The Last Love Of Arthur Morgan

And a Baby Makes Three

Arthur woke to the sound of Lorna suffering through another contraction. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, feeling guilty for falling asleep when he should've been awake. He placed a cool rag on her forehead and she gripped his hand. Arthur could take a lot of things, broken bones, gashes, bullet wounds - but for some reason, a woman giving birth and using his hand, hurt like hell. He bit the inside of his cheek to distract himself. 

"It's coming!" Lorna yelped."I can feel it!"

Mrs. Grimshaw came over and lifted the blanket up around her waist, nodding her head, almost as if she agreed it was time. Arthur pressed a kiss to the back of Lorna's hand and scooted the chair closer to the bed.

"Next contraction I'll need you to push." She ordered.

Lorna's brows furrowed in concentration, as she tried to focus on her breathing. Earlier she'd almost lost her breath during a contraction, and Mrs. Grimshaw had to talk her through it. The vice that she had on his hand tightened as another contraction hit. Sitting up slightly, squeezing her eyes shut, she gripped the underside of her knee and pushed.

The pain was a pain she'd never experienced before. It was a burning white hot pain that made her feel dizzy and weak, she fell back on the bed gasping for air. Arthur wiped her face with a cool rag, whispering encouraging words in her ear.

"I need you to push again!" Mrs. Grimshaw encouraged.

Lorna nodded and sat up, gritting her teeth as she, once again, pushed. She cried out in pain as the baby slipped lower. Arthur continued whispering encouraging words to her, hoping she at least hear something. And she did. The baby began to crown and she felt like she was being ripped in two, she gripped Arthur's hand and the bed, trying to remember to breathe. 

"I-I can't!" She cried.

"You got a few more pushes, Lorna girl. You can do it!" 

She shook her head."I-I can't...Oh God!" 

Arthur cupped her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheekbones. She was so beautiful, even all sweaty and red. He loved her so much and loved her so much more for doing this. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips and offered a smile.

"You can do this. I'm right here, alright? I ain't gonna let anything happen to ya."

She nodded and inhaled sharply."Ah- alright!"

"I can see the head, you got to keep pushin'!"

Lorna sat up and cried out as she pushed, sniffling and whimpering as she felt herself tearing. She vaguely remembered Mrs. Grimshaw saying the head was out, but everything was such a blur. She fell back on the bed, panting, trying to catch her breath when Mrs. Grimshaw ordered her to push again. She couldn't even think about pushing again, but she knew she had to.

"This is the last one!" She cried.

Arthur nodded and gripped her under her knee."You got this, darlin'."

Lorna squeezed her eyes shut again as she pushed hard. It didn't even feel like anything was happening until something did. The baby finally slipped out with a wail and Arthur was summoned over as Mrs. Grimshaw cut the umbilical cord.

"It's a girl, Mr. Morgan. Congratulations!" She smiled.

Arthur stared at this screaming little baby in Mrs. Grimshaw's arms. His daughter. His breath caught in his throat and he felt tears pricking his eyes. He had a daughter. She was so messy and pink, but, he was already in love with her. Mary-Beth brought over a basin of water and helped Mrs. Grimshaw clean the baby. 

When she was clean, she was handed off to Arthur. He shook slightly as he stared down at her - his little girl. She had thick brown hair like himself and the cutest nose he'd ever seen. He looked up at Lorna and offered a smile, but she was too drained to do anything besides blink. He carefully took a seat in the chair beside the bed and she glanced over.