Our future signed in letter

Chapter 21

Same day in London:

The two women are alone for three hours and Gabi's contractions gradually get stronger and her screams of pain get louder from time to time. Mikasa is getting more and more nervous and panicked. How much longer will it be? She thinks worriedly. It's getting dark outside. Levi will worry, the way she knows him.
Please Gabi! Stay strong, are her thoughts for her friend.

She hears a knock. Finally! That must be the midwife! She runs to the door and Mrs. Meyer is standing in front of her.
"Mrs. Ackermann? I didn't expect you to be here. Don't they say you're already going into labor? ” The midwife says worriedly.
Mikasa’s hand wanders to her belly, which is now visible, "No, everything is fine with me! It's about Gabi! "
Immediately the midwife's concern turns into serenity, “Oh, I see! Well, then we'll help the little one and the mother-to-be ... "
We ?! thinks Mikasa, startled. She actually expected to go back to the store and let Falco know.
"Shouldn't I go get the father-to-be?" Asks Mikasa uncertainly.
The midwife goes to Gabi and looks at the situation. She takes off the blanket and looks how far Gabi is already. Gabi does her breathing exercises at regular intervals.
“You are doing well, Mrs. Grice. I can already see the head ”, she encourages Gabi and turns to Mikasa, “ please stay. Least of all I need the father here as a nervous wreck. I'll tell you what to do."

Mikasa is startled to see the amount of blood on the towels. The midwife sees her gaze and touches Mikasa's arm.
“ That is normal Mrs. Ackermann. It will be alright. So it is better that we women do this between ourselves and the two of you do not be afraid. "
Mikasa swallows hard at the thought, "okay."
She sits down at Gabi's head, " Did you hear, Gabi? I'll stay with you until your baby arrives. You can do it !"
The mother-to-be, panicked and holds her hand, “ That won't work! Falco wanted to be there! ”
Gabi tears flow from fear and pain.
In pain, she squeezes Mikasa's hand as hard as possible until her fingers become white.

“ Your husband don't have that much time left, Mrs. Grice. Your baby is about to be born now. I have to do a dam incision on you now so that you don't tear, "she explains to Gabi," as soon as that is done. Start pushing with the next contraction! "
Mikasa slowly understands why she should be the one helping Gabi and not Falco. On the one hand because a man reacts more in panic and may break down or disturb the midwife in her work, but also as preparation for what is ahead of her in the summer. She gets a queasy feeling in the stomach and gets the feeling of vomiting. The midwife sees the white color of Mikasa's face, “Be a support to your friend. She needs you now. " She looks at Mikasa seriously and Mikasa swallows hard," all right. "
Then the midwife goes back to Gabi.
The cut is done quickly. "Mrs. Grice, as soon as the next contraction comes, start pushing!" Says the midwife.
The birth turns out to be hard work for Gabi. Her screams are so loud and painful ... But in the end ...
At the end all three hear a pitiful, strong cry and a red, soggy something lies between Gabi's legs.
The midwife roughly wipes the newborn with the towels and wraps it. "Here, this is your son, Mrs. Grice," and she squeezes the little bundle in her arms. Crying and wet with sweat, Gabi holds the newborn in her arms.
Mikasa is crying herself and can't believe what has just happened here.
The midwife frees the newborn from the umbilical cord and the placenta has also come loose during the birth without any problems.
The midwife puts the little one on Gabi's breast, "It will be hungry. This will calm it down and you will take away the little one's fear. You can thus establish your first bond with him. "
While the little baby is sucking on Gabi’s breast, the midwife begins to sew up the perineal incision again, which is accompanied by a few stitches.
When she is done, she turns to the two women, "I'll take the new born from you and bathe him with the prepared water."
Both women hear the new born cry loud and clear. “Someone doesn't like to be bathed there…” jokes the midwife. The two women are both crying and neither can believe what has just happened. The midwife quickly brings the small bundle back into Gabi's arms.
"The cute baby has Falco’s hair.." , Gabi cries overjoyed and the sight of her newborn lets bear the pain of the birth and gets over it better.
At the sight of the two, Mikasa longs to want to hold her baby too. Quietly she feels a slight vibration within herself, as if small butterflies were fluttering in her lower stomach. Her hand moves there reflexively and she realizes that her own unborn child is making itself felt for the first time today. Gabi notices her reaction, “I know your reaction. Your little one has just moved inside you for the first time, ”and points to the place in Mikasa where it is roughly located.
Mikasa is wiping away her tears and her emotions are overwhelming. “I'm going to call your husband at work now. I think Mrs. Ackermann is busy with herself and her little bean ”, she smiles understandingly at both of them.
The midwife is back after a few minutes. “Your husband will be with you in a moment, Mrs. Grice,” the midwife tells her.
Both women are currently looking fascinated at the small bundle and it is sleeping peacefully in Gabi's arms.
"I'm sorry that you had to watch it all", Gabi apologizes to her. The new born grabs one of her index fingers, “ look at it. It looks like Falco. ” The young mother lovingly hugs the little baby.
" That's fine. I think it's a preparation for what awaits me in summer, ”says Mikasa thoughtfully and a little wistfully.
“I have already calculated your appointment, Mrs. Ackermann. Your baby should be born at the beginning of July ” , the midwife says, and she is in the process of clearing everything away and disinfecting her tools.
After a few minutes, Falco has arrived and, crying, runs towards his small family.
"Thank God nothing happened to both if you " , he takes Gabi and the little bundle in his arms. He looks in astonishment at the newborn baby, which has arisen from his and Gabi's love.
The midwife slowly sets off and Mikasa is already standing in the door of the apartment, “I'll say goodbye to both of you and I'll be back with you tomorrow, Gabi. Sleep well tonight! "
Falco answered her, “ The captain is waiting for you downstairs. When he found out that Gabi had given birth to our son, his worries were gone and he knew that you stayed with Gabi. "