OQ One Shots (#OQPromptParty)

SPOOKYOQ DAY SIX - SCREAM

Robin

I wanted to blink my eyes and wish away this entire process, but I held my breath as I gripped my wife's knee, grimacing as she struggled in exhaustion to bring our daughter into the world.

The nurse had instructed that I remain at her side, holding one leg back while clutching her hand, my eyes nearly sinking back into my head as I watched the baby attempt to enter into this world.

Regina looked so incredibly different from what I was used to, and I didn't know how to react to that simple fact. Her normally pristine hair was tossed into a half done ponytail on the top of her head, that I had attempted at some point during her labor. All of her makeup was wiped clean from her face, revealing the small, subtle patch of freckles that she normally kept concealed. Her contacts were never put in due to the fact that she had woken me up at three in the morning the day before, complaining about contractions, and her thick brimmed glasses had remained perched on her nose.

I felt horrible, knowing how exhausted I had felt, I knew my wife only felt worse, and judging by the profanities that she had been shouting at me, I knew she wanted it to be over just as much as I did.

"You're doing so well, I can see her every time you push." I encouraged as she gasped and flung herself back onto her pillow, trying to catch her breath. "You! You are the reason that this is happening!" She snapped, squeezing her eyes shut as her quick respite ended, making her entire body tense up.

"Push babe." I instructed, using my free hand to lift her head for her, feeling her hand fly over to my bicep, squeezing the life out of it as the baby's head became more visible.

"Regina, ease off. I'm going to need you to breathe your baby's head out, we don't want you tearing." The Doctor instructed, causing my wife to screech and toss her head back, puffing out quick and short gasps.

"She's coming! The head is coming out! Look, open your eyes!" I gasped in excitement, rubbing her forehead as she wearily opened her eyes to look down at the giant mirror that they positioned for her to watch the baby being born.

"Look, she's coming! Our little Halloween baby." I smiled, glancing at my watch that alerted me that it was now officially October 31st. "Robin- I can't! It's not fitting!" She groaned, trying to force the baby out and into this world. "I also don't give a flying fuck about Halloween!" She screamed at me, making me flinch back at her sudden increase in anger, most likely due to our daughter who was emerging.

"A few more breaths and the baby will be here." The doctor urged, making Regina pant profusely as the head pushed her to the breaking point. "It burns! I can't- I just need you to let me push!" She screamed, her tone catching the entire room off guard as the baby continued to stretch her.

"Breathe! You're doing so well! I can see her head every time you breathe." I exclaimed, trying to encourage my exhausted wife, but she just squeezed her eyes together and took harsh pants. Her grip increased profusely, but I could tell how tired she was, and how much she wanted to be done with this.

She may be a soon to be mother of three, but this was her first birth, the first time her body had to experience all this, and it was nothing like the movies. It was long, drawn out, and excruciating for her, almost making it impossible for me to watch her in this much agony. However, I did, what kind of shitty husband would I be if I left her alone to do this whole thing by herself, simply because I couldn't handle it.

"Head is crowning!" The doctor exclaimed as Regina let out a harrowing scream, arching her neck back as she tried to reposition herself into a more comfortable angle. I watched as she struggled for her breath, only making me swallow nervously and rub her forehead once more.

"I can't do it Robin, I'm so tired, and it hurts so bad." She now sobbed, shaking her head back and forth on her tear stained pillow. "Hey, look at me." I said gently, cupping her chin softly so she could align her eyes with mine, her pants returning to a regular rhythm.

"You're doing it, and you're so close." I whispered, leaning in so my nose pressed against her temple. She groaned painfully and nearly pushed her body off the bed with her legs in the stirrups, making me widen my eyes and return to my spot with her leg in my grip, holding it back so the baby's head had room to emerge.

I watched her body relax momentarily as the head finally slid free, causing Regina to sink back into the bed, trying to catch her breath. "Get her an oxygen mask." The doctor whispered to a nurse who scurried away, hooking my wife up to a plastic mask that they placed over her nose and mouth.

"Okay, when the contraction starts up again, I'm going to need you to give me a huge push, okay?" The doctor instructed, making my wife nod tiredly, her eyes shut. I smiled because she almost looked at peace, as if she were sleeping. However that quickly ended when her brow furrowed, making her reach down and grip my wrist that had her knee linked over it.

"She's coming! Oh my god!" I cried, watching as she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, her voice echoing down the halls as she moaned and groaned, struggling profusely to birth this baby.

"Come on babe! You're doing it! You're so close!" I exclaimed, her screams increasing as the shoulders slid out with ease, allowing the doctor to twist the body.

"Robin!!!!" She screamed, now opening her doe brown eyes at me. They were full of tears and I could see every hour that she had spent in torture, trying to bring our daughter earthside.

"Robin! Make it stop! Please!" She begged, stopping momentarily to toss her head back and suck in some air. She drank it in hastily and used it to push, screaming bloody murder as the baby emerged even more.

"Robin, take her!" Regina begged, making my bones freeze as I looked at the distressed doctor for permission, but he did not allow it.

"One more big push, come on, we need to get her out." He instructed, his tone more urgent, quickly getting across to my distressed wife, who urgently bore down in a painful push.

She screamed loudly and gripped my hand, my other one feebly attempting to soothe her as I rubbed her head, watching as her body immediately fell limp on the bed. The doctor held up the tiny baby and began hastily rubbing her back.

"Where is she?! Why isn't she crying?" Regina demanded weakly, her arms itching to have our little girl in them.

"She's right there, open your eyes mama." I whispered, my own worry causing my own eyes to cloud with tears.

A nurse quickly stuck the suctioning bulb down her throat, causing her to gag and let out a loud scream to welcome herself into the world, a dramatic entrance, just like her mother.

"Oh my god." Regina sobbed, instantly reaching out for our wet, squirming little girl. The doctor smiled and carefully set her on Regina's chest, drying her off with a towel. My eyes were blurred with tears as I reached over to rub her tiny hand that was sticking out of the green towel.

"You did it!" I cried, watching as my wife continued to sob from joy and exhaustion, repeatedly kissing our baby's head. "She's here, I can't believe she's here!" She sobbed tiredly, I checked my watch and saw that it was a little after midnight, and how exhausted she probably was.

"I can't believe you're here, my little pumpkin, you have some lungs on you, don't you Penelope?" Regina softly cooed, making her quiet down at the sound of her name, spoken to her by the voice that carried her for nine long months.

"I love you, even if you did scream at me." I whispered to Regina, watching her look up from the baby that was resting contently on her chest.

"I love you too." She smiled, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes, making me chuckle and kiss her tenderly.

"Robin, do you want to cut the cord?" The doctor asked with a smile, handing me a pair of scissors. "And just a word of wisdom." He chuckled as he instructed me where to cut.

"If you think your wife snapping at you during labor was rough, just wait til you have a screaming newborn at night."