A brand new family member (Howl's Moving Castle fanfic)

Chapter 9:

Author's Note: Here you go everyone, finally in 2 years, I've posted a chapter. I had so many hopes and dreams for this book when I started. To be honest, I didn't think many people back then would read my book. I do apologize for not posting anything. The reason I've not been able to "pull chapters out of my ass"/ write anything seems to be everyone else. I have great respect for people who can write a chapter 1-2 weeks at a time. But the reason for me is that mainly of major writer's block, like life kind of hit me with school, relationships and because of both of those things, the inspiration for it is very low. That can't be an excuse for my doing, so I hope you guys like it. I don't think it's going to be very long because I'm still on the edge of writer's block for this. I also want to thank you for all the comments of support and concern. These are the ones that made me smile and finally got me through writing this chapter.

Chapter 9: This is it

Howl and Markel ran down the stairs. Howl saw Sophie lying on the floor. However, he didn't move; he just stood there. In shock, his muscles tensed. This was it.

"HOWL SNAP OUT OF IT!" Markel said, making Howl's body able to move again from his moment of shock. This was the day his life would change forever. He should have been happy for this moment, but inside was deeply scarred.

~

They were now at the hospital. Howl was holding Sophie in his arms and Markel close behind. Sophie woke up within seconds she was screaming from the amounts of pain. The sound of her scream was so loud it made Howl's ears being to ring. A nurse rushed to them, pushing a wheelchair and everyone in the waiting room staring at them. Once the nurse came close enough, Howl put Sophie in the wheelchair. As much as he wanted her to be in his arms after how heavy she was now and the screaming, he was kind of relieved that she wasn't in his arms. Howl turns his head and sees Markl restrained by one of the nurses, saying that he was apart of the family and should come with Howl and Sophie. "Don't worry, Markl; we will be fine. We should out soon." Howl said while walking away with Sophie.

They head to a room with a hospital bed. Two chairs were by the bed on the side of the room closest to the door and a window on the other side. Everything on the walls and the floor were white.

The nurse helps lift Sophie on to the bed. Sophie's eyes were tightly closed, breathing rapidly. After the nurse quickly examined her telling them that she wasn't even close to pushing the baby. Howl felt helpless as he could see tears streaming down her face in pain. Howl began to go close to Sophie, but when he lightly touched her head. She was burning. Her skin was already slightly wet from sweating.

Hours later, night darkens the room and only one light tiny light shines the room. Howl lays on the chair staring at Sophie, her body so fragile. Her skin has turned to this discoloured pale white colour, like all the sunlight in the body has turned to shadow.

"Howl if something happens to me..."

"No! that won't happen, I won't let it!" Howl exclaims, stopping Sophie mid-sentence.

She turns her head slightly towards him, slightly smiling. "Let me finish. If everything fails in the end, I want you to take care of the child and raise him or her to be a wonderful, kind, caring sorceress, just like you." Sophie closes her eyes, tightened her jaw and grabbed a piece of her dress by her stomach, feeling the contractions again. The doctor comes in at this point, rechecks Sophie. She was finally ready to push. What seemed for too many hours was finally here. But Sophie, at this point, barely had any fight left in her. Howl tried again to touch her hand for support. Once the initial touch wasn't pleasant from the high concentration of magic of the baby inside her, he held on giving her some form of support. Sophie's screaming, the pushing seemed to go on forever. But then a light was radiating from her body, and with one last cry, silence came about the room for only a moment. The next thing Howl knew, he heard high pitch crying and saw a glimpse of a tiny figure in one of the nurse's arms.