Midnight Hype

Day Forty

Originally, the timer counting to the birth started at twenty two hours, now it had ticked down to sixteen hours.

"D...Drac..." Ericka sputtered into a coughing fit.

"What is it, lovebug?"

"I'm...thirsty..."

"Oh...I-I don't have anything..."

"P-Please..."

"I'm so sorry but I don't have anything, I can't teleport something if I don't know if it's there or not."

"Mnhnmnn..."She groaned in response, her need for water growing by the minute as he kept her close. Her groaning dwindled away and she began shifting around, trying to get comfortable while she still could. Her breathing was very audible and raspy, but he didn't mind.

Moments later she grasped his hands and rested her head back onto his chest with her eyes shut tight, suddenly howling out in piercing agony. Her wailing diminished into crying as another contraction passed, not sure how it was even possible to feel so much pain.

"I...I can't keep doing this..." She blubbered, blinking away her tears as she tried to sit up.

"You're doing so well, honey," He cooed in encouragement as he brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear, before kissing her forehead which was glistening with sweat, "it'll be over soon, I promise."

"I-I knoow..." She croaked horsley, gaze resting on the ceiling as she tried to calm her nerves.

A few minutes passed as they sat in silence, only the soft muffled thrumming of the ship's engine vibrating deep below the floor and the quiet buzzing of the fluorescent lights humming filled the air.

Ericka was confused on why she hadn't gotten another contraction yet, although she was relieved to get a break from the pain, it was concerning. She scooted up a little closer to Drac, trying to sit up,

"...You okay in there?" She asked, poking her stomach gently with a finger.

"What's wrong?"

"I haven't gotten a contraction in a while...and I'm not feeling anything..." Her voice started to quiver.

"Hm...could they be taking a rest?"

"Even if they were, I'm sure I'd still f-feel something," She felt her hands start to tremble as fear crept in, "c-could you check on them...please?"

"Of course, coffin cake."

He scooted out from behind her and helped rest her against the wall before rubbing his ear. He pressed his ear up against her and started listening. At first he heard nothing, starting to become concerned himself.

"I-um...uh..."

"Are they okay?" Ericka asked in a small voice, clinging onto the last string of hope.

"I...I'm not..." He started trying to speak, not sure how to say it, when he heard a small rapid thumping, "I hear them!" He gleefully yelped, making her perk up.

"Oh thank goodness. I-I thought something bad might have happened to them..."

"Their heart is beating a mile a minute! Is that normal?"

"It is, infant heart rates tend to be much faster than adult ones."

"Huh...I learn something new every day." He chuckled, not moving his head but glancing up to see her looking back, her smile warming his core.

Drac kept listening although he didn't need to anymore, finding it fascinating. He was almost ready to go back to cuddling with her, but he felt what he thought was a small hand pressing up against his cheek.