I felt a strange trickle down my leg and looked up at Riddler in panic.
"Not pre-contractions," I whispered.
His green eyes widened and he lifted me into his arms.
"Ivy!"
Everything flew past. I was hauled away from the kitchen and upstairs in such a rush that I almost didn't register the pain.
Almost.
Part of me wished I was braver and could deal with the agony, but the feeling was unlike anything I'd felt before. And I'd felt a lot of pain.
I yelled and screamed as Riddler gently placed me on my bed and retreated to the doorway, taking towels from Ivy as she ran back out.
"Harley, just breathe okay? We'll get you through this," Riddler soothed, propping me up with pillows.
"I can't do this. I need a hospital. I need a doctor! We don't have the right equipment, I could die!" I cried helplessly.
Riddler's green eyes fell serious as he took my hand in his.
"You're doing this right here, right now. You're not dying today, Harley."
Ivy returned with hot water and covered me with a sheet as she pushed my black dress up. I writhed on the bed, squirming and struggling to breathe.
"Ed," Ivy whispered.
Riddler turned my head to his face.
"Now you look at me, nothing else. Focus on me, squeeze my hand and breathe!"
I did as I was told and took deep rasping breaths while I crushed his warm hand.
We sat like this for what felt like hours before Ivy suddenly grabbed my legs.
"I can see the head! Push, Harley, you need to push now!"
"I can't, I can't do it," I said weakly, black spots clouding my vision.
But Riddler shook me violently.
"PUSH!"
So I did. I screamed and cried, but I pushed. And pushed. Then suddenly it was over.
"She's here, you did it Harls!" Riddler beamed, his face lighting up with pride.
But it was silent. Too silent for that moment. I knew what I was meant to hear, and the sound was missing.
"Ivy," I groaned, trying to sit up.
She moved away from me, a bundle in her arms, and ran to the bathroom.
"Ed what is she doing? Red, bring her back. Red please!" I begged.
Ivy exchanged a glance with Riddler, who inhaled sharply and squeezed my hand tightly.
"It's okay Harls, don't struggle just lie still."
"No no no, bring me my baby please. I need to see her, Ed, I need to-"
"Harley just lie down and-"
Forcing myself upright, I tried to push him away as I clambered to my feet. There was blood everywhere, so much blood.
"Ivy..."
"Come on Harley," Riddler said as he grabbed me.
"Get off!"
I reached the bathroom. The blood against the white sink was too contrasting and everything was so confused. Ivy was pushing one hand against the the baby's chest and then breathing into her tiny lips
