The Captain's Heart

sixteen

22nd January 2022 – forty weeks and five days pregnant.

Quietly making her way into the hospital room, Alex can't help but smile as she sees the blonde standing staring out the window; one hand is resting on the windowsill while the other rests on her hip as she gently rocks from side to side.

'Le... You doing okay?' Alex asks softly, causing the blonde to glance over her shoulder, a small smile on her face.

'Mm-hmm... I'm good. Thank you for coming.' Leah replies, smiling as she turns around to face the other woman fully.

'I got here as soon as I could, Le. Where's your mum?' Alex asks, glancing around the room.

'She's just popped downstairs to phone my dad and grandma to give them both an update.' Leah replies, making her way over to wrap her arms around Alex.

'How are things going? Have you seen a midwife yet?' Alex asks, and Leah nods her head.

'Last time they checked, I was around 4cm dilated, my waters have broken, and the contractions are regular but manageable at the moment.' Leah replies, causing Alex to smile.

'So it's definitely baby time?' Alex asks, and Leah nods her head.

'Definitely not leaving this hospital without a baby.' Leah replies, smiling as the room door opens and Amanda makes her way inside.

'Oh hi, Alex... How are you?' Amanda asks.

'I'm good, excited. How are you?' Alex replies.

'I'm good... Ready to meet this sweet bubs.' Amanda says smiling. She presses a kiss to the blonde's cheek before telling her how her dad and grandma were asking for her as Leah makes her way over to sit on the edge of the bed.

'I'm so tired.' Leah mumbles.

'Why don't you try to get some sleep, baba?' Amanda suggests.

'Mm... I might try get an hour or so before the contractions pick up.' Leah says, and Amanda nods her head.

'Alex and I will be right here when you wake up.' Amanda replies, smiling.

****

'So when did you actually realise you were in labour then?' Alex asks quietly in an attempt not to wake up the red-head who is fast asleep on the makeshift bed at the other side of the room.

'Middle of the night... Imogen had come over for dinner, and I probably should've known something was going on because I was an emotional wreck. We ordered a really spicy curry, which then just made me cry because it was so spicy.' Leah replies, causing Alex to laugh.

'But then it was the middle of the night when I properly started feeling contractions. I think I felt them consistently for maybe forty-five minutes before I phoned my mum and woke Imogen up.' Leah adds, causing Alex to nod her head.

'Are you so ready for her to be here?' Alex asks.

'Mm... I'm so ready, Al. This is what everything has led up to. Everything I've gone through has to get to this moment.' Leah replies, her hand resting on her stomach as Alex smiles.

'I can't wait to meet her, Le. It's insane that we're so close to meeting that tiny human that you've been growing inside you for the past nine months.' Alex says softly.

'It's funny because part of me thought by the time I got to this stage I'd be ready to get her here, ready to be able to start training and stuff but I'm actually just ready for all the silly little things. Just holding her, just sitting in her little room in the rocking chair and just being me and her, you know? The small moments.' Leah admits, and Alex nods her head.

'The mummy moments...' Alex says, and Leah smiles.

'Yeah, the mummy moments, I suppose.' Leah replies.

'Shouldn't be too much longer now, ey? You were what? 7cm dilated the last time they checked?' Alex says, and Leah nods her head.

'Mm-hmm...' Leah replies.

'You're handling this like an absolute champ, by the way. I totally would've been like give me all the drugs by now.' Alex says, causing Leah to laugh.

**** 

'I've got you.' Alex says softly as the blonde leans on her and groans through another contraction.

'I can't...' Lean moans shaking her head.

'You can, baba... You are doing so well. You're nearly at the end. She's so nearly here.' Amanda says.

'I'm so tired.' Leah replies and Amanda nods her head.

'I know you are. Do you want to try the shower again? See if the water on your back still helps the pain?' Amanda asks and the blonde shakes her head.

'What do you need from us?' Alex asks softly.

'I don't know.' Leah cries.

'Why don't I see if you can get some pain relief? Maybe some gas and air. I know you don't want the epidural.' Amanda suggests as there's a knock at the door.

'No.' Leah replies. Sighing Amanda makes her way over to the door which opens to reveal Lia.

'Hey, do you guys want to go grab some food?' Lia asks softly.

'I don't know. I'm not sure if now is the right time.' Amanda replies glancing back at the blonde.

'Wally...' Leah says quietly, and Amanda steps to the side to let her in.

'Hey, you... How you doing?' Lia asks making her way over to the blonde who turns to face her.

'Not good... I can't do it anymore. It fucking hurts.' Leah moans.

'Hey, look at me... You've got this. You're one of the strongest people I know. You've gone through so much to get to this stage, to get your baby and you're so close now to having her in your arms.' Lia says.

'So close.' Leah almost whispers.

****

Tears stream down both Alex and Amanda's cheeks as they stand with their arms around each other watching the blonde cradle the tiny bundle against her chest.

'Hello, little girl... I would've waited forever to meet you.' Leah whispers as she gazes down at the baby. After twenty minutes of pushing, baby girl Williamson was born at 3:26am weighing a healthy 6lb 9oz.

'Mum?' Leah says glancing over at Amanda who smiles.

'You did it, baba...' Amanda replies softly as she makes her way closer to the bed.

'I couldn't have done it without you, both of you.' Leah says glancing at Alex who wipes her cheeks and smiles.

'She's beautiful, Le. So perfect.' Alex replies.

'Have you picked a name yet, mama?' The midwife asks causing Leah to shake her head.

'Not yet...' Leah replies. The midwife finishes the clean up process as Leah cradles the baby in her arms having already delivered the placenta.

'Your visitors are going to have to leave as soon as we've moved you. They can return in the morning after 9am.' The midwife explains and Leah nods her head.

'Okay... I uh- Will they be able to help me get changed if I need it?' Leah asks and the midwife nods her head.

'Yeah, that's should be fine.' The midwife replies. Quietly she leaves the room as Leah bites her bottom lip to stop the tears that are threatening to fall.

'Hey... Look at me. What's wrong?' Amanda asks using her thumb to gently tilt the blonde's chin up.

'I'm scared. I don't want to be on my own. What if I don't know what to do.' Leah almost whispers.

'You're going to be absolutely fine. By the time they get someone to move you, it's going to be around 4-ish so it's only going to be a few hours and I'll be right back up here.' Amanda says causing the blonde to sigh.

'What if I don't know what she needs.' Leah asks.

'You will... If you need help the nurses are going to be right here as well. You'll have a buzzer that you can use whenever you need it.' Amanda replies.