This is Us [ Elijah Mikaelson ] 2

sixty-eight

Elijah knew that childbirth was extremely painful for women. He knew that Penelope would be in pain, and say a lot of things she didn't mean due to the pain. However, seeing her, hearing her, in this much pain and there was nothing he could do to help her... it was hard. "Come on, Penelope," He said encouragingly as she screamed and squeezed his hand so tight that he felt the bones in his fingers crack. "You're doing wonderfully."

"Says the man who's just sitting here!" She exclaimed through clenched teeth with tears streaming down her cheeks before letting out a heavy breath and leaning against his chest. "You try pushing a watermelon out of your body!"

"You're almost there, Penelope," The obstetrician told her and she let out a sob as her head fell back on Elijah's shoulder. "We need another push," and another cry of pain came from Penelope as she closed her eyes.

"Take a few deep breaths, then push," one of the delivery nurses told her softly from her other side. Doing as the nurse said, Penelope took a few slow, deep breaths before gripping Elijah's hand and pushed.

"I should've taken the epidural," she managed to get out as she continued to try and push harder. "This is fucking hell on Earth and it's all your fault! You and your stupid magic sperm!"

"I know," he nodded, wincing as he felt his fingers crack from her grip. "I'm so sorry, my love, I'll make it up to you," he promised, and she glared at him.

"You most definitely will!" She hissed as she gripped his hand again and continued to push.

"That's it," the OB encouraged, and Penelope shook her head as a sob of pain came from her lips. "You've got this, Penelope."

"No I don't," she sobbed, shaking her head as she relaxed in Elijah's arms. "I can't...I can't."

"You can," Elijah encouraged her softly, using his other hand to brush her damp hair from her forehead. Her eyes closed as she cried quietly from pain and exhaustion. They'd been in the delivery room for the last two hours, and in the hospital for almost fifteen. "I know you can, Penelope," he continued but she shook her head weakly. "Yes, you can. Want to know how I know?" he whispered and kissed the side of her head.

"How?" She asked quietly, her voice weak and hoarse from screaming, and she opened her eyes to look at him. Elijah only smiled at her.

"I know because you are strong, stronger than you think," he started as he squeezed her hand gently with subtle wince and she knew what he meant. "But also because you're a Mikaelson," he answered her and she felt the corners of her lips tug up only slightly, "and Mikaelson's don't give up."

"No, they don't."

"So what are we going to do?"

"Have a baby," she answered weakly and he nodded. Penelope gave him a small smile before took a deep breath, squeezed his hand and began pushing again.

"That's it," the OB encouraged again. "That's it, keep pushing, Penelope! You're so close," Penelope's body relaxed into Elijah as she took deep breaths. "I can see the head, Penelope, one more big push."

"You can do this, my love," Elijah whispered and kissed the top of her head again. "Just one more, you can do it," Penelope nodded slowly and gripped his hand tighter then took another deep breath before pushing hard.

It felt like an eternity of pain, but the moment Penelope heard a loud, ear piercing wail she relaxed instantly, crying with a smile on her face. "You did it," Elijah whispered proudly in her ear. "I'm so proud of you, little doe."