Blades Of Shadow (Kanej Oneshots)

Nina The Midwife

I told you I'd be back! This is in the middle of the story because that's where it is time wise. So basically this is Nina pov. Pretend rule of wolves doesn't exist if you read it (zoyali forever though).  

Also I don't know a lot about the process of giving birth so forgive me if it's wrong 😬😅. 

A knock on the door at exactly 5:37 PM awoke Nina Zenik from her nap. The half eaten waffles on the the coffee table had long since gone cold, Nina's face was creased from the wrinkles of the leather settee, and a consistent pounding at the door interrupted her dreary thoughts. 

"I swear if Jesper shows up drunk at my door one more time..." she muttered as she threw open the oak door. If her wrinkle straggly hair, crumpled dress, and crazed expression frightened the young messenger boy at her door, he did not show it. A sheen of sweat drips off his brow as if he had run to deliver the news. These new hires were so eager. 

"Ma'am Miss Ghafa requests your presence on the attic floor." Mrs Brekker, she silently corrected the boy. Since when did Inej call for Nina? She was perfectly capable of walking down those steps for hers- Oh, right she's nine months pregnant. That's why I'm staying in the slat in the first place.

Inej was going into labor. 

Maybe it was her groggy mind idled from sleep, but Nina did not latch on to this thought as quickly as she should have. When she did a few moments later she gripped the boy by the shoulders. 

"Tell Mr. Brekker that he is needed on the attic floor immediately, but be discrete." 

"Mr Brekker is in a meeting ma'am." But Nina was already racing up the stairs as she called back,

"I don't care if he's playing cards with the king of Ravka, tell him to come immediately!" 

***

When Nina reached Inej and Kaz's floor she didn't knock before opening, out of breath from the fleets of stairs. 

"Inej?"

"In here." Nina followed Inej's voice to the bedroom where her and Kaz slept every night. She was on the bed hand over the bulging stomach, grimacing. 

"I sent for Kaz" Nina told her at the same time Inej said,

"I think my water broke."  

Nina panicked, she wasn't a real midwife, and though she had helped deliver a few babies, it had always been in the presence of healers. Why had Kaz asked her to do this?

"Ok just calm down." 

"Nina I'm literally more calm then you right now."

They both were silent for a few moments before Nina thought of something to do. She laid a bath towel on the bed and hand Inej change into one of Kaz's larger shirts that went down to her knees. Just as Inej was settling back into the bed, they heard the door fly open from the other room.

Kaz came rushing in, his tie askew from running. He ran a hand through his hair and threw his jack on his desk. 

"How are you?" Nina could see real concern etched across his features at he dragged his desk chair over to her bedside and sat in it.

"Fine, the contractions are getting worse and my water broke." She inhaled one of those breaths you take to stop yourself from crying out and Kaz grabbed her hand. 

As Inej went into labor, Nina offered words of encouragement and Kaz murmured to her soothingly, kissing her hand every so often.

It was amazing how far Kaz had come, Inej hadn't seen his gloves anywhere on his person or in his and Inej's apartment. He gripped her hand tightly without whatever affliction he had against skin taking him over. 

It was amazing, Nina thought, how Kaz's whole demeanor changed when he was with Inej. He went from cold, unfeeling, barrel boss to absolutely smitten husband in the time it took for him to pick a lock. 

When Inej started to push her breaths became ragged and her face red, this time Nina heard what Kaz said to her.

"You don't have to be quiet in here Inej darling, it's only us." His raspy voice was low and Inej nodded. Nina watched as her fingernails sank into Kaz's bare hand, drawing blood as she continued to push; he didn't so much as flinch. She did cry out the next time her scream guttural and piercing. 

It took hours for the baby's head to be visible and even though it's skin was red and flushed, Nina could tell it had Kaz's pale colored skin. Hopefully it doesn't have his horrible haircut as well. Well that was a dumb thought for a baby.

"Just a little more Inej, your almost done." Nina encouraged holding the baby's head up. Finally with a scream from Inej, a soft cry pierced the air. 

"It's a girl." Nina told the new parents gently cradling the pink child in her arms. She placed the baby in Inej's arms and tears fell from the Suli girl's eyes. 

"Anastasia." Kaz looked mesmerized my the tiny human reaching his non bloody hand out to touch her little fingers. Her fingers latched around his pointer finger and Nina could tell then and there that this baby and her mother was the center of his whole world. Not money or revenge anymore but love. He and Inej made eye contact and slowly he kissed her.

It was at that moment Nina decided to leave the new family in peace.