Barbara Dunkelman x Reader

Giving birth

-Flashback Barbara Pov-

When we found out I was pregnant, there was a lot to do to prepare for that. The first thing we did was start calling loved ones to let them know. The first person I called was Arryn, and (y/n) called Ally. After that, we started calling the rest of our family to let them know. My side of the family was really happy, I mean they loved (y/n), and my parents were really excited to be grandparents, and my brothers were happy to be uncles. Ally was happy to be an aunt, and for all their difficulties dealing with him, (y/n)'s parents also wanted to be grandparents.

Everyone in the office was amazingly helpful, like they always are. Burnie and Geoff gave us a lot of advice and stories about their experience as parents, and it meant a lot to us. Another thing that meant a lot to us was when we talked about it on the podcast, how happy everyone in the office was. I mean, I knew they would all be happy, but I remember being brought to the point of tears of joy about how happy they were.

And it wasn't just them that were happy. The fans flooded in with so many supportive comments and it was just beautiful. It really made me realize how many people watched and cared about Roosterteeth, and cared about us beyond our roles as voice actors, and what not. They were really just invested in our personal lives. Even when we made the announcement that we would have to appear less on podcasts, they still didn't care, and were just happy.

One of the things about your dad that always stuck with me over the years was how calm he was about everything. I knew a lot of stories about people who found out they were going to have a kid, and they absolutely freaked out. Whenever your father and I would talk about how we were going to raise a child, he was always so calm about it.

If anything, I was the one who was freaking out about it. I kept asking him questions about the worst case scenario. He never told me I was overreacting, or being paranoid. Every time, your father would do his best to put my doubts to rest. No matter how many times it came up, he was always calm about it, and never tried to make my doubts seem like they were stupid.

I remember one time, I fell in love with your father all over again. I had read somewhere about a couple that had split up because of the strain of raising kids, and I was worried. I remember showing him the article, and asking him, " What if we can't do it? What if that's us?" I remember being on the verge of tears when I asked him that.

He gave a small smile, before pulling me into the tightest hug he had ever given me. " It's gonna be okay Barb. We aren't going to let that be us. And before you ask how I know, I just do okay? You and I have made it through everything so far, and I promise you that raising a child with you won't be what breaks us apart."

When he said that, I started crying. I was just an emotional mess. But he just held onto me, and started rocking back and forth. " Everything is going to be okay Barbara, I promise you. You're going to be an amazing mother, and we're gonna love our child so much."

After that, it was easy. I knew (y/n) was always going to be there for me, and that he believed in me. We found out you were going to be a girl, and then we talked about what features we hoped you would get from each of us. " Well, I hope she gets your eyes," he told me. " I mean, your eyes are beautiful."

I love your father for that. The truth of the matter is couples breakup when they treat each other like a given rather than a privilege. Your father never stopped flirting with me, or complimenting me. " Act like you can't lose her, and the next thing you know she's gone," he had told me when I asked.

The day my water broke was one of the most exciting and yet nerve-wracking of my life. I was with Arryn and (y/n), over a drink of coffee. When I felt my water breaking, we went into (y/n)'s car. Arryn sat in the driver seat, figuring (y/n) would be too freaked out to drive. He shrugged. " You can drive if you want, but I'm calm. I'm a few hours way from being a father. And with Barbara. Why would that make me nervous?"

In the hospital, he sat with me and held my hand the entire time. Whenever I would have a contraction, he just talked with me, and told me stories to help me calm down. And the entire time I was giving birth, he didn't freak out. Just held my hand, and stroked my hair. " You can do this Barb," he kept saying. " You're strong enough to do this."

When he had to leave for the bathroom, the nurses told me about how calm (y/n) was being. They told all kinds of stories of fathers freaking out, ranging from throwing up to passing out. They told me I was lucky to have found someone who was so supportive and calm. " I'm the lucky one," he said as he walked back into the room. He went back to holding my hand and stroking my hair.

Eventually, you were born. The doctors and nurses let me and (y/n) hold you, before saying he had to leave for the night. But, he pulled out a sleeping bag, and set it on the floor. If I had had any doubts that I should be with him, they all died right then and there.

-Present Day-

As I tell Sophie that story, she falls asleep. I smile at her. (y/n) places a hand on my shoulder, and smiles warmly. I look over at the man I love, and see the adoration he has for me and our daughter in them. He's the best in every sense of the word. The best brother, boyfriend, husband and father.