The Lantern Bearers

chapter 27: an absolute miracle

I would wake up to Yui in my arms, my memory still fuzzy from last night, but as i lifted the blanket to check and see if what happened last night really happened or not. As i looked under the blanket, we were both, indeed, naked. The camp was quiet for the most part, until a agonized scream disrupted the whole camp.

"Master! That's willow's voice!" Yui said, almost leaping out of bed to get dressed.

My grogginess would sweep over me and vanish, as i did the same, throwing on my clothes.

We would both run outside and were met with the sight of a small gathering and a panicking Zeus, running up to us, pale as a ghost.

"Papa! Willow is hurting! There's all this goop everywhere!" He exclaimed, freaking out.

Willow was already in labor?? There's no way she could be, unless she got the time wrong. If you don't keep up with it, time will zoom by you since there is no moon or sun to go by, like our forefathers used. Without knowing whether or not if it's AM or PM can make tracking a calendar day a nightmare, especially if the person you ask isn't keeping track either.

Willow must've not known she was in full term yet.....either that or....the baby is a premature one.

Me and yui would push past the crowd and sure enough there she was. She was in pure agony, with fluids on the barrel she was sitting on and on the ground. Her water just now broke.

"The baby is coming!!" Willow screamed.

"Master, her belly isn't that big. From what I've read, the belly should be way bigger than this!" Yui exclaimed.

"Not if the baby is positioned a certain way or if other conditions are met to cause a cryptic pregnancy. The baby might be in an upright position and almost laying flatly in her womb. Either that, or it's a premature birth. I've delivered my own kids before in the wilderness. San, Yui, you stand on both sides of her. Sully, i need you to go in my shop and warm up some water! To hell with stock and money. Men of the haven, i need a couch with clean sheets! Women, i need your help as well. San, we're gonna carry her, using my wheelchair to stablelize her feet and legs, you two keep her level as well." Nathan demanded as we all scrambled to get willow ready for delivery.

After everything was set, Nathan was at Willow's other end with Yui beside him.

"Alright Yui, when i give you the baby, i need you to clean it real good for me. This is gonna take a long ass time y'all, so y'all might as well get comfortable." Nathan said.

"H-how lo- RRRRG!" Willow said as she winced in pain.

"Could be twelve hours or longer, it depends on the dilation process and how your body reacts to the birth procedure. Hopefully, we don't run into any complications." He said honestly.

"Everything will be alright, willow." I reassured her.

"San....I'm scared....I'm in so much pain...." willow said, soldiering through the pain.

"Baby girl if i had any sort of pain medication on hand, i would shoot you up so you wouldn't be going through this suffering sweetheart, but this baby will be born tonight and we're all here for you!" Nathan said with determination.

We would wait for hours on end until, it was time for the delivery.

"Alright baby girl, i'mma need you to push." Nathan said calmly.

"It hurts too much!" Willow exclaimed.

"If she doesn't push, the baby will perish." Yui said bluntly.

"Yui!" I scolded.

"No, she's right. If i don't do it, the baby will die. I gotta grit my teeth and do it for that sweet little angel!" Willow cried out.