So This Is Life

Chapter 17

2 weeks later (Thomas is now 24 weeks pregnant)

Of course it was going to happen at work. And of course my baby girl had to make a spectacular and terrifying entrance into the world. I mean, she's half-me, the flair has obviously been there from the start. 

All I was doing was sitting at my desk when the pain started. That's all I was doing. Well, actually, I was turning a rubber band ball over and over in my hand, because I've always been bewildered by those things. I don't know if it was the mental stimulation that began the whole process, but a sharp, cramping pain shot around my abdomen, all the way from my belly button to the bottom of my back. It wasn't Braxton Hicks, I knew them well by now. 

It was the real thing. 

It was too early! Only 24 goddamn weeks! Little girl was only just viable! My breathing became quick, and everything seemed to fade away. Except James, of course. He never fades, never. He noticed my sudden change and nudged me with his elbow. 

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, pulling me sharply back into reality. I shook my head frantically. 

"I-I think I'm in labour,"  I stammered. 

James gave me a sympathetic look, rubbing gentle circle into my bicep with his thumb. 

"Baby, are you sure this isn't just the anxiety again?" he replied. I wrenched my arm out of his hand. 

"I know Braxton Hicks by now, James. These are real. Like, real real. As in, the baby's gonna be here pretty soon." 

It took a moment for him to realise what I'd just said, and when he did, his eyes widened. Giving me a quick kiss, he stood up and ran off, nearly tripping over his own feet more than what is dignified. 

I was on my own. I was scared. The office was nearly empty, except from myself, James (obviously), Hamilton and Washington. Considering that Hamilton was sitting at his desk with his headphones on, I assumed that James had gone to fetch Washington, or at least use his desk phone. When you're the President, you don't have to go through that whole which service do you require shit. 

I was right, as I heard Washington yelling at James asking why the hell did you just barge in here!? James replied with a shouted my husband's in labour, I'm sure you can forgive me this once. That shut him up, and made me giggle a little. 

James reappeared not long after, Washington in tow. The President's sudden appearance made Hamilton jump up, his earphones tumbling from his ears and landing on his desk with a small clink. 

"What's going on?" the Treasury Secretary asked. 

"Baby," I answered shortly. "Far too bloody early." 

"Ante and postnatal care has come along leaps and bounds in the past few years," he replied. "Babies as young as 20 weeks are surviving outside of the womb despite the challenges they face. Your baby girl will be in good hands, especially with Franklin." 

I smiled at him. 

"Thanks, Alexander," I said, before another pain struck me. "Jesus Christ!" 

"Franklin's on his way," James said. He sounded worried, nervous. "It'll all be okay." 

"You know what she's going to be called, right?" I said, my voice panic-stricken. "I don't care what happens, she's the most important thing right now." 

"I know, I know," James soothed. There was a banging of the door, and we all looked up to see Franklin rushing over to us. His face was incredibly red, and he was very out of breath. James even held out one of his spare inhalers. Franklin shook his head, unable to speak. 

"Trust you to be dramatic, Thomas Jefferson," he managed to cough out a minute or so later. 

"Did you run here?" I asked, a little impressed. 

"Yes. It's quicker than driving in the city." 

He was feeling along my bump, very gently. "We need to get you to the hospital. Now. There's an ambulance outside, and I've already phoned ahead." He took my hand. "Don't worry. I've got the very best surgeons and postnatal team on standby. You're in safe hands." 

Smiling sheepishly at him I nodded. 

"Let's go have a baby." 

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I was taken straight in for the Cesarean-section when we got the hospital. They wheeled me into a small cubicle and told me not to move at all before they got back. It was just me, James and Franklin. 

"I'm scared," I confessed to James. He was sitting on the edge of the bed. 

"So am I," he replied. "For you, for our little girl..." 

"She's strong," I said. "I think she'll be just fine, with a little bit of help." 

"Do you have a name?" Franklin asked. We both turned to him. James' face broke out into a grin and he nodded proudly. 

"Martha Jane Eleanor Jefferson-Madison," he said. 

"That's a mouthful," Franklin chuckled. "I wouldn't like to be there when you're yelling that down the corridor at her when she's played up or stayed out too late when she's older." 

I shook my head, giggling. 

"We'll have a good girl," I said. "She'd never even dream of going out late." 

Franklin shook his head, a mischievous glint in his eye. As I looked at him, I had a sudden thought. 

"Do you have kids?" I asked. 

"Two," he replied as he pulled out his wallet. He opened it up, took out a picture and passed it to me. There was a boy and a girl, no older than 3 or 4. They both had golden ringlets and bright blue eyes, the same as Franklin's. "Twins, Jessie and Edward. They inherited their looks from their mother." 

"They're beautiful," I said, passing the picture back. "How old are they now?" 

"Oh, 18, adults now," he said. I noticed how he sounded a little sad. "Jessie starts at Harvard in September and Edward's been going to England every year since he was 14. JCB, engineering scholarship. Only comes back for holidays." 

"Do you miss him?" 

He looked at me in surprise. 

"Of course I miss him," he replied. "But he's a man now. He can make his own way in the world. There's nothing I can do, or have ever been able to do, about that." 

A nurse came into the small cubicle, wielding a needle. I realised that this was to sedate me. 

"I love you," I said quickly to James, sitting up as much as I could and pulling him into a kiss. "I love you so much." 

"I'll see you when you wake up," he said desperately, kissing me back only briefly before moving back to let the nurse do her job. She inserted the needle into my IV, and I could feel the liquid running into my veins. 

"I love you," I repeated. 

James' face was the last thing I saw before everything went black. 

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I promise you another chapter and here it is! Babies can survive at 24 weeks, my nephew was born at 24 weeks and he's going strong. Hope you enjoyed, and sorry for the cliffhanger!