight-" James paused abruptly and Regulus assumes it can only be Sirius' curses on the other end of the line.

"Padfoot, I-I can't be on a stage tonight," James urges more firmly this time. "Reg is in labor," He says so quietly Regulus almost misses it entirely.

The other end of the phone goes quiet for a moment and Regulus assumes Sirius might have fainted, until James gives a shaky reply that indicates he must think Regulus had fallen asleep. For there is no possible way James would want an already terrified Regulus to hear his next words.