Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

FIFTY ONE

Earn lay in the delivery room, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as she gripped the side of the hospital bed. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor matched her quickening heart rate, and each contraction brought fresh waves of pain. She was at 8 centimeters now, and the nurse had just checked her again, her face betraying the urgency of the situation.

Lada stood beside her, a mixture of fear and awe washing over her as she watched Earn handle the intense pressure. "You're doing so well, baby," she murmured, wiping a stray lock of hair from Earn's sweaty forehead. "Just two more centimeters. We're almost there."

Earn's breath came in quick gasps, her focus entirely on the tightening in her abdomen. "I know... but it hurts like hell," she managed, a faint laugh escaping her lips despite the discomfort. "I didn't sign up for this level of drama."

Lada chuckled softly, trying to lighten the atmosphere, though her heart raced. "You'd think we could've scheduled this for a less chaotic day."

"Right? Just my luck." Earn squeezed Lada's hand, her grip tightening as another contraction rolled in. "Lada, I swear... if you don't stop making jokes right now, I'll..."

"Okay, okay! No more jokes," Lada interrupted, rubbing Earn's back in soothing circles. "Just focus on breathing, alright? You're doing amazing."

With the pain peaking, Earn leaned back against the pillows, letting out a low groan. Her voice trembled, the mix of excitement and fear evident. "Why did we think this was a good idea again?"

"Maybe we thought it would be like a really intense game of hide-and-seek, and we just got a bit lost?"

Earn shot her a glare, her eyes narrowing slightly as she grunted through another contraction. "Lada! She snapped, her frustration bubbling over as another wave of pain surged through her. "I'm literally pushing a human out of me right now!"

"I know! I know!" Lada said, raising her hands in mock surrender, trying to suppress a grin. "But you have to admit, my jokes are pretty good under pressure!"

Earn took a deep breath, her annoyance giving way to a reluctant smile, despite the pain. "You're lucky I love you, you know that?" she said, rolling her eyes even as she fought through another contraction.

"Just think of this as a team effort," Lada said, the laughter in her voice calming the tense atmosphere. "You're so strong. Just a little more."

Earn's breathing quickened as the next contraction hit, her face contorting in effort. "Ohhhh... here we go again," she grunted, gripping Lada's hand even tighter. "Just... stay with me, Lada."

"I'm right here," Lada assured her, moving closer, ready to support her through every wave of pain. "You've got this. You're amazing."

The nurse returned, her presence steady and reassuring. "Alright, Khun Earn. We're nearly at ten. I need you to focus and let's get ready to push when you feel the next contraction."

Lada's heart raced at the mention of pushing, and she leaned in closer to Earn. "We're almost there, baby."

With a deep breath, Earn steeled herself, her determination shining through the pain. "Let's do this," she whispered, ready to bring their baby into the world.

As the next contraction built, Earn felt the pressure mounting, a primal urge igniting within her.

"Okay, focus on me," Lada said, positioning herself at Earn's side, her heart racing in sync with the urgency of the moment. "When you feel it coming, I want you to push like your life depends on it."

Earn nodded, her face taut with concentration. "Right. Push. Got it." She gripped Lada's hand as if it were a lifeline, the bond between them grounding her in the chaos.