Baby steps

PP week 1A - Adjustment and routine

Adora struggles to adapt to motherhood. She begins to neglect the baby to the care of the nursery staff; running off on missions, barely healed. She eventually breaks apart... spectacularly.

~

Odd one this: it's set across most of S4. ND says the series takes place over 3yrs. S1 was 1yr, S2 & S3 was 6 months, and S4 to end was 1.5yrs. So Part A is S4 EP'S 2 & 3. Part B is 4 & 7. EP's 5 & 6 happen simultaneously, but are irrelevant to the story - so they happen over 1 day. Make sense?
No.

Great 😁

On with the show!

~

The first day passed in a violent blur for Adora. After she'd sat on Glimmer's bed, shell shocked after giving birth alone, the young Queen had fussed over the baby, making sure she was ok. Adora's daughter (god, that felt weird to say) in all her hour of life, was quite a placid baby. Not that Adora knew what a newborn should sound like, but she knew there was supposed to be screaming. Like... a lot of it. Glimmer forced her to drink water as well.

Lots of it.

It kinda hurt her belly, to be honest. Try as she might, Adora couldn't hide the whines of pain as she swallowed more liquid. Glimmer rubbed her shoulder. "When did this happen?" She asked softly, holding the baby tightly. Adora's hands shook as she held the glass. "Shortly after midnight," She whispered. "Why didn't you come get one of us? We would've helped you," Glimmer said gently. Adora shrugged softly. "I only went for a walk," She whispered. "Then... the contractions started. And- and I was too far away to get help," She took another sip, despite feeling incredibly sick. "I wouldn't have made it,"

Glimmer simply rubbed her shoulder. "You're probably in shock. Are you cold?" She asked. Adora glanced at her shaking hands. "I don't know," She whispered. Glimmer simply hummed. "Here, hold her," Adora's glass was snatched away, replaced by a sleeping baby. She fumbled, grasping her as Glimmer had. The young Queen draped a warm blanket over her shoulders. An aroma filled her nose, calming her immediately. It reminded her of-

"It was my mom's," Glimmer's voice was quiet. "Don't tell anybody this, or I'll kill you," She said, gently touching the blanket. "I spray it with her perfume every week... just so it smells like her," She sighed softly. "It helps everything,"

Adora felt the tears brew in her eyes before the stinging. Luckily, she could easily put it down to the newborn snoozing in her arms. The two friends sat there in silence, only broken by the soft snuffling of her daughter. Shortly after, the doors creaked open. "Your Majesty? The healers are here," Juliet said, smiling softly at the baby. "I never thought Adora would be the first of us to have a baby," She said playfully. Adora's lip quirked into a small smirk as she gestured to the baby. "I'm just that irresistible," She whispered. Juliet snorted as she let the healers in.

One took the baby softly and another held Adora's hands. "I hear you had the baby earlier than we'd planned?" Adora's nerves were put to rest at the sight of her long-term doctor; Amalthea. She nodded, still in shock. Adora turned back briefly to Glimmer. "Want me to come with you?" She asked quietly. Adora nodded. "I can't be alone," She whispered, her voice cracking. Glimmer was by her side immediately, wrapping Angella's old blanket around her shoulders. They walked quietly, with Glimmer filling in the questions Amalthea asked as best she could.

"No, she hasn't had the placenta yet," Was the sentence that snapped her to attention. Amalthea mewled. "That's gonna hurt," Adora whined. "Well, not as much as childbirth itself... but then again, you lucky soul, everything's gonna hurt for the next few days," Adora groaned. Amalthea was way too cheerful for two in the morning. "But don't you worry. We've got all the right stuff to help as much as possible,"