Nathalie's Breakup

Part 31 - Birth

They left the mansion around half an hour later, the 'gorilla' driving them, while Gabriel sat beside Nathalie and held her hand to, at the same time, rub small circles over her belly.

"Please stop being scared, Gabriel. This is something very natural and not in the slightest a reason to act the way you do. I..."

She stopped and closed her eyes, her face grimacing, her free hand holding her stomach, while she was breathing slowly and deeply in and out.

"I'm here, darling. I'll be with you all of the time. I'll do whatever I can to make it easier for you, okay?" Gabriel tried to encourage her.

"Just shut the fuck up, Gabriel!" She spat at him angrily. But as soon as the very painful contraction stopped, Nathalie looked at him contritely and tried to apologise.

"I'm so sorry, darling. I didn't mean to hurt you!"

Gabriel just squeezed her hand a little tighter and responded.

"Don't. It's fine. I know you don't mean what you say."

The woman in labour grinned sheepishly and leaned over to peck his lips.

"I meant what I said, Gabriel. It just... I didn't plan to sound so mean and angry. But I was annoyed because I tried to focus on getting through the pain, and everything just pissed me off at that moment." She tried to explain. Her husband grinned at her.

"I can't wait until you yell at the hospital staff like that. Maybe I should ask Jerome to come here, he would die in fear, I think!" The designer chuckled.

Nathalie glared at him, then shook her head.

"Stop making fun of me. I am not in the mood."

They arrived at the hospital after an eighteen minute drive. Nathalie's contractions were now coming more regularly and were also more painful. Taking a firm hold around her waist, Gabriel helped her walk through the automatic doors into the high building after pulling her out of the car seat.

Before they had left from their home, he had made a couple of phone calls, one of those had been to the maternity ward to let them know they were heading there. That was the reason why they were already greeted by a young nurse who asked timidly.

"Are you Mrs Agreste? My name is Leonie, and I will show you to the delivery room we've prepared for you. I will also try to make you as comfortable as possible, so if there's anything you want or need, I will try to get it for you. Like food or beverages, a wet cloth for your face, stuff like that."

"Thank you, that's very sweet." Nathalie told her. Then she looked at Gabriel and pleaded. "No talking and no rubbing or stroking. But I need you to hold me taut right now because I am not sure if I can stay on my feet while..."

And then she broke off and cringed.

The concerned man held her with both arms, tried to support her as best as he could, until she stopped holding her breath and inhaled the air strongly.

The young nurse spoke again.

"Maybe we should hurry. Come, this way."

She grabbed the dufflebag Gabriel was holding and carried it for him so he could be there for his wife completely.

After only a short walk, they reached a glass door that led to the maternity ward, and after a couple more meters, they arrived in front of the delivery room that had been prepared for them.

"Please get comfortable while I inform a midwife or a doctor that you're here. I sadly can't tell you who will come for the examination, but I will inform you as soon as I've figured that out. I'll be right back!"